Reality Recaps: The Finale of The Voice and The Last Night of Competition on The X Factor

I loved how both The Voice and The X Factor chose to open their final performances shows with tributes to the Sandy Hook School Victims and their families. Both performances were extremely touching and seriously brought tears to my eyes. On The Voice the mentors and the top 20 sang Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah.

On The X Factor, Simon Cowell gave a brief message before the top 12 performed You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson.

Let's discuss The Voice.......

I do not agree with Cassadee Pope winning; I like her and nothing against her but her voice was not as strong and consistent throughout this season as Nicholas and Terry's voices were. Nick, to me, grew leaps and bounds from the beginning. I am a fan now; he's Marvin Gaye and Barry White, his voice is soul music. He's committed to every performance, and his passion is so evident. Terry is someone that, the moment I heard him sing Baba O' Riley by The Who on The Blind Auditions, I knew we had found our winner. He's my winner, and not just because of his voice, but because of his spirit. Terry knows he's good, but he is humble, and let's face it, authentic rock voices don't come around all the time. Terry is a diamond in the rough, I didn't vote for the wrong person in him. The public chose the wrong member of Team Blake.

Back to The X Factor:

A song they sang before:

Carly Rose Sonenclar sang Feeling Good by Nina Simone (Michael Buble)-- She sang this on her first audition. Simon felt she sang it better the second time around. Britney seemed pretty confident that Carly has this competition in the bag. I liked this performance, but it was a bit too stylized for me.

Tate Stevens sang Everything Goes by  Randy Houser-- Demi felt that he turned it into a stadium performance, and that's what made it different this time than last time. Simon agreed with Demi and talked about how authentic Tate is and how he's maintained his integrity throughout. He congratulated L.A., and said this was an unlikely pairing, but you've done a really good job with him. I couldn't agree more; Tate deserves this, he deserves to be a star.

Fifth Harmony sang Anything Could Happen by Ellie Goulding-- L.A. said you were the underdogs and you are the ones to beat. Brit thought it was the right song choice. Demi feels they've worked hard and deserve to have people call for them. Simon likes the fact that they are the underdogs; I like it too. You know what I like even more? I like when the underdog wins.

Duets:

Carly Rose Sonenclar sang How Do I Live with Leann Rimes-- Out of the three duets, this was the weakest unfortunately.

Tate Stevens sang Pontoon with Little Big Town-- Tate looked and sounded like a natural.

Fifth Harmony sang Give Your Heart a Break with Demi Lovato-- Simon called it pop perfection.

New Song:

Carly Rose Sonenclar sang Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley-- L.A. questioned whether or not this was a $5 million performance. Simon said she looked great and sounded beautiful. Britney said that song alone was worth $5 million, get out your check book Simon. Sorry Brit, but for me, I was bored at the beginning and middle, it did liven up at the end, and I will give her that.

Tate Stevens sang Tomorrow by Chris Young-- Demi said she is sad that this is the last time she is going to hear him and that he's so talented. Simon said Tate has represented this category so well and that he has a feeling that a year from now, we'll be hearing about Tate's record sales. L.A. said he's always proud of him. I thought this was a great performance, he's definitely in this to the end.

Fifth Harmony sang Let it Be by The Beatles-- L.A. called it a beautiful performance, and said they did the song justice. Brit felt they've come a long way. Demi is proud of how they've evolved and grown. Simon said they deserve to be here, and I completely agree. That final performance blew me away.

Who is your pick to win The X Factor?  Mine is Tate or Fifth Harmony

Do you agree with Cassadee Pope winning The Voice? Will you miss Christina and Cee Lo? Or not given it any thought yet?

Reality Recap: The X Factor and The Voice

Contestant's Choice

Tate Stevens sang Bonfire by Craig Morgan-- He performed it well, but I didn't care for the song. Britney didn't think it was his best, Demi disagreed. I kind of agree with both of them because I did not think it was the right song for him, but he did a good job with it. L.A. said it was the most fun he has had since doing the show.

