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: KellySong: “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.
---------------------------------------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: DemiSong: “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: SimonSong: “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: PaulinaSong: “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.
---------------------------------------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: SimonSong: “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: KellySong: “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: DemiSong: “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: PaulinaSong: “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: KellySong: “(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: SimonSong: “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!
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