X Factor

[remaha]

I've previously said Kerry shouldn't be there, but on his two performances last night ashley should have been for the chop . . and Louis knew it. They were never going to get rid of him though as he's much more marketable and has a better chance of commercial success.

Ashley didn't only fluff the lines of the song. He sang flat throughout and, as Simon said, the only good bit was the last 30 seconds. And what about when he was complimenting the band. How embarrassing was that?

LEONA on the other hand sang like an Angel. That performance could have been put on a record. She took a classic that's been covered by all of the best female vocalists in the world and managed to come up with one of the best versions I've heard since Ella Fitzgerald. To do that in the high pressure environment as well at her her age is phenomenal.

BEN also did a fantastic job, but like Sharon, I thought he should have kept in sultry rather than opening his lungs. He looks much better behind a piano and, even if he doesn't win, I think he's destined for success in the record industry.

ROBERT put on another great performance and has the most likeable personality of the three. Ideal for some sort of TV work.

MACDONALD BROTHERS - I can't believe I have to listen to them again for another week. Can't someone cut off the telephone lines in Scotland and give us all a break.

ETON ROAD - The irony of them is that Anthony is both the strongest and weakest link. His looks and personality are the thing you remember. Last night, his vocals really let them down, and not for the first time either.

DIONE - Didn't deserve to go. I really liked her voice and her personality. OK, she was gawky on stage, but that could have been remedied.

NIKITA - She should have gone last night.

[odm]

;D Hi everyone! Im going to miss X-Factor tonight as I am working but might catch the repeat later on..meanwhile here are the choices for this weeks songs - victims

'X Factor' top 8: ABBA songlist revealed
Saturday, November 4 2006, 12:24 UTC - by Neil Wilkes

The X Factor contestants face a tough time on stage tonight as ABBA week arrives.

Rocker Ben has found the theme especially hard to wrap his voice around, claiming that his body "seems to keep rejecting ABBA".

Meanwhile, the two remaining groups squabbled over their song choices. Anthony from Eton Road has been singing 'Fernando' for years but was left "devastated" when his mentor Louis picked the song for the MacDonald Brothers instead. Despite incessant pleading, Louis refused to change his mind and Anthony was forced to contemplate 'Does Your Mother Know' instead.

Tonight's songlist in full:

Groups (Louis)
The MacDonald Brothers: 'Fernando'
Eton Road: 'Does Your Mother Know'

16-24s (Simon)
Ashley McKenzie: 'The Winner Takes It All'
Nikitta Angus: 'Dancing Queen'
Leona Lewis: 'Chiquitita'
Raymond Quinn: 'Waterloo'

25 and overs (Sharon)
Ben Mills: 'S.O.S.'
Robert Allen: 'Take A Chance On Me'


I dont know about anyone else but I might not have chosen those songs for those people. Ashley goes a bit flat on his notes and his song is really hard to sing ( Winner takes it all ). I would have picked it for Leona as this song needs someone with a good octave range to sing if it is to come out quite powerful so for some reason I dont feel it is the right one for Ashley..

I think Nikitta should have sung Angel Eyes ( not on the list )and I think Ben should have been given the song Eton Road has been selected for as it has good guitar in it which could have been rauNched up..Another good one is voulez vous..but...we shall see what happens.

I knew Mcdonal brothers would get Fernando..straight up..as when I think of that song I think of drummer boys and when I think of drummer boys, I think of scotsmen...weird eh..

good luck though to them all.

[remaha]

I'm going to miss the X-factor tonight as well. Fireworks display at Battersea Park for me.

They show it again later though, don't they? If so, I'll catch up then.

The Abba theme will be good for the Groups as most Abba songs rely on harmonies to make them sound good. Having said that, how can the groups make the songs sound original?

I agree Ashley might struggle. I wonder whether they'll save him again if he's in the bottom two though? I don't mind if he's up against the McDonald Brothers. Anyone else though and he could be history.

[odm]

remaha said:

I'm going to miss the X-factor tonight as well. Fireworks display at Battersea Park for me.

They show it again later though, don't they? If so, I'll catch up then.

The Abba theme will be good for the Groups as most Abba songs rely on harmonies to make them sound good. Having said that, how can the groups make the songs sound original?

I agree Ashley might struggle. I wonder whether they'll save him again if he's in the bottom two though? I don't mind if he's up against the McDonald Brothers. Anyone else though and he could be history.

