Following impressive also-rans like Jennel Garcia and the Latina ladies of the all-girl group Fifth Harmony, there will finally be a Hispanic X Factor winner in North America…
MundoFox has announced plans to produce El Factor X, an original Spanish-language version of Fox’s singing competition The X Factor.
Produced by FremantleMedia Latin America for MundoFox, El Factor X will feature aspiring singers from 8 to 15 years old, both solo artists and vocal groups.
This season’s The X Factor contestants, including Jennel Garcia and the members of Fifth Harmony, have performed a touching tribute to the victims of the Newtown shooting…
During Wednesday night’s performance show on the Fox singing competition, the 18-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer, sent home in a shocking exit last month, joined fellow Latina singers Camila Cabello, Ally Brooke Hernandez and Lauren Jauregui – members of the all-girl group Fifth Harmony – and the rest of the show’s contestants this season to perform Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone.”
After a short introduction by Simon Cowell, the X Factor contestants — Beatrice Miller, Arin Ray, Diamond White, CeCe Frey, Paige Thomas, Garcia, Vino Alan, Emblem3, Tate Stevens, Fifth Harmony and Carly Rose Sonenclar — each contributed a verse of the song.
The performance — aided by a children’s choir — concluded with the names of the departed students and educators on the screen behind them.
Following the elimination of Lyric 145, one of Simon Cowell’s groups, Garcia and her fellow Young Adults competitor Paige Thomas had to sing for the save.
Before the judges cast their vote for which act to send home, Garcia performed an emotional rendition of Hoobastank‘s “The Reason,” while Thomas performed Coldplay‘s “Paradise.”
“I’m shocked that either of them are at the bottom,” said L.A. Reid, before voting to send home Garcia. Britney Spears followed suit. But Cowell refused to name his choice until the ladies’ mentor Lovato made hers.
“The act that I’m going to send home is Paige,” she said. It was up to Cowell to avoid a tie – and he picked Garcia.
“You’re so unbelievably talented and you have a future ahead of you so I’m not worried,” Lovato told Garcia on the show. “I love you and I really, really believe in you.”
After the show, a “bummed” Lovato told People magazine, that it “wasn’t an easy night” for her.
“I genuinely think that Jennel is just more talented,” she explained. “I think that Paige has a more star quality to her which is going to help her as an advantage. I think that Jennel definitely didn’t deserve to go home, and I couldn’t let her go home tonight.”
“As we get closer and closer to the end of this I’ve invested so much time,” she continued, “so it is not like I am losing a contestant; I am also losing a friend that I worked so hard with over the last couple of weeks. It is kind of a blessing and a curse that I get so close to my contestants.”
Following her impressive performance on The X Factor, Jennel Garcia shouldn’t lose one minute of sleep…
During Wednesday night’s episode of Fox’s reality singing competition, which saw the Top 12 sing songs by the divas like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, the 18-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer kicked off the show with a rousing rendition of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.”
In her mentoring session, Garcia’s mentor, Demi Lovato, encouraged the “rock star next door” to perform “for the audience,” saying she wanted America to see Garcia could be one of the divas in the future.
“[You] started this thing out with a bang,” proclaimed judge L.A. Reid. “You just returned to the competition; that smoked!”
Britney Spears agreed.
“Tina would be proud,” declared Britney Spears after the show-stopping performance that saw Garcia, dressed in a white fringed top and leggings, working the entire stage. “You nailed it!”
Even Simon Cowell, who had been critical of Lovato’s mentoring of Garcia last week, acknowledged the singer’s return to form.
“You are back in the game; that’s what we wanted,” said Cowell. “You look better, you sound better, you were having more fun. Like a different person. I’m glad you listened to me.”
And Lovato beamed with pride at her protégé’s job well-done.
“I’m so unbelievely proud of you,” said Lovato. “What a way to kick off the night. You do look amazing and I think together we really nailed it.”
The other Latinas in the competition, Ally Brooke (Hernandez) and Camila Cabello – members of FifthHarmony, received rave review as well.
Dressed in all-angelic-white, the all-girl group performed a beautiful rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero,” one that had Cowell, their mentor and group-maker, grinning throughout the performance.
“There’s something really lovable about all of you,” said Reid. “You picked a really tough song, and I think you struggled in the beginning honestly. But somewhere in there it turned into a really great performance.”
Lovato agreed.
“I was really worried that I was going to be bored, but you guys, your voices just killed it,” raved Lovato.
Cowell, who created the group from singers who hadn’t advanced as soloists after the show’s audition period, urged people to cast their votes.
“Maybe this isn’t a one horse race. Maybe there’s a chance that five girls with brilliant voices could actually win this show,” said Cowell. “And I want America to pick up the phone to vote for you!”
