1. Stephanie "Steffi" Watts 7 (Eliminated)
2. Kalina Rai 8 (Bottom 2)
3. Makaya Quirke 9 (Top Vote Getter)

Makaya Quirke

Last Week: “Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall & “Greatest Love Of All” by Whitney Houston (Bottom 2)

This Week:

70’s

Even though I was in the bottom 2 last week, I’m going to have a blast this week! I feel that showing energy and emotion will add to my performances and maybe this week I can escape elimination. Music from other decades is so interesting to me and I love it! I didn’t grow up listening to some of it because I’m only 20, but recently I have begun to like some older music. One of my favorite singers is now Stevie Wonder. For my 70’s song I’m going to be singing one of his greatest hits, “I Wish”. It is from one of his best albums, Songs in the Key of Life. The words focus on Wonder’s childhood and the many good and bad things that happened. Even though some of his childhood was hard, the chorus talks about wanting his childhood to come back. As adults many of us think this way because our jobs stress us out and it was good not having to worry about jobs and money as kids. We’d like to go back to our childhood and just be without all of the responsibilities adults have. I also picked this because it’s a very good song with a very good beat that almost makes you want to dance.

I will be showing a lot of energy with this performance. I’ll start out walking up the stairs and then I’ll start walking around the stage. During the part where I don’t sing for a few seconds I’ll go over by the judges and dance. I’ll stay over there for the rest of the song.

I’ll be singing this part of the song:

Looking back on when I
Was a little nappy headed boy
Then my only worry
Was for Christmas what would be my toy
Even though we sometimes
Would not get a thing
We were happy with the
Joy the day would bring

Sneaking out the back door
To hang out with those hoodlum friends of mine
Greeted at the back door
With boy thought I told you not to go outside
Tryin' your best to bring the
Water to your eyes
Thinkin' it might stop her
Grom woopin' your behind

I wish those days could come back once more
Why did those days ev-er have to go
I wish those days could come back once more
Why did those days ev-er have to go
Cause I love them so

I wish those days could come back once more
Why did those days ev-er have to go
I wish those days could come back once more
Why did those days ev-er have to go

I’ll be wearing this dress:


I’ll be wearing these shoes:


I’ll be wearing these ruby earrings:


I’ll be wearing this ruby and diamond bracelet:


My hair has been curly the past couple weeks so I thought I would go straight today.

Since I do not have time to change my hair, it will stay the same for all three performances.

My makeup will look like this for all three performances.

Makaya Quirke

Last Week: “Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall & “Greatest Love Of All” by Whitney Houston (Bottom 2)

This Week:

80’s

For my 80’s song I will be singing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. It is from her 1983 album She’s So Unusual. I’m hoping both you and I have fun with this song. The lyrics are very true for us females. We just want to have some fun and jobs can make it so that is hard to do. But after our working day is done we can go out with our friends and do something fun. I’m only 20 and I don’t have a job yet, but I can relate because I am in college and I sometimes don’t have enough time to be with my friends.

Again with this song, I am going to bring a lot of energy and interact with the audience a lot. I’ll be walking around on the stage and for some of the time I will be giving high-fives to the audience.

I’ll be singing this part of the song:

I come home in the morning light
My mother says when you gonna live your life right
Oh mother dear we're not the fortunate ones
And girls just want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun

The phone rings in the middle of the night
My father yells what you gonna do with your life
Oh daddy dear you know you're still number one
But girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have--

That's all they really want
Some fun
When the working day is done
Girls-- they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun

I’ll be wearing this shirt:


I’ll be wearing this skirt:


I’ll be wearing these shoes:


I’ll be wearing this sapphire necklace:


I’ll be wearing these sapphire earrings:


My hair will stay the same.


My makeup will stay the same.

Makaya Quirke

Last Week: “Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall & “Greatest Love Of All” by Whitney Houston (Bottom 2)

This Week:

90’s

Since my first two songs were fun ones, I thought I’d be more serious in this third song. I will be “I Will Get There” by Boyz II Men. It is from [u]The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack[u]. I heard this song a while ago and I fell in love with it right away. I was hoping I’d make it to this week so I had a theme that it actually fit under. This song is very inspirational and soothing. “I Will Get There” speaks of optimism and hope. Though times may be hard, if you keep to the right path you will get wherever you want to be. Maybe you are having a bad day and it seems like the pain and sorrow will never go away, but it is important to have hope and know that with tomorrow, there is a brighter day. Or maybe the there in the title is Heaven. If you stick to your beliefs and have faith, you will get there. Same with any other dream you have. This song is very inspirational to me and I hope after hearing it, you’ll feel the same way.

