Adam

Callum, what do you DO with 14? (or 9 even?) Which one do you listen to? Do you have a favourite?

None :( I've never been to the Emirates actually - went Highbury loads as a kid when the rents were paying but I just can't afford tickets plus they are so hard to get a hold of! My Mum just told me she's off to the Carling Cup game next week though! b**ch! Haha

Arsenal - have pictures of me in a Gooners shirt and nappies! (not recently, you'll understand haha)

It's not to be totally ignored though johnjo, of course it won't be accurate and they'll be shocks but that is likely to be something like how it pans out...

Alexandra has attempted a little bit of choreography - more than JLS, but yes, as I've said before it's pathetic when the judges describe any of it as choreography, it's usually just walking back and forth. I am bit dismayed and annoyed to hear people say they put mute on when Daniel comes on. Don't get me wrong, Daniel is my least favourite contestant and has been so since his first audition. I hate his sob story, I dislike his song choices, I don't like his voice and I'm not even one of those who thinks 'oh but he's such a nice person' BUT how can you justify constantly mauling him and saying he deserves to go if you aren't even listening to his performances? He has certainly improved since week one, some of his vocals are even GOOD at times, but you're not going to know that if you don't even give him a chance and listen to his performances... Ruth was one of my least favourite contestants going into the live shows.. if Id've muted her I would have lost out on my current third favourite!

Yes Jack! Totally agree, I think people appreciate she's good but don't see HOW good for the simple reason that she's already an amazingly polished performer and they aren't seeing a raw talent/diamond in the rough transformation. As far as I'm concerned she's ready to go. I agree she will whip some ass in Mariah week - as long as she doesn't do 'Without You' as that's another typical Leona type song.. I'm hoping for a big ballad though as she's really proved her uptempo skills - by the way who would have thought, 3 uptempos by week 4? Certainly more versatile than Ms. Lewis!

Yeah I think it's five. Jark there's a difference between having a personality and having a sulk. She can be VERY funny but on the Xtra Factor when she was outspoken and said she wanted to go back to her real friends and real family, it was disgusting of her I think. As awful as Scott's reaction last week. And Cheryl properly annoyed me, Rachel HAS had just as much chance as everyone else to shine, she's just not shone because her performances have been largely mediocre.

