This week The X Factor will choose a season three winner from Carlito Olivero, Alex & Sierra and Jeff Gutt. But before we crown the champion, I thought it’s time to take a moment and look back at the top ten best performances from season three.
Before we get to the nitty-gritty, there’s a brief explanation I’d like to give about my list. With only one exception, I tried to limit it to one song per artist. While looking back over the weeks of performances I realized, If I didn’t do that, you’d get a top ten consisting of only Alex & Sierra, Khaya Cohen, Rachel Potter and Lillie McCloud. So to prevent that from happening, I mostly limited it to one per singer.
Make sure to check back on Wednesday and Thursday for my last two X Factor recaps and comment below with your favorite X performance.
[ new page = “Gravity” ]
”Gravity” by Carlos Guevera (from the third night of auditions)
Carlos’ tenure on X was much rockier than I expected, especially after his stellar audition. Sure, Carlos looked nervous and seemed genuinely shocked at the positive response he was getting from the audience, but that was part of his charm. Carlos has gone through many struggles and you could feel a lifetimes worth of pain and overcoming obstacles in his gritty, soulful take on the John Mayer song. Was it a perfect vocal, not by a long shot, but it had so much heart and passion behind it, it still sticks in my mind after hearing dozens of other X Factor performances.
[ new page = “Treasure” ]
”Treasure” by Josh Levi (from the Big Band episode)
While I’ve never been Josh’s biggest fan, he was at his best when mixing an old school vibe with new school R&B. Bruno Mars’ “Treasure” was somewhere between Usher and Singing In The Rain, which let Josh strut his stuff. The singing was smooth and on point and the tune even allowed him to show off some suave dance moves. If he had delivered like this every week, I can’t help but think that Josh’s X Factor journey would have been longer.
[ new page = “Amazing Grace” ]
”Amazing Grace” by Jeff Gutt (from the Four Chair Challenge: Over 25s episode)
I sometimes felt like Jeff, a very talented rock vocalist, seemed like he was trying to act like a rock star rather than it being something totally genuine. Perhaps because of this, my favorite Jeff performance wasn’t a well-known rock anthem but an out-of-left-field song choice that stunned me the first time I heard it. His take on “Amazing Grace” was brimming with a passion and sincerity that were missing from many of his later performances. Besides, I’ve heard hundreds upon hundreds of versions of this song, so to reinvent it so seamlessly, powerfully and beautifully takes a true artist.
[ new page = “I Won’t Let Go” ]
”I Won’t Let Go” by Rion Paige (from the Four Chair Challenge: The Girls episode)
Rion’s X Factor career had some high points and a lot of low ones too. Although her “Your Song” was a highlight, Rion’s best performance had to be this Rascal Flatts tune. Her voice sounded great and ethereal on it, sure, but I was most taken with her sense of both strength and vulnerability. When a singer finds a song he/she can connect to personally, magical things can happen and they did on this song.
[ new page = “Trouble” ]
”Trouble” by Alex & Sierra (from the Big Band episode)
Alex & Sierra are usually known for laid-back, beachy melodies, but they embraced the big band theme with abandon and cranked out of the most innovative and fun numbers of the season. Spinning the Taylor Swift song into a swingin’ jazz number was an inspired choice and the duo performed it with loads of charm. They seemed to be having a grand old time singing it and I had a grand old time watching it.
[ new page = “Georgia On My Mind” ]
”Georgia On My Mind” by Danie Geimer (from the Four Chair Challenge: The Girls episode)
To me, Danie was one of the saddest X Factor casualties. I’m not sure why she failed to connect to the audience but, to me, she was one of the best vocalists of season 3. She’s an unassuming high school student by day, but by night Danie transformed into a gutsy, bluesy soul singer with the grit and range of someone three times her age. While “Georgia” might have been a safe song choice for Danie, she blew it out of the water, landing every bluesy run with passionate gusto.
[ new page = “Somebody To Love” ]
”Somebody To Love” by Rachel Potter (from the Denver & Long Island Auditions )
If judging by voice alone, Rachel is at the top of season three but unfortunately one bum performance and a slight iciness made her hard to connect with the audience. While her version of “I Hope You Dance” was mesmerizing, I was most taken by her countrified Queen audition. “Somebody To Love” was impeccably sung and just so much fun. Whether Rachel makes it in Nashville or returns to Broadway, I hope she continues to sing – she is one killer vocalist.
[ new page = “Don’t Give Up On Me” ]
”Don’t Give Up On Me” by Khaya Cohen (from the first night of eliminations )
Khaya had the most unique and special voice of season three, hands down. While she showcased it brilliantly on “Distant Dreamer” and “Mercy,” the number that touched me the most was her “Save Me” song from the first night of eliminations. Soloman Burke’s beautiful song clearly struck a chord with Khaya, who was facing some iffy comments and possible elimination, and her delivery showed that. Ernest, gorgeous and soulful, her vocals meshed with a simple arpeggiated guitar part into one of the best performances of the season.
[ new page = “Alabaster Box” ]
”Alabaster Box” by Lillie McCloud (from the first night of auditions )
Lillie is a very special artist, a soul singing diva with a gospel spirit. The best example of her raw talent is CeCe Winans’ gorgeous spiritual “Alabaster Box.” Lillie’s voice was exceptional and carried the weight of a tumultuous 30-year career. There was only a few musical moments this season that made me choke up and this was one of them and was the prime example of being taken to church to an artist. While I’m not really religious (although pretty culturally Jewish), the best way to describe how Lillie’s performance effected me is to quote the lyrics of a famous song by fellow Jew Marc Cohn: “She said, tell me are you a Christian child and I said, ‘Ma’am I am tonight.’”
[ new page = “Gravity” ]
”Gravity” by Alex & Sierra (from the Top Four episode)
Alex & Sierra are my first choice to win season three and “Gravity” is my favorite performance of theirs. It combined many of their best attributes from simple, gorgeous vocals, stripped-down arrangements and remarkable chemistry. The original Sara Bareilles version is one of my favorite pop ballads but the duo’s version was so flawlessly performed, it nearly made me forget that I was listening to a cover. Simply put, it was my favorite song of the season.
Here are some that just missed the list (in order of performance):
Four Chair Challenge: The Girls & British Invasion episodes)
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