Last night was the premiere of the X Factor, Simon Cowell’s latest reality music show, where the have-talents compete with the deluded-but-untalented for a grand prize of $5 million. Santa Cruz has done well in these types of shows before—remember James Durbin? In a bid to get recognized as the reality music star capital of the nation, another local performer blew the judges away.
His name is Chris Rene, he’s 28 years old, and in his own words, he makes a living “hauling trash.” Like Durbin, he’s the father of a two-and-a-half-year son, but unlike Durbin, his personal history includes drug and alcohol addiction and a stint in rehab. According to him he was clean for exactly 70 days when he auditioned.
The judges asked him what he would be singing, and he answered that it would be an “original song called “Young Homie.” The look on record executive LA Reid’s face was priceless. He was wondering why he ever let Simon Cowell talk him in to being a judge here. The look on Simon Cowell’s face was equally priceless. Before Rene even started singing, he was thinking up the snarkiest comments he could make when the torture was finally over.
“Young Homie, what you trippin’ on?”
The mood changed quickly enough. They did not expect to hear that. Reid was dancing in his seat. Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls and Paula Abdul (the two female judges) were dancing along too. Simon was sitting there with dollars signs in his eyes, thinking that the $5 million award he offered may have been a good investment after all.
And Chris Rene kept singing.
And the camera zoomed in on Abdul as he sang, “It’s been two months now. Haven’t had a drink and I’m starting to see clear now,” and it watched as she smiled knowingly.
“Young Homie, what you trippin’ on?”
He was undoubtedly the winner of the night. Homie Scherzinger answered that she was tripping on him. Reid and Cowell were more circumspect. They warned Rene that he had better stay clean, and sent him off to musical boot camp. Santa Cruz has another star in its constellation. And there will be a new job opening too. It’s unlikely that he’ll be hauling trash much longer.
Watch Chris Rene here.
