Why?!?!?

This week we give thanks. I’m thankful Stacy Francis went home. What are you thankful for? The same thing? I thought so. Paula promises lots of tears so we have that to look forward to. It will be interesting to see how/if L.A. will be able to dig Astro out of his deep this-kid’s-a-brat hole. In the opening minutes of the show, Steve throws us a major curve ball. Tomorrow night the act with the lowest score will automatically go home. The next two bottom acts will perform for the judges and someone else will go home. Oh the drama! I got started late tonight so I’m just watching performances.

Rachel Crow “I Believe”

What in the hell is she wearing? There is nothing wrong with picking either a skirt or pants. She’s wearing the ball gown of a pirates wife. If pirates had wives. She seemed to be trying to remember the words or she was just not as into the song. I’d had never heard it and I doubt many had. I’m not sure the audience was really connecting to her or the song either. It was just a’ight. LA “you did it again. I really loved it.” Nicole proclaims, “You’ve made a believer out of me.” Paula starts talking about if anyone ever questions if there are angels on earth or some shit. I think she’s been hitting the Pepsi cup again. Simon is still thankful they dropped the age limit.

Marcus Canty “Mama”

Marcus has a rough start. He is having the same mic issue as Rachel last week. I can barely hear him. He’s singing about and to his mama. He’s got tears in his eyes and is visibly overcome with emotion. It’s sweet and all but this is a competition. You still need to sound good. He had some really off key notes. Yet, L.A. Nicole and Paula all give him a standing ovation. Am I dead inside? I must be dead inside because I didn’t get the emotional stuff at all. Nicole and Paula go on and on about how great he is. Simon says it’s the first night he felt a connection with him. It’s official. I’m dead inside. If Simon felt it there must be something wrong with me. He was OK and all but I didn’t think he rivals Babyface as L.A. said.

Melanie Amaro “The World’s Greatest”

What song do you sing to God? I thought maybe Colors of the Wind, Melanie chose this one by R. Kelly instead. Not my first go to but it actually turned out to be a smart choice. Girl looks and sounds great. She doesn’t get a couple of back-up singers she gets a full choir dressed all in white. I’m really surprised Simon didn’t close the show with this one. He sees his next Leona Lewis. As L.A. praises her Melanie starts talking. I’m super surprised Melanie found her voice and is expressing herself hardcore. She busts out a Virgin Island accent and gets a standing ovation from the judges. Where in the hell is all of this coming from? I feel like I’ve stepped into the Twilight Zone. She’s going to be a tough act to follow.

Chris Rene “Let It Be” & “Young Homie”

The hat is back and I predict his demise tomorrow. Maybe not, but I really don’t like it. This song really fits his vibe. It’s much more his style and he actually sounds good. It was really smart to add in this homey trippin’ song from his first audition. The heavenly gates in the background were silly.  Simon doesn’t like his song choice but applauds Chris for sharing his story with the world. He believes Chris has probably helped a lot of people and maybe encouraged them to change their own lives.

Lakoda Rayne “You Belong With Me”

Seriously sex swings? They are really trying to get the vote of tween girls with a Taylor Swift song. All this song shows is that Hayley is the best singer. Two of the others start the song and it’s rough until Hayley takes over. They do seem to have worked on their blend as the parts where they all sing together sounded really good. I still don’t think they are long for this competition, but it was much better. I’m not really sure how or why this song pertains to the people they are thankful for, but whatever. L.A. and Simon both said it was their best performance yet. Paula got all teary. I’m sure it’s the fact they’re her only act left.

LeRoy Bell “Angel”

He really needs to step it up tonight in my opinion. I love this song. It reminds me so much of High School and crying in my pillow because some boy was mean to me. He started out great and I really like it when he was singing by himself. Personally, he kind of lost me when the choir joined it. I think it would have been better if he had left them out of it. L.A. didn’t think it was his very best. Paula “could not disagree with him more.” Simon also didn’t agree with L.A. He felt LeRoy really meant every word and made his mark this week. Nicole says “this is your moment.” LeRoy is still not showing much of a personality. He gives me a wet noodle vibe.

Astro “Show Me What You Got” (with all original lyrics)

This pre-performance package I had to watch. Can they help this kid fight his way back? They did a pretty good job. The thing I liked the most? He calls his step-dad “Pa.” I think that’s cute. The lyrics he wrote really worked and I think expressed his viewpoint well. Not sure why he’s rapping to the stage…are his lyrics written down there? This song definitely, if not helped, at least didn’t compound the problem. Astro started the judge critique with a nice apology. Nicole tells him to always be thankful. Paula asks to be an Astro-naut. Simon admires him and says the music business needs unpredictability. L.A. is happy that Astro acted like a gentleman. I kinda feel like he is back to being a kid and actually smiling. Maybe he really was humbled.

Drew “Skyscraper”

Well, I will say this about Drew. She does emo really well. The girl is built for the tween/emo set. She reminds me a lot of Paramore. If there were another Twilight movie coming out, I would expect her to be on the soundtrack. L.A. takes issue with the fact that she doesn’t do age appropriate music. Drew goes off on him. Simon also goes off on him. He feels L.A. is picking on Drew. I have agreed with L.A. before and understand his point. She does sort of sound like she’s singing for the Adult Contemporary crowd sometimes. I think what L.A. is trying to say is that she needs to shake it up. Take risks, have fun, stop singing the emo ballads. Simon acts like he is completely wrong and is asinine for having that opinion.

Josh Krajcik “Wild Horses”

I kinda always feel like the ability to play the piano and still put on a great performance is the sign of a true artist. Josh was amazing. He played with such conviction and heart. You can tell that he pours everything into it, unlike some of the other people in the competition. Lakoda Rayne could never put on that kind of performance. He gets a standing ovation from all the judges and the studio audience. L.A.- “You have everything it takes to win this competition. Paula- “All I ask of you contestants is to be bigger than the songs that you sing and you were larger than life.” Simon- “That is what it’s all about.” He also complements Nicole. I know, it was surprising to everyone. Nicole “I strongly believe your music can change the world.”

I think LeRoy, Lakoda Rayne, and Marcus Canty should be worried. I think Astro’s fanbase will keep him in. Who gets all of Stacy Francis’ voters? I think Melanie for sure.

 Were you surprised by Melanie’s accent? Would I have known about it if I watched all the pre-performance bits? Did Astro do enough to comeback from his hissy fit? Will you even bother to watch tomorrow’s show or will you be traveling? Join me tomorrow for quick post on the TWO acts going home. You can get hyped up on tryptophan and COMMENT to your hearts content.