She took a "slash your wrists" song by James Blunt and turned into something completly different.

Like Simon said, if she released that, it would be a hit single. It was so different from the dull orginial, she made it really something really special.

All the rest are just Karaoke singers, but Maria added her own touch to a bland tune and it sounded brilliant.

Go Maria!

Maria was OK and I expect her to be in the last 4

Great tits, Marias not yours

Despite being a bloke, I may have great tits!

I don't thought. I am the right weight for my height!

How disappointing, you can't beat a good pair of man boobs

I haven't been a fan of Maria thus far, I've always found her to be rather irritating what with her always trying to sing really high notes but always appearing to shout. There is also a particular note that is obviously the highest she can reach and she is always trying to go above it but she never will.

Anywho, tonight she was the best of the lot.

lets not be ignorant... James Blunts version is world class.

Lets be honest though, both he and his song are the dullest of the dull in dullsville

Agree with you An4rew. I absolutely hated Maria's version and was very surprised the judges liked it. I also hate her "grabbing" and "reaching" hand gestures which were completely inappropriate to this ballad. I don't deny she has a fantastic voice and definitely deserves to reach the final 2 or 3, if not to win. I just hope she doesn't destroy another classic like she did last night - particularly one with a lyric designed for a male vocalist.

Marias performance was amazing. Was only the second time ive picked up the phone for someone and voted.

These people can't win. They get slated for trying to copy a song then when they make it their own they do too.

I think people need to get over the whole "they ruined a classic song" thing... it's getting boring.

I thought Maria was really good last night, not my favourite of the show but she did really well.

I like the original and she absolutely butchered the song IMO.. poor choice of song.

I do like Maria, but I thought last night was her weakest effort of the series, IMO. I just didn't think that the song flowed, the first verse sounded really rushed to try and fit it in. That said it was still better than many of the other performances on the night.

I agree with this but it's not restricted to Maria. Very few of the contestants, young or old, can do a credible stage performance, whether you put them in the "can sing" or "can't sing" categories.

I think this is one reason why Chico is still here. In the country of the bland the one-trick pony is king. At least he entertains (which has been pointed out ad nauseam on here) whereas many of the rest just stand around behind the mic (Philip) or walk up and down (Andy, Chenai). Did anyone watch AI last time? Where's the "Bo Bice" of this competition? There isn't one. That guy *really* knew how to work a stage. That's what I mean.

I have not particularly liked Maria but I thought she was excellent last night - the song actually made more sense to me than when James Blunt sings it!

I like Maria and I think from Sharon's group she is the one who should be there to the end but I have to disagree with anyone who says that last night was her best performance. She certainly was best performance of the night but she done absolutly nothing for that song IMO. It sounded all wrong I agree with Muttley here it was rushed and didn't flow at all.

Yup - that was the ONLY time I've ever rewound the tape to watch/listen to a performance again.

was a great performance and was captivating, hope she wins.

Maria was fantastic last night - the girl really has something.

I am liking her more and more every week.She can handle pretty much any song genre with ease,as can Andy.I think that Andy is the best pure vocalist of the remaining group but I think that Maria is at the ideal age to appeal more to the masses,whatever age group they are.

I think she has a very good chance to make it to the final three.

I thought she was just ok...Brenda was better....

I thought Maria was the best last night, but it wasn't as good as last weeks performance.

I don't like the song but she did make it her own.

I really didn't think that song would suit her voice, Glad to say I was very wrong

I wasn't surprised she didn't sing the "right" lyrics though. Ahem.

After that performance she is now my favourite. I liked her before but I thought that was superb last night and I am a huge fan of the original too.