He may well be giving it his thumbs down. If he was anywhere near as important as he thinks he is, this may have been the signal for an execution. Based on the performance so far this year, The X Factor is overdue for the chop. Last year’s winner Leona Lewis may be riding high in the charts, and 2005′s winner Shayne Ward has just released his latest album which has some reasonable material on it even though it doesn’t exactly leave me breathless (see what I did there?), but out of 200,000 auditionees for the 2007 show there is no-one that even comes close to either of these two for vocal talent, stage presence, or that elusive X factor.
So what’s gone wrong? Has its time passed? Are we the audience jaded or is there really no more talent left to unearth? Has the fourth judge spoiled the party, or is it just another case of reality fatigue?
Every reader of this piece will have their own opinion on this, and I’d love to read them all. For me, the main problem with this year’s X Factor is simple: there’s not enough talent.
Why this has been a problem this year, when we’ve had so many good performers and memorable characters in previous years (Chico, Rowetta, Tabby, Andy), is a mystery. American Idol doesn’t have the same problem. If anything, their talent pool seems to grow year on year. This year in particular, the AI finals were packed with good singers who performed well, along with a handful of real stand-outs.
Over on this side of the pond, we appear to have sucked the well dry. It’s not just that Leona is a hard act to follow, although this is certainly true. Even the most successful reality show winner of all time – the original Pop Idol Will Young – pales when compared with Leona.
So where has all the talent gone? If you believe the conspiracy theorists (and enough insiders have gone into print now to make this at least a consistent story), then the answer must be that talent scouts looking for singers to “fast-track” through to boot camp and beyond have failed to come up with the goods. Scouring the pubs and clubs (which is where, for instance, Same Difference were performing before being “discovered” by X Factor) has resulted in a relatively small number of relatively small-time talents, compared with previous years.
All the gimmickry that surrounds X Factor – the pretend rows, the blanket press coverage, the extra judge, the sackings and reinstatings, the flouncing and the posturing – we could forgive it all if there was just some plain, simple, straightforward good singing to look forward to every week. From more than just the obvious contenders: Rhydian, Niki and, just barely, Leon.
But as it is, all we have to look forward to is some tone-deaf screeching followed by a series of sycophantic slobbering from a judging panel that looks increasingly out of touch with reality. Week after week we see the audience stand and applaud halfway through a song as if the singer has hit triple-high C or pulled off some amazing ad-libbing when in fact all they’ve managed to do is get the right note. Often for the first time in the number. We hear lavish, over-the-top praise from the judges after crushingly mediocre performances and, frankly, it gets boring.
Mr Cowell has stated that he’ll be done with X Factor after seven seasons. If he and his fellow producers don’t pull their collective finger out and make a better job of it next time round, I think 5 will be the magic number.
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Judges: awful, awful, awful. Pantomime parodies who are fake and terrible.
Contestants: the dregs of British society trying desperately to get their 15 minutes of fame because they think that’s what life is all about.
The programme: about as entertaining as having your shins repeatedly beaten with a big hammer.
The X Factor is just appalling TV. Sorry to be classist, but chavs trying to sing rubbish songs is does not a fine entertainment show make. I turn over to Strictly Come Dancing, and it has class, judges who know what they’re talking about, and a touch of class and glamour.
Admittedly the majority are poor singers but Rhydian is an amazing new find and is going to be a huge star. he has a superb voice, great stage presence and is very versatile. He beats screechy dull Leona hands down as far as I’m concerned.
Xfactor is a huge rip off. When Pop Idol began the entrants really were young kids wanting a career in singing now its all about the judges and Simon Cowell making yet another million. I hate the sob stories too.. would you ever hear Will Young banging on about how his Grandad and died and looking all pitiful – No!! He just won on his talent (a million times better than Leona IMO) and has gone on to prove that he has what it takes. Ryhdian is the best this year but to me there has only ever been one true Star and that is Will Young- he can sing ANYTHING!!
X Factor is very poor, there’s only Rhydian any good. With the investment that Leona’s had in the last year he could be as successful.
But you say Will Young pales when compared to Leona? Absolute rubbish! He’s fantastic and still the most talented find in years. When Leona’s been around for 5-6 years with her own career away from the X Factor hype let’s see how colourful she is then.. Nice voice but utterly bland.
