With no act coming down off a sympathy bounce (Steph failed to bounce at all) and no confirmation that this weekend will resort to a single elimination (though we assume so, based on the precedent of 2010), there are a few imponderables about who will go this week.
Added to this, there wasn’t a song choice that looked guaranteed to put an act in trouble (a further discussion follows below). In the circumstances, I prefer to watch tonight’s show before getting too involved in the elimination market.
The song choices are all at least relatively well known; no-one has an obvious disadvantage of obscurity. Our commenters in the previous post have provided some excellent analysis (notably Fudd with his look at relative fortunes of acts singing tonight’s songs in past editions).
I don’t have too much to add to those perceptive remarks, especially as the proof of the pudding will, as ever, be in the eating. Jake Quickenden’s position as next elimination favourite seemed to be cemented after a generally unfavourable reception to his choice of ‘She’s Like The Wind’. However, as Mad Donna noted in the comments, ‘Dirty Dancing’ is an incredibly popular film among Jake’s presumably heavily-female demographic.
Jake is due an early position after two favourable slots in the running order – and producers again have a 20-minute Strictly crossover to play with (which helped do for Steph last week). But be careful of assuming heavy criticism on the show as the signal for Jake’s possible exit; lukewarm comments that don’t motivate his fanbase may be a more effective way of dampening his vote, should judges so wish.
Directly behind Jake in the elimination market come novelty leftover Stevi Ritchie and probable sympathy bouncers, Stereo Kicks. My assumption is producers will do their best for both this week: if Stevi falls into the bottom two, they’ll have to hope it’s against someone they could more credibly save him against; meanwhile, having gone to the effort of rescuing the eight-piece boyband last week over Chloe-Jasmine, you’d think they’d at least see how far a bounce could go with their Beatles mash-up.
Jack Walton has been well backed to exit this week, though he managed to escape the singoff from last week’s coffin slot with some unhelpful staging thrown in. We had speculatively suggested him at a double-figure price to be eliminated back then, and wouldn’t be surprised if we were just a week too early, but the value has dried up. ‘Eye of the Tiger’ doesn’t strike us as one of the more positive song choices, but it’s iconic and gives him a fighting chance.
Only The Young come next in the elimination market, and are another act who survived some rather messy staging last week. Quite what the Stereo Kicks reboot means for their chances is open to question and the up-to-date song choice of ‘Boom Clap’ could go either way too. Fleur has been given ‘Lady Marmalade’ which should suit, though a watching brief is advised on just how sexually suggestive the routine is.
The rest of the acts have largely been given songs that fit their lane. Andrea is in the diva section, Lauren has the teen and pre-teen favourite, Lola is aiming for the more mature market, as indeed are Ben and Paul. JJ got a hell of a pimping last week, and I don’t assume a red flag in the choice of ‘Skyfall’ just because it surprisingly put Hannah in the bottom two last year. Only a very obvious staging assassination would make me consider any of them for elimination.
Let us know your continuing thoughts in the comments section before and during tonight’s programme. I’m hoping that the show will clear the waters on who might go this week.
It’s an interesting one. Want to know if that Eye Of The Tiger performance will get John Lewised.
I can’t find a market at the time of writing (14:50 BST on Saturday) however surely a good punt has to be Fleur to be in the singoff tomorrow night? There’s been talk of “dancing, rapping and singing loudly during the chorus” and that combined with a very suggestive song choice suggests she’s being prepped to be chucked under the bus tonight. Furthermore, when Leona sang the song in 2006, I’m pretty sure the French lyrics for “Do you want to sleep with me tonight?” were changed to something a bit tamer. Can’t see that happening here.
Any reason Lauren’s Let It Go is being attributed to Demi Lovato, who sang the less popular (and let’s be honest, less vocally challenging) version?
That’s a bit of overanalysis imo. Demi Lovato is far *far* more popular with young people than Adele Dazeem.
probably as nothing more sinister than the fact she’s Cowell’s mate from US X Factor…
Demi Lovato is popular for sure and so is the song,
As said in my last post Jack Walton is an odd one, hard to figure out. This week might give more insight.
Lauren to steal the show tonight and the current odds available on Fleur to go could be generous if they do chuck under the bus.
However good advise to wait and watch the show.
No word on double elimination so presume back to some normality tonight.
how late can they leave it before declaring a double or a single? Can they monitor voting before deciding?
To keep you squeaky clean on Ofcom and premium rate phone rules it would have to be declared at lines open time.
It was confirmed on Good Morning Britain yesterday – single elimination.
