X-Factor

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X Factor Final update 18th December 2005.

“ And the winner is…… Shayne Ward . Louis Walsh didn't have to lose him after all!

Last night was Shayne's night – he had amazing comments from all the judges, even to the detriment of their own acts, and he sang the winner's single as if it were written for him. But purely from a singer's point of view, I thought that Andy Abraham blew his less experienced rival away. He sang like a true pro, and he gave the boy a close run, but it was obvious that at 21 Shayne has the most potential earning power. But well done Andy – you did everyone proud.

I have to admit that I was gutted that Journey South came only third. If you've been reading my comments each week, you'll know what potential I think they have. I still firmly believe that they are the only act in the whole competition with true international appeal, and that they are more in tune with the current world wide rock revival. And after all it is the rockers that generally have the longest careers. They have talent, style, and are wonderful men to be around. Unfortunately for Journey South, however, in this country a Saturday night audience likes the pretty pop boys, and Shayne certainly fits the bill. So good luck Shayne – I'm sure you'll do fantastically well. With the ability you have at 21, if you build on it, you will be a really fine singer one day. And after all, if the people around you allow you to go the way of Steve Brookstein , the X Factor would look silly, and nobody wants that to happen…!

As this is my last comment on the show, I would like to take this chance to thank a few people. First of all, to Clare Horton and Simon Cowell for giving me the job – thank you for your faith in me.

To Michelle – thanks for all your support. You are a real person and I thank you for that.

To all the backstage crew who were an oasis of sanity, thank you for your humour and warmth, with special mention for the fabulous Fred .

To Brenda and Chico – I love you guys. You have seen me for who I am and we will always be cool. I hope you both get everything you wish for. And to Mark Hudson – take care bro…we have laws against that sort of thing in this country!

To the Addictiv Ladies and 4Tune – our time together was too short. You made it a pleasure to come to work in the morning. It's not over for you guys. You have great energy and good things will be attracted to that. Lots of love.

The Conways – I enjoyed my time working with you, and I'm only sorry I wasn't allowed to help you more. I hope one day the public get to see the talent that I see in you. When you find the right direction for your music you will soar – and I'm guessing you won't be doing One Voice or SOS!!!

Finally to Journey South – Andy and Carl Pemberton you are fine and wonderful men. Amongst all the weirdness, I know you guys are for real. You are also terrifically talented.

Andy, you have worked so hard that you have found a new you. I know the sacrifice you made in being away from your family was huge. I am proud of the dedication and effort you have put in, and I think you have transformed yourself into a great singer, and a very charismatic performer. Carl, I have seen your confidence grow so much that it almost matches your ability. That sound you have is a gift that few are given, and now the whole country has heard it. That can only be a good thing. Thank you both for your friendship. It has meant a lot to me. And remember, whenever you need me I'll be there.

Thank you everyone who has followed the show with us on the website. I hope you have enjoyed it. But now it's back to (genuine) reality for Laudat.

Sayonara Suckers, and have a Happy New Year.

After David’s success last season with runners-up G4, he returns to ITV’s The X Factor this year as Simon Cowell’s vocal expert, with once again the tough job of knocking the vocal groups into shape.

David says,

“ I loved working with Louis and the groups last year, and I learnt so much about the pressures of TV. It was so hard seeing wonderful, talented people you work with so closely get voted off each week, and the nerves you saw on my face were all absolutely for real.

But the G4 boys were amazing in the final, and I’m so proud of the success they’ve had. It’s weird seeing what big stars they’ve become, but they’re still the same good lads they always were.
I’m very excited Simon asked me to be on his team this year, to work with the groups again. It’s a tough category as there were way fewer groups to choose from at boot camp than in the solo singer categories, and even with Simon’s ability to pick a star, we may start out as the underdogs this year. But it’s quality not quantity that counts, and we’re very satisfied with the talent we’ve chosen. Have no fear…there will be a vocal group in the final if I have anything to do with it. Bring it on!”

UPDATE ARCHIVE

X Factor update
11th December 2005

“So it's an all-male final after all. I really thought Brenda was going to make it through when I heard her come out with “Respect”. I wasn't the only one. Nobody was more astonished than Andy when he heard Kate read out his name. But after a slightly lacklustre first song, he really pulled it back and delivered a cracking performance of “Lately.” Neither one of them deserved to go based on their ability, but in a really tough semi final it had to be someone. Brenda took the result with grace, dignity and spirit. I have loved getting to know her. She is a warm, funny, vibrant and talented woman, and I think she has a great career ahead of her.

