The X Factor Live Show Week 1 - the Round Up

What a live show it was last night! Embrace the drama, feel the fireworks, revel in the excitement! The performances last night really proved to be a mixed bag and there was plenty of conflict and bickering amongst the judges. The first theme of this week was UK vs. USA where the contestants had to take on a hot hit from an American artist and a British artist. After being informed of the cruel twist, in which each judge will have choose one of their own acts to go home on results night and consequently resulted in the suspension of the public vote for this week, the pressure was on to deliver knock-out performances to save themselves from elimination.

• First up was Amelia Lily who completely smashed it with a very interesting rendition of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. She gave a powerful performance and was rocking a new candy pink hairdo. She received excellent feedback form the judges unsurprisingly. 
• Next up was Johnny who gave a rather space-age like performance of Cher's huge hit Believe which did him no justice whatsoever. He received mixed feedback where Gary showed dislike for the performance where he described the performance as 'cheap'.
• The Rhythmix ladies absolutely smashed it singing Hip Hop First Lady Nicki Minaj's super-duper hit, Super Bass and they really did put their own spin on it. They proved to be the sassy, kick-ass girlband that was desperately needed on The X Factor. They received a huge thumbs-up from the judges.
• Frankie, who showed off a kooky new look, sang the tune of the moment The A Team by Ed Sheeran and proved to be a big hit with the judges but will this be enough to get him through to next week? Not too sure. Not a huge Frankie fan, to be honest...
• Sophie proved to be a dark horse in the competition after she sang a stripped down version of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream with sexy dark locks and a killer new outfit. She looked absolutely stunning, hopefully she'll be saved. I honestly think that this girl has a lot more to offer in the competition. 
• Jonjo on the other hand seemed to lack a lot of confidence as he escaped right out of his comfort zone where he sang the classic rock song You Really Got Me and both Kelly and Tulisa expressed their disappointment but Gary had claimed that he had made Louis decision easy, which was a bit harsh. 
• 2 Shoes added a touch of campness to the show with a Barbie-esque pink car and sang Girls Aloud's Something Kinda Ooh much to Gary's disappointment. Whether it was fun or crazy remains a question...
• Reunited with his beloved guitar, James sang The Beatles Ticket to Rode. e had a great voice but it looks like it wasn't enough to impress the judges. Still believe that he has so much more to give if he stays in the competition. 
• Misha B totally smashed it with her rendition of Adele's Rolling in the Deep, in which he added her own urban flavour to it with her rap. Her stage presence was great and she was a massive hit with the judges!
• Nu Vibe brought some sexiness where they sang Beautiful People which was pretty average, but there is quite a bit of room for improvement. 
• Marcus also killed it with his rendition of the current No.1 hit by Maroon 5 Moves Like Jagger with soulful vocals and looked very dapper.
• Sami brought her powerful voice to the stage and even Gary said that he will walk out of the competition if she is not there next week Looks like things are really heating up.
• The Risk then sang Plan B's She Said and completely nailed it. Not bad for a group who had just been put together at the Judges Houses' stage - so late into the competition. The new line up worked really well. Maybe it was the best risk that was ever taken...
• Craig also proved to be one of the standout performances of the night singing Jar of Hearts with his very own arrangement. He proved to be a true artist and the gamble paid off brilliantly.
• After bringing show much drama before, Kitty proved to be rather boring after her rendition of Who Wants to Live Forever, though it's obvious that she can sing and stuff. She didn't really bring anything to be honest. 
• Newly redhead Janet sang beautifully and brought the perfect closure to the live show where she sang Coldplay's Fix You. 

No doubt that emotions will be running high on the results show. Oh, how it would totally suck to be an X Factor judge right now - they sure have a tough job ahead of them...

We'll have to see what happens.

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*