X Factor Spotlight: Top 12 Favorites, Contenders, Dark Hoses, & Wild Cards

In my Top 17 Review I wrote my own reviews of the first ever live performances of the U.S. version of The X Factor and my own take on all seventeen performances didn't veer too far off the conventional wisdom. There weren't any true surprises in the results. In fact, I can't really think of a single one. Simone Battle and Tiah Tolliver, the two feisty choices of Simon Cowell's, were cast aside in a rather calculated move on Cowell's part that they wouldn't gain much traction with voters. Phillip Lomax was the predictable fodder for L.A. Reid, which was somewhat unfortunate given how interesting he could have made the show, and Dexter Haygood and The Brewer Boys were hardly shocking eliminations either.

So now it's time to look at my revised list of Favorites, Contenders, Dark Horses, and Wild Cards.

FAVORITES:

1) Stacy Francis - I had already posted Stacy on the Favorites section of my Top 12 rundown when all the negative press surrounding her took off but for now she remains. I will be writing a much more comprehensive blog about the recent smear campaign she has been the victim of (and I choose the term "smear campaign" carefully). Stacy still has the chance to get the last word and laugh on her enemies and a strong performance Wednesday Night could actually bolster her and give her the defiantly triumphant moment she needs to to throw it back in her critics' faces and ride that kind of tide-turning momentum to the finish line of the competition. My blog on her was originally scheduled for Wednesday Night but I will probably need at least a few more days to finish researching and organizing so please stay tuned to this blog and my Twitter account for updates. (I hope you're already following me but please do if you aren't!)

2) Josh Krajcik - Josh actually improved his already solidified "Favorite" status with a very resonating if not unorthodox version of Bob Dylan's classic "Forever Young" last Tuesday Night. Expect him to be in the Top 5 at worst.

3) Drew - Another great, if very slowed down version, of a song that exudes an upbeat tempo, when he sang the theme song from the movie Flashdance. Ms. Ryniewicz did allude to the need for mixing it up tempo wise. Dropping her last name is also a mistake. She's one of the very top tier favorites and she risks the accusation of being pretentious so there is a big enough risk on her part but for now it doesn't seem to be backlashing too greatly. In the meantime, stay away from "River Deep, Mountain High" if possible, Drew. The quality of the performance might not matter.

CONTENDERS:

1) The Stereo Hogzz - They seem to be peaking at the right time and they will undoubtedly appeal to many young people, especially young females and hip-hop and R&B fans. Their Motown-driven direction lately is the right path for them and is certainly very marketable. They could easily become a favorite within the next two or three weeks if they continue to perform well.

2) Astro - Brian Bradley tore it up with a very energetically shrewd and partially updated version of the 1991 Kriss Kross song "Jump" to open up the show last week. His status could still change the deeper the competition gets but for now expect him to enjoy a comfortable "Favorite" status for the foreseeable future.

3) Chris Rene - His performance last week was more steady than overwhelming but for now he remains a strong frontrunner but like Astro, this could very well be subject to change as the competition progresses. Still, his fan base should be vast and female driven.

DARK HORSES:

1) Melanie Amaro - My feeling is that she will quickly be catapult herself into the Favorites circle. My only restraint right now is just my own tempered response to how the media itself has already built her up. I want to make sure that it really is tangible and not just the entertainment media elite propelling her into that top tier but my guess is that this is all a mere formality. She killed it with Whitney Houston last week and if she continues to be consistently good to unbelievable, she'll be tough to beat and all this on the heels of her "dramatic" recall just prior to the live shows. (The cynic in me added those quotations.)

2) Lakoda Rayne - I've been fortunate to spend some time with them online, chat, and get positive feedback from the group itself for writing about them. I'm proud to say I've been a true believer from the start and they could make a surprising run in the competition. Not predicting it will definitely happening but I'm not predicting it won't either. They are sure to get a major label contract deal regardless. Keep your eyes on this group for both the competition and beyond.

3) Rachel Crow - It's really tough to gauge what her fan base is. Is it parents? Her peers? Gushing motherhood ready and aspiring young female types? She could be a finalist or she could be out in a matter of a four or five weeks but I still feel confident enough to suggest that she's higher than a Wild Card. For now, she's comfortably a Dark Horse.

THE WILD CARDS:

1) InTENsity - They are the truest wild card of all because their fan base will be tough to gauge as well. If their peers are able to use cell phones to text and social media to vote, then they could turn out to have a very surprising run. They could be the most surprising act of all because they've already been so derisively written off by the media and many viewers alike.

2) LeRoy Bell - The fact that LeRoy could already be in danger is a credit to the enormous depth of talent the show is already showcasing because he would have to figure to be a fan favorite and unlike Stacy Francis, he has not been taking a hit (or more like being the victim of a hit job) for already having an extensive background in the industry.

3) Marcus Canty - Marcus could easily rise to Dark Horse status if he survives the next couple weeks and puts in very good performances. He's been lost in the shuffle because of some of the other acts but keep in mind that he would normally be grabbing a very healthy portion of attention if not for many of his fellow acts on the show and their own attention grabbing characteristics. He's one to watch if any kind of buzz gets started about him.

That's it for now. I'm not going to try to guess right now but going into Wednesday Night's show my guess is that Marcus, LeRoy, and InTENsity are probably the acts with the most on the line but there are multiple variables that can easily change the dynamics of the entire field's odds.

Stay tuned.

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