Despite ten acts remaining, it’s effectively the quarter-final stage, and there’ll be no quarter given for the double eliminations this weekend. We’ve yet to have it confirmed if it’s just the bottom two in the vote or one from each category going home, not to mention whether the prize fight remains. Dermot, it’s over to you to let us know.
What seems more certain is that likeable plasterer Sam Black will struggle tonight in the boys vs groups battle. The general consensus was that he scraped through last week – survival tonight would be the X Factor equivalent of ‘The Great Escape’. He’s being kept in the 1961 groove with Little Mix doo-wop album track, ‘Oops’. There may be tears before bedtime.
Intriguingly, the Cutkelvins introduce their own original material – ‘Saved Me From Myself’ – alongside Rak-Su who give us ‘Mona Lisa’. Sean & Conor Price have ‘Issues’, last performed by Anthony Russell during auditions, while Lloyd Macey gives us Shania Twain MOR classic, ‘From This Moment On’. Do let us know your thoughts on tonight’s show below.
Sam’s been a goner since he was saved last Sunday but Sean & Conor’s demise was confirmed by the song, the running order, and the fact that rehearsal photos show Sean will not have his trusted guitar on a song that surely needs that “busking edge.”
I’m more interested with who the winner will be. Rak-Su with the pimp slot is most likely, though a bit on the nose from TPTB, but Cutty have a chance with their first original. A few hyperboles extolling the performance over the first two and…
CK’s song makes Demy’s This Is Love sound like a masterpiece and, SHOCK HORROR, they have been denied the pimp slot to Rak-Su. #sleeperplanA
You’ve listened to it or am I missing a joke?
Panos has posters of Raksu up on his bedroom wall hes a little bit obsessed. I have to admit that I can’t see how the Cutkelvins could write anything as genius as wrapping shit up like a fajita. Or tonight’s song thats about the 50th Mona lisa song in history. Set to feature the genius line, I’m gonna paint ya like the mona lisa.
The songs are on iTunes.
Based on the preview it’s far from brilliant but it’s not terrible to the point I would expect the judges to criticise them. Probably just enough to get them above S&C.
My scribbled down tissues based on running order (to win show)
SC 8/1
Sam 50/1
TCK 6/1
Lloyd 7/4
Raksu 10/11
Can’t believe final is in 2 weeks, this series has been bizarre. Agree with others who have said this is a crucial week, especially for Grace (looking likely she’ll return to favour) and TCKs (do they have any shot of winning left?).
can’t see any bookie prices, an hour and a half after the line ups announced…poor. But Rak Su rated a little higher on the machine than I made them…the pimp slot obviously being respected by the punters.
Is Betfair the only site with an elimination market?
Ooh they’ve switched up the order
To what
Sam first
Not sure, but Sam was on 2nd in the leak. I presume they’ve just switched him and S&C
They did switch it up. I’m going to release the RO a little later from here because there is too much of a risk of them switching it after I release it when I release it early. Sean and Conor now on 2nd.
Cuttys shortening now.
Dermot hasn’t specified how tonight’s vote works in terms of who leaves, unless I missed it.
He just *cannot* sing. Also, in the VT they had him gush over his fiancee and how she’s changed him…then he’s singing about how he cheats on his gf…
this is bad
They managed to get a dig in at Matt’s womanising ways in the VT as well. Ooh harsh (but apt) food metaphor from Simon.
Did Sam willingly write his own obituary? He’s up against amazing singers (he’s not one himself)… he’s like a cat with nine lives…
Simon’s back with the food analogies, calling his performance a ‘starter’ basically. Blaming Louis again. Nicole overdoing the criticism? Or will be seen as honest? Sharon repeating ‘little happy chappy’ twice if people missed it the first time. Louis repeats ‘prawn cocktail’ and asks Simon to hammer home what it means and to ‘look forward to what happens next’.
A takedown or overplaying their hand? I’d say the former for now but we’ll see how they treat the others.
If Sam manages to get into the top 3 tonight I will be flabbergasted
They might have overplayed their hand if a single elimination but hard to see how he’ll escape a double. Plus the criticism felt appropriate, it was a terrible performance.
He was terrible last week and survived.
think you’re giving too much credit to Sam here. Something that bad doesn’t need a takedown. People have ears to do that.
