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: PaulinaSong: “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: DemiSong: “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 LeviSong: “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: SimonSong: “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: DemiSong: “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.
-----------------------------------------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: KellySong: “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: DemiSong: “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: SimonSong: “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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