The remaining six acts merge for semi-final weekend, where one act will be eliminated tonight, and one tomorrow. The Cool Britannia theme allows a few X Factor staples to be wheeled out – Kevin’s ‘Come Together’ has been covered by Ben Haenow, Matt Cardle and Olly Murs on the show. Lloyd Macey’s ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’ was previously done by Stereo Kicks, Nick McDonald and Joe McElderry.
Grace’s choice of ‘Life On Mars’ was performed by Seann Miley Moore in 2015. She’s tweeted that it’s her favourite song to cover, and there’s evidence of that on YouTube. Matt Linnen is going with ‘Gimme Shelter’, a choice which saw him continue to drift in the outright market.
Betting favourites Rak-Su have plumped for garage track ‘Flowers’, which on the surface is a leftfield choice, though they’ll no doubt put their own spin on it. Meanwhile, the Cutkelvins will showcase original material for the second consecutive performance, with ‘Nothing Like You’. We’re waiting on tonight’s show – which has a 40-minute overlap with Strictly – to see how these choices pan out. Do let us know your thoughts below as it progresses.
Matt out today and Kevin tomorrow. Matt could be dangerous if he gets to the final. TCKâs vote is easy to control. Lloyd will be the usual boy who finishes third.
Interesting. “Come together” for Kevin. Since they are portraying him subliminally as old fashioned (wild west font, dead or alive, Victorian music hall poster) he will need to be at least as innovative as the Beatles were when they did this piece of psychedelic rock in 1969. I’ve a feeling it will bury him.
I like the song but I think it does nothing to show off a voice, it has a very limited range as was John Lennon’s
the 8/1 on Kevin going tonight looks a little big for me (at the time of writing before knowing the RO). I’d see it as a straight shoot out between him and Matt, and whilst Matt is the natural fav, I don’t see there being a difference as great as the prices suggest.
Agreed. Good value. They won’t care which of the overs they keep.
Is nice.
So we got rid of the ratty and provocative accounts and replaced them with trolls and “funny” accounts. Got your work cut out moderating this comment section now, Daniel …the price of popularity.
‘Got rid of the ratty and provocative accounts’ hmmmm
Back to send everyone to sleep again Edie?
Im out of the country so was just checking in, but don’t worry I’ll be back soon In full swing đ I see your mediocre insults are getting an outing already though.
Depends on staging and running order but listening to Matt’s song on Apple Music I think he might just be safe tonight and just be ahead of Kevin.
Nice to see the xfactor twitter account joining in the “deramp Jonny Foreigner” nice and early.
https://twitter.com/TheXFactor/status/934478059456958464
Cutkelvins shortening a bit. It was at this time last week they started to lengthen. Gotta be the long awaited pimp.
Performance and staging for Rak Su sounds a big naff tonight – beatboxing and integrating with the crowd. Can’t see them being odds on by the end of the night, unless it all somehow works better than it sounds.
Rak suâs song definitely sounds like they are gearing up for a Craig David duet next week because it sounds like anything he would sing they even mention him in it.
That’s exactly what’s gonna happen… only question is do they do Seven Days
He’s got a new album out soon too, makes perfect sense
RUNNING ORDER c/o TellyStats (hi)
The Cutkelvins
Matt Linnen
Grace Davies
Rak-Su
Lloyd Macey
Kevin Davy White
You’re fast…!
Fuck me tck have been dealt a torrid hand this series. Without reason as well.
Without reason? They’re a threat to Rak Su – that’s why their vote has been managed throughout.
Yeah but it didn’t affect Raksu topping the vote from their heat last weekend.
As discussed in the midweek article though The CutKelvin’s vote was still managed to make sure they didn’t have a moment last week and take away from Rak Su.
ok so that thing about Kevin finishing ahead of Matt…forget it!
Matt finishing ahead of Kevin even. Too many gins over lunch today
The 2 non prize finalists in the death spots. The producers couldnt be any more blatant could they. Next week will be the first time I have no financial interest in the final and will therefore not be watching. Thankfully my strictly book is going to save xmas.
Since when did TPTB do sublety? They were never going to risk losing Grace or Raksu this weekend. Guaranteed they’re last two acts tomorrow night just to make sure.
Who’s your biggest winner in Strictly then?
Joe is my jackpot. Ill be a happy man if he comes good.
Thereâs no danger of Grace winning the night cause her song is as dull as dishwater and itâs cover
Lol! Subtitles for Scottish.
OTT praise.
That was better than last week’s song from tck.
If Matt gets through with this he has got some robust support gathering pace.
Cage of lights for Matt,. Sharron looking bored. Watch out for the bus Matt.
Wow. These guys are so predictable. Feel sorry for him.
That was awful. Really awful. We’ll see if Matt has any proper voting support if he survives that.
Dermot loitering for the kill.
