The X Factor: Do You Really Want It?

Tonight on The X Factor the remaining eight acts compete again as we inch closer to the 2013 finale. In keeping with flawed idea that theme weeks are brilliant, the contestants will be taking on Big Band songs tonight, performing with…well, a big band. The only reality TV “Big Band Night” that gave me anything memorable was Kelly Clarkson’s version of “Stuff Like That There” over a decade ago. Let’s see how these poor souls fare with this genre.

 

Act:        Rion Paige
Team:    Demi
Song:     “Swingin’” by John Anderson

Rion ditches the mic stand this week and goes for a headset so she can show off some moves. You’re probably thinking this is risky…I’m thinking this is risky. But my concerns are put to rest pretty quickly because the kid makes it work. She struts down to the judges’ table with confidence and doesn’t seem fazed at all by her back up dancers. She literally stepped out of her comfort zone tonight and I am thrilled for her.

 

Critiques: Kelly says Rion put on her diva hat and worked the stage like a pro. Paulina loves Rion’s joy and happiness (okay) and Simon notes that this was the best song choice for Rion. He then calls her as cute as a cupcake. Demi thinks this was her best performance and Simon’s acts should watch out!

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Act:        Restless Road

Team:    Simon
Song:     “Life Is A Highway” by Tom Cochrane

I understand why Simon and the boys picked a country song for tonight’s performance, but unfortunately I can’t hear the guys above the band during any time other than the chorus. They do, however, look very dapper this evening, and the chorus sections sound great. That’s about all I got though.

 

Critiques: Kelly thinks Restless Road worked really hard this week and it showed. Demi says the boys did really well and looked like stars tonight. Paulina loves them and she feels their energy. Simon says the guys really made the country song work with a big band.

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Act:        Jeff Gutt

Team:    Kelly
Song:     “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone

Jeff steps down from the iron throne tonight and sings the hell out this song. He looks right at home with the band on stage, which I was not anticipating at all, and he delivers a very powerful and actually very sexy performance. I didn’t think he would be much of a contender this year at all…but he has shown serious growth every week.

 

Critiques: Simon and Kelly give him a standing ovation. Demi says Jeff killed it and called the performance amazing. I really just cringe when Paulina talks so let’s move on. Simon thinks the performance was absolutely fantastic and tells Jeff he loved everything about the song. Kelly can’t wait to download the performance on iTunes.

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Act:        Josh Levi

Team:    Paulina
Song:     “Treasure” by Bruno Mars

Josh is at a point now where he’s just so much fun to watch on stage and I look forward to seeing him each week. He has so much personality and he looks like he’s been doing this forever. Josh is all over the stage tonight, he’s incredibly into the music, and he looks like he’s having the time of his life. Good for him.

 

Critiques: Kelly says Josh let us into his world this week and it was great. Demi thinks Paulina does a great job with Josh. She also said Josh shined very brightly tonight. Simon loves Josh’s energy but cautions him to not let the choreography date him. No one seems happy with that critique. Paulina yells that Josh is fantastic into the microphone…attempts to say the word “effortless”... and then I lose track of the show.

 

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Act:        Carlito Olivero

Team:    Paulina
Song:     “La Copa de la Vida/Maria Maria” by Ricky Martin

I had absolutely no idea who Ricky Martin was until I saw him perform “The Cup of Life” on The Grammys when I was in high school. I was blown away. Carlito in no way matches the energy of this song, but I do give him credit for taking the critiques to heart this week and trying to work the sexy Latino angle.

 

Critiques: Kelly thinks Carlito let himself free during the performance. Demi says the performance was amazing and tells him he has a place in the market with this kind of music. Simon tells Carlito he has shown us who he is and who he should be. Paulina says Carlito did a big fiesta and she loves him.

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Act:        Alex & Sierra

Team:    Simon
Song:     “Trouble” by Taylor Swift

This is definitely not a song I expected to be featured tonight…but I love it. I’m not a Taylor Swift fan and I tend to be pretty vocal about that, but I do have a new found appreciation for this tune. Both Alex and Sierra look great, sound great, and seem completely at home with the song and arrangement. I had thought tonight would be a challenge for them given their often folksy approach to songs. I thought wrong.

Critiques: Kelly wasn’t crazy about this version of the song but thinks they sounded great together. Demi agrees on the arrangement but says the duo made her like it, noting that they made it their own. Paulina loves the way Alex and Sierra love each other. Simon thinks the song was clever and tells Sierra she gave a great vocal performance.

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Act:        Lillie McCloud

Team:    Kelly
Song:     “Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald

This week should really be right up Lillie’s alley. In fact, Lillie could have spent 90% of the show performing Big Band numbers and I would have been totally happy. She’s just so graceful and smooth in her delivery and makes performing a huge song like “Summertime” look incredibly easy. Best of the night – she gets a standing ovation from my couch.

 

Critiques: The three female judges stand for her as well. Demi congratulates Lillie and Kelly on a great job. Paulina says Lillie delivers each week and calls her impeccable…I think. Simon pisses everyone off and says Lillie didn’t let go enough. Lillie says she’s confused by the critiques because when she does move around she’s “too theatrical” but when she’s stands still it’s “not enough.” She says she sang the song exactly as she felt it. You tell him!  

