Updates and reviews for X Factor UK, X Factor USA, American Idol, Eurovision and other programmes that appeal to me. Published just for fun and maybe a little outrageous fortune and the entertainment and amusement of readers.
Two acts will go this week with the act that receives the lowest public vote being second to leave and judges choosing who will be third from the next two lowest in the poll.
It's Diva Week, although sometimes I wonder whether there's much point in assigning a theme as most acts do what they feel will keep them in, or what their mentors think will do so.
Jennel
Proud Mary you may recall from either Creedence Clearwater Revival or Tina Turner. It's a track that regularly appears of these shows and is never as good as either of those and this time too is disappointing. A slightly too gentle start but she does get going eventually but this is not that great. All the notes were there this time, Jennel being a fairly reliable and good performer but I always get the feeling that she's holding back and could do much better.
Tate
He gets lots of applause and is a really popular guy. From This Moment must be one of those droming on Country songs. It does go on a bit. He has a strong, good voice but actually we hear more of one of the backing singers and the band is way too intrusive. It's a competent performance again but very uninspiring. He does seem popular, though and Simon, sensing a market out there, says he's happy to write the cheque for $5 million now. I think he means he'll put him on his list of SYCO acts whatever happens in this competition, rather than indicating that his groups stand no chance.
Diamond
Halo. Good choice by Britney. Her voice is also drowned out by the backing and it's difficult to tell what contribution she's making but, from what I can hear, she does very well. She looks confident and, this week, hits the right notes and has bags of personality - an endearing quality that may keep her up there in the very safe zone again.
Beatrice
It's unusual for two acts from the same category to follow each other but that's what's been decided here. Beatrice must be worried that she was at almost exactly the opposite end of the poll to Carly Rose last week and is clearly anxious. Time After Time is another excellent choice by Britney. Beatrice was once my 'dark horse' contestant as I love her voice and she had that extra something that I thought would keep her in this competition. However, she did little with this song until just one phrase near the end. She did get the notes right and looked good on the stage but I wonder if that will be enough to keep this charming girl in the competition.
Lyric145
Virtually no rehearsal time for these three but that may not matter for these natural performers. They're talented - well, Lyric certainly is - and We Will Rock You suited them even if it didn't suit the week's theme. Once again, there is massive support from the male backing group that has me fumbling around with my audio controls. There has to be something seriously amiss with the broadcast mix. Not sure how the voters will take that performance and the judges are definitely unimpressed. Simon may have been but was cut off mid-sentence with the tedious 'Be right back' from the compère and the screen cuts to ads. Terrible.
Arin
Teen number three from Britney's category. Three out of the last four. Odd. Crazy For You seems like a track he knows and his relationship with Normani from Fifth Harmony could have helped this 17 year old make a decent attempt at getting some meaning across. He had a great start but this was boring, a word that three of the judges used in their summaries too. He could have done so much more with that and it didn't work. He's a good looking boy and that may save him again this week but he could be the first teen to go.
Paige
Now she should do well on Diva Week. Last Dance. Nice choice by Demi and Paige puts on a great performance with no bad notes and plenty of good moves. She looks good, not as OTT as previously and is starting to settle in and show some real talent. She was at her best tonight and the best act so far by a long way.
Fifth Harmony
Hero. Another overdone track. Lauren is still leading which I feel is a mistake as she is not as strong as she needs to be. Just as last week the real effect comes when Camila starts. She is the really good singer and performer. The group do work really well together, nice to watch and listen to although someone needs to tell Dinah Jane to hold back a bit as we really don't want a passion power line in every track please. I'm not absolutely sure this track represented the best they can do but not at all bad and I would hope they'll be around next week.
Carly Rose
My Heart Will Go On is, of course, the classic Titanic track by Celine Dion. I don't recall anyone attempting this as it is not at easy with some very tricky notes. Wow. This was brilliant. She controlled everything and produced one marvellous performance - and at 13! This is a quality performer indeed.
Vino
Let's Stay Together.Vino sings Tina? Well, despite my initial doubts his was the best start of everyone and it was indeed, a great track for him to interpret. Plenty of shots with him touching hands with adoring girls in what looked just a little too 'arranged' for my taste but that will do him no harm in broadening his appeal. He has a strange doubled up prowl as he moves around the stage and, in black leather from neck to toe again, he's not the most watchable character. However, that's one good voice and he is a contestant to be reckoned with who'll be around no problem for a while yet. Britney and Demi really don't seem to like him, though, and you do have to wonder why.
