Song of the Week

Bruno Mars - Liquor Store Blues Feat. Damian Marley

Standing at this liquor store
Whiskey coming through my pores
Feeling like I run this whole block
Lotto tickets and cheap beer
That's why you can catch me here
Tryna scratch my way up to the top

Cause my job's got me going nowhere
So I ain't got a thing to lose
Take me to a place where I don't care
This is me and my liquor store blues

I'll take one shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I'll be okay tomorrow

One shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I'll be okay tomorrow

Me and my guitar tonight
Singing to the city lights
Tryna live on more than what I got
Cause 68 cent
Just ain't gonna pay the rent so
I'll be out here til they call the cops

Cause my job got me going nowhere
So I ain't got a thing to lose
Take me to a place where I don't care
This is me and my liquor store blues

I'll take one shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I'll be okay tomorrow

One shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I'll be okay tomorrow

[Damian Marley:]
Here comes Junior Gong
I'm flying high like superman
And thinkin that I run the whole block
I don't know if it's just because
Pineapple kush between my jaws
Has got me feeling like I'm on top
Feeling like I woulda stand up to the cops
And stand up to the bigger heads cause the whole ah them are saps
All the talk them are talk and them fly make no drop
Enough getto youth cannot escape the trap.

Give me this one shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I'll be okay tomorrow

One shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today

The X Factor Goes Stateside Part 1 - the Round Up

Talk about larger than life!!! We Anglophiles had a huge stroke of luck when we were gifted with The X Factor USA just a day after it premièred in the US last night and OMFG it did NOT disappoint!! Simon Cowell was there and it just proved how much he was missed in the UK but overall, I think American Idol better watch its back as it's about to get blown out of the water!! There's a hot new talent show in town!! And even HOTTER talent!! It still had that craziness about it but I am already addicted. And I shall add that Steve Jones is looking very yummy!! And Cheryl made an appearance for a little bit! Can't seem to get my head around why they ditched her but I can assure that it had NOTHING to do with her accent as Americans can understand all British accents. In fact, they LOVE to hear all the accents from the UK. If that wasn't the case then why haven't they gotten rid of Steve Jones?! They LOVE his accent!! If anything, the accent could definitely have worked in her favour as that what makes her who she is. Mel B has a thick Leeds accent and has now calls LA her home. Anyways, it's like Clash of the Titans between the two musical heavyweights Simon Cowell and LA Reid. Two of the most powerful figures in music have the most powerful opinions. Then there was the return of Paula Abdul, who had unmistakable chemistry with Simon. I am also so totally in love with Nicole Scherzinger's dresses...

The Mini Diva...

13-year-old Rachel turned out to be a little powerhouse in a million more ways than you could ever imagine. She had an infectious personality and her singing voice knocked everyone off their feet. Maybe they were right to lower the age limit after all. As long as she stays as focused as possible, then she'll be alright and will go far in the competition.

The Super-Duper Diva...

Smashed. It. She definitely did my namesake very very proud!! Stacy Francis absolutely gave a knockout audition. Not only that, but every single word she sung was believable and came straight from the heart. I absolutely loved her passion, her spirit, her attitude, her voice - everything!! He was just an inspiring person and was living proof that you should never give up on your dreams as you ever know what may come of them in the end!

The totally WTF/ Obscene...

The day when the X Factor turned X-Rated!!! Seeing things that really shouldn't be seen! Not that this is gonna haunt him in the not-too-distant future. The weirdest, craziest, lewd, crude audition came in the form of Geo who not only showed up in his pyjamas and started stripping?! How on earth did they manage to get away with airing this? Did he actually get his bits out?! OMFG! What a disgusting human being!!! There are kids there for heavens sake! What a SHOCKER! No wonder Paula reacted the way she did, I would have reacted exactly the same...

The 'Get the F*** Off my Screen!!!'....

This woman was a total nut job!! Nikki sang completely out of tune and was giving me an absolute earache - my poor ears were practically bleeding!!! She just couldn't take no for an answer and just kept begging and begging as if she was hearing something very different to the rest of the world!!

Part 2 Coming soon!!!

One step forward, a million steps back....

