X Fiasco

Well Leon won the X Factor.  I am so surprised, but as my husband pointed out, by last night it wasn’t about talent it was about favouritism.

The songs were going well until they were joined by the ’stars’.  It just didn’t have the same magic as last year when Westlife and Take That joined the show.

Jason Donovan (great to see him back) slightly overpowered Same Difference, Katherine Jenkins definitely overpowered Rhydian and what was up with Kylie in that outfit?  She looked remarkably wrinkle free too.

Rhydian would have sounded fantastic with Westlife and I must admit was disappointed when Katherine came out to sing with him.

I also thought the judges did not promote Rhydian as they usually had.  I might be wrong but it seemed like they wanted Leon to win.  Maybe this was to give him something to leave the show with, whereas Rhydian should have a massive career from joining the X Factor.

It seemed like it was prearranged.  And by the way did anyone else have trouble getting through to Rhydian’s vote line?

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X Factor Semi Final

With it being the semi final, I was expecting great things tonight.

• Niki’s first song, whilst being a pretty song wasn’t a well known one and her second choice ‘One Moment in Time’ was good, but I had to agree with Simon about the high notes.
• Leon’s choice of songs were not the best and he sang them flat. If you like jazzy Michael Buble type songs then he would have been great and I’m really surprised he wasn’t voted off last night.
• Same Difference provided two more happy performances. 
• Rhydian.  Great performances again with ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘Walk On’.

I am surprised Leon didn’t go and that Niki did.  She has a much better voice.  I am pleased that Same Difference are through, not because I think they have the X Factor but just to annoy Louis Walsh.

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x Factor Hotting Up

X Factor Judging is bitching up if nothing else.  I can’t believe Louis Walsh and his childish behaviour.  Dissing Hope because Beverley wasn’t in the show tonight.  Very unprofessional.

• Niki sang two good songs tonight that suited her voice.  Still struggling with the very high notes though, as I say each week.  But I did like Total Eclipse of The Heart.  An old classic.
• Leon was good, but his choice of songs is not my type of music.  Can see why he’s popular though.
• Same Difference provided two more bubbly performances.  Not really sure where they would fit in after the show, but you just can’t help liking them.
• Hope. I actually thought the Spice Girls song they sang first was better than the original group’s version.  Although We Will Rock You didn’t get the votes from all the judges, I really liked it.  It was good to hear the other girls taking lead, especially the one who started off the singing - I think it was Leah.  Such a shame they were voted off.
• Rhydian.  I didn’t like the song choices this week.  But that didn’t stop him giving great performances.

It’s anyones guess who will be in the final now.

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X Factor

Although I have loads to catch up on, I have to comment on the X Factor.  It’s an escape from my reality to someone elses!

• Niki at last was left to sing on her own without any ‘extras’.  She started off the ‘Power of Love’ so well without music accompanying her and it was a good performance. However, I still don’t think she can reach those high notes properly.    Am I the only one to think that?
• Leon did well, although as it wasn’t a popular song, I wasn’t that keen.
• Same Difference.  Another bubbly performance from them and it gave us a chance to hear their individual voices.
• Hope.  Not a good song for them.  One of the judges made a comment about only Phoebe really singing with the others just contributing in the background.  I had to agree and Phoebe was a bit flat in places.  They were so nearly out of the competition this week which is a shame as they have the potential to be a really superb girl band.
• Beverley.  Another good performance although still the high notes were a problem. She looked great though and it was a real shame to see her leave. 
• Rhydian.  Love the song he sang, wish it had been longer though.

The final is open to anyone at the moment and will remain a battle to the end.

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X Factor Disco

Yes I was glued to the show again last night, it’s my one bit of relaxation.

• Niki should be left to sing without all the dance routines.  I know it was disco week this week and her performance was powerful, but what had they done to her hair. 

She didn’t look comfortable with the ’sexy’ moves around the dancers.  For goodness sake Louis, leave her to sing her heart out, like she does so well. 

But take care of the really high notes, they (like Beverley below) can sound a bit ’shouty’.

