Singing tilt revs up ‘X-citement’ factor

The first telecast of “The X-Factor” on American TV had a dicey start last September 23, because quite a number of the new singing tilt’s initial contestants ignominiously bit the dust. The “carnage” was so total that judge-producer Simon Cowell confessed that he was both shocked and depressed.

Voice

Happily, he didn’t remain in a blue funk for long. A young Elvis type finally made the grade, and so did a 55-year-old music teacher, a four-member girl group, a bearded crooner, a male soprano – and, the first telecast’s finest find, a teen Beyoncé admirer who impressed both jurors and viewers alike with her “complete package” of voice, looks, insightful interpretation and stellar charisma!

As we watched her perform, we thought to ourselves: Beyoncé impresses because she’s aided by many unseen staffers who make sure that she always looks and sounds great. But, this auditionee has no support group at all, and yet she could hold her own beside the professionally “packaged” star!

After the young woman (Melanie) lit up the huge hall with her amazing performance, other standouts also passed muster, so the long day was deemed productive by one and all. Indeed, if the musical “harvest” remains as bountiful in the succeeding weeks, the judges will have one heck of a tough time during the tilt’s semifinals.

Disgust

To be sure, the first eliminations in Miami had its share of clunkers and shockers, including a really shameless nontalent who flashed his, uh, privates, to the disgust of both jurors and viewers alike.

Thankfully, some of the other auditionees had more going for them than just brazen chutzpah, so the singing search should end up as a certified hit. Even better, it can discover mature standouts like the British show that finally gave Paul Potts and Susan Boyle their time to shine.

Rightful share

We’re all for mature talents belatedly getting their rightful share of the entertainment spotlight, because we think that our ga-ga fixation on youth for youth’s sake has robbed the world of entertainment of the depth, experience and significance it needs to more effectively delight viewers and vivify the entire range of human experience – as it’s supposed to.

Beautiful young faces and voices are great – but only for a short while, because they’re all too soon revealed to be too callow and shallow to be continually fascinating and empathetic.

In the performing arts, informed experience is everything – and that’s the “X” factor!