The news that this weekend’s shows have reverted to single eliminations takes some of the heat out of them. There’s been plenty of speculation about why this happened, though as Ben Cook wondered in our comments section, having only four contestants left on each night next weekend would not have been ideal.
Tonight it’s the return of the Groups vs Overs to tackle the George Michael theme. Only Kevin and Matt are left of the Overs, singing ‘Fastlove’ and ‘Careless Whisper’ respectively, when you might have expected it to be the other way around. Matt’s reputation for fast love escalated in the tabloids today with stories of him flirting with Nicole, apparently creating a Nicole / Matt / Grace love triangle. Kevin does get to show his versatility and artistry however, this time with a piano.
Jack & Joel are elimination favourites tonight with Wham’s farewell song, ‘Edge of Heaven’. Meanwhile, Sean & Conor Price get the iconic ‘Freedom 90’, Rak-Su have a chance to put their own spin on ‘Faith’, and the Cutkelvins tackle ‘Killer / Papa Was A Rolling Stone’. As always, we look forward to hearing your take on proceedings in the comments section below.
Photos via @ThePixelFactor
We’ve already seen last week how the final slot can be an effective tool for dampening someones chances as much as it can be for pimping them for victory.
Will we be seeing Kevin playing a big red piano against a black backdrop and surrounded by flames?! He does seem awfully short to win the vote tonight without knowing how he is going to be treated.
Bit of a crossover here on the thread comments… backing Kevin to go tonight….
When asked about ditching the double elimination, Simon should have just said “we’re making it up as we go along.”
Rak Su making Netflix sound like a decent option.
Ha. Fire for Rak-Su. Another redundant theory exposed.
Isn’t it down to type of fire though? When used for Four of Diamonds last year, for example, it looked like they were being burned at the stake. For Rak Su I thought it was representing ‘hot’, in that they’re hot.
Umm raksu have red and black staging and r remixing George Michael a rap. But no standing ovation. The judges still love them dont understand
So who do they want to open for Little MIx and then get a huge pimping ten days before the final?
Head says Rak-Su would do that job well
Can’t see Rak Su topping tonight’s vote with that performance though – think production were trying to carefully tred the line of dragging them down below one act (… CutKelvins?) but ensuring they weren’t damaged.
Certainly they were treated far better than Grace last week.
Yeah, CutKelvins a could do a job…
Deleted – posted in wrong place.
Raksu sounding hideous to my ears. Stars being born… Not a chance! Set alight with flames, red and blacked, iffy camera work, whole host of long shots and above all awful vocals. Surely this mob can’t win.
Now this is red and black staging. Dingy dark unhelpful.
Over the top comments from the judges for Matt.
Why did they repeatedly cut to Grace watching along during Matt’s song? Surely not trying to remind us about some tabloid stories? And he’s abandoned his kids to be here as well. Having said that, I thought he did a decent job with an iconic song. Could this be the producers first swing and miss of the series?
Rak Su followed by Matt…. Simon admitting he’s making it up as he goes along….They are reading this and taking the piss. Rak Su were awful and Matt was good. Interesting.
Friend’s place watching Ireland v Denmark. 0-0 here; how’s the show?
0-0 here as well!
TCK like some dodgy PA at a rave. So dated.
A great future in television. Not music. Classic.
Louis pouring cold water on Jack and Joel there and plenty of distracting chatter as well. I thought that was pretty good though.
I thought that was good. Hard to call this one.
All building up to a nice “back down to earth” deramp of Kevin
The critique was very interesting for Jack and Joel – Nicole went off on one about the vocalsnot being amazing but Whamazing, Louis saying one was in his pyjamas and they have a great future in television and Sharon treading a fine line of praising but being demotivating. Nice WTF moment from Nicole about Jack sounding like George Michael. Simon didn’t go overboard either.
Just seen The Metro tweet a story that Grace was once ‘quizzed’ by police over a fight she started at school three years ago…
If I was a backer I’d be worried about her even getting to the final with all these little stories coming out
I can’t wait for Holly’s Final duet with Luis Fonsi!
They’d be able to get more people to pay £5 for that than Grace’s name managed to pull in at the charity show that didn’t happen… would be great viewing
Louis saying Jack and Joel are “brilliant fun”, not music artists but brilliant fun, looks ominous for them this week
Jack & Joel were fine, but it wasn’t particularly entertaining, original or impressive vocally, in every area it was just fine. I don’t think they added any new voters, the question is did they need to?
Seems like a pimp coming up for the Scots
Not a great song though
… so after that VT they sing a song with the line ‘that was the day that my daddy died’. You couldn’t make it up…
Is their dad dead? Milk the sob story a bit more why don’t u.
