Here's my recap from last night's live performance show. Couldn't stand the very, very tenuous movie soundtrack string. Where was "Old Time Rock N' Roll" by Bob Seger being performed by Josh Krajcik? Sure, The Beatles (not Joe Cocker who has hardly, if ever, written a single song he ever recorded) track, when covered by Cocker is a perfect fit, but Risky Business would have been much more recognizable. Not to mention that it would have given Josh the perfect platform to do some kind of Tom Cruise like entrance; perhaps that's just me.
1) Stacy Francis - Singing Whitney Houston's "Queen of the Night" from The Bodyguard while dressed quite elegantly, Stacy performed in a caged monkey bars box with backing singers and dancers to a rousing reception from the crowd. I didn't think it was her best performance but I also think the criticism of it has been vastly overblown because Stacy has set such a high standard for herself. Still, she could be in trouble Thursday Night.
LA - Didn't like the song - and I cowrote the song - but did better than I expected - Why 3rd most popular?
Paula - You are a diva. There's no mistaking that. I have to agree that I never liked the song. (L.A. gets a little defensive.) But you delivered and you delivered in a big way.
Simon - You look cute but I would have you wearing that somewhere else. Again, it goes back. The problem now is Stacy that you now have to convince America that you are a $5 million dollar recording contract...it's like Nicole has combined you and Paula into one person.
Nicole - I think you look gorgeous. And what's even most important is that you shined from within tonight. You are a queen from within and you are empowering to all women out there. I'm so proud of you girl.
2) Marcus Canty - Singing Rose Royce's "I'm Going Down" from the movie "Car Wash", Marcus donned a flashy jacket and a rotating deck of cards theme backdrop with three backing singers tucked off to the side on the rising smoke filled stage. Violently kicking away the microphone and taking off his jacket, it's unsure whether he took mentor L.A. Reid's advice about becoming more than just a performer. His vocals were very solid but were they enough to avoid the chopping block?
Nicole - Marcus. Two words: Ma - gic. You are like a vision up there...what I love about you as a singer is that you taste and you mean and enjoy every single word and every single moment when you're up there...you are a classic...
Paula - Everything about you from head to toe resonates star. Your voice, your look, your poise, your delivery..well done.
Simon - I have to say that now that we've gotten rid of the ridiculous channeling of having to sing L.A.'s songs, and actually doing something that you actually should be doing in the real world, that was a thousand percent better than last week...Thank God that you threw that jacket off of you...you looked like a cabaret singer and it was like stuck to you...A little bit of advice: dress yourself.
L.A. - Marcus, listen. You look great. You sound great. You have better taste than some people who sit at the end of this desk. Relax Simon, I was actually talking about myself. I have a crystal ball and it has a picture of you in it.
Drew Ryniewicz - Singing Coldplay's "Fix You" from the movie You, Me, And Dupree - which is apparently Simon's favorite movie (normally this is where the facetious intent would be implied) - Drew once again went for the slow piano intro. First off, to say this is from a movie is more than just a stretch. With a ridiculous dress being blown up ala Marilyn Monroe, the performance was perfectly okay vocally but it felt so abruptly done that it felt disappointedly flat. This should have been a watershed moment for her given the song choice.
L.A. - First of all, I must say that was very good. I don't know the difference between the three performances [from the past three weeks] and I need to see some diversity from you; something different.
L.A. and Simon bickered about the movie, wasting everybody's time in the process.
Nicole - You are simply brilliant beyond your years. I love that you take your time always when you're up there. And unlike your mentor, you're a little slice of heaven. (Paula: That means I'm sitting next to Hell.)
Paula - Drew, I have to say this about you - you give an honest performance every single week. Simon, I must give you props for picking a song that really sits within a beautiful vocal range, but I'm not going to give you props for what she's wearing. I have to be honest with you. Drew, you are a a beautiful girl but that outfit took the seriousness away and don't take fashion advice from Simon anymore.
Simon - Well, let me just clear this up: Drew designed that dress. This is why I love working with you, Drew. You take risks that you have got the guts to design something yourself that shows individuality (Lady Gaga)...This is the kind of record that you'd make.
