Eight go to six on this week’s rapid fire installment and I am still not liking this fast paced season — but, it’s what we have so we make the best of it. The contestants continue to need to step up their game and the twist this week is the ever-popular DUET parings. They will either be really good or…not…
Have said that, this is how I saw the performances from my comfy couch this week – duets first:
La’Porsha Renae & Trent Harmon – See You Again (Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth)
These two actually sound good together…nice blend and worked well with each other. Not familiar with the song but it worked for them. Good job.
Avalon Young & Sonika Vaid – Rise Up (Andra Day)
Another good blending job from these two who actually appeared to enjoy singing with each other (they are roomies after all…). Pairing her with Sonika made me actually tolerate Avalon better this time around, if you can believe that. Song seemed to fit their voices well. Could have have used a little better diction from both.
MacKenzie Bourg & Dalton Rapattoni – I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys)
I call this pairing “When styles collide” and it was a huge fail. Dalton was a tad flat in places and I’ve haven’t heard him do that before. Mac was trying to make the best of it but really wasn’t. I don’t think this was a great song choice and I agree with Harry 100%!
Tristan McIntosh & Lee Jean – Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Areosmith)
The cute factor was working overtime with these two and they got a tad screechy in place but I thought it was a good song for them and they actually worked it out. You could tell Lee was trying a bit too hard because he’s been sick but Tristan was in her comfort zone most of the time.
Now, back to the solo portion of our competition as we find out who makes the Top 6:
La’Porsha Renae – Come Together (The Beatles)
When this gal stays old school with her song choices she kills it BIG TIME and she did it again this week. She was so far in the zone vocally and her stage antics were brassy and sassy! Great song choice — keep her singing the old songs and she could go all the way!
MacKenzie Bourg – You Are So Beautiful (Billy Preston/Joe Cocker)
I, for one, am glad this boy put down his guitar and concentrated on the words and emotions of this piece. It was simply and beautifully understated. Great vocals and great overall performance (and he nailed the last note, too!).
Last year’s winner Nick Fradiani drops by to plug his new single (it was ok) and then we get back to the business at hand…
Trent Harmon – Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
While he still needs to work on those facial contortions when singing he nailed the vocals on this old chestnut like a pro. Great song choice and yet another opportunity to work his falsetto in and out of the piece.
Tristan McIntosh – A Broken Wing (Martina McBride)
I really love her voice and warm country style but someone needs to pull this gal aside and teach her how NOT to lean into the scream when she goes for the dramatic effect. She does pick the right songs for her voice and even at her young age she can genuinely connect with the emotion of the piece but get her to a vocal coach who will not let her continue putting her fragile young voice in jeopardy.
Dalton Rapattoni – Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles)
Now THIS is the Dalton I like to see and hear – takes a familiar song and flips it on its head in his boy-band-gone-grunge sort of way. Really nice turn on this Beatles classic and he successfully showed off the great showman he is becoming…and the girls love him.
So when the dust settled the three on this week’s hot seat were:
Avalon Young – P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) (Michael Jackson)
It really is her song choices and not her vocals that put me off because the songs — and I’ll be honest — are just too butch for the vocals she produces. It’s almost a study in contrasts and that’s why I don’t believe she is connecting with us at home. She does have a cool factor but I don’t find her cool at all and it looks like I’m not the only one.
Lee Jean – Let it Be (The Beatles)
When you combine not the best of song choices on top of being sick you are doomed to not have a great performance. And that’s a shame because this boy has been consistently good vocally since day one and a pleasure to watch performance-wise. They tried to let him down easy but his fate was sealed after that song.
Sonika Vaid – I Have Nothing (Whitney Houston)
This is one of those “go big or go home” numbers and the vocals on this chick were absolutely pristine. It was a tad emotionally lacking for me but she was vocally superior than the other two and it was very evident.
With that, the judges chose to rescue
Sonika Vaid – she was the logical choice vocally
which left us to bid adieu to
Avalon Young (sorry, but it was time) & Lee Jean (unfortunately)
Time to go vote!
Until next Thursday, America!
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