X Factor 2009

[Toups]

Is anyone watching X Factor 2009???? I am completely shocked and sad that Lucie Jones (she was my favorite) lost to........John and Edward (the worst voices on the show). I understand Simon wants ratings and that's why he saved the Twins but he's made it well known that he doesn't like the twins for their singing voices. I seriously hope this backfires and the ratings drop because he clearly did this for ratings. It's so stupid that these twins are in the competition. I've hated them from the beginning.

[DRW50]

I've seen some of this. I don't watch that often for the reasons you mention -- Simon's games. He loves to talk about THIS IS A SINGING COMPETITION, yet he ruthlessly knocks out the talented acts of others.

The only one I like this year is Olly, of those I've seen.

[Toups]

Yeah, that's so annoying. Clearly, Lucie could sing, while the twins couldn't. Oh well, I just hope somebody notices Lucie's talent and beauty and sign her to a record deal - I think she has the right package to become a big pop star.

[DRW50]

Well, Laura from last season apparently has a top 40 UK hit now, so there's a chance for Lucie. And JLS are doing very well.

I also think that all the big extravaganzas on here can sometimes get in the way; they're entertaining in some doses but overall they seem to end up with a lot of mediocre singing. The only time I really enjoyed them was with Same Difference. I had a soft spot for those two.

[Toups]

Yeah, that's true. I'm glad to hear that some non-winners are getting record deals. I know these competitions aren't the be all and end all. Sure winning helps of course, but it's really about getting noticed and a building a fan base who will follow you after the competition is over.

I just wish Lucie last a few more weeks - I'm pissed that she lost to John/Edward, the worst singers in the competition. If she lost to somebody else, I would've been fine with that.....but this....ugh.

[Chris B]

Here's what I posted at TWoP about the show. Definitely not as good as last season.

Oh my god! I was dying when John and Edward were in the bottom two! I was bored and this week I downloaded the entire series (well starting with the live shows) and have been watching it in a marathon this weekend. Overall the talent is very dull, as many of you have pointed out. I find the judges praise performances that are just ludicrous.

My thoughts on the contestants:

Over 25's: I think Simon did a good job with his final three, not knowing who the other choices are. It seems people are afraid of this category, but most of the hottest popstars are over 25. It's just when you get sentimental and chose a Daniel that things get messy. The afro guy annoys me and can't sing. I wish they'd put his hair in a ponytail or do something to change up his look. Olly seems like he'd make a good popstar and Danyl just annoys me. He sounds like a dying cat most of the time. His warbling through I Didn't Know My Own Strength and Have A Little Faith was terrible. Why don't they call him on it? It's odd.

Groups: Louis should've been owning this show this year. All three groups were interesting and could add something to the pop music scene. Miss Frank with some fine-tuning could be the next Xscape or SWV. I'm not sure about Kandy Rain, but I do wish I could've seen at least a week or two more of them to make up my mind. And of course John and Edward are just the cutest and so lovable. Yeah their vocals aren't the best, but they're better than Lloyd and they put on a performance. I wish Dannii and Simon would stop going on about their voices. Dannii regularly lip-synchs and she actually CAN sing live, she's just lazy with her music. And Simon? Bitch, you had Britney Spears put on the most piss-poor lip-synching performance last year so you can NEVER talk.

Girls: Dannii, how bad were the other girls who made it to boot camp? I used to love Dannii, but she's driving me nuts. It's her third season and she STILL can't get her ass in the studio to capatilize on X Factor? Neon Nights was a GOOD album and was successful. Imagine what she could do with X Factor behind her. That album saved her career and look at her now. Getting back to her acts, they all sucked. I liked Rachel the most, but Dannii's song choices were awful.

Boys: Lloyd only sounded good his first week. He can't perform to make up for his lack of vocal range. He sucks. Joe has a cute smile, but I don't see him being a successful popstar. That other one was gayer than the twins and Joe put together. He was a mess, but I liked him.

Right now I find myself losing interest in the show. Once John and Edward leave there will be nothing to watch. Half these actors are mediocre and the judges are praising them because that's what we're stuck with. Simon wants Danyl bad which is beginning to annoy me. Stop giving him a tongue bath, that's why the UK hates him! Give him constructive criticism so he can actually improve!

[Toups]

Lovable? They were jerks earlier in the competition when they stole singing parts from the other chick during bootcamp.

They have NO vocals at all. When they "sing" they don't even sound decent. Trust me, I don't need my music artists to be the best singers, but they have to at least sound good.