4) LeRoy Bell - Singing from "The Runaway Bride" and from his favorite band, LeRoy chose to sing "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. With a rotating globe rotating behind him, perhaps an allusion to the humanitarian efforts U2 front man Bono has undertaken in recent years, Bell kicked it into another level with both male and female backing singers providing steady complimentary vocals. It's unclear whether he had that moment he needed though.
L.A. - You know, LeRoy. I'm really happy because you finally got it right... The song choices over the past weeks were questionable.
Paula - LeRoy, I've been waiting for this. Nicole, well done.
Simon - I'm used to working with older people because I don't believe there should be a cap on all ages and the fact that you, at 60 years old, came out and sounded like a 20 year-old, competing between teenagers, your were dignified, you were in control - it was classic. I think this was your best performance by a clear mile.
Nicole - Thank you, Simon. And aside of being 60 years old, you're just great - that's what you are. I felt like we were at LeRoy's rock concert and you took us to church at the same time, honey!
5) Lakoda Rayne - From "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days", Lakoda Rayne performed "Somebody Like You" by Keith Urban with incredibly strong vocals and a beautiful rotating backdrop of a gorgeous sunrise and set of clouds while dressed in very casual but very nice looking outfits. This was probably the group's best performance to date and they once again their dark horse status here on out.
L.A. - So you took my advice and you decided to be one or the other. You've become my favorite girl group in the competition.
Nicole - So I grew up in Kentucky. Do you know how popular I'd be if I took ya'll home with me? Your presence together continues to be so natural. You have such good chemistry, girls. And I got to hear each of you individually shine tonight.
Simon - After the complete horror show last week (boos). Last week you were like the musical version of "The Stepford Wives." And because you got rid of the silly outfits, the silly seasons, you are the group that I always hoped and prayed you'd become. I thought individually you were great.
Paula - Girls, I have to tell you - I'm so proud of you. (Chokes up for a second.) Each week you're clearing your path to an eminent spot on a Pepsi spotlight...the best performance.
6) Astro - Performing "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile, he had tweeted earlier how this was the first time ever that Eminem had licensed one of his songs. Sporting a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, Astro delievered another riveting performance. With fire being flared up behind him on stage and with seemingly invisible female singers backing him, Astro showed off more fresh lyrics written just for his performance and shouted out Heavy D and Joe Frazier.
Nicole - Astro...I'm just in awe of you right now. That was so heavy. This is what separates the good from the great, the amateurs from the real contenders...honey, you are a champion tonight.
Paula - Astro, that level of focus that you have is what creates superstars. You have the ability to transcend your voice to a myriad of genres and that's what puts Astro in a league all of your own.
Simon - This is so irritating. You're like the cat that's got the cream. You cleared an Eminem song. I've done my day job for a long, long time and I believe every star has to have a work ethic...You are incredibly creative...you are actually a great role model right now...and Astro - you have the X Factor.
L.A. - What really makes me proud is that you have the audacity to take tan Eminem song - and he's one of the greatest to have done it ever -= and rewrite his lyrics and actually do a great job with it. So I really applaud you for really trying new territory. You are a real star.
7) Melanie Amaro - Nursing a sore throat, reminiscent of Lauren Alaina's strained vocal chords during the much embellished drama of finale week of American Idol this past season, she sang Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror" while looking rather lovely. A bunch of words behind her were displayed on the background screens including poverty, justice, disease, and no shortage of other downtrodden adjectives. It was a solid performance but perhaps not overwhelmingly.
L.A. - Melanie, that was really good. It was really good. You're a great singer. I didn't find it that inventive. I thought it was really strong but predictably strong...I don't see the range.
Nicole - Simon...it's a brilliant song choice. I can't help it. I love this song. I think the whole world needs this song. Her voice is a vessel of the light that the song was created from. I think she made Michael proud tonight.
Paula - Music heals the world and your voice truly does that. You are a remarkable singer. And you know what? She can sing the phonebook so give her anything you want.
Simon - To use a British expression, "You were bloody fantastic." And L.A., regarding what you said, that is called a tribute and that's what she did. And Melanie, this for me was your best performance in the whole competition so far because you sang with sincerity, passion, you hit that big note at the end - that's called range, LA - that was amazing.