Ok, they are very subtle with Sam’s critique, are they? Simon starting to lay the ground for praise for the Original’s, even Louis playing by the script, repeating the ‘still here’ backhanded compliment over and over and hammering home Simon’s Prawn Cocktail nonsense.
I feel seriously sorry for the guy…
It’s all just building up to cutkelvins moment……
That’s 2/2 for VTs that Matt’s appeared in. Both reinforcing the love rat stereotype though, so not exactly a positive.
I wonder if for Sam, this is better than getting eliminated at Bootcamp
I reckon it is better. He’s just not very good so had no chance of a singing career anyway. Now at least he’s had a lot of exposure and a chance to make some decent money in the short term.
They’re mostly hyping the Prices, going to be interesting to see how the Cutkelvin’s original goes down because it’s probably between these two for elimination no2.
It wasn’t a half bad performance in comparison to their previous, but it felt a bit awkward.
Maybe they just don’t care who goes between the two groups.
Another lack of originality hit from Nicole towards the Price brothers. This is certainly building up for a ‘moment’ from one of those who has an original number. Simon did make a specific shout out for votes, though.
Grumpy juice! Love it Simon. But the praise for for S and C – what the hell? I thought they would be a target. But Sherzy did question originality. Or are they trying to get them above somebody else?
Surely not CK’s? Original number to be praised or slated. I now don’t know!
Maybe TPTB don’t need to be mean to kill them off. Double elimination, after all.
I still think CutKelvins might be a target because they fish in the same pool as Rak Su.
Unless they think they can drag Lloyd from top to fourth but I’m doubting that.
Pretty sure the lights in S&C’s performance were there in the last one. Brian wouldn’t have done this.
Oh dear me, Mum Su? We’re at the Mummy G stage.
And just before the CutKelvinsperform!
“could be a risk” but at least daddy’s in the VT again
Really odd to push sibling rivalry in the cutkelvin’s VT?
Notice the Cutkelvins written on the screen at the end of their VT.
Millennial Whoop in the song says to me that they had a lot of help with that.
It’s a bop but they wrote this and she still has all the parts?
Much better from TCK. Needed that performance in week one though. RakSu bandwagon already gone.
Wow, they’re really pushing the call out to vote for The CutKelvins. Really pushing the ‘originality’ angle from Nicole and Simon. Simon has reminded everyone about two going out of five at this point.
Sam is definitely gone. Now we’ll have to see how they handle Lloyd and Rak Su.
Pretty shite song to be honest, and Shereen dressed like a stripper. however a great vt and a major pimping. Safe for tonight. I don’t see them beating a Raksu pimp spot though, which already began just before the CKs took stage.
‘like a whore’??? what kind of misogynistic crap is that.
Worded it a bit wrong. It’s just a well known vote killer.
I will not have you insulting Shereen like that. I can see the words developed and beats rejigged by a Zedd or something (not gonna happen but still) and it can be a hit.
All this talk of pimping and whores is getting tiresome. It’s especially troublesome when a young teen performer is described as having been given the “pimp slot”.
There has to be a better way of describing show presentation.
It’s TV talent show, not Times Square in the 1970s.
LOL Edie will be complaining to the internet police im sure.
I’m here, if you have something to say, please direct it at me because this is so childish.
thank you ron and anglia
What’s going on with the groups? Decent push for both S&C and CutKelvins.
So either it’s so clear cut from the previous vote, they don’t care, or we have the biggest shock in a long time coming up…
One of them got two-more-judges-standing-up decent so that’s probably the edge in the votes
Don’t know what to make of that – the comments were predictably over the top for a messy, boring performance, but putting ‘I hate you so much right now’ into the Vt was a bit of a red flag for me. And I agree, she looked like a teenage hooker straight out of GTA, and she didn’t seem to be comfortable with it, seeing how she kept adjusting that ill-fitting bustier top.
This performance will keep them safe, but is this the much-awaited pivot that Cutty backers have been waiting for?
I reckon they’ve decided they want all the acts to sing an original song in the final, so that’s why they’re pushing Cutkelvins to be there. (And in any case if they can do songs as good as that on their own they should be able to have hit anyway). If there’s to be 4 in the final, Kevin too.