A comment on those writing off Fleur. Yes those that seem to do well on X Factor might tend to be more clean cut that she comes across but she’s the only one (bar Jack) who resembles a current pop star. Of all the contestants lined up now she’s the only one I could see having a long term career rather than slip off into Nicky MacDonald style obscurity.
She looks the part, she puts on a show and she conveys personality in all she does.
Maybe she’s a pain or limited talent and they’ll want to move her on but with the £ signs in the record company’s eyes my money would be on her staying.
Ps saying as you asked I could also see them trying to push Jack as Ed Sheeran lite and Ben as Olly mark II
I agree with you… I see Fleur as Alexandra Burke the 2nd…
like her she has a decent combination of personality, image, moves and vocals… to me Fleur comes across as humble, fun and mildly flirty… and I think it probably helps she’s not 18… as it would be a lot more tacky and more than a little bit pervy to have her doing these performances if she was still a teenager…
so maybe that’s why she has (seemingly) been accepted by the middle England XF audience… she’s having fun with it, and old enough to get away with a little bit of cheeky risqué-ness ?
As for Ben… to me he is more a combination of Olly Murs and Matt Cardle… remains to be seen if he will become a Cowell favourite (like Murs) or is being used to fill a role/appeal to a demo and therefore not someone Cowell wants to sign to his label post the (like Cardle, who he was lumbered with due to his winning)…
I sort of agree with Jack as Ed Sheeran lite… not sure what his songwriting skills are like (if indeed he has any)… but with the tracks they are giving him… they seem to be pushing him into more of a solo version of 5SOS / The Vamps style teem pop dude with a guitar…
I think it would be unwise to chuck Fleur under the bus at this stage. She certainly provides an element of performance lacking in some of the more serious singers, and there’s potential for controversy down the line. I suspect there’s also a demographic there for her – I suspect it’s later down the line when you need to appeal to multiple demographics that things get a bit tricky (see Tamera).
I don’t get Only The Young. I really don’t understand who is meant to be voting for them. The fact there’s a sudden change between taking on older music which has kept them out the sing-off in the last couple of weeks is a warning flag for me. If it’s an older audience who like young people doing squeaky clean covers of old classics, then I can’t see that song they’ve got this week doing them any favours. But the fact I can’t get a handle on who is voting for them is making it a difficult call.
I don’t think it’s all about the era of music with acts. Look at the eclectic selection of songs that took Luke Friend to the final last year. I agree with you that it’s hard to picture who’s making up their voters though.
One thing 5 free votes brings into play is the possibility that “second favourite acts” are doing better this year so say you like Andrea and give him 3 of your votes but then give your second favourite acts one each where as with the costly phone votes in previous years only Andrea would have got your vote.
So some acts might not have a massive core constituent vote but get by on being lots of people’s second favourite.
You could also say if one act is your favourite you won’t give votes to the people you see as their main competition. So if you love Jay a vote for Ben might not be in order but someone outside Jay’s world like OTY or Fleur would be.
Pure speculation!
Jake for next elimination is going at 15/8. Is this free money, particularly if it’s a single elimination (which the signs say it might be). He has to go doesn’t he?
The songs can be previewed on iTunes – some can be brought, others preordered.
The two things which strike me -mFleur has the sexual lyrics kept in and OtY sound absolutely dire. I hope they pull it off.
The worrying part of Fleurs is that they actually put extra emphasis on the sexual lyrics. But it sounded good, so hopefully the performance will be enough to help her through (though I’m doubting it).
On the basis of that performance, yes. Can’t wait to hear what part they use for the round up at the end. He sounded pretty bad. Adverts and JJ to stuff him down the memory hole. Just wondering if he’s got another week in him, Sam Callahan style? We’ll have a gopd idea depending on whether they use an out-of-tune bit or not in the clip at the end.
It’s not the most exiting line up of songs for winning the ratings war – with at least half the songs being the same predictable songs that seem to get churned out every year. None the less some of the songs look like they will give us a better idea of the TPTB intentions towards a number of the acts depending on staging and the resultant comments.
Andrea – Listen. Probably the most predictable song choice. Will he put in a great performance or will they let him over embellish it again as last week? The comments from the judges could well give clues to whether he is still seen as a serious contender or if this is the continuation of a long slow de-ramp.
Paul Akister – Try A Little Tenderness. Surely were all getting bored with this by now – this is the third time we’ve had this during the present series. Andrea sang this well – but over cooked it a bit IMO – but this is the kind of song which Paul should be able to pull off perfectly. The first couple of weeks Andrea must have been well ahead of Paul – but this could start to close the gap?
