Simon's Got His Eye on Some Tweens

There’s no doubt that despite how cruel and grumpy Simon Cowell can be on The X Factor (and really, every singing show we’ve seen him on), he’s actually a music industry genius. We know this because of that time in 2010 when he was so clever as to take the likes of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlison, and put them together to form the boy band, One Direction. Though the boys initially joined the show solo and failed to make it to the “Boys” category, Cowell saw something in all of them, which ultimately paid off big time after the show ended. Now, Cowell is attempting to find his next 1D by lowering the age limit on The X Factor.

While I applaud his enthusiasm, the thing I must ask is, will he truly be able to pull this off? Whereas you typically have to be at least 16 years of age to participate in the singing competition, Cowell has lowered the age to a mere 14. Really? Fourteen is basically prime time for male puberty and cracking voices, so I don’t exactly see this going so well.

Justin Bieber made his debut at a mere 13 years of age when current manager Scooter Braun discovered him, but I’m going to be honest and say I couldn’t stop laughing when his first song came out and he was talking about “love.” Also, look what fame has brought him now.

Not only is this generally silly because we are still attempting to make children and adolescents famous in their most emotionally unstable years (leading to disaster), but we’re failing to draw in artists who can appeal to a larger demographic. Right now, One Direction brings in an audience that consists mostly of teenage girls but also tends to attract those from an older crowd, like those in college.

I know that Cowell is just overly excited since he already managed to put together one world-famous band, but I think his luck has run out. Even former X Factor judge, Gary Barlow, was quoted as saying “Sixteen is just too young to be in this competition with this kind of pressure.” Also, wasn’t Cowell famous on American Idol for breaking hearts and telling many singers that they weren’t ready yet and to return again the following year?

Really, it looks like the celebrity should just take his own advice. Stop trying to make another One Direction happen. It’s not going to happen.

Image: thefrisky