The fifth live X Factor show has taken place and it was all out ‘wananabe’ star wars with all eight acts singing songs for this week’s ‘Movie Night’ theme.
Fittingly enough given the theme it turned out to be quite a dramatic night. Danyl had a new look; Louis had a pop at presenter Dermot O’Leary and most shocking of all, Simon even had something nice to say about John and Edward!
First up to sing for the girls was Stacey Solomon with Dusty Springfield classic Son of a Preacher Man which featured in Quentin Tarantino hit movie Pulp Fiction. But could the girl from Essex sex it up enough and get all sultry?
Louis certainly thought so saying she’d got the show off to a great start and that he loved her ‘new sexy look’ adding that if the show was based on personality alone she ‘’ would absolutely walk it.’’ On the downside he reckoned ‘‘the song lacked a little bit of emotion.’’ Cheryl however was pleased to see Stacey ‘’looking so sexy and young’’ and thought it was her ‘’most confident looking performance so far.’’
Simon wasn’t quite so taken with the performance claiming it was ‘’like eating Chinese food. You don’t really feel anything afterwards. You still feel hungry. ’’ He also though the performance ‘’wasn’t particularly good’’ and the song choice lazy and warned her : ‘’For the first time since you’ve been in this competition I think you’re vulnerable after that.’’
Dannii said that just showed how out of touch Simon is telling her charge ‘’You’re flirty; you’re fun, you’re young- its’ everything the song should be,’’ adding ‘It’s what Duffy and Amy [Winehouse] would have done. It was brilliant.’’’’
Next up was Olly Murs performing Twist And Shout from Simon’s favourite movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off starring Mathew Broderick.
Louis told Olly he was one of the favourites for the competition but said he ‘wasn’t crazy about the crazy dancing’’ and thought Simon picked ‘’ a really silly song for a great, great singer.’’. Danni felt Olly didn’t believe in the song and wondered ‘why did it go into Michael Jackson’s Thriller routine?’’’ Cheryl filled in her claiming that you had to see the movie to know what the dance moves were all about and that the performance ‘’went down a storm.’’.
But Olly didn’t escape criticism from the UK’s current No 1 singles chart topper telling him that he was ‘‘singing a lot of retro songs’’ and she’d like to see him do something ‘more contemporary.’’ Simon hit back at Louis saying Twist and Shout was one of The Beatles' biggest hits and accusing the panel of being quite mean.’’ He put on a great show it’s called entertainment.’’
After finding himself in last Sunday’s sing off baby-faced Lloyd Daniels was up next with Stand By Me taken from teen rites-of-passage movie of the same name.
Louis told Lloyd that the good news was that ‘’it was better than last week’’ but then hit him a body blow saying that three weeks ago he was the cute kid in the competition’’ but that there were four better male singers still in the show and that ‘’ at this stage of the competition you’re out of your depth. I don’t think you’re good enough.’’
Dannii also touched on Lloyd’s cuteness and thought he got so excited when he hit high note he lost the tuning of it, describing it as ‘’a nice performance.’’
Simon concurred - backhandedly saying: "Nice like having tea with your mum’’ Then he backed Louis’ judgement saying that the problem was ‘’right now you’re out of your depth. You’re competing against some big, big singers and it kind of feels to me that you’ve given up a little bit at the moment. Your voice wasn’t big enough for the song. That’s the problem.’’
A crestfallen looking Cheryl called the comments unfair pointing out that Lloyd was ‘’down on his confidence; he’s had a knock’’ but said that she though it the most comfortable performance he’d given so far adding; ‘You made it young. It was funky it was cool. I don’t want to make you cheesy.’’
After that it was that man Jamie Archer who, if reports are to be believed, was on the brink of quitting this week over a breakdown in his relationship with Simon over meddling with his songs and changing them at the last minute and refusing to let him go on tour with Bon Jovi.
Well surprise, surprise they ended up changing his song at the last minute, again ditching Unchained Melody from blockbuster weepy Ghost, with Jamie having his say in opting for Roy Orbison’s Crying from little known indie flick, Gummo.
Last week Louis told Jamie there was nothing original about him, this week he changed his tune saying he was ‘so glad you’ve ditched all the silly rock stuff. That was a very, emotional performance. Your best yet.’’ Though he still had qualms about the song selection, telling Simon he didn’t know the movie and thought he was cheating again. (What are they like?). Simon battled back saying it didn’t matter if the song was from a cult movie, adding: ‘it’s not about the film , it’s about the song he sang.’’
