‘The X Factor’ USA rankings: Rion Paige, Khaya Cohen, and more from Demi Lovato’s team
With “The X Factor” USA finally getting itself going with live shows starting Tuesday, we have arrived now to what we like to consider an all-important part of the process: Trying to figure out just where everybody stands with our rankings. Since the acts are facing off against the others in their own groups this week (pending some change in format), we’re going to a category a day leading to the show’s early return.
Today, the focus is on Demi Lovato and her group of Girls, which is pretty strong this week. However, we don’t really think that except for maybe Restless Road, there is a favorite going into the live rounds. That’s what makes trying to figure this out now all the more difficult. We’re basing this on not just performance quality, but also edit and the amount of time that we have gotten to know each of them.
4. Danie – Out of the group here, she has her work cut out for her. For one, she’s going with that whole one-name thing like Drew in season one, and that’s a little risky when your name has a silent “e” and it sounds therefore like everyone else. She also hasn’t received that kind of an edit, and that could mean trouble.
3. Khaya Cohen – Actually our favorite out of the ladies that are in this group, at least when it comes to the performance that we heard at the four-chair challenge (if you can even remember if, given how long ago that feels like at this point). Her biggest problem is going to just be getting people to remember her personality or at least something outside of her vocals.
2. Ellona Santiago – She’s got an advantage given that some longtime fans of inTENsity from season 1 are going to remember who she is. (We still don’t understand why her or Arin Ray, for that matter, were allowed to come back because their earlier experiment didn’t quite work out.) The only thing that concerns us is that she may actually be a little too similar to Jessica Sanchez on “American Idol.” She both looks and sounds like her.
1. Rion Paige – Rion right now has everything going for her. She’s country, and we know that this genre in particular has an enormous support base. She’s also a very good singer, and has a story that people are going to connect with. To us, all of this is going to be at least a one-way ticket to a top 7. The rest of her success will depend on just how she does moving forward in the live shows.
Who is your favorite of the girls? Vote in the poll below, and click here if you want to check out some more scoop related to the show. If you bookmark that link, we will have more to share as we push forward in the competition.
Photo: Fox
Steve
October 28, 2013 @ 7:16 am
Okay, this time, I disagree (I agreed over the boys rankings). I can understand putting Rion 1st, but I’m baffled at your thinking wrt Khaya ahead of Ellona.
As I understand it, the judges have final say in the next round (could be wrong). If so, barring a rogue disastrous performance, both Rion and Khaya are safe and Danie and Ellona are going to be fighting it out.
I notice you say you base this on performance quality, edit and screen time. I think you need a further criterion: Judges reaction. Actually, even audience reaction. Go back and watch how the judges and audience in general react to Khaya’s four chair performance and then check out Ellona’s. The reaction to Khaya was up there with that to Rion and Restless Road. It was the first real “wow” performance of the series. On the other hand, Ellona *just* scaped through.
So, my rankings for likely progression through the show:
1. Rion, 2. Khaya, 3. Danie, 4. Ellona.
Personal preference: Khaya, Rion, Danie, Ellona.
Steve
October 28, 2013 @ 7:19 am
Sorry, my first para should read: “…I’m baffled at your thinking wrt Ellona ahead of Khaya.”
Lucas
October 28, 2013 @ 8:00 am
I appreciate.your oppinion but this is just mine too. Personally for me Ellona is more popular than Khaya thats why shes below here.. Just as this article said Ellona may have some peopld already supporting her. So she may have a shot. But i agree how in d article wid Ellona and Rion as top 2. I like Danie but she doesnt scream X Factor as well as Khaya. Btw i am not asian.
Steve
October 28, 2013 @ 11:58 am
I saw the poll results but that comes after the rankings by this blog, so that doesn’t explain their choices. Also, the poll results are probably statistically insignificant, if you’re trying to judge audience reaction. Furthermore, if you want to judge who is more ‘popular’ note that the you tube views for Khaya’s four chair challenge performance far exceed those for Ellona’s.
I come back to the point that Khaya really ‘wowed’ the judges and seemed to get a genuinely super enthusiastic ovation from the audience. Seriously, go back and view the the you tube; the judges are impressed by Ellona, but stunned by Khaya.
That said, Ellona did do better than I had remembered – both her performances were very good and she has a great voice too. The ‘Girls’ category is tough to call. They are all very very good.
lucas
October 28, 2013 @ 7:08 pm
Yea. I agree with the girls category being hard to chos. But i just did some reseaech and on utube. Rion is far ahead of the others at 11mil then Ellona at 3mil, Danie at 1.7mil and Khaya at 900,000 but for the four chair challenge Ellona is first at 1.2mil then Khaya at 1.12mil then Rion at 950,000 and Danie at 920,000 all the girls are close but i have a feeling that Danie is most likely to be in the final showdown.
Lucas
October 28, 2013 @ 8:02 am
In the poll results Khaya is last by a long shot ti Ellona and Rion.
lucas
October 28, 2013 @ 8:04 am
In my opinion Demi is most likely to and either Ellona, Danie and Khaya to the final showdown. But Khaya is the most likely to be in it wid Danie. Rion is the only one safe for certain
lucas
October 27, 2013 @ 10:21 pm
It should be
(1. Ellona
(2. Danie
(3. Rion
(4. Khaya
Moonbattery
October 26, 2013 @ 10:52 pm
Ellona from Xfactor does not sound anything like Jessica Sanchez. That is ridiculous. She’s not even a very good singer to begin with