They talk about Dad on a day they do Papa was a Rollin’ Stone. I wish there were odds for that because I would win money.
Still 0-0. Denmark dominating
LOL! Nicole getting the wrong country there.
Call for people to pick up the phone. Have we had one of those this series yet?
Only if you live in Great Yarmouth.
🙂
Twitter said Nicole said Sean and Conor are from Scotland. At least it’s not Norway.
Kevin channelling Tokio Myers. Who has just sold out next year’s tour. Best performance of the night for me.
Does anyone else think those candles looked like a strange scripture?
Yes i thought that. Doesn’t mean anything though.
I give up.
I think the praise for Kevin is a little OTT. Could it be to make the public feel he’s safe and therefore no need to vote for him?
The prize is performing with LM on their tour? Cutty Gang pls
The praise came right after a pimp slot performance. Kevin’s winning this vote.
And yeah, pimp slots haven’t been used this season in the live shows as they usually have been, but that was a classic pimp slot performance. Ending it all off with a powerful, emotional performance, the kind that draws in all the votes.
Kevin nailed on to win. Bye bye J & J.
I’m voting for RakSu though.
Interesting that the recap for Rak-Su didn’t show any of their additions to the song, only the original chorus.
I think Grace is still their plan A. They started too strong with her so they damaged her a bit, but I think this week is the beginning of a slow rebuilding. The comments last week and the tabloids this week are a way to construct her story and eventually make the public relate to her (which was always a problem earlier on) and make her the winner in a less obvious way than Louisa’s year.
I believe Rak-Su are going to be the shock elimination of the serie (hopefully tonight so next week can be even more interesting). They have no real commercial potential and Simon alreay has some better boybands in the making (like “PRETTYMUCH”). They served their purpose in making the show look more authentic and diversified (musically and ethnically).
Also I think they don’t want Holly nor Alisah anywhere near the final.
A lot of ridiculous distraction there from the judges after Kevin’s masterclass. Plus Louis talking in French and Nicole talking about how his performance wouldn’t be out of place on the BRITS! He surely wins tonight though. He made Raksu and the rest looks distinctly mediocre. Very happy I took 66-1 each-way after his first week’s performance.
Well – based on the actual performance, Rak Su were the worst of a ropey bunch, although you wouldn’t know by the over-the-top praise. I didn’t think J&J did a bad job, but it’s a lesser known Wham! track, and Louis predictably reminded everyone that they won’t have a music career.
Don’t get the hyperbole for Kevin’s dirgified version of Fastlove either, and I am surprised they let him have another moment after last week – he cannot be a preferred winner, can he? The prize of opening for Little Mix was certainly not picked with him in mind…
Adele’s version of Fastlove was meh (and I love her) but she would win a public vote so it’s Kevin or Daddy Cutkelvin (RIP) to win, looks like
“Less than 1% between the top two” Take that as you will…
When only ten people are voting I guess the result will be close!
Haha, you’re probably not far off!
How was Harry?
1%…wow Kevin was head and shoulders better than the rest.
Kevin Maloney coming through again…Rak-who???
I think he genuinely gained fans last week. Not what they need in 6-week show.
Looking like 0-0 here
Derm said it was one of the closest ever votes. Did he specify whether it was for first or last place? Could be taken either way.
He said 1% between the top two before Harry performed, but perhaps it was close at the bottom as well.
Can’t see it myself, though maybe Matt wasn’t far off going?
If it was close at the bottom they would have milked that. I’d be pretty sure it was close at the top.
I wonder who finished second… I think it’s Cutty but won’t be shocked if it’s Rak-Su. (saying this without seeing the visuals and the comments)
I think they’re going to be pimping Grace next week to get her to top spot and win the prize. She’d work with Little Mix better than Kevin and is a commercial prospect.
Save order:
Kevin (winner of vote)
The CutKelvins
Matt
Rak Su
Sean and Connor Price
It’s final, Ireland hold on 0-0 at Denmark.
Jack & Joel leaving? Say it ain’t so… oh wait that’s obvious
So a clear cut kill once again. As someone said before, they seem to have a great hitrate to eliminate who they want; at the top of the vote it’s a lot less clear. I think they must have realised after the first week they could not continue having the prize fight between Grace and Rak Su week after week after week, so they must be very confident that they can lift the right acts to the final regardless. I expect lots of blurb about ‘the most open contest ever’ coming from Dermot towards the end.
I definitely think they are glad to see the back of the bottom two bounce. Instead of having to line up two to fall into the bottom two they only need to be underwhelming to whoever was bottom the week before to see them gone.