Trying to think of something with balls, hair and teeth… going to vote for it???
He should have sang “Paint It Black” by the stones, that would have sounded fantastic otherwise it was a bore.
I can’t understand what Grace is singing.
Cage of lights for Grace. No bus coming though.
You can tell Simon actually likes Matt obviously not for him to win but more as a person
Now there’s a way to make David Bowie dull and boring.
Louis telling Nicole to get up for the standing ovation.
Nicole telling him her script says to stay seated.
Eye make up, pink hair and a cage of light for Grace??? I wouldn’t say the comments were over-whelming vote pushing with even Simon saying the performance was marmite.
Rak Su performing just as Strictly finishes.
Rak-su best performance yet. But then I love UKG. Only Simon standing. Slight deramp?
Louis – “I don’t know this song.” What a ridiculous comment.
It’s particularly dumb considering how they are pushing ‘original’ songs this series – you didn’t know any of them, did you?
If the theme is “Cool Britannia” you don’t know the song, then it’s pointing out to the public that the song isn’t necessarily an iconic British song.
But cooling from uncool Louis negates the comment.
Rak-Su sounded a bit dated I thought. Rather enjoyed Lloyd awkwardly dancing along though – clearly not his cup of tea.
That guy singing in the just eat advert sounds exactly like the singer in rak Su
Who’s lumping on Matt then?
Weird – why is Louis being booed? What’s happening? Choreographed or had something happened in the break?
Simon was laughing his head off but that was bizarre.
Remember last time someone called Lloyd had a throat issue and sounded off during a performance back in series six?
Simon told the audience to boo him during the break
https://twitter.com/fabrandanne/status/934832392879181824
Kevin given the perfect performance to delight the Matt demo.
Also gives him another pimp slot, so no problem sending him out first next week.
I haven’t liked Kevin at all in this series but that was sensational.
The only sensational thing about that piece of TV was just how much TPTB want Kevin in the final. The performance itself was decidedly average.
The Cutkelvins are leaving tonight
Watched TCK-RS on youtube so missed VT and comments.
Cut my comment off. I think Matt should go.
2% between the bottom two, according to Dermot.
2% between bottom 2, probably TCK and Matt.Could Scotland take TCK into tomorrow?
Excluding their own acts, Louis wants to see Kevin in the final as does Simon; Sharon said Rak Su and Nicole replied Lloyd.
No Grace mention is interesting – I’m wondering if they’re keeping a lid on her vote to get (keep) Rak Su ahead of her?
Exactly that I’d say.
My thoughts too.
Simon also mentioned Rak-Su to give them an edge over Grace, and TCK to push them in front of Matt.
I thought James Arthur was kicked out of syco?
He was re-signed after he got a hit.
In the final I think the voting publicâs sense of fair play will get Grace above Rak-Su.
Kevin will be second favourite to win next week’s final in just a few minutes
They definitely want James Arthur in the final with that pimping
Save Order:
Grace
Kevin
Rak Su
Lloyd
The CutKelvins
Their preferred final four revealed first? Mission accomplished, producers.
Double elimination tomorrow.
And just like that, The CutKelvins’ slim chance of making it fizzled away.
Cutkelvins up first tomorrow night then. Probably keep the same order minus Matt, making it look like they ‘re being fair, when they are anything but fair.
Double elimination tomorrow.
The judges wanted Rak Su, Kevin and Lloyd in the final (exclduing their own acts)… are they going to try and get rid of Grace?
What a bizarre turn of events. So no all 4 prize winners in the final. What a mess of a series.
ummm… I thought that maybe they could get Grace out to finish 4th/5th, but didn’t really believe it… I do now
I said at the start, if they didn’t want Grace to win, they’d want her out before the final. It’d be too much of a risk if she reprised a song like Roots for the final, so it’s no coincidence that she was called safe first (deramp), or that the judges said the wanted the others in the final but excluded her (deramp).
The show has also managed to push Rak-Su, Lloyd & Kevin ahead of her in different weeks. Pimping the above 3 and deramping Grace could be enough to see her out tomorrow.
It also helps that there are two eliminations tomorrow.
One thing I’m now certain of, is that TPTB think that it’s better to announce safe a favoured act early to give the sense that they’re doing well rather than to leave them to the end to make the voters think that an act needs votes next week.
Think all other than Rak Su are in danger.
Think Lloyd could go over Kevin. Kevin will be easy to control in the final. Grace could go if TPTB are confident they could get her down there.
I donât understand. Why would they want Grace to go??
Clear the path for a Rak-Su win.
Surely they’re looking to sign Grace though aren’t they? If they weren’t fussed she’d have been sacrificed for the shock exit publicity.
They could sign her anyway. I know itâs better to be a finalist but it doesnât matter. Still donât understand why they couldnât do a final 4. Maybe Kevin could go on first tomorrow after he got a pimp slot tonight.