How much pimping are Rak-Su getting! Mum-Su…. and Dermot even mentioning Rak-Su more than Lloyd for the “after the break” intro.
Matt Terry’s backing Kevin, Matt and Holly.
Has he not been reading the script?
And gave the advice of pick good songs. Funny.
I guess they don’t want to reveal too much to him, he’s getting dropped in about three weeks so don’t give him any stories to sell.
I’m sure that there’s a distinct correlation between the prizes on offer (working with a top producer, recording your own single, etc) and an act that writes their own material and doesn’t rely on covers. Is this to make the voting public think that they’re more deserving of the prize and so vote for them?
whore, stripper, hooker? this is making me v uncomfortable. Women can wear whatever the hell they want and don’t need your misogynistic input. (plus, have some damn respect for sex workers, they’re people not punchlines for your sexism).
I doubt Shereen chose her outfit tonight.
Exactly, I’m glad you get it.
She has agency and chose to agree to it. It’s very similar to her outfit from JH. SHE WAS WEARING A JACKET.
A bit late as I started watching on record after it started, but thank you Edie for your comments, I entirely agree with you. For what it’s worth, I didn’t even think Shereen’s outfit particularly revealing or risque. But the commentary in those terms isn’t necessary.
Playing devil’s advocate and saying that these politically incorrect statements mirror the unspoken biases the voting public tend to have in these shows. Could be better-phrased but still
So Cutkelvins are currently top after this deramp for Lloyd. You have to think they can get Raksu top with this final spot but who knows.
Nicole’s taken over the food analogies with Lloyd. They’re definitely bringing him back down to Earth with Simon and Nicole’s comments. Sharon and Louis both made explicit calls for votes.
Interesting Sharon and Nicole stated there is a market out there for him.
The show retweeted this comment on Lloyd’s performance. It’s not positive someone tell the social media team (!!!)
https://twitter.com/Rainesupreme82/status/931991680840060928
They must have been very proud of the Andrea Faustini food takedown, there more food discussion than most cookery shows, certainly more than they talk about vocal tone or tuning.
Raksu have nicked this beat. How is this an original?
Dear God, stop already with all the food stuff. You are getting paid millions for your critique, and that’s the best you can come up with?
I just wonder if Lloyd might not be a shoo-in. I thought I heard Simon saying 2 *people* are going home tonight, and there seemed a real push on each group. As Lloyd won last week where’s the incentive to vote for him? They seem clear it’s just the bottom 2 in the vote going.
Sam definitely out… I’d guess the Price’s will join him but they’re really trying to drag Lloyd down now. That or setting him up for a moment next week – if they think he is marketable like Sharon and Nicole said?
He’s definitely not marketable. He won’t sell singles, and album sales are terrible nowadays. Syco at least won’t be interested.
Josh Groban hasn’t exactly been a failure to be fair – but Syco has always been utterly cluless on how to handle that style of singer.
Voting opens. In the show’s more cutthroat years, they would have tried dropping Lloyd down, but for now it’s him, Cutty, and Rak-Su I expect to see next week.
Haven’t they broken their own T&Cs this week? It was supposed to be either 1 act, or 1 act from each category going each night.
Thought the fireworks for Rak-Su was a bit much. I’d be fuming if I was one of the other acts. And all their songs are starting to sound the same.
Someone pointed out in weeks’ past that there’s a clause where TPTB can change their T&Cs or something? In any case, they won’t need it now.
It’s a standard condition – “The producers reserve the right to change the above at any time” or something like that. It’s to cover themselves in case they want to, er, change anything.
I’m voting for S & C to try and get Cutkelvins in the bottom 2.
Yeah cos your 5 votes should just about swing it.
Just doing my bit.
Id absoulely love it if Lloyd still beat that shower of shit Raksu. Every original song sounds exactly the same as the one before. Im still surprised the public are buying that rubbish.
Definitely a possibility for Lloyd to beat RakSu.
Let’s see if Matt Terry has opened the last remaining button of his shirt in the interrim…
[Insert quip here about how this guy on now should be going home tonight]
He wouldn’t have won this year, that’s for sure.
All RakSu songs sound the same. Chorus is quirky and pleasant but not mind blowing. Do the public love them. I’m not convinced, they have lost 2 head to heads. Judges over pimping, will the public play ball this time?
