There has been talk in the papers about the show losing viewers.  I think this has nothing to do with the judges but as people are rightly saying – too many adverts.

The final 12 have been decided.  I thought two of those decisions were probably right ie the over 25s and the groups not convinced about the others.

For me there were four outstanding acts on Saturday and as I only post what I feel are the best of the night, here are my top 4 choices.

Except that for some reason we can no longer embed youtube videos for X Factor and all other previous links  that were working on this site have ceased to work.   Therefore I will no longer be writing about X Factor UK on this site.  Big mistake by big greedy company.

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This was 90’s night and I still can’t work out where they get all the songs from!

Anyway thought Mitchell Callaway sang really well tonight, really liked his voice.   Andrew Wishart, as ever, was fab singing Nothing Compares To You. So disappointed with the song choice for Declan Sykes, what is Guy doing with him?  There are so many songs that would suit his voice.  After show 1 which was brilliant I’ve tuned in every week and nothing has quite matched that first week.

Reece sounded same as ever although I didn’t like the arrangement, agreed with the comments about it being a bit all over the place.  Christina Parie was good although wasn’t familiar with the song Zombie. Thought Three Wishez did well, they are getting it together but YMS lacked something with the Michael Jackson song black or white.

Couldn’t find a video of Audio Vixen so will have to come back to them later. Update, found Audio Vixen and thought they sang really well.  Bit shocked they got sent home  instead of Johhnny Ruffo who I think had the weaker voice out of the two acts in the bottom two.

Mitchell Callaway singing Everybody Hurts

Andrew Wishart singing Nothing Compares To You

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3. X Factor 2010 – Live Final Show 5

It was rock week and there were some better performances this week.  Three Wishez got mixed reviews but they were more together as a group this week.  Declan Sykes sang David Bowie’s Life on Mars.  He was given a different look but they shouldn’t mess about with him as he has a unique style.  Sang the song well but still prefer his version of Uprising by Muse from week 1.

Thought Jacqui Newland should have been given a better song than Shut Up and Drive.  She needed more powerful music and I think Mel B’s choices haven’t been right.  Not surprisingly (but a shame) she got voted off this week.

Reece Mastin was as rocky as ever – good unique voice and he sang Dream On.  Didn’t think YMS were as good, they didn’t seem very together and they ended up in the bottom two against Jacqui singing Walk This Way.  Andrew Wishart put in a good performance which was an emotional song for him (The Flame).  I think another Queen number or Meat Loaf song would be great for him.  I’d like to hear him sing The Show Must Go On by Queen.

Christina Parie, who shone for me in the first week, hasn’t had the best song choices – again from Mel B.  She is a real talent and needs some good powerful songs too, she can cope with it. This week she sang Gives You Hell.

Johnny Ruffo sang Here Without You and was better but I still don’t think he is has the best vocals and Mitchell Callaway also sounded better.  He still looks uncomfortable but that’s getting better.  He got a bit of a roasting by the judges for his attitude which was a bit humiliating in front of the audience – not the right place to do it.

Audio Vixen sounded really good tonight.  They did look more folky than rocky but sang well.

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1. X Factor Australia Live Show 4
2. X Factor Australia Live Show 2
3. X Factor 2011

Considering it was ‘party’ week the song choices were tuly abysmal and none of the acts really stood out like last week. Young Men’s Society were good and one of the best vocals was Andrew Wishart.

I think the right decision was made in the sing off between Tyla and Jacqui and good on Mel B for making the right decision in keeping Jacqui.

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1. X Factor Australia Live Show 3
2. X Factor Australia Live Show 4
3. X Factor – Live Show 5 – Movie Week

So we now know who will be going through to the  judges houses.

Gary Barlow is off to LA with the boys.

Kelly Rowland is off to Miami with the girls.

Louis Walsh is off to Barcelona with the over 25s.

Tulisa Contostavlos is off to Greece with the groups.

It seems that all the judges are happy with their categories and seem really committed to them (not sure about Louis as he appears go have Goldie in his group?).

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A great track by a great group.

Although I’ve heard of the group I’d not equated their music to the band.  It was only watching X Factor Australia that I heard this song and worked through Amazon to find the band and the song.  Their albums are now on my birthday wish list.

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As the new season of X Factor is underway I had resigned myself to not watching it due to the change in judges (apart from Gary Barlow who I really admire).

