The X Factor semi-final night saw the four remaining acts perform two songs each in an attempt to reach next week's final. The show's theme was Michael Jackson and each contestant performed one song from Jackson's extensive back catalogue, selected by their mentors.
First to pay his tribute to the 'King of Pop' was Olly Murs. Mentor Simon Cowell selected Can You Feel It - a track by The Jacksons from 1980. Dressed head to toe in white, Olly wowed both the crowd and the judges with his all-singing, all-dancing performance. Louis Walsh described him as an "all round entertainer...who deserves to be in the final." Dannii Minogue punned: "We can all feel it in the room tonight," while both she and Cheryl Cole agreed that Olly should be in the final. Simon Cowell praised Olly's confidence and told him that he had "the presence of a star."
Cheryl Cole chose ballad She's Out of My Life from Jackson's Off The Wall album for her final boy in the contest, Joe McElderry. Joe gave yet another note-perfect performance. Louis told Joe: "You made it your own" and praised his amazing recording voice, describing him as: "the most consistent performer in the competition." Dannii said it was: "Another superb performance" and told him: "You sing like a dream." Simon told Joe he was getting "better and better and better" and admitted it had been one of the best versions of the song he'd ever heard. Mentor Cheryl simply said: "I couldn't be prouder."
Looking like a dancer from Chicago, Stacey Solomon performed the 1987 Michael Jackson track The Way You Make Me Feel. The last remaining girl in the contest, Stacey conquered a complex dance routine which involved climbing across a moving walkway of chairs. Louis told her that he wasn't crazy about the song choice as he didn't feel it suited her and felt the production took away from her voice. He also said that Stacey looked "uncomfortable." Cheryl disagreed and said that she was a "yummy mummy" and enjoyed her performance. Simon, however, said: "It was fine...It just wasn't you," describing it as "too cabaret."
Simon Cowell, the only mentor with two acts still in the contest, chose Man in the Mirror from the album Bad for Danyl Johnson. Accompanied on stage by a choir and some back projections which included polar bears and falling trees, Danyl impressed the judges with his singing. Louis said: "You've definitely got the voice" and Dannii agreed it was: "A really good performance." However, both agreed that they were confused by the video clips. Cheryl told Danyl it was: "Good to see you up there and giving it some" and said he gave 110%. Simon described the performance as: "Absolutely incredible...on the money, genuine, brilliant."
Each contestant's second song brief was to choose something to win enough public support to get them through to the final. As Stacey Solomon put it: "Everyone wants to be in the final."
Olly Murs sang Stevie Wonder's version of the Beatles' hit We Can Work It Out. Olly has previous form with Stevie Wonder songs - his version of Superstition during his first audition saw him fly through to bootcamp. Louis described it as: "Another great performance" and said that Olly reminded him of Jay Kay from Jamiroquai. Dannii was unsure that that song choice showed the best of his vocal ability. Cheryl said that she hoped the people at home would pick up the 'phone. And Simon said that he was reminded of the first time he saw him at the auditions.
Joe McElderry performed Open Arms - a 1982 ballad from American rockers, Journey. He received rave reviews for his version of Journey's Don't Stop Believin' in week four and this was no different. Louis told Joe: "You were born to do this" and added that if he recorded that track it would be a number one hit. Dannii said that the song perfectly complemented his first and he has to be in the final. Simon also praised the choice of an unknown song, adding that backstage, Joe was polite, listens and has learned.
Mentor Dannii Minogue selected Somewhere from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's classic musical West Side Story as Stacey Solomon's 'song to get through to the final'. The same song took Rhydian Roberts all the way to the final in the 2007 series - and made Dannii Minogue weep with emotion. Louis described Stacey's performance as: "Incredible" and told her she had got her mojo back. The performance gave Cheryl goosbumps, telling Stacey: "You put your heart and soul into that." Simon told her she was: "Back in the game" and was reminded of what they had first seen in her during her audition. Dannii simply said that the performance was: "Perfect...World class."
Danyl Johnson performed I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston from the film The Bodyguard. During Divas week, Danyl performed a new Whitney track, I Didn't Know My Own Strength. Tonight, in a play on the song's title, Louis said: "You have got everything" and asked the public to judge Danyl on his voice. Dannii apologised and said that she didn't love it as much as the first song, while Simon Cowell said that Danyl 100% deserved his place in the final.
Tonight's semi-final is available for 30 days on the STV Player. The live results show can be seen on STV tomorrow night at 7.30pm and will feature guest appearances from Janet Jackson and Lady Gaga.