Sam: no comment
SC: They were, in football parlance, played out of position. Ireland is back, though, after their failed WCQ so…
Cutty: Three weeks late but this should restore the goodwill they have from neutrals.
Lloyd: Nothing bad to say because I love Shania… okay fine, it pigeonholes him but he has broad appeal so safe.
Rak-Su: Won’t be shocked if they already have some under-the-table contract because this feels like a promo for their future material
I know it’s all samey but Mona Lisa is my favourite samey Rak-Song
TPTB able to control the vote at will it seems.
you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’ve voted for a different act every week.
Winner of the vote: Rak Su
Remaining save order –
Lloyd
The CutKelvins
Fair result. I quite like S&C compared to most of the lot but they’re the third-best group this year.
So that worked all according to plan, then. Once again. It fills me with dread to think that either
a) the public are so gullible that they believe what they are told and vote accordingly or
b) the public actually genuinely like this re-hashed crap, where everything sounds and looks exactly the same week after week, but we are told that it is the most amazing songwriting EVAH!
People are unbelievably gullible. A negative comment here, a pimp there and the producers get their way practically every time.
They’ve successfully rid the show of all its drama and tension. We don’t even find out who was bottom of the vote??
I know! It’s probably Sam but this information should come from the show
And there’s not even an Xtra Factor for them to confirm it on. Although let’s be honest, not having The Xtra Factor on our screens is a blessing.
Some people on this thread need to have a good look at their gambling habits, if the performances and results from this TV show are making them so irritable and vitriolic.
Who’s being irritable and vitriolic??
Not going to start throwing names around, but I’m sure the people know who they are. Although they probably won’t read this as they’ll have switched over to punt on the racing at Woodbine.
I went through Aiden Grimshaw losing to Katie Waissel (made money on this but I hated the result). This is nothing.
The results show is a bit chaotic, to say the least. By the end, the acts weren’t even side-by-side with their mentors.
Twitter doesn’t really like Sean & Conor but The Cutkelvins are feeling the brunt of their elimination.
Tomorrow will be interesting on the elimination front.
Well my win market book lots a lot healthier now, I was very red on S&C. The track record of gamma groups speaks for itself.
Of the three who went through tonight, I’d suggest Lloyd took some damage but full steam ahead for Rak-Su and their mums. Who would lay odds on the Mums making an on-stage appearance before the series is done?
Decent night here. Wasn’t sure who would go home pre-show, but I pulled the trigger on Sean + Conor for elimination as soon as I saw their colour vomit-y graffiti backdrop. Also, it felt like they had *even less* production than usual. Was not entirely confident when Dermot was calling the results, but was delighted to see it go my way.
Must be the the lack of Sean’s guitar and those dim stage lights that have been overused this year
Is Sharon right, is the show done? Speaking of Raksu she blantantly said they were the winners. However as has been pointed out TPTB are easily pushing and weakening acts at will to get their preferred result. They didn’t win last week of course. Could complacency set in amongst voters resulting in somebody else winning the series?
Tomorrow could well be Grace v RakSu round 2.
Figure of speech. They still have work to do to make that win happen
My concern about Rak Su’s ability to win is the amount of time they’ll surely give the public in the final. Presumably the acts will perform both nights with the vote open overnight after they’ve eliminated third place. Of course it depends who they’ve managed to shepherd into the top two positions – if it’s Rak Su, Grace and The CutKelvins I doubt they’d care too much but if Lloyd or Kevin get there then it might get interesting.
They better prepare the Hey Ya backing track just in case.
The last time Sharon said “you’ve won!” to an act , weeks before the final, was to Rowetta in 2004,
Mrs O ain’t always right! ….
My take on tonight. 3 objectives:-
1. No matter what, make sure Sam finishes below everyone.
2. Ensure Rak-su finish top, mega pimping, set up full steam ahead for the final
3. Move Cuttys into potential final threatening spot. Ideally this would have been at expense of major deramp on Lloyd but given the double elimination and the all guns blazing approach to ensure Sam finished bottom, the cross hairs could only be trained on air gun rather than fully automatic rifle setting. Sean and Conor de ramped with preference to Cuttys but not to extent that they risk Sean and Conor (or anyone) finishing below Sam.
