Benicio Bryant’s Biggest Roadblock to Winning AGT — Original Music?
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Last night was the last chance for the America’s Got Talent Season 14 finalists to convince America they should win the grand prize. We are worried about Benicio Bryant. The judges — namely Simon and Howie are convinced original songs aren’t the way to go but we think and believe that OG songs are so much better than covers that most singers can do. Wow us with your songwriting too singers!
Benicio Bryant’s Possible Roadblock to Victory
Benicio Bryant started off the season performing covers, but switched to original songs starting with his Judge Cuts performance. So far the audience has voted him through the qarterfinals and semifinals rounds with ease; he made it to the finals without ever having to compete for the Dunkin’ Save or being one of the last two standing waiting to be let through by the judges.
However, the judges – particularly Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell – have been very mixed on whether or not acts should be performing original songs or sticking to covers. The main argument in favor of covers is for the sake of “familiarity” among the audience, while the one in favor of originals is the act being able to show their personality and not have to be compared to whoever sang the song in the past. Benicio has been one of the acts to receive some of these comments throughout the season.
Chris Kläfford Took A Big Risk Of Singing Covers And Got Voted Out. Is Benicio Next?
Chris Kläfford got done in by this ongoing debate. He started the season with a cover and was encouraged to go for original songs, but then Simon changed his mind and told him he should be doing covers. (You having talent show whiplash here? Us too!)
We won’t get to see what Chris would have decided to do for the finals since he was eliminated last week, but surely as a songwriter and artist Benicio must have been paying attention to these comments. But what’s a contestant to do when the judges can’t even seem to make up their minds on the subject?
Grace VaderWaal Sang Originals And Howie Loved It. Why The Double Standards?
This is especially odd coming from Howie, seeing as he was the one who Golden Buzzed Grace VaderWaal back in Season 11, who paved the way for an influx of singer-songwriters on AGT. In our interview with him last week, he explained his stance on the ideal strategy for AGT musicians, saying, “If you’re gonna do something original, then it’s gotta go out to the wildest possible audience.” He then went on to use Grace herself as an example of someone who used the strategy of original songs right by going for a topics that deeply resonated with people of all demographics in America and inspired them to vote for her.
Basically, it sounds like Howie and the rest of the judges are looking for the singers on AGT to deliver performance with universal appeal. That’s a tough task for anyone, let alone a 14-year-old and last night our boy Beni did not disappoint!
America’s Got Talent finale airs tonight at 8/7 c on NBC. Are you ready for the madness? We are!
