Maria Lawson
Song: Piece Of My Heart   (Erma Franklin  , Janis Joplin  )

She does exactly that, and more. As soon as she launches into the number it's obvious she's going to completely nail it.

It's a fabulous frenzy of a song and Maria jumps right into it, feels it, and makes us feel it too.

It's exactly what we've been waiting to see and hear from her. The earlier performances have been good but seemed a little restrained.

She's just flung restraint out of the window and shown us who Maria really is!

Her vocal is truly passionate and she moves around the stage with a purpose and intensity that is utterly compelling.

Maria gets a huge reception from the studio audience, even Simon Cowell seems amazed as he competes with them to get a word in so he can begin his critique!

Simon had felt Maria was singing at 50 per cent during the first of the finals 2 weeks ago, tonight he tells her "you gave it 1000 per cent". Louis and Sharon are equally enthusiastic. They both tell Maria she's 'brilliant'.

Panel-Bites:

Sharon Osbourne:  (Introduction) Well I think her name says it all. The most beautiful sound 'Maria'.

Intro clip...

Maria:  It's just incredible, the feeling out there when you get on stage. This amazing buzz, adrenalin, excitement and it's just doin' what I've wanted to do all my life. It feels like I'm coming closer and closer to my dream.

Sharon Osbourne:  Maria's doing great and we're getting really positive feedback, but we can't rest on our laurels. We've got to keep pushing her to try new things every week.

Maria:  The song that I'm doing tonight is completely out of my comfort zone. It's a real challenge for me, but at this stage in the competition, you just have to take risks.

Sharon Osbourne:  I just love working with Maria. You know, I keep pushing her and she takes it, and she never stops surprising me.

Maria:  I love being in this competition. It's been a roller-coaster of emotions, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Maria sings...

Kate Thornton:  Simon, your comments please?

Simon Cowell:  (Waits for the crowd noise to subside) Ehm... Maria you know er why... I mean listen, it was a great song, it was fantastically sang... But you know what the older singers, or the more mature singers have done tonight is shown a desire to win. And... and you are one of them. Which is, you didn't just come out here and blag it. You fought for your votes, which is what it's all about. You entertained the public, you gave it 1000 per cent. (Cheers) One thing I would say is I think now Maria, you've got to now prove that you fit in today's market, not just the competition. So what I would advise is... is that you find a more contemporary song next week, rather than singing standards every week. Apart from that it was terrific. Loved it.

Kate Thornton:  Thanks Simon. Louis?

Louis Walsh:  Go Maria. The standard is really, really high in this competition tonight. It was a powerhouse performance, one of my top 3 performances tonight. You are absolutely brilliant. You deserve a record deal, you look fantastic and I want you here next week. (Big Cheers)

Kate Thornton:  Thanks Louis, Sharon? You're Maria's mentor, what would you like to say?

Sharon Osbourne:  I just...(Shakes her head)...I'm speechless after that performance. I mean, I thought you were good, but tonight you were absolutely unbelievably good.You are brilliant.

Maria:  Thanks Sharon.

Sharon Osbourne:  I just.... just want to see you here next week.

Louis Walsh:  She will be.

Maria:  Oh, I wanna be here. (Laughs)

Louis Walsh:  She will have to be. She has to be. (Maria laughs)

Kate Thornton:  Okay, thank you judges. (Turns to Maria) Maria, you've heard the comments from the panel.

Maria:  Oh my god!

Kate Thornton:  What would you like to say back to them?

Maria:  Wow! I Just wanna say thank you so much! ...And Simon I appreciate what you're saying. I believe I can fit into today's contemporary market. I write, I sing, I perform, I do everything. So I'm going to work my hardest to prove and show you that hopefully I'm here next week. (Big Cheers) And erm... (Waits for the noise to die down.) ...And I'd also like to say a special thanks to Sharon and Mark! You've been such inspiration to me. And then you said to me that, you know "I know you're so nervous, but whatever's inside you let it come out.", and I'm just trying my best to just show everything I've got, every time I get on this stage. (Cheers, Sharon smiles broadly)

Kate Thornton:  So, are you going to put Maria back on this stage next Saturday? ...(Kate gives out the voting numbers etc) ... (Pats Maria on the back)... Are you all right?

Maria:  I am! (Laughs)

Kate Thornton:  A Lot of deep breathing going on over here. Ladies and gentlemen, she gave it her all, so give her some back. It's Maria!