The X Factor USA - Live Show 2

TEAM PAULA ABDUL
1. The Stereo Hogzz - Rhythm Nation (Janet Jackson)
Another strong visual performance that captured the spirit of the original- and good to see this song revived, as relevant as ever. The vocals weren't amazing, but it's not that kind of song.

TEAM L.A. REID
2. Chris Rene - Superstar (The Carpenters)
A bit of an odd choice, likely inspired by American Idol winner Ruben Studdard's RnB version, although an added rap upped the urban ante. Unfortunately, it just did not work at all, and the vocals were far from great. Nope, not for me.

TEAM NICOLE SCHERZINGER
3. Leroy Bell - I'm Already There (Lonestar)
Leroy is so much better than this song. His amazing voice sounded quite bland in this song, which is ridiculous.

TEAM SIMON COWELL
4. Rachel Crow - Walking on Sunshine/You're My Sunshine (Katrina & The Waves/Gamu)
I cannot believe the bear-faced cheek of Simon Cowell, taking Gamu's audition version from the UK show last year and passing it off as his own invention. That said, it was a cutesy enough song for her cutesy enough personality. But I still can't abide her.

TEAM PAULA
5. Lakoda Rayne - Landslide (Stevie Nicks)
This showed the limitations of their lower registers, and was quite badly off-key at times. It wasn't wholly unpleasant, yet seemed to lack any of the emotion from a very emotional song.

TEAM NICOLE
6. Josh Krajick - Jar of Hearts (Christina Perri)
Another poor song choice tonight, completely out of Josh's range and comfort zone. The lower register was a real struggle. At least they didn't go for Craig Coulton's ridiculous key change.

TEAM SIMON
7. Melanie Amaro - Desperado (The Eagles)
When you're singing a ballad, acapella, what you really want is people in the audience cheering and screaming over you. It's only respectful. The song soon launched into a hideously bland RnB beat that made you wish she'd kept it acapella, but her vocals, as always, were flawless.

TEAM L.A.
8. Astro - Hip Hop Hooray/Get Ur Freak On (Naughty By Nature/Missy Elliot)
Fair play to the kid, he got flow. Writing his own rap, he did it well I guess. But I don't get it, or what he's doing in this competition.

TEAM PAULA
9. Intensity - Kids of America/Party Rock Anthem (Kim Wilde/LMFAO)
Considering they have 10 members, Intensity produce a surprisingly thin vocal sound. The production mash-up worked, partially, but they really need to do something a bit more interesting with the vocal arrangements.

TEAM SIMON
10. Drew - Just A Dream (Nelly)
She looked completely uncomfortable. The song went nowhere but she did a decent job vocally, even though I still don't like the tone of her voice.

TEAM L.A.
11. Marcus Canty - Nothin' On You/Every Little Step (B.O.B./Bobby Brown)
In trying to "make the song his own", Marcus's ad libs were not the most pleasant to listen to, but he has a professionalism that should see him through for a while.

TEAM NICOLE
12. Stacy Francis - Up To The Mountain (Patty Griffin)
A beautiful, soulful rendition with perfect vocals. If a little screechy and dull.

RESULTS SHOW
The Stereo Hogzz and Intensity are announced as the bottom two, both acts from TEAM PAULA.

Stereo Hogzz - Emotions (The Bee Gees/Destiny's Child)
Proof that harmonising doesn't always work, Stereo Hogzz undo all their good work with a dull, tuneless version of the ballad.

Intensity - My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson)
In a clear nod to Simon, they get the girl he singled out for praise last week to sing lead vocals. But only the first verse, as the guy on the second verse wasn't quite as strong, so she was brought back for verse 3. Overall, pretty underwhelming.

The judges decide:
Simon sends home Stereo Hogzz
Paula sends home Intensity
Nicole sends home Intensity
L.A. sends home Intensity

Paula should definitely have been the last to vote. If Intensity had gone through, that'd have been aaaawkwaaaard...