The X-Factor

Yes, the time has come again when the Netherlands copycats programs that have had major success in their country of origin.

No, ti wasn't "Idols" this time, nor was it "So You Think You Can Dance". It was none other than the X-Factor.

We've all witnessed these programs and know how they go. The first few episodes are swarms of people camping out outside the audition building for hours at a time for their 15 seconds to show what they have that could possibly change the course of their lives forever.

So, of course, there's the few that can simply hold one note (J-Lo), to others that are tone deaf and have no real people around them that would say, "Dude, I REALLY and TRULY don't think you should ever sing outside of your shower or the comforts of your home". Others audition to fulfill bets that they lost and others go just to make a fool of themselves of national television.

However, in the midst of the riftraft there's already a gem or two that emerge and in the very first episode of the new cycle of X-Factor a gem surely shined. I'm talking of none other than C-United.

C-United, for those that don't know has been in existance for well over a decade. I have memories of the group being together as far back as the 5th-grade having barbeques in my God-family's backyard. So that's about 13 years of "the unity". Get it, unity...united...moving along.

The group has since drastically dimished in size, some members left for the USA, Europe and elsewhere for studies, some others simply backsled (I guess). However some of the founding members have remained close and have gotten tighter in the last few years and decided to keep the group going.

For years I've been telling some of them to take their talents to the next level, whether in vocals or instrumentals and the response has always been the same, "We're about the Ministry, not the Industry".

That much is understood, but there comes I time when one must decide whether their passion and talents are to be shared with the world or will it forever be a basement hobby.

With their appearance in X-Factor, it is now known that they have all decided if there was to ever be a time when they made this transition, that now would be the time. At the auditions, you saw some that were nervous, some that were giddy for no reason, other over confident without the ability to back it up. Not C-United, they entered with a sense of calm, a sense of knowing, a knowledge this this would be the defining moment in the professional aspirations.

With that, they began bursting out a melody, so in-sync, so confident, so true, so angelic.

"I never knew, I never knew".

WOW! I've known these cats for years, but as a reformulated group, no. I myself never knew they'd produce such a sweet sound that I'd have to replay the performance on YouTube numerous times. I honestly didnt know.

After the first verse I knew for certain that they'd advance without a doubt, I was not prepared, however, for the response of the jury members. Utter astonishment. Even Gordon, the celebrated raging whatever whatever of the four was taken aback. I couldn't help but say, "Yes, you got 'em!"

After 90-seconds of peacefully harmonizing, the group comprising of Quincy & Nazette Adolphin, Ogenda Adolphin, Tabitha Smith and Christopher & Zillah Hazel, decided to end their audition with a bang. And what a bang it was.

Quincy and Christopher started it off and the ladies all followed suite,"Brighter Day, brighter day".

Simple, yet powerful in its own subtle way. It was as though C-United hand picked this song knowing the impact it would have. It was more than an audition or an introduction for that matter, it was an arrival. An arrival with a mission statement affirming and reassuring at the same time that it is going to be a brighter day.

The following episode airs on Friday night, show your support folks.

A new sound is gonna hit the radio-waves.

Later