‘The X Factor Australia’ Recap: The Judges Get Their Claws Out For Their Contestants on Power & Passion Night [VIDEOS]

“The X Factor Australia” Power and Passion theme has got the judges at their most aggressive level. The Top 4 contestants are just one week away from the finals, and their judges wanted to make sure that their acts are among the Top 3.

The claws are out, and the judges were not afraid to use theirs. Redfoo, Ronan Keating, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Dannii Minogue all have one contestant each in the running, and that’s about to change when one of the Top 4 is eliminated on Monday. Hence, they were in their most competitive state, much more than the contestants themselves.

Brothers 3

The self-proclaimed farm boys made a fun song even more fun and rowdier by inviting dozens of “audience members” on stage during their rendition of One Direction’s “Best Song Ever.” Those aren’t really audience members, but professional dancers. Still, the production was put well enough to look unscripted until they all started dancing in unison.

The judges all thought it was fun, but apart from the boys’ energy, there wasn’t much to go on with their performance.

“Great fun, guys. Love your enthusiasm every single week,” Ronan said, but added, “I don’t feel vocally the quality was good enough, personally. We got to be tough now. It wasn’t up to scratch.”

Redfoo also commended the boys’ energetic performance, though he had something to say about the timing.

“But I think it was spectacular. The crowd had a lot of smiles on their faces,” the U.S. chart-topper said.

For their Passion song, they took on another brother group’s hit, “Massachusetts” by the Bee Gees. Natalie loved it, saying it’s the perfect kind of song for them. However, Ronan wasn’t impressed.

“I totally disagreed with Nat. I don’t think this is right. I don’t think this is Brothers 3,” the Boyzone star said, explaining that Brother 3 have so much energy to be contained in a sappy song. “This for me did not fire. I was in some weird dream during this performance … It wasn’t happening.”

“I agree with you, man,” Redfoo told Ronan before turning to the brothers. “I think you guys are great. I think you sound good, and I love the Bee Gees, and I love you guys. But at this stage of the competition, I need something that’s gonna move me, and it did feel like just a little weird and dreamy, and there was no energy.”

He passed the blame onto Dannii then, saying that it’s the song that’s not right for them.

Natalie remained their champion, though, while Dannii calmly conceded that not everyone was going to love it, but not everyone can sing the song as well as the young singers could.

Marlisa Punzalan

For her Power song, Ronan chose Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” for her. This got her positive responses from the judges, but only her mentor stood up to applaud her.

“Great vocal. Loved the way you delivered that. I thought it was great. The only thing is I wish you got into it a little more with your body language and communication just a little more to give it that extra oomph. But that vocal was spot on,” Redfoo advised.

Natalie disagreed, saying, “I think your body is telling way better story than it has been at the beginning. You’re so much more in it and connected.”

However, Nat added that she wasn’t “completely sold” with Ronan’s song choice for her.

When it was his turn to speak, Ronan attacked the other judges for inserting criticisms in their otherwise all-positive evaluation of Marlisa’s performance. This has got Dannii defensive on behalf of the other judges.

“That was not average. That was incredible!” Ronan said. “That was one of the best vocal performances we’ve seen in this show this year from Marlisa, and from the other contestants, if you asked me.”

Marlisa’s second song, “Impossible” by James Arthur, had Dannii again defending how she gives criticisms to the contestants. The 42-year-old hitmaker has previously advised Marlisa to “watch your runs” and be careful on her opening notes. So for her Passion song, Marlisa wanted to make sure that she’s perfected her performance.

“Marlisa, as I’ve mentioned in the previous shows when the runs aren’t happening, they are tonight,” Dannii said. “It’s really weird how I critiqued somebody, it’s like I’m having a go at them. It’s just a critique. I love what you do and I did not want to sit up here and say, ‘For a 14-year-old that was good.’ For 14, forget it. That was fantastic.”

Dannii is perhaps the only judge who does not use Marlisa’s age as basis for the schoolgirl’s success or failure. Ronan has always reminded everyone that Marlisa is a force to be reckoned with at just 14 years old, and both Natalie and Redfoo agree that it’s unfathomable how she’s hitting high notes at such a young age.

Fun fact: Marlisa celebrated her 15th birthday last week.

Ronan once again attacked Dannii for giving a superb review for Brothers 3’s “average” performance but not singing Marlisa’s praises for a great number even though Dannii did not say anything negative about her this time.

Dean Ray

Dean was the only contestant who received four-judge standing ovation for both his performances on Sunday night. While the judges continued to fight among themselves and criticise other contestants, it seemed that they were in consensus about Dean.

Natalie chose “The Power of Love” for Dean’s Passion song, and the judges were all in awe.

“You’re incredibly unique. I’ve never seen anything like this in the show. You deserve a shot at the grand finals,” Ronan admitted.

Dannii agreed, saying, “Dean, it would be a crime if you weren’t in the final.”

Redfoo thought he was “very artsy,” saying, “I just love when you opened up your voice at the end. You tick all the boxes. You had the rollercoaster going. Phenomenal.”

Dean’s Power song was a medley of two legends’ classics, “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash and “That’s All Right” by Elvis Presley. Again, the judges all stood up.

“It’s such a breath of fresh air to finish up tonight with this performance. You gotta make it to the grand final!” Ronan almost begged.

Reigan Derry

For this week, Reigan’s outfit didn’t start a fight between Dannii and her mentor Redfoo. Last week, one of the most explosive fights between judges took place after Dannii and Redfoo disagreed on how Reigan’s costume was apparently not aligned with the image she wanted to portray.

Dannii refrained from commenting on her outfit this time, just saying her performance of Shakira’s “Can’t Remember to Forget You” was “beautiful.”

Natalie wanted to remind viewers that although Reigan sometimes receives negative comments from the judges, it’s a competition and it’s part of being a contestant. She remarked on how Reigan was professional enough to just take it on the chin.

If Ronan’s strategy to win Marlisa votes is to constantly mention Marlisa’s age, Redfoo’s strategy to woo people in voting for Reigan is to mention her years of experience in the industry.

Reigan is just 25 years old, but she has already been though a lot in showbiz. She was a finalist on the now-defunct “Australian Idol” in 2006, and was a member of the pop duo Scarlett Belle. They had a contract with Jay Z’s Def Jam Recordings, but they parted ways after a few years to pursue solo careers, which left Reigan scrambling back to the start.

For Reigan’s Passion song, Redfoo chose Paloma Faith’s “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” for her. Natalie stood up after her performance, but noted a “flat note” at the beginning. She said it didn’t matter, though, even giving excuse for Reigan’s otherwise unnoticeable gaffe.

Ronan, the only judge who remained seated at the end of Reigan’s song, said he was a “little disappointed” because he expected a lot from her vocals.

“Honestly, if you listen to it back, there’s a couple of moments, but the rest of the song was incredible,” he said, though adding that Reigan still deserves a place at the final.

“I personally didn’t hear those notes, if there were notes that were off. I heard the passion,” Redfoo defended his charge. “This was your last performance, this was your last chance to get to the grand final. I just hope Australia really, really can feel this song and the emotion and get behind you and get you to the grand final for the opportunity that you’ve been dreaming off.”

Last Elimination Night

Monday will be the last elimination night before the grand final. The four acts will become three. The Script, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Ronan with his band Boyzone will perform on stage.