X factor has lost it’s appeal now, I think the programme has become stale and the last few winners are production line talent, so predictable. Leona, a very good voice, any thing else? No! There are masses of good singers in the USA just like her! Personality and originality are needed for a long term career. Will Young has kept his career going for six years, a new album is due out soon. He recently did an amazing gig at Ronnie Scott’s, Will has not chased the dollar yet but will probably outlast Leona
What is this hype with leona?? Follow thy leader and we will obey…. I do not think she has any individuality and is very souless i’m afraid to say, she wouldnt know it if it hits her between the eyes. You can tell by the hype that is put in the press bout her that she at the moment is Simon Cowells prodigal child (Gareth gates ring a bell anyone?)
Leona is very fortunate to have been able to record a song like Bleeding Love, just as Will Young was with Leave Right Now. In both cases these great songs were the last from both of them to hit no1, in Will’s case as long ago as 2003 I believe. Only time will tell if Leona can hit the top with any future release. Can’t see either of them being fortunate enough to find songs of that calibre again. All the other material on Leona’s album sounds the same, just as all the rest of the material Will has produced does. And in both cases the high pitched wailing eventually gets on peoples nerves. One male one female but very good comparison I think.
Janet,
You obviously haven’t heard Will Young’s last album, Keep On, or you wouldn’t say all his songs sound the same. They vary from jazzy numbers, to funk, ballads, and a bit of electro and psychodelia thrown in for good measure. It’s a brilliant eclectic mix. I personally can’t stand Leona’s emotionless warbling, we shall see where she is 5 yeard from now. I agree that X Factor is looking stale and is more about the judges than the talent. The only one I can see having a career is Rhydian, if he doesn’t become a gimmock act.
Yes Vonny I have listened to Keep On and Fridays Child and From Now On, the voice on every song on every album is exactly the same. High pitched wailing. High pitched wailing, emotionless warbling, same difference.
Now as for Rhydian, he really does have a fantastic voice. Not keen on him personally but there is no doubting the quality of his voice. I will also agree with you X-Factor is more about the judges than the contestants.
So you are evidently not a fan of Will Youngs Janet and yet you have listened to three of his Albums! At least then, when his next Album comes out you can save some money this time around.
Pauline, I wont be wasting any more money. The first album was curiosity value, the second was bought on expectation of something good after the fantastic song LRN. WRONG. I was almost tempted by the constant hype (a la Vonnys post above. Oh dear) about how spectacular and different KO was. Am I glad I decided to borrow a copy first. With the exception of ATL (which I still love and is the only one that made it onto my ipod) the rest was just more of the same. I want a bit more from an album than just one song I can listen to more than once without it feeling like chalk down a blackboard. Leona or Will, same difference. The one good song and the rest high pitched wailing. That’s not what I want from an album.
I prefer warmth and sincerity in the voice. Give me Michael Buble any day.
I agree – thats why I’m so disappointed with this years show. And my wife gave up a month ago (she was whizzing through the programme on sky+ recordings then anyway – says it all!).
No one seems to be able to explain to me how it has deteriorated so much so quickly (in 1 series). I guess previous losing contestants must be kicking themselves that they didnt hold off and enter this year – easy pickings maybe?.
And as for the fact that it is now blatantly flaunting the fact that it is a fix has really got my goat (ref sharons comments last week about her voting).
So – i’ve started a campaign on a fans forum i have found – dont want to spam you guys, if you are interested then feel free to join me and vote/ have your say – http://xfactorcommunity.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=75
Wailing or warbling? it’s immaterial whether you like or dislike a singers voice, it’s all a matter of individual taste isn’t it? The fact remains that this years x-factor show has been very short on talent and offers just more of the same, mind numbingly boring and extravagent claims, from the judges mouths. Last years winner, Leona Lewis has a decent enough voice but I find her as dull as dishwater, over hyped, over played and being touted excitedly as the second coming. How many of these acts have survived from these shows, had more than one multi platinum selling album and are still around and successful, six years on? Will Young and Girls Aloud so far, let’s see if Leona and Shayne are still around in six years time.
That is exactly my point Garbo. Both Leona and Will Young were fortunate enough to have a brilliant song written for them. That doesn’t stop the rest of their material being dull and average and sung in their high pitched wailing and warbling way. There success will ride until the public become aware that there is nothing else on their albums which are of stand-out material. That will be the case for any future winners of these shows. The only ones who have consistented released good material are Girls Aloud.
I think this years X Factor was just as great ans the previous ones. Leon could certainly be as good as Shayne Ward. GO LEON
I think Rhydian Roberts is fantastic, his voice is amazing and he will have a career in music.
The X Factor is the best show on television, I never miss it.