Welcome F5 to your results for INTERNATIONAL week!
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I will reveal your feedback in order of placement for the week based on score.
My feedback will be first, followed by that of VanitySmurf :)
First up, our leader for the week with 47... hayden9102
* My Boo *
Noelle - (7/10) This song is cutesy & I’m glad it makes you feel happy. I liked that it picked up towards the end because the first couple minutes were almost too boring.
Blu - (7/10) i don’t listen to international much either. I like this take on this song but I think it was missing that falsetto head voice that draws you In like the original. But it was still a solid choice.
* Dance Monkey Cover *
Noelle - (8/10) This was an interesting challenge to give yourself and I am definitely questioning why, but it worked out pretty well. It doesn’t come off as aggressive which is great. I agree with you it sounds better than the original and it’s very interesting. I like the vocals a lot and the acoustics ended up being awesome.
Blu - (9.5/10) amazing love the simple guitar and his voice and tone is very alluring because German can be harsh lol. this was a vibe.
* Bella Ciao *
Noelle - (9.5/10) This is a GREAT representation of the song! This is a song of solidarity. Groups coming together like this is excellent, there were several examples of it during covid that I saw. You can hear that they care in their voices too.
Blu - (6/10) interesting. Love the concept, the neighborhood orchestra was different snd I could barely hear them at times so I’m not sure what to think of it, but it definitely showed unity.
Noelle - (9.5/10) I wished this guy’s voice was a litttle more likable and this song was a little less repetitive…but it’s a SERVE! The music is a jam and the lyrics are fun, cute, & sexy.
Blu - (9.5/10) sometimes don’t have to understanding the meaning or interpret the song to appreciate the video. It was great. Smooth beat. Great voice, and great production and great lyrics about his favorite girl.
* Si Lo Haré *
Noelle - (7/10) This is a very consistent song throughout but it was sort of falling flat for me. I wanted more. It was lacking energy.
Blu - (9/10) I hear this on the radio a lot and love it. Great message with a purpose. I love the cover even more I think it enhanced the power behind the song, made it more meaningful.
* Bella Ciao *
Noelle - (6/10) I’m very intrigued by why you submitted this and not the song they are covering/whatever you would call that for the voice, Maitre Gims’ (and others) version of Bella Ciao. It is a very commanding song and literally one of my favorite songs ever LOL. This version is…okay but I’m getting all the wrong vibes from it. They’re coming off sassy, trying to be flashy, and from the looks of it/the title they are only doing it to stay in the voice. Also, their young voices weaken what in my opinion is a really commanding song.
Blu - (6/10) wasn’t half bad. Not my favorite version of this but nice trio. I could tell they were younger voices not fully developed but it was creative. Nice harmony.
Noelle - (8/10) This was like a peaceful bop in the beginning which I liked. It was cute. I moved to it. I liked it. Good production.
Blu - (7/10) was this from a Disney movie? I was definitely getting those vibes from this. It had a cute kindof teeny bopish pop vibes. Love the arrangement of chords and the sound quality. Her voice was good.
* Stay With Me Cover *
Noelle - (6.5/10) Solid vocals. The music did a fine enough job supporting. A little underwhelming.
Blu - (9/10) nice choice, wow his tone was very unique and smooth. Love the headvoice too and his midrange is perfect. He can surely sing, I forgot it was in a different language. He drew me in right away.
* Bella Ciao *
Noelle - (9/10) I like her voice. I like how folksy she made it sound. I like how she backtracked her voice or whatever tf you would call that. This worked really really well for an individual. Also, for the French lyrics, they were very true to the Italian lyrics, which is nice. Even the modern French remake which I know & love is an almost completely redone version which like uses new lyrics for the most part so tea.
Blu - (6.5/10) a good version of this. She kept it simple and didn’t stray away from the original, she just sang the melody which I appreciated.
