The Bachelor: Listen To Your Heart: Season 1, episode 3 performance grades
Natascha Bessez & Ryan Neal, “Stay” – Rihanna
Vocal Performance: A+
I’m. SORRY??? Natascha is the star of Listen to Your Heart, and it’s not even close – the rest of the contestants should bow out accordingly. Not only is she the best female singer by a landslide, but she also blows every single wannabe John Mayer, including her beau, out of the d**n water. Her runs are legitimately professional, her range is reminiscent of Christina Aguilera, and she just has that star quality. The “X-Factor,” if you will.
Ryan, you did great, sweetie, but similarly to Matt, your role is the backseat driver and will absolutely stay that way. They sound fantastic together, but you’d have to sound like Jed to mess up Natascha’s sound. That said, he absolutely did not need a SCATHING roast by Jason Mraz to hammer this point in. Nonetheless, he snagged the hottest girl in the series who has a legitimate shot at a singing career. In other words, Ryan won Listen To Your Heart. I love this for Natascha and Ryan, and conversely, not Jamie and Trevor.
Interpretive Routine: A+
THIS IS WHAT THIS CATEGORY WAS CREATED FOR. They committed to a legitimate choreographed performance, starting with Natascha’s power move walk out on stage. Natascha really stole the show in this aspect as well, obviously. If you haven’t picked up on it yet, my new sexuality is Natascha. But Ryan delivered more than I could have asked for. They had SYNCHRONIZED DANCE MOVES, people. Ryan didn’t show up to the exam he already passed the class for and phone it in. He performed. This is truly the essence of art.
~Romance~ Level: A+
I mean, I suppose when I’m uncomfortable level 100, the kids are doing something right. I’m pretty sure we watched Natascha and Ryan flawlessly sing through their foreplay onstage. I’m also SEETHING that we literally saw zero of this development and they’re objectively one of the strongest couples, both in song and reciprocated feelings. This is undeniably their show to lose.