Mission accomplished.
Agreed that Cutty are now in a final-threatening position. They look rejuvenated compared to weeks back.
I’m a little baffled by the heavy-handed burial of Sam, an act who presumably has little support. It’s a double elimination so fifth vs fourth doesn’t even matter.
and it’s not about the tour either, as I read somewhere that the top 12 will go (needs confirmation).
If you’re a producer would you risk Sam being one of the 3 acts getting through tonight? Not a chance.
He had too catchy a song last week to risk the double with. He probably still finished bottom 2 last week but going into the show I’d wager that tptb didn’t feel comfortable that he’d end up bottom 2.
He was the easiest kill this week by a mile wth a terrible unknown/not catchy song. Get him bottom 2 and then you need only 1 from the remaining 3 to end up in the bottom 2 to ensure TCO (rak-su) are safe.
Point taken. My thoughts were that in the past, TPTB have been more light-touch with bigger threats (i.e. just handing out faint praise and be done with it).
I think if it hadn’t been a double they’d have felt comfortable trying to bury him with faint praise.
That’s the dilemma they had this week, 2/5 of the contestants were going home. They had no room to misfire. If they did misfire, one of their chosen ones could be at risk. On a single elimination week they’d maybe have taken their foot off the pedal with the Sam criticism and taken their chances.
That’s why I think the emphasis this week is on protecting the chosen ones (I expect we’ll see this with Grace tomorrow). In order to do that there needs to be some heavy burials.
Do think as well that the references to stripper/whore may be crass but there is no doubt the way that Shereen was styled and asked to perform that track that the producers intentions and subliminals in this respect were there and its difficult to see how these wouldn’t be planted in the viewers subconscious either. It’s not nice, morally correct or necessarily comfortable viewing but it’s human nature and is just another tool in our gambling armoury.
There is a way to point out potential backlash over outfits (I remember the hubbub over Tracyleanne’s outfit at JH) without resorting to “X looks like a hooker.” It’s good to be aware that the show is playing on our implicit biases but language matters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaY7TDnSXhU&t=7
Agreed. The phrasing and commentary should be better here. What’s thought doesn’t always have to be colorfully articulated.
Yes. There is a big difference between “Some viewers might be put off by her very short skirt” and “Some viewers might be put off because she’s dressed like whore”.
I don’t think they styled Shereen to de-motivate votes. I think it’s another case of seeing manipulation where there was none. They gave TCK every chance tonight, although obviously not pimping them like RakSu.
What Shereen was wearing was nothing compared to Little Mix or any other young attractive pop star might wear. It’s 2017 not Victorian times. Would anyone really find a short skirt off putting?
And if they treated Sam so badly to protect RakSu why did they not the S&C under a bus too? More likely they had started to feel that Sam’s continued presence was becoming an embarrassnent to the show.
This might be true, but is this simply suggestive bias in reference to the juxtaposition of grace v Shereen?
With grace and her streams of white coming from her mouth(fake tan) in the twitter picture and the insinuated association with Matt?
What makes me wonder here, is why, with the final approaching didn’t they test the cutkelvins vote with a full pimping? Is that because they now l is what it will take them to the win?
I say this as a backer of TCK, but I agree with Spiidey’s comment that TPTB were taking no chances with Rak Su.
I try to keep my betting fun, but if I had to choose between Rak Su or Grace for the win, I’d go for her. Rak Su have required a lot of assistance so far and I think they might struggle to get over the line.
No it’s because they have a much bigger preference for RakSu. Surely after last night that message will have reached even the most ardent of TCK backers.
Re above comments – people shouldn’t be so easily offended when discussing what the public might think. You can have politically correct police or full and honest analysis but not both together.
Agreed. If someone accused an act of being a (insert pejorative term) then that would not be on. Saying an act is styled in such a way is very different.
I wonder if there’s any bounce effect for the acts that don’t win this weekend. Also if Rak-Su, who had enough percentage to win with 5 acts will have enough to win with 2. It was suggested early on that this kind of act usually has a ceiling of votes on XF.
Well I certainly think there could be a negative bounce for those that topped the vote the previous week.
