PERFORMANCE - BRIAN PRITCHARD
Last week, as the judges spoke to Brian, he figured he needed to come out this week and be more charasmatic. More animated. But after speaking to Meredith backstage, realized that charisma didn't necessarily have to be anything other than showing more emotion, more life.
He'd spent his entire performance last week focused mostly on hoping certain people could hear it.
This week? He was going to make sure everyone heard him. He was going to make sure that the darkness and the sadness he felt deep inside were spread out for all to see.
Walking out onto the stage, wearing black slacks and a red silk dress shirt, choosing to stand this time, rather than sit. Remembering one of the criticisms of his last performance, he kept himself from closing his eyes, instead gazing out into the crowd with an intense, emotional look in his eyes.
"All around me are familiar faces Worn out places, worn out faces Bright and early for their daily races Going nowhere, going nowhere"
Again, his voice was pleasant but untrained, yet held a heartbreaking sadness that fit it perfectly. While no tears were in his eyes, the far-away look in them was somehow MORE devastating.
"Their tears are filling up their glasses No expression, no expression Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow No tomorrow, no tomorrow"
As he approached the chorus, he began to walk across the stage, meeting eyes with several of the audience members, and then the judges as well.
"And I find it kinda funny I find it kinda sad The dreams in which I'm dying Are the best I've ever had I find it hard to tell you I find it hard to take When people run in circles It's a very, very mad world, mad world
Children waiting for the day they feel good Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday And I feel the way that every child should Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous No one knew me, no one knew me Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson Look right through me, look right through me"
Approaching the final chorus, he walked to the front of the stage, sitting on the edge to touch hands with a few of the fans reaching out.
"And I find it kinda funny I find it kinda sad The dreams in which I'm dying Are the best I've ever had I find it hard to tell you I find it hard to take When people run in circles It's a very, very mad world, mad world
Enlarging your world Mad world"
As he finished, he made a subtly frustrated face, clearly a little let down by his own performance, before finally looking up to the judges with a soft smile.