Emblem3
Simon gets in something about the group rescuing kittens which, of course, UK viewers will know little about but which I guess hit the news over there. Alisha Keys No One /Everything's Going To Be All Right is their number and this talented and professional group do well with it. They're well-rehearsed and give good performances that are modern and you can see them selling records and at concerts. Nice job. But so was last week and they only managed a middle placing with the voting public. This week will gives us a big hint as to what their chances are. I had them as potential winners.
Cece
She needs an amazingly good performance to stay another week, especially with two acts going this time. It's tough with so many doing so well this week, though. She is adorable to watch and her hair's so much better. Not so sure about the dress but she makes a good effort at All By Myself. In places she shwoed what she is capable of but mostly this was a phrase on repeat and still some desperation spoiling the overall impact. The production was OTT but that may have been my audio. At the top end she is totally reliable and inspiring and you know she cares so much - exuding passion and meaning to lyrics as well as anyone - but there were too many bits that were out of her natural range where she needed to let the track flow and not force it. It was a poor song choice, again. She could be in trouble yet again which is such a shame. I feel Demi has written her off and is putting all her efforts in to Paige and I'm not sure Jennel hasn't been left alone either. Such a pity.
In a massive 5 hours of TV this week, UK viewers have actually caught up with America. Well done, ITV2! Another performance from One Direction too, to get the Results Show under way.
This is when we get some idea of just who is popular out there in voting land and someone gets sent home, presumably not to be brought back again next week à la Diamond White.
In fact we get something new - and very welcome - the announcement of how the votes stacked up from bottom to top! Not the actual numbers, but a 12 to 1 countdown and this adds something extra to the show and, no doubt, will influence how acts are presented, the material they choose and it will fascinating if this is repeated in future weeks to see the changes. That assumes, of course, that they will be changes. Should every week from here to the final have the same two or three at the top then that's not going to help the confidence of the acts from 4 down if, whatever they do, nothing seems to change.
Some surprises there! Tate beating Carly Rose, after his competent but less than enthralling performance of an average track, says one hell of a lot about who is watching and voting, doesn't it? Remember - Scotty won America Idol two years ago and Phillip Phillips last year, whilst not a Country act, was not exactly modern pop and beat Jessica Sanchez. Two big balladeers reached X Factor USA's final last year, Josh paving the way for Vino for follow. Tate is certainly an appealing character and sings well, totally reliable as a performer, and has the big Country vote to himself but I still hadn't expected him to top the bill at this stage. Wow.
Vino must be as pleased as Punch with his 3rd position. Again, that wasn't the most stunning of performances either. Competent but not something I'd expected huge votes for. He must be delighted and clearly has the East Coast well organised.
Diamond at 4 is also a big surprise. Her performance was not at all good this time so I can only imagine we're getting the effect of a build up of support for some earlier pretty smart ones, including the previous week when she definitely outshone Arin. Whilst there was no way she'd be sent home just after being brought back, I'd expected her to be way down the list and certainly last of the Teens.
Fifth Harmony getting more votes than Emblem3?? Good grief. That was possibly the biggest surprise of all. Yes, the girls did put on a great show but I really had expected the girl vote to go for Emblem3 in a big way and I had them down as up there with Carly Rose for the top spot. (As did the bookies, incidentally!)
After all the effort expended on Paige by Demi, it seems that she doesn't have a breakthrough of support out there but then, for all we know, there may only be a few votes separating her and Jennel one level above her and one of my early predictions to win.
Lyric145 are great fun to watch and could do well in the industry but I am not at all sure this is their type of show to do particularly well in so their placing seems about right. However well they do the votes simply aren't likely to be there - unless they get a lot further and things start polarising in their favour.
At the bottom, Beatrice, Arin, Cece and Jason seems OK as none really did very well last night. So it's Cece and Jason to sing off and Cece must have thanked her lucky stars that it was Jason she was up against. anyone else and she would have been first to go.
Her version of You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me was emotional but a little desperate to watch. It's not a performance even her fans will be downloading in a hurry. She does show passion, though, and there are moments of brilliance when you can see someone with real talent standing there. I wonder if she might do better by trying a little less hard. I preferred the pretty brunette with a cool attitude and leopard spots. She should now go either all the way - Gagaesque, perhaps, - which I believe she could pull off well, or just sing well some popular tracks and look fabulous.
Jason's response with Total Eclipse Of The Heart started well but he lost the key and it became actually painful to listen to at one point when he failed to hit notes. Oh dear. He really has to go. Good TV, a nice guy but he has no chance of winning.
I had expected a straight 3-1 vote but Simon voted for him to stay which must have really knocked Cece's confidence. She looked quite shocked. That brought it to deadlock and so it was the act with the lowest votes that goes home. We hadn't, at this point, seen the list of voting preferences so it could have been either that were on their way out the door. Cece survived to sing another day.
