X Factor 2011 – week 4

HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT!

Well, well, well……. Kelly not well enough to be there? I want to see a doctor’s sick note. Why would you fly to LA if you were sick! Mmmmmm, trouble in camp! I thought Alexandra was a worthy judge actually, so bravo to her (I know you’re gunna hate me for that, but I’m not arsed!). At least it wasn’t as yawnsome as last week!

The Risk

“Thriller” – A new member, it’s like musical band members! I was not impressed by this at all, VERY unexciting! Such an EPIC song like this should not be touched and taken on lightly. I thought the harmonies were awful, which is not like these lads. Aesthetically they look great with the new slash old lad. Give them their due, the other lad only left on Thursday so they’ve not had time to really pull it together. I thought I’d lost my mojo when I heard the other judges’ response to their performance, but then I realised I just can’t be wrong. I mean I think they deserve to stay in this week despite this performance.

Johnny Robinson

“Ole Devil Called Love” – Oh Johnny, how I love thee! He is just amazing and never fails to make me smile. I have to say singing a serious ballad (or ballid as Tulisa calls them?), I think it showcased that he is a decent singer there, worldwide or even UK record sales? No. But I think whatever comes of this for Johnny I wish him well. When Gary kissed him, I honestly thought he would cream his kecks and I think he did, he nearly passed out! If he goes out before Frankie, I’ll start a government petition!

Sophie Habibis

“Bang Bang” – Yes you guessed it, a positive review from me! I wasn’t too keen on the song until we got some belt on it, because I want her to do a proper belter. What I really like is that she’s really connecting with the audience and that had been missing from previous performances. She’s grasped that the performance is not all about the vocal but it’s about visual act as well. I could see the judges point about the ballad again, but I got Sophie’s rationale.

Marcus Collins

“Superstition” – I found this a really predictable song choice for Marcus and disappointed if I’m honest. This lad should not be nervous, he has such ability! The moments that he “gets into the act” and joins in with choreography and puts drama into it, it’s brilliant. It’s just tying all those things together and keeping this consistency throughout the whole performance. This is a massive learning experience and hope he’s absorbing everything from it. Just keep putting it all back in and perform like it’s a world stage.

Misha B

“Tained Love” – “It became about me and not the music” - CRINGE! I think it would have been a bit better for her to say “D’ya know what, I did get a bit ahead of myself and my feet left the ground, but it’s reigned me back in”, rather than “When you’ve had a childhood like mine…..” FAIL! As for the performance, I really don’t like that song but it was easy on the ears. I like her original rapping she threw in and she knows exactly when to do this and when not. The styling is consistently great (apart from the Rhino horn hair), but she’s in danger of becoming a bit samey. I’d like to see her do a bit plain and simple, no gimmicks, no production, just her voice. The “humble silence” at the end was a bit “Kitty-esque” for my liking!

Janet Devlin

“Every Breath You Take” – Oh dear, this was not great! I thought there were clear tuning issues and I’m not sure on the key either. It was uncomfortable to watch I thought. It’s a shame because she has such a haunting vocal, very apt for tonight’s theme. You could tell when the song finished that she wasn’t happy with it. We need to get her something upbeat because versatility is important. *NOTE TO LOUIS* - Please stop doing impressions of Kelly, it’s making me blush and it’s nothing to do with me!

Frankie Cocozza

“Should I Stay or Should I Go” – You should go……….. That is all!

Kitty Brucknell

“Sweet Dreams” – I called a truce with Kitty the other week! At least she said that looking back on her audition, that she would have slapped her as well. The spinning Catherine Wheel entrance was brave, I’d have spewed everywhere! There was a nice crazy effect on her voice singing this song which was good and no doubt her idea. I do find her quite nasal when she sings which is a real bug bear. One thing she is, is consistent and entertaining so you have to give her, her due. She seems actually an alright girl actually, let’s hope that this is genuine because I think that she seems to have calmed herself down which is refreshing.

Little Mix

“ET” – This really was the performance of the night for me, from start to finish the individual vocals, the harmonies, the arrangement, the production was fantastic and flawless for me I have to say. They for me are clearly the BEST group out of Tulisa’s and I think they are emerging as ones to watch in this competition, outstanding. FANTASTIC!

Craig Colton

“Set Fire To The Rain” – I was always going to be difficult to please given this is one of my favourite Adele songs! I have to say that disappointingly this failed to leave me luke warm, never mind set fire to the rain. Gary criticised Janet for being predictable and I think that the same is to be said for Craig; starting with the subtle start, crescendo, and then end. I think he’s trying to sing like Adele STILL and in doing this he’s failing to be original. The frustrating thing is that he is capable of originality and we’ve seen this on the first live show. I feel that he really needs to up his game or he’s at risk of lagging behind.

THE RESULTS SHOW

Group Number – Bright Lights, Big City – I really liked this group number! Good song choices so far, disappointed with the absence of one last week I have to say. Frankie is still awful, even with auto tune!

Cher Lloyd – “Your Love”

I think it was nice to see Cher back so soon and every inch the polished performer, just as I predicted last year! Vocals weren’t great at times but I have to say that in a year she’s come a long way baby!

Nicole Scherzinger – “Try With Me” – What a stunning young woman and such a shame she recently split from Lewis Hamilton! I wasn’t so sure on this song really, I loved the really stripped back parts but not so sure of the upbeat parts. It felt a bit like a Eurovision song I thought? No denying her presence on that stage and she has got some big ol’ feet on her! PS didn’t know she was on tour, anyone going?

THE SING OFF

Sophie Habibis –

“Shelter” – I wish she would have sung a different more mainstream song. I am absolutely mortified, like genuinely because I just love the tone of her voice so much. She didn’t have a fair crack of the whip and to go home before Frankie is a travesty!

Misha B

“Use Somebody” – This was a really nice version of the song and the stripped back side I wanted to see of her. Sweet!

See ya next week yo…………………….. 

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About the author 

Michael is 28 and lives with his partner Denis in Liverpool City Centre. Michael is a social worker having qualified from Liverpool John Moores University last year.

He likes the usual wining and dining with Denis, as well as going out with his mates around Liverpool City Centre and Lark Lane for drinks and the odd meal in the mix sometimes!