Listen Up - Marcus Collins

While I don’t actually watch American Idol, The Voice, The X Factor, or any of those shows, I do follow who is in them after the shows are over. You would be shocked at how many musicians and singers come out of these shows. Now, multiply that times all the international editions of everything, and you can see why I have a hard time following up on everyone.

One person that I am glad I kept track of is Marcus Collins, who came in second place in the British version of The X Factor, Season 8 (you know, the real X Factor). The season ended in the fall of 2011, and in the few months since, Marcus has already put out his debut single (which made it to the top 10 in the UK) and his debut album (which achieved the same feat).

His debut single is a cover of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”. Covering that song is quite the undertaking, as it is so well known and so well loved – it isn’t easy to live up to the original, but Marcus instead makes it all his own.

As if that wasn’t good enough, Marcus also proves that he isn’t a one trick pony and that he can kill it with original music as well with his second single, “Mercy” (which is absolutely my favorite song at this moment).

He is kind of rocking the whole Bruno Mars thing, but so much more upbeat and with a whole lotta OOMPH. Yes, that’s the correct term – OOMPH. He reminds me a lot of what Melody Thornton is doing now as well.

I am loving this new trend in pop music, and I seriously can’t wait for more of this to keep coming. Bring it!

There is so much more great music on his <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MarcusCollinsOfficial">Facebook</a> if you’re interested.