The X Factor USA 2012: Top 12
After the first elimination of the season last week where we said goodbye to joke act Jason Brock, the remaining twelve contestants were tasked with singing songs from the Divas. This was a huge challenge for all the acts, no doubt. If the pressure weren't high enough already, Mario and Khloe announced that this week there would be a DOUBLE ELIMINATION. Well, hopefully we'll start weeding off some of the acts that don't stand a chance this year. Let's get to it shall we?
Jennel Garcia
Demi could not have picked a worse song for Jennel. Not only does the song not fit who Jennel is as an artist, it also is a song that only the legendary Tina Turner can sing. All others pale in comparison. Also, they tried to turn it into this 2012 dance track with a club beat, and it was horrendous. Jennel's vocals weren't bad, but the production was atrocious, and I could not wait for it to be over. I was surprised at how much the judges loved it. They basically fawned over her which I did not understand at all.
Tate Stevens
As much as I hate to say it, I think Tate is going to be a huge contender this year. I never thought an older country singer would stand a chance on this show, but not only does he have the backing, but he has an incredible and strong country voice. It's almost surprising that he hasn't ever had a recording contract. This song was once again perfect. Nothing to critique.
Diamond White
Diamond is a diva in her own right, and I thought Beyoncé's 'Halo' was a perfect song choice. After getting through the part where she walked which resulted in shaky vocals, Diamond really proved herself. She belted the song effortlessly and really pulled it off. I really hope she sticks around until the end because like Britney likes to say, "You're a little star."
Beatrice Miller
Beatrice shouldn't be in this competition because she's just not ready for it all. The song choice I thought was perfect, and she actually did the song justice. Her vocals were strong, and I'm starting to warm up to her husky tone. She's not going to last much longer, but she gave a solid performance this week.
Lyric 145
I can't believe Simon even let them perform this atrocity. He really couldn't have picked two songs that were less complimentary of each other. Like Demi remarked, the songs didn't even make any sense together. It was absolutely horrible since they are actually a talented group, and I'm rooting for them.
Arin Ray
Okay, so it wasn't a bad performance, but it wasn't memorable either. I love that Britney wants to stan for Madonna and give her contestants the Queen's songs, but it just didn't work. It didn't feel like Arin up there at all, and I think he needs to get back to his original style otherwise he's toast.
Paige Thomas
She had a great performance last week, and this week is was horrendous. I'm sorry, but if you're going to be on a singing competition we actually have to hear you sing. She was drowned out for a majority of the performance, and when you could hear it she was all over the place. I can't believe the judges even liked it, especially Simon. It was a hot mess.
Fifth Harmony
Taking on a Mariah tune. Ruh roh! Thankfully the girls kept it simple, and didn't try to Mariah-it out. It wasn't a particularly good performance as there were some vocal flaws, but it was much better than just average. It was a forgettable performance for me.
Carly Rose Sonenclar
My favorite movie theme song from my favorite movie of all time?! Yep, Carly is singing 'My Heart Will Go On' from the spectacular 'Titanic'. And she sounds flawless, as always. This girl can do no wrong, and I love seeing such an incredible voice come out of such a tiny body. She's got what it takes to win, and maybe Britney will even win this season!
Vino Alan
I despise Vino, but I have to admit that this was actually a very good performance. When he sings the right song it works for him. He has a really soulful voice.
Emblem 3
I can't believe I'm saying this, but their performance was actually very good this week. It was a million times better than that awful train wreck they had last week. They kept it simple, and their harmonies were beautiful. If they keep it simple they could go far.
Cece Frey
Cece throws a pit party and whines that her parents can't afford to fly out to the show. She's really not doing herself any favors in terms of America's perception of her...Anyway, she decides to tackle Celine's 'All By Myself'. Horrible choice. Her vocals were all over the place, and it was hard to listen to at times. I feel like she thinks she's better than she actually is, and so instead of staying where she actually sounds good, she instead belts it and completely misses the mark. The best part of the night had to be the argument surrounding Cece (reproduced in the gifs below).
Overall, it was a pretty good night. There were some very strong performances, and a few train wrecks. Based on their performances, I would say that Cece, Lyric 145 and Paige Thomas would be the most likely contenders for elimination. Lyric 145 got the boot straight away. Can't say I'm surprised, but I would have liked them to stay around longer because I feel they had much more to offer. Jennel and Paige fall into the Bottom Two and must sing for their lives. Both girls gave their best vocal performances to date, but it's obvious Paige is a star in the making. The three judges all send Jennel home, but only after Simon and Demi have one of the most awkward fights ever. I love Simon and thought it was hilarious, but you could see Demi was distraught. Live television at its finest! Next week is Thanksgiving, and the contestants will be dedicating their songs of thanks to important people in their lives. Until then, I give you the legendary walk of Godney...
This week's rankings:
2. Carly Rose Sonenclar
3. Vino Alan
4. Emblem 3
5. Cece Frey
6. Fifth Harmony
7. Diamond White
8. Beatrice Miller
9. Arin Ray
10. Paige Thomas
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