• Leon’s best week this week. I didn’t get to see the whole performance, although I heard it from the kitchen. One of the comments was about his dancing.  I would agree with this.  Like I said last time his ‘dancing’ is not natural, very wooden and pulls his performance down.  But well done Leon anyway.

• Same Difference.  This wasn’t their best week, but as we found out at the end of the song, they had had to change the song and routine really close to the live show.  They only had a few hours to rehearse.  It wasn’t the right song for them, but they still pulled off an entertaining performance.

• Hope.  They are getting so much stronger and I loved their routine last night.  I like that Abba song anyway, but I think it was the best choice of song out of all the acts last night.  They are beginning to gel so well and what a voice Phoebe has.  They did not deserve to be in the bottom two last night, but thank goodness they are still in the competition.

• Alisha.  It’s such a shame for Alisha.  Her singing was flat, but I think nerves had kicked in.  Perhaps she knew she may be in the bottom two and I think rightfully last night.  She has a great look and I think with the right songs she can still be good, a bit like Gabriel.

• Beverley.  This was a great choice of song for her, although once again, I did think it was a bit ’shouty’ on the high notes.  I really like Beverley and I disagreed with Simon’s comments about her outfit.  I thought she looked fab. 

• Rhydian.  Not the best song for him, although I love Go West.  Mind you I am a big Pet Shop Boys fan.I hope Dannii doesn’t do anything stupid with his next song, he needs another ‘Phantom’ performance to put him back on top again.  Still think he’s great though and out of all the acts I look forward to him the most, followed by Hope. 

Actually, I would loved to have heard Rhydian singing this in his style.

It’s a shame Sharon has no one left in the competition now, but I’m still not sure she picked the best three to begin with. 

I also think that with the competition hotting up, the judges comments are going to start getting silly again.  Considering it was disco week, Simon kept commenting on how people looked, yet look at how Hope were dressed.

It’s also going to be time for them to ‘dis’ each others acts so their’s will be in the final.  Currently the top three I think should be in the final are Rhydian, Hope and either Niki or Beverley.

The judges should concentrate on their singing and overall performance and give them some better songs not only for their voices but for the ‘watchability’ factor.

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Xtra Special

A much stronger show this week, better than the big band last week.  It opened well with Niki and finished on a high with Rydian.

Even Dermot was entertaining this week (goodness did I really just say that!).

• Niki was back where she belonged this week with a Kelly Clarkson song.  No silly dance routines, just belting out a good performance.
• Leon’s confidence is improving, but I think Dannii should get Leon to just stand still to sing a song.  His ‘dancing’ is not natural, very wooden and pulls his performance down.
• Same Difference.  Another effervescent routine.  You just can’t help grinning when they’re on.  I could see them in a ‘Grease’ type show.
• Hope.  This was so much better than last week, a really good performance.  When Simon said it was going to be an Amy Whinehouse song I was whittering, let it be ‘Back to Black’.  And yes, it was.  I can’t believe Phoebe who sings the lead is only 15.
• Alisha.  I still don’t think Sharon is getting it right with her songs, but the one last night did suit her voice.  I think she has much more to give and a power song would be great to hear from her.
• Andy.  Again a weak performance from Andy.  I think it was right he was voted off this week.  Despite wearing a rock t-shirt, he still didn’t look strong enough.  He has no emotion in his singing and no personality is coming through.  Yet, I think given the right song he too has power in his voice that we’ve only seen glimpses of.  Dannii again, although giving him a really popular song, still didn’t give him something to get his teeth into.
• Beverley.  This was a good song, although I did think it was a bit ’shouty’ this week.  I really like Beverley and want her to do well.  I think she is a great stage personality.
• Rhydian.  Again, I thought he was the best act this week.  They definitely saved the best til last.  I really can’t wait for them to bring out an album for him!

I think the judges were in bitch mode this week.  Louis made himself look like a spoiled child and for the first time during this show I disagreed with some of Dannii’s comments early on in the show.

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X Factor Big Band Week

Amongst a week of preparing for Halloween, arranging a 1930’s style costume for my son’s school trip, two visits to school for two children (doing a colour trail and a literacy trail), walking the dog twice a day, changing mom’s stockings every other night, shopping, hospital appointments, getting up at 6.30 one morning to make chocolate fairy cakes (which earned me the title of best mom ), taking mom on errands along with all the other usual mummy and family type stuff - phew!!  I had to have one bit of normality.