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Act:        Ellona Santiago
Team:    Demi
Song:     “Mama Knows Best” by Jessie J

Whoa! Where has this girl been!?!?! Granted, Ellona is a consistent performer each week, but she’s just crazy good tonight. She absolutely owns this song from start to finish. The stage set up, the dancers, the props, the little strip tease she does while KILLING the song vocally…step aside, Lillie. You were amazing, but Ellona just stole the show.

Critiques: Standing ovation from everyone and rightly so. Kelly says this was Ellona’s best performance ever. Paulina loves that Ellona is in command and calls her a superstar. Simon says the performance was a game changer but tells her to lose the dancers next week. Demi is thankful for Ellona and says she could win the competition.

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The X Factor introduces a “final face off” tonight where all eight acts sing one song together but do their best to stand out. This seems like a glorified version of The Voice’s Battle Round, but what do I know? Taking on “Cry Me A River” by Billie Holiday, Lillie and Ellona are the standouts for sure…with Alex & Sierra making me smile as well. I’m not sure why this wasn’t just a group performance rather than being dubbed as some competitive stroke of genius, but it was still a neat way to end the show.

For me…the boys of Restless Road should be nervous tonight, and I’m still not sure Carlito has done enough to win over the voting audience. I also worry that Rion’s performance, while wonderful, was at the very beginning of the two hour episode and there were some stellar moments that came after her. I hope she’s not forgotten. We’re getting down to the wire now though and some surprises could definitely be in store during the results show. Will all four judges still have team representation next week? We’ll find out during the elimination episode. Til then!

The Voice: The Dog Days Are Over

Two more contestants will leave the competition tonight as The Voice searches for its Top 6. Team CeeLo begins the evening with one contestant, with Blake and Xtina hoping to retain their two contestants…and Adam sitting pretty with three. Here’s how it all played out.

 

The first contestant declared “safe” is Will, followed quickly by Cole. After some commercials and filler… America saves Jacquie, Tessanne and James. This leaves Ray, Caroline and Matthew fighting for the stupid Twitter save. Out of the three I’m hoping Matthew sticks around but Caroline inexplicably won the save last week. As for Ray, I often forget he’s even on the show until I see him on camera.

After the commercial break, the stupid Twitter save goes to…Matthew! We say goodbye to Ray and Team CeeLo’s last contestant, Caroline. I’m good with these results. Caroline was in over her head and Ray, while talented, wasn’t really in the running to win this thing.

Next week the competition really heats up as the remaining six contenders take the stage again. As we get closer and closer to the finale and the weaker contestants have pretty much dropped off, I think we’re in for an exciting rest of the season. Will Team Blake’s last man standing hold on to his spot? Are we in for a Team Adam vs. Team Xtina showdown? We’ll see what happens next week. Til then!

The Voice: At Last

Tonight the Top 8 take the stage on The Voice hoping to celebrate Thanksgiving with a guaranteed spot in the Final 6.  Three of the four teams have a chance of being totally eliminated this week as two more hopefuls go home tomorrow, but Team CeeLo in particular has to be feeling the heat with only one man (well, one woman) standing. Team Adam, on the other hand, will have at least one contestant remaining next week regardless. With a promise of “eight great performances ahead” (don’t let me down, Carson), let’s get this show on the road!

 

Contestant:        James Wolpert

Team:                  Adam
Song:                   “Somebody To Love” by Queen

This is my favorite Queen song. I may have ruined a VHS tape while re-playing George Michael’s cover in the early 90s. The Glee rendition might play on my iPod frequently. Hell, I even adore Anne Hathaway’s version in Ella Enchanted. I love this song. James performs his rendition in a tuxedo flanked by other tuxedos…and holding half of a mic stand. Odd, but it doesn’t really matter. He really does the song justice and this was an awesome way to kick off the show.

Coaches Say:   Adam says James could go sing with Queen and hold his own. He said the vocals were beautiful and dynamic. Blake thinks the song was incredible and tells James it was his best performance so far. Xtina says James should be proud because it was a special performance. She also says the other tuxedos looked like an army of James/Adam cloned babies. Smirk. CeeLo thinks this was one of the best performances ever…and then trails off. I’m not sure what those last couple of words were but I hope it was something to the effect of “on the show.”

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Contestant:        Tessanne Chin

Team:                  Adam
Song:                   “Underneath It All” by No Doubt

I heart Tessanne’s accent. I kind of want her to call me and read me a bedtime story…I’m turning dangerously close to agreeing with Xtina’s “I want you to be Jamaican all the time” theme from last week. We both get our wish with tonight’s performance. Tessanne starts off with a very smooth rendition…but then just gets all bad ass in the second half of the song. Her roots are out in full force, and this is absolutely my favorite Tessanne performance. I’m yelling and clapping for her long before the song ends.

Coaches Say:   Adam thinks Tessanne just had an amazing moment on stage and he’s overjoyed to have tied Jamaica to America in such a soulful way. CeeLo says the performance was impeccable and calls her the immense beauty born out of Jamaica. Xtina feels like we know who Tessanne is now…she then suggests Tessanne listen to a reggae version of one of Xtina’s own songs. Way to bring it back to you, coach.

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Contestant:        Caroline Pennell

Team:                  CeeLo
Song:                   “Dog Days are Over” by Florence & The Machine

Caroline has some fight in her this week, having barely made it through to the Top 8. Winning America’s instant Twitter save thing last week…she knows she has to have a moment tonight. I will say that this is the first performance of hers that I’ve enjoyed. She looks like she’s having fun, and if this ends up being her swan song, I would say it’s one she can be proud of.
 

