ASTRO:I think I was very involved with it.
Me and L.A., we decided the song.
L.A. watched me rehearse the performance.
Credit: Fox
He thought it was great.
[X Factorchoreographer] Brian [Friedman] told me where to move at certain spots.
My step-pops helped me a lot.
Lewis Jacobs/NBC
But I think I was very involved in the whole performance.
I told them, you know, I dont want too much dancing going on.
CHRIS RENE:I get a fair amount of input into the song.
Tonight was a sad emotion.
It was losing love, and a lot of people have been through that.
Even with choreography Brian [Friedman]s great, man.
He just showed me some staging things that I didnt know at first to make the show look good.
As I got to it, he allowed me to be me.
At first [L.A. Reid] just gave me the song.
THE STEREO HOGZZ:
KG:Working with Paula Abdul, she knows that we have our own style.
What she allows us to do is portray ourselves the way we want to.
She gives her input and we put it to action.
INTENSITY:
Emily Wilson:We get a good amount of input.
So they really do let us voice our opinion in there.
Arin Ray:They want to see what they have for us [for choreography].
They want to see their vision of us doing what they want on the stage.
LAKODA RAYNE (Dani Knight):It took us 13 hours to find the perfect song.
The girls ended up picking that song.
Hayley [Orrantia] and Paige [Elizabeth] had sent in the song previously via email to Paula.
We practiced it, we loved it, all us girls decided on the song together.
We had 100 percent of that input, and with Paulas blessing we ended up doing that song.
LEROY BELL:I didnt come up with the song initially.
I hadnt actually heard the song before.
Im familiar with some of Pinks stuff, but not that much.
STACY FRANCIS:Nicole picked the song.
Were trying to find songs that are not so predictable.
I did Purple Rain [for the Judges houses round], and that was a Prince song.
And now we just did a George Michael song and flipped it.
So its not like so predictable, to do Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, or Mariah.
I kinda want to do one of those [Laughs], but Im willing to be creative.
So thats where we are with it.
JOSH KRAJCIK:Well, theres a lot of collaboration between [Nicole] and I.
She made the choice in the song, and it was the right choice.
Its a powerful message I think the song has, and its a beautifully written song.
I just kind of cleared my head and just did it.
Didnt think about it.
For me, if I dont think about it, I usually feel a little bit better.
RACHEL CROW:I have lets say 95 percent of the input on my songs.
I really love that.
I feel like the song when I have input on it, its more me.
Because I really want his opinion.
Now I feel really good about all my songs, with Simons opinion, and Im just great.
And so if I dont feel comfortable, dont do it, even if everyone likes it.
He said that I should feel comfortable first.
MELANIE AMARO:I had lots of input in choosing my song.
I think that when I chose the song, I think that Simon approved of it.
ASTRO:Believe in yourself no matter what you do.
Now Im happy about it.
People say Im cocky, but Im confident.
L.A. told me as long as you believe in yourself, nobody else can hurt you or harm you.
CHRIS RENE:Impress me.
I want to feel you.
I want you to show me what youre feeling, and make me feel that.
MARCUS CANTY:Its hard to pinpoint one.
Thats one of the joys that I love about L.A. Reid.
Hes so genuine and such a nice person.
Trace Kennedey:I think the most concrete advice [Paulas] given us is youre never done practicing.
It can always be better; theres always room for improvement.
Lets make this a little better.
Lets change this around to make it more exciting and appealing to the eye.
And follow your heart.
John Lindahl:My favorite thing was when she told us to be a student.
You never just start off as a perfect artist.
you oughta keep studying, watching, and working working working.
Youre never too good for everyone.
Shes always saying, Stay humble, and to always work hard.
Thats what she kept telling us.
Girls, youve got to let go.
You have to have the time of your life up there.
So thats exactly what we did tonight.
We shook it off.
Thats what we do before we go on.
LEROY BELL:Owning it and being myself, and not being afraid to communicate that out.
I think Ive held myself back a little bit.
Im used to playing guitar; you just kind of look down at your guitar and sing your words.
But you cant do that on this, because youre singing to all of America.
People want to see what youre feeling.
STACY FRANCIS:Nicole is very good vocally.
I dont think that people know that shes such a trained, wonderful singer.
She knows the lingo.
Thats been the best thing.
Shes a really good support system.
She calls me at night at home.
Shes taking me to the gym.
Shes very hands on.
Shes teaching me how to be an artist.
JOSHKRAJCIK:[Nicole] said to me, Dont just sing.
Its a whole body thing.
Shes really been helpful working on that, because shes so great at doing that, performing.
RACHEL CROW:Go out there, have fun, and be yourself.
Thats my motto, and I think its [Simons] too.
DREW:To be myself when Im on stage.
Just be Drew, and be young.
MELANIE AMARO:Dont doubt myself.
Thats what he said to me that really stuck with me.
He just wants me to continue to be Melanie, because thats whats gotten me here.
If you havent used them yet, do you think you will?
ASTRO:Ive performed with background dancers before, but I didnt like them.
But L.A. never disappoints, so when I saw them, I was like, wow, thats awesome.
They did a good job, and they worked hard.
CHRIS RENE:[Chuckles] I have no idea whats going to happen.
I thought they were awesome tonight on everyone elses performance.
MARCUS CANTY:You know whats crazy?
Im so focused in on making sure the audience knows who I am.
I love backup dancers; I think its great for the show.
But Im show focused on making sure the audience understands that who I am comes across on stage.