Just because I am not who you think I should be, what you want me to be, with who you think I should be with, does that mean I should be dead? That I should be slandered? That I’m not worthy of a life?  Do I deserve to take my own life? Am I not worthy of having a happy existence? After reading a few recent news stories, including the one below, I felt prompted to write another blog post and express how I really feel...

Heartbreaking! 14-Year-Old It Gets Better Vlogger Commits Suicide

This story brought a tear to my eye. My condolences go out to Jamey's friends and family. One of the most heart-breaking things about our society is the inability to accept each other for who we are. Teenagers and young people are receiving abuse, taunts and death threats and even being made homeless because of their sexual orientation. I think this is totally ridiculous and therefore, something needs to be said AND done about it!

As a former victim of bullying during my teen years, I know exactly how it feels to be alienated and have feelings of self-loathe and low levels of confidence. Why does it feel we are going backwards instead of forwards in terms of accepting each other for who we are or what we are? Why is society still so ignorant and narrow-minded about all of this? Why are we continuously being judged by the colour of the skin or the person who we are in love with? We are NOT defined by the skin colour or sexual orientation – in my opinion, skin colour does NOT define a person in any way. And neither does sexual orientation. Just because someone decides to go to bed with or fall in love with someone of the same sex, that should by no means make them seem like a bad person.  It has no relevance or makes no difference. Love has no limits; it’s the personality of the person that matters.

I am not one to discriminate against anyone. In fact, this reminds me of how black people suffered a lot of prejudice and struggled to find work because they were judged by the colour of the skin rather than skills and abilities, so what gives us the right to be homophobic and frown upon gay people? I firmly believe that gay culture should be celebrated rather than frowned upon. 

Judging a person doesn't define who they are, it defines who you are. Bullying is still a major topic that needs as much attention brought to it as possible. So many innocent and precious lives could have been saved with a ZERO tolerance on bullying. Don't turn your cheek on someone being bullied. It takes a very weak person to bully and an even stronger person to stick up for that person who needs your help.

If you ARE being bullied on the other hand, it's okay to get help and speak up about your issues. It's better to face the truth than live a lie. If anything, it's bound to save your life. There's more to you then just your orientation. Remember it is our differences that give us our identity. 

With positive LGBT role models, including Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John and Lady Gaga, we hope to see positive changes. With gay marriage being legalised in New York City, we hope people can be comfortable in their own sexuality and not have to live in denial. 

Song of the Week

Jennifer Lopez - Hypnotico

Red or Black? Good or Bad?

Last week saw the launch of a brand new gameshow from Simon Cowell, fronted by Ant and Dec, as known as Red or Black, which shows how one colour and one choice can potentially change your life forever. Using a similar format as the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent with an audition type process in which thousands of people turned up to Wembley competing in several challenges in order to be in the running to winning £1,000,000, resting on one simple choice – red or black? Eventually, providing their choice was the right one, they would reach the live shows and with the help of some of Cowell’s alumni, including JLS and Leona Lewis, they competed further and became one step closer to potentially winning £1,000,000. Win or lose, it was all a matter of luck. For a few people, luck was on their side and they ended up winning the entire prize money and looking forward to a new life. For others, going home empty-handed without so much as a consolation prize was the only other option and going through that process turned out be an entire waste of time.

This therefore allows me to question the purpose of this show. At least with Cowell’s other shows Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent and The X Factor, the audition process becomes more worthwhile in which the last one standing (and the runner-up) in the competition is guaranteed fame and fortune whether it’s a £1,000,000 or £100,000, a one-year recording contract, a slot at the Royal Variety performance. Even if it eventually turns out to be short-lived, they are guaranteed a taste of success and triumph. But Red or Black turns out to be exploitative, sending viewers and contestants on a guilt trip for the contestant who falls at the last hurdle. 


I did find it really compelling and entertaining to watch and I did enjoy it  but at the same time I did find it to be slightly exploitative towards the contestants at times as they could result in having no money - which is highly upsetting for them, their loved ones and the viewers. On the other hand, it means more megabucks in Simon Cowell's pocket and a higher position on the Forbes rich list as well as an even more decadent, flashy, glamorous, luxurious lifestyle. Is that a good thing? Well...no, not really. More like degrading. Also, winning the prize money also has a huge price of its own in which it attracts a lot of media attention around the winner. Your private life surfaces and is splashed all over the papers, like the wife-beating scandal with the first winner Nathan in which it was revealed that he did time in prison for domestic violence. Not such a good thing.