Quote of the week has to be from Tate, on discovering he'd topped the polls: Obviously these people don't get out a lot! Ha ha!!
I find the comperes really annoying, though, and as amateur-looking as Steve last year. If anything, Khloe Kardashian is worse. The guy may improve and certainly has more natural ability and some idea of timing and some personaility. The girl, though, is just a large cardboard nightmare. How on earth could Simon have agreed to her? Something wrong there.
One of the nice things about being Simon Cowell is that if you change your mind about one of the acts being sent home you can bring them back again as a Wild Card. Last year he popped around to Melanie Amaro's place and brought her back, which was just as well for the show as she finished up winning it. Not that she's done a great deal since and we're still waiting to see just what the $5 million has done for her. A few bob spent on better writers might have been a better idea. This year it's little Diamond White that he feels bad about and she's back to steal some votes from Arin and Beatrice.
Arin
One minute he's got girls in strangely patterned suits around him and the next he's got lads in leather as if we're watching two different performances. Better than last week and he's moving around a lot in those pants which will no doubt get him a few more votes. American Boy was OK but nothing spectacular. If it wasn't for the fact that he's the only young guy in the show mopping up the teen girl vote I'd say he hasn't long to go. Emblem3 have, of course, already cleaned up most of them anyway.
Paige
So she comes down from on high and the wind machine blasts he dress nicely. That requires someone to come along and unbelt the harness so there was a convenient chap around who fiddled around and freed her from the device and kissed her neck while he was at it. She is looking good and, although the performance of Take My Breath Away wasn't that great she's making an effort to stay. The song seemed to go nowhere and she may have been more concerned with the staging than any emotion. I particularly got annoyed at the way she ran through 'take my breath' when the words really should have been delivered more slowly. It didn't work for me and the flying stuff seemed a bit irrelevant at the end of the day. The notes were in the right places, though, and that was a lot better than last week too.
Vino
With When A Man Loves A Woman LA has given Vino a nice, solid and soulful number to work with which his supporters should love. He put a huge amount of heart into that and that's this guy's strength. With a shout out to the East Coast at the end (and wandering off while Simon chats with Demi about Susan Boyle to touch hands in the front row left) he is showing some individuality and has a certain something that could carry him through for a while yet. He still isn't dressed right and LA needs to get settled on a style but his singing was pretty much spot on. It going to be urban versus country at some point and he'll need the mob to persuade workers to vote to beat Tate in that if he's going to make the finals.
Emblem3
Great mix of My Girl, California Girl and something that sounded to me like the start of a Grease track but must have been a One Direction thing. Simon clearly has worked some magic with this group and is right behind them and making all the right decisions. That worked well, good voices, bags of energy and they're a very likeable bunch that will pull in masses of votes from exactly the audience this show is aimed at. (Whether that's actually who's watching and voting remains to be seen, of course!) Other things, being equal, Emblem3 must be in the final and we'll be watching them doing strong, confident performances all the way through.
Beatrice
I didn't recognise this track - Iris?. Not sure it really worked for her. She has a great, very marketable voice that stands out but it didn't suit this track at all and just sounded like someone young singing and didn't have that special timbre effect that she achieved last week. She put some distance in between her and Carly Rose, who must be her main rival, and that may be useful. This song just started and stopped and, although I thought we was going to take it somewhere interesting at one point it didn't ever get there. Nice personality though, and even if she falls at a hurdle soon, she deserves to be supported and brought back again as she will succeed one day.
Jennel
I Love Rock And Roll is the direction Demi is sending Jennel but I'm not so sure that's a good idea. She looked quite old - good, but old. This girl is more talented than she could show from that performance. I had her down as a potential winner at the start but now I'm having doubts. She has some superb abilities to perform and use a huge range, as well as getting all the notes right but this was a badly arranged song. Not her fault, and I hope she survives to bring something better to the show next week.
Tate
Dead Or Alive did absolutely nothing for me. This was a tedious performance. Well sung, reasonably presented, I suppose, and the guy has all the confidence in the world and is so natural on stage, but that still left me cold. He is lucky to be the one Country guy on this show as that should guarantee him a good many more weeks. 37? I thought he was a lot older. My guess is that he'll cruise through this week and let us hope he gets a better song next time.
Lyric145
You really do not know to expect from these guys. Lyric does lead the way but this week the two guys get in on the act in a good way too. Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious must have been one of the most unlikely tracks for this group to do in the world and it seems that it was the girl's choice too. Brave. Very brave. Odd. Very odd. But it worked and I reckon they'll get a lot of respect for that bit of entertainment and they made themselves less threatening and more appealing to the audience than what I imagine their natural hard-nosed stuff might do. Whether they're admitting it or not, Simon's commercial influence has had some big effect. They'll be popular and should be easily through to next week.
