There have been great and bad on both.

While AI has had some greats like Adam Lambert, David Cook and Chris Daughtry it's also had a much higher stinker rate of late.

I'd say that the general standard on X-Factor accross all acts is higher than the last few series of AI.

I think the standard on all these reality singing shows has taken a nosedive recently. IMO it's because the shows have proven themselves time and time again to be hardly about singing at all (case in point: people like Laura and Austin getting kicked off in favour of bloody Eggnog) and more a war of sob stories, emotional blackmail and what part of the country you come from. The really good singers just don't bother applying any more.

Add that to the stigma of being a reality TV winner and the fact that it's now been proven that they're NOT a free ticket to fame and fortune (look at Leon), it's no surprise that the only people who really apply these days are either slightly unintelligent pretty boys or desperate chavs who don't really understand how manipulated the program is, let alone how the music industry itself actually works.

That said, there are some genuinely good people on this year's series, who AREN'T desperate chavs/thick pretty boys, so don't flame me lol

whoaaa and sorry about War and Peace-ing you all...

Completely agree, we've never had a great male vocalist on the show.

That comment will cause a few raised eyebrows.

the main reason that the male singers are not exceptional is the voting culture - teenage girls (the main votes courted by the programme) have only had a limited exposure to music and if a guy cannot be presented as 'fit' or whatever, no matter how good he is, the show will not put him through. it is unlikely that a 16 year old will have heard many artists from before they were born. 1993 an onwards - and from the time they were likely to be more aware - say from the age of 10 - 2003. compared to the fact that recordings stretch back to around 1900 - that is 6 years from 109 - some will have listened to more, but for them to know less than 1 in 20 of the big names in singing makes their capacity to judge more limited.
...and how much does school music teaching deal with what makes a good vocal performance? not a lot I'd wager.

so - to appeal - if it is not vocal quality - it is on presentability -

never any older guys, no fat guys, nobody who is not photogenic to some degree.

some larger women have got through, but no 'ugly' women.

video killed the radio star...

I never really thought about this, but you're right!

I think you've hit the nail on the head there.

Sorry but that is completely incorrect.

I think you'll find that male soloists, especially white ones (and I before anyone complains I am not being racist here, I adore black music) just don't become pop stars in 2009. The UK charts are dominated by female soloists, female groups, and of course R&B / DJ oriented tracks where the singer is relegated behind the DJ.

The only male soloists who can achieve anything chartwise in the current climate are rappers. In the USA it's different as the country music sector of the market means that male soloists in that genre CAN break through. I am sure that tastes and styles will change but right now even the best male solo singer in the UK would probably struggle against the prevailing biases of pop radio and the media.

So it's not surprising that we don't see the male X Factor guys achieving very much.

I think Austin Drage from last year was AMAZINGG. If only he could play the guitar on the show and was allowed to showcase his strength - hes amazing at bluesy, soul kinda music. Simon through him under a bus though. Shame. He is apparently working on an album though with the producers of Lily Allen and stuff. And he writes and plays himself so we may actually get decent material from him.

I've been rather faithful follower of AI and XF and must say RHYDIAN has been the best singer, the best performer ever appeared at any of the Reality singing competition!
He is not just the best vocalist, but definitely the most versatile, artistically the strongest male singer from them all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVOz6...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Fsw...eature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ykp...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSUuOlsEDfU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kQXq...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fgrf...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlhbV...eature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC61B...eature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIDuY...eature=related

They seem to have given up with this idea, haven't they? They gave Tabby and the Journey South guy those guitars to 'play' but since then, no-one has. Maybe Afro off the new series will be allowed to?

Though, I doubt it.

Conversely, everyone I know thinks he is an overrated pile of the smelliest order and then I come on here (and just about any other site you care to look at) and I find that the people I know are far from alone in their opinion.

Danyl is average and regardless of what you think of him you cannot seriously claim that he has a great voice.

So there!


Those guys were great from the start, as was Bo.