Therefore it was no surprise when this article was published. Whether it's true or not, I don't know. But it is worth a read...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3814897/Dec-Red-or-Black-may-brget-the-chop.html

In all honesty, maybe you could save yourself the hassle and unwanted media attention and just buy a lottery ticket or head to the nearest casino to try your luck there and then.

To conclude: Red or Black? Good or Bad? You decide....

The X Factor Auditions Weeks 4 and 5: The Final Batch of Auditions - The Round up

Things are really starting to heat up in the kitchen – I’m feeling the heat more than ever before! A lot of talent was really cooking in the kitchen where this weekend’s X Factor double bill never failed to impress where we were witnessing the birth of some potential popstars who wowed us last week. With a few mediocrities thrown in along the way, the kitchen was serving up more drama, more thrills, more talent, more enjoyment than ever before and it has all been given to us on a huge platter every weekend for the past few weeks! I think that this series of X Factor auditions are proving to be the most exciting and entertaining yet! Believe me when I say that this competition is about to get very fascinating indeed! Time to go into the kitchen and get a taste of some delectable auditions to whet our appetites and look through the last batch of this year's auditions....

The Couldn't Understand a Word you were Singing...

Graham was one of the memorable auditions of the week – for ALL the wrong reasons! As hilarious as it was, his audition was just one big car crash as no one could hear a single word he was singing and he was also completely out of tune!! With two equally horrendous renditions of She Bangs and Shaggy’s It Wasn’t Me, his dancing was pretty mediocre (okay, that was an understatement!) everyone struggled to differentiate the two songs! It was all going so well, and then we were in the midst of a downward spiral in terms of the talent! Was freakin' hilarious though, but Graham? You are never EVER gonna go anywhere NEAR bootcamp!!! EVER!! 

The Singing hairdresser....

Image-obsessed Liverpudlian Marcus proved to be another huge surprise after singing a Stevie Wonder classic. Bringing along his family and clients along for moral support, Marcus blew the judges and audience away with his stage presence and soulful singing voice – he got the audience on their feet! Marks and Spencers will be welcoming him with their open arms! Other department stores better watch it!

The Potential Winners....

This weekend's X Factor double bill wasn't short of talent and we saw many potential winners, even if it still maybe too early to determine who's tipped for triumph (and the show is also cleverly edited too). The talent was extremely overwhelming and these lot are definitely guaranteed to make it in the real world. I reckon we may have had another Susan Boyle moment when 31-year-old leopard-print clad Samantha who initially suffered a serious case of verbal diarrhoea as a result of nerves and anxiety. She totally blew everyone away with her amazing singing voice and won the hearts of the audience and the judges as she managed to hit every note without fail and took everyone by surprise. The audience was still buzzing after her epic audition and she is becoming a firm favourite in the competition. She inevitable received a unanimous yes from the judging panel and was sailing through to the next round. She just needs to stop taking style tips from Scary Spice (in the earlier days!)  Another popular act was Lascel, who sang Kings of Leon's Use Somebody with his very own unique twist in which he slightly changed the lyrics in order to add that extra stamp of identity. This came across as very raw and believable. That was by far the best version of that song that I have ever heard and I really hope he goes far in the competition as I think he is amazing and has the ultimate likeability factor too. His smooth, strong, soulful voice absolutely moved me and I really hope he gets round to writing some amazing songs and making a killer record. Pixie Lott-lookalike Amelia Lily also proved to be a little powerhouse, especially for a 16-year-old girl. With just a little bit more work she could be truly amazing and could potentially sell millions and millions of records worldwide.  Then there was Jonjo, the soldier, whose nerves got the best of him at first but later on he totally killed it with his smooth voice and showed tonnes of potential but lack of self-belief which could easily be worked on methinks...

The disbanded girl group...

Girlband aptly-named Twisted had a rather disastrous audition when their version of Adele's Someone Like You was horrendous. - the worst version of that song that I have ever heard. They totally murdered it! They were less like a group and more like a really good singer and her backing singers (kinda reminds me of the Pussycat Dolls) Chrissy then auditioned alone after epicly failing with the other girls and totally killed it and proved that she didn't need the other girls. She was absolutely right to follow Kelly's advice. Thank God Kelly went after her and brought her back!

