Is this really the best way to find new talent? (The X Factor)

Member Name: yackers1

Product:	The X Factor
Date:	21/10/09 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The auditions are entertaining

Disadvantages: It's starting to get old hat now

As I am sure you are all aware X-Factor is the current reality television programme that identifies potential pop stars, with the winner earning a recording contract and, according to Simon Cowell (the man behind the concept) the fame, recognition, wealth and lifestyle that goes with it, although not winners have had such fortune.

Everyone knows the format of the show that in a nutshell, involves:

i) Public auditions
ii) Boot camp"
iii) Singing at the house of the mentor
iv) The live televised finals

****The auditions****

The auditions are held all over the UK from London to Newcastle to Wales to Scotland. Unfortunately for us stuck over in the bit that sticks out in the North Sea, i.e. Norfolk, it doesn't come as far as East Anglia. I am actually gutted about this and although I would never participate I would like to go and watch.

It is the audition stage that makes this show for me. Even after several series, I am still amazed by the amount of people that turn up for an audition that can't actually sing at all. Surely, you must know that you can't hold a note? Surely, the friends and family of these individuals must tell them they can't sing, they are wasting their time and they are only going to make a massive embarrassment of themselves? I appreciate many of us dream of the life style of the rich and famous, and would love to see how the other half lives but it is just a pipe dream. I, too, would love to be able to move people with my voice (and I do, out of the room very quickly) but I know I can't sing, therefore I would never put myself through the audition process. I know there are thousands just like me out there, yet many of these will still go to one of the auditions.

During the audition phase, I try to make sure I watch it every week as I find it highly amusing and very entertaining. Thanks to Freeview, and the amount of channels that constantly repeat programs there is no need to miss an episode, unless you are out of the country that is.

Watching the auditions you see the judges getting short, frustrated and bored. You can hardly blame them since it looks quite a tough schedule and having to face with idiot after idiot who refuse to "wake up and smell the coffee" must be very testing at times. I really don't envy the judges during this stage of the process.

I know it is quite sadistic but watching the judges in despair and others making fools of themselves makes for good viewing and provides a talking point at work, on the train, in night clubs and many other public places. It seems that the nation really does get gripped by the X-Factor concept.

****Boot camp and beyond****

Boot camp is effectively a workshop of auditions spanning a few days in London where the singers are put in groups and put through their paces. This stage looks quite intense and it is this part of the process where we really see what the contestants are made of. Many don't appear to be able to take the pressure and cracks start to show.

After the audition stage I find my interest in the X-Factor dwindles significantly. I find boot camp very tedious even though I will have it on as 'back ground noise' if I am at home. Watching contestants cry when they mess up or get eliminated and are sent home bores me, and I absolutely hate the sob stories that all the contestants seem to have. So you were brought up by a single mother/father on a rough housing estate in inner London/Manchester/Newcastle/Glasgow or wherever else. Big deal. I'm afraid I have no sympathy with the contestants. Throughout our daily lives we all have to put up with disappointment and despair but 99% of us soldier on and get on with it.

After boot camp the successful contestants are split up in to their respective groups, being the boys (under 25 years old), the girls (under 25 years old), the over 25s and the groups. Each group is assigned a mentor to aid them through the competition until they are eliminated. Even at this stage the contestants may not reach the live finals even though they have been assigned a mentor, as there is one further round of auditions to go at the 'house' of the respective mentors. Personally, I can't see the point of this stage and it seems to be an unnecessary expense. I mean, flying the contestants out to America (in the case of Simon), Dubai (in the case of Danni), Lake Garda (in the case of Louis) and Marrakech (in the case of Cheryl) is just ludicrous. Each judge knows who will and who won't go through before they even leave England so why prolong it? I suppose it is nice for the contestants to have a bit of an international trip though.

Once the final 3 contestants of each group have been decided it is time to move on to the live televised finals. There is a theme each week and all the contestants are required to sing in front of the judges, a loud and often rude audience and the general public at large. After each contestant has sung there is a 'phone in' where the TV watching public gets to choose who they want to see again and remain in the competition. The two contestants with the lowest votes are forced in to a sing off, where one will be saved by the judges and the other eliminated from the competition.

****The results show****

Historically, the results were shown an hour or so after all the contestants had sung. I have never been bothered about the results and, personally, I don't care who stays and who goes so I was never stayed up just to see the results. On the rare occasions I did 'wonder' who was eliminated I would just look on the internet on the Sunday morning.

This year the results show is on the Sunday night, as opposed to late night Saturday. This is another prime time slot that X Factor has managed to secure despite the content of the results show being so poor. There really is no need for an hour to show which contestant is being eliminated.