Carly Rose Sonenclar sang Your Song by Elton John-- L.A. thought she did things with the song that have never been done before. Demi thought it was predictable, but loved the R&B side of her voice. Simon said it was a beautiful version of a fantastic song, but not her best performance. I agree with all the judges, but again, didn't think it was necessarily the best song for her.

Emblem3 sang Baby I Love Your Way by Peter Frampton-- L.A. loved the song and saw them as recording artist for the first time. Britney thinks they've grown so much throughout the show. Demi praised it as well and compared it to their first audition and Simon agreed with Demi. I like how their personality showed in the song, but again, didn't like the song choice.

Fifth Harmony sang Anything Could Happen by Ellie Goulding-- Their performance of Anytime You Need A Friend was one of my favorite performances of this season, top three for sure. I love them. L.A. called it their best vocal performance, inventive, and he said he was proud of them. Britney loved everything about it, and called it magical and full of girl power. Demi said that they pulled out that sparkle that they needed. Simon agreed that "anything could happen," and I do too.

 The Song I Need to get into the Finals

Tate Stevens sang Fall by Clay Walker-- Demi said he deserves all these good things and he is so talented. Simon liked the song choice, and said he has as much likelihood of going back to his old job as he does of flying to the moon tomorrow night. L.A. loves Tate for his consistency, and wished him the best of luck. This was a great song choice as Simon said, I remembered a woman singing this song, and was reminded that Kimberley Locke from American Idol had a number one on the American Dance Charts with this song.

Carly Rose Sonenclar sang Imagine by John Lennon-- L.A. liked her artistic capability and the fact that she played the piano. Demi thought it was amazing and she took a risk. Simon said there was too much going on and it made a beautiful song fussy. He said he didn't like the arrangement and said it was overcomplicated. Britney feels she should be competing with the biggest stars in the world. I actually agree with Simon, and another which he said that was really smart--- she sang those big notes, but the song didn't need that.

Emblem3 sang Hey Jude by The Beatles-- This is an awesome song choice by Simon, ingenious! It totally paid off too; unbelievable performance. L.A. said I thought this was presumptuous and I was going to tear you to shreds for thinking you are teen heartthrobs like The Beatles and you are. Britney told them to take a bow. Simon said you guys have steel in your eyes and nailed it on both songs; you were fantastic.

Fifth Harmony sang Impossible by Shontelle-- Amazing, I could see them putting so much passion into their vocals and the performance. L.A. found their song choice lazy. I totally do not agree with L.A. Britney said she would be surprised if they are in it next week. Demi said there aren't a lot of people supporting them so their fans need to support them. Simon said I hope and pray America gets behind you because I know you were one of the strongest acts tonight.

I loved both groups, I kind of hope one of the solo artists is going home. I don't think Carly Rose had as strong a night as everyone thinks.

Just wanted to comment that regardless of Trevin Hunte being voted off The Voice, I think he has quite the future ahead of him. The best on performance night was Terry McDermott's Let It Be; that guy can sing. He joins Cassadee Pope and Nicholas David in the finals.

The X Factor Season 2: My picks for the live shows

Season 2 of The X Factor has been a pleasant surprise, meaning, yes, it's far different than Season 1. I love both new judges, Demi Lovato and Britney Spears clearly came to play; they both did their homework and have proven themselves not only competent, but intelligent. As for the talent, it's been wonderful; there are so many unique performers who have such special qualities about them. After several weeks of auditions, the field was narrowed down to 24, and the contestants were separated into four categories and sent to the home of the judge who would mentor their respective category.

The categories were: Teens mentored by Britney Spears, Young Adults mentored by Demi Lovato, Over 25s mentored by L.A. Reid, and Groups mentored by Simon Cowell.

Click HERE for the remaining contestants! 

Here are my picks--

The Teens:

Arin Ray
Beatrice Miller
Carly Rose Sonenclar
Diamond White

The Young Adults:

Cece Frey
Jennel Garcia
Willie Jones

last spot is between Paige Thomas and Jillian Jensen

The Over 25s:

David Correy
Jason Brock
Tate Stevens
Vino Alan

The Groups:

Emblem3
Lylas
Lyric145
Playback

You can watch the videos of their judge's homes performances here and here, and please, let me know who your picks are for the live shows.