Coaches Say:   CeeLo is very happy with Caroline’s performance. He wrote a little something for her and it’s very sweet. CeeLo says she has won his heart. Adam compliments Caroline for going outside of her comfort zone and says she needs to continue to push herself to improve. So really it sounds like CeeLo and Adam think Caroline is going home tomorrow.

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Contestant:        Cole Vosbury

Team:                  Blake
Song:                   “I Still Believe in You” by Vince Gill

We get a very scaled back Cole this evening as he tries to be more emotional for tonight's performance. This is a beautiful song – it always has been. Cole also sings it really well…but I’m just not sure we have seen anything different from him tonight. I feel like he had such originality when he covered Miguel a few weeks ago, but we haven’t seen much growth since then. Just the same thing over and over. I like the guy. I do. I’m just not sure how much longer he’ll be around. Maybe Austin’s fan base will send their votes Cole’s way?

 

Coaches Say:  Blake says Cole always leaves his heart on the stage and thinks delivering this emotional performance is going to keep him on the show. Here’s hoping, buddy. Xtina loves watching her fellow coaches so emotionally invested in their contestants. She tells Cole she heard something really special tonight. Hmmm. Well for Cole’s sake I hope America agrees with Blake and Xtina.

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Contestant:        Mathew Schuler

Team:                  Xtina
Song:                   “It’s Time” Imagine Dragons

Matthew has an army behind him and he attempts choreography with them…but the camera angles are so awful I have no idea what the dance was supposed to look like. Matthew does a good job with the song and he’s very into the lyrics. I definitely prefer the original, but this was a solid performance.

Coaches Say:    Xtina says Matthew comes from a place of integrity and he wants to sing what he really feels. CeeLo appreciates the sentiment of the song and says Matthew is doing a damn good job staying Matthew.

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Contestant:        Will Champlin

Team:                  Adam
Song:                   “At Last” by Etta James

This is definitely a surprising choice for Will but he does have the soulful voice for it. He ditches the glasses tonight and I barely recognize him. I also prefer him without the glasses. “At Last” is one of those tunes that really should not be touched but he’s just amazing as he delivers this song. It’s his best performance to date and the best performance of the night. Sorry Tessanne. I still want you to call me though.

 

Coaches Say:   I actually kind of expected a standing ovation but there isn’t one. Adam is laughing because of how Will challenges himself and how hard he works. Apparently Will sang the song with higher notes than he ever did in rehearsal. Xtina says her spirit lives in that song and she tells Will he did a tremendous song. She actually sang the song at Etta James’ funeral (and it was unreal), which she does not mention in her critique, so I appreciate that she kept the spotlight on Will tonight.

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Contestant:        Ray Boudreaux

Team:                  Blake
Song:                   “Gimme Some Lovin’” by The Spencer Davis Group

Ray is having fun tonight! Yay! He is more comfortable than he’s ever been on this stage and he sounds great. He could still loosen up a little bit more but he grew leaps and bounds tonight. Good for him.

Coaches Say:    Blake says Ray has some swag tonight. Xtina thinks the performance was a lot of fun and she loved it. CeeLo calls him “Sugar Ray” and says he loved the energy coming from Ray tonight.

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Contestant:        Jacquie Lee

Team:                  Xtina
Song:                   “Who’s Lovin You” by The Jackson 5

Jacquie has the closing spot tonight and she also has a song that has been covered many, many times by many, many artists. The X Factor even covered it a few weeks ago. Xtina challenges her during rehearsals: “Sing it in my face.” Ha! When the performance begins Jacquie sings a capella…and I have the chills. Even when the band kicks in, she retains her soulful edge but she also amplifies her emotion by about 500 when she reaches the audience. Jacquie is fantastic tonight. Will might still have my vote for best of the night, but damn, Jacquie is standing on his heels.  

Coaches Say:    Xtina loves Jacquie and is so proud of how well she did tonight. Adam says Jacquie poured it all out in her performance. Blake thinks the performance was powerful and CeeLo says it’s like Jacquie “swallowed an old lady.”

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And on that note, the Top 8 have done all they can do to win America’s votes tonight. I think James, Tessanne, Will and Jacquie set themselves apart from Caroline, Cole, Ray and Matthew tonight BUT I also think this was the best performance of the season. Even the contestants who have been a bit behind stepped it up a little this evening.

 

Tomorrow night we say goodbye to two more contestants and find out which teams move on to the next part of the competition. Is Team CeeLo’s elimination a foregone conclusion? Will we have a Team Adam finale? Does Xtina have her first real shot at winning this year with Jacquie? We’ll find out in the coming weeks. Til then!

 

The X Factor: Times of Trouble

Tonight on The X Factor two more acts will go home as the teams are whittled down to eight contenders. We re-watch the good, the bad and the ugly from last night’s performance episode in an effort to kill about 8 minutes of the hour and then we get going…

The first elimination of the night is the act with the lowest number of votes and that act will also not have the opportunity to sing for a save. Unfortunately…Khaya is that person tonight. Wow. Really? This kid just couldn’t drum up support, huh? That’s really a shame because she’s more talented than several of the remaining contestants.