Diamond
So the little girl's back and she sure has a better reason to be in this competition that some. I Have Nothing was one big song for her and, despite a lot of effort and great notes in places, and bags of personality this was way too big for her. The high notes didn't work and there was no feeling in this. She is talented but needs to move away from the old fashioned big ballads. There are at least five other girls who could have blown her off the stage with that number. In fact, it's a pity that Cece didn't choose it instead of what she does try which, strangely, I can imagine Diamond doing far better!
Cece
The trademark spots are back and she's looking good as ever. This is a strange arrangement of The Eye Of The Tiger though and I'm really not at all sure Demi knows what's she's doing with this girl. I almost wonder whether the 'leopard' spots gave her the link to 'tigers' and hence the song. She may well have done better with What's New Pussy Cat? as this was not brilliant. At one point I honestly thought she'd lost the track but it was just pathetically put together for her. In places, you could tell this is a potentially really good star - the way she picked out lines at the end and hit some great and strong notes too - but there were also several
bad notes and wobbles that spoilt it. I'm very disappointed and so much hope that someone helps her choose some decent track next time - and that, indeed, enough people actually vote to keep her in there. Luckily it's voting across the baord and she's not up against just Paige and Jennel - if she had have been then that would have been farewell.
Carly Rose
There are few performances these days that you want to watch again but this is one of them. Remarkable. From the very start, the dlight of every single note being where it belongs and I actually felt she meant the words too. Again, remarkable, as that ahs been where she's not got through before. Very, very impressive indeed and streets, streets ahead of anyone else so far on this show tonight. By miles.
And I didn't even know the song. It Will Rain.
Jason
OMG. Well, that's how Jason starts most of his tweets... This is a tedious song. I Believe I Can Fly is not one of my favourites as it has been done by so many people and, mostly, very badly arranged. This was another bad arrangement, I'm afraid. Jason has a great voice and could be a super entertainer with that great personaility. It may appeal to the grannies and he's ten times, no a thousand times, more watchable than Old Balonet who is still surviving on X Factor UK.
I can't imagine how LA Reid thinks this is going to do him any good but that may say more about LA Reid as it does about Jason. Pity. I like the guy but he deosn't stand a chance in this competition - especially after that incredible Carly Rose performance.
Fifth harmony
So now we have the, hopefully, final name. This is a good group and the harmonies worked well on A Thousand Years but it was one stunning, albeit too short, performance by one girl whose naem I haven't figured out yet, that made it special. It wasn't the one near the end who was good but a bit OTT either but one earlier, after the slightly weak start girl. OK it was the one second from the right, whoever she is! They're up against a couple of damn good groups though and I really don't know how they'll fare. they might get more votes ultimately (not this week) than Lyric145 but beating Emblem3 will be very difficult as things stand. Then they've got to steal votes off other acts too in order to stay around long. I hope they do but I'm not sure. If only to give that one girl a chance, and the delightful little one at the end too, I want to see them back.
There are some big surprises here so UK viewers may want to wait until ITV2 catches up with what the judges decided across the Pond tonight. I have included most of the videos of the performances but not all are available. This must have been one tough night for both the judges and the contestants, the judges having first to decide which two acts they wanted to sing again and then to choose - again - which one to include in the Top 12 and which to send home.
No public votes to help them choose at either stage. No consensus required between them. Straight choices, two and then one. If you look carefully at the judges' expressions, especially Britney's, then you'll get an idea of what they'll decide but I'll leave the announcement of which four made it until the end of this post so if you don't want to know yet you can find out for yourself later.
First, Demi asks Cece and Willie to perform again.
I had to listen to this a couple of times before I really got it - so much screaming in the background and an intense backing track - but when I did I was so glad that, once past an unconvincing start, she found her emotions and interpreted this unusual track brilliantly, ending superbly with talent bursting out all the way through. She looked reserved, frightened and vulnerable but will have won many hearts over tonight.
Willie's performance has been removed for some reason. I shall try and find another copy. From the wonderfully informative MJSbigblog I read that he was pitchy and seemed now to be in way over his head. Simon said that he wished he were his mentor and might have presented him better. Willie was someone I had down as a certainty for the Top 12 as he has such a great character and is different and I reckon he'd get a huge wave of fans building up votes for his super personality and sheer likeability and votes for his Country style. Paige, despite a very weak vocal last night, avoided what I had expected - yet another confrontation with Cece.
