Entertainment
A star is most certainly born!
George Michael week was always going to be a tough one. And Saturday night's X Factor stage was definitely set to be one of the most challenging weeks for ALL the contestants.
Marc Mallett: Sunday, 22 November 2009
The former Wham frontman has been writing and performing some of the most thought provoking and powerful love songs all time and some of the most recognisable pop songs for almost three decades. He also provided the soundtrack for many 30s/40s-something teenage years.
One contestant truly stepped up to the mark and hit all the right notes. Their delivery was impeccable, their timing was perfect, their pitch was spot on, their choreography matched the song and the emotion of their performance shone through.
Forget Olly and Stacey (well for one night only), Danyl and Lloyd and let's not even start on Jedward - the true star was Joe McElderry. Watching his performance of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" was like watching any top level musician at work. His voice was like liquid gold!
I was lucky enough to catch George Michael in concert when he played the Odyssey a few years back - wow what a star! What a music catalogue and what a voice! Singing the master's songs brought Saturday night's X-Factor right back down to basics.
Forget silly performing monkey style gimics (courtesy of Jedward), the show was all about the voice and it really separated the men from the boys (so to speak - sorry Stacey)!
It suddenly became clear who the final three would be (my prediction anyway). Olly - because he is Mr Cool and can sing; Stacey - because she is just adorable and can sing; and Joe - because he can sing and very well at that! Now that's going to be a tough one to call.
Why do I not think the others can make it? Well Danyl has just become so boring. Haven't we all heard enough of this constant whinging battle about how he was once-cocky-but-isn't-now-and-changed-to-become-more-likeable-while-threatening-to-walk-off-the-show?
Yeah, because that's just not arrogant! And there's a reason why we all love "Careless Whisper." To ruin it with a horrible arrangement (Cowell's fault) and an OTT-I-am-a-soul-singer-y'know performance is a crime against music. Go on walk - go home!
John & Edward - taking the Michael or what?! Was that not one of the most hideous performances they've given? While the Queen/Vanilla Ice performance was spot on, their attempt at Wham's "I'm Your Man" harked back to the days where they were so over the top irritating, it was lacklustre, half-hearted and it highlighted once again, the fact that they can't sing and are totally out of their depth!
It was like a 3-minute visit to a musical house of horrors! Even Louis is struggling to convince us that he's 100% behind them. Get them out!
Lloyd - bless! A loveable wee fella, but let's face it - there just isn't much depth there (to the voice or personality). Don't get me wrong, I think he's done a reasonably good job with "Faith," but he's definitely not in the same league as some of the other "singers."
My sister asked an important question to me afterwards. "Would you buy a Joe album?" After his performance - that would be a definite yes! Heck he's the first act to get a standing ovation from all four judges.
Who do I think will go on Sunday night's results show? Well I think John & Edward and Danyl will be in the bottom two. If that were the case, I think Danyl will go.
One other point of interest. What is it between Dannii and Cheryl this year? Is Ms Minogue not totally pulling the carpet from under Mrs Cole's feet in the style stakes? Kylie's sister was always very beautiful and looked the part - but with the hair, the gowns, the make-up (not that I claim to be an expert on these things) she makes Cheryl Cole look like a silly wee girl just out of Disneyland. Oh hold on, maybe that's the look Cheryl was trying to achieve with the bow-come-Minnie Mouse ears!
The only let down following Saturday night's show - that George Michael isn't making an appearance on the results programme to show how it's done. Now that would have been a real coup! The rumour mill is still suggesting that he may turn in for a performance over the next few weeks - we'll just have to wait and see!
But still, the A-List music stars keep pouring in. The diva of all divas, Mariah Carey once again graces The X Factor stage with a performance of her new single (a cover of the Foreigner classic - "I Want To Know What Love Is") and Susan Boyle also performs.
Guess what I'll be watching at 8pm tonight on the UTV?!
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