X Factor Blog – Rock Week November 2, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Music, TV , 2comments

So they finally got her ousted then? Poor Rachel, who I am assuming was told to calm it down on Saturday’s show after making a real spectacle of herself the week before with her Stacey impression, has been booted.

I had thought Lloyd would have been saying Ta-ra to the show after that horrendous performance mind you.  I mean, what on earth was ‘our’ Cheryl thinking.  I Kissed a Girl, a rock song?

These song choices by these judges have me reeling week after week, these are folks who are supposed to know their stuff and they keep messing up time and time again jeopardizing their acts’ future in the competition. But hey, we like seeing folks make fools of themselves on live TV don’t we? However it was Rachel Adadeji who had to say her farewells last night in the sing off, which was a bit of a shame as Rachel could actually sing, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

Twit and Twat killed it again this week with that old Irish charm keeping them in for yet another week. Do they have the potential to make it to the final I wonder? I mean in all fairness they suck, but still would I rather watch them make total asses of themselves as opposed to Lucie cavort around the stage, yes I would.

Even though folks around me are tipping the Welsh chick to win it, my money is still on one of Simon’s lads to reign supreme this year. I must admit, Danyl is obviously close to cracking point after being voted as ‘more unpopular than Hitler.’ As serious as that may sound, dude seriously do you think people are really bothered by you that much?

Methinks someone is playing the drama queen role in hopes of securing an Emmy nod as well. It is not that serious. Yes Danyl has his haters that’s for sure, but only for one reason, that he is a threat to the rest of the contestants. So my advice to Danyl this week would be dry your eyes, man up and get out there and sing your ass off next week and, brushing up on a wee bit of Latin on this fine Monday morning, Illegitimi non carborundum ( translated as don’t let the bastards grind you down.)

Olly is looking very comfortable up there on that stage and for once I am in total agreement with the judges who commented on just how much he improves as the weeks go on and on. I am sure they will have our Essex boy in the beauty parlour this week for a spray tan and waxing after baring his chest this week to the sheer delight of all his female fans out there (myself included.)

Vanity is as important in this competition as vocal talent obviously after I found out that each of the contestants goes through a rigorous teeth whitening process before the live shows begin.  Nothing like a Colgate smile

I hope next week is a bit more exciting as the live shows are becoming just as predictable as the auditions, our ‘Cheryl’ gets to promote her new solo career, Danii upstages our ‘Cheryl’ with her sense of style, Louis and Simon gripe about rules and the contestants continue to play it safe. Please step it up folks, or you can expect to see the gruesome twosome in that final.

Melanie Cornish

Rachel Adedeji Not So Dignified In Defeat? November 2, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Music, TV , 19comments

Rachel Adedeji might have become the fourth person to be booted off The X Factor last night, but did anyone else find it quite so uncomfortable to watch as I did?

Last Saturday saw her acting waaaaay too much like her fellow ‘Girl’ contestant Stacey Solomon with her “Oh my God, Oh My God, I can’t believe it, thank you thank you” speech. But yesterday night’s behaviour actually made me want to turn my TV off.

As my housemate and I were praying for cutie Lloyd’s safe passage, the body language from Rachel actually made us scream at the TV, it was just all wrong! Talk about being ungracious in defeat, I mean, she wouldn‘t even wipe her own tears away, it was limp arms at dawn!

I’ve got to admit though, Rachel did have an amazing voice and it is sad to lose such a diva-esque contestant, but I think Simon did the right thing by “letting the public decide” because let’s face it, if they kept her and she went on to win, there’s going to be very few people buying her album.

Personally I think Rachel’s true personality might not have come through on the show, because watching her ‘best bit’s’ VT on The Xtra Factor made me fall in love with her a little bit, but what’s done is done, so as we reach the halfway part, who do you think deserves to win?

Ruth. x

X Factor Blog – Live Shows Week 2 October 19, 2009

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So with the contestants down to ten and Scotland losing its rep this year in pub turned wedding singer, Rikki Lonely, will it be third time unlucky for poor ole Rachel next week? God bless her getting into the final two both weeks.

