On Wednesday’s X Factor, the remaining 7 contestants had the daunting task of singing a MichaelJackson song, in front of a studio full of the King of Pop’s family includingJackson’s brothers Marlon, Tito and Jermaine and Jackson’s mother Katherine, and his children, Prince, Paris and Blanket.
“When I heard it was Michael Jackson week, I was really excited because my family has a connection to him,” Rene said in a video package before his performance. “My grandfather was a songwriter. He wrote Rockin’ Robin and then the Jackson 5 picked that song.”
When it came time for Chris to rehearse his chose song, his mentor L.A. Reid told him he wanted to see a little more Chris and a little less Michael in Chris’ performance. Rene took those words to heart and by performing Jackson’s I’ll Be There in his own style and flair, showed us why he belongs in the top 7.
Wearing a bedazzled letterman jacket with an M on the left breast, Rene sang MJ with a bit of a hip hop flair. The judges all liked Chris, with the exception of Simon Cowell. “The vocal was a little shaky at the top,” he said. “When the rap kicked in, it was much, much better. I think you’re going to need a lot of support from your home town tonight.”
“What’s so amazing about Michael Jackson is that you always feel his spirit though his music, and I felt your spirit tonight and it was so beautiful,” Nicole Scherzinger said.
To vote for Rene, call 855-843-9306 . Watch his performance below: