The X Factor UK Live Show 6 Results for 11/16/2014 (Recap + Video)
Welcome to the recap and results for The X Factor UK 2014 Live Show 6 on Sunday, November 16, 2014! The Top 8 brought it for Big Band Week, in a unique collection of performances, all of which you can check out by clicking the names of the contestant/song choice below:
Andrea Faustini, "Summertime"
Lauren Platt, "Smile"
Jay James, "Empire State of Mind / Theme from New York, New York"
Stereo Kicks, "Mack the Knife"
Ben Haenow, "Cry Me A River"
Only the Young, "I Wanna Be Like You"
Stevi Ritchie, "Mambo No. 5" / "She Bangs"
Fleur East, "Bang Bang"
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
-We open with a really awkward group performance of Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' that hardly any of the contestants really seem into. Lauren sounds great, although she looks like she's trying like hell not to fall over in the ridiculous heels she's wearing. They also split up Only the Young by putting the girls with Lauren and Fleur, and the guys with Andrea, Jay and Ben to form a boy band that's at least less unwieldy than Stereo Kicks. The performance ends with everyone on their backs, their legs up in the air, and shaking their feet. No, I'm not kidding. Yes, it was pretty silly. But I guess that's kind of the point.
-We then get the backstage comments from last night's show" Andrea is happy with his performance, and Louis defends him against Simon's criticisms. Lauren loved singing with the orchestra, and Cheryl feels this was the best Lauren has sang so far. Jay doesn't want to let the judges' negative comments take away what the performance meant to him. The boys of Stereo Kicks are over-the-moon with their performance, while Ben responds to Mel B's criticism that he's capable of cooler by saying there's nothing cooler than Big Band. Only the Young is peppy, as always, while Stevi insists he still loves Mel B, despite her comments. Lastly, Fleur says this is a night she'll remember for the rest of her life.
NICOLE SCHERZINGER performs!
-I haven't been Nicole's biggest fan in the past, but hot DAMN, this was an absolutely AMAZING vocal. It helps that the song, "Run", is a heartbreaking, stunningly emotional track. It's a beautiful song that allows Nicole to flex her acting muscles (hell, if she's going to be starring in Cats at the Palladium, she might as well get people to go see her by proving she can act), as she seems to be fighting back tears damn near all the way through. I adored this, and can't possibly praise Nicole enough here.
The weird halo thing she performed in did seem a bit awkward and distracting through. But it's a minor quibble. Maybe in a few days I'll look back and feel like I oversold this a bit, but right now, I seriously can't get over how fantastic this performance was.
RESULTS, PT. 1
-The acts arrive onstage, and we wait to hear the results, as one guy in the audience belligerently shouts "ONLY THE YOUUUNG!!!" at every conceivable opportunity.
The first act through to next week is...FLEUR EAST!
The second act through to next week is...ANDREA FAUSTINI!
The third act through to next week is...STEREO KICKS!
The fourth act through to next week is...LAUREN PLATT!
The fifth act through to next week is...BEN HAENOW!
The sixth and final act guaranteed a spot in next week's show...will be revealed later in the show. UGH. They need to stop pulling this crap and give the Bottom 2 a little more time to prepare for the sing-off than 90 seconds apiece.
But at least Olly Murs is here to brighten the day...
OLLY MURS performs!
-Olly is introduced as X Factor's "baby brother," and the ensuing video package hypes him up as a multi-platinum artist with 7 number one records and sales in excess of 13 million worldwide. It's kind of crazy when you consider that vote totals released at the end of Series 6 revealed Olly would have been eliminated had the judges not sent home Jedward on Week 7.
Olly's performance here is terrific. "Wrapped Up" is a lively track, and Olly is just so much fun to watch onstage. He's an energetic, eclectic performer, and I can't believe he was ever in danger during his run on The X Factor. I loved this.
Dermot then talks with Olly about Band Aid, an experience he's pretty enthusiastic about overall. Dermot then introduces Sir Bob Geldof to reveal the world premiere of the Band Aid 30 charity single/video. He gives a passionate speech about the ravages of Ebola and why the artists came to participate to make a difference. He warns that if you're sensitive, to look away from the video. However, they intend to show Ebola as it really is.
We then see the video, which is devastating. This version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" sounds a bit more hopeful and upbeat, but it contrasts with the seriousness of the message behind it. One Direction, Bono, Emeli Sande, Sinead O'Connor (!!), Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, Chris Martin, Olly Murs and Paloma Faith all come out for the single, and it sounds pretty great. This should make a lot of money for charity. At least, I hope it does.
You can pre-order the track here: iTunes
RESULTS, PT. 2
-So we get right to it. We're down to Jay James, Stevi Ritchie, and Only the Young for that last spot. The sixth and final act guaranteed a spot in next week's show is...
ONLY THE YOUNG!
The Bottom 2: Stevi Ritchie and Jay James!
BOTTOM 2 SING-OFF
Jay sings 'Somewhere Only We Know' by Keane, and while I love the arrangement, I thought Jay's vocal was all over the place. Still, it should be enough to keep him around. I figured he'd get a bump from diehard fans who were spooked by his Bottom 2 appearance last week, but I guess he's not as popular as he initially seemed. Then again, I suppose the same could be said of Stevi, who finds himself in the Bottom 2 for the first time tonight.
Stevi sings 'Somebody to Love' by Queen, and while the vocal doesn't even come close to touching Jay's, I thought it was a more memorable performance that suggests Stevi still has something to offer this competition. Granted, it would probably be wrong to keep Stevi, if only because Jay is the better singer. I suppose the decision comes down to whether you prefer a better singer or a better performer.
FINAL RESULT
Simon says Jay is the better singer, but Stevi is the better performer. However, he needs to save the better singer even though he hates having to vote against his own act.
Simon Cowell votes to eliminate STEVI RITCHIE!
Louis feels he must save the better singer as well...
Louis Walsh votes to eliminate STEVI RITCHIE!
Mel B expresses disappointment with Jay and surprise at Stevi's vocal ability. In possibly the biggest shocker of the season...
Mel B votes to eliminate JAY JAMES!
Cheryl votes to save the act she would miss more...
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini votes to eliminate JAY JAMES!
And with that...
WE GO TO DEADLOCK!
Dermot reads the results...
JAY JAMES IS ELIMINATED FROM THE X FACTOR UK!
OMG! I was NOT expecting that.
On the one hand, the result became fairly clear once Mel B voted to save Stevi, since I don't think Cheryl was ever going to vote to save Jay, considering Stevi was the wildcard act she chose for Simon. And once it went to deadlock, I think it became clear Stevi was staying, considering this was Jay's second trip to the bottom 2 in as many weeks, which suggests the public support just wasn't there for him.
That said, Mel B deciding to save Stevi is possibly the biggest judges' vote shocker since Simon decided to save Jedward over Lucie Jones (which now makes this TWO Jedward mentions in one recap! Didn't think I'd have cause for that when the day started). On The Xtra Factor right now, Mel is justifying her choice by saying he brings fun to the show, along with a passionate following from fans. She also adds that he really sang tonight. So there ya have it. Stevi makes the show more interesting, so she saved him.
But what do you think of the result? Sound off in the comments! Until next week, thanks for reading!