Groups and boys perform tonight.
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The X Factor airs tonight at 8:20pm GMT (9:20pm CET, 4:20pm EDT, 1:20pm PDT) on ITV 1 (105min).
For the first time ever or at least for the first time in a really long time, The X Factor has a latin music theme. It’s the boys vs. the groups tonight. Simon Cowell is back after last weekend’s absence.
Dermot once again enters from the floor above. He introduces the 4 judges that enter through the main stage doors.
This weekend’s prize is a recording session with a producer that used to work on X Factor UK … Savan Kotecha, perhaps?
Simon explains “the reward money can’t buy” concept and this weekend’s theme. BGT winner Tokio Myers is here tonight.
Jack & Joel – Havana (Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug)
Just so it happens that this song is currently #1 in the UK and Ireland. Jack and Joel were in South America last year and we get to see some footage. They love the latin music.
Jack starts the performance on Dermot’s stairs and then Joel joins him. Their performance again sounds like a mess, from harmonies to arrangement. They insert some Spanish lyrics and a rap. I’m sure the audience doesn’t know what is going on right now.
Louis thinks this was a fantastic start of the show and Sharon agrees. She says they couldn’t get more current than that song. Nicole also loves the song. Simon is in the mood to annoy Nicole. He also loved the song and thinks the second part of the performance was better than the first part. He says they still didn’t show themselves as viable recording artists. Wow, Simon is throwing his own act under the bus! Simon told the UK that Jack & Joel are cabaret performers! So much for the mentor support.
Leon Mallett – Get Lucky (Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)
He thought he would be going home last weekend. He says this week’s theme is a bit out of his comfort zone. He gets some advice from a vocal coach. His song this weekend comes from two French robots, Pharrell and Nile Rodgers. The arrangement is certainly right for the theme. I guess this is a non latin song turned latin. The arrangement is good, but Leon’s voice is just too weak for this massive backing track. He really is out of his comfort zone.
Simon asks him why he didn’t like the song and Leon admits this wasn’t a latin song. Simon tells him to fire the choreographer, because he needs to be himself on stage. Sharon says the show is about pushing the contestant as an artist. She loved the song choice, but says she needs to see more conviction. Nicole calls him a fighter for stepping out of his comfort zone. Louis praises him for taking on this theme.
Sean & Conor Price – Cheap Thrills (Sia feat. Sean Paul)
In their VT we see their typical busy day on the X Factor. We see a lot of moving around and not much actual work.
This is another non latin song that will be rearranged. Originally this song has minimalistic tropical pop production, but this version is a bit busier. The boys add some Spanish lyrics and a rap. Their vocals leave a lot to be desired. They are really not much better than Jack & Joel.
Louis starts with ‘Only 15!!!’ comment. The boys have a lot of support from Ireland. Sharon says they are natural at everything they do. Nicole thinks the arrangement was a little bit overproduced. Simon says this was actually the stripped down version because originally it was even more produced. He is very supportive of the Irish duo.
Lloyd Macey – Hero (Enrique Iglesias)
He got to see his family after last weekend’s show. We see his grandmother giving out posters back home in Wales. Ooh right, his grandma is his manager or something close to that.
Lloyd is also singing in Spanish tonight, even though this song has an English version and he could save himself the trouble. He switches to English after the first verse. He is dated, but he can sing.
Simon praises the song choice and says Lloyd knows who he is as an artist. He wants Lloyd to find his signature song. Sharon also praises the song choice. She loved his confidence and also thinks Lloyd knows who he is as an artist. Nicole praises his voice in her wacky way. Louis says he sees a brilliant future for Lloyd.
The Cutkelvins – Reggaetón Lento (CNCO & Little Mix)
They originally rehearsed ‘Hey DJ’ (CNCO) and ‘Reggaetón Lento’, but they struggled with the CNCO/Litle Mix collaboration. BUT, they are doing both anyway. Actually no, I don’t hear any ‘Hey DJ’ in this performance. Shareen’s Spanish sounds REALLY weird. The performance is a mess. This wasn’t a good song choice for them. I would suggest looking into J.Lo’s catalog or even Shakira’s.
Louis wants to see the boys more included in the performance. Sharon is supportive. Nicole agrees with Louis. She says she misses the energy of all three. Simon points out Shareen’s star quality.
Rak-Su – Dimelo (Rak-Su)
They went to the Pride of Britain Awards this week. Their last week’s song ‘Mamacita’ would fit this week’s theme, too. But they wrote a new one.
‘Dimelo’ is a mix of rapping and singing in Spanish and English. It’s just them on stage. They are the attraction. This could totally win them a recording session with that big producer. The judges give them a standing ovation.
Louis says he loves his job and calls the performance absolutely incredible, 10/10. Sharon says they wrote this song in the past week. Nicole thinks this song could be a #1 hit. Simon says he only wishes they were better looking. He says he has no work with them.
Sam Black – Twist & Shout (Ritchie Valens / The Beatles)
Sam has no clue how to sing in Spanish and even vocal coach can not help him. He also went to the Pride of Britain Awards. There he sang in the bathroom with Rod Stewart. Amazing.
So, Sam starts the performance with ‘La Bamba’ and his Spanish sucks majorly. He then switches to ‘Twist & Shout’. His performance is a big production and he struggles to keep up.
Simon calls his performance a ‘wedding performance’ and dated & irrelevant. He blames Louis for this. Sharon liked the performance and thought the songs worked. Nicole loved his 50’s and 60’s vibe. Louis says Sam wants to be like this, dated.
The voting is now open. It’s going to last 14 minutes. Dermot recites the instructions. Time for a recap.
Tonight’s musical guest is Tokio Myers and he is performing his debut single. This is the first time I see him perform and he does play the piano beautifully. He adds some lyrics to mostly instrumental track.
The vote is now closed.
It’s time for tonight’s results. Simon and Louis bring groups and the boys on stage.
Nicole and Sharon think Rak-Su had the performance of the night. Dermot opens the golden envelope and yes, RAK-SU are thetop vote-getters.
Safe:
Rak-Su
Sean & Conor Price
Lloyd Macey
Jack & Joel
Sam Black
The Cutkelvins
Going home: Leon Mallett
Oh wow, another boy bites the dust. I’m not surprised, after Spencer’s departure last week this category has only 1 decent act – Lloyd. Sam Black and Leon were cast as complete fodder and just so it happens that tonight was LEon’s time to go.
This is it for tonight, girls and the overs perform tomorrow.