The final elimination comes down to Tim and Carlito...so Paulina is going to have to choose between two of her guys. Tim takes on “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban as his save me song and he sings it well. Again, no one is calling this guy’s voice into question. It’s his lack of stage presence, lack of personality, and lack of entertainment quality that puts him below the other contestants on this show. Carlito, to this point, has had the opposite problem. He has many qualities of a true entertainer, but his vocals just aren’t always stellar. He chooses “Beneath Your Beautiful” by Labrinth and Emile Sande…which was also just performed on The Voice. Sigh. Carlito should stay away from any future a capella attempts, as evidenced by the first half of the song…but the second half is much better. He looks more confident, he’s working the sexy, and it also looks like he’s working the Demi.

Kelly and Demi vote to send Tim home, giving Paulina and Simon a chance to tie it up. In the event of a tie, the person with the lowest number of votes is automatically eliminated. Paulina votes to send Tim home though so we don’t even have to hear from Simon. Interesting.

I think between the two guys Tim was the right choice. Hell, I think Tim was the right choice tonight regardless. Paulina now only has Carlito and Josh remaining, with Simon retaining Alex & Sierra and Restless Road, Demi holding on to Rion and Ellona, and Kelly keeping Lillie and Jeff. It’s still an even playing ground on The X Factor but we will definitely see a shift in numbers again next week. Can Carlito fight back? Will the boys of Restless Road loosen up and have some fun? Will Simon and Kelly finally get into an all-out fight (my money is on Kelly)? We’ll see what happens when the Top 8 take the stage next week. Til then!

The X Factor: Fix You

On tonight’s episode of The X Factor the remaining ten contestants take on The British Invasion…because clearly none of these shows have done British Invasion night before. Sigh. As long as this doesn’t turn into a Beatles night, or a Lennon/McCartney night I think we’ll be okay. Just keeping my fingers crossed for something different, so let’s see what the Top 10 come up with!

 

 
Act:             Jeff Gutt
Team:         Kelly
Song:          “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

Oh wow. This is really ambitious, but I’m already on board because Jeff starts the song while sitting on the Iron Throne. Anyone who gives me a Game of Thrones reference during a performance has my support. It’s always tough when they chop this song up for time purposes though…”Bohemian Rhapsody” builds for a reason, and skipping over parts always makes me wince. I wish Jeff was rocking out more when the song hits its peak, but he sang this song wayyyy better than I thought he would.

Critiques: Paulina says Jeff’s performance was a powerful way to start the show. Demi thinks this was Jeff’s best performance yet and Simon agrees! Kelly tells Jeff he rocked this week.

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Act:            Tim Olstad

Team:       Paulina
Song:         “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” by Elton John

Tim wants to do something different this week, so he chooses to sing behind the piano. Daring! For a little while anyway…then it’s the same old thing. Is it better this week? Yeah, I can say it is. Tim just isn’t someone I’m rooting for unfortunately.

Critiques: Kelly thinks Tim stepped it up a couple of notches this week, calling him sexy behind the piano. Demi is blushing a little. She really liked the performance and says Tim should go the R&B route because it’s less boring. Simon believes the problem with Tim is – he’s a singing hamster and everyone wants him to be a singing lion. Paulina calls him “Siiiiimba” and I move on.

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Act:           Khaya Cohen

Team:       Demi
Song:        “Let It Be” by John Lennon

And here we go. This is actually my favorite song from the Lennon-McCartney songbook. Khaya doesn’t want to land in the bottom 2 again this week so she goes all out on this performance. Sometimes it’s a bit shouty, but I do appreciate what she tries to do here. Khaya throws herself into the song emotionally and doesn’t hold back…I really hope that works for her and she is able to build more of a fan base this week.

Critiques: Kelly says Khaya’s voice has a high, incredible power to it. Paulina says Khaya shows her soul when she’s singing and thinks this was her best performance. Simon thinks the fact that Khaya was in the bottom 2 last week was a joke because she’s a talented singer with a lot of potential, and Demi agrees.

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Act:            Josh Levi

Team:        Paulina
Song:         “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the Eurythmics

This is actually the perfect song for Josh. I love the arrangement, I love the staging, and I think this kid is going to stick around for a while. Nicely done.

Critiques: Kelly is jealous that Paulina is Josh’s mentor. Demi says Josh reminds her of a young Chris Brown (pre-Rihanna?) and thinks he has a long career ahead of him. Simon hated the dancers in the background and wants to see Josh on his own. Paulina doesn’t care what Simon says and tells Josh: “We have the power in this competition.”

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Act:           Alex & Sierra

Team:      Simon
Song:       “Best Song Ever” by One Direction

I’m oddly excited that British Invasion night includes One Direction. The duo goes back to standing side by side this week with a neat little “bridge at nighttime” effect that is very romantic. I love these two. I just watch them with my head kind of titled to the side with a big smile on my face. Their take on this song is fantastic and I’m SO excited for them.

 
Critiques: Kelly thinks Alex was stronger than Sierra this week and I wait for Simon to choke her Homer Simpson style. He refrains and I am relieved. Paulina thinks the bridge was corny, but Demi completely disagrees. She loved the performance but plans to go download the song on iTunes. Simon calls the performance brilliant.
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Act:           Rion Paige

Team:       Demi
Song:        “Your Song” by Elton John

Demi encourages Rion to stay vulnerable in her performances and Rion takes that and runs with it. She’s 100% emotionally invested in this song, and it’s just beautiful. When I think about how young Rion is and how well she carries herself…combined with her amazing talent, I just can’t help but root for her. Well done, kid.