Let’s hope she can pick herself up for next weeks show. Danni really needs to think outside of the box for her girls next week mind you as all three performances were a bit bland last night, Lucie was especially boring and I honestly thought she deserved to be in the bottom two with Rikki more than Rachel.

Just as I am sure many of you thought Miss Frank looked like they were heading to being left on that stage, I too was hoping that Louis’s gals wouldn’t fall prey to the sing off this week without Louis there for moral support.  But can I say that the only bonafide train wreck in that theatre this week was actually sitting on that judging panel? What the hell was up with ‘our’ Cheryl this weekend? Is the life as a solo performer becoming too much for her that her wee boys are starting to suffer?

After Lloyd’s performance on Saturday of Leona’s Bleeding Love, (which for the record I thought he did a great job of) and then Simons tongue lashing about her choice of songs for her wee boys, ‘our’ Cheryl turned on the water works and for what? Why was it such a hard week? Because she was performing on the show too? I was/am a bit lost as to the relevance of that comment. This is what this chick does for a living, she should be used to this…and if she can’t multi-task, then don’t, handle your business, which I believe is to launch the careers of others in this role as X Factor Judge. Her cool points are slipping away effortlessly here and we are only into the second week of the live show.

But if one thing was going to put a smile on the faces of both judges and audience it was going to be the re-named duo…Twit and Twat, thanks to my brother in law for that contribution. John and Edward singing Toxic was ingenious. This pair of tools were thrown yet another lifeline and I was pleased, again for the lack of moral support from their mentor and the fact that they are just exceptionally amusing to watch. They are obviously enjoying their time on the show and are not afraid to step out in red PVC suits and shake their stuff for the world and why should they be? They are 17 years old and just having a good laugh. When so many other contestants and the judges are signing Kleenex contracts, it is nice to have a these guys just for the entertainment factor.

Simon had every right to be smug and I think he will be playing that smug card for a while after his trio of hunks went through easily. No doubt about it, Simon has a fine group helping him win the competition this year. And if Olly Murs continues to perform like he did on Saturday night, he is the one to watch for this year, no doubt in my mind. I thought Danyl who was obviously on a mission to prove this week that he is not as cocky as the judges made out last week, was verging on being classed as a bit of Cheddar or a shot of high fructose corn syrup. He turned the modesty dial just a little bit too high this week. I am a firm believer if you are as talented as he genuinely is, just be yourself. I didn’t get the impression last week he was coming off as a lil too sure of himself, I just see a very talented guy who enjoys what he does. Don’t give in to the losers Danyl, stay as you are mate, you are doing just fine.  And my sex-god Jamie Archer, I honestly had visions of him singing Genie in a Bottle when they said he was doing a Christine Aguilera joint, but then I thought, no its not Cheryl coaching the oldies, it’s the man, so I knew I had nothing to worry about.

Wonderful to see Clive Davis and Whitney Houston mentor this week and don’t we just know someone is going to get fired for that wardrobe mishap…where is Gok when you need him? Great to hear Whitney sing again, she is the ultimate diva at the end of the day and looking forward to her returning in April.  Was pleased to hear her critique the contestants as opposed to playing up to their egos…a dose of reality is what everyone needs at the end of the day and no better woman for that job this week than Whit.

OUT THE DOOR PREDICTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK: I am going with Rachel as no matter how much potential I think this girl has, the public are just not feeling her which is a shame. I want to be proved wrong and the saccharine coated Lucie be booted off as I am JUST not liking her, but I think she will be in for another week at least

Until next week kids

Melanie Cornish

X Factor Blog – Kandy Rain Get The Boot October 12, 2009

Posted by Melanie in : Music, TV , 2comments

Could I even fake surprise last night when Kandy Rain got voted off the first X Factor Live show? Nope.

They were destined to fall at the first hurdle, but not because they weren’t talented (although the blonde one did very little on either night to keep them in the comp anyway) but when the claws came out on Saturday night, I doubt anyone had their antiseptic cream at the ready to ward off the perfectly manicured nails of Dannii and ‘our’ Cheryl.

In rare form the two (bullies) female judges dominated the judging panel on Saturday for all the wrong reasons. I am sure I was not alone last night, when the camera scanned the audience and showed the backs of only three judges, in thinking that Dannii had been put on the naughty step after her low blow aimed straight at Danyl’s manhood on the previous evening. How dare she?