Fast forward past the audtions I am now tuning in with the other millions of people because I think it’s such a great judging panel.  The combination of Gary, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh (still not sure of Louis and how he claps!) has made for something fresh and more exciting.  Have not missed Simon Cowell at all I think Gary Barlow is far better in the head judges role.

I just hope they don’t put any silly acts through.  This was the point I switched off last night when they put Kendro  and Goldie through to the next stage of bootcamp.

I have also been following X Factor Australia who’s judges are Guy Sebastian, Ronan Keating, Mel B (scary spice) and Natalie Bassingthwaighte.  They have some really good acts in the final 12 although Natalie’s choices I wasn’t sure of.  Plus they have gorgeous host Luke Jacobz.

Here’s a sample of two of the X Factor Australia 2011 Live Final 1 performances. The best two from the night in my opinion.

Declan Sykes singing Uprising by Muse followed by Christina Parie singing Since You’ve Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson.

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Tonight is Beatles night on the X Factor.  A real mix about of who were the better singers tonight.  Good performances from One Direction, Mary Byrne, Paije Richardson and Katie Waissel.

Performing tonight:

Simon’s group – One Direction.

Cheryl’s girls – Cher Lloyd, Katie Waissel and Rebecca Fergusson

Dannii’s boys – Matt Cardle and Paije Richardson

Louis’  over 28’s – Mary Byrne and Wagner

Matt Cardle – Sang Come Together.  Tried a different style but I didn’t like the arrangement.  This is the first week I haven’t liked his performance.  Louis said there was something missing tonight.  Cheryl said it was so nice to see the cheeky chap come out.  Simon said he thought the styling was too much to the left.  Crowd went wild though.

Cher Lloyd – Sang Imagine.   Liked Cher’s take on this beautiful song and it’s always good to hear her sing rather than rap.  Crowd loved it too.  Louis said it was a great song choice but it didn’t go anywhere for him, lazy performance.  Dannii thought it was fantastic and she shows versatility.  Simon said part of him was happy she did it but what he liked she has shown the sweet person she is.  But he didn’t like the fact she sang on the stairs.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

One Direction – Sang All You Need is Love.  Great performance by the band, love seeing Harry singing up with the lead vocals.  They looked good tonight.  Loved their version of this song.  Louis said loved the arrangement and they had lifted their game.  Dannii said another fantastic performance, commented on the backing singers letting them down.  Cheryl said another great performance.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

Rebecca Ferguson – Sang Yesterday.  Always like Rebecca’s voice and version.  Something not quite right, slightly off this week although I still liked the performance.  Maybe it needed something stronger.  Louis said made it her own.  Dannii said it wasn’t her favourite, she seemed nervous, not as on top of it as usual.  Simon said it’s the only time he’s seen her look nervous.

Mary Byrne – Sang Something In The Way He Moves.  Mary is BACK!  A fantastic performance, one of my favourites.  Crowd went wild again.  Dannii said when she is on it, she is on it, that was up there with her best, best performance.  Cheryl felt relaxed about her performance.  Simon said Louis chose the right song.  Sang much better than last week and she’s got her confidence back.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

Paije Richardson – Sang Let It Be.  Loved this performance and liked his styling this week,  suited him.  Louis said he can win the competition if he carries on like this and sees a lot of potential.  Cheryl said there was something really angelic and beautiful about the performance.  Simon said brilliant song and he performed it very, very well and a million times better than last week.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

Wagner – Sang Get Back, Hippy Hippy Shake and Hey Jude.  What is there to say.  He can not sing and this is a singing competition although this week sounded his best!  Mixed reaction from the crowd.  Dannii didn’t know what to say.  Cheryl had a go at him for comments he supposedly made about her and coming from a council estate.  She said think how lucky he is to be on this stage. Simon said it was the worst version of a Beatles song he’s ever heard.

Katie Waissel – Sang Help.  Very sixties look – elfin.  Probably her best performance yet.  Prefer her going back to her roots, a really nice performance from Katie.  More subtle and more her.  Louis said he loved her new look and vocally the performance was incredible.  Dannii said it was the first time she put the effort into the first song than her second.  Simon said lyrically it was genious.   He loved the performance.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY


The Fab this week (the best) – One Direction, Mary Byrne, Paije Richardson, Katie Waissel

The Drab this week (the not so hot) – Matt Cardle, Wagner

X FACTOR LIVE SHOW 7 RESULT NIGHT – Sing off between Paije Richardson and Cher Lloyd. Simon, Louis and Cheryl saved Cher.  Dannii saved Paije.  Paije Richardson leaves the show.