I am going to try really hard to incorporate my movements and the lighting to the song. (To read what I’m going to do go down to each verse or chorus of the lyrics below.)

I’ll be singing this part of the song:

I've been wanderin' 'round in the dark
Been lost somewhere where no light could shine on my heart
I have known a pain so deep
But I know my faith will free me
(For the first three lines of this verse, it will be almost completely dark and I’ll be walking around the stage like I’m lost. Then a light shines on the other side of the stage from where I am.)

[Get there] And I'll get through this
[Get there] I'll find my way again
So don't tell me that it's over
'Cause each step just gets me closer
(Once I see the light, I’ll slowly walk to it.)

(I will get there) I will get there
(I will get there) I will get there somehow
Cross that river (Cross that river)
Nothing's stoppin' me now
(For this part, I will sing while standing in the light.)

I will get through the night (Oh, yes, I will)
And make it through to the other side
(Get there) Get there
(Get there) Get there
(At this time, I will be walking happily to the center of the stage.)

I've been in these chains for so long
I'll break free and I'll be there where I belong
Hold my head up high, I'll stand tall
And I swear this time I won't fall
(Then at this part, I will remember how I have felt and I’ll get sad for a while. For this time, the lights will be dim.)

[Get there] I will do this
[Get there] No matter what it takes
'Cause I know no limitations
And I'll reach my destination, I will get there
(But then the hope and optimism returns along with the light and I’ll walk back over to the light.)

I will get there (I will get there)
I will get there (Ooh) somehow (Somehow)
(For the last two lines of the song, I will stand in the light and point up. Right after I finish singing, all of the lights will come back on.)

I chose this dress for a reason. It is a black and white dress. Black represents darkness and white represents light. As you read above, this is a very important part of both the song and my performance.


Since I have a long dress on, my shoes will be hard to see, but here they are:


I’ll be wearing a set of earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet:




Same hair:


Same makeup:


I hope you enjoyed all of my three performances. If you did, please do not vote for me.

Kalina Rai:

Last Week: “Breathe (2 AM)” by Anna Nalick & “Pink Cadillac” by Natalie Cole (Safe)

This Week:

70’s

70's-Travelin' Band-Creedence Clearwater Revival

-I chose Travelin' Band by Creedence Clearwater Revival. This song came out in 1970 on there most famous album Cosmo's Factory, which is usually always put on the top 100 greatest Rock CD's ever. And also was placed in the top 11 of Billboards Soul Charts, a feat very unheard of from a rock band. Me choosing this to sing a song from this band should be no suprise. In fact you are all probably either smiling or rolling your eyes at my choice. Since I had already performed a song by CCR earlier in the competition. But I love love Creedence Clearwater Revival. John Fogerty is amazing. This song reached number 2 on the billboard charts, again in 1970. During the 1970's Disco was quickly reaching it's height, CCR managed to stay afloat even though they arguably reached there peak at 1970. I chose to sing this specific song (And believe me this choice was not easy.) because it has a very late 1950's early 1960's feel. It's a fast tempo-ed feel good song, that spans generations. Plus John Fogerty is singing, what more could I ask for?

Here is the song if you haven't heard it before. Disregard to two crazy guys singing to it. That's not CCR Lol: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iepUULH7khA

Here is the parts of the song I'll be singing:

Seven Thirty Seven coming out of the sky.
Oh! Won't you take me down to Memphis
on a midnight ride, I wanna move.
Take me to the hotel, Baggage gone, oh, well.
Come on, come on, won't you get me to my room,
I wanna move.

Playing in a Traveling Band.
Well, I'm flying 'cross the land, try'ing to get a hand,
Playing in a Traveling Band.

Listen to the radio, Talking 'bout the last show.
Someone got excited,
Had to call the State Militia, wanna move.
Here we come again on a Saturday night
Oh with your fussing and a fighting
Won't you get me to the rhyme,
I wanna move.

Oh! I'm playing in a Traveling Band;
Playing in a Traveling Band.
Won't you get me, take me hand
Well, I'm playing in a Traveling Band,
Well, I'm flying 'cross the land.
Trying to get a hand,
Playing in a Traveling Band,

Here is my outfit, shoes, and bracelet for this song.


