X Factor (UK) 2014

Their uptempo version of "Something about the way you look tonight" reminded me and Alice of:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azU6bqM26zg

Ben missed a trick on Big Band Night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRhYBTzPOcc

I came to like Only The Young in the last three weeks (totally solid Monster Mash) and was sorry to see them go.

I didn't like their version of 'Monster Mash' much, but they seemed to be getting some traction in the last couple of weeks. A bit ridiculous that they didn't get to face off in a sing off against Stevi, because then they'd surely still be here next Saturday. I put it down to there being no Cokehoser types this year.

Stevi - The singing car salesman. He lasted a long time, but that's more to do with what a weak year it's been. It's not like he even got through week after week at the expense of better singers.

Andrea - diminishing returns is exactly it. Maybe having him in the sing off against Stevi will force him to change things up/around a bit next week.

Ben - his tune-free mangling of 'I Will Always Love You' brought to mind Danyl, although his trashing of Whitney was caused by his arrogance. I don't understand who's voting for him?

Lauren - the emblandening at the hands of Cheryl continues. Lauren's almost as boring a singer as her mentor now.

Stereo Dicks - Big Band week was their high point, especially since I thought that they'd make a mess of 'Mack the Knife' but managed to salvage something from it. Despite what this week's VT would have us believe, it's too late to try and graft personalities onto them at this stage. I still think half of them could disappear and no-one would notice.

Fleur - unless Andrea really pulls something out of the bag next week, Fleur's got this contest sewn up. She's got a good voice, and has the versatility to tackle a wider range of material compared to Andrea.

Final three: Andrea, Fleur, and either Lauren or dicks(o_O)dicks. The boys might make for a more interesting final, in terms of entertainment if not musicality.

I'm still seeing Ben in the final. Wouldn't be surprised if he actually wins the whole thing really.

Might as well give my thoughts on who we have left.

Ben - I've never been a fan as that whole authentic rock voice has always grated on me. Interesting the comparison to Danyl when vocally he's much more similar to Jamie Afro. The look he has on his face when he's getting negative feedback is really starting to get to me. It's a smirk that makes him look like he's not taking them seriously (In some cases he shouldn't but still..) Every time it comes to his interview on Xtra Factor they always sing a bit of Don't Dream It's Over straight after. Would be a good idea for him to sing it on the show.

Andrea - I haven't seen the producers out to get someone this much since Christopher Maloney. They've tried killing him with kindness, painting him gold, having rays shoot of his eyes and worst of all his offensive VTs that are full of him being treated like a total novelty (They had fucking Shaddap Your Face in his VT this week!)I've seen people comment on the fact they always show him stuffing his face with food each week which seems kind of unflattering. His song choices are predictable and making him seem like a one tricky pony. I wouldn't be surprised if he topped the vote those first few weeks by a long way and since then they've been doing a lot to get rid of him.

Lauren - Dark Horse should have been a big moment for her but since then she's basically turned into Lola as a performer. Lots of wobbly vocals and absolutely no stage presence. She doesn't even have the tears or the fish to make her slightly memorable like Lola did. Totally agree that she peaked with Happy/Teardrop in week one.

Stereo Kicks - Guess I'm on my own thinking they are the worst things about the show. Still miming the choruses each week and instead of just letting two of them sing maybe four/five of them get lead vocals to which the judges say "We got to hear you all individually" No we didn't. The main singer pulls the most unflattering face when he goes for the big notes. Simon has been spouting the same shit since week one "I really feel you're starting to become a real band" "We're getting to know you all now" It's bullshit. He's pushing them as hard as he did with Danyl back in 2009. I'm just hopeful they'll go the same way as he did. The smile Simon does when he gives them a standing ovation (Every fucking week) fills me with rage. He's clearly thinking "I made this happen" and clearly thinks they will be the new One Direction. Don't let me down general public.

Fleur - She is my favourite by a long way but honestly if she'd been in the 2008 or 2010 years (My two favourite series) she wouldn't have stood out at all. She's yet to have her big moment since the judges houses. Lots of solid performances but no sign of her proving she's an amazing singer or anything really special as a performer (Alexandra and Cher are my two favourite contestants ever) I would be happy if she won but I'm not sure I can see it happening yet despite Simon making it clear she's the chosen one. Think she does have a similar feel as Alexandra and Little Mix as a contestant, not in a similar style but in the way there was no hype for her at the beginning and she's kind of gone ahead of everyone else without it being really obvious. If she can just do a Don't Let Go or a Candyman this week that would be great.

I'm absolutely amazed this series has been just as bad as last years. I really thought they'd get it right this year.

One of the highlights for me (which probably won't happen anymore) is when Simon has given his "You're shit, go away" final statement during the performance prior to an act going out, then they play their highlights and there's Simon going "You're wonderful, you might win", Mr Fickle, right?

Oh, having not watched the series I didn't realise Ben/Don't Dream It's Over was already a joke. Soz.

I'm not exactly proud that I know that. Watching X Factor is one thing but watching Xtra Factor is clearly a cry for help. Judging by his reaction when they sing it he has obviously had to put up with it a lot through his life.