The further evidence of Jedward/Chico/Wagner Syndrome...

The X Factor then turned plastic fantastic when two rather shiny, colourful, out of tune hopefuls who go by the name of Kendro decided to plaster their lips in lip gloss for some relatively unknown reason before murdering singing Lady Gaga's Born This Way rather badly and their dancing was even worse. Nonetheless, they managed to win the judges over (except Gary) with this mediocre audition and were put through to the next round, even though they obviously won't last very long in the competition.  Hmmm....

_______________________________________

The Only Way may be Essex after all...

Two tanorexics who go by the name of 2 Shoes also took to the stage in matching outfits hailing all the way from Essex. They became a huge surprise after singing All My Life with their powerful voices and brought some soul and fire to the X-Factor auditions. They would look so much more beautiful if they removed all of that make-up and fake tan as they look like they've tried too hard but that can easily be worked on with an army of stylists. With a make-under and more work on their vocals, these girls are potentially superstars!!!

The Nut job...

Natasha came on stage in a purple dress that threatened to set her boobs and bits free and failed to impress with her (not-so-sexy) dancing!! She was very scary in a million ways. She sang completely out of tune, out of time, and out of everything and gave the audience and the judges a banging headache. She kept having to pull up that dress as it kept falling down! Her obsession with Gary was also very, very disturbing and creepy. This was one disastrous, car crash audition. She has NO singing voice! Definitely a NEVER from me!!! Who's idea was it to take the X Factor auditions to Wales?!

The Maths Cutie...

Just as we were losing faith in Wales in terms of the lacklustre talent it was giving us, fit Maths teacher John Adams made everyone want to go back to school when he auditioned in Cardiff with his beautiful singing voice and extremely good looks. Swoon!!! He was looking very dapper on that stage I must say and he had an amazing voice!!! What is there not to love about this guy! He can teach me maths any time!!! He had loads of likeability, charm and I really hope he makes an album at some point...

The Never too late to make it...

31-year-old Michelle showed that after having four kids that its never too late to make it big as she stormed the stage with her beautiful singing voice and reduced Tulisa to tears after bringing back memories of her own mum and will definitely prove to be popular in the Overs category! Very poignant. 51-year-old Terry also blew the audience and the judges away on the second part of the final auditions shows when he sung a Michael Bolton song and proved that he still had it after all these years...

The Comeback King...

John Wilding auditioned last year and reached the judges houses stage of the competition. After being knocked down, he wasn't going to be knocked out as he came back better than ever. It's always a huge gamble returning but I believe that John has a real chance here as he showed off a very powerful voice hitting every single note without fail. This performance was really enjoyable and mind-blowing to watch. Very difficult to sing anything by Jennifer Hudson, but he definitely did it justice and Jennifer would be proud if she ever got round to seeing this!!!


The Bad Boy Gone Good....


Bradley, who had been previously expelled from three schools in the past blew the judges away with his rather unique, raspy singing voice. He had that sort of indie tone to his voice. Even though he seemed nervous he proved that he was a changed man, as Chris Brown would say. He has a very soothing and mellow tone to his voice and also had the likeability factor. The competition has just got even more interesting. He even ended up getting emotional over the overwhelming support at the end - bless him! Looking forward to hearing his album, as of when it gets released...


The Persistent Nut Job...


Should they really have shown this audition? Some people just do NOT know when to give up and I don't mean this in a good way either. No point coming back if they are showing no signs of improvement. This applies to 54-year-old  Ceri, who had her forth stint on the X Factor and thought that after Simon's departure from the judging panel, she might stand a chance and make it through to boot camp. After not singing I Dreamed a Dream, she sang I Will Always Love You, which sounded even more out of tune and out of time and she murdered such an iconic song. Not exactly Susan Boyle. Was entertaining, but for all the wrong reasons!! It's clear that this woman seems to be very ill indeed! Her singing was even worse than previous years so she got four flat-out no's. Sack the singing tutor!! Hopefully, there's a refund policy...


The 'Please Get a Room!'....


These two people were sickening! Neil and Margaret both had bad teeth and showed too much PDAs as they both auditioned separately and were equally terrible! Both of them were out of tune and had a terrible image! Neil did some terrible dad-dancing and his singing was just as bad, if not worse! But at least they were on the same boat as they both received four no's. This has probably brought them even closer together!  Margaret bit back whilst Neil seemed a lot nicer! They could sing to each other but just not to the rest of the world! So please, please, please get a room!!!

R.I.P X Factor 2011 auditions... You shall be sorely missed...
____________________________________

NOT LONG NOW TILL THE X-FACTOR USA!!!

So FOOKIN' excited!!!!!!!!!!!! ITV2. 22nd - 23rd SEPTEMBER - IT'S A DATE!!!

My Fantasy outfit!!! Needtheseinmylife.com

Notte by Marchesa Strapless Silk Dress

Brian Atwood Maniac Calf Hair platform pumps

Solange Azagury-Partridge Hot Lips lacquered sterling silver ring








Alexander McQueen Punk Skull glossed-leather box clutch






Ileana Makri Lucky Snake 18-karat white gold diamond earrings




So in love with this Notte by Marchesa monochrome satin minidress! The bright, fuchsia Brian Atwood heels give the outfit a little bit more of an edge and the Alexander McQueen clutch also helps to create an effortlessly sharp and glamorous look. The pink in the shoes gives the outfit accent colours and adds an extra element of fun to it. The hot lips ring was also thrown in for good measure (very Katy Perry-esque). The snake earrings  add glamour and give the outfit an exotic, sexy finish!

Fashion tip: Monochrome never goes out of style and is very Chanel-inspired. In order to add a little bit of 'Ooomph!' to monochrome dresses and outfits, add some bright colour-pop lippy or nail polish or perhaps add a colourful bag or pair of shoes to add a bit of fun and bring the look up-to-date!

This Week's Fashion Round Up - Most Stylish

Demi Lovato



Loving this shimmering, glimmering outfit! She has an AMAZING, curvalicious, healthy body, despite being branded "fat" by a bunch of haters. What kind of message are those people sending out to all of the young girls out there?! Leave her alone! Most of all, I really love the hair. The copper brown and caramel tones work extremely well with her olive-skinned complexion.

Jameela Jamil



Love this quirky, eclectic little ensemble! The red accents (i.e. the bag, lipstick and hat) really liven up this outfit, adding a cool, eclectic edge and give it an extra "Oooomph!"

Amber Atherton



Despite not being familiar with Made in Chelsea, as soon as I saw this outfit I immediately fell in love with it (especially the Chanel handbag!!!) The checked cape teamed with a black ensemble underneath and gold jewellery epitomises the perfect autumn/winter outfit. All she needs to do when the temperatures really begin to drop is add a pair of black opaque tights!


Selena Gomez



Selena Gomez workd this classy black Julien McDonald number screams Gothic glamour. Perfect for Autumn/ Winter 2011!

Demi Lovato - Skyscraper

A song which I can easily relate to and identify with - my new anthem! One of the most poignant, uplifting, relatable, inspiring, well-written songs I've heard in a long time! Full of meaning and emotion! Not usually a fan of Demi Lovato but this song has completely converted me, expressing her true, honest self and documenting her journey from a dark place in her life to rising above it like a Skyscraper! All about overcoming low self-esteem and saying a huge f*** you to all the people who berate you and unnecessarily put you down. Love it! This girl is definitely on my radar!

Demi Lovato - Skyscraper

Skies are crying, I am watching
Catching teardrops in my hands
Only silence, as it's ending, like we never had a chance.
Do you have to make me feel like there's nothing left of me?

You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper, like a skyscraper

As the smoke clears
I awaken and untangle you from me
Would it make you feel better to watch me while I bleed
All my windows still are broken but I'm standing on my feet

You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper, like a skyscraper

Go run run run I'm gonna stay right here
Watch you disappear yeah
Go run run run yeah it's a long way down
But I'm closer to the clouds up here

You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Ohh
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper, like a skyscraper Like a skyscraper, like a skyscraper

Like a skyscraper

The X-Factor Auditions Week 3 - The Round Up

Boy, does the X-Factor get better and better each week. I am officially an addict. The X-Factor has become my very own brand of heroin. I have to (metaphorically, so that this doesn't get taken out of context!) have a fix every week. How on earth will I SURVIVE when it ends?!  The X-Factor is slowly morphing into the Shock Factor!! More bitching, more craziness, more melodrama, more talent, if you want more, you'll be getting more with a quick recap...


The Superbitchy...


Three ladies aka girl group Angel, popped up on stage with their hideous rendition of Willow Smith's Whip my Hair, but by the looks of things, these ladies need to be whipped back and forth themselves into shape as their attitude was despicable. Tulisa told them they couldn't sing and one of the girls bounced back by replying 'A bit rich coming from you!', consequently making the audience and the judges jaws drop. The other two girls, on the other hand, just happily stood there on the sidelines, seemingly disapproving and ashamed. Kelly then retaliated and came to Tulisa's defence by telling the girls a few home truths:

 "Can I just say one thing, coming from a female group that always talks about how women should come together and they shouldn't be bitchy towards one another - I understand that you have an opinion, but at the same time, you came here for us to judge you and there was no reason for you to come back at her like that.
"I can tell that these two don't appreciate the fact that you did that, because what if you just messed up their chances for an opportunity, they are the group!"

Go Kelly! I'm completely on the judges' side here! What would Germaine Greer or Mary Wollstonecraft say? These girls need to read up on (First, Second and Third Wave) feminism. That's where my course texts and books from my degree would come in handy methinks. At least now I wouldn't have to throw them all away, I could just highlight all the relevant pages and ram them down their pretty, little out-of-tune, bitchy throats (well one in particular!) I am feeling a massive urge to give them a copy of 'The Vindication of the Rights of Women', since it won't be of any use to me in the near future...


The History repeating itself....


Michael Lewis auditioned last year as a bargain basement Michael Jackson (the poor man would definitely have turned in his grave) in a vivid, sequinned jacket and what looked like an awful wig! This time, he decided to strip himself of all of the gimmicks and pretentiousness and audition as himself. Was he any better? *black woman American Southern accent* OOOH HEEEELLLLL NO! Singing a poor rendition of Geri Halliwell's Look at Me, people were no doubt looking at him but for all the wrong reasons. Even though it wasn't as disastrous as George Gerasimou's audition, Michael showed absolutely no signs of improvement as he received an inevitable four no's from the judges. He then showed that not only was he lacking talent, but also lacking sanity when he lay on the stage, pleading and begging! WTF?! Two words, Michael: Beat it! Will somebody please put this guy in an asylum?! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE....


The Poignant....

After Gary claimed he was sick of hearing Adele's songs being murdered sung on the X-Factor, I reckon that he might want to take back those words after Beth Ditto-lookalike Jade walked in and absolutely smashed it!!! She gave a very poignant rendition of Adele's Someone Like You and reduced Kelly and Louis to tears. She seemed extremely likeable and I strongly believe she has the potential to go all the way in the competition.  With the power to move the audience and the judges in that way was unbelievable. Watch out, Adele! There is yet another person out to steal your pretty, little platinum crown... All I can say about this girl is WOW!!! This girl's life is about to change FOREVER!!! Amazing!!!! Loved it!!!!

The Mid-life Crisis/Nut Job...


David Wilder - 42 going on 18 indeed! This 42-year-old teenager wannabe teenage rock star showed further evidence of the Chico/Jedward/Wagner Syndrome with a completely wacky, OTT and bizarre rendition of David Bowie's Life on Mars where he ran across the stage to the back of the arena for some peculiar reason. He was entertaining and funny, but baffled the audience and the judges (and me!) Despite being completely out-of-tune, wearing an absolutely hideous outfit and no talent whatsoever, the judges surprisingly voted him through but I can guarantee that he won't last long throughout the competition. But still, bless him. At least he tried...

The Teenage Dream(er)...

16-year-old Luke Lucas aka N-Dubz fan/ Tulisa lover brought the house down with his soulful rendition of Who's Loving You? by Michael Jackson, which proved a very brave choice of song and completely blew the house down, impressing both the audience and the judges. He was so adorable and even had all of his birthdays, Christmases, holidays, graduations, Thanksgivings (OK, getting too American here) all mishmashed into one when he got to peck Tulisa on the cheek and she gave him one back after nodding like an obedient puppy. This boy's teenage dream definitely became a reality!!! Two birds, one stone! *football hooligan accent* GET IN!

Are you loving the X-Factor??? Thoughts?


*excited giggles accompanied with seal clapping*

The X-Factor Auditions Week 2 - The Round up

(A little late, but so what?!) The madness continues! In the words of Monsieur Cowell, "Embrace the madness!" The second instalment never failed to disappoint and provided us with many surprises as more wannabes auditioned across the country for that life-changing million-pound record deal. It has become somewhat clear that the X-Factor is not what it used to be in terms of the auditionees. It seems to me that they have a clear idea of what direction they want to go in, It seems that this year will finally see the demise of the typical X-Factor winner who is just stripped down and made into a puppet and someone with flair, individuality and creativity. We have singers (obviously), rappers and and songwriters - people who know what kind of artist they want to be and have their own creative visions. people who want to be genuine artists and not just manufactured. Time for a recap methinks!

The 'WTF?!'...

The biggest surprise of the evening had to be Johnny who initially looked like he had been taken styling tips from Tim Westwood. Seriously, this audition was the epitome of the Susan Boyle syndrome. Everyone was cynical about him, until he started singing Etta James' At Last in his own  unique way. Rather surreal when you watch it, but it is definitely a must see! He seemed like a genuinely pleasant and sweet guy though and had a lot of likeability, which will no doubt work in his favour throughout the competition. He also reminded me of a male Lady Gaga because of his eccentricity, so there is a possibility that he could make it in the real world. Whilst this song is a very popular choice amongst so many auditionees, no  one had ever had heard a rendition of it sung by a man. Not too sure whether he'd go all the way, but we shall wait and see...

The Smooth-as-chocolate-soulful-sweetheart-but-also-very-scary...

Derry aka Kelly Rowland lover melted hearts on stage with an Usher song, but also came across as slightly weird as he kept obsessing over Kelly. He undoubtedly had a smooth and soulful voice and has that charm and I also think there is a possibility he could sell records. There's no denying that he is exceptionally cute as well. Girls all over the world will adore him. Move over Usher, Ne-yo and Jason Derulo? We shall see...

The Ker-azy Bad...

Watching these people almost made my poor eyes and ears bleed. Seriously, that's how horrendous they sounded. I literally could not stop cringing and wanted it to end. This awful act came in the form of married couple (altogether now, Awwww....) known as The Duo, who absolutely murdered Beyonce's smash hit, If I Were a Boy, sounding nothing less than a pair of chipmunks, singing completely out of tune. It was even worse that they were singing it in front of Kelly, Beyonce's former bandmate, who was cringing at the panel. that poor woman - I feel your pain, honey. Let's hope Beyonce never gets round to witnessing that car crash of an audition. Sorry to disappoint you, lovelies, but singing just isn't your forte. (Was funny though! But NO!)

The 'completely tore up the stage'...

After many horrific groups had auditioned and our hopes were beginning to be dashed, things quickly began to turn around. JLS, The Wanted, Take That, One Direction - move over! There's a new boyband man band in town out to steal your pretty little platinum crown in the form of The Keys, who demonstrated flair and originality by giving a very powerful and exciting performance which blew both the audience and the judges away. The competition then began to become very exciting. Loved it!!!! Another stand-out act from Saturday's show was Misha who absolutely brought the house down and impressed the judges and audience with her mind-blowing rendition of R.E.S.P.E.C.T along with some soulful vibes and rapping. After telling her story about how she never knew her parents and that she was raised by her aunt added to the suspense and had me hoping that she would be brilliant, as we know that the judges are becoming more and more immune to sob stories. But OMFG! She 100% had the talent to accompany her powerful, heart-rendering and inspiring story and was also very likeable as well. This girl completely smashed it!!!! These two acts are definitely the ones to watch! Cannot. Wait. Another huge surprise of the evening came in the form of Craig, who literally risked it for a chocolate biscuit (terrible joke) as his parents, who were sat in the audience, had no idea that he had taken a day off work in the biscuit factory to audition for the X Factor, and boy did it go down a storm! He had a soulful voice and sounded (and arguably even looked like) a male version of Adele. He completely owned the performance and had great stage presence. His parents must have been sooo proud. He'll definitely do well in the real world. Watch out, Adele! Our Craig here is about to steal your multi-platinum crown!

Things are really starting to heat up! Only two weeks in and I'm already loving it! Thoughts???