Do you think some of these contestants 'don't break out' or 'do something memorable' because they just pick the wrong songs, for whatever reason? It's unfortunate that they wait so late in the season to have the judges pick and to have Clive's pick. I think Clive usually picks well for the contestants and would like to see more of the contestants get songs chosen for them by Clive. I know that probably seems odd, but, I'd like to see what kind of a difference it would make for a lot of them.
It could be that, but generally if a performer has an original and/or flexible style, it's there no matter what song they sing. With Michael Johns, no matter what song he chooses, his performance style is always within a narrow -- or maybe the better word would be flat band. It's hard to find the words to explain what I mean. He just has no dimension to his performances. I think it has more to do with a flat emotionless quality than anything else.