LAKODA RAYNE (Dani Knight):It definitely depends on what kind of song we will be doing.
If its more of a ballad, maybe we focus more vocals, less choreography.
We definitely are not opposed to dancers at all.
LEROY BELL:I dont know.
It kind of depends on the song.
At first I was kind of envious.
But my song, there wasnt any special effects or anything.
I think one time [in my career before the show] I had a group of backup dancers.
A lot of times Ive had horn bands and that kind of stuff.
STACY FRANCIS:I want to use them!
I think it would be a nice switch for me, to do something else.
I think America would like to see me in maybe a little cute number and do some dancing.
JOSHKRAJCIK:Those girls and gentlemen are incredible.
Their talent Ive seen them work hard, and theyre just so good at what they do.
I dont know [if Ill use them].
I guess it probably depends on the song.
It might be fun to step outside the box at some point.
And I did make it, so I hope I get to work with all the dancers next week.
MELANIE AMARO:Love the backup dancers.
I cant wait to work with them for one ofmysongs.
What has change the most for you in your life from your first audition to tonight?
CHRIS RENE:Getting more comfortable with songs and learning songs.
Honestly, I like to do my own music.
Its hard for me to learn other peoples songs.
So Ive been getting more comfortable with other peoples material and trying to make it my style.
LAKODA RAYNE (Dani Knight):For our entire group, it would definitely beeverything.
Getting to work with the best in the industry.
It really hasnt sunken in yet.
Everything is absolutely incredible.
It takes it up to a whole other level.
What Ive noticed is that the farther each step I get, the more I want it.
The father up you get, youre just clawing for the next rung.
Now I want to go all the way.
I want to be at least in the top two; I want to win this thing.
RACHEL CROW:My weight.
I lost, like, 15 pounds.
I was not healthy at all.
Im feeling very confident right now because I can fit into things I normally couldnt fit into.
Im really happy and Im doing really well.
MARCUS CANTY:I think its cute.
[Laughs] Im down with L.A. Reid.
The boys gotta come through.
We gotta win.
Ive gotta win $5 mil.
Its for L.A. Reid, man.
LEROY BELL:I dont know what to make of it.
It makes me nervous, because Im standing there going, Oh, what are they going to say?
Is he going to convince her not to like me?
But Nicole held her ground.
Its okay, its just nerve-wracking.
STACY FRANCIS:Oh my god, I dont even know what was going on with Simon tonight.
He was so hard on me with the outfit and the song.
He didnt like me tonight.
But Im glad that Paula, Nicole, and L.A. had my back.
I felt good about it.
You know what, thats the competition.
Theyre competing against each other.
We have to remember that.
Im not in his category.
Thats something we have to remember.
Theyre trying to win it themselves.
RACHEL CROW:I thought it was pretty cool, actually.
I loved the other opinions, and Im definitely going to take all of them to heart.
I felt like, wow, they care; theyre putting a lot into it.
I kinda definitely didnt want them to fight, but I thought I did my best.
Any song youd most like to sing on the show?
CHRIS RENE:Ive been thinking about that, cause Ive been asked this question a couple times.
I really havent come up with one yet.
MARCUS CANTY:Im open right now.
The one I just sang, Boy George, I felt like it was me.
Emily Michalak:We all have different ideas.
But no, we really dont have a song thateveryonewants.
I hope I get to do something like that.
JOSHKRAJCIK:Theres a lot.
I would say any Beatles song would be wonderful for me to sing.
Theyre so well written, you cant go wrong with those.
But that might be a little too safe or something.
Well see, though.
NEXT PAGE: The evenings elimination
What was the elimination like on the show tonight?
ASTRO:I was definitely confident I was going to make it through.
When I walked, I was kind of nervous.
This isnt rehearsal; this is the real deal.
You get sent home, its over.
I heard people in the audience screaming Astro!
Tisha Campbell was in the building that was awesome.
I was just having fun.
I wasnt going to really going to cry.
I was really just going to enjoy the night.
Even if I didnt make it, I wouldve smiled.
My performance was tight; Phils was tight.
It was all up to L.A., dude.
He chose me, and Im just so stoked.
She had a connection with each one of the acts.
The fact that she saw fit that we should continue in the competition is just a blessing.
Lauren Ashley:It was really hard.
Austin Percario:Being thrown into a new group, I think we all had some of our doubts.
LAKODA RAYNE (Dani Knight):This elimination process was definitely different.
Were doing it category by category.
It was rough because you want to enjoy the rest of the show.
This was definitely different.
LEROY BELL:It was hard.
I feel like Im growing as an artist at the same time, which is kind of odd.
I never thought that was going to happen.
And Im enjoying that part of it too.
STACY FRANCIS:It was so fast.
Im telling you, it was the biggest whirlwind.
It was so crazy, because we didnt expect it to go that way.
That they eliminated people at the end of each category was like, What just happened?!
I was just a nervous wreck.
JOSHKRAJCIK:It was very stressful.
I had a lot of confidence, because I felt pretty good about my performance.
It was just and incredible relief to hear my name called.
Its a very celebratory feeling in my heart.
MELANIE AMARO:It was very emotional.
For a second, I thought to myself, you maybe I could get another no.
Im just really happy that I was given a second chance and I got a yes!
[Hearing people chant my name] was an amazing feeling.
To know that so many people love and support you, you know thats a big thing.
You need that fan base.
You need that support from now on, you know?
Its going to be America voting from now on.
So I really got to get em to love me and know me for who I am.