Paula's groups are no more on The X Factor

Last week was all about being "thankful", who would no longer be thankful once the results show took place? It was anyone's guess. This was surprisingly a week where I believe everyone turned in a strong performance on an individual level. Many contestants turned in a performance that was their personal best thus far in the competition.

It was also a double elimination week which was unfair because everyone was just starting to get in their zones.

Touching:

How crazy was it hearing Rachel Crow's story, apparently her biological mom was a crack addict and therefore when Rachel was born she had an addiction to the drug. Rachel did a good job with her performance, but it wasn't the right song choice. Simon? What is going on?

I loved Marcus Canty singing "A Song for Mama" by Boyz II Men for his mom. I felt it was the most real emotion he has shown since he started on the show. Simon agreed saying he felt that this most connected he felt to him. Apparently viewers didn't feel that way saying Marcus was under pitch and his voice cracked. Sometimes it's more about the emotion and less about having perfect vocals. Viewers take note.



LeRoy Bell performed a sincere, stripped down version of "Angel" by Sara McLachlan in memory of his mom who passed away. Mr. Bell, your mom would be so extremely proud of you. Simon even congratulated LeRoy on a fantastic tribute to his mom. I couldn't agree more.

Last, but certainly not least, to perform on the night of giving thanks was Josh Krajcik. He absolutely stunned me with his rendition of "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones which he dedicated to his daughter. I literally found myself getting goosebumps in addition to tears coming to my eyes. Josh received the ultimate praise from each judge; he was without a doubt: breathtaking and powerful.



Ridiculous:

Who knew that Melanie Amaro was from The Virgin Islands and that she had that crazy sexy Rihanna accent? Is there anything that we won't like about this girl? I really don't think so. She is probably the most consistent performer in this group in terms of her voice. She never misses, even when she had laryngitis.



It was so ridiculous that Astro came up with this completely original song, and his attitude was totally 180 from last week. If he continues acting like this and continues being unique and pushing himself, he may just make it into the top three or four. I loved that his song sampled "Show Me What You Got" by Jay Z, great beat and background for his song to be built around.

This performance was amazing, but what was ridiculous was L.A.'s comments about Drew's performance. Drew sang the very poignant "Skyscraper" by young rising star Demi Lovato. L.A. tried to argue that this song was too old for the teenage Drew, well that doesn't really make sense because Lovato appeals directly to Drew's age group. Actually, I thought his comments was so strange that I need to quote M.J. from M.J.'s Big Blog: LA Reid decided to actually “critique” a performance, and what he had to say had me feeling second hand embarrassment for him. It’s hard to believe that a record executive has no idea that “Skyscraper” was recorded by a teenager for fellow teenagers. Drew, completely out of character, began arguing with LA about the song. By this time, the show was completely off the rails.LA: He tells Drew he thinks she’s a great singer but that her mentor is giving her songs for people who are 40. WHAT? Is it possible that LA has no idea that an actual teenager–Demi Lovato–recorded the song? Teenagers LOVE this song. I’m feeling second hand embarrassment for LA. Drew talks back to him, uncharacteristically angry. She’s probably as taken aback by his stupidity as everyone else.

Not So Good:

Chris Rene's rendition of "Let It Be" had a good reason behind it, but at the end of this week on competition, his vocals were all over the place. I had the impression that after this, he may be in trouble in terms of votes.

Lakoda Rayne had the right song with "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift, but their harmonies were painful at times. I am confident that in a couple of years, these ladies will be the new Dixie Chicks.