Critiques: Kelly says “The X Factor contestants are not messin’ around tonight.” She tells Rion the performance was incredible. Paulina thinks that Rion gave us nostalgia tonight. Simon says Rion was absolutely fantastic tonight. Demi feels the emotion when Rion sings and is proud of the way Rion can control her performances as well as the audience.

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Act:          Carlito Olivero
Team:      Paulina
Song:       “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones

Paulina wants Carlito to channel Mick Jagger this week, because Mick doesn’t care what people think of him. Right. Well, this is a competition were people vote for you based on what they of you, so I think Paulina’s logic is flawed. Carlito performs the song flanked by screens of himself dancing, and it’s all just weird for me.  

Critiques:  Kelly thinks the performance was a huge step up from last week but thinks there’s something missing. Demi believes that Carlito needs to be crazy sexy all the time. Simon says the staging for the performance was sensational. Paulina tells Carlito he misses his smile and he needs to smile at the girls.  

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Act:           Lillie McCloud

Team:      Kelly
Song:       “This Woman’s Work” by Kate Bush
                                            

Lillie has never heard this song before so I initially worry. She wants to be able to own a song and feel it, and that’s a bit more challenging if you are completely unfamiliar with it and have less than a week to put together a performance. If she hadn’t mentioned any of this in the video package, I would have had no idea she had just learned the song. Lillie owns it anyway and the way she delivers the lyrics…you would think she wrote the song herself. Awesome.

 

Critiques: Paulina says Lillie’s talent is refreshing. Demi was waiting for a huge note that never came but she still enjoyed the performance. Simon says the performance was brilliant and tonight she has “arrived.” Kelly loves that Lillie is still able to share her gift and she is grateful to be working with her.

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Act:           Ellona Santiago

Team:       Demi
Song:        “Burn” by Ellie Goulding

First off, the staging is fantastic. Ellona doesn’t look like a kid who is trying to make this work…she looks like a natural and totally holds her own. She’s out of breath a few times, but this is a really difficult song to sing…and by the end, I’m definitely applauding from my couch. I’m always impressed by this kid, and I think she stepped it up this week from a performance standpoint. We knew she could sing, but now we know for sure that she is an entertainer.

 

Critiques: Kelly thinks Ellona always brings something extra to the stage and compliments her on the big note. Paulina says not to worry about the dancing because her voice is so awesome. Simon doesn’t know who Ellona is yet as an artist. Demi thinks Ellona killed the performance.

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Act:            Restless Road

Team:        Simon
Song:         “Fix You” by Coldplay

 

Whoa! This is not the song I would have expected…especially since Simon had the boy band Emblem3 do that awful rendition of “Hey Jude” last year.  I also never would have listened to Coldplay’s version and thought: “this should totally be covered by a trio of country dudes” and clearly I’m wrong. I’m not sure that this is a performance worthy of the closing spot on the show, but I do think they do a great job here.

 

Critiques: Kelly is waiting on her Restless Road t-shirt but thinks the harmonies need to be tighter. Paulina loved the song, but Demi agrees with Kelly. Simon thought it was one of the best performances of the night. Of course he did.

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Overall I thought there were a ton of improvements made tonight and the contestants are really trying to step up their game. Tomorrow two more acts will go home and the competition will be down to eight competitors. Did Carlito do enough to get himself back on track this week? Can Tim defy the odds again? Will Khaya get herself out of the bottom 2? All will be revealed during the results show. Til then!

The Voice: Oh My Bags Are Packed...

During this week's elimination episode of The Voice two more hopefuls will be shown the door. Each team had at least one strong performance last night, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all four coaches are represented for one more week at least.

 

Can we talk for just a second for Team Xtina's performance? I say "Team Xtina" but I really just mean Xtina. She's so fantastic when she struts out with the opening lines of "Black Cat" that I completely forget that her two contestants even exist. Matthew and Jacquie have a long road ahead of them to command a stage like their coach.

 

Adam is the Sexiest Man Alive. No further explanation needed.

 

Results! James is the first person announced safe and he is quickly followed by Matthew. After some commercial breaks and performances, Ray is safe. Whoa! That's still a surprise for me....not shocking though is Will is also announced safe. Tessanne sails through to next week as well, and she is joined by Jacquie.

 

Only 4 contestants remain on stage as Cole, Austin, Caroline and Kat await the news. Cole is safe, leaving the others to the Twitter save which, by the way, is ridiculous. After those 5 minutes are up....America saves....Caroline. What?!? Really!?!? I would have thought Austin and Kat would have gotten the save over her, but we lose both of them tonight.

 

I'm bummed about Kat. She was a total rock star during her group performance with James and Will tonight. I wish she'd had another chance....and I'm very displeased with Twitter this evening. Who's idea was this?

 

So as it stands now, Team Adam retained all 3 members again, Team Xtina still has her 2, Team Blake is now down to 2 and Team CeeLo has 1 lone contestant left. Will Caroline be able to carry Team CeeLo through again? Will Adam's contestants dominate for the rest of the season?  Are Blake's hopes of continuing his winning streak completely far fetched at this point? We'll see what happens when the Top 8 perform next week. Til then!

The Voice: Hold On Little Girl

On tonight’s episode of The Voice the Top 10 take the stage again hoping that their dreams of becoming a superstar will soon be realized. I hope these guys have been in contact with Javier Colon and Jermaine Paul to keep their expectations realistic. Our four coaches are antsy tonight, hoping to retain their reams for one more week….and CeeLo is wearing an ensemble that came straight from an S&M version of The Lord of the Rings. Let’s see what these two hours have in store, shall we?