Wow, you lost me, Chris - you're a Jedward fan.

[Chris B]

Without them there would be no show.I never saw bootcamp, but I highly doubt anything the did made them bad enough to be as hated as they are. Some of the press I've seen is just terrible. They are young and harmless. I doubt they're awful people in real life so I can't get behind that.

Their vocals sound fine live and there is a gap in the market for them. Not only can they release a fun pop album, but they could easily have a tv show geared towards kids as well. They're the only stars on this season. The only Leona or Alexandra who can get worldwide attention (good or bad) and can sustain a career, even if it's more of a niche audience.

People were outraged when Lucie left, but Dannii did her no favor regularly giving her songs she couldn't sing. She has less of a voice than the worst member of Girls Aloud or The Saturdays. She couldn't sing those big diva songs and she was boring to boot. Yeah the show can tell us "LOVE DANYL, LOVE LUCIE, LOVE STACEY", but who is going to buy their cds? No one. It'll be Leon all over again.

As I said before, the best singer doesn't mean you're the best performer or all around popstar. All I know is that when John and Edward perform my entire face is lit up from the introduction piece to seeing how they deal with the judges comments. They're delightful and know how to put on a show!

I didn't expect to love them, but I do. Louis also deserves credit. He gives them the perfect song each week and his vision for them suits them perfectly. I was really impressed with him last year as well although his groups weren't that strong. I truly believe if the UK public could've overlooked their stripper past, Kandy Rain should still be there. Along with Miss Frank, they're the best girl groups this show has seen. They've always had huge struggles finding a good girl group and they found two.

[Toups]

I'm not the UK so I haven't read what's in the press, nor do I want to.

Here's what they did in bootcamp, didn't even let the middle girl sing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw_4NLuPcsM

So my hatred stems from that...and obviously their bad voices.....it's bad when *I* can sing like them and I can't sing. LOL

Simon and Louie molded them as villains from the beginning and for a good tv show, you need villains - that's the only reason why Louie wanted them and why Simon chose to keep them. They want ratings.

[Chris B]

Now that Jedward are gone it's easier to watch the show. Since I know everyone sucks I don't have to worry about fast forwarding to their performance and then chucking the rest of the show. I watched the full thing and it was dreadful. I'm sorry, but when is somebody gonna call Danyl out on his warbling? He is more out of tune than Lloyd for heavens sake! Speaking of, thank god he's gone! I think Olly has potential, but that's it. Joe is cute and lovable but dull, same for Stacey. I can't see either being successful after one album.

I dread a sure-to-be deadly dull final. I just hope Danyl is gone next week.

[Toups]

So happy Jedward lost two weeks ago! Couldn't stand those punks. And now Lloyd this week leaving. So that's two weeks in a row now who I wanted to leave.

As for the rest, I just don't have any real rooting invest. But I like Stacey the best out of them.

I still miss my Lucie.

[DRW50]

I think Olly has relied more and more on the cheeky chappy type of persona more than his vocals, and that along with the hubbub over his non-reaction to Lloyd being eliminated might cost him.

Danyl does sound awful, doesn't he. It's like a French-Canadian cat coughing up a hairball. He sings in that type of accent. I don't mind that with Celine Dion but with him it makes no sense to me.

I like Stacey, although she's a bit shaky. Joe is a bit dull and his vibrato needs work but he has a beautiful voice and he seems like a nice guy.

[Chris B]

The thing that gets me most (and I'm sure others) is that Danyl is hailed as "teh greatest ever!!!" which is ludicrous. I feel like viewers at first saw it as "Oh well Simon knows best." Then they heard him sing on the live shows and we collectively thought, "Wait what???" If the judges hadn't put him on a pedastal he could've improved and by now he might be an interesting contestant. Having Simon as a mentor hurt him as well. Simon is very bland and samey. I feel that's Olly's downfall too.

My biggest problem with the Jedward vocal complaints is that overall the vocals have been pretty bad this year. I mean Lloyd staying after his voice cracking so bad in the sing off was just laughable. Worse than anything Jedward did. Lucie was also overpraised and I feel would be better fit in a girl group. I feel like Kandy Rain wasn't given enough credit, same for Miss Frank. The only people who have been vocally great I'd say are Joe and Stacey. Rachel was good too. Everyone else had their ups and downs.

[Sylph]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/x-factor/6745780/Danyl-Johnson-voted-off-X-Factor.html

[DRW50]

Something tells me Stacey will win. She's not seen as "boring", no one hates her mentor, and she may get the diva votes/female votes.