Second, LA puts Vino and Tate straight through. Tate had to be in the Top 12. The one act they can absolutely depend on. He probably won't even need to rehearse and will have a song catalogue he can just stand and deliver without any worry whatsoever. Vino I think is great but I had expected LA to choose him over David. They are quite different in style but that urban worker look that they both have on camera is a visual clash - like two intensely decorated sheets of wallpaper really shouldn't be used in the same room. I really would have thought LA would choose David to stay over Vino with Vino then having to battle against Jason. But no, it's David v Jason instead. Big surprise.
David's performance was excellent. So much talent and he looks and sounds so much more experienced than I imagine he must be, unless he's been doing this locally for some time. I guess he must have been as he seems naturally comfortable even on that amazing and vast set. He must also beat the others by a mile in terms of Twitter support. My stream has been filled with his tag all week. The judges, strangely, seemed unimpressed.
Jason was the one I had down to go tonight. He's a super character, totally credible and actually a good singer too but he really doesn't strike me as someone that LA Reid would be happy mentoring. This would be LA's chance to fix that. Well, it might have been but Jason pulled a brilliant performance - quite straight, no fancy bits or immense set or backing - and showed just how good a voice he has got.
Third, another very, very tough call indeed. Britney, as I'd predicted, keeps Carly Rose and Beatrice after amazingly good performances last night. Nothing else could have made sense. That left Diamond and Arin.
Possibly the best solo of the night, Diamond's version of the Elton John track was spot on from the first note. (Others please note! Get it right at the start, OK.) She looked right and sounded like she could walk in to a recording studio tomorrow and have an album ready by tea time. This girl is a future star without a doubt. I can just see her in three or four years' time, exams and boyfriends out of the way, home life sorted and with professional guidance and confidence and just that little bit of maturity and understanding of the world that's missing today. All the judges loved this. How could she possibly go?
Arin's video is also unavailable at present. Again, borrowing MJSblog review, he sang You Keep Me Hanging On more in Kim Wilde than Supreme's style apparently and with pitch problems but also some good bits that also impress all the judges a lot. It seems like he's one big hit with the audience too. Well, apart from Emblem3 and a couple of guys in Lyric145, he has zero competition! If he stays then that vote will count big time in his favour, even if he does struggle with some notes.
Lastly, Simon selects Emblem3 and Lyric145 as his two definites for the Top 12. So we're going to lose at least three girls as Sister C are up against what was once Lylas and tonight is 1432 and next week, if they survive, something else. That's a first in X Factor history - two name changes! You do get the feeling taht things have already been decided - I mean, who would have a competition prepared for a name change for a group that was going home? You know and I know that Sister C are in trouble. Lovely though they all are, they're lucky to be in the Live Shows and I don't think they'd be around long even if they do survive.
This track was performed really well, and this is an excellent group who you could trust to entertain a crowd almost anywhere. Just maybe not X Factor. They look good and each has a remarkably strong voice and style. It's difficult to criticise them at all.
Last of all it's The Five Girls Who Started As Solo Contestants And Simon Put Them In A Group. Now this was the best performance of the night. Sorry, Diamond. This was emotional and so well sung that even Demi had to remark how well they'd done her song! Each of the five is quite different but they have managed to blend in a way I would not have thought possible in such a short space of time. Cute to see two of them holding hands before the end of the track just before one really hits just the right notes and they all deserve huge praise for that. and whoever coached them over the intervening 24 hours.
OK. It's decision time. I haven't seen exactly how the judges' revealed their choices and imagine there would have been an awful lot of tears. as I said at the start, there are some surprises so I'll leave bags of space below before showing the results.
This is your Top 12
Jannel Garcia
Paige Thomas
CeCe Frey !
Vino Alan
Tate Stevens
Jason Brock !!
Beatrice Miller
Carly Rose
Arin Ray !
Emblem3
Lyric 145
1432 (Soon to be called something else) !
This is it. The Live Shows. 16 acts performing on the most important night for their future careers in the music industry. This is the night when fans really start to build loyalty, when the amazingly good can feel it's all been worthwhile and, whatever the judges say, hope to entertain us for at least another few weeks, when those who really were fortunate to get through to this stage finally fall.
It's a great couple of shows but also a cruel couple of shows because tomorrow four of these acts will go home. That's going to be tough and it probably won't be the four that deserve to go home - just those who made the least connection with the judges but that is, at least, a lot fairer than attempting to win an elusive public vote at this stage
Let's see how they all did.
Paige opens the show, looking absolutely stunning - a really pretty face beneath an outrageous, to use the word used by both Britney and Simon, porcupine affair on her head. She moves well but her singing is nervous and never really gets going. Some wrong notes and this is not the best of starts for her. The judges seem very considerate in their remarks but I wonder just how much that was because they'd been told to start in positive style, negatives and arguments possibly turning off viewers too soon? It will be very interesting to see whether they have the same degree of leniency with others, notably Cece, in this extremely tough category. All four could, from what we've seen in the run up to the Live Shows, make the final so choosing one to go will be really difficult.