Lola Saunders – When You Believe. After last week’s dark horse comments this could be make or break week for Lola. They’ve given her a song that is extremely difficult to sing – so do they think that she can do it or are they going to let her sink. If she does a version similar to Chloe Agnew /Celtic Woman then I think she can pull it off, the vocal arrangement being much more focussed and audience friendly than the rather meandering Mariah / Whitney song.
Stereo Kicks – Let It Be / Hey Jude. I cannot seriously believe that this is the best that then come up with to resurrect the fortunes of the group. Nor does it seem designed to appeal to their voting demo, many of whom presumably will not even know what their singing. Despite promises to mix up the vocal arrangements and staging the song choice actually seems perfect to start with James Graham singing solo, before being joined by the others – exactly as before. Unless there are changes and a marked improvement in performance I can see them being in serious trouble again, bounce or no bounce.
OTY – Boom Clap. A change in tack for OTY, and perhaps a change in tack for TPTB. Unless they can get Stereo Kicks into shape OTY could soon be last group standing. Perhaps time for a bit more serious producer support?
Jay James – Skyfall. After last week’s performance where he really managed to pull out a convincing performance, from what appeared to be an almost ridiculous song choice, Skyfall appears to be another curved ball. Ben seems to be left in his comfort zone, so if Jay can pull this one off too, then maybe he is back in contention.
Ouch – Stevi’s iTunes performance sounds awful!
The vocals for Stereo Kicks aren’t exactly promising either.
Jake was hideous
amen… but being damned with faint praise… to ensure no sympathy vote
Dermot ever the professional. What a question to ask. ‘It is a singing contest so u think ur in trouble after that?’
What a take down. First up opposite Strictly, focusing on Jake wanting to be a footballer and modelling rather than being a singer, even having him shirtless in the background of the performance albeit under a sheet. The judges comments were critical but not unfair with Louis bringing up the gym and Simon saying he’s not a good enough singer before Dermot re-enforces the ‘singing contest’ comment and basically asks whether he’s good enough.
Got Jake to go at 2/1. No regrets, though considering a hedge on OTY. If I’m going to do that I probably need to do it now as I expect their odds to come in massively if this doesn’t go well.
Going in for the kill. OTY on 2nd
I’ve been topping up on Jake for the last 3 days. After that, I have no doubt in my mind that they will catch him and boot him out tomorrow
OTY were great but here comes the feint praise/criticism. Judges arguing. Should be safe though
I really wonder how much control the production team have with Only The Young.
And got the hedge on OTY in before the odds started slipping as they are. For me it’s surely between Jake and OTY to go.
It’s a shame with OTY, who are group of very obviously talented people being restricted by producers who obviously aren’t interested in them.
Military tick.
Kid sighting tick.
It doesn’t look they’re gunning for Jay quite yet going by the pre-song VT.
but he sounds awful… just awful… nasal and screechy… or maybe its just me?
Since when has this been about the singing??? 😀
I thought he did alright with that although I did have low expectations to start with.
true… I just don’t like him… or his singing… disingenuous is the word that springs to mind… I hope he goes in the next 2 or 3 weeks…
It is most certainly not just you! Can’t warm to him at all.
Nope, not just you. It was awful. Judges all sticking to their scripts so far though and lying about how good he was, except Cheryl of course who’s role is to keep up the faux catfighting with Simon each week.
When I find myself n times of trouble mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom “Let it be”.
Hey Jude don’t let me down, take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let it into your heart then you can start to make it better.
Maybe the lyrics aren’t so bad for 8 Directions after all.
Mel B clearly has terrible taste in music. She hates Skyfall? So what’s quality music then Mel, Spice Girls stuff?!
Jay is safe, I think. I just can’t imagine him finishing any lower than Jake and OTY, though I wasn’t mad on his performance by any stretch.
Dermot: Hoping he doesn’t forget his lines, next up is Andrea Faustini…
Presumably the deramp is continuing in earnest then.
They set JJ on fire, Cheryl’s comments plus a judge’s row to take focus off the performance.
Shock bottom 2? Shades of Hannah last year? Even the same song.
Mother of all VT etc. for Jay, Jake got some kicking! Even with the picture after Lauren and Cheryl. Cheryl diamonds are dazzling but not much else on the show yet..
Subtle, there are even X’s in his shirt pattern.
Horrible clash between Andrea’s shirt and that background.
Also, for OTY the sound seemed wrong. It wasn’t out of tune but it did sound weird.
Sound mix is poor, lack of processing on the vocals so far. Possibly also problems with the in ear monitors.
