Since the first beat, @themex makes everyone understand why his rendition of "Without You" was the highlight of Week 35 entries. Redoing the David Guetta and Usher hit, he gives the song its life with a personal touch that mixes emotion with electric passion — a collaboration that mesmerized the judges and the viewers as well.
It is the vocal delivery that draws attention here. Where Usher's cover remains on liquid R&B muscle, Themex conveys the core message — yearning, perseverance, and emotional vulnerability — with greater introspection. His vocal presence is low-key but powerful, yielding to the lyrics so that they can breathe and dig deep into the mind of the listener with emotional resonance.
Underlying the vocals is a lean but interesting instrumental backing, leaving room for his to take over but still referencing the EDM roots of the original. The tempo is ever so slightly reduced, cleverly giving the track an even more emotional, acoustic feel — almost like a private confession under strobe lights. It's a smart creative choice that makes the song sound remixed rather than simply remade.
Technically, the sound is clean and balanced. Themex clearly understands dynamics — when to pull back and when to push forward. His vocal layering on the chorus helps add depth, especially on the emotional high point of the song, "I can't win, I can't reign…" That part rings true.
What really made this the winner is not just the performance, but the thinking behind it. This is not a karaoke version — it's a personal interpretation. It's a nod to the original but also a revelation of the artist behind the mic. Between Usher's energy and themex's introspective feel, we have a performance that is true, grounded, and endearing.
Final comment:
@themex gave us more than a cover — he gave us a genuine reminder that even dance-floor anthems have human emotions below them. A well-deserved win.