Strange one this year. I would say they were going for a strong deramp on Kevin, with the piano switch and Sanskrit on the candles…. surprised he won, but true talent I guess, as the saying goes?!
I can see the cutkelvins arc kicking in now,.. original material in a week or two.
How anyone can survive a Sanskrit deramp is beyond me.
And loving your commitment to the Cutkelvins by the way. Refusing to give it up.
Sanskrit is hardly a vote-killer, unless there was a pentagram too
Red and black, fire and Sanskrit = Game over. No surviving that.
Song writers final anyone…..Grace, Kevin and Rak to each do an original song and cover?
Kevin will probably be given Candy or Hey Ya.
Kevin doing well doesn’t harm Rak-Su, their vote is pretty strong and they’re not gonna pick up many floating voters… when it comes down to the final three, they’ll get 35%
Kevin doing well does harm Grace though as they are fishing in the same pond, however Kevin is more attractive to to MEMs and Bridget Jones types… Grace just reminds them of sad times with her dirge… with these stories of Grace dropping and the pimping of Kevin tonight, are they setting her up for the kill before the final?
Rak-Su v Kevin v Lloyd looks like the perfect final for them if they want to get Rak-Su to the win. If they did get that then I would expect a change to the way the voting is done, we’ll either have a four act final with one going on Saturday or a three act final with no Saturday Elimination
Think you wrong with Grace. A 20 yr old very talented likeable singer/ songwriter is an ideal winner for them….never mind a certain finalist.
Judging by the standing ovations, they tried to eke out a moment for Scotland, Ireland, and France. Clearly France won.
Cutkelvins were clearly the act 1% behind Kevin. 4 way standing ovation. I would imagine they would have been the preferred choice for little mix prize. Sets them up just nicely for their moment next weekend.
Hope dies last.
It was a great VT for The Cutkelvins, but TracyLeanne also had a great VT last week. With a fairly rubbish performance and staging, I think The Cutkelvins were closer to the bottom of the vote than the top. Could be wrong but that’s just my reading of it.
I don’t see any way Kevin couldn’t have been who they wanted at the top tonight, strange as it sounds. Putting him in the pimp slot coming off of a winning week, with a helpful production, could only push him further tonight. He wouldn’t have been given such a boost if they wanted anyone else to win the vote.
If Grace finishes top tomorrow it means Rak Su, Kevin and herself tie and two appearances each – the two chosen ones and an act I’m pretty sure they’ll feel comfortable enough in dragging down when needed. Almost perfect from where the producers are sitting; they have the strongest commercial acts at the top but it’s slightly unpredictable.
Slightly inappropriate unselflreflective world view there panos
iTunes update:
31. Kevin
36. Rak-Su
69. Matt
199. The Cutkelvins
203. Jack & Joel
518. Sean & Conor
Dimelo back up to #5, Mamacita #14.
Surprised to see Matt doing so well, also to see The Cutkelvins and Sean & Conor doing so badly.
I would be shocked if Rak-Su weren’t 2nd in the vote. I think their support base is strong.
I’m not. Cutty’s version was pretty much a copy of how George performed it (only way to keep on theme) and Sean & Conor’s version was so watered down people rushed to grab the original (in the 100s now, second highest among the original George Michael/Wham! songs, behind Careless Whisper)
Obviously it is dependant on how they treat Grace tonorrow, but if they are considering Kevin as the third finalist would it not make sense for them to put him into the prize fight against Grace and see how he compares?
My takes.
– Single elimination made the show’s job much, much easier this weekend and it reinforces that from a TV perspective, there are tiers when it comes to TPTB’s preferences.
– Kevin winning was something the show was okay with, but NOT something they pushed for. Pimp slot be damned, the show gave Cutty and the Prices a fair crack at grabbing the week.
– Jack & Joel were, as expected, gone.
Performance reviews.
RAK-SU
– I liked it. Faith is such a fun song and they took it to 2017. A bit cheesy, but so is George Michael dancing by himself.
– The “Rak-Su sauce” lost them votes, just because it’s George Michael and some people will just prefer the song untouched.
– Staging was not positive (changing light colour schemes was annoying), no standing ovation, but they are still the preferred Group (sorry Cutty backers).
– Comments were positive but not OTT; Sharon’s comment will resonate (carrying on George’s work for generations to come) in the long run.
MATT
– Wait, HE HAS CHILDREN? Contrast this VT with all the sleazy escapades he allegedly has.
– He carried a rock version of the song’s eroticism.
– Flashes of light prison with erotic bloody background, camera panning to Grace post-performance, but two judges standing.