Or maybe they have no intention of signing her as a singer…
but as a songwriter… which would be easier and cheaper to do if she doesn’t even make the final
Or maybe they just realise that she isn’t the next big star and she’ll struggle to get a few weeks at number one with some of the dirge she produces/performs
Do you really think that Cowell would have any plans to use Grace as a songwriter? He has hundreds at his disposal that can knock out a top twenty hit in 15 minutes, and the clichĂŠd, generic, ballad by numbers dirge that Grace has (co) written, could be taken from any 6th former-with-visions-of-grandeur’s diary.
Actually lol’d at that 6th formers bit… comment of the series so far for me
She’d still be a shock exit tomorrow. I think Rak Su and Grace have been seen as nailed on finalists from the off.
The other option is Lloyd due to concerns over his voice holding up next week. That’s assuming The CutKelvins will be in their sights already.
I wonder what made them wait until then to announce the double elimination tomorrow. 2 leaving out of 5 sounds very harsh – does that mean they were worried of a planned finalist dropping into the B2 today?
The order of the announcements is exactly as I expected: Grace first to suggest she’s top, reducing the need to vote for her, Rak Su third, suggesting with just a few more votes their fans could get them to the top, Cutkelvins last act safe, suggesting they just scraped through. For all we know, they could have polled top with Rak Su just avoiding elimination (unlikely), but there you have it.
And of course yet another text book kill in Matt. My feeling is that they have perfected their aim so ruthlessly over the last few seasons and tampered with the format so much to suit their agenda they have forgotten to produce a watchable show, and the ratings are the payback.
Wonder how fluid they could be with the number of acts in the final. How much prep would they need to change it from a 4 act final to a 3 act final? My initial thought was that they had the top 3 they wanted hence why they announced the double elimination AFTER the vote. Not sure they could make such decisions on the fly though.
Guessing some people will have made a small fortune this series. Targets obvious pretty much every night. Very predictable once Running Order is announced.
maybe the producers have a cunning plan of gettimg the 3 acts singing original material into the final 3 next Saturday. As Daniel said with the mission statement. That leaves a final 3 of Rak Su, Grace and Tck. I’m all out of straws to clutch now.
Its the hope that will hurt you most.
I was out of hope weeks ago. Looking back im kicking myself for not seeing the glaring obvious of how this is going to pan out.
Kevin sang an original at JH. If he gets to the final with Grace then maybe he could sing another to get him over Grace who would sing a cover.
Kevin likely topped the vote tonight. Lloyd was probably 2nd and 5AM I mean Rak-Su 3rd.
The only thing that worries me about Rak Su is the fact that their winners single wonât be very charity song friendly whereas Graceâs or Kevin would be. Simon Cowell can launch Rak Su from 2nd place next year. Does he really want to take Little Mixâs slogan of ââthe only group to win the UK X Factorââ for the sake of a group that will probably flop.
Pretty sure Little Mix can survive without that slogan now
Not sure if this has ever occurred to anyone, but TPTP and the show get slagged off on here and in the media year after year for losing viewers and producing the same type of winner. Those two things apparently go hand in hand.
In August/September very few expected the show to ‘target’ another type of winner to try a revive the brand.
Fast forward to now and the general feel on her is that it’s the same old show. Yes, they’re the same type of tricks… but one key thing is that to the casual viewer it may appear that the show isn’t the same as in previous years.
So despite the apparent predictability… very few people, including a large number on here who analyse the show microscopically, predicted that Rak-Su would be the favoured act in this series.
Credit where it’s due, the producers have at least tried to mix it up for the casual viewer.
Its been a much better series for me. I quite like Grace and Raksu and think its great that they’ve got people writing their own songs on the show. Not just the usual talentless puppets that Cowell has made his money out of. Fair play to Cowell for embracing the change. The show and his cash cows were dying. He might have kept them alive a bit longer with this series.
Exactly, I’ve enjoyed it more… new music to listen to, new theories around original music. People get to caught up in the ‘it’s a singing contest’ thing.. It’s Saturday night entertainment, ffs… it doesn’t need to be ‘high-brow’ or even high technical talent… look at Ant & Dec’s Saturday night takeaway
One of the first things I wrote on this series nearly three months ago was;
X Factor is a brand and the most important thing for the show is to maintain and progress âthe brandâ.
As bettors on this stuff, that is something we should always remember
Yet the casual viewer number is at its lowest ever. Well done for calling Raksu from the beginning but I would have more respect if you just admitted they are a bang average pop act that won’t last 5 minutes outside of x factor. Anyone that I’ve spoke to (family) about the show have said what a confusing format this year has been. In a nut shell its been an absolute disaster.
They’ve probably done enough to keep the show ticking for the next year and potentially get some young blood watching.
I agree they are no world stars, maybe not even average… but that shit get youtube clicks right now. They’re not over the line yet, there’s a long way to go.