8) The Stereo Hogzz - Sporting classy old school suits from something out of the 20's, 30's, or 40's, or even 50's, they walked down stairs with an abundance of female dancers singing "Ain't No Other Man" from Christina Aguilera, which was a curious enough pick given that she is a judge on the rival The Voice. The group definitely improved its game from last week tenfold. Not sure it'll be enough to keep them out of the bottom two this week but they definitely showed much more viability as artists this week for sure. They had outstanding choreography too.
L.A. - S.H., you know what - last week was a tough week for you guys and you came back this week and this is your recovery week, right? But you did a song I'm not that familiar with. You did a great job and you entertained but I didn't know the song. (Christina - Paula)
Nicole -All I gotta say is "Bananas." It was bananas, seriously. That was my favorite performance from you all yet. It was smooth, it was sharp, and Paula - kudos to you - that choreography was slick.
Simon - That was really helpful advice there, Nicole. Bananas. That is really digging deep. Here's my problem, guys. I think your choreography and work ethic is amazing. The problem I have with you this week is that you're not making the record that you would make...You've gotta become less cabaret and you know must be recording artists.
Paula -This sits right in the vein of movie week. This is a great song for them. These guys have been working so hard. Trae, step forward - you are a great leader...
9) Josh Krajcik - From "Across The Universe", Josh sang "With A Little Help From My Friends" even if the idiot judges called it a Joe Cocker song and not The Beatles. How do you screw that up? Seriously. His vocal range is definitely much closer to Cocker's than Paul McCartney or John Lennon's but still - it was ridiculously ignorant for people who should know this even if they weren't in the industry. Still, Josh killed it. He sounded great and seemed to have a very subtle fun with the song. Nicole could be seen standing up at one point towards the end with her extended hands in full rock concert form.
L.A. - Really strong, man.
Paula - Your voice is comforting. It's like chicken soup for the soul.
Simon - Love the song choice. First half didn't quite work. Second half was great. One quick criticism: You were like Dracula and the brides up there. Next week, you've got to lose all the gimmicks. Just you on the stage singing a song.
Nicole - Simon..Don't hate, just congratulate. Steven, don't you talk - you are so worthy and ready for a $5 million contract.
10) Chris Rene - "Gangsta's Paradise" from Dangerous Minds was his song choice. First off, Chris benefited from singing second to last because he might already be on the bubble and he did a very strong job tonight. I'm not quite sure it was something of a different side that he had promised and he might have accidentally done himself more harm than good by just giving a very strong performance of what is really his comfort zone instead.
Nicole - That's right, honey! (After lyric back and forth)
Paula - It's glorious seeing you in your element. You were real, you were honest, you were amazing. Great job, L.A. Reid.
Simon - All I can say is welcome back, Chris Rene. This is what we loved about your. And Chris, we all made an agreement together and I'm very proud of the fact that you've stuck to what you've done, you've stuck to what you promised to do, and hopefully this show will make your life how you want it to be r you want to be, because I think you are a potential real star. This was unquestionably her best performance yet and she did it in the coveted pimp spot - last.
LA - Really proud of you, you did a great job....It's like a long way home but we're there now.
11) Rachel Crow - Admitting he hadn't done a good job with her yet, Simon felt they had a song that could be game changer for her. Singing "I'd Rather Go Blind", the judges lavished her with praise for what was probably the strongest performance of the entire night. Rachel instantaneously elevated herself back up to the upper tier of the competition.
L.A. - Wow, Rachel. Wow. You know what? up until now i wasn't sure you were a real contender for the $ million dollar prize but tonight you proved that you have your eye on the target. My favorite yet.
Nicole - Rachel, you knew this already but Simon - I'm so happy that you listened to me and took my advice. (Advice/Song choice). I'm so glad Simon agreed with.
Paula - I love you so much and I'm so glad you're teaching this man humility. Your best performance.
Simon - I'm not afraid to admit when I get something wrong unlike you. The point is when you have a relationship with an artist you trust - and I trust Rachel - and not only do I trust you but I adore you... and you reminded me tonight of a mini little Beyonce and you got soul and you got that winning attitude and right now you are back in the game, young lady.
Okay, it's prediction time I suppose. Definitely saying that The Stereo Hogzz will be in the bottom two and they will be joined by either Stacy Francis or LeRoy Bell. However, don't be surprised if Chris Rene gets hurt by Astro's competing fan base. Still, I think it's still probably The Stereo Hogzz going home. We shall see Thursday Night.
Stay tuned.
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