This was of course sitting down to watch the X Factor. 

Now I love the big band week, it’s one of my favourite shows, but for me they did it too soon during the series and the whole show was sadly flat.  I don’t think any of the contestants were ready for such a big week (apart from Rhydian) and the choice of songs out of so many big band songs was quite frankly appalling.

• Leon was more confident this week although he needs to sort his dancing style out, but the big band show suited him more so it probably helped him
• Niki was given the wrong song and dance routine.  I think she’s got a good voice but she should have had the chance to belt a song out.  The sexy routine just seemed awkward.
• Same Difference.  I’m not sure about this act as x factor winners, but they put on a good performance and are just so bubbly you can’t fail to smile at them.
• Hope.  This was, to quote a Simon Cowellism, ‘a train wreck’.  Wrong choice of song, sung flat, not a coordinated performance.  They can do so much better.  They are relying too much on being ’sexy’.  Get the vocals sorted first.
• Alisha.  Even though she got through, I think Sharon could have chosen a much more ‘popular’ song.  She was lucky to be voted back.
• Futureproof.  I really like this band as I think individually they are all really good singers.  Simon chose the completely wrong song for them and has now paid the price for it.
• Andy.  I really want to like this act, but I think Dannii needs to ‘butch him up’.  Give him a funky new hairstyle, stop with the ‘weak puppy eyed performances’ and give him a power song he can sing that shows what he is capable of.  And Dannii, not ‘every girl’ will be voting for him.  (It does annoy me when people generalise like that.)
• Beverley.  Although she was great, I still think she could have been given a bigger, more powerful song to sing.  A bit of Shirley Bassey would have been good.
• Rhydian.  I thought he stole the show overall, purely because he ‘owns the stage’.  I did think the arrangement was a bit like the ‘Phantom’ so it would have been good to see it a little differently, but again he won me over this week.

This coming week the judges need to re-think their strategies.  All these acts deserve the best support their mentors can give them.  Futureproof should not have gone this week and Simon admitted he chose the wrong songs.  Too late.  It’s not just the acts that only get one chance each week!

(I’m such a pop-mogul aren’t I??). 

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X Factor

I’m sorry to say I am a real X Factor fan.  It’s the only reality tv show I watch with passion and don’t like to miss.

I just don’t get or like Big Brother, I can’t bear watching I’m A Celebrity (too tickle stomached) and most of the other ones turn ordinary people into something they’re not (and not always their fault).

So what is it about X Factor that makes me tune in?

Okay on the downside I don’t like the way they put people down in the audtions expecially younger people who may have never experienced that kind of rejection. 

I don’t like the dramatics ie Louis not being a judge then is, Sharon walking out and then not but that’s all part of their publicity at the end of the day and as long as you remember that then you’re not too drawn in.

What I do like about it is seeing (mostly) talented people being able to showcase their talent.  I haven’t always agreed with the final choices the judges make, but then we only see the edited highlights of what goes on behind the scenes and I still don’t like some of the rude comments they make.

However, to think that last year Leona came out of the X Factor who I think is by far the best  singer ever on this show and if it hadn’t have been for the X Factor we may never have heard her.  I hope she gets the recognition she deserves.

And this year there are some real rising stars.

I agreed with last nights vote based on the show alone, but it could easily have been one of about four going last night for me.  I also think the choice of song for Daniel didn’t promote his voice.  Unfortunately someone has to go each week.

I also have to say I was completely turned around by Rhydian.  Singing the Phantom of the Opera made me want to go and watch a show with him in it.  Whether he can keep the momentum up in the weeks to come with different types of songs will remain to be seen. 

BUT, it’s clear where his talent lies, he commanded the stage last night and the likes of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber can’t be wrong.

But most of all. What I like about the show is the music.  We dip into all genres each week and it’s great to catch up on songs that have been pushed to the back of the mind.  For me it’s a bit like having a Saturday night variety show! 

Now am I showing my age?

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