And Rak Su have already lost two head to head votes. To lose a third would be suboptimal.
iTunes watch (top 1500)
6 Rak-Su
* 4 old songs
57 The Cutkelvins
70 Lloyd
* 1 old song
103 Sean & Conor
* 9 old songs
Caught up with last nights performances… I see the Rak-Su hate on here is still alive and kicking from those that didn’t back them
The CutKelvins… her vocals are really bad, seem so strained… maybe it’s because she’s trying to be louder than the electo beat… but maybe next week they’ll have their ‘moment’ which propels them to the win… you can bet on it at 50.0 or maybe a donation to a deserving charity
The rest was pretty much as expected… Lloyd is boring, has the personality of a half eaten, two day old sausage roll, he won’t be winning this show. The ‘cute boy’ vote doesn’t usually go to somebody who’s a) gay b) of a larger frame
I’m assuming that next week will have all the remaining acts singing on both nights, with one going home on each… so they don’t need to balance out the numbers in each category later today. Holly and Matt or Kevin to go… unless they want a shock to match Aston in Strictly
Lol at the charity comment.
Wow, i didn’t expect to find a debate about whether Shereen looked like a woman of loose morals on here! She looked fine to me – no better or worse than what they dressed Fleur in a lot of the time.
They went in far harder than they needed to on Sam. His running order, VT and performance would have done it without laying into him so heavily in the comments.
S&C going was the right result. Lack of guitar and having the other brother around just to whoop and holler made them look lost and the lack of staging added to that. They came to their natural end.
Cutkelvins got a lot more than I expected. The song was good, Shereen is still off vocally but visually it was the most impressive of the night. Im not sure why there’s such a hoo ha over them here tbh – I know people get passionate when there’s money involved but they will finish fourth at absolute best.
Lloyd was dragged down to stop him winning this week. His performance was good and he continues to give adorable VT but his comments kept a lid on it all. If he’s in the final, I’m not sure that they can keep spinning his comments in such a way – can they give him his moment to pay off the critique and make it a journeys end next week?
Onwards and upwards for Rak su. Nice if you like that sort of thing but personally the whole package felt like the previous three weeks, including the comments and vt.
Spiidey mentioned that drop-drop-dropping the hammer on Sam may be a risk-management tool in case Cutty’s original song went over like a lead balloon; at least then it will be S&C in the semis and not him.
This series seems really flat to me. I don’t find myself liking any of the changes they have made. Never thought I would find myself missing the bottom two sing-off and the judges tactically voting and making everyone furious. At least that was quite fun in a vicious sort of way (this probably makes me a bad person). I had a bet on early on the Cuttys and since then, I’ve just not felt inspired to get involved any further, nor do I often manage to watch the programme live, which means I miss the short voting window quite often. I only managed to vote last night as I saw Anglia’s comments that the vote was open (I was still watching Sean and Connor at that stage). Surely this programme won’t survive another year?
the show is contracted to ITV for the next two years, so its not disappearing just yet. It will surely see an overhaul next year (although the format this year has been poor I personally feel that the standard of act has been generally higher than most recent years).
They’re already promoting applications for next year. I think they should follow how the reboot of American Idol will fare in the US; maybe a year off really is what the doctor ordered, especially if XF acts keep the momentum of commercial success.
I agree, I think the overall standard of the acts has been much higher than usual. Frankly, I haven’t missed the joke/novelty acts at all, I’m glad they haven’t gone there this time. That said, the thing about the joke acts is they tend to draw attention to the series and get people talking about it, often making far too much of a fuss over them, but it’s that whole thing about no such thing as bad publicity, so I can see them coming back in the next series unfortunately.
Maybe it’s the unleashing of original material but this year’s lot is actually good compared to recent years (just that they’re saddled by this weird format and the unnecessarily early end to the series).
To those that think the lady was dressed in rather a provocative style, try watching some music videos. EG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lktuR-rzTqQ
Not a surprising result really, the two acts who went on first were the two who finished in last place. Running order is very important this year, everyone who has finished at the bottom was on early, everyone who has won the vote was on late.
Re: Sam agreeing with the judges comments, to be fair to him, I think he’s aware of his limitations, that’s not such a bad thing. I think getting a Little Mix album track and being on first will have sealed the deal.
