Song recognition is no barometer for talent evaluation. Sorry, but to boot Melissa and put Lisa Tucker below him tells me that people are not voting on talent.
Song recognition DOES count. People don't go out and buy CD's that they don't recognize the songs on. Not unless they have a lot of money to throw away.
You have to get your fane base behind you. If you can't wow them, then better do it another way.
I've said it before, Elliot has a nice voice, but the songs are just too boring. That is my opinion and I am entitled to it. We all have our own tastes in music.
We all vote for what we like.