Anastasia: Alright Justin, you didn't kick into the song until the chorus. So, you need to jump right to the payoff a little quicker. And you did pretty good tonight.
Bret: Yeah, for the first time I could really hear your voice. You have a great tone to your voice. I would just say, with this song, put a little more emotion into the chorus, a little more, and make it a little less middle-of-the-road.
Phil: "Chorus moves good, I mean. It's a lot of cliche's on the verse, but I think you have a lot of potential. That's a good thing. Nice shirt."
We go backstage to see Cledus talking to Tamika.
Cledus: "What's been the hardest part of the week so far? I mean, it's been pretty stressful, huh?"
Tamika: "It has. I guess I've had a hard time this week, with trying to explain to people about the meeting I called last week was a 'prayer meeting,' and it had no relation to Erika Jo's clip. And that's been kind of a really difficult and stressful thing for me this week. Trying to do some damage control."
Cledus: (To Justin, who has just arrived backstage after his performance) "Get over here son. Man, I was just over here thinking, do you realize you're four weeks away from a big kick-ass record deal, if you make it that far. Does the strategy change any right now. You're talking tour bus, chicks the whole deal, what's up?"
Justin: "I tell you what, it's just outrageous to know, yeah, four weeks away, it's just phenomenal. And we just keep going ahead and doing better and better each time so.."
Cledus: "Well, you did a great job, bro. Ok LeAnn, take me out of here."
After the commercial, the finalists are back on stage and LeAnn talks to Jody.
LeAnn: "Jody, come on over here. Now, last week, Anastasia said you have the most starpower of anyone in this group. What makes you stand out?"
Jody: "I have no idea. We'd have to go back and ask Anastasia again. I'm thankful though. Very much."
LeAnn: "Very sweet. Well, hopefully, you'll get a chance to sing tonight. Hopefully, we'll get to see it again. Have fun. Here we go. The third performer of the night, moving one step closer to a coveted recording contract with Universal South Records is... Jenny Farrell."
In Jenny's pre-recorded message she says: "The song I'm going to perform tonight is called "Hard to Take." It comes from a place of heartbreak. I was going through a relationship breakup, where you both care a lot about each other, and you just, you realize that it might be that you're not meant for each other. Well, doing songs that I've written is a big part of who I am as an artist. And everybody has that thing that makes them unique, and something that adds to their talent. You know, Jason and Tamika are really talented on the guitar, and they bring that to the table. So, what I'm bringing to the table is my songwriting."
See my Rankings for Episode 5
LeAnn: Be honest with me here. Would you rather.. you have to choose one of these, you can't pick both. Would you rather be a successful songwriter, or a world-famous singer, who didn't write their own songs?"
Jenny: "That's not fair. Well, I really enjoy songwriting, and I love songwriting. But, I think entertaining is probably my true passion."
LeAnn: Very cool. Well, let's see what the judges have to say."
Jenny: "That was hard."
LeAnn: "I know. What a tough one."
Anastasia: "Jenny, I know, you're probably as surprised as I am that you're still here. I mean, just to be honest. I'm sorry."
Bret: "She's referring to the puking incident, once again, which is bogus."
Anastasia: And girlfriend, I really love you. Brace yourself. That song, and that performance was yawn-inducing."
Phil: "I don't think it was that bad."
Bret: "I disagree.. go ahead."
Phil: "It was.. you know.. being pitchy... I mean, alot about the song is passion. I just think you seemed nervous. I think, maybe that whole Jack thing, or whatever you're talking about." (referring to Bret saying she should take a shot of Jack Daniels to loosen up before a performance.)
Bret: "I'll say this. I think.. you wrote this song, and I think the chorus on this song is killer. I think the lyrical concept is really good, 'cause I was trying to listen to every lyric. I just think, and I say this. I think the key, you have such a big voice, and I think the key is a little low for you. Bump it up a half step and I think you have a hit song."
(Oh joy.. a different Burger King commercial! Maybe they finally got the message that just about everyone I've ever heard talk about the commercial they had with Cowboy Hootie and all the stereotypical backwoods mentality hated it. Of course, this one is pretty dumb too, but at least it isn't quite as bad at the other one.)