I’ve never liked Sean and Conor’s performances and I hate the original version of the song they did, so I personally was never going to like that performance anyway, but maybe the lack of guitar might have put off people who did vote for them before. Or perhaps that annoying emojii-filled VT?
On the flipside, I really like the Cutkelvins, so I might be biased the other way with them, as I enjoyed their performance. The song was OK, at least as good as any of the other original tracks that have been on this series. It also seems that doing an original song is good for getting votes. I have to say I am baffled at some of the comments on here about Shereen. All I’ll say is that never once crossed my mind, and I think it wouldn’t have done for at least some of the viewers either.
‘From This Moment On’ is one of those sterotypical “Mum songs”, and Lloyd’s performance did feel like that’s who it was aimed that, though I don’t think it was intended to make him look good. The song is also a bit dated, it’s very ’90s ballad, and Shania Twain songs such as ‘You’re Still The One’ and ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ have definitely aged better.
I would agree with the view that if you’ve heard one Rak-Su song you’ve heard them all, but they will have built up
a fanbase by now, so having a clear sound won’t be a bad thing. You know what fans are like. They want the same thing
again and again and again and again and again and again….
Agreed re: Rak Su. I was one of their biggest skeptics when we first saw them, purely because the show failed with Rough Copy and 5AM, and I didn’t see why they’d bother again but I conceded defeat a while back. I would like to see them win a prize fight before I’m convinced to switch horses from Grace, though.
” All I’ll say is that never once crossed my mind, and I think it wouldn’t have done for at least some of the viewers either.” For “some”, read “most”. That’s why I posted a typical music video. I watch quite a bit of satellite tv, and even channels aimed at countries like Iran have their female singers in “sexy” outfits. I think it’s harmless, well a lot more harmless than having them dressed in army fatigues or hijabs, but that’s a different ball game and not for a betting site.
The problem there is that most music videos aren’t watched by the x factor core voting public. i.e. The young uns watch the music videos and are happy/used to sex selling. Middle England mums on the other hand aren’t. It was that bit where she pulled the shirt/top off her shoulder that probably lost them a few votes for me.
Would love to know who these Middle-England mums are. The sort that are offended by a bra-top. Not sure they exist outside people’s heads.
Guessing they would be offended by some of Nicole’s outfits too but that’s probably just TPTB looking to de-ramp her acts.
I think I might qualify as a “middle-England mum” and I’m not offended by any of the outfits because that’s the way women in music dress these days and most of them look a lot less covered than Shereen did last night – to me, she looked just young, pretty in pink with a short skirt and trainers, mostly covered up top by a jacket. As a feminist, though, it does sadden me that women in music end up dressing in such revealing outfits almost by default – I can’t believe this is how they would all choose to dress, all things being equal. But all things are still not equal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLINYTVTlQ4
Not sure if this will post but if it does can anyone spot any similarities. Funny thing is that it also contains the lyrics ‘Mona Lisa’. What on earth are the chances of that.
There are two reasons why I thought that Shereen’s styling was worth remarking on while I watched it:
1) Probably due to the absence of any full girlbands in the finals this year, the girls/women so far have been styled much less overtly ‘sexy’, and her look was a departure from that.
2) To me it looked like she was uncomfortable with the outfit, the top was not fitting well and she kept adjusting it to the point that I feared a malfunction happening any time.
I work as a stylist myself, so maybe this has over-sharpened my focus somewhat, and I apologize to anyone that was offended by the comparison to a professional sex worker, but I see this as a visual description of a style, pretty much as I would say ‘she’s dressed like an accountant’ or ‘he looks like a geography teacher’ I could have called her look ‘Banjee Girl’, but I doubt many people would have known what I meant by that…
Always good to hear from a professional!
I think that most of us here can agree that most points made on this site are not personal attacks on those involved and that’s why it’s such a refreshing discussion most of the time. I was more concerned about Shereen’s position on the stage at the start of the performance, suggestively draped across the steps with legs akimbo and I suppose her outfit could feed into that but by the end, I’d forgotten all about it. I think that deramp via styling needs to be more consistent or more obvious – see Monica Michaels or Lauren Murray. Shereen is blessed with natural charisma and I think her “look” was fitting with that.
