The X Factor: Anything Can Happen

Tonight The X Factor’s final four compete in the semi-finals vying for a spot in next week’s finale. Three of our four judges have acts remaining in the competition as the last contestant from Team Demi was eliminated last week. This evening each act will perform twice, and the judges will have no say in which three acts will advance to next week. Mario promises an intense evening, and Khloe knows how to say her own name. Let’s not delay this any longer.

 

 

Act: Tate Stevens

Team: LA

Song: “Bonfire” by Craig Morgan

 

Tate got to choose his own song this evening, which he seems very excited about. Clearly he’s had some creative differences with LA but is too much of a gentleman to say so. I’ve never heard this song, but he says the word “rednecks” and the camera cuts to LA in a cowboy hat, so I’m already entertained. Tate is very into the song, he works the stage, and he really looks like a country superstar tonight. Nicely done.  

 

Judges Say: Britney doesn’t think that was Tate’s best performance (because he is Carly’s biggest competition). Demi disagrees and says it was a winning performance. Simon loves that Tate chose a song that he would want to record, and it was one of his favorite Tate performances. LA says Tate lit the stage on fire (literally). Khloe asks LA if he likes “wearing a country hat," and I consider bludgeoning myself with my laptop.

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Act: Carly Rose Sonenclar

Team: Britney

Song: “Your Song” by Elton John

 

Carly is trying to regain that number 1 spot this week and I love that she chose this song. The first half of the performance is a little low and slightly snoozy, but then Carly moves across a catwalk and owns the rest of the song. Not my favorite of Carly’s performances, but she is still my favorite contestant.

 

Judges Say: LA is no longer wearing his country hat. He says Carly did things with that song that he’s never heard done before. Demi reminds us that she doesn’t have any contestants left, and then she tells Carly that she’s very predictable. On the flip side, this was Demi’s favorite performance.  Huh? Simon thought Carly sang a beautiful version of a fantastic song. Britney is very proud to be her mentor.

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Act: Emblem3

Team: Simon

Song: “Baby I Love Your Way” by Peter Frampton

 

The boys have been criticized for not commanding the stage, and this week the one in the backwards hat says they “are deep in the game” and want to win. They start the song laying down on the stage (not what I think was meant by commanding) and they resume the normal standing next to one another and bopping up and down. The blond one that shouldn’t sing moves around in the crowd a bit, but otherwise it’s the same stuff. The audience looooooves it though.

 

Judges Say: LA says the guys just had their first $5 million moment. I must have missed it. Britney thinks the performance was special and the group has really grown up. Demi loved it, and I’m so confused. Simon says the performance reminded him of their very first audition, and they absolutely deserve to move on to the finals

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Act: Fifth Harmony

Team: Simon

Song: “Anything Can Happen” by Ellie Goulding

 

Fifth Harmony is still bummed about being in the bottom two last week and they want to be sure to show America what a fun girl group they are this week. The girls sit at an Alice in Wonderland type party table, and God help the kid on the right with the bow. Even Minnie Mouse would say “hell no” to that accessory. Fashion choices aside, the girls sound great and move around the stage far more tonight than they have in previous weeks. I really like it, and I hope this gets them a spot in the finale.

 

Judges Say: LA thinks this was Fifth Harmony’s best vocal performance. Woohoo! Brit Brit loved everything about it. Demi thinks they pulled out the sparkle they needed this week, whatever that means. Simon tells the girls they are the underdogs, but after that performance...“anything can happen.” See what he did there?

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Act: Tate Stevens

Team: LA

Song: “Fall” Clint Walker

 

LA put the hat back on. Just throwing that out there.  I’m 0 for 2 tonight with Tate because I don’t know this song either. This is another ballad that he dedicates to his wife, who really might be the luckiest woman ever. I feel that guys like Tate are few and far between, and that's just a shame. I prefer Tate’s first performance to this one, but as far as country ballads go, this is probably his best “emotional” performance.

 

Judges Say: Britney says Tate has had some hits and misses, and this was a hit. Demi thinks Tate is so amazing and talented. Simon says he has made his mark and deserves to be in the finale. LA believes Tate is consistently great each time he performs.

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Act: Carly Rose Sonenclar

Team: Britney

Song: “Imagine” by John Lennon

 

There’s nothing quite like a young, gorgeous voice singing this song. Yes, I am also referring to David Archuleta’s version and I’m not ashamed of it. However, Carly goes the extra mile here, playing the piano to start (rather confidently I might add) and then rising to unleash those ridiculously awesome notes on us. She’s just unreal. Carly finishes the song back at the piano, and I am so impressed by how polished she is as a vocalist.

 

Judges Say: LA thinks Carly took her artistic abilities up a notch by playing the piano. Demi says the only predictable thing about the performance was that it was amazing. Simon wishes she had just stayed at the piano because getting up and down and having the chorus behind her was a little too much. Britney thinks it’s time for Carly to go beyond this stage and compete with the biggest stars in the world.

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Act: Emblem3

Team: Simon

Song: “Hey Jude” by The Beatles

 

Ohhhh boy. They’re letting the blond one who shouldn’t sing play the guitar again. During the first half of the song the guys stay pretty true to the melody, and I am generally okay with it. Once the second half starts there are some liberties that I don’t really love…and then they get to the “na na na nas” and I start singing “no no no no.” Don’t get me wrong – this wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but Carly just slayed “Imagine.” This doesn’t really compare.

 

 

Case and point.

 

Judges Say: LA tells the group they are teen heartthrobs like The Beatles. Britney thinks it was an “A List” performance and they should take a bow. Demi agrees that the performance was great but is hesitant to compare Emblem3 to The Beatles. And she SHOULD be.  Simon is so proud of what Emblem3 has achieved tonight, saying they nailed both songs.

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Act: Fifth Harmony

Team: Simon

Song: “Impossible” by Shontelle

 

I am really hoping these girls have a moment here. Fifth Harmony switches the song up a little by singing parts of it in Spanish, which is a clever idea, but I honestly would have enjoyed the song just as much (if not more) without the random switch in languages. As much as I’m rooting for them, I’m not sure that this will get the girls where they want to be next week.

 

Judges Say: LA didn’t like the song choice, and he doesn’t think this was a performance worthy of the finals. Britney drops the hammer and pretty much tells them to pack their bags. Ouch. Demi says this comes down to the fans and hopes that they come through for Fifth Harmony. Simon thinks the song was the right way to go and hopes we see them next week as well.

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Mario feels the need to speak Spanish (hey – I can do it too!) and then reminds us how critical it is to vote. Khloe stays pretty quiet and that’s exactly how it should be. Only three acts can advance, and I am hoping for a Carly/Tate/Fifth Harmony finale. Sorry, Emblem3 fans. We’ll find out who stays and who goes during tomorrow’s results show. Til then!