<p>Matt is number 3 now on the itunes top 100.
Further down the list is Jacquie. Then there is Cole, Will and Ray.</p>
<p>Looks like Will was a great save and Ray may make it thru another round.</p>
<p>Jonri, I think it’s obvious that no one sings the 80 verse original version. Cohen has performed many versions of the song through the years, as there are hundreds and hundreds of covers. Jeff Buckley actually sang a version that was originally sung by John Cale, with a few changes. My point was that if you’re referring to an artist’s song, it’s typically expected to refer to the songwriter. If she wanted to refer to Buckley, she could, and should, have referred to Buckley’s version of Cohen’s song, or as Adam did when he corrected her, to simply name both. Songwriters take this kind of thing very seriously.</p>
<p>Has anyone who decided to sing Hallelujah ever won? It did not work for poor Josh on X-Factor, and his rendition was much better than last night’s. Someone tried it on AGT too. The problem is that people expect perfection but quickly forget the performance. Unless it is an awful one as in the abysmal one at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Canada when Liberace II offered her version. Wonder what the Russians will do in a few weeks. We could use a decent opening after the last debacles in London and Vancouver,</p>
<p>For good or bad, there are NO front runners this season. It will come to the coaching and song choices. Blake has likeable artists and is about to play the CW card. Adam has a formidable trio, but expect him to screw up by moving them out of their wheelhouse, as he did in the past. Ceelo has no clue and Christina seems bored again. </p>
<p>Anyone could go home any week, as Preston learned.</p>
<p>I thought Matt blew everyone away last week, and this week he was also wonderful. I want to hear more from him. Since he’s really the only one I can say that about, he’d be my “front runner” pick.</p>
<p>I think Matt and Jacquie are the front runners with Matt being ahead now. </p>
<p>Christina should win this.</p>
<p>Agreed.<br>
What Matt has is raw, undeveloped talent and a beautiful natural quality to his voice that is pure, but untrained. Jacquie is pretty amazing for her age- especially when it comes to stage presence and performing. But for pure vocal quality, Matt has the real gift, imo.</p>
<p>I doubt that Matt has a sustainable act, but we shall see. :)</p>
<p>Moonchild, I agree. Matt should win this year. Matt can have a great career. Matt doesnt sound like Nat King Cole but his presense reminds me of Nat King Cole. There is a calmness about Matt…</p>
<p>And Matt has The Voice. Didnt Matt turn 4 chairs faster than any other contestant?</p>
<p>Let’s see. 4 females and 8 males at this point. Unless it is a majority or full house of females, at least 2 are going to go before we get to 4. Which 1 or 2 females do you think can/will make it that far?</p>
<p>07Dad, what is your opinion?</p>
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<p>Yes. Even if he doesn’t win, the publicity he receives from this show will help launch him.
Xiggi- what’s refreshing about Matt is that he doesn’t really have “an act.” There is an authenticity to his performances. He may not be polished enough to win, but his potential is palpable.</p>
<p>Answer to dstark:</p>
<p>Caroline --I don’t think she will get to the 4. Jacquie is the highest female on the itune chart followed by Kat and Tess. So, Jacquie and Kat or Jacquie and Tess. I use the “who would I pay to see in concert” test with Janis Joplin as #1 on that list. That probably is telling.</p>
<p>Danielle B and Cassadee P are both charting today higher than all females (and 2 males) but Jacquie.</p>
<p>O7Dad, I also like using itunes and who I would like to see at a concert as a guide. I like Janis Joplin too. I dont know… Kat doesnt do it for me. </p>
<p>I think the guys are stronger this year.</p>
<p>I think Caroline and Ray should go home. She can be extremely charming, but she’s awfully limited.</p>
<p>James Wolpert can obviously do just about anything. Great performance of a less-than-engaging song. (He should get some advice from Will on choosing glasses.) I thought Kat did a great job, and I’d love to hear her sing some Jefferson Airplane classic like White Rabbit. Matthew is wonderful and his performance was lovely–albeit pitchy on the edges–but to me that song’s power stems from a deeply bitter, tragic core, and that wasn’t his understanding of it at all. (I think he’s too young to understand it, actually.) Tessane has a wonderful, fully professional voice, but to me the song choice was meh. I love Will. He really knows how to shape a song. Cole’s performance was really wonderful: love his voice, loved his use of falsetto and ad libs. Jacquie has a quality that when she turns it on just blows me away. I really <em>believe</em> her. Jonny has some indefinable charm in his voice and presence. The other two guys were good, too, although they just don’t stand out in this company.</p>
<p>Will’s performance was my second favorite of the night. I agree with Xiggi that he has really grown. He also has a personal style (hipster?) that is popular right now, and his voice quality is also very nice to listen to. I could see him as a great lead vocal in an indie band. No wonder Adam loves him.
I agree that the men are stronger this season. I’d be happy with either Matt or Will winning, for different reasons.</p>
<p>I used the word act as a general term. Matt is reminding me of that other kid of a couple of seasons ago. Great in the first weeks until he collapsed under the weight of having to hit high notes every week. Forgot the name but was like Trevin. </p>
<p>Again, the songs pushed by the judges have killed a ton of good contestants. Only Blake has followed a safer path that does not throw anyone under the proverbial bus. Adam and Christina have been the worst in doing that. </p>
<p>I really think that today’s favorites will all go home in the next three weeks. The voters are fickle and respond to easy to grasp concepts.</p>
<p>I agree about song choices, xiggi. Adam generally makes awful selections. He seems to be allergic to tunefulness. Which was why I was so pleasantly surprised by A Case of You. Blake usually goes for pretty, easy to hum and sing choices. Once he decides on a winning niche for his people, he sticks to it. </p>
<p>It may not be the best way to fully develop the vocalist, but it IS the way to win this competition. Speaking of which, I have a yen to hear Cole sing Unchained Melody. :D</p>
<p>I just downloaded Matt’s song on my phone. I’m an oldster, and his is the first time I’ve bought any of the contestants’ songs. ( I love the song anyway, so why not.) Well, I have to say I had no idea that the versions that you buy on itunes are different than what we see on the show.<br>
Anyone who likes Matt but has any doubts about whether he has what it takes to make it to the end really needs to download this song. All three minutes, with many more verses are included and his range and treatment of the song is much more original and engaging than what we saw last night on the show. It’s fabulous.</p>
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<p>Consolation- much more of this in the itunes version. The show cut out some of the more “controversial” verses, which Matt happened to sing especially beautifully.</p>
<p>We are all entitled to our opinions but I think that Austin, Josh, and Johnny are in trouble now and Ray and Kat are going to be in trouble shortly.</p>
<p>Cole and Will are interesting. I think they have a chance to last to the end.</p>
<p>Jonny, Josh or Austin may be eliminated. I have no idea what Kat is doing. Its like watching Debbie Gibson pretending to be Lady Gaga. I like the Hallelujah version from these artists sporting the early stage Duck Dynasty look. [JUSTIN</a> TIMBERLAKE and MATT MORRIS - HALLELUJAH - Lyrics - 1080p - YouTube](<a href=“JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and MATT MORRIS - HALLELUJAH - Lyrics - 1080p - YouTube”>JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and MATT MORRIS - HALLELUJAH - Lyrics - 1080p - YouTube)</p>
<p>Considering the Amish look worked for the Red Sox maybe Cole will be the winner.</p>