The X Factor UK Live Show 4 Results for 11/02/2014 (Recap + Video)
Welcome to the recap and results for The X Factor UK 2014 Live Show 4 on Sunday, November 2, 2014! The Top 11 brought the goods for a Halloween Fright Night set of performances! However, one act was eliminated immediately by night's end, as Jack Walton had the fewest votes and was sent home from the competition.
But who will be eliminated tonight? The bottom 2 vote-getters will compete in the sing-off, and the judges will decide who finishes the competition in 10th place!
Will it be one of your favorites?
It's time to face the music!
Credit: ITV
THOUGHTS ON LAST NIGHT
So I was out of town this weekend and have only just gotten back. I was able to catch up on last night's performances though, including the elimination of Jack Walton. I actually think Jack was the right call to be eliminated. I've always enjoyed him, but he just never lived up to the potential he showed in earlier rounds. I was also a bit disappointed with Paul, who delivered an excellent but lifeless vocal. For me, the best performances of the night were all in Simon's category, surprisingly enough. Fleur East delivered a better onstage performance than vocal, but it was still outstanding. And Ben Haenow had easily his best performance of the live shows so far with "Highway to Hell". I also loved the new arrangement for "Mad World" that Jay James delivered. It was such an intriguing take on the song. But I think my sentimental favorite of the entire night was Stevi Ritchie. My God, I just LOVED "Music of the Night". So much drama, and so much theatricality. Serenading the woman, the mask reveal, even his tears after he got a standing ovation (an awful lot of those last night. I worried I'd stumbled onto The X Factor Australia for a minute), it was just such a moment. And this hasn't been a season that's had a lot of those just yet. And the vocal was actually quite nice, proving that all Stevi needed to do was just SING a song without all the flailing around onstage robbing him of breath and vocal strength (he'll never be the kind of singer who can do both, I'm afraid). I was really impressed.
I was just as impressed, though, with how the group performances are starting to come together. This one was a lot of fun...
But the fun is pretty much over now, since it's time for the results...
RESULTS
So the Bottom 2 are Stereo Kicks and...Lola Saunders?!?!?!
REALLY?! Lola is already at risk?! Come on! I kind of figured Only the Young would get at least one free week though, following their Bottom 2 appearance last week. But I'm kind of surprised that Lola is here already. Then again, if I really think about it, I can't think of who else would be there with Stereo Kicks other than either Lola or Only the Young. Stevi had too big of a moment for him to be at risk, and Lauren Platt is still viewed as a frontrunner. And I don't think any of Mel B's boys were at risk after Jack left. And Simon's category had the best night overall, so...yeah. I guess Lola, it is.
BOTTOM 2 SING-OFF
Lola sings "Natural Woman," and it's an incredibly raw, emotional performance. It's not the most pleasant vocal to listen to, though, since she borders on singing herself hoarse. But she also seems like someone who's thrown off by landing in the Bottom 2 already, and I can't say I blame her. We're not even out of the double digits of contestants. I had her pegged for finishing in 9th place. And that was only my worst case scenario. Still, I thought Lola did an admirable job, showing she wants this spot in the competition, and fighting to keep it.
Stereo Kicks sing "Perfect," and it's okay, I suppose. Mel B later raves that it was their best performance, right down to the rapping from Jake Sims, but I just didn't get it. I like these guys, and think they have heaps of potential. But Lola outsang them on pretty much every level, unless you prefer group harmonies and the soulful voice of James Graham. Which...I mean, I really wouldn't blame anyone for loving either of those elements to this act. One could argue it's the reason they've made it as far as they have, and could very well make it farther still.
FINAL RESULTS
Louis loves Lola, recalling his joy in visiting her home to tell her she was his wildcard. And he thought she did an excellent job in the sing-off. But he has to stand by his act, so...
Louis Walsh votes to send home Lola Saunders!
Cheryl isn't entirely sold on Stereo Kicks, although I'm not sure she ever has been. So it's no surprise which direction her vote is cast...
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini votes to send home Stereo Kicks!
Mel B raves about Stereo Kicks, and wonders why they haven't brought the kind of skill exhibited in their sing-off performance to any of their live performances. She's so high on the act that she decides to back them with her vote...
Mel B votes to send home Lola Saunders!
Simon says he has to base his vote off of who sang best in the sing-off, since there's no point in even having a sing-off otherwise (I'm sure there are several instances in which the sing-off has been rendered pointless by Simon deciding singing doesn't matter if one act is more entertaining than another. You know, like that time 
). He felt Lola sang the best, so...
Simon Cowell votes to send home Stereo Kicks!
WE'RE GOING TO DEADLOCK!
So Dermot O'Leary is handed the car with the results as Lola and Stereo Kicks wait onstage looking absolutely miserable. I think both are expecting to go home, hence the dual looks of nausea and dread on the faces of both acts.
Without further adieu, the act with the fewest votes is revealed...
LOLA SAUNDERS is eliminated from THE X FACTOR UK 2014!
Well, this sucks. Especially since I'm not entirely sure why this even had to go to deadlock. Lola felt like the clear choice, to me. So just like that, Cheryl is down to just one act. And to think, it seemed like a guarantee that Louis would be losing all of his acts before we even got to Top 8. Of course, for all we know, he still might.
I'm going to miss Lola a lot though. I thought she was a terrific singer who was growing into a confident performer. That development has been cut short, but I hope Lola carries on. She has real talent.
What did you think of tonight's result? Did the right act go home? Sound off in the comments! Until next week, thanks for reading!