Tag Archives: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Garcia’s “X Factor” Fate Hangs In The Balance…

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The X Factor’s Jennel Garcia is thisclose to heading to the Fox singing competition’s live shows… But she’ll have to knock off two talented young adults to get there.

During the final day of boot camp, X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and L.A. Reid whittle down the number of remaining contestants/acts from about 60 singers to 24.

Jennel Garcia

Garcia, who wowed the judges during auditions with her first spicy rendition of Grace Potter & The Nocturnal’s “Paris (Ooh La La),” and the rest of the singers/groups were brought on stage in their respective categories (teens, young adults, over 25s and groups) with the 18-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer finding herself in the super competitive group of 17-to-24-year-olds vying for one of only six spots.

Despite losing some of her luster during her sing-off against the more classically trained Tara Simon, Garcia was picked as one of the teens to advance to the next round and audition all over again at Lovato’s house in Los Angeles, where the X Factor judge – with help from her friend and guest judge Nick Jonas – would pick four singers to take to the live shows.

“I really am like praying that this audition goes well and that I nail it,” said Garcia, adding that her first audition with the judges was probably the best day of her life. “I’m just one step away from making everything I ever wanted happen.”

Prior to taking the stage, or in this case the floor in Lovato’s living room, Garcia received a visit from Lovato, who complimented her on her Incredible stage presence, but advised her to watch nerves.

Shortly after proclaiming it “the audition that matters the most,” Garcia performed her rendition of Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” for Lovato and Jonas. Despite a solid performance, it seemed that Lovato’s advice to not nervously over flip her hair seemed to mute Garcia’s standard sauciness.

Facing stiff competition from her fellow competitors, will that performance be enough to move Garcia, the lone Hispanic solo artist left in the competition, to the next round? We’ll have to wait ‘til Thursday night to find out.

Garcia’s “X Factor” Journey Continues…

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The road to stardom continues for Jennel Garcia on The X Factor…

The 18-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer from Rochester, Massachusetts, who impressed the judges during the audition round with her rendition of Grace Potter & The Nocturnal’s “Paris (Ooh La La),” was one of the 120 singing contestants hoping to sing their way into the next round on Fox’s reality singing competition. Their first task at boot camp: preparing a new song to perform in front of the judges and their competition.

Jennel Garcia on The X Factor

During Wednesday night’s first boot camp episode — which took place in Miami — Garcia wowed onlookers with her oh-so-sexy rendition of Gavin DeGraw’s “Sweeter.”

“Crazy sex appeal,” declared X Factor judge Demi Lovato.

Meanwhile, fellow judge L.A. Reid was overheard calling Garcia’s performance “very spicy.”

But the reaction wasn’t so positive for another Latina who wowed the judges with her initial audition…

San Antonio’s Jessica Espinoza, who had previously performed Pink’s “Nobody Knows” to rave reviews from the judges, was cut from the competition after a less than stellar cover of “When You Believe” by Whitney Houston.
“Not as good as I remember,” said Lovato, who had earlier proclaimed that Espinoza was one of the only contestants whose first and last names she remembered.  “I’m pretty disappointed.”

The X Factor’s Boot Camp continues this Thursday, October 4 at 8:00 pm on Fox.

Garcia Dazzles the Judges on “The X Factor”

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It looks like The X Factor has it’s first “most promising” Hispanic act… and her name is Jennel Garcia.

The 18-year-old Rochester, Massachusetts native, who recently graduated from high school, wowed the judges during this week’s premiere episode of the Fox singing competition.

Jennel Garcia

Garcia, a sweet, soft-spoken teenager, proved to judges Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and L.A. Reid that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

She showed up on stage at her Providence, Rhode Island audition looking like a petite flower. But after telling the judges that she looked up to artists like Pat Benatar, Garcia burst into a rock-sexy rendition of Grace Potter & The Nocturnal’s “Paris (Ooh La La).” Her performance had all four judges smiling, clapping and saying “yes, yes, yes!”

“Feisty little firecracker!” declared Reid, who launched the careers of Justin Bieber and Rihanna. “I am so feeling you!”

Jennel Garcia

Lovato, who was grinning from ear to ear, declare the combination of Garcia’s voice and personality a win-win.

“What I find really, really interesting is that you have such a cute face, you are really likeable and all of a sudden you are like ‘I’m on fire,’” expressed Lovato, who called her one of the night’s most promising acts. “I literally wrote down in my notes ‘Hot.’ You are awesome.”

Meanwhile, Cowell, considered a tough judge to impress, seemed utterly impressed.

“Jennel, let me tell you sweetheart, you are on the money because right now what’s missing on the pop charts is a young Pat Benatar or someone like that,” Cowell said enthusiastically. “I love the idea of making a pop record or rock record. You are different you are exciting I really, really like you.”

So how did Garcia react to the kudos from all four judges?

“Oh My God! That was so cool!” said Garcia. “I didn’t expect them to like me that much! … I lived in a small town, in a small house, in a dead end street and life has always been really quiet,” Garcia said. “Life starts right now. Today!”

Garcia has been singing from a young age, first on American Juniors at age 10, and later in a singing troupe that performed at nursing homes. She was even featured on America’s Most Talented Kids, according to South Coast Today.