The fourth live X Factor show has taken place with the nine acts remaining psyching themselves up for ‘Rock’ week, a first for the show.
This week, there was no celebrity mentor on hand to help our wannabes discover their inner rock god. Not only that, but it was Hallowe'en and none of the head bangers doing the judging saw fit to turn up in fancy dress for the occasion. Apart from Cheryl bless her who came along dressed as cross between Barbarella and Bertie Basset in a futuristic, liquorice allsorts-looking little number with what looked like two hubcaps strapped to her chest.
Well she had to do something to steal the limelight after Dannii bringing up her Playboy past this week. (Of course we looked them up on the net. Didn’t everybody. Purely for research reasons of course you understand).
First up to rock out was Geordie Joe McElderry singing Journey’s signature power ballad Dont Stop Believin’. Dannii thought he did an "exceptional job" and described him as an "absolute star" who looked so comfortable mingling with the audience for the first time, adding: "They absolutely adore you." Louis confessed he didn’t think doing such a big rock song was going to work but that Joe had won him over and that he thought he would make it to the final.
Simon praised Joe’s consistency and said his singing was "excellent" but described the performance backed by "weird dancers" who he said "had nothing to do with the song" as "limp and stage schooly." Cheryl, who judging by Simon’s comments to sit up straight, must have given Mr Nasty an unintentional flash of her boobs, said Joe had even impressed her and told him: "You’re going all the way to the end, take my word for it."
Next up it was the turn of 18-year-old Lucie Jones tackling Guns N Roses' Sweet Child O’ Mine, Axl Rose and co’s only No.1 hit.
Louis told Lucie: "I loved you last week when you sang jazz and I loved you this week as a rock chick.’’ Cheryl agreed saying she thought last week was more Lucie’s thing but tonight she was "like Avril Lavigne."
Simon thought the comparison apt too. He said he’d found Lucie’s performance last week "boring and old fashioned" but he’d loved her in rock mode "100%" and added that she was starting to find herself her direction as "a relevant teenage popstar." Dannnii said she was proud and taken aback by the rockiness that had come out in Lucie’s voice this week.
After Lucie, it was Danyl Johnson’s turn to impress the judges after having sung for survival in the bottom two last week alongside departed Miss Frank. Simon had called Danyl’s inclusion in the bottom two "a joke." But the 28-year-old teacher admitted he hadn’t found it funny - anything but - revealing he’d been called more hated than Hitler on Twitter. So had his fall from grace as bookies' favourite dented his confidence? The judges certainly thought so.
Dannii said it was always going to be tough for anyone in the bottom two to get back on stage and said she was "sad to see you’ve lost your mojo," calling his rendition of I Don’’t Want To Miss A Thing by Boston bad boys Aerosmith, "stripped back too much" and "out of tune."
Louis said there was "no way" he should have been in the bottom two last week calling Danyl "a very talented guy" and saying that he wanted people at home to vote for him so he could pick himself up "and get back in the race." Although when Simon tried to point up the rough time Danyl has been getting in the press and elsewhere, Louis retorted: "John and Edward get the worst [press] ever and they come out smiling every week." Cheryl said the massive dent to his confidence was "really apparent" then proceeded to dent it further by declaring: "You do everything well. You just don’t do it for me." Simon told Danyl he was "still undoubtedly the best singer in the competition and bring an excitement which is vital" but that he had to learn to take criticism and disappointment "on the chin."
Next out of the traps was teenage prettyboy Lloyd Daniels, who revealed he has 100,000 fans on Facebook, with Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl done rockstylee. Dannii said she was sure "every one of his female fans was wishing he was singing that about them" but felt his voice "drowned out by the track." She also added that his performance was the "most comfortable" he’d been on stage. Louis described Lloyd as "a great little pop singer" but felt it was cheating a little by singing a pop song on Rock Week. He told him: "You’ve got to sing better to stay in." Simon felt the performance was "a million times better than last week" while Cheryl said that contrary to Louis' opinion, Lloyd shouldn’t be in a boyband because: "everybody loves you just as you are - on your own."
After that, it was ditzy-girl-next-door Stacey Solomon’s turn with Somewhere Only We Know by Brit piano rockers Keane. Louis said she ticked all the boxes but told her he felt the song choice was "a bit boring for you." Cheryl disagreed but wanted to see "a bit more personality" in her singing. Simon, who last week claimed her performance style was "robotic," said he’d witnessed an X Factor miracle. "I’m more impressed by you walking than your singing," he told her, but said the song made her "relevant" and felt overall the performance was terrific. Dannii said she’d loved it and urged viewers to vote for Stacey.
Following Stacey, it was the turn of Jamie Archer to do his stuff in his rock comfort zone by performing Primal Scream’s Get Your Rocks Off. Dannii said he was absolutely in his element and called the performance "amazing." Louis said there was nothing original about Jamie, comparing him to "a Lenny Kravitz impersonator," and said he wasn’t a real rocker. Cheryl queried why, only now that Simon had a rock act, did The X Factor have Rock Week, but felt Jamie’s performance was the most comfortable he’d given so far. Simon defended his charge saying that was his background, that was what he wanted to be and it was Rock Week, what did the judges want Jamie to do?
Next in the firing line was Rachel Adedeji with the U2 power ballad One. Louis said the song choice was incredible as was her "soulful" take on it.
Simon queried whether mentor Dannii wasn’t trying to turn Rachel into a Dannii clone and called the presentation "a bit cabaret." Dannii loved how Rachel just allowed herself "to be so vulnerable," while Cheryl said the song showed the soul in her voice and revealed she was her favourite singer of all the girls.
Then it was time to hold onto your hats as twins John and Edward took to the stage performing Queen’s We Will Rock You. Dressed in long leather coats and sporting black eyeliner and with their blonde hair dyed partly black, Danni laughed: "It’s Hallowe'en and that was quite scary," before telling them it felt like they needed a sat nav to find their way back to the lyrics. Cheryl said "You certainly dressed for the occasion! I felt like I was rockin’ to that." Simon was having none of it: "Night of the Living Dead sing Queen - out of tune" and said there was no way Louis could defend their singing on the night. But Louis was having none of it either, calling them "energetic, entertaining and exciting." He added: "This is what the music biz is all about. Kids everywhere - all they want to see is John and Edward."
Last, but certainly not least, it was Olly Murs' turn to wrap things up with the Beatles’ classic Come Together which is just what he made the judges do. Dannii said he was "hot, hot, hot" and she adored him - bar the haircut. Louis reiterated his belief Olly was the "dark horse" of the competition and said he expected him to be in the final three. Cheryl and Simon also agreed with the others that out of all the acts, Olly was the one progressing most week by week, Simon telling Olly: "You're learning how to perform, you're sounding like a credible artist. I'm very proud of you. You did a great job."
