Only two more eliminations until finale. And it is time to do the time honored tradition of Aussie music week. Perhaps we could get some Killing Heidi, Savage Garden, or INXS? No, not really, but the selection of songs does excite me with modern hits, “Somebody That I Used to Know” and classics, “You’re the Voice.” Tonight could be a great night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niruCIcLq24
I cannot quite place my finger on what Jai Waetford did so right that I had to put him at the top of my countdown. He sang perfectly well (which arguably everyone did tonight), but it is more than that. On “Plans” it felt age-appropriate and modern and edgy and on top of all of that he commanded the stage like a boss. There were some solid glory notes near the end of the performance. Frankly in terms of a Jai Waetford performance, I couldn’t have expected anything more out of the guy. I feel bad that last week I had Omar at the top of my list, a position I will readily defend, and he was eliminated. Perhaps now that I have finally come to terms with the best that Jai has to offer it could be his time to go? Probably not, that performance was solid. His fan-base will love it, and he will successfully avoid the bottom 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmkpOEYwDIE
Almost Dami Im, I almost felt her pain, almost felt her bleed. When she said, “we’re all someone’s daughters, we’re all someone’s sons” during the first verse of “You’re the Voice” I almost felt it. I am guessing these quirky outfits are a part of Dami’s stage presence at this point as they have been a part of her performance since week 1. There is no way that someone like Dami, doing such an Oz classic was going to get eliminated this week. I’m not saying “You’re the Voice” is automatic safety card, but in some ways it could be compared to the equivalent of when Kristy Lee Cook did “God Bless the USA.” I am excited to hear Dami’s winner single, I am hoping for an emotionally rot ballad over a snazzy synthesizer, but I will probably get something bland. A guy can dream right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA0N34FQAbU
Another solid, albeit safe performance from Taylor Henderson. This is why I knocked him a few pegs, whereas I believed of the three, Jai took the biggest risk and it paid off. “One Crowded Hour” was kind of the same territory as “Choirgirl.” Ultimately, no big risk, I’m not going to give you a big reward. That being said, he did it fine, sounded strong, and the growl made me appropriately weak in the knees. We’ve come so far, and now I can see the final 3 that so many people have predicted since the beginning coming into fruition. Taylor, Dami, Jai. Yep, we knew it all along. And as fun as the ride has been getting here. We all ultimately knew that is where we were headed. Part of me was hoping for a Vino-esque upset where it wasn’t Emblem3 who took his spot in the final 3 against Tate and Carly Rose it was the surprise of Fifth Harmony that did it. But perhaps, I was being too optimistic with that comparison. For Taylor’s winner single I want it to be more “Wake Me Up” and less “Choirgirl,” but we will see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nv5lN6BOls
I am glad that Jiordan Tolli took a risk this week, with Gotye and Kimbra’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.” It wasn’t a direct-cookie-cutter version of this new Oz classic, but it wasn’t all that different either. I think this song for her could’ve been better translated to just piano and perhaps put in a minor-key. Giving Jiordan the haunting edge that she does so well in. At this stage you don’t want to pull off a Hollie Cavanagh “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” no at this stage you want a Hollie Cavanagh “Bleeding Love.” The first performance ended her American Idol run in the final 4, and the latter one got her that far so she could sing then. At this point it isn’t about what you as the performer wants, it is about getting you that one week closer. And with the right embellishments this song could’ve been it for Jiordan, but instead I think it could be the end for her. At this moment, I feel as if a 3D and Jiordan Tolli bottom two is inevitable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KF-zEnMB98
Why is THIRD D3GREE at the bottom of your countdown when you love them and they didn’t do anything wrong with Guy Sebastian’s “Battle Scars”? They needed a risk, something to destroy the juggernaut that is Taylor/Jai/Dami and they frankly delivered a pretty safe performance. The song choice wasn’t amazing. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t emotional enough for me or fun enough for me. It was in an awkward apathetic region in my musical brain. I wanted 3D so much to win, I see so much potential for them. But we led them to the circus, and they needed to wow us and instead it was just O.K., perhaps maybe even more than O.K., but when I am looking back at their full X Factor career, this song will not stand out as a highlight. At this point they need to be delivering highlights. Never underestimate the power of a cute boy. Three Wishez lost out to Johnny Ruffo and ultimately, I suspect, THIRD D3GREE is going to lose out to Jai Waetford. I wish Jiordan and 3D the best in their sing-off tomorrow.
- Jai Waetford
- Dami Im
- Taylor Henderson
- Jiordan Tolli
- THIRD D3GREE
The only good news in all of this is that one of them will get one last chance to take down one of the mighty three next week. Which ever one survives, Jiordan or 3D, they NEED to take a chance. Go out in a blaze of glory. Do NOT play safe. Whatever you do, make it a spectacle. Make us cry, make us cringe, do it or you will not make the final 3 either of them. They are playing a losing game and it is time to deliver.
Thanks for reading my rant article.
Ed