– Positive positive comments but this was not for his kids, let’s be honest. If they want him to leave soon, you won’t hear it from the comments.
JACK & JOEL
– Feels like a semi-Unplugged version, which is nice, but it doesn’t really take me anywhere.
– Wham! were “entertaining but original.” The lyric video background pretty much says they’re not original, and when you compare this to their previous performances, not entertaining either.
– Comments were very faint and slightly distracting. It’s not dropping the hammer like Leon’s exit, which suggests this kill wasn’t too hard.
THE CUTKELVINS
– It’s a good rave song and the brothers are leaving the background.
– This was supposed to be their moment, from the dad VT to them being allowed songs George just covered but fits them really well.
– Staging emphasised how current they are, four judges standing and the comments remind us that they have a dad and he is very proud.
SEAN & CONOR
– They were great on stage; that arrangement was not. The second voice “I won’t let you down, I will not give you up…” MADE Freedom ’90 so good and it was not here. Explains why the original is zooming up on iTunes and their version isn’t.
– This was also supposed to be their moment, which is why their odds improved mid-week.
– Staging was kind and reminded us they are like a bright new day. Four judges stood up and comments were glowing all around and the crowd liked it, BUT…
– Simon’s comments: start “all over the place”, “not perfect”, “dogs”? Discuss.
KEVIN
– Haunting performance aided by the staging, but this is Adele’s version.
– Another VT emphasising he is a musician trying to catch a break in the UK.
– Staging was in a dark church and a spotlight on him; no Sanskrit. He was taking sinners to church. 4-judge SO and comments were Week 1/2 Rak-Su positive. Simon buried his previous two acts by siding with this one, so I’m surprised his margin of victory is small.
I loved the Cutkelvins performance! But then I love ‘Killer’ as a track anyway.
I quite liked Rak-Su and Matt’s performances too.
On the whole, Jack & Joel going was an obvious result. They were on early, the two that were on earlier than them were quite good, Jack & Joel’s own performance wasn’t very interesting. For the first time I thought they were worse than Sean & Conor. Not that Sean & Conor were any good, but they were less awful than usual.
There’s also the damning with faint praise thing the judges do, Louis in particular. Like this time he said Jack & Joel would have a great career “in television”. There was something similar with Tracyleanne last week, after her performance he shrugged “it worked for me”, that is kind of implying it wasn’t great.
As for Kevin, I thought his performance of ‘Smooth’ was the best performance of the whole series. I didn’t like his performance of ‘Fastlove’, but I still wasn’t surprised he topped the vote. There was the pimp slot, plus the fact that the British public seem to love slooooooowwwwed dooowwwnnnnnnn verrrrsioonzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz of pop songs played on a piano, for some reason.
Yeah slowed down pop got Emily to week 9 last year and she topped the vote in week 4. It only took them like 11 performances to get bored
Tonight was an odd show personally the performances were alright its just theu weren’t really George Michael.
Raksu- a very bad response on Twitter. Adding Netflix and chill to George Michael was terrible although they have a large following i don’t think they’ll be the 1% behind Kevin.
Matt- brought up his kids like Tracey Leanne last week narrowly survived. I think he’ll go next week Kevin’s clearly the alpha no use for him anymore.
Jack and Joel- they were entertaining but not the best song choice. It wasn’t the worst performance but the most forgettable.
The cutkelvins- good song and VT but don’t think it was really George Michael. It was a cover. I think they are the 1% behind Kevin.
Sean and connor- surprised the judges praised them with their weak vocals. Still confused how they r still in.
Kevin- stole the show. He was great and the only fitting tribute. Interesting to see how far they want him to go. I’m guessing semi finals.
10 acts in week 4 is a but much. They can’t have 4 acts go next week as they need a top 8 for the tour. I think they could extend it a week mot likely buy a possibility. This week was the only weel that made sense for a quadruple elimination. They can’t have one in their top 8. I think well have a 4 act final this year. It’s gonna be grace raksu kevin/lloyd and cutllevins/s and c
I
I thought Rak-Su’s version appeals to Rak-Su fans a lot, but not to neutrals who’d usually lean to favour them. It was irreverent (hence the negative press https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4894900/x-factor-viewers-upset-as-rak-su-add-own-rap-lyrics-to-classic-george-michael-song/) but it took Faith to 2017, which is something TPTB would like in the long run.
Disagree that S&C’s problem this week is their vocals. The song didn’t make their voices sound dodgy but their version’s arrangement made them look and sound like Hi-5 presenters paying tribute to George Michael.
