.

Simon Cowell Buzzes About US X Factor Which He Calls A Crazy Version of American Idol

04/15/2011
.
(Buzznet) With X Factor making its way from the UK to the good ol' US of A this year, it looks like Simon Cowell is far from being done making stars. After all, this is the man who launched the careers of Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Il Divo � just to name a few. Buzznet had a little phone chat with Simon the other day, where we talked to the X Factor creator and judge about his new show.

BUZZNET: Simon, how will your new show X Factor be different from American Idol? SIMON COWELL: I think it's going to be more fun. There's going to be a lot more variety amongst the contestants because the age range varies so much on this, where you could be 12 years old or you could be 60 years old. And then we have vocal groups to enter this competition as well, which from experience makes a big difference to the show. Right at the top when you audition, the contestants audition in arenas in front of three or four thousand people so it's a very different feel to the audition experience. And at the end the judges get to mentor the contestants � we have three contestants each in the final. So we have more invested, I guess, in this show. But it's very [difficult to] put into words until you see it. It's just a much more crazy version of American Idol.

BN: What does the term "X factor" mean to you? SC: It was something we've always used for years in the music business, which is - it's very difficult to write down in words what makes somebody special. But when they walk in the room it could be presence, it could be their voice, it could be the effect they have on other people. I guess Justin Bieber's a good example of someone who has the 'X factor.' But you recognize it when you meet him or you see him perform, and like I said, he has that incredible effect on his fans � and that means he has it. And I've seen other people his age look almost identical to him who haven't got it. It comes from within I think. Read the rest of the interview here

Preview and Purchase X Factor CDs

X Factor MP3 Downloads

.