The X Factor Semi Finals - The Round Up

Last night, the aromatic smell of victory was floating in the air as the final four took to the shimmering stage and sang their young hearts out for a place in next week's final ( I can't believe it has come so quick!!!). It feels like only yesterday that they were just fresh-faced auditionees wanting a shot at a music career and it is so impressive of how far they have come. Even if they don't win, it does not matter at all -  they are definitely guaranteed a career of some sort in music or any other sectors of the entertainment industry. Last night the pressure was on like Donkey Kong!!! The final four all sang two songs each - one Motown classic and one that they believe will get them into the final! It's crunch time!!!

The X Factor Quarter Finals - The Round Up

And then there were 5! That coveted record deal is drawing nearer and nearer. As weeks have gone by I have noticed that these have gotten shorter and shorter by the week! Just goes to show how quickly time flies! This week  the theme was Heroes and Guilty Pleasures and each of the finalists had two songs each - one 'guilty pleasure' song and one by one of their musical heroes. So who was flying high in the sky and who got a taste of Kryptonite and fell flat?

The X Factor Live Show Week 7 - The Round Up

And then there were six!! Movies week! Woo!! Last night, the X Factor took a trip to the movies and provide us with some interesting performances. Bring on the glamour, the gowns and the glitz (and yet another very bizarre dance number from Mr Dermot O'Leary and the women in gold catsuits) as the finalists performed some familiar tracks from iconic movies. But who was a huge box office smash and worthy of an Oscar and who was just a bargain basement, straight-to-DVD flop and was worthy of a Razzie?

The X Factor Live Show Week 6 - The Round Up

In the words of Alan Carr, what a week it's been! Frankie Cocozza exited The X Factor so it opened up a place for one of the previous contestants who never got to face a public vote - Amelia Lily, James Michael, Jonjo Kerr and 2 Shoes. The public made the right choice and voted Amelia Lily back in which was the best decision ever made!!! Not sure why they got rid of her in the first place, to be honest! Anyway, this week's X Factor paid tribute to the wonderful Lady Gaga and Queen, who both totally smashed it at the MTV EMA's last week with knockout performances. So it was time to find out, who was on the edge of glory, and who just needed to shut their Playboy mouth?

The X Factor Live Show Week 5 - The Round Up

And then there were nine!!! Note to Dermot O'Leary: As much as I love you and think that you look very dapper in those suits every week, Halloween was last week and we therefore do not need your dancing every week. Sack the zombie choreographer!! Anyways, it was time to whip out those dancing shoes and get the mirrorballs out. It was Club Classics week, but who completely painted the town red and who was just murder on the dancefloor (not in a good way either)?

The X Factor Live Show Week 4 - The Round Up

Tulisa stole my catsuit!!!

Let's hear you SCREAMMMMMMM!!! It was Halloween week on the X Factor this week so there were some interesting performances being conjured up in the rather boiling hot cauldron. But who made everything go bump in the night and who was just a reign of terror? Alexandra Burke, who previously appeared on the show in 2008 and became victorious, was sitting in for Kelly this week. Kelly was ill with a throat infection, which sounds rather nasty, and doctors therefore told her she wasn't able to travel. However, the scariest thing this week just had to be Louis's poor impersonation of Kelly Rowland, which was disturbing in its own way. In fact, I have no idea which was more terrifying, that or Dermot's creepy dancing at the very beginning of the show, where he actually did look like he'd been choreographed by a zombie or the living dead...

The X Factor Live Show Week 3 - The Round Up

Big hair, big egos, big voices, big arguments, big performances...this can only mean one thing: Rock Week! So it is time to find out who was on fire and who was fizzling out in the frying pan. Which acts completely headbanged their way through tonight's show and which ones are just a piece of trash on the floor in a rockstar's hotel room? Feel the heat, embrace the madness, devour the drama, it's time to have a look back at this weeks serving of the X Factor live show...

The X Factor Live Show Week 2 - The Round Up

A little late but we shall continue. After the X Factor had turned into the Shock Factor yet again after four contestants were eliminated by the judges, it was business as usual this week. What was particularly shocking was that Amelia left as I though she completely owned her performance the previous night and absolutely blew the roof off! She had the most powerful voice out of the whole competition and it was the saddest thing ever to see her go. As for the rest of them it was time for them to up the ante as the pressure was on like a Bonbon where they had to sing their little hearts out for their chance at a life-changing career move. With the theme of love and heartbreak, there were about to be some hearts broken as the fate of these contestants was left in the safe hands of the British public....

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 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???