However, ‘Without You’ is a notoriously hard number to sing (try it!). Not only do you need an excellent vocal range, but you need to be able to scale it quickly and without fuss.
Last night, during the screening of The Xtra Factor, Mark Hudson, (the vocal coach on Sharon’s team) reported that Cassie was experiencing a few problems with the song. He hinted that she may have been making a common mistake of younger singers, which was trying to sing this song like Mariah Carey does!
Happily tonight’s performance shows no signs of that or any other mistake. She gives a flawless performance, packed with power, emotion and everything required to make the song believable.
An elated audience erupts as Cassie ends her number and walks over to face Louis and Simon...
Kate: It’s Cassie! (cheers) ... Okay, Simon!
Simon: Okay, let me just answer this intimidation thing from the beginning of the clip. Which is if you’re 17 years old... you allow a seventeen year old to come into a competition like this...you have to expect that you’re gonna get good and bad criticism. Last week Cassie I was quite hard on you. I thought it was a disappointing performance. This week I take everything back because that was a stunning... (big cheers) ... brilliant! (Cassie puts her hands to her face and looks a bit amazed!)
Kate: Okay, one down, one to go. Louis!
Louis: Kate, I agree totally with Sharon. I mean I thought she was great last week! I think she’s even better this week. A very hard song to sing...
Simon: Very hard.
Louis: ...very, very. She’s 17 years old, a small girl, big voice, big career! (More cheers. Cassie smiles like she can’t believe what she’s been hearing!)
Kate: (To Sharon) Mrs O! (Cassie lets out a yelp of excitement!) How did your little one do it for you tonight?
Sharon: Ask them (smiling broadly and pointing to the judges), not me. I...no...it’s just...(cheers)...
Kate: (holds Cassies hands) Now listen. You are our baby of the competition. You are just seventeen and it’s a big stage to fill. Sharon wanted to build your confidence, are you feeling like a more confident young lady?
Cassie: You know about half an hour ago I was getting there and now (nods) yeah!
Kate: Yeah?
Cassie: (grinning happily) Yeah! Yes, yes!
Kate: Wow! Last week was a tough...I mean you were... you were rendered speechless by the row that took place on stage here. Did you come to win these guys over tonight?
Cassie: Yes of course! And everyone at home, and everyone here...(cheer) ...thanks! Thank you. Its amazing, I can’t ... see! even when its good I still can’t say anything! (laughs)
Kate: Well you’ve done amazingly well tonight. You’ve done your mother proud! Everybody, its Sharon and Cassie thank you!