With this year’s X Factor live shows kicking off tonight I figured it time I started to blog about the reality singing quest. I’ve caught bits and pieces up until this point, but with the competition heating up I’m starting to get switched on to the action. Once the judges treated us to a medley of their own hits it was down to business.
Tonight’s theme was Judges Choice, which was a smart move in my books. Let’s face it, few of the acts really know anything about anything at this point, so it makes sense to have the more experienced judges pulling the strings for now.
Reece Mastin kicked things off with 30 Seconds to Mars’ “Closer to the Edge.” He was one of my early favourites, but I must admit I was a little disappointed by his performance. The opening verse was really shaky, and while the chorus started to soar I didn’t get the big stadium confidence from him that I think this song needs. I’m hopeful he can grow from here, as it must be tough to be the first performer out of the gates. The judges seemed to love it, so maybe it lost something in the translation to TV.
Ronan kicked off his groups with Three Wishez. Their take on Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” was a real performance, spectacular and well put together. The vocals were a bit shaky from Sophia in places, but I really appreciated the entertainment value. There’s definitely room for this band to grow into a very slick unit.
Andrew Wishart headed up Nat’s team with The Script’s “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved.” This performance gave me the connection I’ve been longing for all night. There’s something so authentic about this guy, so believable, and I love the little sweet spots in his voice. It wasn’t perfect, but I really liked what he did with this song.
Then it was time for the first of the under 25 girls, Christina Parie, with Kelly Clarkson’s ”Since You’ve Been Gone.” This girl seems like the missing Veronica to me, which isn’t entirely a bad thing. She’s gutsy and confident, with an edge beyond her years. Again the vocals weren’t entirely perfect, but I think that suited the rock vibe of the song.
Mitchell Callaway mixed up Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World.” It was a brave choice, but in the end it felt a bit gimmicky to me, almost like it was trying too hard to be clever. The arrangement took center stage when I think Mitchell should have. I appreciate that Nat didn’t take him too far out of his comfort zone, but I don’t think it was the best vehicle for him.
Johnny Ruffo took on Maroon 5’s current smash “Moves Like Jagger.” The vocals were on pitch but lacking conviction. The dancing was great, but I didn’t see the right amount of swagger. I really hope that in time this kid can break out of his shell, because there’s a lot of raw potential there. Right now though, it’s just simmering underneath the surface.
I’ve always thought Audio Vixen were one of Ronan’s strongest groups. I was a little nervous when I saw they were being taken out of their retro comfort zone, but they soared with Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.” I’ve never been a huge fan of the song (Chris Martin is just a bit whiny for my tastes) but they converted me. I love the chemistry between these siblings. This was the performance of the night for me.
Jacqui Newland got countrified with Taylor Swift’s “Love Song.” I loved the staging with the flowers, although I could have done without the Wicked style levitation towards the end. Vocally though it was a bit lacking. I love her tone, but it felt like she was pushing a bit too much in places. I also agree with Ronan’s comment that the song choice made her a bit bland.
Declan Sykes was up next with his take on Muse’s “Uprising.” I’ve read a fair bit of criticism of this kid on various forums, but I find him one of the most interesting performers in the competition. Amongst a whole lot of fairly mediocre song, his originality really stood out.
Cleo Howman did her best Little Red Riding Hood impersonation on Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts.” I must admit that I’m not familiar with the song, but I thought it was a great choice. However I really could have done without all the theatrics around her. I think stripping all that away would have helped us focus on her beautiful voice and delivery.
After Cleo’s somewhat gloomy performance I was excited to Young Men Society bring the energy up with their mash-up of “The Lazy Song” and “Price Tag.” It was such a joyous performance, one that seamlessly blended the vocals and dancing without appearing forced. We’ve seen them stumbling a bit in the culling rounds, but this was back to the best we’ve seen of them.
Tyla Bertolli closed the show with Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain.” She looked stunning, but the vocals weren’t up to standard for me. I felt her conviction but she just wasn’t in the pocket for much of it. It felt like she was pushing. I really think Mel picked the wrong song here.
It’s always hard to predict which way things will go so early, but I think Jacqui Newland and Cleo Howman may be on shaky ground. Not because they served up the worst performances, but because we’re at a point where the audience doesn’t know the artists yet. There’s been a lot of screen time given to certain other acts, and the young girls will always vote for those cute boys. We’ll find out how things go tomorrow.