Tbh, how many world stars can actually come from a TV Talent show these days, anyone actually any good would’ve already been picked up thanks to self promotion on the internet etc… that’s the problem the show has when it comes to getting actual global stars
The show has been trying to get the attention of the youth for the last few years (even XF US, a flop show, was able to grab a lot of social media attention, which helped 5H become more successful than their contemporaries that came from Idol/The Voice). Having a Rak-Su thatâs proactive in promoting themselves while using the XF platform is their most creative attempt in years.
That said, while XF songs are gaining traction on iTunes, YouTube views for the show have actually been down compared to previous years, adjusting for foreign act bonuses, Alisah.
I think there’s been some positive changes – there hasn’t been too much nastiness. But every elimination has been predictable. If they were clever, they’d have something saved up for tomorrow night. But I think it will be more of the same.
Not much nastiness! That take out of Matt was absolutely brutal. Poor song choice to start with, but then to provide an arrangement that stripped it of all identity and give him precisely zero to work with. Also note repeat of last week’s trick of choosing a song with two vocal parts, and not covering it with the backing vocals.The lack of the female vocal in this really made this sound weak.
To be slightly contrite listening to Matt again on YouTube ( yes I’m a glutton for punishment) the backing vocals seemed much stronger than than I first thought watching on TV. Maybe it’s more that they lacked the searing edge of the original.
I think the predictability is just Sofabet wising up to their shenanigans and them hitting their targets more compared to, say, 5 years ago.
I liked this series because the talentâs actually been the best in years, owing to the openness to original material. 10 weeks of this would have actually been fine.
I think everyone saw the Rak-Su favouritism, but not everyone thought the public would bite into their brand (me included).
Whos making the final 3 then? Difficult to call between Lloyd and Kevin after tonight. If theyve got the top three they want (and they probably have) then running order and positive comments all around should get the result they want.
To quote, of perhaps misquote, Dorothy Parker, what fresh hell is this. I am almost incredulous to how dire that was. It is supposed to be first and foremost an entertainment programme – or has that just completely gone out of the window now?
Thinking about it for a bit, I wonder whether the double elimination might just be to get rid of Lloyd due to his vocal problems… maybe they think having an act forced out of the final due to illness will leave a bad feeling around it? If The CutKelvins were cut adrift in fourth then they may be confident they can keep them down there, then get rid of Lloyd too without it being so obvious. If they’d eliminated him tonight it would have looked mean; they had to play it with kid gloves.
I suspect the running order, if so, might be something like:
Rak Su
Lloyd
Kevin
The CutKelvins
Grace
Ad break after Rak Su, Kevin and Grace with the latter two memory-holing the eliminees. But Grace’s treatment, whilst not overly cruel, wasn’t a pimp tonight.
James Arthur, love that guy, seen him in concert this week & he was class.
Interested to see the songs “to get me to the final”.
Who do people think will be top 3 & will win considering the voting public and producer interest?
Another show, another target hit with precision. Itâs a shame itâs taken them 13 years to master the art and damaged the show so much in the process but thatâs not my business.
In terms of the show and itâs general âhealthâ at the moment, I think that in terms of content, itâs the best itâs been in years. But the damage has already been done – they arenât going to recover the lost viewers because itâs reputation is beyond repair. I still watch, but only because of the Sofabet aspect.
One of the first things I read on this site was the âHow to watch the X Factorâ article and it mentioned a Venn diagram between voters and record buying public, and the middle section being relatively small which is why all the meddling takes place and why winners often flop. Rak Su doing so well (and to a lesser extent, acts like The Cutkelvins staying in over Matt Linnen) could show that perhaps whilst viewing figures are down, the right sort of viewer is still watching. We wonât have proof of that until a) Rak su win (and Lloyd doesnât) and b) rak su manage to have a successful career afterwards. SYCO should have managed to make Louisa Johnson and Matt Terry a success with all the resources they have – another flop winner is more of a disaster for the show than the rock bottom ratings in my opinion.
Is Lousia Johnson a flop though? Her records are all over the radio, she’s always in the papers and seems to play at all the multi-act concerts going. Not sure what she as to do to be labelled a success.
After 15 years of singing contest overkill I personally dont think that the falling viewing figures are down to the manipulations I think it’s down to the fact that everyone has seen this shit a billion times before. The format is just well past its sell by date. Theres not much TPTB can do about that. Nothing lasts forever.
Being all over the radio, media and multi-act gigs means a lot of PR.
Selling music and her own gigs would be a success.
Lots of PR with little in the way of sales is not good.
Donât get me wrong, her material is good and deserved a lot better, sales wise and you are right, success is measured by a lot more than sales these days. Perhaps sheâs doing alright and Iâve got it wrong but if I were looking at numbers, two years on from her win and she hadnât released an album, no tour, one top ten single (which was a feature) and two top 40s is a little disappointing? Although on the flip side, you are correct in that she is playing every event going and seems to be putting in the work. The rate SYCO drops itâs artists, they must have something up their sleeve.