Best to worst! 01. Alexandra - On The Radio Understated vocals in parts and I worried she messed with the actual melody too much but this girl just is not putting a foot wrong.. even when the performances arent breathtaking theres nothing actually wrong with them! Loved the shoobydoobydoodoodoo part and she looked stunning - alot of these people are great vocalists but not great popstats - Alex is already such a star in the making. I was a bit disappointed there wasn't much dancing from her after Cheryl's comment but it was a great performance. Side note, her VT this week was exceptional, it's been noted before that she doesn't come across as likeable - she totally did this week, her personality came across. 'Come on Alex, can we take a picture and I'm like YEAH SURE' :lol: 02. Diana - Call Me The verse were a little shaky but the chorus and the big note were WOW.. she looked amazing too. I too would have liked to see her move but she looked like she could barely even walk in those shoes! Loved Brian's face behind Simon when he criticised the dancers, she didn't need anyone but that first guy IMO... she rocked it against the odds. 03. JLS Brian Friedman is SO annoying 'We have to have a perfect vocal performance or they're going home'.. SAYS WHO?!? Luckily for him though, it really was. Aston gave off one of the single best vocals of the night.. the others were drowned out by the backing vocals but they still sounded good. 04. Laura - Somebody Else's Guy I don't know if anyone else picked up on it, but it sounded to me like she messed up in verse 2/chorus.. but I guess if I'm not sure, she covered up well. It was exciting but a bit too much all over the place.. you'd have to do wonders to beat Brenda's version for me... but still wonderful. 05. Eoghan - Could It Be Magic Interesting that Simon tries to defy disco by having ballad like vocals at the start of his performances.. anyway Eoghan had a much better connection with his dancers than either Austin or Daniel.. he looked uncomfortable to start with but got really into his stride, he's a really cool cat.. Vocals were okay but a few bum notes. One of his best, but still not as good as Imagine. 06. Ruth - Enough is Enough Louis is such an idiot saying the dress is what got her through last week :lol: She IS such a dramatic performance, I thought it was disappointing at the start and first verse. It was great from the first chorus on, she pulled it back. Cheryl made a very good point, 'you havent got a region or a city', and anything that prompts Ruth to thank the 'pooblic' is good by me. 07. Austin - Wishing On A Star Has this always been disco? I thought it was a ballad, I always remember Chenai's AMAZING audition with this song which was ballad like, and this version was inferior... however his vocal was smooth and strong as ever. He just looked uncomfortable, no connection with the dancers - lol at Simon trying to force them all on him - good but not his best. 08. Rachel - Lost In Music(?) I thought she looked like a MAN! Awful! She did look like an older Keisha (I don't think Keisha looks like a man for the record) Staging was hideous, lol at that angel. Second verse was very good and she took heed of Will's 'light and shade' comment. Adlibs were sometimes very off key though. It just wasn't exciting, which is a shame because of all the songs it was one of my favourite actual songs. 09. Daniel - Don't Leave Me This Way Oh look who's bottom! Again, vocal was fine but the performance was horrible. The girls were good. I would give the one who had to pretend to be totally enamoured by Daniel a MASSIVE pay rise, she worked HARD, I'm sure that took a lot of work. That 'aaaaaaaaah' bit was the single worst bit of telly this year. I didn't watch Daniel, I was watching the girls. Overall 01. Alexandra 02. Diana 03. Ruth 04. Laura 05. Austin 06. JLS 07. Eoghan 08. Rachel 09. Daniel. Other points - Dannii made a brilliant point in saying Disco is hard, so clever as it's the genre she does.. - Daniel and Rachel bottom two?

It's such a tense year.... never before would we have had to worry about Alexandra being in the bottom two until at least the top 5. This year I've been worried every week... Obviously it's performance dependant but I can't see Ruth in the bottom two, I predict Daniel, JLS and Rachel are most likely

The timing may be different on yours but it sounds like you're talking about the '2.57-3.07' bit from before when Laura mimes badly and then Austin forgets to sing. We think that's where Ruth is meant to be singing (hence Laura not miming too perfectly), and then Daniel (hence Austin forgetting to mime)... so it's not really their fault. Rachel however, was just $h!t at it!

ps. I miss Scott!

Really?! I did think maybe they were singing along when I thought I heard TWO Eoghans at the start.. but it was way too polished to be a live vocal in my opinion... Rachel looks like she's trying to make up for not actually singing by performing..

Yeah, granted, it didn't seem that way on the show, it sounded like Laura and Austin, but watching it closely, you're right. Sounds totally stupid though from a management point of view... they must give them more than a few seconds to get out, and so should have had time to get them onstage via another door even if it was just them lingering at the back... quick work from Austin and Laura... did they have earpieces in to instruct them.. I wonder!

Well given that everyone here seems to think it was mimed, which I concur with, why didn't we hear their vocals? My theory was my initial thought, thinking about it it seems silly Simon would ever do that but if it was true and he didn't give them lead vocals at all for that reason then it's not impossible. There are loads of doors on that stage, if one is jammed, knowing what an important performance it was, an assigned stage manager would have ushered them to another door, surely? At least to make it on stage for the ending... I don't know, when they were talking about it on the Xtra Factor with the contestants, Daniel and Ruth didn't look that bothered, indeed they were nodding along to how much they enjoyed it... something just doesn't ring true..