(Processing now back on Lola)
Andrea was very good but I still see a slight deramp
Did you see how Simon was able to kill the mood without seeming unreasonable. He is the master of manipulation. I’m glad he’s back – it does make betting on X Factor so much more profitable.
Daniel or Andrew should write an article – From Kermit to Doughnuts; a guide on how Simon stops momentum. 😀
Agree Curtis. World class from Simon. Like you I now can’t see andrea winning but still in final
Andrea just took a massive step toward making himself unassailable. Simon’s donut comments sounded weird, out of context and frankly mean. Andrea overcame the weird clothes and horrid background and right now I’m fascinated to see what Lauren’s got to counter that.
Did “little italian bear” sound patronising to anyone else?
it did… but most things he say can sound patronising…
Andrea’s got a serious lot of love from the public. Comments like that are going to make them protective of him, and performances like that are going to endear him to them. He’s seen as sweet and vulnerable (even if he does have a mafia killer’s stare). Carry on like that and Simon will make it seem like the show is against him, which will increase his vote.
I would suggest that people know what fat-shaming is and they recognise it when they hear it. Does he think the virwers at jome are eating carrot sticks and dry rice cakes? Don’t be so bloody daft. That sort of comment could lead to the biggest “fuck you Simon” vote ever.
Hat tip tp Paul McLenna for setting it up with the gym / naked Jake references in the first segment to feed a bit of male physical beaty onto our sunconcious minds in the first segment. Makes it so much easier to call Andrea fat when Jake’s already there.
What did Andrea do to upset the stylist I wonder and then Simon goes doughnut route. He does not seem that happy either. In-ears in use also.
I don’t really get why the producers aren’t backing OTY. Surely it’d be in their best interest to keep them and Fleur in for as long as possible.
Jake is a goner. And the Andrea deramp continues with multiple mentions of him being Italian.
Lola’s journey continues but she’s not a winner. Last 4 or 5?
Unless she sorts out her nerves quickly I think she’ll be a shock exit against Stevie. They’re going to stay patient for only so long.
I don’t think that was a top 4 performance. She struggled through most of it. They’ve also placed her between Andrea, Paul and Lauren – three of the top frontrunners. I think she could be in trouble this week.
Lola styling taking her to an older safer audience, bit unfair really. Thought her styling was bad. singing forgetful.
Mel and Simon mention boring for Paul the derampppppp
Does anyone think it funny that after a weekend of discussion on Sofabet about scripts they are seriously on the job tonight with all the comments 🙂
Paul looks so awkward lol but his voice is great
Aiming at Paul taking votes from andrea
They’re definitely looking at ramping Paul over Andrea – great lighting; positive comments and an improvement noted. It helped he had an uptempo number too.
Lauren… according to the VT and staging is the new TCO
Lauren is class song was almost too short lol
Lauren nailed t the $ note, she has a serious tone.
Unfair criticism from Mel towards Lauren to claim a few more votes?
Mel is constantly going off-script and I love it! She’s so unpredictable!
I think the slight negative was to build a narrative for Lauren to nail next week. Plan A
It’ll be interesting to see if Andrea is ahead of Lauren on itunes. Obvious massive ramp for her but I wonder if it’ll take. The problem they have is that Andrea is clearly the best singer there by some distance and he’s adorable.
I expect pimp slot an awesomeness from LP next week
What do we read into the switch in judges seats by the way?
Maybe they getting ready for a serious rough about Stereo Kicks, or Cheryl kicked during break.
A panel swap just before Jack’s performance. Slightly distracting…
Didn’t have much to say about Lola. She was straining, she was out of tune, the whole thing was a bit dull and pedestrian. Despite the comments I think she’s disposable and is earmarked for dumping in 3 or 4 weeks.
Is it just me or did Lola’s version of When You Believe had the lyrics of the rewritten Leon Jackson version? Subliminal hint much?
Hit the road Jack
Mel B cleaning hands of a supposedly poor performance. Jack gone by next week latest
Yikes, Jack might be in trouble. That wouldn’t be good for my bank account!
That’s a deramp for Jack even though I thought he put in the best performance of the night. And now there are rumours of discord between Mel and Jack. I think he’ll get through this week but he’s being primed for departure next week.
Red and black for Jack and a background of empty chairs in a big empty gym.
Hmmm. Weird vibe in the comments. Could be a surprise Jack / JJ b2.
Fleur is cheating cheating cheating not
Poor Jack. I actually like him, but everything about his performance screamed deramp. What’s up with Mel’s shady comments and taking the blame off herself?