Arin is the old guy in his group at 17. He has had experience on the Live Shows, which has to be a major advantage, leading InTENsity last year. Another nervous start, not exactly flowing, and he looked as if he was checking whether he was in the right place sometimes and I'm sure he was more than a little distracted by the dancers and everything going on around him. His voice was not strong and this track could have been brilliant but it was just average. In fact, he was saved to a large extent by the backing track which effectively presented the whole song for him. He, too, is in a very tough category and, unless nerves get to the younger ones in a big way, may still be the weakest, despite his experience and age.
David is the first of the Overs. At last, someone who starts as if he wants this and knows what he needs to do. He seems to have already grown quite a following on Twitter and seems very naturally at home on the stage. Great voice and an excellent song choice to show his heart on his sleeve, which is what this guy is particularly good at. Shout out to mum and dad won't have done him any harm. He deserves to live another day. So far, the big guys, Tate and Vino, have been making the running so his fate may depend on how Jason comes across later.
Knowing the massive Country vote that seems to exist out there, Simon will have felt obliged to have one group to match their needs. He's also chosen these three sisters (yes, they are sisters) who look just like male Country voters would want them to look as they are all beautiful. The lead has an air of Carrie Underwood about her but they all fell short on excitement. After a dreadfully unexciting start they did get going but this was nothing more than a very average performance, making that three 'averages' out of four so far. Emblem3 have made the running so far in the Groups category - the others are all very much unknown quantities so it could be an interesting night to see how they fare.
I shall declare at the outset that, if readers haven't already gathered, that Jennel is my favourite in this competition. So I was disappointed with this unusual and uninspiring song. She did her best with it, looks fantastic and seemed happy on stage and the judges seemed particularly impressed. The audience reaction was the best by far too so I feel she is pretty much safe. I do hope we see more passion and more of the edge that she has emotionally next week as she has all the qualities to succeed.
First of the really young ones. Diamond smiles a lot and has been dressed and made up to look fun and bright, shining on the big stage surrounded by a chaos of other kids dancing. Like so many acts tonight, though, everything seemed to be running at half-speed. This needed to be much faster, more energetic and just more fun. Demi used the word 'reserved' very accurately. She certainly starts off, though, looking and sounding good (with just a few wobbles) and way better than Rachel, who held a similar spot, last year. I'd say she's tipped the judges vote over Arin but I'm not that sure she'll be safe.
From one extreme to another. Vino is the exact opposite to Diamond. He's big and rough, with an earthy voice, belting out rock tunes. Well, he ought to be belting out rock tunes. He eventually got it together but that was one very shaky start and I even wonder if he lost his way at one point. First criticism from the judges. Simon spot on with the comment that LA Reid cocked up on that song choice. The word cocked was suitably blanked, of course! That may have improved David's chances, though. I had Vino down as a potentially winner from watching him during previous rounds so this was quite a surprise. There are some very strange song choices so far all round.
This is the group that you expect America to be least likely to get out their phones and vote for. Most of these guys' fans are not natural X Factor voters. Whatever! This was one great and entertaining performance. They put on a show and with a lot of fabulous graphics and even a nod to Gangham Style they have stolen the show so far by a mile. Totally professional, that Lyric girl is already a star and whatever happens on this show she'll be snapped up by someone very soon, if Simon hasn't done so behind the scenes already. Excellent. You do have to feel sorry for the guy with less hair, though, who only actually gets noticed in the act nearer the end, totally eclipsed (and also in the hilarious promo shots!) by Lyric and the other one.
Of all the acts tonight, this is the one I've been looking forward to most. I love this girl and really want her to get over the 'unlikeability factor' that she's shown to date. This was a good performance, not great, but I think she has the potential to be great if she can get some votes on her side - indeed, if she can stay in the show too, of course. This was another cool visual performance and she put a lot into it that puts her apart from some who have just stood and sung. She has been virtually note perfect in everything she's done so far but made a few mistakes this time - but nothing disastrous, just wish she hadn't. The dancers and her tights had a grubby air about them that I didn't think worked that well and, if it were a voting night, I would be worried for her as it wasn't so visually appealing for many who might otherwise vote for her. As it is, she's in with a chance but it would be at Paige's expense, and are the judges ready for that decision? I don't know. Cece must be so pissed that she's up against so many good people in this category. Any other year and she'd be through easily.
Everyone likes Tate. He just walks on and starts singing. Great from the very start which no one else has managed as well so far. This is only Week 1 Part 1 and the guy looks like an experienced act at his own show or as a guest on this one. By far, far and away, the best performance tonight. Is that enough to win X Factor, though? Because he's so good, it might just be. He may just find competition from Willie, though, who could steal all the youngster's votes that Scotty had bagged from the start.
