Rachel Crow Defies Cowell, Plans to Sing Etta James Next

Rachel Crow is set to go against the advice of mentor Simon Cowell and do things her own way on next week’s X Factor. The 13-year-old contestant, whose troubled upbringing came to light this week, says she won’t be doing another bright, peppy pop hit in the next show.

Instead, the teenager has told TVGuide.com that she’d like to try a slower, more soulful choice:

“[Beyonce’s] ‘If I Were A Boy’ [the song Crow sung at her bootcamp audition] was the best performance I’ve ever done in my life. So I’m going to do a slower Etta James song next week if I make it.”

She was also asked if she intended to stick to Cowell’s strategy of having her sing shiny, uplifting pop songs:

“Honest? Right now, if I do make it, no.”

Last week Crow sang her own version of The Waves’ “Sunshine” (complete with tweaked lyrics), as well as a mash-up of Justin Bieber’s “Baby” and The Supremes’ “Where Did Our Love Go.” Crow revealed her version of ‘Sunshine’ was borrowed from a contender on the UK’s edition of X Factor. “It’s got more attitude, more ‘You have to go.’ I aimed it right toward Simon,” she told TVGuide.

Crow seems determined to go against Cowell’s tactics, but what if the pop plonker puts his foot down and insists she peps up her act with some perkier tunes?

“I’m sweet, but I got attitude and I’ve already argued with Simon about that song. I told him, ‘I’m doing it and you can’t stop me!'”

So there.