It would have been nicer for Jack if Mel had just outright said what the issue was. I hope he’s allowed a right of reply on The Xtra Factor, or Mel is called out on it.
Name in lights for Fleur – they’re keeping her safe, even with the rap.
Fleur safe. Sympathetic VT, Fleur written in giant letters on stage, and her name on the video wall, glowing praise from judges. Though I did get the impression she was about to rip her jacket off, and the song choice was from a movie about the seediest show on the planet.
Come on are you saying people won’t vote for her because her song was featured in a movie about a seedy show. Not even a seedy movie about a show but a movie about a seedy show?
Fleur’s going to be fine after that.
Not touching this week with a barge pole. It’s all over the place. I can only assume they’re desperately trying to keep Stereo Kicks and Stevi in at all costs.
Going back to the whole conversation about how scripted the show is, it’s interesting how they have moved seats (unscripted I reckon) yet they are still giving their comments in the normal ‘seated’ order, ie Louis first. If they thought of everything there and then, I don’t think they’d do that.
On a related note – has anyone noticed they changed the order the judges speak after a performance last week? Throughout the Borelow era and on the first live show, the judge to the right of whoevers act had just sing would start, but they have now reverted back to Louis (or Mel if it’s Louis’ act) starting off, therefore ending with Simon every time. It gives more importance to what he says.
It just feels wrong that Simon is mentoring the joke act.
Louis outright saying it’s time to go home. Will the viewers listen?
Thing is you can’t vote someone off, the only possible consequence of saying “time to go home” is to encourage people to vote for him
Haha. “Luckily we don’t control this show, the public control it”.
Oh Simon, you do make me laugh.
Why is Louis from 1D there every week? Are they grooming him to be the next Simon after the band split up?
So we have Louis making up with Stereo Kicks against Mel falling out with Jack…
I am more convinced than ever that Fleur is alpha over. Surely she has the most earning potential by miles.
Well, looks like the producers still like Stereo Kicks!
So did Louis go off script in fury last week with his ‘I didn’t want an eight piece band’ comment on The Xtra Factor or was that all part of a carefully tight script to create a redemption arc? If the latter, Louis takes a lot of flak on this show just to get his face on TV.
And there you see why SKs got dumped on last week. There’s your storyline, redemption etc etc.
just watching now on player, jake is a goner tomorrow, no need to cash out and swap selection this week
Talk about comeback…
SK got great song, great staging, great comments, a VT showing how hard they work and a 3-judge standing ovation
Cheryl on message this week – no danger of her drifting off script then.
And wasn’t the argument between Louis and Simon so much easier to manage with them sitting next to each other???
Life in SK yet but surely can only get them so far. Still think first 4 or 5
Big distraction ploy there on the whole Louis last week Xtra Factor stuff, performance was run of the mill really, two good vocals in 8.
Much better for James this week. Still in practice the lead singer but someone else opened the song and was the “spokesman”. Also made him more “one of the lads”. They’ve still got awl way to go and some of the vocals were shocking but it’s getting better. They certainly haven’t given up on them yet.
He still looked a little bit uncomfortable with the hugs after the performance (and slightly too serious), but I don’t know if many people noticed…
Agreed but in terms of the performance he looked more like part of the band and less like a guy with backing singers.
I actually agreed with Mel about Ben showing no emotion. During the performance, it looked like his face was stuck in a bored expression.
Couple of last thoughts:
Staging for OTY was pretty hideous.
Close ups of Andrea so you could see up his nose and in his mouth were not at all nice to look at.
At first I was wondering why Ben got the pimp slot.
Then I realised it was no pimp slot at all. It was more like the post-climactic-too-late performance that got Melanie Masson eliminated a few years ago. Lines were open from the begining of the show, Stereo Kicks beforhand got the pimp slot treatment, and he was after comercial break, the only act left, I think most people didnt bother to come back from the toilet only to see him. Plus the whole comments and all were faint, He was shown having a gf, etc. And he just wasnt brilliant. I am not saying he will be bottom 2 tomorow but this was a pretty big deramp.
quick look on UK iTunes… and so far…
191 – Jack
144 – Paul
141 – OTY
139 – Jay
68 – Stereo Kicks
55 – Andrea
43 – Lauren
Ben also came across terribly in his VT. Imagine if Fleur had said some of the things he said, she’d be heading straight home tomorrow without a doubt.
He’ll undoubtedly be safe tomorrow, but they’re definitely paving the way for Lauren to take the crown.
Jake and Lola in the bottom 2…no deadlock…Jake is going home… My prediction…