The remaining three contestants vied for votes for the last time Wednesday Night and the field is still as genuinely wide open afterwards as they were headed into the night. I thought that Josh Krajcik would have a slight momentum edge going into the final night but Melanie Amaro, singing in the final and often called "pimp spot" last night, just might have sealed the deal.
The guest stars tonight were curious choices although I do believe that Alanis Morissette made more sense than the other two collaborations. R.Kelly, given his past troubles, being paired with the older teenager Melanie Amaro seemed slightly creepy but Amaro actually outshone her much older costar last night.
Chris Rene singing with Avril Lavigne made absolutely no sense whatsoever. I personally have a love-hate relationship with Avril Lavigne because there are things about her I like and others that drive me crazy but I have mostly positive feelings about her. That aside, she made no sense with Chris. They couldn't have gotten a rapper? Kid Rock would have made the most sense but I wonder if he would have gone anywhere near a reality singing competition show.
1) Josh Krajcik (with Alanis Moirisette) ("Uninvited")
Singing an Alanis Moirisette song with Alanis, Josh was far too overshadowed by his guest collaborator. I could barely hear Josh's voices under Alanis' vocals. A strange way to decide a final but still interesting. I do agree with Simon's critique however. He did seem intimidated but this was really the first time any of the contestants have been able to actually sing with an established act. I still believe it was a reasonably solid performance although it certainly wasn't overwhelming.
L.A. - Wow, that was surreal. I mean it was such a natural, uh, pairing for you to sing with AM. She made my favorite album of all-time, Jagged Little Pill and you seemed right at home. This is going to be a long night because you just started at the top. That was great.
Paula - Josh, I couldn't think of a better way to open up this competition tonight. Alanis backstage, I hope you hear - you are remarkable; always have been remarkable. And Josh, i know that you know that youw ere singing with rock royalty but I'm most proud of you because not only did you hold your own, you kept your identity and your dignity and your integrity throughout and that's worth five million dollars. Love you. Good luck to you.
Simon - Uh, yeah look, uh, we've got to judge this, um, Alanis or without. Alanis, amazing - looks cute by the way - um Josh, I thought that you were a little intimidated at the beginning - a little bit - I would be - but you know there's a lot at stake here. Then when the song got into gear then I heard the old Josh back. But you know, you've got a second song now later on coming up to nail this, um, but it was a, uh, eight out of ten. (Josh: But I would say to that is she's completely disarming in her beauty and in her talent) again - (so I'm not surprised that maybe you felt that way but it was an honor for me so I enjoyed it.)
Nicole - Intimidated - call it whatever it is. I think the sign of a great artist is when an artist is able to come out and not only get to the audience but to get to the other artist and to acknowledge the other people up there onstage. And that just shows how giving and how wonderful you are as an artist Josh so beautiful job and Alanis, we are just honored by you. Thank you, we love you.
2) Chris Rene & Avril Lavigne ("Complicated")
How this pairing came to be is beyond me. Again, Avril's vocals are so vastly superior to Chris Rene's that all it does is steal their thunder and highlight some of the deficiencies in the artists' own vocal arsenals. I really felt this performance hurt Chris.
Nicole - Well Christopher. It-it was a little shaky in the takeoff but you came out on top and I couldn't help it. I couldn't help it - by the end - your energy - and the light around you - was so flipping infectious. I just - I love you Chris and I love that you put yourself out there, you're vulnerable, and you always - you make it your own. You shined up there. (Chris: Thank you!)
Paula - This competition isn't about note for note being perfect. It's about an energy that connects with an audience that proves relevance. You just sang with AL. What a wonderful, current, feel good performance. I've got to tell you something Chris; That song "Complicated" is the antithesis of what your foundation is built on. You're built on simple, transparent truth and that truth has carried you all the way. You deserve to be here, the best of luck, I love you. (Chris: I love you too. Thank you.)