So this Saturday is the final X Factor show of 2005. I really like Andy's voice, his style, and his great personality - but the Journey South boys deserve to win. They have never whinged, complained or looked for a sympathy vote. They have taken on every genre of music and made it their own. They have grown and blossomed into a world class act. Simon said at the beginning of the series that he was looking for an international star. Well if that's the case, only one contender remains – Journey South. Carl's voice alone is distinctive enough to make him a household name, but when he and Andy sing together they create a sound and a vibe that is unlike anyone else in the record market today. They look fabulous together, and they are two unaffected, solid, hard-working men who have become my great friends. I'd go anywhere to work with these two. They have made my job a pleasure, and I am proud of what we've achieved together. They need your votes, and they deserve them.

Journey South to win X Factor 2005 ! See you there.”

X Factor Update
4th December 2005

“Last night the voting public called time on Chico Slimani . He has fought his way through this contest from the very start, but as he himself admitted, he cannot compete as a singer with the remaining Fearsome Foursome, and it was his time to go.

For me, Chico represents what the X Factor is all about. In a straight singing contest, he would have been out weeks ago, but he has that magical presence, the likeability factor as Simon calls it. To know Chico is to love Chico , and the competition has lost its greatest character. We'll miss you bro.

So this Saturday we reach the semi-final, and it is interesting that none of the remaining four acts have ever been in the bottom two. That shows that the cream has risen to the top, and we have the right semi-finalists. It also makes it even more tense, as we have no way of guessing who the public prefers.

Shayne, Andy and Brenda are all fine singers, but for my money , Journey South are the only ones who are creating a sound of their own. Those boys can sing anything and make it a Journey South song. I also think that their appeal might even be international, as they have that American rock/country edge to their sound. It would be wonderful to think of two solid Teesside lads going on to rock the world. If you vote for them on Saturday you just might make it happen- who knows?”

X Factor Update
27th November 2005

“They sang “Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,” but they hadn't reckoned on Simon sending his own act home. After telling them they didn't have what it takes to win, Simon Cowell chose to do what Louis and Sharon hadn't, and ended the X Factor dream for The Conway Sisters. The girls have given it everything they've got, but after three weeks in the bottom two it became clear that the public isn't voting for them.

I think part of the reason for that is their song choices – even if you don't agree with Simon Cowell's song picks, you must realise that he is the master of knowing what the public want. That's why he is one of the most powerful entertainment moguls in the world.

Also, vocally, they haven't sounded as good in the last two weeks as I know they can, and I think that's got a lot to do with the enormous pressure they have been under since “Mariagate”! It must be terrible to have to sing your best when you feel like everyone hates you through no fault of your own. Last week the stress got so bad for Louis that he quit, and he's an experienced pro at this. How much worse must it have been for the Conways?

But props to the girls for wanting to do it on their own terms, and I hope they get a hero's welcome back in Ireland . They have shown immense courage and they should be proud of what they've achieved.

As for Journey South, what can I say but wa-hey the lads! Andy and Carl get better and better every week. Now that they're comfortable on that stage, I don't see anything stopping them going all the way. They are genuine, hard-working, decent men, and they deserve the success they are undoubtedly going to get after this competition. Journey South to win!!”

X Factor Update
20th November 2005

“Last night was the end of the road for Nicholas Dorsett . Everyone loves Nicholas – he's a bright, funny, lovely lad, and we'll all miss him. I think he has the potential to be a really good recording artist, and that face will guarantee him a fan base forever! But in a competition where you have to sing live week after week and get stronger and stronger, I think Nicholas had begun to be outclassed by the more experienced performers around him. If he goes away and works on his voice, especially his tuning, I think he may be the Lemar of this contest. He is very young and has so much time to improve.

The Conways found themselves in the bottom two again after the controversy of the week before, only to be saved this time by the lovely Mrs. O ! The judges kept them based on the passion of their performance – however it's not just passion that will win this competition – it's a great vocal performance of a great song. Perhaps it's time for the Conways to let their mentor choose a song that suits them better, as TV tends to amplify weaknesses in the vocals, not strengths. They sang well on Saturday, but the song seemed too big for them, and I don't think they've found their niche yet. Let's hope that this week they get it right.”

