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American Song Contest': New Hampshire's MARi praised for 'leveling up' in semifinals 1

MARi explained that her song for the semifinals 'Fly' was a song meant to empower

For all you 'American Song Contest' fans, it looks like it is the beginning of the end, with round 1 of the semifinals here. The first round features 11 artists taking on semifinals 1, where they will perform the same original number again. However, the jury will only send one artist to the final rounds.

Thankfully, the audience also has the power to vote for four other performances. The contestants are Alabama – Ni/Co, Colorado – Riker Lynch. Kentucky – Jordan Smith, Massachusetts – Jared Lee, Michigan – Ada LeAnn, Montana – Jonah Prill, New Hampshire – MARi, Oklahoma – AleXa, Rhode Island – Hueston, Washington – Allen Stone, Wyoming – Ryan Charles.

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As New Hampshire's MARi geared up to take the stage, she explained that 'Fly' was a song meant to empower. She spoke about her difficult childhood with a biological mother who always berated her. Despite this, she found what she was meant to do. Now, she dedicates her music to her daughter -- saying that she is proud to be her mother.

Fans noted that her performance was elevated the second time around. "Is it me or Mari’s performance today was better than in the qualifier #americansongcontest" asked a fan. "Hey Mari, there are some great venues in Portland, Maine. Come pay us a visit soon! #AmericanSongContest" asked another. "Mari leveled up! #americansongcontest" tweeted a fan. "The upgraded staging to Mari’s performance gave this song so much more. Once again she sounded amazing in a range that’s hard to maintain throughout an entire song. Best of Luck Mari! #americansongcontest" tweeted a fan. "Mari's song and staging are pure Eurovision. SHE EVEN PULLED A SDF AND FLEW!!!!! #AmericanSongContest" added another. "Mari’s outfit is different and her vocals are stronger this time. She deserves to make the final. #americansongcontest" added a fan. 

'American Song Contest' airs on Mondays, at 8/7c on NBC. You can vote for your favorite performances on the NBC website, the NBC app, and TikTok. You can also stream your favorite artists' songs on your preferred music streaming app.