Hi Plinkiplonk – indeed, always good to hear from a professional! Interested in Banjee Girl, please tell us more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT2Hi6Ybw78
That’s a good look!
I absolutely agree that Shereen appeared very scantily clad. Honestly I was worried there was going to be a Janet Jackson-style wardrobe malfunction.
Chuckling at the reference to Rak-Su hate. I wasn’t hugely taken with them originally, but I thought last week they were excellent. They are polished but fun – their songs are natural and not forced. In a way I’m reminded of Eurovision and the difference between the UK’s entries and pretty much any other country – The Cutkelvins’ song put me in mind of one of our entries (decent enough but sounds like it has been written for a competition) whereas Rak-Su songs sound like Eurovision winners (a distinctive style of song that would hold its own in the real world). They aren’t perfect, but I now can’t see beyond them going on to the win.
There’s still some even money out there for Rak Su if you’re that confident. I’m weighing up backing Grace at 3-1. I think that price might look quite good after tonight.
The over reaction to my comment last night is a sad sign of the way our country in the uk has become a soft touch. We are here, to pick the bones from a betting perspective. I am also a Cutty backer, and was calling it as I saw it. I make no apology if it affended anyone other than Shereen. However it wasnt my intention to offend so ill make this clear.
The very best the Cutkelvins can achieve now is finalists. I wonder if they will get dragged through to the final, as they haven’t been allowed enough momentum to sail through.
Who wins from this point? I think, a lot depends on the treatment of Grace tonight. But I did say the other day they would be looking to go into next week with Raksu winning a prize fight.
Im almost certain to end this series in a loss, unless cuttys scrape top 3. The show is not so much dying, more like living on a life support machine. I think it’s needs putting to sleep.
The show has put itself to sleep. The dead hand of Simon Cowell is upon it. Remember Pete Waterman? Seen as the kiss of success a couple of decades ago, yet when he penned a song for Eurovision a couple of years ago it bombed. That’s the march of time.
Funny that, because I think the original comment demonstrates the problems with this country. The current cultural moment, in which women are finally being listened to and no longer expected to put up with casual misogny, suggests history is on my side.
Thank you again, Edie, for saying it. I think we are at a pivotal moment in history regarding women’s experience of the world and it is good to see it reflected here even if it isn’t the point of the site.
Thanks Rose, I really appreciate your support on this. I also totally agree with your comment below challenging the idea of prudish ‘middle england mums’. It’s just another lazy stereotype that feeds into the idea of women as either madonna or whore.
After a rewatch of last night, tptb got who they wanted and did it with ease.
A few things to note:
– the first signs of the ott “frenching” of Kevin has begun with the flag and French used on a vt, I wonder if he’ll be at the embassy this week
– a lot of footage of Matt in the house with other contestants, strange to consider that grace or others didn’t feature
– the treatment of Shereen- I agree with stoney and Nicole even used the word ‘a bit hooky’
– Lloyd and raksu in that order, with yet another pimp slot for raksu
In terms of the ck, I stick by what I said that the momentum is building. The strange thing is that they have not been given a pimp a lot yet (Rai-Elle the only other act not to as well), so surely this will come next week on the semi final night or in the final… TPTB have to give them one.
Further, they have done everything to dampen the vote, literally every trick but can’t kill them off if they are trying to. The poor slots, awful staging, non support from Simon of their own decision to do an original.
If they go from the pimp slot then they win. If they don’t then they won’t.
The same applies to Rak-Su if they don’t go from the pimp slot then they don’t win and at evens almost, that price is far too short.
For tonight, I can see holly and Kevin going to leave a semi final of:
Lloyd
Raksu
Cutkelvins
Matt
Grace
Rai-Elle
As stoney said, raksu aren’t going well in prize fights. So, to get through and win both nights of the final weekend is a tough ask. Plus, who do they duet with?
I would be looking elsewhere for a winner.
Rai-Elle has had a continual association with Stormzy throughout and wouldn’t be surprised to see that duet of his new song happening in the final.
Matt could duet with Nicole.
Also, as mentioned above, I think the cks vote is being controlled with a view to releasing it at the right time. If it doesn’t happen then it doesn’t.
If I was going to switch now, at these odds, I’d be looking at Rai-Elle or Matt.