The live competition began for Simon Cowell’s X Factor this weekend.
The 12 acts that made the final were mostly a big pile of meh Saturday night. Rachel Adedeji and Olly Murs were both really nervous. Olly, in particular, seems totally in over his head. I thought Rikki Loney had some personality–I thought Simon got that one wrong.
Simon’s protoge, Danyl Johnson almost pulled off “And I Am Telling You.” Ultimately, the song was too big for him. “One of the best performances I’ve ever heard in my life,” says Simon. No, seriously, Simon really said that. Danni alluded to gay rumors floating around the press–suggesting he didn’t need to change the song’s gender. Only in the UK kids! Heh.
Jamie Archie is the best performer of the group. Too bad Simon knows crap about rock music, saddling him with the perplexing “Bang-a-Gong” where Jamie had to spend the first third of the song, uncomfortably in his lower register.
John and Edward? Lulz! That is All.
Robbie Williams was this week’s mentor, performing on Sunday’s results show. HERE. The finalists returned to the stage to sing Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling”. Ha ha, I love the cheesy pointy pose! HERE.
The results:
Ex-strippers, Kandy Rain, go home. They weren’t good, but I thought they were better than Rachel Adedeji. After the bottom two performed once more (Watch Kandy Rain HERE and Rachel HERE) the judges decide who goes home. Except, this week, it was a draw (No, Simon doesn’t play tie-breaker here) so, the act with the lowest votes–Kandy Rain–was sent home. HERE.
Performance Videos after the JUMP…
Videos
- Rachel Adedeji
- Kandy Rain
- Olly Murs
- Rikki Loney
- Stacey Solomon
- Miss Frank
- Danyl Johnson
- Lloyd Daniels
- Lucie Jones
- Jamie Archer
- John & Edward
- Joe McElderry
The X Factor is very entertaining and has good production values.
BUT – I think with Cowell in charge it totally plays into the notion that music/singers have to be big and loud and have to dance as well as sing.
He’s a businessman, so I can’t blame him necessarily. Huge tours like Britney Spears and Madonna make a lot of money off the back of exactly that kind of show. But if all music became reduced down to this big flash and bang formula, there wouldn’t be very much left actually worth listening to.
Case in point: last years winner Alexandra Burke appeared on the results show. She looked great; the dance routine was entertaining; the song was utter rubbish.
Most of the singers on the night were average at best. One of the better ones was a young boy, who didn’t dance around.
It’s one of the reasons why, whilst I enjoy the X Factor, it doesn’t hold a candle to AI in terms of singing talent and singing performance.
PS – I thought Robbie Williams was awful and the song was tripe – I like quite a few of his earlier songs, but what was that meant to be?
Rachel Adedeji – one of my favs on the show…didn’t like the song they gave her at all…she needs songs with some soul
Kandy Rain – not very good…im ok with them going home.
Olly Murs – I actually thought he was one of the best of the night.
Rikki Loney – I dont know why i dont like this guy. But his performance tonigt was alright. I liked the song for him.
Stacey Solomon – hate her new hair. Her version of scientist was ok.
Miss Frank – these girls will go far.
Danyl Johnson – it was alright. He hit the money note.
Lloyd Daniels – this kid should not even be there.
Lucie Jones – good..not a fan of the song…hopefully better song next week
Jamie Archer – also not a good song choice. The end was alright.
John & Edward – I hve no idea why these kids are even on the show.
Joe McElderry- This was a good performance …this kid has all the tools ..he just needs to be less boring
I love Robbie Williams and am so glad he’s back .. he was so hyper and happy at the end with his reception .. it was obviously a big deal for him to be back and accepted after the stuff he’s gone through over the past couple of years.
He blogged today on his official site about it .. I thought the bit at the beginning where he seemed to be pushing the doors back was all part of the act but apparently they didn’t open so he had to physically prise them apart so that kind of put him off his stride to begin with. Bodies is’t the best song to perform live as it’s a bit “talky” in the verse .. but I just love the way Robbie works the crowd … he’s mad, he’s bad and I love him ….lol
http://www.robbiewilliams.com/news-blogs/x-factor
As to the contestants … Jamie’s still my favourite .. I agree that it wasn’t the best T Rex song to pick for him as the start is too low but I enjoyed it when he could kick it up a bit towards the end.
I thought that Joe sang his song very well and will be one to watch (I never rated him during the auditions as thought he sang like a sheep)
I can’t stand Stacy’s dumb ditzy act .. it puts me off her singing (which is actually quite good)
I also don’t like Rikki .. there’s something a bit eeriy about him . it’s his third shot at getting on the live finals and I don’t think he should have made it this year .. Ethan and Duane are far better singers .. plus I want to sort his dodgy eyebrow out .. plus if he’s going to wear stupid hats all the time I wish he wouldn’t shop in the children’s department and get one that actually fits his head …lol
John & Edward can’t sing for toffee but I find them very entertaining .. they brought a bit of fun to a very dire group number and they’re actually growing on me .. in the behing the scenes stuff the come across as nice lads and the rest of the contestants seem to think a lot of them .. Jamie’s reaction to them getting through was hilarious .. he obviously loves them.
I liked Riki.. Rikki or whatever, Simon is the luckiest person in the “industry” that knucklehead is wrong a lot more than he’s right… unreal some of the stuff he says…
I do like Simon, and enjoy him, but I really don’t agree with him.
In her interviews, Stacey comes off as the X-Factor’s answer to AI’s Kellie Pickler.
I have to add, after watching Simon react to Danyl’s performance and critique, that he is so full of shit in this competition. He acts so different on AI because he has nothing at stake. So, what’s real here?! Huh? X-Factor, where Simon has a financial interest or AI where he has none? Be the same critic on both shows, Simon! There is an undeniable, noticeable difference in him on these shows. How can he bring this British show – “X-Factor” — such as it is — to the U.S. and expect Americans not to notice how different he is?! What a tool.
I really like the format. It was much more of a show/performance. AI is very “High School Talent Night” in production comparison. Even the quips between judges and Dermot were more entertaining.
Loved that Brian Friedman (SYTYCD) was the artistic director for the performances. You only see him in the singer intro segments.
First night jitters got to quite a few of them. It will be interesting to see how some develop over the series as they get more confident.
ITA. She may be sweet, but she drives me nuts with how ditzy she seems.
ITA! I just want to take a comb across the screen and fix it for him. Very annoying. I also agree that there’s something eerie about him
I still can’t stand the twins. I wish they had gone home before the ex-pole dancers (Kandy Rain).
Dannii’s comment to Danyl was more than a bit awkward. But if other acts are getting their pasts publicized then I guess it doesn’t surprise me. Though it appears she’s been getting some backlash for her comment.