The show is still with us because of the work done by past alums and even that is drying up these days. 1D/Little Mix and maybe Ella/James have justified keeping the show on through the precipitous declines of the last few years.
Hilarious at some wondering who on Earth could be the final 3. It is Rak-Su, Grace and Kevin, that has been made very obvious to us. I am disappointed for the Cutkalvins as they were clearly the strongest of the night, but have been given no room to soar, always earlier in the running order than Rak-Su. Also sad for Holly/Rae-Elle who in other years would have been dealt a better hand.
The final 3 is not certain. Lloyd could easily get over Kevin with producer help and Grace could be down there if she was low enough tonight and TPTB want her to leave. The only ones certain imo is Rak Su.
Splemdidtom, final 3 isn’t actually clear cut. Perhaps Rak Su and Grace are very likely but I can’t really tell between Lloyd and Kevin.
Kevin is both better looking and has been given better staging, comments and running orders throughout. It’s completely nailed on. Add onto that Lloyd is Welsh, the rest of the UK honestly prefer French, Wales gets a rough ride in talent shows.
Lol. Tom Roll by any chance? Where have you been all series?
Donât forget that Kevin wears a hat, the UK likes hats. Will be enough to get him over Lloyd.
The hat probably just cancels out the wild west font. Dont forget the power of the font!
Did you notice the font was quite prominent last night? But you’re right, the hat (and the guitar) cancelled it out. If you want to get ahead, get a hat. We could add, if you want to get a mate, get a guitar. Despite my fears, Kevin walked it last night. Mind you, he was pimped to the max.
Alan, you mean you’re still sceptical of the wild west deramp after they sent Kev out in a cowboy jacket?! đ
(Just to be clear, I’m joking… I actually hadn’t associated Kev’s font with the wild west, though I love the idea of it Chris. I think if you really wanted to evoke wild west you’d go for thicker horizontal strokes at the top and bottom of letters and/or that kind of spur in the middle of the vertical strokes that you see on a lot of these https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wild+west+font)
I like this debate about fonts – the people who dismiss it haven’t worked on publicity material. I once spent a whole day discussing which font we’d use for a particular leaflet when I worked at the Department of Health.
If it’s not the wild west font, it’s the old time music hall font. Even more of a de-ramp – Good Old Days is on at the same time on BBC4, and people that are bored with X-Factor with be channel flicking, and take on the association without noticing. The font is prominent in Good Old Days from the Leeds Variety, so the subliminal message is…a bit of a stretch, but I’m only half joking. Hidden Persuaders and all that.
http://leedscitymagazine.co.uk/the-good-old-days-in-leeds/
Watched the show at a friendâs place. Not shocked at the result but shocked at tomorrowâs double elimination. So the final four in series 7 was solely to shoehorn Cher Lloyd into the final?
The 1% shout in Week 3 and the 2% shout tonight tells me the other wins and other kills have been routs.
Ok, so what is the theme tomorrow night?
If the cutkelvins were in the pimp tonight, they would really have been Primed for the win. Can they come up with another original for tomorrow? Or is a cover going to be their downfall
Who gets the pimping tomorrow, the cks are the only ones who are yet to have a pimp slot.
I can see Kevin being hugely decamped tomorrow, no guitar. Maybe choreography?
Agree with the comments above about Lloyd being quietly shown the door due to illness.
Lloyd and Kevin to go tomorrow.
Interesting Saturday. I fell asleep after posting the running order and missed the show, but now managed to watch it end to end without being spoiled (thx YouTube).
Hometowns/regional blocs being represented: Scotland, Southend, Blackburn, Watford, Rhondda Valley, Paris/London
TCK getting good treatment at a bad slot. Calling them “current” is a positive and the comments suggest a last-ditch push to the final, but a double elimination will make this tricky, if they will even bother.
Matt was clearly going home. Sharon asking “Did you enjoy that?” must be a new class of faint praise. Louis deflecting blame on the song choice isn’t necessarily bad but going on and on about it is.
Treatment of Grace suggests TPTB still see her as a threat. Very positive but throwing things around like “Marmite” and “this will take you to the final.”
I honestly think Rak-Su are already looking beyond the show (or TPTB looking beyond the show for them, however you take it) with this performance. It felt experimental, showcasing talent but not talent show-friendly. The whole creative direction feels like something for a musical guest.
Lloyd’s sickness limited his vocals but also limited his proclivity to oversinging. Not sure where he goes from here, though; it’s too late to give him a bye but surely he needs some rest.
