America’s Got Talent 2019 Recap: Quarterfinals 2 Performance Videos

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Charlotte Summers – Young singer – She’s from Marabella, Spain and appeared on La Voz Kids Spain in 2015. Her video package features her and her sister taking a fabulous tour of Hollywood. They drive by Simon Cowell’s house! She sings the Bond theme “Diamonds are Forever,” and it’s way too old fashioned for her. It gives her the opportunity to show off her range. But YIKES. This performance is a snooze. It’s a teen pretending she’s Shirley Bassey. No bueno. When she finishes, she reverts back to the teen she is, chirping out a “thank you.” A pox on the person who chose that song. “Your talent is so far beyond your years,” Howie says. But he notes that the song choice was “maybe not the best.” Gabrielle calls her voice “amazing.” Julienne compares her to Jessie J. But she wanted to see more of her personality. Simon calls it a terrible terrible terrible song choice. He prays the audience votes for her anyway. Poor kid can barely hold back her tears.

Nick & Lindsay – Opera/Danger Act – These two aren’t earning a living as a subpar danger act, unsurprisingly. By day, they run a bed and breakfast in New Orleans. RANDOM! Self-aware enough to know they kinda suck, the two admit they have been practicing A LOT. Oh lord. Nick is performing a really horrible version of “Ring of Fire” as Lindsay wobbles around the stage. She still can’t throw a knife straight. Literally, she misses more than she hits. Put them out of their misery, America. PLEASE. It’s so bad, Simon buzzes them. Oh. Howie buzzes them too. Simon calls Nick’s singing “the worst live singing ever.” Gabrielle says, “I loved when you cleaned your toes.” Julianne thought it was so bad, it was good.” Uh. No. “I think you went down in a ring of fire,” says Howie. Apparently she wasn’t wearing underpants the first time they performed says Howie? Or something. Bizarre. Seriously, this act actually got worse and worse every time they hit the stage.

Chris Klafford – Singer – Chris won Swedish Idol a few years ago. He comes from a tiny town in Sweden. “I’ve been playing in small bars,” says Chris, totally leaving out his stint on Idol and his string of hit songs in Sweden. Tonight, he sings another original, dedicated to the last moments he spent with his great grandmother. He sings, accompanying himself on guitar, his voice front and center. He’s got an impressive range. His chest voice is powerful. At first, Julianne thought he needed a band. But she changed her mind. Gabrielle agrees with Julianne. But  Simon didn’t feel the emotional connection like he did in the middle rounds. Ha. He’s oerforming third–the desth spot. Simon really hates these White Guy with Guitar types. Howie agrees with Simon. The song could have been stronger, but Chris managed to sing the heck out of it.  

Marina Mazepa – Dancer/Contortionist – She was a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance last year. Tonight, she promises to take a “huge risk” and “do something I’ve never done before.” Any moment, I expect an alien to come bursting out of her stomach. She’s at once compelling and creepy with the way she slithers around the stage. Simon buzzed her! She didn’t deserve that. C’mon. It’s true, your average AGT fan will probably not appreciate her outre performance. But she’s bold. Simon hated the music, thought it was boring. Wow. He really disses her. She looks pissed. Howie says, “One man’s boredom is another man’s dream. I’m married, I feel like I just cheated.” Gabrielle also loved it. “It was amazing.” Julianne says, “You are so weird, and I love weird.” So that’s 3 against 1. 

Simon sure is GRUMPY tonight. 

Robert Finley – Singer/Songwriter – He’s a 65 year old veteran who lost his sight to glaucoma. Tonight, he’ll perform a song about his AGT experience. It’s too bad he didn’t hit back in the 70’s. It would have been his time. His voice oozes classic R&B. Simon looks happy for the first time tonight. The original he’s performing is an upbeat bluesy thing about all the love AGT has “given to me.” Robert’s daughter is singing backups. Gabrielle calls him “a gift to us all.” Howie wonders if the song will connect to young people. Howie is cute. He thinks kids are voting for AGT contestants. Julianne disagrees. “I would like to be baptized into the Robert Finley church. Simon agrees with the girls, “Five thousand people just gave you a standing ovation.”

The Sentimentalists – Mentalists – WILDCARD – These two are a fairly mediocre mentalist act, so why bring them back? Tonight, their bit is centered on touch. So of course, they bring Howie on stage. As he tries delicious desserts, the female mentalist guesses what he’s eating. She also guesses that Gabrielle is chewing bubble gum. Eh. She’s probably wearing an earpiece or something. This is boring. Wait. She didn’t guess Julianne’s correctly? I’m confused. This act can’t put together a cohesive bit. Julianne thought they were sloppy this time. They have been from the beginning. Simon called it a “total mess.” That routine went on for over 7 minutes. Talk about meandering. Yep. That was bad. The Clairvoyants have spoiled me.