This part could be described as the Beatrice or Carly Rose Show. Beatrice starts as the underdog of the two but this was a superb vocal performance and there's some special quality in her voice that is truly remarkable. She certainly ought to have put Arin and Diamond in the sing-off after that. So young and so good. Possibly a dark horse - although I accept that is one long shot! I just get that feeling. We'll have to see what Carly Rose does, though, before going further down that line!
Good old Jason. He's someone you can almost rely on to be entertaining. A cheerful song but after a while the same note repeated again and again with a bit of a screech and not always as in tune as it should be got a bit tiresome. He is pretty likely to be the one to go. That wasn't very good. I did like Jason's cheek, though, in his unedited remark at the very end about one of the co-host's cheek! We'll miss that if he goes but with all those under 18s around asking their mothers what he meant I suppose it'll be just as well!
1432. Not Lylas anymore. Lylas never made sense and sounded like those blow-up things you use as spare beds. Hey, that started terribly but got better very quickly and some great harmonies and vocals from most of them made this one of the better performances tonight. Quite a lot of criticism from the judges but this was a modern pop act that was better than the Spice Girls used to be when they started. The audience loved them and I reckon they should manage to stay with SisterC getting the boot. There is some serious talent in there and if they can get a few more notes right - the middle girl letting them down this time - then they'll do well.
Willie looks great, the cameras love him. An entertaining performance but not brilliant. He seems still to be getting used to being on a stage but, with dancers like that around him, I'm pretty sure he won't mind getting some more practice! He sings well, has some cool low notes and that Country style is popular. He can't touch Tate on the vocals but, if he can find something to make him really stand out in a modern way, he'll be around for a while yet.
This is the favourite by a long way at the bookies. Carly Rose has perfect pitch - she just starts and it's right. As this song, which was a bit odd anyway, ranged around she seemed to be able just to pick notes and moments and it all worked. With such young acts - she's 13 or 14, I think, - I do have trouble with how they can put across emotions from the lyrics, though. She is absolutely fantastic and one of the best potential stars that I've seen in a long time. The key word there, though, is potential. Demi asked whether she was actually ready yet. She had a point. She needs to be believable and, especially in a uniform that even emphasised her age, she lacked something. I find it so difficult criticising a performance that is one of the few I'd gladly watch again - and all credit to Britney for that - and I really do want to see her progress as she is too good to lose now. I think the punters are wrong (although I can understand why she does lead the polls) and someone else will win but she deserves to get through to the final if only to show the others just what good singing is all about and to give them all a bar to get over. If she can add real entertainment and, somehow, emotion to future tracks then anything is possible. She will be star. One day.
The boys get to close the show. Urban background. Nice choice by Simon again. This group will definitely be around a while yet. No doubt about that and a big fan base - importantly comprising voting fans too - will be a great support for them as the weeks progress. This was a great song for them - they might not like the Boy Band tag but that's what they'll get and can learn to live with it. A super way to close the show. We don't get to hear what the judges said or, for that matter, the audiences' reaction but I don't think it'll matter. they'll be around for a while yet.
So, who's going tomorrow? Tough choices indeed in places.
Groups: SisterC v 1432. 1432 will be more likely to win judges' votes but any bum notes from them with something a bit special from SisterC might possibly change the outcome. I see Sister C going.
Overs: Vino v Jason Jason is quite a light sort of act and, whilst we need some entertainment, I'm not sure he'll make it through. However, one set of full body tattoos is enough for the Live Shows and if Vino falls down again with nerves or just poor performance then he may struggle. My prediction is that Jason goes.
Young adults: Cece v Paige This rivalry has been going on since the start, if you believe the cleverly edited productions so far. But this sing-off, if that is what happens, would end that once and for all and could not have been created by the production team. I really really want to see what Cece can do but feel, sadly, that it'll be Paige that gets saved. It should be Paige that goes but I simply don't know.
Teens: Arin v Diamond
It would be so disappointing for Arin to be sent home in Week 1 for a second time but that seems to me the inescapable conclusion with such tremendous talent amongst the other three. The judges may make a decision based on the need to keep a guy in that category but I don't see them sending Diamond home. There may be a shock in this category. I don't know exactly how it will work. I am assuming that one from each category must go, reducing the acts to three per judge for Week 2. I am also assuming that all four will decide which two are at risk and also choose who goes home. That's a lot of negotiation and, presumably, behind the scenes activity that is already happening. Every possible combination will have been looked at and each judge will have declared who they want to take through and who of the other judges' acts they prefer. In a way, therefore, it will have been decided by the time they walk on stage.