Allowing the electric guitar for Kevin is tempered by that plinth and the American (not British) attire. TPTB seem unafraid to pile on the praise because Kevin barely made it to the prize fight with the same praise in Week 3 and perhaps because he polled poorly last week. It also felt OTT because the show repressed originality for 13 years so anything that’s not pop sounds “artist.”
Good morning Sofabet!
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5000995/jay-cutkelvin-sneaked-out-x-factor-house-bender-hotel-two-girls/amp/
He might as well make the most of it. His five minutes of fame are about to end tonight. I didnt see anything in last night’s treatment that suggested TPTB are keen to see them in the final. Think they will be killed off softly tonight as they’re probably already bottom so no need for TPTB to go in hard.
Still cant decide if Kevin or Lloyd goes through tonight. Maybe TPTB dont actually care. If Grace and Raksu have been polling well and had a gap over the rest last night maybe they will just give them both fair treatment and let the public decide.
Lloyd won the prize to open for Little Mix, who just happen to be performing in the final.
That’s not a coincidence.
I think it is.
I’d go with “coincidence” as well. Little Mix came from this show in the first place and they are one of the few acts from it that are still doing OK in the charts. For one thing, it will be easy to get them to perform for the final, for another, two birds with one stone, they can use the show to promote Little Mix.
I really think they want to get Lloyd out tonight, if they can. Maybe he’ll do OK in musicals like so many former X Factor contestants, but he’s not going to be a pop star. There’s also him being ill, we don’t know how bad it is, for the sake of argument let’s say he gets through tonight, but has to pull out before the final. That’s going to cause them all sorts of problems.
It probably is.
Leigh-Anne from Little Mix liked Rak-Suâs Instagram post about their iTunes performance. Take that as you may.
Thinking about it, I wonder if tonights double is to ensure the cuttys dont make the final. And now they are releasing a few negative stories just to make sure.
Think that might be the case cause if they were in the final they would take votes from Rak Su. Then again if they were in the final and came 3rd Rak Su would benefit from that more than getting them out this week.
Whatever it is, we pretty much know for sure it’s related to last nights voting figures as they have chucked in a double elimination on a whim.
The ranking in last night’s vote must suit if there is suddenly a double elimination. I guess Rak Su & Grace are top 2.
Think also CK are out tonight, song choice/running order will determine the other elimination..
Raksu will sing feeling you and I suppose it would be easy for the rest to go back to their initial audition songs, or the songs that won them their prize fights. TCK will surely do Running, although I think Grace may save Roots for the final, unless she’s in any kind of threat of not making the cut.
As a longtime CutKelvins backer it would have been much more merciful for them to go before now, it really is the hope that gets you.
Their vote must be stronger than we’ve given them credit for — no-one else has survived with such poor running order and arrangements. However a double elimination may well be too high a hurdle.
I wonder if Grace to go is worth a punt? Female “dirgeists” tend to go backwards in the votes through the series and there’s been no bottom 2 to act as a ‘warning.’ Also little things like decent running orders, slipping back a bit on iTunes charts positions, not winning prize fight since week 1 make me wonder if her vote is less solid than it looks – her being announced first safe last night might not be a coincidence maybe?
Hmmm – from a logistical point of view one has to assume that the final was always meant to be just 3 people, surely that amount of pre-planning, booking possible duet partners etc cannot be left in limbo so close to the event?
Which makes you wonder why they waited til the last possible moment to reveal it. They needed two double eliminations to get there, and one of them had to be (embarassingly) postponed at the last moment, so I am thinking that voting numbers threatened the desired outcome???
I thought the Cutkelvins were great last night, but I agree with the consensus on here that they are leaving tonight. It all feels like their time on the show is coming to an end. If anything, I suspect the very positive response from the judges was mainly a way to make sure Matt went, and they couldn’t have been more clear that he was the target.
Similarly, it does look like the show wants Lloyd to drift away rather than them outright culling him.
I thought Kevin was really good, and maybe I’m being naive, but sometimes I think the pimp slot is for what they think is the strongest performance/what they think is the best way to close the show. That said, I suspect Kevin’s fans/voters crossover with those for Lloyd and/or Matt, so of the three Kevin would be the one they want to keep.
Grace’s version of ‘Life On Mars?’ was a bit on the John Lewis side for me. I honestly thought her ‘Ciao Adios’ performance was better.
I liked hearing ‘Flowers’ by Sweet Female Attitude again, but I wasn’t keen on Rak-Su’s version, it was messy. However, I think these are the preferred winners. They’re relevant enough, they’re not too middle of the road, they’d be the first male group to win, and probably the best chance of having any pop chart success afterwards.
Who will Matt’s votes transfer to tonight?? To Kevin maybe as they are same category, have both rocky voices and Matt even gave Kevin a shout out in his exit interview with Dermot..
Yeah, I think Kevin too, for the same reasons. Plus, I’d say Kevin’s also the best looking guy left, so he might get some votes for that reason.