 

 

Contestant:        Austin Jenckes
Team:                  Blake
Song:                   “Your Love” by The Outfield

Austin is all smiles tonight trying to rock it out on this song. Trying is the key word here. Blake was hoping he gave Austin a song that would really show off his pipes…but really Austin gives just an okay performance here until the very last part.

Coaches Say:  Blake says Austin mastered the art of the slow build. Xtina loved the ending of the song and Adam thinks Austin has amazing range.

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Contestant:        Jacquie Lee

Team:                  Xtina
Song:                   “Clarity” by Zedd

The beginning of this song is rough. Jacquie leans against a piano on a foggy stage and goes with a stripped down version of the song. She has several questionable notes and her enunciation is off at times too. The creepy foggy background singers are an interesting touch, but this is definitely a step backward for Jacquie.

Coaches Say: Xtina commends Jacquie for stepping out of her comfort zone. She liked the performance and even compliments the background singers. CeeLo says there were some moments in the song that were tough but he still loves her. Blake agrees with CeeLo but thinks it’s because the broken down version exposed some of those bum notes.  

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Contestant:        Will Champlin

Team:                  Adam
Song:                   “Love Me Again” by John Newman

Adam chooses a song for Will that is big in the UK but not well known in the United States. I have definitely never heard of it, but Will hopes that the song will take off because of his performance. He does a lot with the staging here…several people in the background, pyrotechnics and so on. I can’t say this was a standout moment for Will, but I do plan to do some research on John Newman now because I did enjoy the song as well as his performance.

 

Coaches Say: Adam notes Will’s amazing story on the show because he’s been passed around so much. I’m sure Will appreciates that reminder. Xtina does some rambling but then calls Will “the full package.” Blake thinks Will is an accurate vocalist and he really enjoyed the performance.

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Contestant:        Caroline Pennell
Team:                  CeeLo
Song:                   “Leaving On a Jet Plane” by John Denver

Confession: I love John Denver’s music...especially the Christmas album he did with The Muppets. If you don’t have it, go get it and start getting in the holiday spirit. Just sayin.

 

Anyway, CeeLo lets Caroline choose her own song tonight (side note: CeeLo can’t ever do this again), and Caroline chooses to sing a very shy, snoozy “Leaving On a Jet Plane.” I start to zone out before she even hits the first chorus, and I had kind of hoped to be happily singing along.

Coaches Say: CeeLo is pleased about letting her go to lead herself tonight but then does admit the song overpowered her at times. At times? Adam is glad he got to see Caroline make “a statement about a lot of the things you’ve been experiencing.” No one says the song was boring and that she might be in over her head. Where is Simon Cowell when I need him?

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Contestant:        Cole Vosbury

Team:                  Blake
Song:                   “To Be With You” by Mr. Big

It’s been a while since I’ve heard this song so I’m super excited watching the rehearsal package. He goes with the guitar over the piano, which I think was the right choice, and he delivers a raspy, enjoyable performance. I’m not sure it’s memorable but there’s something about this guy that I really like.

 
Coaches Say: Blake thinks Cole “nailed it to the wall.” Adam wishes Cole had chosen him as his coach, and CeeLo is happy that Cole has come so far.
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Contestant:        Tessanne Chin

Team:                  Adam
Song:                   “If I Were Your Woman” by Gladys Knight
 

Wow! Finally a standout performance! Tessanne kills this song. Just kills it. I am just so fascinated by her voice and delivery and she's someone I am truly excited about this season. Tessanne really has the chance to go all the way to the end here…and she absolutely should. Best of the night. Hands down.

 

Coaches Say: Adam thinks Tessanne solidified herself as a major contender on the show. Agreed. Xtina wants her to be more Jamaican when she sings but says she did a great job.

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Contestant:        Ray Boudreaux

Team:                  Blake
Song:                   “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne

Ray tries his best with this song but it falls a little short for me. Even the folks playing the instruments behind him look bored and sway lazily. Seems this is the type of music he wants to play and the type of artist he wants to be though… so I just don’t think his style is for me.

Coaches Say: Blake loved the way Ray sang the chorus and compliments him for knowing exactly who he wants to be. Xtina thinks Ray has shown the most growth in the competition and Adam says Ray is one of the more solid performers on the show.

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Contestant:        James Wolpert

Team:                  Adam
Song:                   “Without You” by Badfinger
 

James is taking on quite the power ballad here. There isn’t much of a build leading into the chorus….he kind of goes from 0 to 100 in the first few lines and stays there. James tries to incorporate his rock vibe, but it kind of comes off as screaming and not belting. Not my favorite James performance.

Coaches Say: Adam says that is one of the toughest songs to sing and loves James’ performance. Xtina thinks James looks dapper and she also calls his voice “clean” and then calls it “clean” several more times.

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Contestant:        Kat Robichaud

Team:                  CeeLo
Song:                   “We Belong” by Pat Benetar

See, I’m already hesitant because Rion Paige performed this song on The X Factor last week. Reality tv enthusiasts might immediately think "been there, done that." I’m also hesitant because CeeLo has thrown in theatrics, backup dancers and more choreography than I ever could have predicted for one of Kat's performances. That being said, Kat does have a wonderful voice and she really sings the hell out of the song…I just wish she had stayed behind the piano.

Coaches Say: CeeLo thinks everyone just bore witness to “the new next thing.” Adam says this was the performance we were all waiting to see.  

