Performance: Kevin Van Warren
Last week, the judges that knew Kevin Van Warren prior to the competition all said the same thing: that he held himself back too much. That he needed to let some of his infamous flamboyant nature shine through.
Yeah. Well... they probably didn't expect him to go whole-hog on it this week, but that's exactly what they got.
"I'm gonna marry the night I won't give up on my life I'm a warrior queen Live passionately, tonight"
As he sang the opening verse, a single spotlight shined on him. Dressed in bright blue vinyl pants and matching jacket over a black silk shirt, his hair was perfectly quaffed, eyeliner, blush, and just a hint of lip gloss making his handsome face stand out even more, and with black fingerless gloves on each of his hands, it was clear that 'be yourself' had a slightly different meaning to Kevin than to the rest of us.
"I'm gonna marry the dark Gonna make love to the stark I'm a soldier to my Own emptiness, I'm a winner I'm gonna marry the night I'm gonna marry the night..."
As the music suddenly kicked in, the bass pumping, the stage lit up, a variety of dancers of both genders (the men wearing only skintight leather shorts, the women in leather shorts and bikini tops) moving beside him, each of them dancing past him and running their hands along his body reverently as he sang.
"I'm gonna marry the night I'm not gonna cry anymore I'm gonna marry the night Leave nothin' on these streets to explore
M-m-m-marry, m-m-m-marry M-m-m-marry the night Oh, m-m-marry, m-m-m-marry M-m-m-marry the night"
He was 100% in his element now, moving to the rhythm of the music, dancing as if one with the music. The smile on his face as he performed was brighter than even the lights. Entertaining was in his blood.
"I'm gonna lace up my boots Throw on some leather and cruise Down the street that I love In my fishnet gloves, I'm a sinner
Then I'll go down to the bar But I won't cry anymore I'll hold my whiskey up high Kiss the bartender twice, I'm a loser
I'm gonna marry the night I'm gonna marry the night I'm gonna marry the night"
He used the song to highlight his incredible vocal range, hitting unbelievable high notes, and holding onto them as if they were an instrument unto themselves. The dancers surrounded him as he approached the end of the song, the women at his sides, hands on his shoulders, the men each on one knee in front of him,
"I'm gonna marry the night The night, the night The night, the night"
The song ended, the final note he sang ringing out through the concert hall, as he gave a playful, adorable wink into the camera, blowing a kiss to the viewers.