The X Factor UK Live Show 5 Results for 11/09/2014 (Recap + Video)
Welcome to the recap and results for The X Factor UK 2014 Live Show 5 on Sunday, November 9, 2014! The Top 9 tackled the songs of Michael Jackson and Queen in a night that ended up being a bit of a mixed bag.
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 9th place!
Will it be one of your favorites?
It's time to face the music!
RECAP
-The Top 9 open the show with a group performance alongside a children's choir, and I'm once again left wondering how on Earth James Graham had to be put into a group to make the live shows. He's one of the best singers in the entire competition, and far better than many of the other boys who made it farther.
-After the group performance, we get into last night's backstage reactions: Paul is stoked to have impressed Simon, since that was one of his goals, and Louis encourages Mel B by telling her what an excellent job Paul did. Jay, meanwhile, says that he felt like he was singing with razor blades in his throat. Speaking of people who were sick last night, Lauren is thrilled about her comments from the judges, saying she couldn't hope for anything more. Only the Young says their MJ performance was the most fun they've had onstage so far. Ben feels the a cappella was a risk, but he carried it off. In referencing Mel B's negative comments, Ben admits you can't please everyone. Backstage, a breathless Stevi is stoked that the crowd loved his performance.
Stereo Kicks congratulate each other on a job well done, while Mel B notes that her kids came down to the show solely to see the eight-piece group. Fleur is thrilled that she finally got to show to people that she could sing, and the other judges gush over her as well, with Cheryl saying she hopes Fleur stays. Andrea feels 'Somebody to Love' was his craziest performance yet.
-After the video package, Simon makes an announcement: Cheryl has become the first solo female artist in history to have all five of her records debut at number one, and he congratulates her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. This was cute.
SAM SMITH
-Sam Smith performs his new single, "Like I Can", and it's an unsurprisingly stellar performance. Dude is one of the best singers in the mainstream anywhere, and this performance pretty much backed that up. And I really dig the song, to the point that I'm wondering why I haven't bought the whole album yet. Just a track here or there. I need to fix that.
-After the performance, Dermot asks Sam who his favorite in the competition is, and like so many before him, he says "Andrea," drawing huge cheers from the crowd. Sam explains that music needs more male divas, not in attitude but in vocal ability. Well, if Andrea wasn't winning this thing before, all these celebrity endorsements seem to be pushing his case forward.
RESULTS
-It's time to find out who's safe, and who's in the Bottom 2. Dermot reads the results:
The first act through to next week is...STEREO KICKS!
The second act through to next week is...FLEUR EAST!
The third act through to next week is...BEN HAENOW!
The fourth act through to next week is...ANDREA FAUSTINI!
The fifth act through to next week is...LAUREN PLATT!
The sixth act through to next week is...STEVI RITCHIE! (This makes me irrationally happy)
The seventh and final act definitely safe and returning next week...will be revealed later in the show? Blech.
When we come back from break, Dermot asks the three judges whose acts are still at risk what it takes to win the sing-off. Simon says you need to be good, but you've also got to believe in yourself. Mel B echoes the sentiment, saying you have to sing your butt off. Louis adds that you have to fight for your place in the competition. Good advice, but nothing the Bottom 2 probably won't already know.
ONE DIRECTION
-So One Direction is here to remind me of my favorite season of this show (which, funnily enough, had 16 live show acts as well). They perform "Steal My Girl" as the crowd struggles to keep quiet enough to actually hear these guys.
-Okay, so does anyone else kind of love this song? This is catchy as hell, and I can't remember the last time I've seen these guys on TV where they sounded this damn good. Seriously, one of the best One Direction live TV performances I've ever heard. Just tremendous stuff.
-Dermot asks the boys who their favorites are, coming to Louis first, who was devastated last week when Jack was eliminated. Louis is now backing Ben. Then...he just drops this line of questioning? I kind of wanted to hear who the other guys' favorites were! Ah well, they plug their tour, which is called On the Road Again, because I can only imagine everybody loves Willie Nelson. Come on, he's the Red Headed Stranger!
RESULTS, PT. 2
-So Paul Akister, Only the Young, and Jay James return to the stage to hear the results. One is safe, the other two are competing in the sing-off.
The final act advancing to next week is...ONLY THE YOUNG?!?! (Even they seem shocked to be safe)
The bottom 2 this week are Paul Akister and Jay James!
BOTTOM 2 SING-OFF
Paul sings "Clown" by Emeli Sande, and this was, without question, his best vocal performance since the live shows started. Just SO heartfelt and passionate. It's easy to forget just how good of a vocalist Paul is, considering his talent has been buried underneath Mel B's utterly perplexing song choices in recent weeks. It's no real surprise that the moment Paul gets the chance to pick his own song, it's among the best performances of the season. His vocal was ON-POINT, and this alone should be enough to get him through to next week.
Jay sings "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton, and this is actually one of his best live show performances as well. I've always been back-and-forth on Jay, but he's developed a lot over the weeks in both stage presence and vocal prowess. He no longer draws out every note into a pained quiver. His voice not only sounds lovelier now, he also sounds like a relevant artist to modern sensibilities. I've really grown to like Jay a lot, and I'm genuinely torn. Tough decision for the judges, since Jay really did bring it here.
Personally, I would save Paul, but I can see the argument for keeping Jay, who's a bit more unique. Should be an interesting decision...
FINAL RESULT
Simon congratulates both men on delivering the best sing-off of the competition, saying this was the best Paul has sounded, while also noting that Jay did a great job. He says Jay is a man who has a family and a lot more riding on this.
Simon Cowell votes to send home Paul Akister!
Mel B says if we're basing it on the sing-off, it's no question...
Mel B votes to send home Jay James!
Cheryl thought it was the best Paul has sounded, so...
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini votes to send home Jay James!
Louis can't make a decision, so he decides to send it to deadlock. Dermot needs to hear Louis actually confirm who he's sending home though (which is strange because he didn't need to hear the words when Louis sent it to deadlock two seasons ago between Rylan Clarke and Carolynne Poole on the first live show)...
Louis Walsh votes to send home Paul Akister!
And so we're going to DEADLOCK!
The act with the fewest votes, and leaving the competition is revealed...
PAUL AKISTER is eliminated from THE X FACTOR UK 2014!
This crowd is NOT happy, booing the result outright. Jay embraces Paul and seems to be whispering something into his ear, but Dermot comes over and practically pries Jay's hands loose to get him off Paul so they can get to showing the poor guy his funeral package. I don't blame Dermot though, considering they're on the clock. By the end of the video, Paul is doing his damndest not to break down completely, opting to avoid talking at all. It reminds me a lot of Scott Bruton's elimination a couple years ago. He just seems utterly crushed and defeated, so much so that Dermot has to give him a pep talk about how he managed to come back and do even better this year than last. My heart still goes out to the guy, because he's a great singer, and you can make the argument that he didn't even deserve to be at risk this week.
But what do you think? Was this the right result? Or did the wrong person go home? Sound off in the comments! Until next week, thanks for reading!