Tonight. Join me for the live blog of the Top 10 taking on British Invasion Week AKA Songs from the Revolutionary War. This should be fun!
What was up with Mario’s cocky pause at the top of the show? Dude. You host X-Factor. You didn’t just win an Oscar. Come the heck out on stage. Don’t just stand there.
This opening segment is way more epic than it needs to be. We’re getting another double elimination this week. Fun stuff.
1) Jeff Gutt- Bohemian Rhapsody
As I predicted, he’s at the top of the show. In case you forgot, he has a son. Kelly chose a crazy song for Jeff, but a reality show staple. The show starts with Jeff in a chair that I’m pretty sure someone stole from Game of Thrones. A few pitch problems, which is unusual for Jeff. He doesn’t quite hit the high parts that he needs to, and falls a bit flat. I like that the performance is longer than last week (which is necessary for a song of this epic length). It was kind of an epic performance, except that it also showed that Jeff Gutt lacks the charisma of Freddy Mercury, but honestly most people do. Paulina thought his transitions were rough. Demi and Simon thought it was his best performance
MY GRADE: B+ (a few vocal hiccups, but a solid performance overall).
To vote for Jeff Gutt:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 5 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 05 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using SHAZAM!
2) Tim Olstad- Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
Tim Olstad and his powerful voice! Tim is hopping on the piano this week. Oh snap! Instrument playing could change the game! Simon calls him boring in his package. Will Tim’s decision pay off? They need to get rid of the jackets they keep putting on Tim. They look ridiculous. He stands up halfway through the song. Let’s be honest… he was playing chords. He’s not a piano virtuoso. This flinging he’s doing with his arm. It’s distracting. He’s just proving that he has no idea what to do on stage. The biting of the lower lip? I just… I don’t understand this performance at all. Kelly thinks he stepped it up this week. She thought he was sexy behind the piano. Demi says he didn’t need the piano to be sexy, and compares him to Robin Thicke. Simon calls him a singing hamster. Paulina calls him Simba. Simon thinks his future is more Broadway than recording artist. Simon thinks he should have stayed at the piano. I agree with everything Simon said.
MY GRADE: C+
To vote for Tim Olstad:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 13 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 13 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using SHAZAM!
3) Khaya Cohen- Let It Be
She survived last weeks “Final Showdown”. The beginning is really low, so she basically just speaks it. I appreciate the effort, but if anyone can honestly tell me that they believe this is the best cover of Let It Be, or even Khaya’s best performance on the show, I’d be surprised. It has a few moments of greatness toward the end when Khaya gives up the original melody and just sings her face off. Some of it though gets a little screamy/screechy. It was aight. Kelly loves the power and strength in Khaya’s voice, but wants rounder vowels (wow, actual technique critiques). Paulina says Khaya shows her soul. Simon thinks her being in the bottom was a joke. Khaya thanks Demi for picking the song. Demi agrees it was a joke she was in the bottom and thinks Khaya’s voice is insane.
MY GRADE: B
To vote for Khaya:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 7 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 07 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using SHAZAM!
4) Josh Levi- Sweet Dreams
Paulina said it really slowly, but she did actually get Josh’s last name right this week. He frightens Paulina with his awful jokes. She literally looked terrified. He’s entering from a British red phone booth. Doctor Who fans unite! Josh is getting some awesome coaching. I think an A&R person must have said “this kid”, and they’re trying really hard to keep him now. He gets a remixed version of this song, some solid choreography, and a good dance break to show that he is a triple threat. This might be the only thing I remember about tonight. Kelly says is jealous of Paulina. She thinks Josh is incredibly talented. Demi says Josh reminds her of Chris Brown. She’s also jealous. Simon says he looks forward to Josh. Simon calls Paulina insane. He thinks the whole staging was crazy. Paulina gets mad, but loves Josh.
My grade: A-
To vote for Josh:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 6 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 06 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using Shazam!
5) Alex and Sierra- Best Song Ever
Is anyone surprised that Simon’s group is covering a One Direction song? This is a stripped down cover. It sounds a little odd, slowed and stripped down like this. It’s kinda cool. It’s a risk, because 1D fans might hate it. It’s not my favorite cover of theirs, but I do like that they did something cool with it. Definitely one of the best of the night. Kelly thought Alex was stronger than Sierra this week. Paulina thought the bridge was corny. Simon is like “HELLO?” Demi thought it was their best performance yet. Demi will download this. Demi gave them a standing O. Simon thinks it was brilliant, cool, and laid back. Simon says that’s a record, and original. He thinks they can win.
MY GRADE: A-
To vote for Alex and Sierra:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 1 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 01 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using SHAZAM!