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Miranda, the first of my favourite comedy  programmes was back on our screens tonight.   I just love this programme, it makes me laugh out loud and not many comedies do that.

Miranda Hart is a very funny lady and my son thinks I’m a smaller (or what I call shorter)  version of her.   She is such a likeable character (not saying I am), and sadly so easy to relate to.

The new series is back on BBC tonight and having just watched it on iplayer (missed it at 8.30) I have to say it was probably one of the best and funniest episodes.  The taxi scene at the beginning and the bar scene where she stands up from curtseying were fab!

Good to see you back on screen Miranda.

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Elton John songs this week on the X Factor.  Some really good performances in the mix tonight.  Standing out were Matt Cardle, Cher,  One Direction and Rebecca Ferguson.

Performing tonight:

Simon’s group – One Direction.

Cheryl’s girls – Cher Lloyd, Katie Waissel and Rebecca Fergusson

Dannii’s boys – Aiden Grimshaw,  Matt Cardle and Paije Richardson

Louis’  over 28’s – Mary Byrne and Wagner

Paije Richardson - Sang Crocodile Rock.  Good performance and a really upbeat start to the show. Louis thought it was the wrong song choice, Cheryl thought he made it his own. Simon thought it fun but not a winning song.

Aiden Grimshaw – Sang Rocket Man,  A slight twist hearing it in Aiden’s style, but a great performance.  Louis liked song choice, said he made it his own and Elton would love it.  Cheryl said he was consistently good.  Simon didn’t think vocally it was his best, but liked his swagger.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

Mary Byrne – Sang Can You Feel The Love Tonight.  Seemed to be a little flat in places but then got into true Mary style, powerful.  Dannii said shaky in parts but spectacular. Cheryl said she could feel the electric in the room.  Simon said under normal circumstances wouldn’t like the version but because Mary has a heart it works.

Katie Waissel -  Sang Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting. Sounded flat.  Good production behind her.  Louis thought it was a silly song for her to sing.  Dannii said credit for coming and giving it all, thought chorous good but track drowned her out.  Simon said it was favourite in terms of entertainment, seems to be sticking up for her every week.  He obviously doesn’t like boring.

Matt Cardle – Sang Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.  Another amazing performance and a great version of the song.  Stunning.  Louis said he absolutely loves him. Cheryl said beautiful song choice and fantastic performance.  Simon had been worried about the song before him.  He could have carried on listening to him.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

Cher Lloyd – Sang Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word mixed with Hush Little Baby.  Unusual mix but worked because of her great voice.  Unique.  Louis said it absolutely worked mixing the two songs.  Dannii likes the singing part and would like to hear more because it’s good.  Simon thought she was one hundred percent back in the game.  Loved it said it could be a record.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

Wagner – Sang I’m Still Standing and Circle of Life.    Usual Wagner style but not as flat as usual.  Actually sang it quite well (for Wagner that is).  I’m still standing better than Circle of Life.  Dannii said it was very camp.  Cheryl says she enjoys it and he gave it his all.  Simon said he’s seen some strange things in his life and that topped it.

One Direction - Sang There’s Something About The Way You Look Tonight.  Fantastic, really gelled tonight.  Plus Harry was in the lead vocals with Liam – AT LAST!  Dannii said they were so consistent.  Couldn’t hear Louis.  Cheryl said the noise of the audience said it all.  Simon said it was the first time he generally believed a group would win the competition.    Said they’ve remained focussed and been nice to the crew.  Congratulated them because they chose the song and their look.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

Rebecca Ferguson - Sang Candle In The Wind.  Fantastic performance as usual, lovely version.  Louis said saved the best for last.  Dannii said it was so damn classy.  Simon said it was absolutely stunning.

VIDEO REMOVED DUE TO GREEDY COMPANY

The Fab this week (the best) – Matt Cardle, Cher, One Direction and Rebecca Ferguson

The Drab this week (the not so hot) – Wagner, Katie Waissel

X FACTOR LIVE SHOW 6 RESULT NIGHT – Sing off between Katie Waissel and Aiden Grimshaw.  Votes went to deadlock with Simon and Cheryl voting to keep Katie and Dannii and Louis voting to keep Aiden.  Aiden had the lowest votes and was sent home.

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