To Jark: while it was one of Daniel's better performances (the chorus only, the rest was dire), I agree that his dead wife is the ONLY reason any emotion was conveyed. Maybe Scott was singing his song to somebody special, and if we felt like we knew that person of course the meaning of the song would be elevated. The emotion is only there because we've heard so much about his wife... which we shouldn't have. (btw, its king_oxymoron if you havent got the link yet!) To Jacky boy: I ADORE Scott. Totally love him. But I agree with Jark, his attitude at times has been absolutely stinking. Teenager or not, you can't react like that, and you have to learn to take criticism with grace (tonight was hard I'm sure but he did the sulk act after his song in week one). While as a person I think he's wonderful, the attitude thing really lets him down. As for my comments, sorry they are so long.. pre-prepared obviously.. and written after the show, but before the results hence the prediction.. 01. Alexandra - Candyman YES! YES! YES! Finally my favourite registers top of the leaderboard with me. Probably not the nights best vocal but EASILY the nights best performance. If there was no Christina to compare it to, it'd have been better but regardless it was sensational. It was exciting, vibrant, the staging and choreography were top, vocals almost perfect, and she showed great attitude. Cheryl summed it up when she said that Alexandra's 'thing' is that she can do everything - I still think she's a better ballad singer, which is an incredible thing to say when she did this upbeat SO well. 02. Ruth - Summertime I am starting to LOVE this girl... so good! Very sensual, I loved the staging and the choreography with the boys, the big note at the end was AMAZING, it was so good. There was a couple of notes that didn't quite stand up but overall, just brilliant. 03. Rachel - Feelin' Good Could she have looked anymore like Beverley from last year (except a green not red dress). She did this just as well as Beverley though.. she excelled herself vocally. Wasn't so keen on that look for her, or her movement, but the vocals were amazing - and that attitude before the final note just WORKED, loved it. 04. Laura - God Bless The Child I thought the styling was awful, she looked frumpy, she's 17!! The first part was good, the second brilliant. I think it lacked the oomph of Fallin, she still hasn't reached her level of the first week but it was very very good. I wish she'd stop doing that 'do do do do do' at the end of all her songs though. 05. Diana - Smile It was good, she sounded nice but nothing special this week... I don't think it was original, it didn't go anywhere, the swing was cheesy and I don't agree with the judges saying it sounded modern. I don't think it was that great, but she is saved because her vocal was once more beautiful. 06. Austin - Mack The Knife Again, this was good vocally but nothing special. The big notes didn't sound so great (though I heard on Xtra Factor he was ill this week). I didn't agree with the judges it was his best, it was actually my least favourite from him so far. Obviously he's a great vocalist still. 07. JLS - Ain't That A Kick In The Head This one was weird for me. I didn't like Aston at the start as it sounded like he was putting an accent on, I didn't think they sounded good when they sang together, I didn't like Jamie's vocals for swing at all (far left, might not even be his name), I thought the moves were too choreographed which meant the attitude didn't come across as natural, but still something about it worked!? Far from their best, but good somehow. Marvin's hair is better too. Jamie (?) was wearing exactly the same as last week I swear! 08. Scott - That's Life Started off pretty lacklustre, thought he got into the 'swing' of it (ho ho ho) and it was good but vocally it just didn't compare... Such a boring song compared to some of the others this week... why does Simon insist on putting him on first? I think he's the boy Simon is most happy to lose I think what saves him is that he is one of the best PERFORMERS of them all... he gives it all.. 09. Eoghan - L.O.V.E This. Was. Odd. His voice was far too small for the song. Some of the moves were pulled off, some not (during the big note he looked like he was taking a dump) His facial expressions (eyebrows) were too odd.. His vocals weren't always too great either. The effort was top notch considering it was so far from his comfort, but didn't agree with Simon it was his best... Imagine was far better. 10. Daniel - The Lady Is A Tramp His best performance easily, but still not close to standard. Wasn't expecting an upbeat so was better than usual and there were SOME good notes, but he shouldn't move... or be on the show. Overall 01. Alexandra 02. Diana 03. Ruth 04. Laura 05. Scott 06. Austin 07. JLS 08. Rachel 09. Eoghan 10. Daniel --------- Prediction is SO HARD, when you consider Daniel and Eoghan definitely have a core audience. Before Rachel sang I would have predicted her bottom two, now I'll say JLS and Daniel but nothing would surprise me. ------ Other points: - Dermot is so much better this year - Choreography and staging is so much better this year, Brian is finally earning his keep (but I still dislike him, who dresses like THAT to sit in an audience?) - Simon picked three essentially safe, standard classics, why does he never think outside the box? - Best big band week ever? - I agree, I don't buy the 'door' story, I didn't hear Ruth and Daniel on the single. My theory is that they are the two Simon predicted weren't still going to be here this week.. could be very wide of the mark though lol ----------------- Now I've seen the results, I would have definitely chosen Scott to stay, at least taken it to deadlock. As someone else said - Off_Da_Endz I think, it's ridiculous to think the judges wil really judge it on that performance alone.. what if Laura falls to pieces in a bottom two sing of against Daniel. She'd stay. It's got to be based on potential and how they've done so far. Based on that, Scott should still be there. I did think more effort could have been put into his performance though, I think he gave up hope and his attitude got to him :(

