I actually can't stand James' version. Maybe that's because I find his voice too forced and grating. The only good thing about James winning is the fact that Shontelle's version has been boosted. I think Jahmene deserved to win so much more and I don't usually support the big ballad singers (Leona aside).

Edited December 11, 201213 yr by SceneofSIXCrimes

I wasn't expecting it to sell that well and I'm disappointed it has. I really hoped the lack of popularity in this series would reflect in terms of sales.

I feel a little sorry for Little Mix - they did really badly as it was a dreadful winners song that in no way represented who they were. It wasn't even tacked on to the end of their debut album, as all the other winner's songs have been.

 

None of the winning songs have been very good. It's just too much effort for Cowell and Co to release an original song.

Funny how XF winners sales differ compared to what people think of the act (well its not as if its to do with the music/song)!! How much had Shayne Ward sold after one day? His were all physicals though werent they?

Those sales are excellent and indicates the x factor as a show is not as buggered as much as some people make out. 12.5 million viewers is not bad for a show that many people think is finished and now we have the winners single selling faster than anyone in recent years. All this indicates that X Factor is still a worth while show that just needs a little altercation to make it as big as it once was.

 

It is looking likely James will go on to sell very near 500,000 this week and will eventually become a million seller.

2 reasons it's doing better than previous winners so far

- All the potential winners had a different song selected for them, previous winners had a specific song allocated to them. This means the song is better suited to James.

- It's a charity single this year.

None of the winning songs have been very good. It's just too much effort for Cowell and Co to release an original song.

They should release original songs, they did it in series two with Shayne and he had the best first week sales of any winner

Funny how XF winners sales differ compared to what people think of the act (well its not as if its to do with the music/song)!! How much had Shayne Ward sold after one day? His were all physicals though werent they?

No ward's physical was not available till the wednesday as I recall, and back in 2005 that was still a big format so comparing like for like is difficult given availability of physicals, and the size of the physical market. Having said all of that James Arthur has sold amazingly and being my expectations!

They should release original songs, they did it in series two with Shayne and he had the best first week sales of any winner

 

It was hardly an original, it was a reject Westlife track, as I recall :lol:

No way - XF songs are super-ultra-front-loaded - even if it sells 500k this week, that still leaves 800k+ for the remaining 2 weeks.

 

Even when Shayne Ward sold 742k 1st week, he only sold 133k on week 2...

Seriously? :o I'm looking forward to next week's drop more than this week's sales :lol:

Seriously? :o I'm looking forward to next week's drop more than this week's sales :lol:

 

But he was #1 during an era where physical CD's were still the dominant factor and he will have missed 2 days of sales of them on Xmas day and boxing day in his 2nd week on sale as all shops selling CD singles would have been closed then.

 

So he did 133k with basically 5 days sales

2 reasons it's doing better than previous winners so far

- All the potential winners had a different song selected for them, previous winners had a specific song allocated to them. This means the song is better suited to James.

- It's a charity single this year.

 

They also did this in 2010, the four finalists had a different song allocated. Matt - When We Collide, Rebecca - Distant Dreamer, One Direction - Forever Young and Cher - Impossible.

Listened to James's version of Impossible a few times now, I must admit its not really that good at least its accessible and more punch to it, it just seems very middle of the road-ish, my guess the judges just gave him this track and do what you can with it and put your stamp on it which obviously works. I just wish the judges bring something original to the table. I just hope when he brings out his own material its not samey, also I noticed on Amazon, he goes under The James Arthur Project, there are other tracks from him.

 

Anyhow its his first single kudos to him for winning the contest, at least the winning single is much better as of recent winning tracks.

I picked up his single in HMV today and seemed quite a few others were doing so too, as they were next to all the tills, so tomorrow's figures could be pretty big.

No ward's physical was not available till the wednesday as I recall, and back in 2005 that was still a big format so comparing like for like is difficult given availability of physicals, and the size of the physical market. Having said all of that James Arthur has sold amazingly and being my expectations!

Just top make it clear back in Dec 2005 it was a cd only market, wasnt it? The download chart began seperately that november with Hung Up and U2 dominating for weeks before their cds came out isnt that right?

James doing this well is bizarre after how much the ratings of the series plummeted :huh: Is the fact it's a charity single REALLY helping him that much? Fair play to him nonetheless.

James doing this well is bizarre after how much the ratings of the series plummeted :huh: Is the fact it's a charity single REALLY helping him that much? Fair play to him nonetheless.

 

I really don't think the fact it's a charity single makes much difference tbh - I just think the song struck a chord with the viewers and despite viewing figures being down the 10 million+ that did watch it obviously loved the track.

James doing this well is bizarre after how much the ratings of the series plummeted :huh: Is the fact it's a charity single REALLY helping him that much? Fair play to him nonetheless.

 

Well, the song itself it much better. Also, the viewers lost could be those who just watch it for entertainment and got fed up. Most of the veiwers who buy the music are still watching this year I would pressume.

Well, the song itself it much better. Also, the viewers lost could be those who just watch it for entertainment and got fed up. Most of the veiwers who buy the music are still watching this year I would pressume.

 

That makes sense I guess. Plus James is probably one of the more 'popular' winners despite being the only one so far to have been bottom 2 at one stage, he and Ella were the most talked about contestants throughout the series (until Ella went out anyway). But even so, to get potentially the most successful winner's single out of one of the least watched series (if not the least watched) just doesn't seem to add up. If only Ella had survived that singoff, maybe she would have got the bounce-back that James got and it could have been her doing this :(

Just top make it clear back in Dec 2005 it was a cd only market, wasnt it? The download chart began seperately that november with Hung Up and U2 dominating for weeks before their cds came out isnt that right?

No, downloads were incorporated in april 2005, but it's true that physicals made a big difference. That said as far as x factor debut wining singles go, they always do.