It seems to me that the results show is an opportunity for established artists to get shunted back in to the limelight by singing their new single (Alexandra Burke - where has she been for the last year? Singing on the results show was a great way to get her noticed again), launching their solo career (as in the case of Cheryl Cole - get back behind the judging desk) or just making a comeback (as in the case of Whitney Houston - an amazing singer with some great songs but I think it's time to bow out gracefully, whilst the public still have you on a pedestal, and not go down that slippery slope). I think trying to rebuild the careers of other artists takes the focus off the contestants. I thought X-Factor was all about looking for new talent, not rebuilding existing talent.

****X-Factor 2009 - My thoughts on the contestants****

This year appears to be a mixed bag of some exceptionally talented people, some good people, some bad people and some absolutely awful people. In my opinion this is different to previous years since all contestants in the live finals could sing, but this does not appear to be the case this year.

There is one particular arrogant act that makes my blood boil every time I see them. I would like to say that they are probably really nice guys in real life, but I don't believe that for one second. I refer to John and Edward. John and Edward are two cocky brothers that can't harmonise (as proved by their awful version of "I want it that way" by the back Street Boys, in their audition at Louis' Italian home), can't sing (as proved during every audition to date), can't dance (as proved by last Saturday's version of "Oops I did it again by Britney Spears) and lack the originality to even come up with a name for their duo. Come on, I mean "John and Edward" hardly original, is it? These brothers don't even have the 'cute' factor let alone the X-Factor.

I have to question what the British public are thinking in keeping these twins in. Their cringe worthy performance (I was embarrassed to even watching it) of "Oops I did it again" by Britney Spears was absolutely useless. Simon Cowell described it as "entertaining" and Cheryl even said that she "Always looks forward to watching the boys perform", although I strongly disagree with both of these comments. How anyone could find watching two cocky brothers prancing around a stage in red PVC suits and camping it up to the max is beyond me. One thing I did find disturbing was that even the speaking part of "I have something for you....... I went and got it for you" bit. This is dialogue between lovers not brothers, yet it was included? Hmmmmm

I can't understand why Louis insists there is at least one Irish act in the televised finals every year. I appreciate he is patriotic, but I think his decision to support the twins is going to tarnish his reputation in the music industry. Surely he will lose respect for supporting rubbish? or, maybe not.

One thing you can admire the twins for is their hunger for success. During boot camp they sung over the others in their group to ensure they stood out, however is this really correct? If they are good enough then there would have been no need to 'trample on the others in their group' as their talent would have been seen by the judges.

The further John and Edward progress through the competition the more genuinely talented people are losing their opportunity to gain more experience, further training and the chance of more exposure with an opportunity of being spotted by other talent scouts. Personally, I don't think that the twins should have reached Louis' house, let alone the televised finals, as they just can't cut it. It is so unfair that talented people are losing out and these two are going through each time.

At the moment the best contestants appear to be in the over 25s this year, all of which are men. The rocker with a massive afro (which I think he will shave off before the shows over), the cheeky Essex lad that is a bit like Will Young (who subsequently I am not overly keen on) and the arrogant teacher that likes to over emphasise every movement, are proving to be a successful trio for Simon. However, the three-piece girl band who were thrown together, with their unique style of rapping and singing are looking stronger and stronger every outing.

The contestants in the girl and boy categories are good but, in my opinion, none of them should win since none of them are different. Don't get me wrong, they are all good singers but other than Stacey, none of them great or unique in any way.

In my opinion the most worthy winner would have to be Stacey from Dagenham. With her fake blonde hair, loads of makeup, large false eyelashes and broadest Essex accent ever she just screams "Chav" but when she opens her mouth and sings....... Her singing voice is fantastic and it gives me goose bumps just listening. In addition there is no Essex "twang" at all and I am amazed how someone with such a strong regional accent can lose it so fast.

****Conclusion****

I am in two minds about the X-Factor this year. On one hand I think it is very entertaining and well worth watching, after all what is better than snuggling up on the sofa on a cold Saturday night in the British winter time.

On the other, I feel that the show has had its day and is in rapid decline. Moving the results from late Saturday night to Sunday night, and taking up a whole hour of prime time television to boot, is a big nail in the coffin for me as Simon Cowell is turning the focus from the actual contestants to established singers who are trying to improve/resurrect/change their career path and this, in my opinion is wrong.

This show should be all about the current contestants and giving them a shot at becoming recognized by other talent scouts who are willing to take a punt on them. Whilst the winner may strike it big with Simon Cowell and go on to have a very successful career with him, in reality I don't think this really happens as Alexandra Burke, Shane Ward and every other winner (other than Will Young and Leona Lewis (to a certain extent)) are living proof. Whilst being a big name in the public eye may wear off very quickly the exposure may lead a career in the music industry, but one out of the lime-light which is not such a bad thing, unless you are an attention starved/craving individual.

Summary: A reality TV show that lines the pockets of Simon Cowell