During this performance I will start in front of the judges table. Sing while dancing slightly so the fringes on my top swoosh around. Then I will make my way up to the platform behind the judges table, agains swooshing lightly, before running back up to the stage, and sliding to the middle of the stage to end the song.

Kalina Rai:

Last Week: “Breathe (2 AM)” by Anna Nalick & “Pink Cadillac” by Natalie Cole (Safe)

This Week:

80’s

80's- Time After Time-Cyndi Lauper

-For the 1980's, I chose Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper, which is Cyndi's most commercially succesful song. This song appeared on her 1984 album She's So Unusual, along with her other hits Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and She-Bop. Again, like Cosmo's Factory, She's So Unusual is also listed on Rolling Stones 500 greatest albums ever, coming in at number 494. The video to this song shows a girl running away on a train away from her lover. The song to me means that she's running away from this relationship, that isn't working, there's nothing left there but empty smiles, no passion, nothing at all, but memories of what once were. I chose this song, because as a little girl, I always imagined myself to be as Cyndi Lauper, to go through the things she sung about in her lyrics. I even one a halloween costume contest for dressing up as her. So to sing this song, is pretty awesome. And I hope you all will enjoy it.

Here is the parts I will be singing:

Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick
And think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion Is nothing new
Flashback warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after

Sometimes you picture me
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said
Then you say go slow
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time

After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray, You said go slow
I fall behind,The second hand unwinds
Time after time, time after time

Here is my outfit, shoes, and bracelet for this song:


During this performance I will be making my way to the middle of the stage, and down to where the steps are. My legs will be on the bottom steps and I will be facing the audience to sing to them.Throughout the entire song, I will be sitting on the steps, until the lights dim out and the song finishes.

Kalina Rai:

Last Week: “Breathe (2 AM)” by Anna Nalick & “Pink Cadillac” by Natalie Cole (Safe)

This Week:

90’s

90's-Stay (I Missed You)-Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories

-For the 1990's I chose Stay (I Missed You) by Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories. This song was prominently featured in the soundtrack and from the movie Reality Bites. And with this song Lisa Loeb has the distinction of being the only artist who had a number one hit on the billboard charts, without ever being signed to a record. She went on to re-release the song on her 1995 critically-acclaimed album Tails. But since has never reached the same success with another song. And has since dropped Nine Stories as her back-up band. This song is about being in love, but making a whole lot of mistakes. About rushing into things, about being naive, about being in love no matter what. It's a gorgeous, melodic, and lyrically wonderful song. There's such a hint of passion in this song, that's subtle but genius.

Here is the parts of the song I'll be singing:

You say I only hear what I want to
You say I talk so all the time, so?
And I thought what I felt was simple
And I thought that I don't belong
And now that I am leavin'
Now I know that I did somethin' wrong 'cause I missed you
Yeah, yeah, I missed you
And you say I only hear what I want to
I don't listen hard, don't pay attention
To the distance that you're running
To anyone, anywhere

So I, I turn the radio on, I turn the radio up
And this woman was singin' my song
Lover's in love and the other's run away
Lover is crying cause the other won't stay
Some of us hover while we weep for the other who was
Dyin' since the day they were born
Well, well, this is not that
I think that I'm throwin', but I'm thrown

You said, you caught me cause you want me
And one day you let me go
You try to give away a keeper, or keep me
Cause you know you're just so scared to lose
And you say, "Stay"

Here is my outfit shoes, and bracelet and necklace for this performance


And here is my hairstyle except darker, and my makeup for all three performances. Since I won't have time to change.

Hair:


Makeup


During this performance I will start in the middle of the stage, with the microphone stand in front of me. I will sing the first couple lines singing straight into the audience. But during the middle part of the song, when it starts to speed up I will grab the microphone off the microphone stand and make my way into the crowd, singing to someone in the audience, before making my way to end the song in front of the judges table.

Stephanie "Steffi" Watts:

Last Week: “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield & “Vision Of Love” by Mariah Carey (Bottom 3)

This Week:

70’s

For my 70's song, I will be performing "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. It was released in 1979 and reached #1 on both the US and UK charts; "I Will Survive" also received the Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording. This is a song about moving on after a bad relationship; however, the lyrics can refer to surviving any obstacles you may face in life. "I Will Survive" is a very empowering and inspirational song, as well as a classic song with a great beat and a catchy tune.

