What a week it’s been! This time last week on The X Factor, we enjoyed some thankful tunes and found our Top 10, shrinking to the Top 8 as Arin Ray and Beatrice Miller tearfully waved goodbye to America. Then we all gathered around our dining room tables with family and friends, enjoying those Thanksgiving leftovers before braving the Black Friday crowds.
Tonight, the competition is back on as the Top 8 take to the stage with a new theme and knowing that the stakes are growing more and more intense. Plus, the producers are coming up with more creative ways to stretch along the 2-hour time slot, rather than listening to Khloe’s banter. Will.I.Am premieres his latest video “Scream and Shout” featuring Britney Spears!
Big surprise to start us off. Khloe informs us that tomorrow will bring yet ANOTHER double elimination. Guess they’re really kicking up the competition with The Voice. I’d rather concentrate on small facts such as this rather than the awkward pauses seen from both Khloe and Mario. Is it their faults or the producers?
Finally! The performances begin!
Tonight’s Theme: Number Ones
Diamond White
Category: Teens
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston
Britney may have finally woken up last week! It’s about time that we see Diamond have fun with a performance again. The arrangement works in her favor, starting off slow. Once the beat kicks in, Britney’s name is written all over the extravagant performance.
LA isn’t very impressed giving Diamond an A for effort and B for execution. Demi wants to see her bring more to her performances. “I don’t know what else this girl could have brought,” says Simon in Diamond’s defense.
Vino Alan
Category: Over 25s
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” by The Righteous Brothers
It’s the guy stuck in that third place. Can Vino and LA put their heads together and find a way to bump this guy up at least one spot? It’s all in the song choice, which means that they’re changing songs at the last minute. And we’ll have to wait and see what that song is until after the commercial break.
Made you look! Apparently, this was the song change? I think another change would have been a really good idea because this selection just does not match him or his style. It’s good, but not believable.
“I feel like there’s something that needs to be freshened up,” Britney says. Demi agrees. “There are so many amazing songs that you could sing,” Simon starts,”and that wasn’t one of them.” Took the words right out of my mouth! Of all the songs in the world, this one?
Khloe with the Fans
Khloe is smack dab in the middle of some hand-picked fans who were either paid to say who their favorites are or they coincidentally sat around each other waiting for a rookie TV show host to ask them that 5 million dollar question.
Paige Thomas
Category: Young Adults
“Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley
America has just been Rick Roll’d! Yes, Paige has taken on the 1980s hit, starting off slow and then jumping into some interesting dance moves as the beat kicks into gear. Odd hip thrusts or not, this performance is hot. Blending old school with new school is the way to go!
“Paige, that was by far your very best by a long shot,” LA shouts. “This is the first time you looked and sounded like a legitimate pop star,” Simon says. He makes a great point, too. Paige will need to think more, moving ahead, about standing on her own two feet and not listening to everything Demi, her mentor, suggests.
Tune in for tomorrow’s result show when Alicia Keys performs live!
Fifth Harmony
Category: Groups
“Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson
Unfortunately, Ally’s grandfather passed away this past week. This performance is dedicated to him. Break a leg, girls!
As the lights come up, Lauren is seen holding Ally’s hand. You have to love the sisterhood between these girls. They sound amazing and look great and confident this time around. The girls immediately swarm Ally as the song ends.
LA offers his condolences to Ally, yet is underwhelmed with the performance. “The energy got sucked out because you were just standing on the stairs,” Demi says. True, they stood in one spot the whole time, but she’s done the same on her tours. Simon can see the girls at the top of the charts and right now that’s all that matters.
Carly Rose Sonenclar
Category: Teens
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
Singing an Adele song is usually talent show suicide. Not for someone like Carly Rose. This little girl is able to take her voice to places one probably can’t even fathom. This marriage of voice and song selection is basically last week’s performance times 10, maybe even 15.
Seriously, LA? “That wasn’t your best performance,” he says. Moving on to more positive comments, Demi is proud of Carly Rose and she’s not even her mentor. “I thought the first half of the song was good; I thought the second half was sensational,” says Simon who goes further and explains that Carly Rose is an alien and must be disqualified. Oh, Simon.
Tate Stevens
Category: Over 25s
“Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban
This fun approach for Tate could be really good, that is if we could see him. What is up with production? The camera guys must be running all over, dodging the red spotlights. It’s a good thing Tate sounds good. Playing his guitar and working the crowd is really working in his favor.
“When I get married one day, I want my husband to love me the way you love your wife,” Demi says. Simon has less encouraging words. “Don’t dance!” is his order for the night. He’s probably just jealous he can’t show off his moves while sitting behind that table.
CeCe Frey
Category: Young Adults
“Lady Marmalade” by Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink, Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliot
She’s been in the bottom two so many times, can she bounce back? Well, this is definitely more CeCe than she’s looked in a very long time. The Marie Antoinette spectacle on stage is very cute and pop star-esque. Unfortunately, her vocals suffer. I’m afraid that this is the end, for real this time.
“The problem I have with that performance…” starts Simon. “I felt like I’d eaten 66 slices of chocolate cake. I wanted a slice; you gave me too much.” He makes complete sense. It was way too much going on at once.
World Premiere Video
“Scream and Shout” by Will.I.Am featuring Britney Spears
Toss everything that makes sense, and doesn’t make sense, about the future and toss it into a video with Will and Britney, add a good dance beat and you have the video. Got it? No, I didn’t think so. Sounds cool, though.
EMBLEM3
Category: Groups
“I’m A Believer” by Smashmouth
Keaton still needs to work on his lack of dance skills while on stage, but this is a really fun and cute performance from the guys. The girls are screaming, the vocals are there and they’re confident. Female dancers have even been recruited this week.
LA would sign them. Demi is confused about where they are going. Simon stands behind them. Wesley explains that they play instruments and they’ve just been waiting for the right moment. Why are we waiting so long to see their true abilities? I agree with both Demi and Simon.
There you have it! The Top 8 have performed and Britney’s latest music video appearance has been witnessed. Which were your favorite moments of the night? Will Carly Rose be on top again tomorrow night? Has Khloe gotten any better at hosting? Let us know what you think!
Tomorrow night on The X Factor, tune in for the Top 8 results live to see which two acts will go home. Also, don’t forget that Grammy-winning R&B artist Alicia Keys will perform.
Bored during the commercial breaks? Refresh your memory of last week’s eliminations with Arin Ray’s Season in Review and Beatrice Miller’s Season in Review.
Want to add The X Factor to your very own watch-list? Download BuddyTV Guide for free for your phone.
(Image courtesy of FOX)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