Spot on with those observations Rem. I was a bit concerned when Mark Hudson was talking about the fact that Abba have accents and that the singers have to remember how Abba pronounce their words...Well I did,nt understand why he would want them to pronounce the words exactly like Abba . It would just be Karaoke then. The whole idea is to take the song and put your own character into it that is what makes an original voice which is what they hail Ben for. If all of a sudden they are supposed to 'sing it like Abba' it is a complete contradiction.

Have you noticed that Mark Hudson wears loads and loads of clothes btw..the OH pointed it out..he said, that guy must be boiling he wears polo necks and gloves and coats and hats in a very hot studio...
...maybe the heat is getting to him..

PS Yes it is repeated later tonight and tomorrow too.

[battybetty]

Commiserations to Izzy, I know how fond of Ashley you are. You were right, he did struggle badly with the subject material this week.
I have to say Im delighted that Robert was saved though.

[odm]

Yes I was sorry to see Ashley go but at the end of the day, Robert deserved to stay more its as simple as that if it was to be out of those two. I prefered Ashley to the Macdonald boys however and thought perhaps they might have been in the bottom two this week. No disrespect to them but they are not lighting up the stage in the way that they should.

As for Ashley, well I still see something extremely special and original there and really Simon said it all for me. Ashley does not have a superb voice by any means but I dont think he has had a chance to shine with the sound that he makes and he does have a nice sound given the right song. Not everyone can sing everything and Ashley has an original sound that will limit him.
Hope he goes away and uses the experience wisely.

I still do not like the Mariah Carey -Leona, though I like her voice..all I see is Mariah and that to me is exceptionally unoriginal. Ben is very original and a natural musician and muso in my opinion, hes pretty cool. I love Ray more each time I see him as he is such a natural performer and multitalented, singing dancing and acting but I still dont see singing as being his main profession. Robert is the dark horse and I find him great to watch. His song tonight was a bit low for him tbh but he did really well with it and pulled through. Nikitta has never been interesting and she is my tea break. The group I think are truly marketable but still not the best singers.

I think x factor is about the IT thing. Ashley was the one with the IT thing but he let himself down and he did,nt cut it. Im wondering who I think has that IT thing now and the truth is I dont k now. None of them really stand out on my Telly screen visually except perhaps Eton Road. I dont think they are fab performers though..

This could be one x factor that just dribbles along...

[Harvestgoddess]

Aw im sorry ashley has gone izzy i havent watched it yet but have recorded it so il watch it later im shocked my macdonald brothers are still going i thought id come on here today and read that they had gone but pleased they have done so well im just a sucker for those twinkley eyes of theirs
I wish leona was a rubbish singer i wouldnt feel so bad about not liking her then i cant stand mariah she grates on me so leona drives me up the wall i just cant take to her at all

[remaha]

I thought Simon was duplicit last night . . slating Robert for doing an 80's version of his song and then defending Ray for doing a swing version of Waterloo. Both of them did a creditable job and yet Robert ends up in the bottom two again.

I think if Simon had been less harsh in his criticism of the MacDonald Brothers they would have been gone by now. He's getting them the sympathy vote.

It's noticeable this year that all the best singers lack charisma (apart from Robert IMO) and all those with charisma, can't really sing.

I can't understand how Leona can be criticised for sounding like Maria Carey. She's only young and has plenty of time to develop her own style.

[wigangirl]

remaha said:

I thought Simon was duplicit last night . . slating Robert for doing an 80's version of his song and then defending Ray for doing a swing version of Waterloo. Both of them did a creditable job and yet Robert ends up in the bottom two again.

I think if Simon had been less harsh in his criticism of the MacDonald Brothers they would have been gone by now. He's getting them the sympathy vote.

It's noticeable this year that all the best singers lack charisma (apart from Robert IMO) and all those with charisma, can't really sing.

I can't understand how Leona can be criticised for sounding like Maria Carey. She's only young and has plenty of time to develop her own style.

Yeah I agree about Leona remaha. Mariah Carey is one of the most successful artists of all time. Sounding like her can only be a good thing for Leona. Shes only 21 so she does have time to develop her voice more into her own style and she is the best singer in the competition. We could finally have a young british female artist who could be a megastar here. Lets face it we havent got many. It was a shame to see Ashley go as i was in love with him but i have a feeling he will do well.

[wigangirl]

hey guess what guys, Ive just been on a leona fansite and they have a general section asking if people watch big brother. The ones that have replied apart from one grace fan said that they loved Aisleyne and most of them wanted her to win. Just shows how big Ash really is on the net.