Last night our Australian Idol hopefuls showed they can bust a move with outstanding disco grooves. There were plenty of top-notch performances, but last night’s standout was Matt Corby who scored the season’s first touchdown.
Tarisai Vushe started the night with the disco classic “Hot Stuff.” She definitely looked the part, but I wasn’t entirely convinced by her performance which verged on shouting in places. It was a solid effort, but not the showstopper I expected from her.
Ben McKenzie almost scored a touchdown for his take on “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” I loved how Ben built this, taking it from emotive ballad to dance floor filler. He had all the moves down and interpreted the song perfectly. A really good job.
Mark Da Costa played it smart, choosing “Nutbush City Limits.” The song fit the disco genre without forcing Mark to stray too far from his rock roots. He matched Tina Turner’s rasp perfectly and got the crowd dancing.
Lana Krost also made a smart song choice with Moloko’s “Bring it Back.” So often performers stumble by choosing songs they don’t really understand from decades before. By keeping it contemporary, Lana really shone. She’s still a bit weaker than some of the other performers, but every week she’s improving and that needs to be commended.
Jacob Butler was one of the performers most likely to struggle with disco. Unlike Mark, who chose a rock-edged disco number, Jacob decided to tackle one of the genre’s modern masters with Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat.” I admire that he embraced the genre and decided to play it straight, but it didn’t quite work for me. Jay Kay’s vocals are so demanding, and Jacob’s voice wasn’t really up to the task.
Marty Simpson decided to give Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” a reggae vibe. While the judges’ verdicts were mixed, I personally love what he did here. I’m not a huge disco fan, but I think he actually delivered his best performance this competition. It was a really clever choice for a guy that was always going to struggle with straight disco.
Daniel Mifsud also gave one of his best performances with his cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You.” Song choice was always going to be critical this week, with so many Idols stepping into unfamiliar territory. This was another canny decision, combining disco with Daniel’s preferred genres of rock and soul. I felt this was his most believable performance since the auditions, a real return to form.
In my mind, Carl Riseley was last night’s surprise package. No one could accuse him of straying from the genre this week, with his traditional delivery of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September.” His falsetto was a bit weak, but it didn’t matter. What I loved most about this is that it looked like Carl was having fun for the first time this year. And that’s exactly what disco is all about!
Matt Corby also decided to dazzle us with a little Earth, Wind and Fire. His version of “Got To Get You Into My Life” actually earned him the season’s first touchdown. Great vocals, great interpretation, a touchdown that was well deserved.
If we hadn’t seen a little Gloria Gaynor on disco night I would have been sorely disappointed. Natalie Gauci came through with the goods, delivering a near perfect rendition of “I Will Survive.” I say near perfect, because like Mark the vocal gymnastics bug me too. Hopefully she takes this advice on board and gets that touchdown next week.
It’s going to be a close race before tonight’s elimination. My heart thinks Jacob Butler might go, considering how close he came last week. It’ll be a real shame though, as he certainly gave this week his all. Lana Krost’s run may also come to an end, which would also be a shame as she’s learning so much. Still, I’m at that point where I don’t really want anyone to leave! Who’s your pick to go?