SImon - Um, Chris - I think we're going to have to accept that all the artists coming on first of all (fan yells "I love you!") - I know that - are going to be a little nervous but then when it kicked in, particularly when you introduced the rap, what I felt was - and I think everybody else felt it -was your total joy and confidence of being here and that could be a record. That could be a record. Well done. (Chris: Thank you Simon.)
LA - Oh man. You know what? You look really at home with Avril. You guys look like you're cut from the same cloth. Two stars who really complimented each other and I agree with Simon. That could be a record that'd be released tomorrow and it'd be a number one hit.
3) Melanie Amaro & R. Kelly ("I Believe I Can Fly")
Melanie gave an unusually lackluster performance tonight. Perhaps it was that intimidation factor that Simon alluded to, perhaps even strategically because he sensed something going on with his own team's singer, but it was probably the weakest performance Melanie has ever given.
L.A. - First of all, that is one of the most important songs written in the last 50 years so you're really lucky to sing that with him really. That's a great one. Uh, if I'm to be honest, and you know that I love you, but I felt like you got a little bit overshadowed by R. Kelly on the song. I don't know if it was in your key. I didn't get the full on Melanie that I'm used to getting. It was great but I expect more from you.
Nicole - I think that she did the best she could in that key. Obviously it's R. Kelly's key, that's the key that he wrote it in and she did the best that she could and she got to shine on her ad libs at the end. (L.A.: But wait, wait - we can't make excuses - this is a $5 million contest; we can't make excuses.) There is no excuses; she put a 1000% into that performance and you know what? It only takes one person, my love, to believe in you and to make it and that's you. And Simon, guess what? Remember at the beginning when I said that song gave you wings? That's what I'm talking about; that song - she soared on it.
Paula - What a privilege to be singing a song that will go down in history - it already has - as one of the most prolific, uplifting, inspirational songs. It's fitting that you were singing it with R. Kelly and you know what? The conviction that you have Melanie, even though it was a good vocal - I wanted more emotion, your conviction thru this whole competition has made us believe in you because you believe. Thank you. Best of luck to you, girl.
Simon - Okay well I wouldn't listen too much to Grumpy and Dumpy too much over there because LA, that's what 's called showing respect tot he person you're singing with (L.A.: Yeah, yeah yeah.) and the fact that to me that was an incredible duet and most importantly Melanie, you didn't look like - you didn't look like somebody in a talent competition there; you looked like someone who could be a really important established artist. It was a fantastic version of the song. I'm feeling very good for Melanie Amaro right now.
4) Josh Krajcik - "At Last" (Etta James)
Singing his audition song, while perhaps simultamously paying homage to the terminally ill legend, Krajcik performed a solo acoustic version of his monumental audition song and absolutely killed it. This performance made him the frontrunner going into Melanie Amaro's final performance.
L.A. - Well, Josh. I'm proud, man. You look so at home up there, you know. The first time I ever saw you I envisioned you just like that. You are such a rock star, man. You are such a rock star. And you made it yours, you took your guitar, you made it your own, and you know that's what this is all about. That's what stardom is all about; making it your own. Congratulations -again. (Josh: Thank you, L.A.)
Paula - Josh I'm going to add to that, L.A. that you are one o fthe most authentic, real, kindhearted people I've ever met. You're wonderful. I gotta tell you - whether it's fully loaded, orchestrated, or striped down and unplugged -it's undeniable that you own that stage. Great job tonight. Great job tonight.
Simon - Josh, I've got to hand it to you. You know, this is what we called the 5 m song. This is the song that's going to determine your fate and the fact that you took that massive risk with the guitar, didn't play the piano, it - and what I liked about it was it was all about you; what we liked about you in the first place. This is going to be a very, very close call tonight; I can feel that. Congratulations. (Josh: Thank you Simon.)
Nicole - Josh, form Day 1you have shown that just by being you anything is possible. You've been you, yourself, you've delivered every single performance - I just - I watch you up there in awe and honored to be part of this journey with you; music loves you, Josh. Music loves you. America, if you believe in Josh Krajcik, the flipping Krajcik Magic, like I do, please vote for him because he is deserving of it, he's worked his whole life for this; I am so proud of you.
