The Top 6 acts compete again tonight on The X Factor, and we are getting down to the wire with the 2013 season. Each act will perform twice tonight - one song made famous by a "diva" and the other song an acoustic tune. There are only four spots in the semi-finals so the contestants have a lot on their plate tonight. Let's see how they do...
Act: Restless Road
Team: Simon
Song: "Red" by Taylor Swift
The band really overpowers the guys on this song and the tall one with the deep voice still can't do any kind of movements without looking at the other two guys to make sure it's okay. They continue to just stand awkwardly rather than try to work the stage (or the crowd). Come on guys - your good looks are your biggest assets in this competition. Go high five some audience members or something!
Critiques: Kelly thinks the vocals were tight tonight but wants more energy from them. Demi says she has enjoyed watching the group grow as artists and compliments the song choice. Paulina tells the boys they are cute and says she liked the song. Simon believes Restless Road deserves to be in the finals.
---------------------------------------Act: Rion Paige
Team: Demi
Song: "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood is one of Rion's idols and I'm sure she loved tackling this song. Rion does a good job but "See You Again" is a little too big for her. The problem with diva night is...if you don't switch the song up at all, you're just going to be compared to that diva. Unfortunately, Rion is no Carrie Underwood.
Critiques: Kelly says that Rion always sings "from a real place." She then tells Rion she looks beautiful so I'm guessing she just doesn't want to say she didn't like the performance. Paulina calls her "Reee-on" and says she loves her tone and uniqueness. Simon didn't like the song choice but does like that Rion went back to her country roots.
---------------------------------------Act: Jeff Gutt
Team: Kelly
Song: "Without You" by Mariah Carey (originally by Harry Nillson)
Jeff puts his rock n' roll spin on this song, turning it quickly into a stadium performance. It becomes far less sappy and far more gut-wrenching, and vocally...he just sounds fantastic. Jeff hasn't been (and still isn't) one of my favorites in this competition, but I will admit that he has shown considerable improvement each week.
Critiques: Demi thinks Jeff has come a long way and he has "the x factor." Paulina says Jeff rocks and thinks Jeff reminds her of Axl Rose. She also wants Jeff to show her blood. I never know what the hell she's talking about. Simon says Jeff is boring as a person but completely transforms on stage. Kelly doesn't need to see no blood.
---------------------------------------Act: Ellona Santiago
Team: Demi
Song: "Applause" by Lady Gaga
See, I think this is a risky song choice. Taking on a diva song is one thing, but taking on a diva song about...well...being a diva is something completely different. Any other Lady Gaga song would have probably worked for Ellona here, but this performance was all over the place for me. I've been a fan of hers this whole season, and I've actually enjoyed what other people have been calling her "over the top" performances, but this wasn't one of my favorites.
Critiques: Kelly thinks this was one of Ellona's best performances but tells her to control her big notes. Paulina keeps telling Ellona that "you're Ellona" which is incredibly helpful for the rest of us who weren't quite sure who this kid is. Simon says Ellona has gone from being a mouse to a tiger and says he loved that version of the song. Demi thinks America should vote for Ellona because she deserves it.
---------------------------------------Act: Alex & Sierra
Team: Simon
Song: "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child
Oh snap! Performing a Destiny's Child song in front of Kelly must be nerve wracking. They keep the song more like the original than I thought they would, but the duo still manages to make their performance sexy and smooth. Sierra is the surprise from me in this song. She seems to have such a shy personality but she is totally sassy here. Nicely done.
Critiques: Kelly was not ready for that at all and says Alex & Sierra pulled it off. Demi thinks the duo was nervous but that Sierra has broken out of her shell. Paulina is into Alex & Sierra's love story and she loves them...and their love story...as well as their love. Simon thinks he's looking at winners.
---------------------------------------Act: Carlito Olivero
Team: Paulina
Song: "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez
This is one of my favorite JLo songs. It's fun, it's upbeat, and it doesn't sound like 20 of her other songs. This is not the tune Carlito and Paulina started the week with, however. They made a last minute change and he had minimal time to rehearse "Let's Get Loud." It shows in his performance. This type of song could easily be a showstopper, but Carlito's delivery is underwhelming.
Critiques: Kelly thinks the performance fell flat and Carlito says he only had 24 hours to learn the song. Demi says Carlito lost his "hot, Latin" swag in this performance. Simon believes the girls are being unfair because of the song change. He says he doesn't want to lose Carlito this week. Demi agrees. Whoa, what? Is Carlito now one of those contestants who is "supposed" to go to the finals so we're going to make excuses for him? Outrageous. I can't even listen to Paulina.