The Results:

And in the end, Lakoda Rayne was eliminated with the least number of votes, knocking Paula Abdul out of the competition as a mentor. LeRoy Bell and Marcus Canty
faced off to sing for their lives. Although the judges agreed that Leroy gave the better performance that night, Marcus was better overall. L.A. voted to send Leroy Home, Nicole voted to send Marcus home, Paula voted to send Marcus home, and the vote came down to Simon who chose to send LeRoy home bringing this decision to a deadlock. The person with the actual number of votes would be sent home and it was LeRoy.

The X Factor Continues a Steady Course, But When Will it Dazzle Us?

The Top 12 performed this past week on The X Factor and once again I was left wanting more. Am I expecting too much from this show? Did I want it to be better than American Idol, and now I'm left disappointed?

Of course, there were some solid performances, but the majority left me wanting more. These contestants are without a doubt talented, but no one blew me away.

Ugly:

I love Rachel Crowe but I didn't love this performance. Although Rachel has more charisma than money can buy, the cheesiness of the song choice negated all that.

Lakoda Rayne's rendition of "Landslide" reminded me of girl's night out at a karaoke bar. I didn't think the harmonies worked in this, despite different thoughts by some of the judges. The outfits, which did look like prom dresses, were too mature for such young women.

I am not being a hater, but I have heard many other singers sing this song better than Stacy. She needs to keep her eye on the prize, and not act like she has won already. There is plenty more work to be done as far as I'm concerned.

Good:

For a singer who is one of the best natural talents in the competition, Nicole has really made it difficult for LeRoy Bell to do well. The only reason he hasn't been eliminated is really a testament to his voice and how well loved he is by the public. Nicole, if you're listening, please, a decent song for the man this week.

Astro needs to watch his back or he may find himself being the first boy to be eliminated from this competition. "Hip Hop Hooray" was just not the right jam for him to be taking on.

InTENsity was not the worst this round, but yet, they found themselves eliminated on Thursday night after their performance of "Kids In America" and Party Rock" fell short for America. I believe these kids actually did work hard, and I think they could do well in a setting like The Disney Company.

Better:

Stereo Hoggz are probably the strongest group left, "Rhythm Nation" was the best group performance this week, but they need to step it up or they will find themselves in the bottom two again!

Chris Rene was the most improved contestant from last week. His rendition of Superstar was solid considering that this is such a difficult song to pull off. What didn't work was the "fire" background, and I agreed with Simon saying, L.A. really sent you to hell Chris. He will have to continue to work hard because Marcus Canty is building a real fan base.

As cheesy as the song choice was, Melanie Amaro is destined for stardom. She displayed great poise and maturity for someone who hasn't had musical experience.

Best:

Josh Krajcik's version of "Jar of Hearts" was a big risk that paid off big time; it was soul stirring and Josh is so good that when he sings a song well, no one can beat him.

Probably the most interesting song choice of the week, Drew took on "Just a Dream" by Nelly. This girl is a natural born star, and I think she may be the surprise winner of this competition. She just reminds me of that singer with the great voice, and the very free spirit. Simon said, “I’m seeing a star emerge in front of me…she’s my mentor now. I shouldn’t be telling you what to do. You are doing an incredible job.”

Marcus Canty, as many say, could just be a dark horse in this competition. He is, as I said last week, the complete package who can sing, dance, and act. His vocals on "Every Little Step" were spot on, and I applaud L.A. for choosing this song for Marcus. He does have a natural charm about him that makes fans relate to him.

Corny Song Choices: Nicole choosing "I'm Already There" for LeRoy Bell, woah, way cheesy!.... Simon changing Rachel Crowe's lyrics from "I'm Walkin' on Sunshine" to "You're My Sunshine". I don't really understand what the lyric change was supposed to do.... "Landslide" was a real landslide by Lakoda Rayne who would have done better with a more contemporary country song. Paula, quit trying to turn each girl into a season, no one gets it.... "Desperado" for Melanie Amaro was a desperate attempt to make her look non Celine or Whitney when the soul part of her voice should be what's played up.... "Up to The Mountain" for Stacy Francis was just a tad too gimmicky, there are so many other people who have sang this better than her.

Bottom two who sang for survival were TheStereo Hoggz and InTENsity; InTENsity was eliminated.