It was just announced tonight that Cheryl Cole was sacked from the US version of X-Factor although she has already done tapings in Los Angeles and Chicago as a judge. Rumor has it that Fox executives have said that people don't understand her and her chemistry with the panel especially Paula is not there. Fox has yet to release a statement but word has it that Fox says she was more expendable than Paula. Her now vacant seat will be filled by Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones will now be the only presenter.
I am seriously appalled and outraged that Cheryl will not be a judge on this upcoming season. She was the one judge I was excited about and wanted the rest of the states to embrace her. Now that does not look like it's the case and Cheryl is Royally pissed, which she has a right to be. X-factor UK is now reaching out to have her back on the show but due to this whole situation rumor has it that she does not want to be apart of the X factor franchise at all.
Personally I think Fox is making excuses and being hypocritical because if "Cheryl was hard to understand" they should have sacked Steve Jones too because they are both from the same area. I also think Nicole could have either pushed to be a judge or did a good job consoling rejected contestants that Fox figured they would be better off having her as a judge. If I had my dream panel, I would want Paula out and Cheryl and Nicole both there because they have both been in the contestant's shoes and have performed in a group as well as a single performer.
Since these sacking rumors are most likely true, it makes me wonder about a few things that have already happened. Are they going to have to go back to LA and Chicago and do re-tapings with Nicole in the judging seat? If they are not going to go back and people end up liking Cheryl, what is Fox going to do now that they sacked her and do not have her as a judge? Overall, it seems a stupid mistake. People love her in the UK and people in the states were just starting to get to know her. One of her biggest supporters is Perez Hilton who I figure will be livid as most Cheryl fans to see her sacked. Rumor also had it since Cheryl was going to break into America. Glee was going to do her song Parachute for Season 3.
One thing to point to Fox executives who are not listening to the general public is that at the auditions I attended. Cheryl was well received by the audience. People made signs and yelled things like "Cheryl we love your accent." Point right there that her accent was a good thing which seems to be the issue with Fox's decision to let her go.
Also during all the auditions, no contestant said they had a hard time understanding her and Cheryl gave very constructive criticism. If there was any problem, it was that Cheryl didn't know some of the locations where the contestants came from or did not know some American terms. She needed to get help from Paula and LA Reid on that. As for this obnoxious comment on Cheryl not having chemistry, it is complete bollocks. There were multiple times during the taping that you could see the chemistry among the judges. Paula hugged Cheryl when both of them laughed about a certain strange performance. Cheryl even commented to a contestant that they were a comedian because they had LA Reid in stitches.
I really hope this isn't true and I hope Simon steps in and really tells Fox that if Cheryl goes he has to go because she will definitely make the show. Don't get me wrong, I like Paula but having her back on the panel feels like American Idol part deux. If they wanted to make it different, I think Cheryl and Nicole should have been on the panel to bring a different feel to the show. Till tomorrow..... we will have to wait for an official comment from Fox but it looks like Cheryl is out and this makes me not as excited for X-Factor USA as much as I used to be.
One person who love's Cheryl is Adele who sang Cheryl Cole's Promise This on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. Seriously Fox BIG MISTAKE!!!!
Adele comes to Chicago
I was fortunate enough to get tickets to Adele's sold out show in Chicago. Adele's album 21 has steadily been on the top of the charts ever since its release. People can relate to her powerful voice and lyrics. Many people so love them that Glee has performed two of her songs ( Turning Tables-Gwyneth Paltrow, Rolling in the Deep- Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff) and they have been in television shows like Grey's Anatomy. Furthermore, at X-factor auditions a few people performed her songs to not rave reviews from the judges because you have to have the soul and experience behind it. If you have not listened to it I highly suggest you do. It will change your life.
The show was at the Riviera and had Plan B open which I had not heard of but listened to a few songs before going to the show. He smashed it as an opener and came out with Writings on the Wall (below) but had a great set list. My other favorite song of his was She Said but what is great about him is he has a soulful voice but also raps. He has mentioned in the press he doesn't think he will make it in America due to the radio stations not knowing where to place him. He's either too white for hip hop or too black for pop/soul as he put it. Plan B complemented Adele and got the crowd excited for her to come on stage.
Before Adele went on, the crowd got a boost of excitement when our new mayor Rahm Emanuel showed up. Cameras went flashing crazy and there were some cheers for him. He definitely enjoyed Adele, as an example, during the show my friend and I noticed him doing maraca moves during the set. The stage for Adele was set up to look like a living room with lamps all over the place. Adele was very appreciative of all the fans that after singing Hometown Glory and I'll Be Waiting the lights went on so Adele could see everyone. Adele also sang sitting down and standing up which I was not expecting.
The show seriously was magical and one I want to go back to over and over again. There are many concerts you go to and the performer is not as up to par as their CD. Adele sounded better than her CD and her voice just gives you goosebumps. Her voice is just so powerful and sounds amazing live. Besides her incredible vocal, one thing that I loved about the show is that Adele laughs a lot and loves communicating with the audience. She gives little anecdotes about the story or her life and then has a little giggle afterwards.
The venue was perfect for Adele. It made it more intimate and you could hear everyone singing the lyrics to all her songs. Some highlights from the show besides her amazing voice which blew me away was when she finished singing Rumor Has It she stuck both her middle fingers up in the air as to say screw you to the man who broke her heart. When she sang Make you Feel My Love, a Bob Dylan song, it was ironically Bob Dylan's 70th birthday that day. Everyone knew Adele would encore especially since she made a reference to Beyonce doing the same thing. I totally called it right when the show started by saying she would do her two hit singles off the record Someone Like You which she started off playing on guitar and Rolling in the Deep which she had the audience participate in.
Overall, Adele did beyond words an amazing set that took the audience on a soulful and meaningful journey that I did not want to end. When it comes to Adele one thing I love about her and find fascinating is that she is not your typical person you would expect in the music industry. She is not skinny, she doesn't endorse products, and stays true to herself. She doesn't put on huge productions like Gaga but has staying power on the charts for being real. Adele's songs are empowering and people can relate to the meaning and feeling Adele puts into her songs.
Adele set list Tuesday at the Riviera:
1. Hometown Glory
2. I’ll be Waiting
3. Don’t You Remember
4. Turning Tables
5. Set Fire to the Rain
6. If It Hadn’t Been For Love (Steel Drivers cover)
7. My Same
8. Take It All
9. Rumour Has It
10. Right as Rain
11. One and Only
12. Lovesong (Cure cover)
13. Chasing Pavements
14. Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan cover)
Encore:
15. Someone Like You
16. Rolling in the Deep
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