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Contestant:        Matthew Schuler

Team:                  Xtina
Song:                   “Beneath Your Beautiful” by Labrinth and Emile Sande

Matthew takes the opposite approach from Kat in terms of staging, choosing to stand in spotlight for the first half of the song and let his vocals do the rest. By the time the band really kicks in during the second half of the song, Matthew is in full command of the song and the stage. Nicely done.

 

 

Coaches Say: The applause goes on for so long, we pretty much run out of time. Xtina tells Matthew to take in all of the love he is getting from the audience. She says he makes everyone happy when he performs.

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Though The Voice doesn’t really do a ton of themes, the unofficial themes tonight were “showing another side” and “getting out of your comfort zone.”  Will rose to the challenge with a song no one seems to know, while Caroline chose her own song…playing it safe and boring me out of my mind. Tessanne took a risk by taking on a beast of a song, while Jacquie was incredibly shaky doing the vulnerable thing. I can barely remember Austin singing at all, and then there’s poor Kat…

 

Two more contestants will be sent home on tomorrow’s elimination episode and I worry for the young ladies of The Voice tonight. Well…not Tessanne…unless we are heading toward another Judith Hill upset. Will the teams even out tomorrow? Will CeeLo and Xtina keep their teams in tact this week? Will either of them lose their remaining two contestants in one night? We’ll find out during the results show. Til then!

THe X Factor: What A Pity

So, Tim Olstad lives to see another day. I just wanted to get that out of the way first. After tallying America’s votes, the two acts ousted tonight are Sweet Suspense and Rachel Potter. Really? I’m not too broken up about Sweet Suspense given their lackluster performance of “Mickey” last night, but I thought Rachel had shown tremendous improvement. But wait…it actually gets worse. Sweet Suspense was eliminated immediately but Rachel had to sing for survival against Khaya Cohen, who also landed in the bottom. Was there another voting glitch this week? Can we have another do over?  Khaya’s rendition of Joe Cocker's "Don't Give Up On Me" was far superior to Rachel’s "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain…so I had no hope that she would be saved. Simon, Paulina, and Demi all voted to send Rachel home, with Kelly left to pick up the pieces with poor Rachel. Sigh.  

 

Next week the remaining 10 acts take the stage again hoping to continue their journey to the finish line. Will Khaya win America’s heart? Will Carlito find some sort of singing/dancing happy place? Will Tim do anything we haven’t already seen him do? Can Restless Road perform shirtless? We’ll find out on Wednesday. Til then!

The X Factor: Two Hours...For What?

Tonight on The X Factor someone (for real this time) will be eliminated and the competition will continue.  It’s 80s night, which has to be better than Motown night, so I already miss Paula Abdul. Can she sub in for Paulina? Their names are close enough…you never know what either of them is saying…it’s a pretty fair trade.

 

We go to elimination first, meaning the act that is sent home tonight will also not be performing this evening. Depending on who it is...I might not care. The lowest vote getter last week was Carlos Guevara, so I am totally fine not seeing his take on the 1980s. Let’s get the rest of the show on the road!

Act:        Lillie McCloud

Team:    Kelly
Song:     “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan

Apparantly Lillie released a single in the 80s that never took off. I’m going to have to do some more research on that. Anywho, Lillie is sporting some serious hair tonight. I barely recognize her with this time traveling she’s doing, but she makes it work.  Part of the critiques these past weeks have been about her being too old school...not current enough…too many ballads… but there’s none of that tonight. I can’t wait to see what Simon has to say about her transformation. Well done!

Critiques: Paulina attempts to say the word “versatile” and I’m already having a good time. Demi says that Lillie looked a little uncomfortable at times but she also really stepped it up this week. Simon calls Lillie “a naughty little thing” and says she looked and sounded fantastic. Kelly thinks Lillie lives in her head a little too much and it was great to see her have fun tonight.

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Act:        Carlito Olivero
Team:   Paulina
Song:     “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” by Gloria Estefan

Carlito is going into tonight’s performance feeling a little bummed about last week. He didn’t feel great about his performance but he definitely has a boost of confidence when the music starts. He has quite a production behind him with dancers and singers, and he’s got some moves himself. I see him more as this Usher-esque artist than the vibe he was giving last week.

Critiques: Kelly calls Carlito eye candy and says he should be more suave. Demi found herself paying more attention to the dancers than to him. She did not like the performance. Ouch! Simon says Carlito probably won’t be around another week (double ouch!) and thinks he’s a dancer who was trying to be a singer. Paulina thinks the problem is Carlito’s face. WHAT? She says he is showing too much fear. Clearly that must be it.

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Act:        Rion Paige

Team:    Demi
Song:     “We Belong” by Pat Benatar

Rion really likes the Spice Girls…who are definitely not from the 80s. She reminds us she was born in the year 2000 and I immediately go to a mirror and check for gray hairs. I can’t believe how much older I am than Rion. Demi wants her to be a rock star this evening, which is tough for a 13 year old.  She does her best and she’s bit out of her element, but I just heart her so much.

Critiques: Kelly loved the way she sang the song as if she was right in the middle of the 80s. Paulina says Rion is a firecracker and loves the way Rion feels the music. Simon says Rion performs every song 110% and wants her to have more input in the songs she sings. Demi thinks she did great.