Here are the lyrics:

At first I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you by my side
But I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
I learned how to carry on
and so you're back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here
with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed my stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second
you'd be back to bother me

Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
you think I'd crumble
you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive

It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
Now I hold my head up high
and you see me
somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person
still in love with you
and so you felt like dropping in
and just expect me to be free
now I'm saving all my loving
for someone who's loving me

Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
you think I'd crumble
you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive

For this performance, I will start standing center stage. Once the chorus begins, I will walk around on the stage and through the audience. There will be some audience interaction, allowing the crowd to sing along to the refrain.

I hope you enjoy my performance of "I Will Survive"!

---

My hair will be styled like this:



My eyes will look like this:



I will be wearing this dress (minus the scarf):



I will be wearing this necklace and earring set:



I will be wearing these shoes:

Stephanie "Steffi" Watts:

Last Week: “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield & “Vision Of Love” by Mariah Carey (Bottom 3)

This Week:

80’s

For my 80's song, I will be performing "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper. This 1986 hit reached #1 on the US charts and #12 on the UK charts. "True Colors" is a song about looking below the surface of a person and seeing what they are like on the inside. This is a universal theme that America can relate to, for it is what is within that is most important. Along with this, this song has well-written lyrics and a beautiful melody.

Here are the lyrics:

You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Oh I realize
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

Show me a smile then,
Don't be unhappy, can't remember
When I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

I will be standing center stage for the duration of the song, with a bit of walking around (again, a la "A Song For You").

I hope you enjoy my performance of "True Colors"!

---

My hair will be styled like this:



My eyes will look like this:



I will be wearing this dress:



I will be wearing this necklace:



I will be wearing these earrings:



I will be wearing these shoes:

Stephanie "Steffi" Watts:

Last Week: “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield & “Vision Of Love” by Mariah Carey (Bottom 3)

This Week:

90’s

For my 90's song, I will be performing "Kiss From a Rose" by Seal. This song was released in 1994, and reached #1 on the US charts/#4 on the UK charts. It also received Grammy Awards in 1996 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance. This is one of my personal favorites, simply because it is beautiful on many levels. The waltz beat and the harmonies cause this song to stand out as different, yet brilliant at the same time. "Kiss From a Rose" is about a person who used to feel alone, then that special someone came along and changed their darkness into light. However, the loneliness takes ahold and the darkness returns whenever the love of their life is gone. Although the feeling of this love is unfamiliar, it is simply wonderful to have. I believe that America can easily relate to this theme of love, since we have/will find the beauty of love in one way or another.

Here are the lyrics:

There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea.
You became the light on the dark side of me.
Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can't be seen.

Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey.
Ooh, the more I get of you,
The stranger it feels, yeah.
And now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the grave.

There is so much someone can tell you,
So much they can say.
You remain, my power, my pleasure, my pain, baby
To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny.
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby?
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can't be seen.

Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey.
Ooh, the more I get of you
The stranger it feels, yeah.
Now that your rose is in bloom,
A light hits the gloom on the grave,
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey

I will start the song sitting on a stool, then I will rise to my feet for the chorus. There will be some walking around on the stage throughout the song, then I will sit down again for the end.

I hope you enjoy my performance of "Kiss From a Rose"!

---

My hair will be styled like this:



My eyes will look like this:



I will be wearing this dress:



I will be wearing these pants:



I will be wearing this jacket:



I will be wearing these earrings:



I will be wearing this necklace:



I will be wearing these shoes:

Sorry this is a few hours late, but...

1. Stephanie "Steffi" Watts 7 (Eliminated)
2. Kalina Rai 8 (Bottom 2)
3. Makaya Quirke 9 (Top Vote Getter)

I would like to thank all of my fans for voting for me, and not turning their back on me during the competition. Without you, this journey would not have been possible.

At this time, I would like to congratulate my friends Makaya Quirke and Kalina Rai. You two truly deserve to go to the finale. I'm sure to be there, watching you and cheering you on! Best of luck to both of you.

Lastly, I would like to thank Elliott Yamin. He inspired me to give this contest a go, and I have become a better person for it. Elliott also finished in third...coincidence, eh?

Thank you all, once again, for believing in me. I have had the time of my life performing for you each week. I suppose now would be the time to sing one final time.

*sings "Kiss From A Rose" - see info*

Bravo! :clap: