Nathan Brake Gets Idol Chop on Power Songs Night

This was a hard episode of Australian Idol for me. It’s always hard to lose a favourite, and even harder when you feel they didn’t deserve to go. This week we lost Nathan, a fact made doubly hard because this was our power songs night. I would have loved to see Nathan perform for at least one more week. As it stood though, James’ fans came out in force, scared into voting after his near miss last week. So he stayed, Nathan went, and the competition is poorer for it.

Having said that, I think James Johnston did a credible job of Toto’s “Hold The Line.” His voice is growing stronger every week, and his performance skills are also getting better. But he still feels a little underdone a lot of the time. The power songs theme only exposes the weaknesses. He’s just not quite ready for songs so big.

I’m not sure exactly why, but Hayley Warner’s take on U2’s “One” didn’t work for me. I simply didn’t connect, and it seems to me that she didn’t either. It felt boring and frankly a little sing-song in places. It just didn’t have the emotional grit, which is something I’ve never accused Hayley of. This just didn’t ring true.

I was really excited to hear Stan Walker was tackling Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” Sadly though he didn’t live up to my expectations. He performed well, but the vocals were a little patchy in places. It just seemed too big for him. It was a good performance, but not a great one. I’m used to hearing greatness though.

James redeemed himself with his second song, a cover of Extreme’s “More Than Words.” This was always one of my favourite songs growing up, and he did it justice. Whenever he picks up the guitar, he excels. He should really do it more often. He looks more natural and seems more connected to the music when he’s strumming away. This is a really good space for him to work in. I loved it.

Hayley Warner definitely gave us a lot more with her take on “New Sensation.” Yet for some reason I still wasn’t impressed tonight. Initially it didn’t feel like she was quite in the pocket, and the rest of the time it just didn’t get into fifth gear. It was solid, but she didn’t knock it out of the park.

Stan Walker was back to his best with James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s World.” There is so compelling about Stan when he just stands there and sings. When he is still he draws you in like no one else in this competition. Performances like this are exactly why he’s still in this competition.

It’s a shame that James left his version of Foo Fighters’ “Learn to Fly” til last. This was Foo Fighters Lite. He took an indie anthem and made it a middle of the road pop rock song. It was technically flawless, but it lacked any real guts.

Hayley Warner was much smarter than James, saving her best until last. Her take on “Bittersweet Symphony” was sublime. For the first time tonight, she soared. For the first time tonight, it felt like Hayley was being Hayley. This was a really good reminder about why she’s here.

On power songs night I expected to hear big chunky guitars and chords. I didn’t expect the kind of power Stan delivered on “Amazing Grace.” It was quite simply incredible. This was an Idol moment, the kind of which we have not seen this season. Talk about saving the best to the last.

Stan Walker is the only certainty for the finale as far as I’m concerned. It seems the smart choice to think that James, who came so close to going home before, might stumble at the final hurdle. But you know? The voters might just surprise us.