The X Factor: Live Show #3

I really wanted to name this post "I like you better when you cry" but it wouldn't have been in line with my past X Factor recaps...

It was "Movie Night" on the X Factor tonight with contestants singing songs from movie soundtracks. They all got treated to a red carpet experience: the premiere of Adam Sandler's new movie Jack & Jill. [Cue senseless cross-promotion here.] Some of them even got to meet Adam Sandler and get acknowledged by him. This is not the time and place to rant about my loss of faith with Hollywood...but how did that movie even get made? And did Drew really think it was the funniest movie she's ever seen?

From video clip to studio, Steve Jones (the host whose name I finally remember) kicked off the show with an audience that sounded louder than usual. Stacy Francis started the night with the upbeat "Queen of the Night", a song I have never heard from The Bodyguard, a movie I only know about for Whitney Houston's hit song "I Will Always Love You". Why didn't she sing that instead?

Stacy was one of my favourites until my coworker shared this article from the UK's Daily Mail with me, claiming that she sang at Tom Cruise's birthday in 2004, which tells me that she did have a music career and was not coming from, well, nothing. If this is true then has she been playing us with her insecurities all along? Or maybe her career failed and she had to learn to believe in herself again. Either way, she didn't cry tonight. And I, as L.A. Reid aptly put, "like you better when you cry". Also one more word: hairline. Enough said.

From a performer who was pushed outside her comfort zone to dance, to another who was pushed outside his to not dance...

Marcus Canty sang "I'm Going Down" from the movie Car Wash. I thought he was very cool and smooth in his performance, and especially loved when he kicked the mic stand. He impressed me with his vocals and I liked that he carried on even when it took him forever to get his jacket off. And this is where I say something corny with the song title like "Well you won't be going down, Marcus"! (Sorry, I had to.)

Drew was next with Coldplay's "Fix You", which Simon (sarcastically) introduced as coming from one of his favourite movies You, Me, and Dupree. I'm pretty sure that's an Owen Wilson movie and I'm also pretty sure this song choice deserves a WTML?! It seemed like they just chose a song they wanted Drew to sing and found a movie that it was in. For me this did not completely satisfy "Movie Night" requirements. All that aside, Drew was her predictably good self, though I wasn't as blown away as I was last week...probably also because X Factor had already done "Fix You" in Hollywood rounds. I also felt like Drew's popularity was starting to affect her so I hope that doesn't escalate too quickly. And did anyone notice that she has Sarah McLachlan phrase endings? I finally clued in. 

LeRoy Bell got to sing a U2 song from Runaway Bride:"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".  Which leads me to say I still haven't understood why he's there. But I did agree with the judges when they said it was his best performance to date. He sounds like Michael Bolton. And I happy for him because he's living his dream right now.

Lakoda Rayne sang "I Wanna Love Somebody Like You" from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I didn't know nor do I remember this song. I think they individually sound great but are still not bankable as a group. L.A. said they had an identity crisis and I think they still do. You can't fake being BFFs onstage after a month together. He also said they were his favourite girl group, which was a very backhanded compliment since they are the only girl group. 

Astro turned up the volume with Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile, rapped to his own lyrics. In his video, Astro said that he has been writing and producing since he was ten years old. It's evident that this kid has the work ethic to match his ego. My favourite line that he wrote was something about the pancreas making him insulin--it was straight out of biology class! He later gave a shoutout to his fans, whom he affectionately called "astronauts". I love this.

Melanie Amaro took on Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" from This is It (is this a movie or a documentary?). I learned from her video that she was a nursing student. She also had the misfortune of losing her voice this past week but luckily you couldn't tell. She looked and sounded great, but I realized that she is a singer and not a performer, and to be a successful performer you need to have the "x factor" (hence the show's title). Her hand movements seem very well-rehearsed. Maybe she over-thinks everything or is too technical. But one thing is certain: she did not look very happy this week both after her performance and at the end of the show. I hope it's just because she's not feeling well because I would love to see her improve.

Trace (aka Stereo Hogzz) performed Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man" from Get Smart. I call them "Trace" now because that's the lead (and only) singer's name. WTML are they a group?! They still had backup singers and dancers. I am so confused. It was a fun song with good staging but seriously, when will the judges realize that it's just Trace?

Josh Krajcik delivered one of my favourite performances of the night "With a Little Help from My Friends" from Across the Universe. I love the quality of his voice and the meaning he puts behind it. I loved it despite of the cheesy dancers with their wind machines, whom Simon wanted Josh to get rid of next week (no gimmicks, indeed!). Josh now has a burrito named after him at the place where he used to work.

Chris Rene rewrote the lyrics to Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" from Dangerous Minds. I love this song but did not love his new title, which I think was "Past-Time Paradise" (then again, I am not the best at deciphering lyrics). It was my favourite of his performances on the live shows so far but I prefer his Jason Mraz-y stylings more. Of all his performances, his first audition still takes the cake.

Rachel Crow ended the night with "I'd Rather Go Blind" from Cadillac Records. I had never heard this song before but I instantly loved the tone of her voice and the retro/soul vibe. It was her best performance yet and even though it was a bit old for her, at least it showcased her vocal ability and maturity as an artist. I'm glad Simon finally let her choose her own song.

It's getting harder to choose between acts now since everyone is pretty much on the same level. That being said, based on tonight's performances:

My Final Thoughts

Weakest: Stacy Francis, Lakoda Rayne

Best: Rachel Crow, Josh Krajcik

Bottom two: Lakoda Rayne, Stereo Hogzz (I am just guessing these now since I will never be in sync with America)

So that wraps up tonight's recap and my *drumroll* 500th post! I snuck that by you, didn't I? What did you think about tonight's show?