X Factor update
13th November 2005

“That's the first time in two series' that the programme has ended with the audience booing the judges' decision. If you had asked before the show, nobody would have guessed that Maria would be going home. Everyone was gobsmacked when Louis chose the Conway Sisters to stay, but to be fair, Louis felt unable to send home people with whom he has a long standing relationship, just as Sharon did when she kept Chenai and sent 4Tune home in Week 2. Nobody said the music business was fair – if you're in the bottom two, you run the risk of being knocked out of the competition – that's just how it goes.

Neither Maria nor the Conways gave a fantastic performance on Saturday, although that could be said about a number of the others too, but Maria paid the price. It just shows how crucial the voting is, and how much it changes from week to week based on just one performance.

I wish Maria the very best of luck in her future career as she is a fine singer, and a lovely woman, who didn't deserve to go out at this stage.

But the gloves are off now – the contest is nail-biting stuff and anything could happen – Simon has even said he's prepared to vote off his own acts if he thinks they aren't up to it! I'm not sure my nerves can take it.”

X Factor update
6th November 2005

“This week, Louis Walsh was forced to choose between two of his own acts, Chenai Zinyuku and Nicholas Dorsett, and he chose to send Chenai home. It was a bit rough for her, as she really gave the second performance everything she had, and as Simon Cowell said, she sang better than Nicholas, but Louis obviously has more faith in Nicholas and kept him in for another week. Chenai took it like a big brave girl and I’m sure her family are amazingly proud of her. This isn’t the end of the road for her career, if she keeps growing and learning as she has been.

As for the groups - The Conway Sisters were gutted at the judge’s comments, as they worked hard this week on their own arrangement, and before the results were announced they were convinced they were going home.

Journey South did me proud. Their performance this week was their best yet, and showed that they are as good as anyone on that stage. In fact, I believe that Carl has the most distinctive voice in the entire competition. Nice one lads, now let’s keep it up all the way to the final.”

X Factor update
30th October 2005

“At last, a show goes by without me having to say goodbye to one of my acts. I had started to think someone was out to get us!

So farewell to Philip McGee. Philip is a lovely lad, but I think he was a bit out of his league in this competition. He needs to go away and build some technique and some confidence. Having said that, it was probably his best performance so far, but the contest is hotting up. Who would have thought that Simon Cowell would save Chico? I’m not surprised though. Chico is far from being the best singer on that stage, but his age and experience won through when it came to performance. He knows that the first rule of performance is to appear comfortable, and that puts the audience at ease. No-one wants to sit on the edge of their seat wondering if a singer is going to get through the song, and Chico performed as if he belonged there…..for another week at least!”

X Factor update
23rd October 2005

“Well, nobody saw that coming. Saturday night was the end of the road for 4Tune. In terms of what went wrong, who can tell? They delivered a vocal superior to the previous week, none of the judges complained about the song, nothing went wrong at all, we thought.

All the other contestants were totally shocked, as the 4Tune boys have gained a lot of respect from the rest of them as amazingly talented, hard-working singers, and no-one can come up with a reason why they were in the bottom two this week. I can only think that either once again, like Addictiv Ladies, their appeal is to a younger market who are not in charge of the phone bill, or that people just assumed that they would be safe until later rounds, and used their votes for those they believed needed them more. But this is not the end of 4Tune, I am sure. Once they pick themselves up from the disappointment, they will see that things are far from bleak. They have done themselves proud in front of millions of viewers on national television, it’s now up to them to capitalise on that – after all, it’s not always the winner who takes all.

Fingers crossed that next week’s news will be better guys…..come on Journey South and Conway Sisters!”

X Factor update
16th October 2005:

“This week we lost Addictiv Ladies. It’s a great shame, as they are all such great girls, full of fun and enthusiasm. I know everyone will miss them, and we all wish them every success whatever they decide to do now.

I thought they did a great job on Saturday night, as it’s never easy to open a show, let alone the first live show of the X Factor! The song was great, Jamelia’s Superstar, as young and cool as the girls themselves, and they gave it their all. Unfortunately, their fans seem to be very young and were probably not allowed to vote over and over again by their parents, and alas the girls didn’t get enough viewer votes to stay out of danger. I don’t blame Louis for using his vote to get rid of them, as they presented a very obvious threat to his 16-24 category, and all the judges want to win, of course.

As for the other bands; 4Tune, Journey South and The Conway Sisters – they’ve all got so much more to give. Now that they’ve got the first show nerves out of the way I know we’re going to see some great performances from all of them. All we need are the votes from you guys……”

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