---------------------------------------Act: Restless Road
Team: Simon
Song: “Wake Me Up” by Avicii
Caroline on The Voice attempted a stripped down version of this song recently and I hated it, so I'm already hesitant when the performance begins. However, I love the rendition Restless Road gives us here. The boys sit on stools and just sing. There's no choreography, no big lights and effects....they are just them being themselves and taking it all in. This is my favorite Restless Road performance and I'm a little sad when it ends.
Critiques: Kelly says each member of the group left their heart out on the stage. Demi points at Colton and says "you're making me cry right now." The lead singer of the group is definitely getting emotional. Demi says they've earned a spot in the finals. Okay, there are six acts left. EVERYONE can't be in the finals, kid. Paulina is proud to be here and see their performances. Simon says the group was honest and they have come a long way.
---------------------------------------Act: Rion Paige
Team: Demi
Song: "Glass" by Thompson Square
This song is more in Rion's wheelhouse as she's able to feel the music without needing to be over the top vocally. My favorite thing about Rion is the way she gets lost in a song and how she is able to tell a story each time she sings. I don't need her to be a diva. I like her as a teenager with a deep love for music. This is an excellent performance and I'm so glad she was able to end the night this way.
Critiques: Kelly is crying and says an "unplugged" round allows the audience to see the contestants vulnerable, and that's what is so beautiful about watching Rion. Demi is sobbing but it's not her turn yet. Paulina calls Rion and inspiration and tells her she has t"he x factor." Simon felt every word of the song and thinks she saved herself with that performance. Demi is a mess. She says Rion embodies the meaning of the song and says no one is perfect...and no one has to be.
---------------------------------------Act: Jeff Gutt
Team: Kelly
Song: "Daniel" by Elton John
Jeff dedicates this song to his brother who is serving his country in the armed forces. He plays an acoustic guitar and sits center stage on a stool to deliver his rendition of "Daniel." He does a good job on the song, but I'm a little bored by it. I appreciate the dedication though as well as his brother's touching reaction to the song from the audience.
Critiques: Demi says the performance was good but stale. Paulina loves that Jeff dedicated the song to his brother and also love the way he played the guitar. Simon agrees with Demi and says Jeff's first song was better. Kelly is so proud of Jeff for opening up and sharing his heart with America.
---------------------------------------Act: Ellona Santiago
Team: Demi
Song: "If I Were A Boy" by Beyoncé
Great song. Ellona starts off a capella and is joined by an acoustic guitar as she eases into the first chorus. She's solo here - no dancers, massive sets, or props. Ellona is obviously not going to touch Beyoncé on this song, but she delivers an amazing vocal performance. Well done.
Critiques: Kelly loved the softer parts of the song and tells Ellona to explore those softer tones more. Paulina feels that Ellona has everything she needs for "the x factor." So really, are there multiple winners this year? Simon says this is what he has been waiting for - just her and her voice. He tells her the performance was incredible. Demi says Ellona has an incredible voice and she can definitely win the competition. Her and everybody else?
---------------------------------------Act: Alex & Sierra
Team: Simon
Song: "Say Something" by A Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera
Sierra plays the piano as Alex looks at her longingly while playing the guitar. She has the same aching in her eyes when she looks up to sing with him. The two are surrounded by candles...and this performance is fantastic. They sound amazing and I am totally drawn in to every aspect of what they are doing. This is definitely the best of the night.
Critiques: Standing ovation from all four judges. Kelly feels like she was just watching a performance on an awards show. Demi says the two never took their eyes off each other and it was beautiful. She also says she needs them in the final four. I take a quick break to slam my palm against my forehead. Paulina still loves the duo and Simon says this was his favorite performance of the entire season.
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Act: Carlito Olivero
Team: Paulina
Song: "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King
Carlito goes back and forth between English lyrics and Spanish lyrics which is interesting given his lack of Latino heat in JLo's song earlier. He gets his swag back though, being playful with the audience and flirting with the ladies. Carlito also sounds better than he has in quite a while. I have no idea why he got the pimp slot tonight though...other than The X Factor producers wanting to shove him down our throats.
Critiques: Kelly says this was Carlito's best vocal of the competition. Demi wishes there hadn't been so much music in the background because his voice was so amazing. Simon tells Carlito that his second song was better than his first and reiterates that Carlito should make it to next week. Paulina puts her arms up in their air and says...something.
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Two more will go home tomorrow and we will be down to the semi-finalists for the season. Do the judges realize that telling everyone they deserve to be in the finals doesn't work out mathematically? Will the new found love for Carlito rub off on America? Does Rion have a shot at avoiding the bottom 2 this week? Are Alex and Sierra bound for stardom? We'll find out soon. Til then!
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