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Act:        Sweet Suspense

Team:    Simon
Song:     “Mickey” by Toni Basil

Okay, I love this song. It still pops up on my iPod more than it should. The girls have turned it more into a rock song which I really enjoy. I do wish, however, that they moved around a little more. The choreographed walking as a group doesn’t really do it for me. They could have been having so much more fun with the song.

Critiques:  Kelly didn’t think the girls were in sync with one another tonight. Paulina still doesn’t know any of their names. Demi hated this performance too. Simon tells Demi to shut up and calls this Sweet Suspense’s best performance in the competition…as well as the night so far. Whoa, buddy. Simmer down.

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Act:        Tim Olstad

Team:    Paulina
Song:     “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. This is one of those songs that should be retired from all singing competitions. Also…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Critiques: Kelly says the performance fell flat. Paulina disagrees. Weird. Demi thinks Tim has a wonderful voice, but there is no X factor. Simon says the female dancer stole the show.

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Act:        Khaya Cohen
Team:    Demi
Song:     “Borderline” by Madonna

Woohoo! I love Madonna. I also generally love Madonna covers…maybe because most covers sound exponentially better than the renditions I sing in the shower. Now that Simon has compared Khaya to Amy Winehouse, that’s all I can think about when she starts to sing. There’s nothing wrong with that though – I think Amy could have done some amazing takes on Madonna tunes. Khaya does a great job here. She’s really a breath of fresh air on so many levels.

Critiques:  Kelly thinks Khaya is ready for “this whole music thang.” Paulina feels like Khaya gets better every week. Simon loves that she is showing personality and confidence. Demi says Khaya killed it.
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Act:        Restless Road

Team:    Simon
Song:     “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins

This song should be right up their alley and I’m hoping they have fun with it.  Well, I can say they sound great, but there could have been so much more energy from the guys. In particular, the one with the deep voice could totally pass for Willard – the Footloose character who doesn’t know how to dance. Carson Daly shows more excitement with his 3 facial expressions than this dude does. They never actually work the crowd either and I’m bummed.

Critiques:  Kelly loves them, Paulina loves them, and Demi thinks the boys could release the song as their own. Simon thinks their love for being on the show is infections and they did a great job. Okay, so they saw something I did not see…

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Act:        Rachel Potter

Team:    Kelly
Song:     “Alone” by Heart

I’m always hesitant on this song.  In terms of singing competitions, I hold Carrie Underwood’s rendition on American Idol on such a high pedestal. Rachel does a neat staging thing with a fence, fog and a wind machine…and she sounds amazing. I’m really happy for her given the negative critiques she received last week.

 

Critiques: Paulina calls Rachel a great singer and entertainer. Demi says Rachel has the potential to win this whole competition. Simon doesn’t understand what kind of artist Rachel wants to be. Kelly says Rachel has “edge” and hits notes that no one in Simon’s group can. Burn!

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Act:        Ellona Santiago

Team:    Demi
Song:     “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston

See, I would have picked “How Will I Know?” for Ellona, but that’s okay. Even so…Ellona is such a natural. She is 100% comfortable on stage, her vocals are fantastic, and she looks confident with backup dancers (even if she slips) and extensive staging. She’s someone who has the X factor.

Critiques:  Kelly thinks the beginning was a little rough but she loves watching Ellona. Paulina says Ellona belongs on this show. Simon thinks the first two-thirds of the song were erratic, but the last part of the song was great. Demi thinks Ellona is a diva who picks herself up.

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Act:        Josh Levi

Team:    Paulina
Song:     “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul

Josh gives this song an R&B twist and absolutely puts Carlito to shame in the singing and dancing department. I know Josh was worried about doing a more up tempo song since he was eliminated the last time he danced, but I prefer this performance to last week’s ballad. Josh had a shining moment tonight and might be Paulina’s only chance at having a presence for the rest of the season.

Critiques: Kelly says Josh has “just arrived.” Demi doesn’t understand how Josh was ever eliminated and thinks the smartest thing Paulina has done was to bring him back. Simon says we were watching and listening to a star.

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Act:        Jeff Gutt

Team:    Kelly
Song:     “(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight” by Cutting Crew

The song starts off a little shaking but once Jeff gets rid of the night stand and comes down the stairs, he settles in and the performance takes off. Well…he takes his jacket off…awkwardly. But he still makes this song fun to listen to. I actually never cared for the original.

Critiques: Paulina thinks Jeff gives us a little more rock n roll every week. Demi says Jeff is one of her favorites in the competition. Simon wants Jeff to go out of his comfort zone to be more original. Kelly loves that Jeff is not afraid of work. She’s pissed at Simon.

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Act:        Alex & Sierra

Team:    Simon
Song:     “Addicted To Love” by Robert Palmer

Oh my God. I love this. Normally I want Alex and Sierra always next to each other, gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes, but what they’ve done with the wall between them is brilliant. This is my favorite performance of the night.

Critiques: Kelly prefers to see them as a couple and not separated by the wall. Paulina loves that Alex & Sierra are bohemian. Yup.  Demi also didn’t like the wall…wow. Simon thinks they lost the melody and I totally missed that. It's amazing what props can do?

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Looking back on the performances tonight as well as the judges’ comments, I don’t think anyone should feel 100% confident going into elimination. I’d still like to see Tim Olstad go home tomorrow. I think he has an amazing voice. I really do…but he’s out of his league on a show like this. Will his new found friendship with Sarah Hyland win him some votes? Will Simon’s prediction of Carlito getting the axe come to fruition? We’ll find out during the results show. Til then!