X factor USA vs X factor UK. It's Finally HERE!!!

So tonight X-Factor USA finally premiered. Now unlike many who saw the show tonight I actually knew the concept behind the show and have been waiting over 3 years for the show to hit the states. You see, I have been watching the X-factor UK version now for 3 years. This will be my 3^rd UK season but ever since I saw videos in the top 10 videos on YouTube I have been hooked.

The season, for those you familiar with the UK version, I started watching the season Joe McEldery won. However, the video that grabbed my attention and was shown in promos before X-factor tapings was Danyl Johnson’s I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends the Joe Crocker version. It was on the top 10 YouTube videos for a while but the other standouts auditions for me were Olly Murs with Superstition by Stevie Wonder and Lucie Jones version of I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. (I have a soft spot for both) This season was also the season where auditions were in front of live audiences so that played a big part. I watched many of the videos of the show via YouTube but then I started finding streams, which were a godsend.

Through the UK version I have been introduced to the terrible but entertaining Jedward and Wagner, to the amazing sounds of Matt Cardle, boy band One Direction, and past alums JLS and Alexandra Burke. However, one of the best introductions to X-factor was Cheryl Cole who was a judge who I never heard of but fell in love with instantly. Fox and Simon were hoping for the same effect but for some reason axed her because “she was hard to understand.” I was lucky enough to go to the Chicago auditions to see Cheryl in action as a judge and Nicole Scherzinger was a presenter with Steve Jones. During audition breaks people were cheering for Cheryl and I wasn’t the only one. Tonight #CherylRocks was trending worldwide during the show and many papers mentioned she was a better judge than Nicole. If I had it my way Nicole would go out and Cheryl in but that’s not going to happen. Instead, I will have to wait for Cheryl’s big break in her movie where she will make an appearance.

Anyways on to the show! For those who don’t know the judges are mentors to 4 categories. The contestants have to go through live auditions and then boot camp where the categories are narrowed down to 6-8 people depending on what X-factor USA chooses. Those 6-8 people then go to judge’s houses where the judge has another famous person help them narrow down their category to 3 people.

So here is how the UK show differs from the USA version.

• -       In the UK the youngest you can be is 16 unlike in the states the youngest is 12
• -       In the UK the older category is over 25 (or 28 Matt Cardle season) in the states its over 30
• -       In the UK version Dermott O’Leary has more of a presenter role talking to the contestant and is shown in the back with the family unlike in the states wher Steve Jones gets very little screen time
• -       I don’t know if they did this the 1^st season on X-factor UK but they did interviews with the judges a lot more and explained the show a lot more
• -       The winner in the US will get a $5 Million record recording contract and will be featured in the Pepsi Super Bowl commercial unlike the UK where you get a record contract

As you can somewhat see I am a major X-factor fan.  The one thing I love about the show is the inspirational stories. Whenever I watch it, it feels like I can too follow my dreams and things are possible. I know it sounds cheesy but during these difficult times where I am unemployed, X factor brings a little joy and hope into my life.

Now I leave you with one of the best auditions, in my opinion, from the UK and USA versions. Jade Richards is probably one of the best auditions I have heard where someone has sung an Adele song with the type of meaning it needs. In the US, tonight’s show was Chris Rene who was one of the best auditions I have heard when someone sings their own song.

Jade Richards- UK Someone Like You 

Chris Rene- USA

Overall, X-factor is one of the most entertaining shows out there and I can't wait to see what will come. Stay tuned to my opinion on the future show.