The X Factor Australia 2015 Home Visits: The Best of the Best Perform (VIDEO)
The X Factor Australia 2015 is in full swing, as we get closer to the announcement of the Top 12 for the live shows! Of course, to get there, we've got to go through the Super Home Visits, which are different this year: instead of each category flying out to their judges' home, all four categories will fly out to London to perform for The X Factor franchise creator Simon Cowell, The X Factor UK star Olly Murs and current judge Rita Ora.
Overall, this was a really, really impressive group of finalists, considering that I didn't dislike anyone in this lineup. Seriously. This may be one of the strongest Top 20s this show has ever had.
So how did each category do? Watch the videos below:
THE GIRLS: MENTORED BY DANNII MINOGUE
MAHALIA SIMPSON
MICHAELA BARANOV
MADDISON MILEWSKI
GEORGIA DENTON
EMILIA KELBERG
Thoughts: My picks would be Mahalia, Maddison and Georgia. Michaela actually disappointed me quite a bit here. She did well, but it wasn't up to her usual standard. And Emilia started out well, but it became a pretty paint-by-numbers performance by the end. Granted, I could see Dannii taking Michaela or Emilia to the live shows anyway, but I don't think it's in her best interest to break from the Mahalia, Maddison, Georgia trio.
THE OVER 25s: MENTORED BY JAMES BLUNT
LOUISE ADAMS
GAZELE
DAN HAMILL
NATALIE CONWAY
ROSHANI PRIDDIS
Thoughts: I'm genuinely divided on which three James should take to the live shows, because I think there's a strong argument to be made for each of them. I think Natalie definitely deserves a spot, but the other two spots are up in the air for me. I could really see any of them going through. I guess if I had to pick, I would go with Dan and Roshani for the other two, but I don't think we're getting a live show without Gazele. Ugh, so puzzled! What do you think?
THE GROUPS: MENTORED BY GUY SEBASTIAN
IN STEREO
THE FISHER BOYS
JESS & MATT
PARIS INC.
LAZY J & BIG GUY
Thoughts: I thought In Stereo and Paris Inc. were locks going in, but utterly baffling song choices have me questioning that now. I still think Paris Inc., at the very least, need to go through, since I truly believe they're a platinum-selling act waiting to happen. And I think there's absolutely no scenario that exists in which The Fisher Boys don't go through, unless Guy is completely insane. So that leaves the third spot. You know, Jess & Matt really impressed me, and Lazy J & Big Guy continue to step it up. I'm going to throw caution to the wind and say Lazy J & Big Guy will end up being the third act.
THE BOYS: MENTORED BY CHRIS ISAAK
BIG T
ANDREW LAMBROU
JIMMY DAVIS
MICHAEL DUCHESNE
CYRUS VILLANUEVA
Thoughts: This is the toughest category, to me. It depends on what Chris is looking for in his acts. If he's looking for the most talented acts, I think his three will be Jimmy, Cyrus and Michael. But if he's looking for the three that will take him farthest, then it'll be Cyrus, Andrew and Big T. I can't be certain, so I'm going to settle somewhere in the middle and say his three will be Cyrus, Big T and Jimmy. But, really, I don't think he can go wrong with any three he chooses.
What do you think of the Top 20? Which three acts will advance in each category? Sound off in the comments!
And for more on The X Factor Australia 2015, check out the five-chair challenge performances!