Twitter was aghast, with Danyl top trending topic for at least four hours after Dannii took aim after school teacher Danyl killed the first live show with his performance of And I Am Telling You.

Of course the missing judge turned out to be Louis who, like many millions was shocked to hear about the sudden death of Boyzone member Stephen Gately in Majorca where he had a home with his partner Andrew. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and the rest of the band at this time.

So with Louis unable to defend his gals, they were led to the slaughter. Even the vote from Simon failed to rescue them from Deadlock as they faced off with Rachel. How Rachel ended up in the hot seat when Rikki Lonely got through I will never know but there it was.

Kandy Rain exited the competition with the least amount of public votes. Can’t help thinking they were voted off for all the wrong reasons, including the fact that Louis had them styled like they were headlining the Ann Summers 2009 Halloween Party, but I am sure we will see them again next year and the year after as that is what this show is all about isn’t it? Regurgitating rejects.

All in all, not necessarily the most amazing first live show I have seen. Lucie doing Leona made me barf, how could Dannii put Lucie under the scrutinous eye of Simon Cowell with that song choice all the while bestowing a crown jewel upon Dagenham Stacey, makes me wonder just how much favouritism goes on behind the scenes. Granted Dannii did say Lucie was given that song to prove she can sing big songs, well hmmm would she be in the final 12 if she couldn’t sing big songs?

‘Our’ Cheryl’s trio were so boring. I mean Lloyd singing Justin Timberlake was painfully bad, his attempt at dancing just iced a stale cake really. ‘Our’ Cheryl needs to pick it up next week methinks.

Hopefully each act will eventually emerge from their comfort zone as the shows progress and do something out of the ordinary, as if this is what we are getting for the next ten weeks I need to start blogging on Strictly instead.

But in saying that the over 25s are enough to keep me coming back week after week and even though I have slated them on more than one occasion I have to admit I did find Dumb and Dumber ever so entertaining on Saturday night and was actually quite pleased to see them stay in. Not sure how many lifelines they have in this competition but they are still there, for now anyway.

Melanie Cornish

Louis Admits He Won’t Win The X Factor October 8, 2009

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The X Factor live shows kick of this weekend, and what better way to motivate your category than publicly announcing that they are rubbish eh Louis?

Poor old John & Edward, Miss Frank and Kandy Rain might have been looking to Louis for guidance ahead of this week’s show, but after he admitted that he doesn’t think any of his groups are good enough to win the show we feel very sorry for them.

Understandably he admitted that he would much rather be mentoring the Over 25’s (is that because they’re AWESOME? Louis) and he confessed; “I’ll get into the final, but I won’t win. He [Simon] always gets the best ones. They’ve all got more experience than mine.”

Simon Cowell, responded by giving Louis a telling off; “It’s not a question of being spoiled for choice, it’s how you prepare your contestants on the day. And I prepare my contestants better than the others.”

Whilst we admit that Simon does have an incredible category this year, we can’t forget about Stacey and Lucie from the girls and the super gorgeous Lloyd in the boys (is it wrong that we’re crushing on a 16 year old?), and also, I think Miss Frank are pretty damn good, and if anyone is going to make it in the groups, my money is on them!

But what do you think…. Who are YOU rooting for?

Ruth x

X Factor Blog – Week Seven – The Final 12 October 5, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Music, TV , 2comments

So our final 12 have been selected and well not like there was too many surprises was there? We all knew that Louis would put through Dumb and Dumber  John and Edward, he would be bowled over by the ex-strippers, even though he said they wouldn’t really have the vote of the ladies behind them.

Louis also admitted that he would enjoy the challenge that Miss Frank would give him, the trio of course being my top pick out of Louis’s three. But that rain was not doing anything for the Italian Tourism trade was it? Were the Gods really crying over the choices he had made or was that Louis trash-talking after a heavy night on the Guinness I wonder.

Anyone else think ‘our’ Cheryl was out of line with her ‘can I take a minute’ drama when she was about to boot out the 2009 version of Rhydian? I mean that poor guy, I bet he wanted to pull off each of those false lashes individually with tweezers when after all that she gave him a ‘No’.