Dannii thought the performance was ‘’emotional and heartfelt’’ and not ‘’ pub rocker’’’ while Cheryl who also said she felt he sang it from his heart found herself under attack from Simon for claiming Unchained Melody would have been disastrous because it’s ‘’cheesy’’ only to be told they would have been doing the version U2 did and that . ‘’Sweetheart, look it up on You Tube. ‘’he said cattily.
Simon was full of praise for Jamie saying: ‘’You chose that song. This performance was all about you and it was your best performance by a mile. Congratulations.’’
After that it was Welsh songbird Lucie Jones’ chance to shine with Demi Lovato’s This is Me from Camp Rock. And, my! How she grabbed it with both hands.
Louis described the song choice as ‘‘fantastic’ and ‘’very cool’’ adding: ‘’You looked like a pop star. I predict you’re going to be the last girl standing in the competition. Star quality, Miss.’’ Cheryl added she thought Lucie had definitely ‘’found her niche, ‘’ and that she wasn’t familiar with the song choice at all ‘’but it could have been your song. You just need to loosen up and enjoy it a little bit more.’’ Simon was no less stinting in his praise. He told Lucie: ‘’This is the first time for me you have made yourself relevant as a pop artist and I agree with what Louis said. That was very good." A beaming Dannii responding to the comments and cheers from the audience gushed: ‘’All I can add to that is I’m not the only one who loves Lucie. Beautiful performance.’’
Next up and sporting a new cropped hair do was Danyl Johnson singing Prince’s Purple Rain. Louis told him that ‘it’s very hard to sing a Prince song and do it justice. But tonight you went out there and won everybody over’’ adding ‘’ You deserve to be in the competition. You’re a talented guy and if we’re judging on vocal ability you’ve got it all. I think you’re going to be in the final.’’
Dannii said she loved the new look and said he had a really, really good voice and that ‘’you need to use it. Don’t scream too much because it doesn’t do you justice.’’ Cheryl, who let’s face it, hasn’t been Danyl’s biggest fan did a 180 degree turn telling him she really loved the hair too, as well as his demeanour and did a really nice vocal. ‘’You’ve lost that cockiness you began with but you’re not the broken man we saw last week.’’ She said. Simon apologised for repeating himself but complimented him once again on ‘’an outstanding vocal’’ He went on 'This show has found a great, great singer who’s now got his confidence back up and I think you can go on to have a great career.'
I know what you’re thinking... what about John and Edward? Well they were up next with the theme from Ghostbusters. Simon, if they win, who're you gonna’ call?
Dannii struggled for something constructive to say claiming it was a singing competition but that ‘you either talk or you rap. I love watching you perform but I can’t imagine listening to you on radio.’’ Cheryl chipped in: ‘’You bring fun to this show. Whether people like you or don’t, it’s fun to watch. Kids from three to about 10 absolutely adore you.’’
Then in one of the biggest shocks of the night-or the series come to that- Simon confessed that while ’we’ve established over the past few weeks that you can’t sing this was actually a good song for you. Based on some of the horrors we’ve seen before this was… sort of good. And more entertaining than karaoke stuff we saw before, so well done.’’Crikey!
Louis said:’’All I know is that everywhere I go people are talking about Jedward. The world is full of doom and gloom and these boys are having fun - that’s what this show is all about.‘’
Last but not least, it was then Geordie boy, Joe McElderry’s, turn to take to the stage with Elton John’s Circle of Life from The Lion King.
Louis said: ‘I do think you’re more musical theatre than a pop star and we are looking for a pop star’ and thought the choice of song was ‘a little bit predictable. I think you’ve got a lot more potential than that.’’ Dannii wondered what Louis was doing with John and Edward if the judges were looking for a pop star and declared that Joe was ‘the best male vocalist in the competition hands down’ but didn’t like the production on the song and thought it detracted from his performance.
Simon thought the song was perfect. ‘’It’s what you’re all about.’’ He added:’’ I actually liked the production but the only thing I didn’t like is that you’ve got to stop this stage school swaying. You’ve got to have the confidence to take the mike; believe in yourself. I don’t think you’re the best male singer in the competition. Having said that I think you’re commercial, I think you know who you are and I think you should enjoy this moment.’’
All that was left was for Cheryl to tell Joe how much every week she loved working with him and how he was starting ‘’to feel like a little brother to me. I’m just so proud to watch you up there singing like that. It’s absolutely amazing.’’
And then that was that for another Saturday night, apart from Louis having a pop at Dermot for defending Joe telling him: You’re not a judge Dermot. I’m a judge. You’re a presenter.’’ To which Dermot replied he thought that the public were the ultimate judge. Nice one Mr O’Leary.
Last updated: 10 November 2009, 08:09
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