- The "X Factor" judges and Steve Jones. - Nino Munoz/Fox
The November 30, 2011 episode of The X Factor focused on the music of Michael Jackson. Host Steve Jones came to the stage in the middle of a dance routine set to "Bad" and announced that this was another double elimination week. The judges got "Jam" as their introductory tune.
A Jackson Family Reunion
A brief montage recapped Jackson's accomplishments, especially the massive success of Thriller, and also served as an advertisement for Cirque du Soleil's current Jackson-themed show. Marlon, Tito, and Jackie Jackson came out to the stage next. Marlon thanked the show for "putting on this special tribute" to their late brother, and Jackie pointed out Katherine Jackson and Michael's children in the audience.
Josh Krajcik
The first performer, Josh Krajcik, admitted that singing Jackson's songs was "a bit of a departure" for him. He said he was comforted by having his guitar with him but was worried that he wasn't properly prepared.
Krajcik attempted to turn "Dirty Diana" into his kind of song by emphasizing the blues-rock elements in a slowed-down arrangement, but it was still an awkward fit. L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul both felt he overcame his discomfort well. Simon Cowell was the dissenting voice, saying he "got lost in all the choreography" and that it was his weakest performance so far.
Brian "Astro" Bradley
Brian "Astro" Bradley also said he was "stepping out of his element" in taking on Jackson's music. He added his own rap to "Black or White", and the result was far more convincing than Krajcik's performance. Abdul told him she felt he could win the competition and Cowell liked how he made a classic pop song "fit a new generation".
Drew Ryniewicz
A brief interview with Katherine and Jackson's children preceded the next performance. Cowell said he and Drew Ryniewicz had put a new twist on a Jackson classic and that he wanted to see emotion from her. That twist turned out to be turning "Billie Jean" into a slow piano ballad that brought out the best in Ryniewicz's voice.
Reid praised her for making the song her own. Nicole Scherzinger didn't understand why Cowell had Ryniewicz sit in a chair for the entire performance and criticized him for "playing it safe". Abdul said it was her best vocal performance but criticized the lack of visual elements. Cowell said they were being "disrespectful" and "talking absolute nonsense".
Rachel Crow
13-year-old Rachel Crow said she was honored to be singing one of Jackson's songs but that it was "a challenge". She went back to The Jacksons' catalogue for "Can You Feel It", bringing her usual soulfulness and energy to her performance. Reid was unimpressed, saying it was the first time he'd watched her and felt she wasn't having a great time. Scherzinger said she didn't feel the connection between her and the staging and choreography. Abdul didn't feel the song was the best choice. Cowell brushed off the criticisms and praised Crow for always putting on a show.
Marcus Canty
Marcus Canty promised to work even harder after his experience of being in the bottom two last week. His version of "P.Y.T." brought Bobby Brown to mind more than Jackson, but that approach (and the elaborate staging) felt appropriate to the song. Scherzinger called Canty "the whole package" and Abdul felt the performance was "a beautiful homage". Cowell felt Canty's vocals "weren't very good", prompting a brief conflict with Scherzinger.
Chris Rene
Reid's final contestant, Chris Rene, talked about how his grandfather wrote "Rockin' Robin". Cowell described his song choice as "very risky" as Reid tried to bring out Rene's personality in rehearsals. The song was "I'll Be There", and Rene seemed more comfortable with his original rap interpolation than he was with singing the song itself.
Scherzinger said she felt Rene's spirit and that he sounded his best vocally. Abdul complimented him for connecting to the whole public and said he was having trouble finding the right song because he was a writer. Cowell noted that Rene's vocal was "a little bit shaky at the top" but said the rap section was better.
Melanie Amaro
Cowell said he had given Melanie Amaro a Jackson song that "you normally do not touch". It was "What About Us", and Amaro's unleashed the full power of her voice to match the dramatic bombast of the arrangement. Reid said it felt as though they were at a Melanie Amaro concert and that she might have been the best of the night. Scherzinger told her it was one of the best performances she'd seen all season. Abdul called her "flawless". Cowell told her he couldn't think of a better way to pay tribute to "one of the greatest artists in the world".
Paul Brown - Paul Ferrell Brown graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1994 with a B.A. in English literature, and completed his M.A. in ...
