OK — You got us X Factor, you got us. When scruffy-looking Josh Krajcik came on the September 28, 2011 episode of the show, we were like, OK, we get it, this self-proclaimed burrito slinger guy is gonna stink it up. Real bad. The more his mom insisted the guy is the next best singer since Elvis, the more we anticipated a total bomb. Man, was the joke on us.
Just when we thought we know it all, The X Factor pulled the ol’ switcheroo on us, because the second the 30-year old crooner from Columbus Ohio opened his mouth, some of us got goosebumps. The rest of us got chills. Why? Because on his rendition of At Last came out some kind of unexpected and gritty Joe Cocker meets Bob Seger rolled into a soulful Etta James.
On his way to the next round, Simon Cowell told him, “I’ve gotta say, Josh. I always thought after a few auditions over the years I wouldn’t be surprised again. And then you started singing and it just blew me away.” He also said he likes him because, “You are honest. You didn’t come out here with any gimmicks. Good for you.”
L.A. Reid informed him, “You need to give the slinging-burritos job to somebody else.” Then he called him out: “I get why you’re dressed like that. You aren’t foolin’ me for a second. This is your ‘before,’ because the ‘after’s’ gonna be … you’re too good, you are way too good.”
Paula Abdul added: “There are just certain voices that the second you open your mouth to sing, it gets in our skin. What a treat.”
Watch Josh’s Chicago audition for yourself and you be the judge:
