The X Factor USA – Recap and Live Blog – Live Show #5 – 11/27/2013 - Video

Join us for the live blog and recap of The X Factor USA Live Show #5! #PauCharoWednesdays - Thanksgiving edition!!

This week is another double elimination! Will there be a surprise?

It's big band week! They are performing with a live band. This will be interesting. However "big band" does not mean "big band" songs, as I've seen some of the spoilers. I'm rooting for Josh Levi and Rion Paige this week and want Restless Road to go home.

The night is starting off with whom Mario calls "the king of big band," Michael Buble. King of Big Band? Really? I would say king of vintage adult contemporary. This song reminds me so much of Elf, one of my favorite holiday movies.

The X Factor USA – Recap and Live Blog – Live Show #5 - Michael Buble - Video

Mario keeps talking about something called a "Final Face-off" tonight in which the final 8 acts will sing against each other.

The battle for the Top 6 begins with RION PAIGE... (view performance)

- Demi says she is getting stronger each week and she is! It's also her first week doing choreography and she is scared. She's dedicating her song to her mom. Her mom does her makeup and hair. Simple things that others take for granted she is grateful her mom does for her. Awww. So sweet. Let's go Rion!!

- Rion better serve sass with "Swingin'"! I like seeing her move around on stage, I feel like the other judges may not like it though. She's working it! She comes down and sings down in front of the judges. Work Rion! I'm so proud of her! Kelly said Rion put on her diva hat and worked the stage like a pro. Kelly said she moved and still kept the vocal together. PauCharo calls her Blondie and says the fact that she laughs about everything... Simon asks did she choose the song and she said she did and Simon says it was the absolute perfect choice and said she handled the choreography well and she is as cute as a cupcake!

RESTLESS ROAD is next... (view performance)

- Simon wants America to remember they have only been together a few weeks. Country song for big band week. I loathe this. They are going to show America why they deserve to win...Oh.

- However, they are singing my favorite country song of all time "Life Is A Highway." These lead guy's vocals are hoooorrriiiddddddd. The baritone is good, I feel like the background is boosting their harmonies. And yes, they are. When we just hear them it is a bundle of weakness. I have a feeling Simon and possibly the other judges are going to eat this up. UGH. Yeah I'm salty.

- Kelly says everything came together this week and their vocals were tighter. Demi says they are better and this is her favorite performance from them. PauCharo said they did much better and she feels "their union as a group." I will no longer be surprised about anything that happens in this competition. MY LIFE.

JEFF GUTT is next... (view performance)

- He is dedicating his song to his dad! He's singing "Feeling Good." Wow. This is actually a big band song. He's singing it well too. This is my favorite performance from him! He ends it on a high note. I like him singing this muskc better. He gets a standing ovation from Kelly and Simon!

- Demi says she never though he would do this song but he killed it! PauCharo says it was an amazing performance and loved that it was a song from the film. Simon calls is absolutely fantastic. Simon says he is great and deserves a break and by far his best performance he's don't. I agree. Kelly says she is lucky that she can't wait to download the performance on iTunes because he nailed it. She will enjoy it in days to come.

JOSH LEVI is next... (view performance)

- He is dedicating it to his grandmother. This will be his first thanksgiving without her. Josh's mom says she is the glue that keeps them together. She surprises him and is there in LA!  Josh is singing "Treasure" by Bruno Mars. He's already delivering with the vocals and is adding great choreography. Per usual, Josh is KILLING it. He definitely took Simon's advice and didn't add backup dancers this week. The focus is totally on him this week and he is owning it. Josh should have been performing on the American Music Awards. Seriously. I am excited for his post-show prospects if they handle it right.

- All of the judges give a standing ovation sans Simon. Kelly says he let them into his world and he had so much charisma. She loved it and called it exquisite. Josh says it's because his grandma is here. Demi says she wanted to be the girl that he gave his hat to. Demi says he's never shined more in the whole competition. Simon says he doesn't know if Josh was drinking energy drinks because he was like a singing, dancing fly.

CARLITO OLIVERO is next.. (view performance)

- Last week he thought America hated him and he left everyone down. He is giving thanks to his parents. Carlito is singing "The Cup of Life." He's singing in Spanish, possibly to reignite his fan base again. He has 20s vegas dancers! This will probably be his better performances out of the past few weeks. I got to admit, this was a pretty good performance. Demi and PauCharo give standing ovations.

- Kelly says he sound d like he felt like he had fun and let his beasts out. She says continue to let them out! Demi is loving it.She says it was amazing. Demi says there is such a place in the market for him. Simon says he as now told them who he is, who he should be, and he was such a great performer.  It takes guts to come back fighting. Carlito really did good.

ALEX & SIERRA are next...

- Sierra was upset after she got negative feedback last week. She says she's only been seriously singing for about a year. That's crazy to me. As expected, they dedicated their performance to each other.

- They are singing a big band version of "I Knew Were Trouble." This is great! I don't feel good about songs from another genre that are re-imagined because I think it gives the performers too much artistic credit when if it was a song that originally sounded like that it wouldn't get the same feedback. But I will say this is good. Sierra is singing so much better this week. I feel like Alex & Sierra will win.

- Kelly says that she is a perfect 10! She wasn't crazy about the version of the song but said they sound great together. Kelly says Sierra just shined so much. I agree she stepped it up. Demi said at first she thought she hated it but they made her like the arrangement. PauCharo says no one is like them on the market and they have "a spot in the music."

LILLIE MCCLOUD is next

- She talks about being abused in her past relationship and her new fiancé who helped her find herself. She's singing "Summertime," the song that was Fantasia's shining moment. It's dedicated to her fiancé.

- I like this! Her theatrics are working the stage. It's ironic she is singing "Summertime" but it looks like Christmas trees behind her. It's taking quite a bit for the song to build up though but I know it's coming....and it is! She gets all standing ovations sans Simon. Demi says this was the best she's ever done. Simon wanted her to kick off her shoes and says he would have been a better mentor for that song. Lillie wants to speak and says that is how she felt the song and it is confusing when he says she does too much but then doesn't. Kelly tells Simon to shut up!

ELLONA SANTIAGO is next

- She says she gave it all she got and still got criticized by Simon. She wants to prove she's not a singing, dancing puppet. She's dedicating the song to her sister who has been recently got diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Her sister surprises her. What a moment. We will keep you in our prayers! She comes out in great fashion singing "Mama Knows Best" and I can tell I'm going to like this. The vocals are on point and so much choreography! I don't see how she's keeping up but she is. She better WORK. Everyone gives her a standing O!

- Kelly says it is her best performance. PauCharo says she is in command and not a "muppet" LOL!  Does she listen. Simon calls it a game changer. He says next week she still needs to lose dancers. He says she is an incredible singer and she may have a chance after that of winning the show. He sends love to her sister who is fantastic. PauCharo loves that the whole family is there. Demi says she couldn't be any prouder and her story has toucher her as she tears up.

It's time for the group ensemble performance, mentored by Michael Buble.

- All of the acts are doing great. Especially Ellona and Rion. I didn't really get the purpose.

- Kelly said Ellona did the best and a lost noted Rion and Lillie. She shades Restless Road for not harmonizing.

- Demi said Ellona, Josh and Carlito stood out. She said Lillie could have given more since she had so much to give. Kelly says Lille only had one line and Demi said they all did but Kelly said they didn't.

- PauCharo highlights her guys Josh and Carlito, then Ellona. She was expecting more from Jeff.

- Simon said you couldn't really judge much from that performance but said Ellona had an outstanding night!

This is it for me! DOUBLE ELIMINATION TOMORROW. VOTE JOSH LEVI!!!! Check out the results tomorrow. I'm out, see y'all next #PCW!