5) Chris Rene ("Young Homie") (Chris Rene Original)
Chris gave a very good performance of his original song "Young Homie" from his audition and the one huge advantage he has over Josh and Melanie is that there isn't another version of it out there for it to be compared to so he really can't be penalized all that much. I'm not sure one way or another if this performance solidified him into a particular position for Thursday Night's results. If they voted for the performance, he wasn't hurt, and was actually helped coming off a much weaker first performance. If the song carries him, he could very well win it all.
Nicole - Chris. I love. We all have a purpose in life and you are serving your purpose right now with that song. That is- that is your and our "I believe" anthem. Thank you so much for that gift.
Paula - Chris, Chris, Chris! You are magic! Does anybody have a shred of doubt that you are not a contender in this competition, that you're the consumate singer-songwriter-performer. You make everyone fall in love with you. That's what it's about.
Simon - Chris, that was your 5 m song. And you know Chris, I want to say something to you. I remember when we sat in that auditorium many, many months ago and I asked you to look me in the eye and I said if we're going to do this, you're going to keep to your deal. And you- you stuck to your deal Chris and not only are you a man of your word, you are a brilliant performer and I can say this from all the time I've spent with you, you are a true gentleman and a really nice guy and I hope America gets behind you. (Paula: Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote!) I really believe that you deserve it.
L.A. - You know what? You poured all of yoruself into that song. I have never seen you pour yourself into a song so well. I love what you just did and I hope that everybody got it and will vote for you. I'm proud of you Chris. (Paula: Vote! Both songs!)
6) Melanie Amaro - "Listen" (Beyonce)
Melanie once again killed it and she did so in the all coveted pimp spot. She had won the right to choose her performance placing in the random draw at the press conference for finale week. It might have just paid off rather handsome financially. She was right on top of her game and she might have just taken a slight lead for the crowning of the first ever winner of the U.S. version of The X Factor.
L.A. - That is the Melanie that I love, right there. That wasn't a $5 million dollar performance; that was a $50 million performance.
Nicole - I told myself that I wasn't going to do it. We saw thousands and thousands of people and you showed up and you were the very first person that I felt connected with and you brought tears to my eyes and you know what? Melanie, you made me feel in that moment that I wasn't alone and you empowered me and that's what music is all about, honey. Thank you.
Paula - Melanie, take it all in; these are precious moments. You delivered a stellar, stellar performance; so gorgeous, so gorgeous. You owned it. Thank you. Beautiful.
Simon - Melanie, I am - I am so, so proud of what you just did there and I brought this show to America because I believe that some of the greatest singers in the world are from this country and you just proved that. And Melanie, let me tell you something; after this you're never going to get teased again. You are the person you are Mel, and I think you, based on that performance tonight, to me should be the winner of The X Factor because you're going to represent this country all over the world.
PREDICTIONS:
I really have three different predictions. I honestly can't decide who might win. Here's my summarized take:
1) Chris Rene - If his original song still resonates then he has a very good chance of winning. If all the young girls and women are still drawn to him, then he might just win. It's also important to keep in mind that R&B/Hip-Hop (along with country) currently dominate the charts and that won't change anytime soon. And he's multi-instrumental like Josh, has peaked at the right time, and he's shown off his musicianship at the right time too. His post-show viability screams Kid Rock crossover appeal so we'll see how he does post-X Factor.
2) Melanie Amaro - If it's about who is technically superior and who has tackled the most difficult singers' catalogs then Melanie is the hands down favorite to win. Plus, she's been consistently great and that poises a challenge to Josh and if Chris and Josh split the [young] female vote, then she could even pull off a slight to modestly comfortable margin of victory.
3) Josh Krajcik - If it's about who has been the most consistent, the most vocally unique, and who has shown the most instrumental versatility (and the most), it's definitely Josh. He's also the everyman of the competition and he and Melanie are probably the most deserving because of their consistency although Chris has indeed turned it up recently.
Well, we shall see what happens tonight and I'll be back later to give my summary of what goes down!
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