Ryan Niemiller – Comedian – Ryan was born without arms and hands. He felt sorry for himself at first, but then learned to control his narrative. He played football and was crowned homecoming king in high school. “I wan’t you to vote for me because I’m the funniest person you’ve ever seen” he says. Tonight, his jokes are about getting in shape and making New Year’s resolutions. Also trailer jokes. His twitter handle is @CrippleThreat8. Heh. Howie calls him wonderful, memorable, funny, smart. Julianne says he was born to be on the stage. “This is your lane,” she says. Simon says, “You’re born to do this…everything worked.” He believes Ryan will be in the semi-finals. He is a pretty funny dude. Also, his positive attitude is infectious. 

V. Unbeatable – Acrobatic Dance Troupe – Dwyane Wade’s Golden Buzzer – These boys have been spectacular, but they are in a position now, that it’s tough to top what they’ve done so far. The stagecraft is snazzy, including pyrotechnics. But I don’t think they’ve upped their game from last time.  “Every time we see you guys, you push the boundaries,” Simon says, “You make every second of those two minutes count.” Julianne says a clap isn’t enough, “You literally raise the game. This is the best performance of the night.” Gabrielle notes they were her husband’s golden buzzer. “It takes a champion to see a champion.” Howie calls it the “best performance I have ever watched.” He’s talking his entire 10 years on AGT. OK. These boys are good, but this praise is a little OT. 

Joseph Allen – Singer/songwriter – Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer – I barely remember this guy, except as the dude who inexplicably got Howie’s golden buzzer. In his video package, he cries thinking about how far he’s come. He performs an original song, a mixture of rap and singing, dedicated to his mom. Eh. It’s just OK? Howie calls him a shining light. “I could feel the pride shooting over our heads.” Gabrielle loves a vulnerable man, “You put your heart on this stage.” Julianne agrees with Gabrielle. She advises him not to compare himself to anybody. She felt a little apprehension. “Just be you.” Simon thought the best part of his song was his parents’ reaction from the audience, but otherwise, the performance was unremarkable. I agree with Simon, except I thought his audition was also mediocre. Joseph says, “the way you treat your mom, is…the way you’ll treat your wife.” Well, that will net him some votes.

Light Balance Kids – Blacklight Act – Ellie Kemper’s Golden Buzzer – This offshoot of the popular Light Balance act do a spooky thing in skeleton outfits. It’s cool. But like V. Unbeatable, it’s hard to top what they’ve already done. And these blacklight acts don’t always translate well to television. That was not a step up. Gabrielle, however, felt they topped themselves. Julianne gushes, “that was unbelievable.” Oohhh. Simon is gonna tell the truth. “This didn’t have the wow factor…this felt tame compared to your previous performances.” He compares their energy to V. Unbeatable, which is unfair–the two acts aren’t at all alike. Howie is with the girls. He can’t believe Simon hated the Billie Eilish song. The music was OK. But Simon was right. That lacked excitement. Ugh, more kids who are close to tears because of Simon.

Tyler Butler-Figueroa – Young Violinist – Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer – Tyler was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 4. After three years of chemotherapy, he is in remission. His mom says he spent years in the hospital. Aw. He goes back to the hospital to play violin for the patients. He plays “Don’t You Worry Child” by the Swedish House Mafia. It’s a very energetic performance. No electric violin for Tyler! He goes old school with a wooden instrument. Simon calls him “America’s Golden Buzzer…HASHTAG amazing, inspirational, current…such a great person, such a great talent.” He hopes a big DJ comes on the show if Tyler makes the final. Howie thinks people should vote him though just for overcoming so much. Gabrielle believes he may inspire kids to put down their controllers and pick up an instrument. Julianne calls him an incredible artist and an incredible human being.  There’s a phalanx of workers scurrying behind Terry. He reveals that “some “doors are broken” reminding people that it’s live TV.

https://youtu.be/eBBn63s18XA

Ndlovu Youth Choir – Choir – The group is from South Africa and have overcome poverty and difficulties on their way to the AGT stage. The group sings U2’s “It’s a Beautiful Day.” I’ll say it again. I usually don’t care for the choirs. But this group is so talented, so well rehearsed, so uplifting they are impossible to resist. I hope they make it to the final. Ha. Simon is covered in streamers. “You set the stage on fire,” says Gabrielle. Simon loves their enthusiasm, great song choice. “Everything just clicked.” Julianne says, “You guys came on this show to self-express and show us who we are.” Howie says “You are our window to the world, you are our sunshine. You inspire, you entertain.”