Last week on X Factor Saara Aalto sailed through the public vote, avoiding the dreaded sing-off for the very first time.
And on Saturday’s X Factor Fright Night the Finnish singer attempted to do it again — this time with her haunting cover of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”.
Ditching the bubble-gum personality and bright pink everything from last week, she served mystery and darkness on a stage looking like a Corpse Bride. From the macabre make-up — think stitches across the face — to the Dominatrix-inspired bustier, this was outré and over-the-top.
Saara started the performance at the DJ stand, ticking the electronic ivories while giving a soaring, higher-pitched rendition of Gaga’s classic. As the beat picked up stained glass windows filled the stage and a series of dancers with neon hair werked the church pews. Her musical sermon said the studio alight and left Saara struggling to catch her breath.
“Saara, I did not want that to end because you’ve shown us from last week you’re not just a singer, you’re a performer and you’re a world-class talent,” Louis said. “Every week I look forward to what you’re going to do because you’re not predictable — it’s always special. The X Factor would not be the same without you.”
Nicole Scherzinger — she who would like to clap her ass for Saara — was as effusive.
“It’s OK to be different because you are unique and so beautiful and it’s what separates you from all the rest and all the other boring people out there. And honestly, the performance level…people don’t realise all the stuff that you’re doing — the lifts, the dancing. And then your vocals: Baby girl you are bringing it with those vocals. Seriously, I love that we’ve embraced your differences. The stranger, the better, bring it on. Stunning performance.”
“I could have gone without the coffin piano — it felt a bit pantomime after that — but everything else I believed.”
Simon Cowell to @saaraaalto: “Your voice is INCREDIBLE!” #xfactor #FRIGHTNIGHT ?????????? pic.twitter.com/TvVCJiAFVw
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) October 29, 2016
Simon congratulated Sharon for her mentoring work, “because this is allowing someone to be who they want to be.”
“From where you started with all these silly rules you think you have to obey. But actually sometimes it’s good to embrace the madness. Now you’ve become someone we look forward to seeing because you’re kooky. And your vocals, by the way. Your voice is dynamite…I love you. I thought it was fantastic.”
Reviewing Diva Week (Week Three)
Vote for Saara Aalto
If you are in the UK, you can either vote by phone, text or on the X Factor app. Voting will close on Sunday during the live results show.
The bottom three acts face the Lifeline vote, where one of them will be saved by the public using the X Factor app during the allocated time. The other two compete in a sing-off, with the judges choosing which act will stay and who will go. If the judges are tied in their decision, this weekend’s public vote between the two acts will decide the result.
If you’re calling from a landline or mobile, Saara is #7. You can dial:
Landline: 090 20 50 51 07
Mobile: 6 50 51 07
What do you think of Saara’s performance of “Bad Romance”? Did it push your buttons? Did you think her voice carried the song well? Or do you prefer it in Lady Gaga’s lower register? Let us know in the comments box below.
I loved everything about her performance. Her voice, her charisma, her talent!
It was the best performance of the night for me. I hope she will show us a different side of her next week.
If anything, UK loves wacky! Week after week, the likes of Rylan, Wagner, Jedward, Kitty and even Chico and Same Difference were saved, some as far as top 5 or 3. UK also voted Georgia top spot this year (albeit a “British” style song.) I love Saara and will continue to vote her IN!
It should be like this. It was little like psychodelic thing with disco and techno plus weird things. For me the best performance of the night.
She was fantastic. Consider me a convert, didn’t like her the first 2 weeks but the most recent 2 weeks she’s done amazing.
Although I did laugh when she said in her VT that in Finland they don’t really have scary things or go over the top I was like hello what about Lordi? 😀
I like her more & more, but it’s always a bad idea to put yourself in comparison with Gaga.
Were all of the dancers men? Saara was terrific, but I tried to also get a better look at the dancers. 🙂
She did so great and her voice is the best one in the competition. Love how she is a talented performer as well and yet so humble. I wouldn’t be watching without her there, to me she is far ahead of the others. But I do fear she gets stuck in the kooky category and will not be taken so seriously. The outfits may not go down well with the voters either. Will doing big shows make her less relatable? She needs to connect to get the votes…Maybe a stripped down version next time and less of the show and… Read more »
She slayed it!
She absoulutely slayed this week, hope she gets saved again! 🙂
I think it was the weakest performance of Saara in X Factor. I really liked the last one (the Bjork one) but afrer seeing “Bad romance” I am afraid she may place once again at the bottom
I thought she was great but the 90s electronic beats over the track and the keyboard were cheap and tacky.