PERFORMANCE - ELLIS SHEPHERD
As several of the contestants were told, the judges wanted to see some different this week. Something that would show emotion, give a glimpse into their heart and soul.
For Ellis, the one constant had been that while her screaming was impressive, the judges wanted to hear her do a song completely clean vocally. To do a song that would tap into her emotions. And while some of her more emotional moments were no longer truly accessible for her (do to them eventually resolving themselves), there was one memory that still haunted her, and likely always would. In her first year of college, she'd broken the heart of a girl she thought was merely FWB, but who'd actually fallen in love with her. She'd hurt the girl so bad that they never spoke again, and when Ellis tried to make amends a few years later, she had been told that the girl had died in traffic accident.
She tried not to think about it these days. EVER. But for this... she knew this memory would add fire to her performance.
Taking the stage in a surprisingly demure black dress, her hair curled and falling at her shoulders as she held only the microphone, her guitar not even present this week.
"Hello, it's me I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet To go over everything They say that time's supposed to heal ya But I ain't done much healing Hello, can you hear me? I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be When we were younger and free I've forgotten how it felt Before the world fell at our feet
There's such a difference between us And a million miles"
She took a deep breath, focusing on hitting the emotion and sadness of the chorus properly, throwing her head back as she belted it out.
"Hello from the other side I must have called a thousand times To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done But when I call you never seem to be home Hello from the outside At least I can say that I've tried To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart Anymore
Hello, how are you? It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry I hope that you're well Did you ever make it out of that town Where nothing ever happened?
It's no secret that the both of us Are running out of time"
She felt her eyes watering a bit as she sang, the song flooding her mind with all the thoughts and regrets she felt from the past. She knew she'd be dealing with this for days, but if it got her to the next round, it was worth it.
"So hello from the other side (other side) I must have called a thousand times (thousand times) To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done But when I call you never seem to be home Hello from the outside (outside) At least I can say that I've tried (I've tried) To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart Anymore
Hello from the other side (other side) I must have called a thousand times (thousand times) To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done But when I call you never seem to be home Hello from the outside (outside) At least I can say that I've tried (I've tried) To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart Anymore "
As the song ended, she held her forearm up to the camera, where, in an adorable show of camaraderie, she had written "#ScreamQueens".