I think we can safely say that Birmingham was not overflowing with talent after our X Factor judges visited the city on this weeks show. We might have got a little A to Z knowledge of the areas thanks to 50 year old Alan who kicked off the show this week, but talent was just not the focal point of Brum.

Just what possesses some folks to get up there and sing is beyond me. I am all for self-praise and loving yourself but seriously some of the people who audition have to be deranged. Let’s take for example The Stunners. Why oh why? With their confidence stuck in over drive you just knew they were setting themselves up for a fall. But they truly believed they were the business; even in their matching ensemble that looked like a Primark throw back circa 1999. It’s watching acts like these, that you really understand why the judges get paid the seven figures they do to judge this show.

With groups like the Stunners, Check-Out, Priceless and Double Trouble (no relation to Triple Trouble last week thank God) encouraging me to change channel tout suite along came the simply divine Miss Fitz. Made up of a 2006 reject and two gal pals she met when attending the audition the trio which would cause any red blooded persons head to turn brought a welcomed splash of originality to the show. Their jazzesque version of Toxic by Britney Spears had the judge’s toes tapping and rightly so. It’s about time folks realized to stand out you do need to be a little creative with it, although dressing up as a purple gorilla or with a chicken on your head might be taking it a little too far.)

With 2009 looking like it might just be a man’s year, the ability to entertain and take a risk with song choice paid off for Jamie Afro and the leather clad Behrouz who hit the stage with songs from Kings of Leon and the Scissor Sisters respectively. Talk about Rock Rules, I just couldn’t help thinking Ruth Lorenzo might appear on stage at any given moment.

Both guys deserve the boot camp pass without a shadow of a doubt but like Laura White last year will we see them struggle with song choices later on down the line when their style is so concentrated? Let’s hope not as for entertainment value they both kick ass.

It is acts such as these guys, and Danyl last week that are using this live audience to their advantage. They are giving us a preview of their stage presence, something we would never get when they were just performing in front of the judges and Simon’s bodyguards in previous years. This will obviously help them stay in the competition further down the line when the Judges mess up their songs and outfits if they do make the Final 12.

The X-Factor just isn’t the X-Factor without a sad story though is it? Daniel last year, and now Daryl Markham this year. Obviously stories like his put our lives in perspective and allow us to see ‘our’ Cheryl’s mascara run and tears well in Louis’s eyes proving that the four judges are very very human after all. You can’t help but wonder if Simon and Louis will eventually ridicule Daryl, just as Daniel was last year. Let’s hope for his sake he isn’t, but hey this is business right, nothing personal.

Of course can’t sign off without giving a mention to Rozelle Phillips who left her home of Trinidad and Tobaygo (said in a Dublin accent…gotta love Louis) to pursue her dream. Damn that girl can sing. ‘Our’ Cheryl said it was the best version of Jennifer Hudson’s One Night Only she has ever heard and for once I am in total agreement. This 21 year old has possibly put herself in pole position for the gals with her performance last night after blowing everyone out of the water.

The tension, the tension and from what I hear, the best is still yet to come….so until next time … Melanie Cornish XXX