Singing live for America’s votes for the very first time this season, Garcia – dressed in an all-black outfit, including glittered pants and a leather jacket, and yellow Dr. Martens – performed Joan Jett & The Blackheart’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” as part of the show’s “songs from the movies” theme.
Garcia’s performance received a mixed response from the judges. L.A. Reid said it was “good,” but said it lacked originality, while Simon Cowell said it was a “parody.”
“I think you’ve got to challenge yourself on these songs, because it was a pretty much a straight cover,” said Cowell. “And you’re better than this.”
But Garcia’s mentor, Demi Lovato, had a rebuttal ready.
“Look around in this audience, all of the girls are going crazy,” said Lovato. “And I guarantee that they would buy a ticket to her concert.”
Meanwhile, the other two Latinas in the competition, Camila Cabello and Ally Brooke, showed great improvement over last week’s performance.
Now called FifthHarmony, Cabello and Ally’s all-girl group performed Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” to rave reviews from the judges.
“I have to tell you that I was impressed with your singing,” declared Reid. “I think you guys nailed it; I think you figured out exactly how to start the song and who should finish the song.”
Britney Spears concurred.
“This week from last week it’s night and day,” said Spears. “You guys just shined the whole way, you really did. I was really impressed.”
FifthHarmony’s mentor Cowell, too, was impressed.
“The transformation week on week has been enormous; I think there’ something incredibly exciting about your potential,” said Cowell. “I really genuinely can feel something special. I thought the vocals were stunning, the performance was fantastic. I could not be more proud of you.”
During Thursday night’s episode, where one contestant from each of the judges’ teams would be sent packing, Garcia was the first person declared safe by her Young Adults mentor Demi Lovato.
“I’m so happy for myself, but my two best friends are out there still,” said an in-tears Garcia backstage after the announcement that CeCe Frey and Willie Jones would be the two who’d have to perform for the last remaining spot in their category. “But I’m super happy.”
But the night wasn’t as stress-free for the show’s other Latino contestants…
Ally Brooke Hernandez and Camila Cabello, members of the all-girl group 1432 (formerly the LYLA) had to face-off against country group Sister C after finding themselves in the bottom two in Simon Cowell’s Groups category.
Sister C performed Miley Cyrus’ ballad “When I Look at You,” while 1432 opted the perform Lovato’s “Skyscraper.”
“You know what they say, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going.’ And you know what, you did it,” decreed judge L.A. Reid. “And, I’m proud.”
Britney Spears said the ladies’ performance made her “a believer,” while Lovato heaped on the praise.
“I don’t know who that song is by,” joked Lovato. “But regardless, you did better than the original singer.”
Cowell – who admitted the group had a “wobble” on Wednesday night, but was “much, much, much better” this time around – ultimately picked 1432 to advance to the Top 12.
But David Correy didn’t have the same luck.
The the 26-year-old Brazilian-born singer ended up in the bottom two in Reid’s Over 25s category with Jason Brock.
Despite a soulful, slowed-down rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone,” Correy couldn’t catch a break from any of the judges, except Spears.
“I really didn’t like the rendition of that song,” declared Lovato. “I felt It was way too forced. It just felt like you were screaming the whole time.”
In the end, Reid elected to advance Brock to the Top 12 and send Correy packing.
“I’ve been through a lot in my life, like we all have. But it’s never stopped,” said Correy after the announcement. “And I promise you this is not gonna be the last time you see my face.”
Garcia, who performed Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” for her final audition last week, was the first of the six contestants in the 17-to-24-year-old category to meet with Lovato to hear their fate during Wednesday’s episode.
“I’ve grown a lot from this experience. This is everything to me,” said the Rochester, Massachusetts native before sitting down with Lovato to tell her if she was named one of the four in her category to advance to the next round. “I don’t have a job anymore; I don’t go to school anymore. I mean this is it.”
During their sit-down, Lovato complimented Garcia on her “incredible voice” but told her she had some concerns, specifically with Garcia’s insecurity with her performances.
“In order to be a pop star, like the biggest thing is how you entertain people,” said Lovato.
The critique did cause Garcia to lose a little color in her face, but she didn’t have to wait long to learn her fate. Lovato gleefully announced that she’d made the final four, adding “This is a huge opportunity for you!”
A teary-eyed Garcia couldn’t believe her ears.
“So much weight was just lifted off my shoulders,” proclaimed Garcia. “That was like the highlight of my life!”
Garcia, the sole Hispanic solo artist left in the competition, will now begin preparing for The X Factor’s live shows with hands-on coaching from Lovato.
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 Spearsand L.A. Reid whittle down the number of remaining contestants/acts from about 60 singers to 24.
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.
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.
But the reaction wasn’t so positive for another Latina who wowed the judges with her initial audition…
San Antonio’s Jessica Espinoza, whohad 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.
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.
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!”
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.
