Moving another step closer to the finale, we see two teams coming head to head with one another now in an exciting face-off. In this episode, Na Ying's team is challenging Jay Chou's team. This is the episode where it seems like all the diaspora Chinese communities representatives are congregated on the same stage. Don't believe me? Let's take a look:

Photo credits: www.m.wj001.com

Na Ying's team
Zhang Yu - Japanese Chinese
Sun Bo Lun - Harbin (Mainland China)
Zhang Lei - Xinjiang (Mainland China)
Lang-ga-la-mu - Thai Chinese

Jay Chou's team
Chen Zi Tong - Nanjing (Mainland China)
Li An - Australian Chinese
Guan Shi Min - Taiwanese-Chinese, US-born
Li Xin Ni - Malaysian Chinese

It's actually a good development for the show to take and internationalizing it, especially when song and music can really bind people together regardless of how far they wander off. Na Ying's team set the bar really high by singing a spine-chillingly beautiful rendition of Jay's song, 烟花易冷 and the Madam herself even rapped a considerable length of the song. Thereafter, Jay led his team in singing NY's song 出卖 and F.I.R's 你的微笑. Cool performances that showed the contestants' maturity and improvement, especially their potential to become celebrities as their X-factor glowed.

Cross Battle I: Li Xin Ni vs. Zhang Yu

Can anyone withstand Zhang Yu's ability to shut everyone up with how gentle and soothing his voice is? He is so careful and lovely with his singing, and he is actually singing a classic 心动 (which means 'the stir of a heart')... okay, I am instantly smitten. By the way, his Facebook page is always updated, with cute videos of xiaokaxiu with... Lang-ga-la-mu. ;) Unfortunately, Zhang Yu's beautiful performance is matched with an even more captivating Li Xin Ni's bringing Angel to greater heights. Li Xin Ni has become exponentially better than before (if that is even possible!) and has instantly and single-handedly raised the standard of this season. I love how she added personal nuances to this over-performed song. 

Li Xin Ni wins (28 votes), for good reason. Slightly disappointed for Zhang Yu's (23 votes) loss because I like his quiet comforting voice, but it was only reasonable for the results to be like this.


Cross Battle II: Chen Zi Tong vs. Lang-ga-la-mu

Each of the judges' mini versions of them take the stage. Whoever leaves the competition will be such a devastating result! But it has to be done. La-mu does a 一剪梅 which incites a beautiful imagery in the mind as I listened to her singing. It is really difficult to sing this because there's not much back-up music or band input for this song and much of it is dependent on her voice. Somehow it is kinda unexciting, but very pleasant to listen. Chen Zi Tong was a face of complete nervousness before she started, but slowly eased into her usual confident gait after the first verse. I appreciate the re-choreographed 可爱女人 with a lot of soul feel, which allows audience to see the extent she can do 'normal singing' other than her amazing rap. While catchy and fun, it doesn't draw me in as much La-mu's performance. Halfway I'm not sure why she reminded me of Season 1's Ding Ding, but the less-sultry and more rock version.

Cross Battle III: Li An vs. Zhang Lei

Zhang Lei is an amazing black horse. I never noticed him, until he made me cry within the first five lines of his singing. What the hell, right? A simple guitar, a simple song that I've never heard before, rustic and mundane lyrics... but there's a mysterious power. Who is this guy, I've never really thought how good he is until this point in time. Initially, I thought Li An will definitely pummel him down into smithereens for sure with his Disney-worthy voice...! But no, Zhang Lei can definitely hold his own fort. Li An sings a Jay-Chou-sque version of 爱我还是他 which has a more resigned slant of an emo love song rather than an emotional, heartbreaking sort like Wang Nai En & Li Hao Han's PK version in Season 1 which I highly recommend. I prefer the latter even though it's less technically perfect because I think it's meant to be that way... personal choice, alright.  

Cross Battle IV: Guan Shi Min vs. Sun Bo Lun

I was unbelievably yawning away when Sun Bo Lun was singing - forgive me, it's already three in the morning - until he hit a raw nerve in the line: 我多么爱你却难逃你的魔掌... and on-wards, you have my full attention. He was doing something right for sure. He is the second oldest among all the contestants in this episode at 33-years old (Zhang Lei is 34). If age is an indicator of anything, it's that ability to sing a story. I would love to hear his voice without any music accompaniment - it would certainly heighten the X-factor of his performance but it never came. I know Guan Shi Min is hugely popular, but somehow I cannot take a liking to her voice. It's too oily, too grating on my ears, the words she missed and mispronounced just becomes magnified. Her voice just isn't my thing. She took on age-appropriate 恋人未满 but doesn't surpass original singers S.H.E. (Hebe is the queen of new age Mandopop, so it's really difficult) 

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