Unless there's an element I am not aware of then it will be an odd night. What for instance, would happen if the vote were 2-2? Will they ask the 16 to vote? That was the technique used in an early programme of this type I watched a decade ago. in BBC's Fame Academy each act voted for their choice to go out of a bottom two if my memory serves me well. I wonder whether Simon remembers that. It kinda worked.
At last, we have the full 16 acts who'll be on the Live Shows confirmed! And, as Simon selects 9 girls and 5 guys for the last two acts to go through there's a surprise.
Dope Crisis, as expected from the lack of screen time, are cut and Emblem3 will be this year's boy band hopes. The five guys comprising Playback that were put together and seemed quite fun didn't make it but expect to see them all audition again next year as solos.
The surprise success is that of Sister C, three beautiful girls - they could be sisters, or at least two of them but I have yet to discover that - who we've seen very little of and that, coupled with what appeared to be a lack of excitement from Marc and Simon earlier and no mention in most spoilers either, made me think they were gone. From what little I have heard they sing remarkably well and blend fabulously, real talent. Not that that means they'll necessarily get far but I'm glad they've got the chance.
The other group through, Lylas, comprises five girls who auditioned as solo acts and have been pretty impressive since as a group.
It looks like being quite a series. I don't see any obvious duds. The weakest would probably, on present showing, David and Jason in the Overs but everyone else stands a chance of winning this from the start. Even those two are good.
Arin stands out just because he's the oldest in the Teens but you can't knock Carly Rose's experience and immaculate vocals which may just win over Beatrice's great personality and Diamond's vivaciousness. I really couldn't call it in that group and it will all depend on how they settle in to the huge stage, publicity, pressures of learning new songs and performing every week.
I love Cece and Jennel in the Young Adult category and expect the likeability factor to give Jennel the edge between them. Paige seems determined and has real passion but I don't see her winning as I can Jennel. The interesting one there is Willie who has a great, unique voice and style combination. But will he get the Texas vote? I'll tip Jennel but really it's close.
The Overs have Tate and Vino who are very strong contenders. I would say both should last a long time, especially Vino who may prove more flexible in some rounds. Tate is Tate and I don't see how he'll handle some rounds. Scotty got away with it, though, as did Philip, so who knows what the experienced and charming country singer with a great, natural voice will achieve?
So who amongst the Groups is going to make it? That's difficult too, mainly because we haven't really seen much of them all. We've got quite a good idea of where Emblem3 fit in and I'm not sure, from what I've heard, that they'll get votes for their performances as such. What the will get will be the young female vote, who haven't got a great many to choose from this year. Basically, it's Arin, Willie or Emblem3. So they'll last longer than their talents may justify, at least at this stage.
Lyric145 have this fairly unknown and previously hard rap-looking semi-professional singer at their front. She's toned down the appearance considerably but expect her to turn up the style switch when she's on stage next. I'm not sure America will love this group, not how they'll cope with this format either. They're not a weak act, just vulnerable in my opinion because of the voting trends.
Having not seen Sister C for more than a few seconds I would only worry that America won't 'love' them, as Simon says. If they're too slick, too cool then the personality thing will kick in. It's very much down to how they project themselves in the first week.
I am fairly sure Lylas will survive for a while, though, so it's likely to be the two girl bands who stand the best chance from the start in the Group category.
Overall, this is a great line-up. No way am I going to attempt anything more by way of prediction!
Quite a lot of chaos across The Pond as X Factor USA Judges' Houses Part 3 - the important bit where they choose who will be going through to the Live Shows - was pulled because of a baseball game being delayed by rain. Some viewers managed to see who gets through to Britney's Young Teens category, LA Reid's Over 25s and Demi's Young Adults but no-one saw who Simon chose for the last two of his Groups and, in particular, whether the solo entrants that he's manufactured into a couple of interesting groups make it. It's probably safe to assume that they do but we need to see it to be sure.
It sounds like a complete fiasco but it might give us here in the UK a chance to catch up! Fox will be airing a cut-back version of the show next week which I'm sure won't be needed here. It also looks as though there are several 'catch-up' audition shows scheduled before we get the first Live Show. That, too may be skipped here so that we actually get the Live Shows broadcast just a day or so later in the UK instead of the 15 or 16 days that would apply if the previous schedules were followed.
So, as expected, here are the acts that we know for sure we'll be seeing. If you'd peeked at the Spoiler then you'll not learn anything new and there are no videos worth including. If you're really into the sobbing scenes as acts get cut then you'll find them on YouTube somewhere.
12-16s mentored by Britney Spears
Carly Rose Sonenclar Diamond White Beatrice Miller Arin Ray
