<p>I have not been a fan of Astro (partly I do not like rap at all and partly his attitude turns me off). But this week I actually enjoyed his 1st performance , didn’t catch the thursday night one as I forgot to set the DVR. Did catch the ending of the show. His attitude was poor but it really seemed like bravado to try and hide his emotions. When he stood there with that tough boy face with a tear rolling down his cheek, it reminded me he is just a kid. I was glad they kept him and let Stacy go (I have really not been enjoying her performances at all).</p>
<p>I really feel they are overdoing all the backstories. I’m usually a bit of a soft touch for a sob story but all the weeping and sobbing from certain performers every bloody week is hardening my heart! .</p>
<p>Not just this show, but every show is overdoing the sob stories. I like food/chef shows and so often they have to tell me their sob story, I just care if they food is good, not who wants to win this thing for their 4rd cousin twice removed who died eating,etc.</p>
<p>Two to be axed this week. With the wannabe Supreme finally gone, it will take a miracle for Leroy to survive. Quite a few choices for the second elimination. I’d be happy to see Astro and Drew go. I don’t really care for the rap performances that are too hard understand. Nor do I care for a singer who seems to spell each letter sloooooowly. I wonder if Simon just keeps her around to annoy LA. The others might not be the best acts, but they are entertaining as opposed to be annoying.</p>
<p>Again, it would take a tone deaf audience to avoid a Josh versus a Simon girl showdown. I wish they could send three contestants packing next week.</p>
<p>^I thought Leroy was really good tonight. The song choice was perfect for him! Not sure what LA Reid was listening to. </p>
<p>On the other hand (unlike the judges), I didn’t love Lakoda Rayne and have yet to be wowed by them.</p>
<p>Liked Rachel, Marcus, Drew, and (my girl!) Melanie. Glad to see her emotions finally surface!
Loved Josh! </p>
<p>I thought Astro was a little better last week. I keep envisioning him in “8 Mile The Sequel”, the up and coming rapper kid versus Eminem, the aging rapper trying to make a comeback…</p>
<p>I adored Drew at the outset, but now she’s bored me. You can only listen to her schtick so many times. </p>
<p>Astro was growing on me. I used to find him annoying arrogant and then last week his reaction just showed his age and I softened to him. But he’s probably not yet ready for bigtime and would be too high-maintenance right now.</p>
<p>I still like Leroy a lot, but I think he won’t make it because he’s not got enough spark for what they are looking for. Just not the cup of tea of the voters. </p>
<p>I love Melanie’s voice but as someone else said, she’s not a performer (at least yet). </p>
<p>Marcus doesn’t do much for me. Not sure why. </p>
<p>I absolutely don’t get the appeal of Lakota Rayne, other than they are beautiful. </p>
<p>Adore Rachel and look forward to watching her, but I’m not sure she’ll stay a favorite for others. </p>
<p>Right now I think I’d put money on Josh. I really like him too.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why lakota rayne is still in it. Though admittedly I have yet to listen to a full performance - I usually hit the mute button a couple of seconds into their performance because they seem out of tune to me and I find them painful to listen to. Of course the couple of times i have been watching some show and the Jonas brothers have been on, I always think the same about them and they have done ok, so what do I know! </p>
<p>Josh is definitely the one I want to win. Every week i find myself rewinding his performance and listening again then going out to youtube and playing his previous performances. I don’t do that with any of the others, even the ones I like (Melanie, Rachel). </p>
<p>That whole incident with Simon and L.A. was cringemaking. I have lost enthusiasm for Drew (liked her at the very beginning but do find her a bit boring as she can’t seem to change things up at all - imagine a whole concert of that), but I did think L.A.'s criticism of the song choice was silly.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s because Lacoda Rayne has people voting individually for the 4 of them so they rack up more votes. Out of tune doesn’t seem to bother some folks. There are plenty of very popular multi platinum singers out there right now who have no pitch control.</p>
<p>Simon needed to better control the angry response he gave back to LA Reid. I thought Simon came off much more unprofessionally than LA Reid did and thought LA’s “you can give it but not take it” comment toward Simon was accurate. I thought Steve Jones could have maybe done a better job at intervening during that exchange. He certainly is not as quick on his feet as Ryan Seacrest or Tom Bergeron. It sure made me uncomfortable and it was embarrassing to watch that battle of egos (mostly Simon’s). </p>
<p>I’m hoping Lakoda Rayne is in the bottom but I’m not sure who the second act will be. Maybe Astro, Drew, or Marcus?</p>
<p>I thought the whole Simon/LA thing was completely scripted and totally unbelievable. </p>
<p>I admit I have a head cold right now, so maybe my ears are not working properly, but I thought both Rachel and Marcus were a little pitchy. Melanie was fabulous, but then she started that rant and I found myself talking to the TV telling her to shut up already. I loved Drew at first but agree she sounds the same every week. Can’t understand how anyone could consider rapping singing, so it’s hard to compare Astro to anyone else. I would not be sad to see him leave. I love Josh. He should win it all.</p>
<p>Scripted altercations seem to be the ticket on this show. Perhaps that is what they meant by X factor. It actually adds a bit of life to the show. On the other hand, is here a limit to the silly display of emotions by the ladies? Paula seems to find ways to be more nutty by the week. When the last group is sent packing, we’ll be in for an online meltdown and an announcement that we have a new Dixie Band. Yeah, a post Bush attack one!</p>