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Sadly, this means CarolinaSteele and smi9127 you are the bottom 2 this week :( You've both been great throughout this entire competition! Unfortunately this week a couple points got in the way of you guys and the top 3 who were all in a 1 point range. We did bring up the possibility of sudden death not continuing, and while that was on the table, only half a point separated you guys. Considering you both have essentially tied nearly every week, and I actually added up your scores for the entire competition...which also boils down to only a half point separation(!) after some deliberation we decided you should get one last showdown with each other. You've both been strong competitors in your own rights. Remember why we've loved your strongest submissions, and channel that to make it to the final 4! Now, you'll get your feedback.
Noelle - (8/10) The energy of the music here was GREAT! I was really really hooked on the energy. Unfortunately there were a couple of the band members or maybe just one whose vocals I thought were kind of throwing things off and there was quite a bit of English in here or it would be higher than an 8. But this was a cool high energy bop and for a song in a primary language I couldn’t understand, I was impressed.
Blu - (6.5/10) interesting to choose a Korean song. I like that it was a risk. It has some good moments but I think production overshadowed vocals.
* Toxic Cover *
Noelle - (5.5/10) It did take off but the beginning stayed flat for a really long time and her voice wasn’t really moving. I wanted more range in her voice and I feel like she was using the music to try and hide a lack of range. It was kinda just flashy imo.
Blu - (8.5/10) love this and she sounds a lot like Brittney great tone.
* Bella Ciao *
Noelle - (7.5/10) I’m not sure why but she skipped the introduction verse of the song. I liked the build up and the introduction of other singers. I can agree that this is lovely & beautiful, it lacks passion though.
Blu - (8.5/10) this was very soothing and romantic feeling. Felt like I was on a dinner date on a gondola ride during sunset.
Noelle - (9.5/10) An iconique French bop. The almost chanting like part is SO good and really adds a lot, plus her voice is strong, the lyrics are good, and the music itself holds up pretty well.
Blu - (8/10) strong vocals.very powerful song slightly daunting which I liked. I need to hear you sing this lol. I love the production and the suspense build up.
* Never Enough Cover *
Noelle - (6/10) Her vocals are strong and when the picked up I was like okay here we go..and then she kind of overdid it. Like girl are we going for opera here? I’m sorry but this song felt like it didn’t know what genre it wanted to be and I sort of just wanted it to be over.
Blu - (8/10) beautiful song choice. Her range and texture was beautiful. Very reminiscent of the English version, I like how she ballroom danced throughout. Her high were very strong & clear too.
* Bella Ciao *
Noelle - (5/10) I was concerned someone would go the money heist route. At least they didn’t compromise the lyrics of the song. I have nothing against the show Money Heist and I even wanted to get into it because I know they use the song but I still don’t agree with them doing that, it feels exploitative. This is a song that people used as an anthem as they fought to their deaths for freedom…and they think that’s the same as robbing banks. It does not sit right with me for them to almost mock their history like that. Representation wise, no, delivery wise…there is no passion and it seems like she wants to come off as seductive? I really can not get behind this version, sorry king...
Blu - (8/10) omg i watch money heist and that was my first thought then I saw the costumes. That show made me fall in love with this version and I think it’s great. It’s captivating her voice is sexy and inviting almost like r&b vibes. strong week for you.
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It is getting so hard as we get down to it, y'all! You've all been so patient, thank you so much <3
Kirsten, Sean...it's time for Sudden Death. Whatever you want. Whatever you think will get you to the final 4. Give us what we love you for.
We're open for any questions!
Halsey just released a new album recently and it is an absolute MASTERPIECE. She hits so hard with every single song lyrically and it's all I've been listening to these days. I've chosen 1121 because I have no room to play safe and I needed to go with a big one. Her lyrics, the music, her VOICE. So beautiful and heartbreaking in this song. It dives into her journey of her misscarriage and finding out she was pregnant once again (on the date 11/21, which is the title of the song). Very beautiful song and message.
One of my favorite finds this year was Rina Sawayama. This style of this song isn't something I'd typically like but Rina really delivers to make this some type of metal pop that I love. It's also a powerful message that Rina isn't defined by her family and she now has this platform to shape her own destiny as an independent artist. I especially love the scream singing towards the end at like 2:30. I've been waiting for a category to submit this song with but I guess no better time than a sudden death!