All the vocal training in the world doesn't give you a range or versatility like Adam's, added to everything else he has that you can't buy or teach. The only British contestant that comes close is Rhydian (and I speak as a fan of Will, Darius and a couple of the FA guys). Before Adam, Bo was for me the most impressive all-around performer on a talent show and, likewise, it appeared to come naturally. Nothing about it seemed forced or over-thought.

It can be argued that Chris D and David C "developed" more throughout the series but when in Hollywood week or in the group numbers did Chris or David give any performances or vocals anything like Danyl's attempts at bootcamp, the judges houses or on I Gotta Feeling?

I was just coming on to say the same thing.

Also, it's cool in the US to go on American Idol thanks to Bo, whereas artists who have spent their time gigging and building up stage presence would not be seen dead on X Factor.

David Cook spent years gigging, trying to break into the music business, he produced his own cd and then went on AI having honed his craft, whereas here I think X Factor is seen as a predominantly cheesy entertainment programme and not really a serious show for breaking real talent (Leona apart).

I think the producers of the two shows have a real difference of opinion as to what sort of acts will appear on X Factor/American Idol. On Idol you are encouraged to play your own instruments if you can, in fact the year David Cook won lots of them could and did play instruments. Can you imagine anyone on X Factor playing at a piano or strumming a guitar?

Excellent post. Hotpotato's too.

Another point, if the winner has the experience, on Idol they seem more willing to let the winner have some control over their musical direction - David wrote/co wrote 8 out of 10 tracks on his album, had his best mate Neal as musical director, plus got Neal and Andy Skibb (ex bandmate and good friend) in his band for the tour (or tewer if you're David ) - can't somehow see Simon letting a winner have anywhere near that amount of input.

It would seem they have learn't to allow the artists have more control over things. Since Clive Davis is now no longer involved which when you attract artists such as David Cook will go along way to gaining credibility in the industry as well.
AI is no long a bastion of kareoke puppets and I doubt it will ever be again which IMO is a good thing.

Well.....I liked....

Steve Brookstein, Tabby....and later, I have come to really appreciate Jon Ansell.

Journey South - Karl Pemberton is one of the best we've had. Gorgeous voice quality.

Robert Allen....shockingly wonderful.

Leon Jackson - gorgeous vocal tone that is very unique. My fave for being such a fabulous raw talent.

It would seem Kris Allen is getting the same treatment as David and has a good friend confirmed as a guitarist in his band. Nice to see them being treated as musicians not just puppets. Interesting that both are being managed personally by Simon Fuller as was Chris Daughtry.

I disagree. I think Joe's the best singer out of the lads this year. I think he displays too much shakiness in his voice though when he's holding a long notes. He's nearly as bad as Susan Boyle was in her first audition. Lose a bit of that shakiness and, whoo.

Shayne Ward unchaine melody best x factor male artist

Yep. Lovely lad too. If Joe could just cut that hellish trilling back.

This is true to some extend, and certainly compared to X Factor/Syco. I also think that the idols are lucky enough to not be stuck with just one label, and they sign with the most appropriate considering their genre (even if they are all Sony subsidiaries). Syco is the home of pop and popera and they wouldn't have a clue of what to do with a rock/alt artist.

I've got a similar 'liked' list, ZipGypsy:

Tabby (Series 1)

Richie (Series 2) - although he didn't make it to the live shows due to Sharon being somehow impressed with Chico's prancing about in a puddle trying to electrocute himself!

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6168930

Karl (Journey South)

Austin Drage

and Leon - there is something in that lad's voice that I can't articulate but it just works for me.

I like rich, masculine soul/bluesy voices with a raw edge & for me, Leon has that in spades. I loved the album. His cover of Misty Blue is exquisite I didn't think Gwen McCrae's version could be topped but this version blue me away.

Delicious, bluesy flattening/bending into soft, breathy vibrato then powering through to a show-stopping crescendo, loaded to the brim with passion and soul - I loved it.