Well this was slightly more interesting than last week, but not by much, and even then that's not really praise. Fleur would be my pick to win now, although clearly Andrea is going to walk it. She'll still get the full backing of Syco anyway, judging by her pre-performance clips. Laurel's voice sounded a bit croaky during the first song, but I would prefer her to be in the final three instead of Ben and his reprise of the super manipulative VTs.

Fleur was excellent tonight. I think she might win it now and obviously is the one who will have a career rather than just an album of covers. Andrea was in the bottom two a couple of weeks ago so I'm not sure he'll win it although I think it's likely. Lauren will be out tomorrow. I can't see that there's any market for a teen singer that can't/won't dance or even perform in any real sense. She moves around like a decrepit.

I think there's more of a market for a teenage singer that young teenage girls can relate to than there is for a guy who puts ill-fitting RAWK stylings on everything. The last XF contestant who did that was Jamie Poodlehair and he only came seventh - more proof that this show has been getting increasingly diminishing returns.

I agree on all points.

I take it tomorrow is not a bottom two/ sing off?

Fleur doing Uptown Funk was probably my favourite performance on the show since Ella doing Believe. Sadly I still think Ben is going to take this.

conclusive proof that "Wrecking Ball" is 10x the song "Hallelujah" is anyway

The staging for Andrea's 'Wrecking Ball' was the best bit of set design since the 'Big Brother is watching you' backdrop behind one of Chris Baloney's performances in 2012.

"TWO LIVES LEFT...."

Ben through?
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120829003851/theonefootinthegrave/images/c/cc/IDNBI.jpg

Shit is on.

And by 'shit', I mean 'a shit load of filler'.

have a feeling Andrea will go tonight :(

if Haenow tells us how normal he is once more i'm putting the TV thru

I liked the sign the guy in the crowd was holding that read 'Ben Haenow to win' that looked like the letters had been sculpted out of faeces.

Fuck-awful Christmas jumper ahoy.
I can see that Andrea's going to have a TV career like Jeremy from Airport.

He does knock it out of the park though. Ben might as well go home now.

Louis says "you're a star" to just about everyone, but with Fleur it's really justified.

Pairing Ben with Ed Sheeran for the duet was a bad idea, because Ben just sounds like a crap Ed Sheeran by comparison now.

guessed it wd be Haenow and Sheeran, reckon Andrea will get Sam Smith, can't remember who the other guest is?

Fleur's singing with Labrinth.

Ella Henderson = i feel cheated

Fleur's duet with Labrinth didn't quite mesh. I wonder how much time the contestants get to actually rehearse with the their duet partners?

fuck you GBP

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120829003851/theonefootinthegrave/images/c/cc/IDNBI.jpg

Fucks sake, have the GBP got cloth ears?

nah i knew it was coming, cloth-eared vanilla ordinary bloke sob-story bullshit bullshit wanker voters

ach well at least Fleur will deservedly crush him tomorrow

If for some reason she doesn't, Simon's money is on her anyway. Ben's heading for Brookstein-esque obscurity and he hasn't even criticised anything Cowell's done.

Also I won't sleep tonight knowing that even now there are people writing slashfic involving Stevi, that rocket, and Chico...

Still have a horrible feeling Ben is going to win this.

Two hours of padding... GO!

xp FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

if ben wins i'm never watching again

This last couple of hours it's just become more and more obvious he was going to win. Good luck trying to make this guy anymore successful than Matt Cardle.

At least Ben isn't an egotistical twit like Cardle. That's one thing in his favour, like Leona, the XF process didn't really change him much as a person.

Voting figures are out. Ben was winning it from week four onwards.

One thing that bugs me more than anything on x-factor is when they sing songs that they have not understood.

I don't know if Fleur fell into that trap, and am sure it made no difference anyway, but when she added the "I want to live with you.. And you and you and you", umm this is not a song about universal love its about living with one person.

Anyway, better Ben gets the "Winners song" that fits him, now Fleur can skip it and do stuff that actually suits her. You know Alexandra Burke never much liked "Hallelujah" and dropped it Snapfish?

The winners song really seemed like it was picked for him and definitely not her. I always think the most misguided winners song was Little Mix getting Cannonball. Such an awful choice for them.

That was disappointing.

Increasingly clear watching Sunday's show what was going to happen - winner's single chosen for Ben, & I think Fleur was a bit hamstrung by having to repeat uptown funk - it was only a week ago, the surprise factor has gone, but what else could she do?

But yeah, the voting figures say a lot - clearly the producers knew what was coming and that Fleur was just *not* going to win - but then she didn't need to. There's not much in 1st and 2nd place if Syco are on your side, and the signs seem good for her. I hope she has a great career. And while I never want to hear Haenow singing again, I hope he enjoys a respectable living in entertainment after this, since he seems a decent person.

Well, Fleur's first performance of it got a big reaction, it seemed a good idea to do it again as a few people might have been prompted to see it for that reason.

The "Winners Song" always seems to be a dead albatross anyway, a song that would have suited Fleur definitely would not have worked for Ben, and they seem to have a stockpile of 'that sort of song' signed to the 'right' publisher.