Well, this is the second time during this first season of The X Factor USA that a contestant has performed Justin Bieber's "Baby." Tonight, the show went live for the first time, and the Top 17 performed. By the end of the night, each of the judges had chosen which 12 acts (three for each mentor) will perform for America's votes beginning next week.
Last time, it was 14-year-old Drew Ryniewicz performing "Baby," during her audition. You can check that out HERE. By the way, Drew is still in the competition and will be here next week. But she now just goes by Drew.
This time around, it's 13-year-old Rachel Crow. Her version was a mash-up of "Where Did Our Love Go" and "Baby." Check out her performance here: So, what'd you all think? Personally, I think Drew did a better job with her version. But she wasn't half bad either.
Next Wednesday (8-10pm), the Top 12 (including Rachel and Drew) will perform, and America will vote for the first time. There will be five ways to cast your vote; find out the details HERE.
The Mirror is reporting that Justin Bieber will be involved with Cheryl Cole's next album (though it is The Mirror, so it may not be true).
A source says, "Cheryl is beyond excited about her new album and Bieber's team are deep in talks with her's to make a hit. They already see Cheryl and Will.i.am as part of the family. Will's got a vision for her album, and now the biggest and the best names are keen to be part of it."
They also mention that "Usher and Will got together to make O.M.G -- just think what they could do with their proteges."
If the name Cheryl Cole sounds familiar, it's because she was involved in some controversy over the summer. Simon Cowell hired her as a judge for this fall's The X Factor, currently airing on FOX. While the exact truth surrounding her firing is not clear, she was, in fact, let go from the show. Reports say that FOX execs weren't happy with the decision to hire her. Cowell recently commented that she didn't seem comfortable on the American version. He apparently offered to have her return to the British show, but she declined.
Ever since her firing, she's begun to make a name for herself here in America, including getting a role in the upcoming film, What To Expect When You're Expecting. This album of Cheryl's that Bieber is rumored to be involved with is expected to help establish her career here in the America. And when The X Factor debuted here a couple weeks ago, some of the audition episodes did feature Cheryl when she was still a judge, and critics and viewers alike gave her high praise, but not for her replacement, Nicole Scherzinger.
Having someone like Justin Bieber on her album could really help her make a splash here in America. I look forward to hearing the collaboration and the entire album. Good look, Cheryl, with all these amazing offers being tossed your way!
Speaking of The X Factor and Bieber, have you seen 14-year-old Drew Ryniewicz perform "Baby" for her audition? Check it out HERE. And Drew talked about Bieber and her audition to EW.
The other night, Bieber Guy posted a video of 14-year-old Drew Ryniewicz performing Justin Bieber's hit "Baby" during Wednesday's audition episode of FOX's The X Factor. Click HERE to check out that video and to read my positive thoughts on her audition.
Yesterday, Entertainment Weekly had the chance to talk with Drew about her audition and about Bieber:
Who came up with that arrangement of "Baby"? I came up with that all by myself. My mom and my dad are not musically inclined and I don't have a vocal teacher currently. So I came up with that arrangement all on my own in 20 minutes or so.
Did the producers play up your love for Justin Bieber or are you really that much of a fan? I do think that he is cute, the way he flips his hair -- all the things that I said about him. But I also really appreciate the way he puts his music together and the way he performs. I really look up to that. I didn't quite say that on here. I wouldn't call myself an obsessed girl. Obsession is kind of a strong word and I'm not like [that] about anything except Jesus Christ.
I went on Justin's Twitter page today and he hasn't mentioned your audition. Do you wonder if he's seen it? Yeah, I was waiting to see if he was going to say anything about me and he hasn't. But he's a busy kid. I hope that someday he'll see it and want to sing with me!
Read the entire article HERE to find out what it was like going to school the day after her audition aired and more about her audition.
Last week, as part of my ongoing Bieber Guy Project, where I explore the Justin Bieber phenomenon by reviewing all of his music and other entertainment outlets, I reviewed "Baby." Click HERE to check out that review!
The X Factor airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8pm on FOX; next week is Boot Camp week. And good luck to Drew; we hope you go far!
The past couple of weeks have seen the audition episodes of the American version of Simon Cowell's The X Factor air on FOX. During tonight's Chicago/Seattle audition episode (Sept. 28), one of the auditioners took on a song that we all are familiar with.
Check it out right here: 14-year-old Drew Ryniewicz is a huge, huge, huge Justin Bieber fan. She would love to meet him and perform with him someday. And she was nervous about performing in front of L.A. Reid, since L.A. is the one who signed Justin to a recording contract. Talk about pressure, right?
But that's not necessarily why I'm talking about her. I wouldn't normally post a video here on Bieber Guy of someone doing a cover of one of Justin's songs. But I watch and am a fan of The X Factor (& Simon Cowell). And what I love on any of these singing shows, whether it's American Idol (see Chris Daughtry and David Cook, among others), The X Factor (Caitlin Koch and Drew, during these auditions), or others, is when a singer will get up there and blow us away not just with the voice, but by putting a new spin and arrangement on a song we all know and love.
Out of the better singers during these X Factor auditions so far, we've had two already change up the arrangement. Drew Ryniewicz took Justin Bieber's "Baby" and breathed new life into an already great song. And what's interesting is that I love both Justin and Drew's versions. The original is teen pop, whereas Drew's strips it down and gives an acoustic rendition that's great as well. She's got an interesting tone to her voice. When she gets to the chorus, we all expect the music to ramp up. Instead, it stays slow. And on the words "baby," instead of the vocal emphasis being on the start of the word, Drew has done the opposite; she emphasizes the latter part of the word.
Oh, and by the way, the judges sent her to the next round: Boot Camp.
For comparison, here's the original. I know I don't need to, 'cause you all know it already. But here it is anyway: Last week, as part of my ongoing Bieber Guy Project, where I explore the Justin Bieber phenomenon by reviewing all of his music and other entertainment outlets, I reviewed "Baby." Click HERE to check out that review!
The final audition episode of The X Factor airs Thursday, September 29, from 8-10pm on FOX.