6) Rion Paige- Your Song
Demi told Rion to let down her guard this week. She’s dressed like a hippy for some bizarre reason. I guess they are running out of things to do with her. Maybe they should use Tim’s jacket. This is actually kind of a cool cover. It’s a little stripped down. Her vocal still isn’t perfect, but it is my favorite Rion song this season. I would almost download this. Almost. Kelly thought it was incredible, and calls Rion human and felt something different this week. Paulina says she gives so much, and gave nostalgia, and her beautiful soul. Simon thought she was fantastic. She controlled the song beautifully. Simon said it sounded like a record. Demi is proud of her.
MY GRADE: B+
To vote for Rion Paige:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 11 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 11 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using Shazam!
7) Carlito Olivero- Satisfaction
What a terrible song choice for him. Paulina can’t figure out what song to give Carlito. It’s so frustrating. This is terrible, and actually comes across as lazy in the staging. He doesn’t get backup dancers, he gets odd holograms of himself. He’s so low energy for such a high energy song. Very karaoke, boring. Worst performance of the night. This is not how you win. That camera zoom on his pelvic thrusts? Ughhhh. Kelly thought it was a step up from lost week, but thinks something is missing from his performances. Demi thought the end was better, and thinks he should sing in Spanish more. She thinks he needs girl dancers. Simon agrees with the spanish thing. Simon loved the staging. Simon hopes the public keeps him, and hopes Paulina gives him a better song next week. Paulina thinks he did terrific. She misses his smile.
MY GRADE: D+
To vote for Carlito:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 2 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 02 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using SHAZAM.
8) Lillie McCloud-This Woman’s Work
The song is outside her comfort zone. Simon predicts ahead of time that it is the wrong song. SANG IT. It’s a more contemporary song for Lillie, and it is a brilliant song choice (screw Simon). Lillie looks beautiful, and once again she looks like 30, not 50. She’s singing her face off. There’s so much emotion in this. It’s like watching an established artist performing as a guest on the show. It’s in a different league. Best performance of the night, and my favorite Lillie performance of the season. Paulina thinks she’s refreshing. She thought it was amazing. Demi said it reminded her of the Lillie she first saw. Demi wants her to utilize her range more often. Simon says it’s easy to take for granted how good of a singer she is, and thought it was brilliant. Simon says she’s arrived.
MY GRADE: A
To vote for Lillie:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 8 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 08 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using SHAZAM.
9) Ellona Santiago- Burn
Ellona is trying to just sign her face off this week. Demi is worried this week. She definitely has her flat moments, I get why Demi was worried. this is a difficult song to sing, because it almost sounds like it’s supposed to be flat. As the song picks up, Ellona’s pitch gets better. It was a good performance, but she battled pitch throughout. Kelly thinks her voice is so big, and that she brings something extra to the stage. Paulina says Ellona has her light to give us. Simon says she’s a brilliant performer, but he doesn’t know who she is yet. Simon thinks she’s a dancing, singing puppet. Demi thinks she killed it.
MY GRADE: B-
To vote for Ellona Santiago:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 4 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 04 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using SHAZAM!
10) Restless Road- Fix You
They talk about one of them being awkward on stage. They have him try and pick up a girl. He couldn’t find ONE GIRL who recognized him? That’s funny. They’re getting the Sweet Suspense treatment, where the backing vocals are so damn loud that you can’t actually hear Restless Road. I hear some flat notes coming from one of the boys though. That being said, I thought their solo lines were more on point this week (except the bizarre bass guy, who just wasn’t right for this song). Simon gives them a standing O. I think the loud track kept them from really shining. Kelly is waiting on her Restless Road T-Shirt. She thinks it needed to be more cohesive. She tells Zack to loosen up. Paulina loved the song, but doesn’t think they show themselves. Demi thinks they’ve done better. Demi thinks Andrew’s harmonies was off (I think he was the one I heard). Simon thinks it was one of the best performances of the night. I think it was a huge improvement for them, in general, but they still need to work on the vocals.
My Grade: B
To vote for Restless Road:
You can vote online at THEXFACTORUSA.COM until 10AM PT THURSDAY, and you can vote up to 50 TIMES.
You can also use the X-Factor USA app (voting is counted alongside the online voting)
You can text 10 to 21523
You can call 1-855-THE XF 10 (lines open only for two hours)
You can also vote using SHAZAM!
My Grades:
Lillie McCloud: A
Alex and Sierra: A-
Josh Levi: A-
Rion Paige: B+
Jeff Gutt: B+
Khaya Cohen: B
Restless Road: B
Ellona Santiago: B-
Tim Olstad: C+
Carlito Olivero: D+
Who Should Be In The Bottom: Carlito, Tim, Ellona
Who Will Be In The Bottom: Carlito, Ellona, and Jeff (hopefully Tim though).