Grr you can tell I'm tired lol, I too meant the This Morning performance, despite typing X Factor... even if it was an 'as live' as thisispop just described - usually they sound live but have no faults, this performance still had hiccups. Yes, the X Factor one had MORE than a few lol

Norma after listening to his CD version then X Factor performance I'm convinced it was a live vocal - there were a couple of hiccups that wouldn't havent been on there if it was an as live vocal, and the start just doesnt SOUND mimed... we all know the kid can sing, perhaps he just is very good now in a non -nerves situation.. I hope so.

Actually I remember thinking at the end that it didn't sound mimed, or least not like the CD... maybe an 'as live vocal', I only saw it really briefly at work, I'll watch again later and decide

I must admit I did wonder... damn if he was miming, cause he has no reason to, unless it was This Mornings time/equipment constraints :( I thought I'd give him the BOD because he also looked more at ease so I was wondering if the whole X Factor thing was just nerves..

In my ongoing quest to turn you, I will point you in the direction of his performance of All In Good Time on This Morning - I actually think his vocals themselves have improved tenfold, as opposed to just 'working' in a recorded sense or whatever. What are the SEVEN covers?! I guess I didn't count 'Dont Call This Love' which I heard was covered so thats six along with Right Now, You Don't Know Me, When You Believe, Misty Blue and A Song For You. It's still miles better than what we were given with Ray.. And I don't get the love for Stargazing.. I hope it grows on me but right now it just seems so... obvious?

On first listen I think it's a good, not great, album - but I also get the impression it will be a grower so who knows. I think its 8 original songs to 5 covers (including bonus track), so 2/3 original material if you exclude When You Believe isn't bad... Standout songs for me (and the songs I think should be the four singles) are: Don't Call This Love, Creative, Could Do Better and Ordinary Days. I do adore his version of You Don't Knoe Me too.

I agree with you Johnjo.. not about Louis because Simon did it after the Conways became really quite despised, which Girl Band aren't.. I think Louis was right to stick by his group. But for Simon to say he was going to judge it on those performances and then take it to deadlock - just because she didn't sing in Spanish (WHICH, by the way Cowell, the rest of the UK is glad for..). He is really getting on my wick this series, having a go at Cheryl for her song choices when he's been totally lazy and predictable (who wants to bet that Scott is singing Fly My To The Moon next week?) I also agree that Purple Rain will see Ruth fly through the next couple weeks at least - which could make things interesting if the housewives of Brtiain insist on keeping Daniel in... the old fashioned big band thing could work for him next week too.... my dear Scott could be in danger!! :(

Sorry I don't agree with that, people properly jumped on Leon for being 'the worst thing on the show last week' when vocally, he wasn't at ALL. Girls Aloud were among the worst vocals of the night - and I like them, and their song. Only Nicola really got her bit right for me - that and the chorus (which I agree seemed mimed) Result? Daniel aside, the right one, they just weren't strong enough, which is a shame as they were nice girls. Thought their Aerosmith performance was nothing on their second performance last week - and certainly nothing on Ruth's amazing Purple Rain - she totally nailed everything this week, fair play to her! Not sure about Big Band week, I love the style but it's just so typical for them to do on X Factor, I want to see some more contemporary numbers... however I hope Alexandra can put in an amazing performance..