Cruel is not the word and shocking that she failed to put through my cutie patootie Duane and the charismatic Ethan, who, if I am true to myself, was basically banking on his looks to carry him through when his vocals weren’t right. He will probably turn up in the next episode of American Idol anyway. So for ‘our’ Cheryl we have Lloyd, Rikki Lonely (some stage name there right) and her homie Joe who I think is the strongest out of the three.

Dannii didn’t really bring too many surprises in her picks really. After the audition on Saturday I had succumbed to the fact that Essex girl Stacey would be put through instead of my previous prediction, Despina. Overjoyed for Stacey though, as she is that one contestant that I think many of us can relate to and get behind.

As for Rachel, I just love her and think she is super-talented, so pleased to see her go through too. No real views on the Welsh singer Lucie really, except she can sing, so with that being said Danii is in with a chance of getting to the final at least, but I would be putting my money on Stacey no matter how good the others are. Essex stand up and stay standing…

…because Simon put through Essex native Olly. Even though I was devastated for all three of those given the boot out of the over 25s category as they all should have been there, I think Simon and the semi clad Sinnita (what the hell was that all about? I mean seriously talk about attention deprived, even Cowell looked shell-shocked when she walked out) made the best choice.

There was just no way he could let an afro and a Mohican go through… that would have been too much for the hair and make up to deal with each Saturday! But seriously, Simon had a tough job as both those girls sang their hearts out on Saturday night, Treyc blew me away for the first time when she did her audition, more so than those Robert Palmer-esque backing singers who failed to compliment any of the contestants.

And was it just me who was concerned as to how close those guys were to the pool as Simon sat up on his deck looking down on them as he gave them the verdict? A couple of steps back and drowning your sorrows might be taken a bit more literal for those who failed to make the cut.

So with Danyl, Olly and Jamie making up the final 12 get ready for the live shows kids as they are just five days away

Melanie Cornish.x

Graham Norton In Trouble Over Lesbian Comment September 30, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Ruth's Ramblings, TV , 2comments

I’m completely shocked at the news that Graham Norton could become the latest celeb at the centre of a BBC scandal after he made a throwaway remark about lesbians!

Let’s face it, Graham’s gay, so there’s no way we can accuse him of being homophobic, but after oodles of angry viewers of his BCC show have rang up the Beeb for a good old moan, it seems he’s been accused of endorsing sexual stereotypes. Oh please.

Anyway, our Graham was looking on this website about a jumpsuit for ladies when he joked that an illustration of a rather heavy-set woman with short hair was a “strange lesbian”. Not something we thought would offend a million or so viewers, but anyway, it was obviously a rubbish night on the telly, so people decided to pick up the phone.

Anyway, guest Ruth Jones tried to take the focus away from the lesbian doodle by saying she might not necessarily be a lesbian and asking what a lesbian looks like, to which Graham giggled, and, pointing at the picture, replied, “That!”.

In his defence, Graham did admit that “could have gone to a very bad hairdresser”, but either way, is anyone else in shock that we’re actually discussing a drawing for goodness sake, it doesn’t have a sexual preference or an feelings about whether or not it’s accused of being a lesbian.

However, in a hasty statement, the BBC said; “Although the initial references might have been inoffensive if considered on their own, they prompted an exchange with one of the programme’s guests which gave the references the appearance of perpetuating or reinforcing a potentially offensive stereotype. The programme team were reminded of the need to avoid any possibility of being seen to endorse offensive sexual stereotypes.”

Do you think Graham should be in big trouble, or was it just light-hearted banter about his fellow homosexuals? Have a look at the video and let me know…

Ruth. x

X Factor Blog – Week Six – Bootcamp September 28, 2009

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I can hardly say I am surprised with the 24 acts selected to head on over to the judge’s houses. Was I shocked to see the young Brummie; Dominic denied another shot at the X Factor role? Somewhat, bless him and Danie for their emotional pow wow when he got the elbow. Nothing easy about getting voted off after making the final 50.

But I am overjoyed to see Simon take the reigns on the Over 25’s this year. Has he got the pick of the crop or what? I mean cutting that six down to three is not going to be easy and I am sure the six individuals that made it through recognize that Mr. ‘I Will Make You Famous’ is going to have his work cut out.