I don’t think vote transfers are quite as obvious as they first appear. I don’t agree that an act from the same category, or producing similar work will automatically get the votes from their counterpart once they are eliminated.
Pop music fans, certainly of the Xfactor voting demographic can be incredibly partisan when it comes to supporting their favourite. I think this is even more true when it comes to bands…you are either Cuttygang or Rakpak for example…and if your favourite is eliminated, you sure as hell aint gonna vote for their rivals…moreover, anyone but!
To an extent we can say the same about other categories. HE SHOULD HAVE GONE NOT YOU, I’m voting against you this week…etc…
Agreed. I think the movement of votes, as far as more hardcore fans go, may depend on their faves’ relationships with the other contestants. For example: I think Rak-Su gained the most from Sean & Conor’s elimination #RakPrice, and TCK from Sam’s.
On Grace I think the opposite – to me ‘Ciao Adios’ was Poundshop Anne-Marie. Very similar arrangement but much weaker vocals. She copied the mannerisms but was totally lacking the sassiness of the performance. I honestly thought she would do well with it, but in the end it seemed like a real let down.
‘Life on Mars’ I felt was better because it was her own version – although I accept that it probably was a bit ‘marmite’. My issues with it were that yet again she slipped into over affected vocals – mainly at the start, and the sound production that had far too much reverb – again particularly at the beginning, which distracted from the performance.
Ultimately I just think that she may be lacking in the ability to deliver a vocal ‘moment’ that might have elevated the performance to another level.
Today is Jay Cutkelvinâs birthday. The only thing crueler than eliminating an act the day after their birthday is eliminating them on their birthday.
Lloyd to go seems likely, under the weather so better to let him drift away than risk him for the final. Why was the original double elimination postponed last minute a few weeks ago? Who do we think was at risk?
Not sure why they couldn’t have had a 4 act final, they have done it before. Agree that it would take some reorganising to pull a last minute double elimination but wouldn’t put it past them. A threat to the TCO must have polled badly and this their chance to snare them.
If Lloyd and Cutkelvins vote is manageable then there is no need for this at all. So I wonder if Kevin or Grace are within striking distance?
I think the show may have wanted Matt out in Week 3 but they weren’t sure they can get him in the drop zone.
iTunes watch
13 Rak-Su
26 Grace
37 Kevin
63 Lloyd
111 The Cutkelvins
232 Matt
On Youtube Rak-su are miles ahead as usual – over twice the next act – but TCK are next and this is pretty much as it’s been all series. Kevin and Grace some distance behind. Lloyd pretty much down at the bottom, where he’s been all series even when there were a lot more acts involved.
Obviously people are interested in Rak-su beyond just watching the programme.
It seems people might be watching and voting for Lloyd based on likability and performance on the night, but with no real interest in him beyond that.
Can’t understand the disparity between Youtube and itunes for TCK – which again seems to happen each week.
TCK lost their way in Weeks 2 and 3 (they were in the middle of the pack iirc) but zoomed back up with Saved Me From Myself. On iTunes, they were strong in Week 1 but much much weaker since (on a relative scale, even with an original)
When will songs and RO be released?
I still wouldn’t be surprised if Syco signed The Cutkelvins. If they’ve been lukewarm on them (and really I think they’ve had mostly positive treatment throughout) it’s just because they don’t want them to split the vote with Rak-Su. I can definitely see them putting out a single or two and see what happens.
I heard the XF tour will feature the top six plus a seventh act. Will picking involve the app or will they just get Seann Miley Moore again?
I’ve not been Matt’s biggest fan, but last night you had to feel sorry for him because of the way they really stuffed him with the song choice and arrangement. Yes we know that they wanted him out. But why choose a song with a one minute intro based around a distinctive guitar riff? They only get 2 1/2 minutes. The result was a 15 second intro, almost totally lacking the riff, with Matt standing like a spare part- they didn’t even let him have a guitar. It must have been 30 seconds in before he started singing. To be fair the second half of the song was much stronger – but he’d already lost me by then. And why choose a song that is basically a duet – the male and female vocals should be equal, and feeding off each other, not a singer with backing vocals. I appreciate that as he’s in a competition as a soloist, so they couldn’t really do that – but that’s the point. There are literally thousands of songs to choose from – so why choose that?
@Stoney
Hope you don’t mind me asking, but why didn’t you back both The CutKelvins and Rak-Su at the start? They are ‘similar’ enough sort of acts
Or back Simon/The Groups to win
Maybe you did
Ive got some money on Simon as winning mentor but unfortunately I invested too much faith in the cuttys from the offset at an ew price to even pull away as no cash outs available. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I realised they didnt have a cat in hells chance of winning and that Raksu were being handed the win on a plate. By then Raksu odds were too short and I couldn’t even be arsed to invest more money trying to even things out. But the reason I didn’t back Raksu from the start was because I thought they would be too rap heavy to win.