This board is amazing by the way, absolutely pages of commentary! I'm going to work at midnight so I'm looking forward to reading all your comment then, until then I'll just post mine - and then argue the toss with you all on my shift haha! 01. Diana - Man In The Mirror Just brilliant, it was a unique performance once more and her voice worked effortlessly through it. The vocals in the chorus were actually REALLY strong too - great job! What I love about Diana too is that the way she sings things, even if she hits the wrong note it generally still WORKS! 02. Scott - She's Out Of My Life This is why I am thankful to the Great British Public - when he's given the right song, he can put in a killer vocal. Absolutely stunning, emotional and strong. I love this guy. 03. Austin - Billie Jean Vocally, very very strong. I know I've already covered the David Cook ground but David did do it better, Austin simply isn't a rocker enough to pull that off but in a sense that also worked for him with a more soul twist on it. Very good job regardless. 04. Alexandra - I'll Be There Much as I love Cheryl I groaned again when I heard the song choice. I think Simon's right on that count and I'm glad he brought it up because next week hopefully we will get to see Alexandra HERSELF. Anyway she did a sterling job although I was waiting for something else to kick in, it felt it lacked something. But a star. 05. JLS - The Way You Make Me Feel Loved the production - for once Brian Friedman is earning his money! The girls danced great, it always makes me laugh when they say about choreography though - the boys weren't doing choreography, Alexandra wasn't REALLY doing choreography last week (the only time I can think of real dancing is Shayne back in the day doing Cry Me A River) ANYWAY, they moved fine, some tuning issues as were highlighted but in general very good and great to hear an upbeat number - Marvin was much improved vocally on last week too. 06. Ruth - I Just Can't Stop Loving You A pleasant surprise! I'd written Ruth off as I just don't find her that spectacular, but this was very decent - the choruses in particular were very strong and she looked natural! 07. Laura - You Are Not Alone Wow, what a disappointment. The start of the song was horrible and used the part of her voice that I really don't like. She was much better when her lower register kicked in. It was like a tale of two songs - now obviously it's better when the second half is killer, rather than it trailing off, but it didn't really save her for me. Never expected her to be in my lower half tonight. 08. Rachel - Dirty Diana Parts were very good, the styling and the staging were excellent - I wouldn't say it was gimmicky, but gave a great visual. The song however was too wordy, much like 'Yeh, Yeh' (Scott) from last week which didn't allow the artist to show off their vocals. A couple of nice notes and a nice key change but just not spectacular. Loved her doing the inverted commas sign when she address Simons "positive criticism" 09. Girl Band - Heal The World Too much going on. Simon annoyed me tonight, very rich of him to have a go at gimmicky staging (Same Difference - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go anyone?) and song choices, but it was more of a winners single staging with the glitter etc, when they didn't need it as some of their vocals and harmonies were nice! However the song choice just wasn't right for them, to make sure they got through they needed to pick and pull off a killer song - like a stripped down version of one of the classics, 'Bad' or 'Beat It' which I was sad to see people avoid. 10. Eoghan - Ben This was just weak I'm a real advocate for Eoghan, liked him all the way through, but the note where he held it for ages and it was like his big note just wasn't big at all, which is a shame. His voice has a lovely tone but week on week I think we'll struggle to see him take it further. I also think there were timing and tuning issues. 11. Daniel Again a tale of two songs. The verses were like hiding behind the sofa horrendous, the choruses actually showcased some strong vocals. But if all we are going to get each week are part-good ballads with him smiling constantly throughout then he might as well go home this week. Nowhere near up to par. Overall 01. Alexandra 02. Diana 03= Austin 03= Laura 05. Scott 06. JLS 07. Eoghan 08. Rachel 09. Ruth 10. Girl Band

Just wanted to quote this from Monday to show how predictable Simon Cowell has become... it was so obvious he'd give that track to Austin, and I also noted on UKMIX that he'd give 'Ben' to one of the boys (another song he has done before) - though I did predict he would give it to Scott.. To have a go at Cheryl based on her 'obvious' song choices - as she rightly pointed out - is ludicrous!