He will be cracking the whip over Danyl’s head almost immediately I am sure after his Simply Red performance last night. Wasn’t it Laura White who did the same kind of thing last year, went in over her head a little too much and almost sunk. Have to admit Danyl lost cool points with me for that last night, and the fact that he cried on more than one occasion.

Not saying that I am adverse to a man who can publicly shed a tear of course, but I need the men I admire from afar to be ‘men’ and not feel the need to hand them the Kleenex all the time. Still respect the voice and the talent but his personality points have dwindled this weekend.

But get in there Jamie Afro and Nichole…so so pleased to see both of them all set to be guided by Mr. Cowell. Still a little unsure as if my girl Nichole will get to Si’s Killer 3, but hey you just never know with this show.

Dannii got the girls and will be helped along by her sister Kylie, I mean come on, how many young girls would trade their Girls Aloud / Sugarbabes / PussyCatDolls CD collections for that opportunity I wonder? I am pleased Essex Girl Stacey got her dream to be mentored by Dannii as I think after literally being ignored over the last couple of episodes Dannii deserves to have a fan or two around her.

Can we say P-R-E-D-I-C-T-A-B-L-E, Louis Walsh landing the groups again? Are the producers trying to tell us that Not insinuating that there is anything untoward going on X-Factor HQ but you JUST know that Dumb and Dumber are going to make it through under the guidance of their fellow countryman don’t you? It’s just as obvious as the woman in the chippy asking you if you want salt and vinegar on your chips really.

However would be great to actually see Louis develop Miss Frank (who ever thought up that name needs to be fired ASAP or someone needs to explain in serious detail where the hell that name came from in the comments section please as it does the gals no justice), the three girls who the judges brought together to give them another shot at stardom.

Shame about Tru Colourz making a quick exit after lying about their age. They will be shown next week being disqualified by Louis who they were not exactly enthralled about being their mentor anyway. They are replaced by Harmony Hood.

‘Our’ Cheryl landed the lads and rumour has it she will be joined by none other than boy band bad boy Robbie Williams in making her cut next week. Now that should be great TV. Heard Mr. Williams was making a come back over here in the UK and where better than the X-Factor? Not a bad group for ‘our’ Cheryl, even though she openly admitted she is not used to ‘working’ with boys last night.

She has some decent folks to work with though, Ethan, Lloyd and her homeboy Joseph McElderry especially. Looks like everyone is in for some serious deliberation next week when the contestants and their mentors fly off to Italy, LA and Dubai for the final cut.

My predictions for the Final 12 are as follows:

Girls – Lucie, Rachel and Despina

Boys – Ethan, Joe and Duane

Groups – Kandy Rain, Miss Frank, John and Edward

Over 25s – Jamie Afro, Danyl and Nichole

Let’s see how right or wrong I am next week.

Melanie Cornish

Leave Alesha Dixon Alone Yeah? September 22, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Ruth's Ramblings, TV , 1 comment so far

Alesha Dixon might not be the best choice to be the new judge on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, what with being a singer and not a dancer, but come on… isn’t it time to let it go now?

Just face it, the BBC want someone young and ‘down with the kids’ as part of their show (they have to steal some of the X Factor viewers after all) and Alesha did win the show a few years back, so she does know what it’s like to be a contestant.

Personally, I’d like to point out that singers do actually need to know how to dance, and as Alesha showed during her stint on Strictly, she doesn’t exactly have two left feet!

Alesha has even said; “People forget that I had four months in solid training with a world champion – 10 hours a day. It’s not like I have just been picked off the street to judge a dancing show. I do know what I’m talking about!” Go on Alesha!

I know some folk might be a little riled that Arlene got the boot to make way for Alesha, but for over 4,000 people to complain following Saturday’s show, come on folks it wasn’t THAT bad.

I’ve got to admit, I did wonder why they’d brought Alesha in when I first heard, because replacing a choreographer with a singer doesn’t really make sense, but Alesha can identify with the competitors, and offer advice from her experience – surely that’s a pretty valuable tool?

