The third live show (Episode 14) of X Factor Australia has aired and is up on the official site. Here is the link. It is region locked to Australia, but thanks to the Chrome Extension Hola, you can watch it anywhere. Many of you may have used this extension to watch X Factor UK a day early via ITV’s website, but it’s even easier for X Factor Australia. No zip code or account is required.
But if you want to just watch performances and (with some videos) judges comments, and don’t care about the introductions, you don’t even need to use Hola. You can just watch the videos embedded below. Read on for my thoughts on Live Show 3 of X Factor AU featuring judges Adam Lambert, Iggy Azalea, Guy Sebastian, and Mel B.
We open with (as usual) a recap of last week’s show, and a preview of what’s to come tonight. This week, the contestants songs were picked via public vote. Everyone had two options and Australia decided which one they preferred. The finalists will only find out which song they are actually performing right before they sing. Damn. That seems like a bad idea, we will see who can handle the pressure. We also will have a double elimination tomorrow.
Up first is Chynna Taylor. Dami Im (season 5 winner and the most successful XFAU alumni) is going to mentor her this week. She really hopes she gets Mercy by Duffy. And she does. Guy was surprised by the public’s choice. Chynna really is stellar. This song is perfect for her. It starts off good, but by the end she takes it to a different level. She deserves to make the top 2 this season, if not win the whole thing. Everyone but Adam stands up. Mel is beginning to see her X Factor properly, sees the sassy girl she wanted to see. Adam liked the attitude, loved the growling at the end (I totally agree). Iggy loves the look, and says it’s all coming together for her. Guy is proud of her, knows how nervous she was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6oyAUZEcow
Up next is Brentwood. They are mentored by Jess and Matt (X Factor duo who made the final). They perform Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac. Iggy says Australia made the right choice. The performance starts, and it’s much better than the last two weeks. This is what they should be as a group. Their solos are great. Having said that, I still don’t think they have a shot at winning. There are too many other talented acts this season. Nobody stands for them. Guy wasn’t sure that it was a good song choice, found that it was flat at the chorus. Mel loved it. Adam says it made so much more sense than the past few weeks, but didn’t believe what they were singing. Iggy is proud of them, brings up the streaming numbers (they are doing well there), and says they deserve to stay another week in the competition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Li4iq865d4
Next up are Beatz. They were in the bottom two last week and after the judges took it to deadlock, they made it through to another week. Samantha Jade is mentoring them because she was in the bottom two a lot before eventually winning the show. They screwed up at rehearsal apparently. They are going to perform Single Ladies by Beyonce. Mel B is so happy that Australia chose this song. They are by far the best girl group I’ve seen on any version of X Factor since Little Mix. The choreography, vocals, and performance is pretty great. One of them raps in the middle of the song. Mel and Guy stand up for them. Adam says they look great, says the solo vocals weren’t good enough. I disagree. Iggy loves their dancing, agrees with Adam though. Guy thought it was great, a couple of moments were problematic, does a Mel B impression. Mel B says that this was the best they’ve ever performed it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx3O5VdL6uI
Amalia is up next. She meets Jai Waetford (third place season 5). Adam asks if she’s heard of ABBA, she says yes, he says “Thank god.” She’s doing either Mamma Mia or a Florence and the Machine song. She doesn’t want to do Mamma Mia at first, but she’s stuck with it anyway. She does like it better now then she did at first. She starts off slow with just the piano. This song actually does make sense for her. After the first part, it picks up and she does her first uptempo song. And it’s great. This actually might be my favorite performance of hers. Adam stands for her. Iggy thinks she rocked it, says it was nice to see her have fun. Guy kind of hated it, wishes he never saw this side of her. Mel calls Guy grumpypants, and she really enjoyed it. Adam was worried about the song, but found it catchy and infectious, loved her performance of the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWhp5tpoZEc
Davey Woder is up next. Dami Im mentors him and she barely gets a word in edgewise. He gets Working Class Man by Jimmy Barnes. Davey wanted to sing this one. I think he sounds great on parts of the song this week, although I find his movement around the stage slightly off putting. Sort of like Taylor Hicks on Idol. Mel says that was the perfect song for him, loved how much he enjoyed himself, compares him to an untamed animal running all over the place. Adam wants what he’s having, wants to see this type of thing every week from him. Iggy loved it, loved his radiance of happiness. Guy says that he’s a new icon, loved it (obviously).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5atKpCgPwU
Isaiah Firebrace is up next. Cyrus (last year’s winner) mentors him. Adam hopes he gets No Woman No Cry, but he gets Happy by Pharell instead. Isaiah is a star. His vocals are stellar, and he gets his amazing falsetto in at the end of the performance. Iggy loved it, was skeptical about his outfit at first. Guy didn’t love the styling, didn’t like the choreography. Mel didn’t like any of it. Damn. Why are they bussing him? He’s the best one there. Adam said he wanted both of his acts to have fun this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOH6aHzxd7U
Vlado gets the pimp slot. He doubts his vocals after reading comments online. Taylor Henderson mentors him. He sings Thriller by Michael Jackson. I don’t like being mean to people, and I’m sure Vlado is a really nice person, but I don’t like his voice. He reminds me too much of Shawn Mendes. Adam said the key was too high, it was kinda screechy, found it karaoke. Iggy didn’t like it but likes him, thinks he could win (ugh. I hope not). Guy thinks he has something special, says nothing was special about it. Mel liked that he wasn’t in his comfort zone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajjqs8uybqs
My thoughts: I think that Isaiah and Chynna were the two best of the night. The judges didn’t agree with me on that, but whatever. I think Beatz are goners, and I think either Amalia or Brentwood will be going home too. I wish Vlado would go, but sadly I can’t see that happening.
Results: Well, Australia really freaking sucks this year. Brentwood went home immediately with the fewest votes, which is fine by me. But then, the singoff consisted of Beatz and Chynna Taylor. What. The. Hell. And even worse, Beatz were saved as it went to deadlock. Chynna Taylor was eliminated. Arguably the best singer in the competition is gone. Ugh. So twice now the results have been dead wrong in this shortened season.