Joe mcfadden will save the day đ
Song choices for tonight –
Grace – wolves-original
Lloyd – Fix you coldplay
The cutklevins – Robin S – Show me love
Raksu – im feeling you original
Kevin – some jimmy choo song
Song choices for tonight –
Grace – wolves-original
Lloyd – Fix you coldplay
The cutklevins – Robin S – Show me love
Raksu – im feeling you original
Kevin – some jimmy choo song voodoo
I thought Rak-Su wouldâve reprised Iâm Feeling You at the final. Song of the series maybe? Kevin will get to keep his guitar. Grace doing an original. Bye TCK and Lloyd.
I think Rak-Su have one more song up their sleeve in the final.
Kevin has Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix, which reinforces his musician shtick. Based on song choice, it will be he, Grace, and Rak-Su in the final.
Wolves doesn’t seem to be available online? Not sure is it a ballad or up-tempo.
For all we know it’s a collaboration with Marshmello (oh wait that’s Selena Gomez), but the point stands as the show won’t drop the hammer on an original song.
To the carrier of the Sofabet predictions spreadsheet:
Did anyone call Kevin reaching this far, let alone being top Over?
Think I had him second or third.
I had him out in Week 1. derp
I’m guessing at this point, most Grace backers will be expecting a Rak-Su win?
Wondering what she could still do to turn it around. If she pulls out “Roots” for the final (I think her best self-penned song we’ve heard so far), and they have someone seriously impressive to duet with her, then she might still be in with a shout. But not feeling all that positive she can do it.
Roots is a shoo in for the final. Add a concerted and coordinated anti-Rak Su vote attack from the Mixers and she’s right back in it.
I backed Grace after the third prize fight at 11-2. Seemed good value as I felt TPTB had been keeping her vote in check simply to get different winners each week. They’ve pretty much kept her in check since then as well and I just feel that having male group winners makes a better story as it’s never happened before. With even treatment Ive always thought Grace would win. I just don’t see her getting even treatment though. Theyd prefer RakSu to win.
Not sure if Fix You will suit Lloyd? Kevin will surely have a guitar and give another standing ovation performance, it doesn’t seem to be a lyric heavy song though while Fix You is emotional and can connect with the audience. Which of Lloyd and Kevin will go?
Lloyd is a theatrical performer. We lost that last night because of his sickness, but creating tender moments (which is what makes Fix You good) isn’t his strongest suit.
Running order will be very important. Either they keep it the same as yesterday or they pimp RS and Grace for the final and stick Lloyd and Kevin on first and let them fight for a spot in the final. I think it will be:
Lloyd Macey
Kevin Davy White
The Cutkelvins
Grace Davies
Rak Su
I’m thinking they’re going to get rid of Lloyd. I think with Nicole’s comments last night about preferring his performance with the illness they may have given themselves leeway to criticise him tonight without it looking like they’re kicking him while he’s down.
Possibly. The judges could also comment that he could have given more of a performance, every time he just stands there.
When is the elimination market open?
These are my tissues for elimination
TCK 1/8
Kevin 5/4
Lloyd 4/6
Rak Su 8/1
Grace 6/1
It’s already open on Betfair but as ever noone is giving anything away. Rubbish prices all round when I looked. Hardly anything matched.
Maybe there’s hope for TCK yet. Can’t see them wanting to risk Lloyd in the final – he seemed pretty inhibited last night, so would his voice bold for a final.
Kevin’s song seems a bit of an odd choice for what is still essentially a singing competition as it’s very guitar heavy / vocal lite. I thought he was good last night and they certainly bigged him up, but maybe even with all the help his vote wasn’t that strong.
Is it possible that both Lloyd and Kevin go tonight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6rOS3-Wsf4
New post from TCK’s YouTube channel. In hindsight, is this pre-empting their exit by releasing their sessions from presumably months ago?
Just a hunch but I’m guessing that given half a chance they’d much rather be singing this tonight. Harmonizing together and bouncing off one another. Instead we’ll get another up tempo mess with the brothers stuck in a box.
oh man, what a blatant songchoice of death show me love is
Unrelated about tonight but I find it quite funny that 5 After Midnight released their cover of Flowers this week as their new single, Simon Cowell must really like this song.
SIBLING SHAME. The Cutkelvinsâ Shereen âfarts all the time and eats like a pigâ, according to her brothers.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5003967/the-cutkelvins-shereen-farts-all-the-time-and-eats-like-a-pig-according-to-her-brothers/
Sheâs been getting the âone of the boysâ treatment all series but this is ridiculous… -ly funny you canât make it up
The sort of stories leaking out today are usually the type when an ubdesired act is polling a little too well. Which is strange cos the cuttys must have only just scraped through yesterday.
Stoney, Its over for them. Let go, let go.