However, rather than wasting your phone credit moaning to the BBC about your Saturday night viewing, why give that cash to a charity – a far better use for £1 if you ask me?

Ruth.x

X Factor Blog – Week Five September 21, 2009

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So with the auditions finally coming to a close, it looks like Boot Camp will be something to look forward to, doesn’t it? You can guarantee there will be a couple we thought would sail through who might not get any further, if the predictability of the show is already anything to go by.

Saturday night saw me going against the decision of my long time fave judge Simon when he didn’t think 31 year old Nichole had the potential to make it to the top of the ladder. In the words of the ultimate Mariah Carey impersonator Fouad Djaoublia    “You wrong Simon, you wrong.”

Granted Nichole has picked up a slew of bad habits singing on the bar and club circuit but she can easily put those right don’t you think? I would be lying if I didn’t say I was upset with the fact that me and ‘my’ judge faced our first disagreement, what with that and the emergence of the 80 year old Eileen Chapman vying for Simon’s attention, I felt all was lost.

And looking at some of Saturdays offerings it was. Even seeing Ashley join ‘our’ Cheryl on set for her birthday wasn’t enough to save me from sinking further into a mood. And talking of Ashley Cole, was it just me or did anyone see how anti-blonde ‘our’ Cheryl got when Prison teacher Faye walked on in her lace and silk? Obviously having Ashley (who we know likes a bit a blonde) in the audience while the River Deep Mountain High singing temptress got up on stage brought out a side of ‘our’ Cheryl we have never really seen before.

Lots of disasters on the show over the weekend, nothing unusual there, but have to give a mention to Mr. Wigan. What was up with that and the various others that took to the stage and thought that getting their kit off would get them all the way to Boot Camp. Like Mr. Wigan realized, it takes a lot more than a decent set of abs to warm the hearts of that panel.

But as quickly as I got mad at Simon on Saturday night, he walked straight back into my good books when he gave us a little wordplay after the debut performance of C.A.S.Y.R (Care and Support Your Relatives.) You could tell the two cousins who performed a terrible version of Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown’s No Air were full of pish when they said in their pre-performance interview that there was no other duet in musical history that could match up to them. YEAH RIGHT!!

Simon renamed them, causing me and many millions of others to LOL, C.R.A.P (Caring Relatives are Problematic.) You know they really thought they were the coolest coming up with a name like that, bless them. But it wasn’t meant to be for them and many others like them.

The Heartfelt story of the weekend though was to do with the autistic Scott James who blew the judges and the audience away with his version of You Raise Me Up. Having been confined to his house for a third of his life, even if he hadn’t been able to sing like he did he had overcame a huge personal battle standing on that stage in front of thousands and you can’t knock that. But where there is joy there is tears and boy oh boy did we have our fair share of those this weekend.

Closing out the show on Saturday was a duo, as clichéd as it may be, called It Takes Two. Made up of an actual couple – Russell and Katy. The two have entertained on the UK resort circuit and have ended up at Alton Towers, where Katy drives a train and I think Russ is a waiter or bartender. Anyhow was it me or was he just a lil OTT?

After their performance you could see that the talent of the two was Katy, which was probably the reason why Russ had a hysterical crying fit on the shoulder of his family member and sobbed to his girlfriend that he had let her down. Come on, man up and get a grip son as you know there will be more tears ahead when the judges split the two of you up at Boot Camp and Katy ends up as a soloist with the potential to make the final 24. Just keeping it as real as I can.

Then Teardrops Part Deux came from the Cheryl Cole wannabe who failed to hit the notes of her first song, Amy from Gateshead. Yes she looked the pop star, but was she worthy of a shot at the title after forgetting the words of the second song the Pretenders I’ll Stand By You, which many think is an original of our Cheryl’s Girls Aloud.

Even though Amy is from my neck of the woods and I am all for home town heroes/heroines she is really going to have to sing her boots off to make me believe that she deserves to be up there.

Not afraid to be proven wrong I still say it is a man’s competition and with the emergence of 19 year old US export Ethan outta Illinois and the highly strung 16 year old Curtis who I wanted to put in time out for his cheek I think a man it will be.

BootCamp here we come!

Melanie Cornish.
xx