I honestly think the show should extend for a week. The current format has them starting the Lives late and finishing early. If that’s off the table, the quadruple elimination will probably be in Week 5.
Extending by a week looks possible, maybe finishing a week early always left that as an option depending on how the new format was working out. They can easily go for a 4 act final over 2 nights. The rules seem to allow wiggle room to bring back the sing off in the semi final, which gives them a better chance to get the final 4 they want. Also gives them an extra week to de-ramp Kevin. This wouldn’t surprise me at all now.
I think the result has set it up for an interesting night tonight. Last night result means that Kevin has beaten both Rak-su and Grace in the live shows. Grace has beaten Rak-su in a head to head. Kevin has beaten Rak-su in a head to head. If Grace wins tonight and wins the prize fight momentum seems to swing back to her. But if Kevin wins it’s still all to play for assuming Kevin is not a desired winner.
Last night could almost have been set to get that result. Rak-su on first with a performance to please the demo, but which will have limited picking up new votes. Another moment in the sun for Kevin. J&J allowed to drift to the bottom. Everyone else boosted enough to ensure that votes were shared around rather than Kevin being allowed to run away with it.
At least they’ve managed to mix things up, so that the prize fight isn’t the dead rubber it appeared it was going to be after the first week.
Last night was very similar to last Sunday’s show – they’ve shown they can control Grace’s vote and also Rak Su’s vote by boosting Kevin. I think it backfired on them slightly with Kevin winning the prize fight. I think they’re doing the same this week but by putting Kevin on the first night, it means he performs first in the prize fight sing off. I think the plan is for Grace to win tonight from the pimp slot and to see if she can beat Kevin. If so, it seems like all balloons have been floated and Kevin can go to the final knowing that at least one of Grace or Rak Su can win with a few we weeks of going easy on Kevin.
My only concern is the negative press for Grace, although there is a story out today I’ve seen on tellynix with a number of the finalists leaping to her defence re: Diva rumours but I’m not sure if it’s origins.
This is probably a bit convoluted, but is there a chance that Princess Grace will address those rumours in the VT, a la Jesy of Little Mix with the online hate? Rumors keep piling in but you have people defending her as well. Her song is I Can’t Make You Love Me, after all.
I’d be inclined to invest in that a bit more if people didn’t already love her in the first place. If she was floundering in the vote, I could understand it but by the time that the diva story surfaced, she’d already won a prize fight. It doesn’t make sense to knock her down to build her back up again?
With the Grace “diva” stories, I wonder if she’s ended up getting the Katie Waissel headline grabber role by default? They haven’t got any real joke acts this year, and they haven’t got anyone like, well, Katie Waissel who tends to generate a lot of drama and publicity, so maybe Grace has ended up having that because there isn’t really anyone else?
The scenarios are a bit different though. Jesy was the victim, in this case they’re making Grace out to be the aggressor.
I think Kevin was the intended winner as it sets things up so well in terms of the competition. If they didn’t want him to win why help him so much with running order and staging?
Yeah that’s what I mean – they underplayed Grace last week and bigged up Kevin on the same night, much like they did with Rak Su last night. I think they wanted Kevin to win last nights vote, and I’m expecting them to big Grace up tonight to see how Kevin v Grace works out, and ultimately to see if he’s a real threat to her in the final.
Grace price has drifted to 3/1 in places.
What price tomorrow on winning tonight…2/1 ?
and price if she wins sing off 6/4 ?
If she gets pimped tonight and wins the prize fight I’d say she should be odds on.
wow checked betfair and Grace was 9/2. Now back into 7/2 on there.
Kevin did seem to be the person they wanted to win last night. He certainly received the pimping.
I think Rak-Su were allowed to drift to ensure Kevin won the night and further cement him as one to watch in the public’s mind.
So, I would guess that Rak-Su cames second in the vote and will bounce back next week.
The Cutkelvin treatment seemed to me to be more about saving them than keeping them near the top. The twitter response to their performance was very negative.
I’m now very wary of the Grace treatment. Any mention of “diva” during the show would be a direct to her chances.
I’m looking for a second act who ursurp her in the voting tonight, and that would confirm her fall from grace.
The only ones I see who could challenge Grace tonight are Holly and maybe Alisha.
Raksu response was worse a lot of people said they changed the sing completely and it was terrible. For the cutkelvins people wete angry due to the fact that they performed a George Michael cover not am original
yes, but when Jack & Joel were eliminated, no one said “it should have been Rak-Su.” Social media leaned towards “should have been Sean & Conor” and “should have been The Cutkelvins”
yet it’s Rak-Su who are currently higher in the chart…
I wonder if The CutKelvins will have their moment tonight 😉