Tonight The X Factor finalists looked set to show some star quality with the theme of “chart toppers.” I must admit, I was a little nervous about this theme as so often my favourite tunes never win any popularity polls. However with Robin Gibb acting as guest mentor I hoped our final four could pull something worth watching out of the bag.
Andrew Lawson made all of my fears come true with his rendition of “Uptown Girl.” I love the Billy Joel version, but this felt more like that lacklustre Westlife take, with an added dose of awkward. It was totally cheesy and there was a real lack of dynamics or connection. You just can’t count on the dancers to win it for you.
I was pretty thrilled to see Mahogany was taking on one of my favourite guilty pleasures, Bryan Adam’s “Heaven.” Throw in a key change, those magnificent harmonies, and a stripped back performance free of those distracting dancers and pyrotechnics and you’ve got something magical. This is a classic example of the old adage “less is more.”
Sally Chatfield gave another strong performance this week with Pink’s “Just Like a Pill.” Vocally I can’t fault her but I’m starting to feel a gloss that undermines the connection to the songs. I couldn’t help casting my mind back to Nathan from Australian Idol a few years ago, the way he delivered it with such rawness and intensity. While she was high fiving the audience and fist pumping that message, that truth about the song was just a bit lost.
After lamenting the lack of connection shown by other acts, Altiyan Childs delivered what I was after. “The Living Years” is one of those songs I have a deep personal connection to. I was released just after my grandfather’s death, and it really painted the picture of the relationship he had with my own dad. I wasn’t sure he could do it justice considering all of the meaning I have invested in it, but he did. Altiyan is starting to become the heart of the show, and honestly I think that’s more important than a pretty voice.
I hoped Andrew Lawson would redeem himself with the second song, and he did to some degree. However, his take on “Something Stupid” just seemed a bit flat to me. It was a good vocal performance I suppose, but I just couldn’t get excited about it.
I really enjoyed Mahogany’s first performance, but they topped it with their version of “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Honestly this may have been the performance not of the night, but of the season. It was just so much fun. What’s not to like?
I was in two minds about Sally’s take on “Beautiful.” On one hand, there was certainly more truth to this than the blonde, thin, curvaceous Ms Aguilera brings to it, but on the other it just felt a bit imitative. We’ve already got one Christina; do we really need two?
A song so difficult to sing can never be called a safe choice, but it was predictable.
Altiyan already had me at the first song. Offering me a sniff of Jon Bon Jovi in the second was all he had to do was win me over completely. “Blaze of Glory” was a great song for him. I loved this.
What a great way to end the night. After two shaky performances I’d suggest Andrew Lawson’s luck may have run out, but I’ve been predicting that for some time now. We’ll find out for sure tomorrow night!