I was wondering, at this stage of the competition, your views on the remaining acts. Who is your current favourite? Who is your current least favourite?

Leaving all the furore out of it, and forget about the judges for a moment, and what is wrong or not wrong or whatever about the show.

Who do you tune in to see?
Who will you support up until the last possible minute?
If you vote, do you tend to vote for just one act or more than one?

I am not asking for all positive comments, but lets keep the negative ones reasonable and keep the whole thing friendly and fun. And lets NOT talk about Sunday night - there are numerous threads for that.


Here are my comments.

Danyl : My favourite, nothing so far has changed that, and as long as he keeps doing his thing and I enjoy it, I will continue to support him for as long as he is in.

Olly : My second favourite act and he is SOOO entertaining and does have a good voice to boot.

John and Edward - So mature and reasonable for such young lads. They never fail to entertain me, and I don't know if anyone agree's, but I do think their singing is improving in leaps and bounds!

Jamie - not really been given a chance to prove himself since "Hurt" in my opinion. He really has a great voice, and I think he's terrific.

Lloyd - give him a few years and his voice may develop into something worthwhile. Its already pleasant, and he is nothing if not marketable! Maybe my least favourite of those left.

Stacey : Has got the personality but I am torn on her performances. Some I have thoroughly enjoyed and others have just been "meh" for me. I think she may have a chance to shine in the next couple of weeks, will look forward to it.

Joe: Great voice, probably (although I have little musical knowledge) the best technically and also the most consistent. Always enjoyable, but not WOW yet for me!

As for my voting patterns, I vote for my favourite act (Danyl) plus up to two others who have impressed me on the night.
Most often that is Olly plus a variety of others. Stacey has had votes from me before, as have Joe and Jamie.

John & Edward are the only ones I'd bother tuning in for.

Watching Olly has me reaching for the sick bucket; hearing Danyl has me reaching for the earplugs. Jamie and Stacey are dull as hell. Lloyd is totally hopeless. Joe is lovely and sings well and should probably win but I'd rather he went straight to the West End where he clearly belongs.

Given the last three eliminations, this has turned into the worst series there's ever been. The winner (providing it isn't J&E) is destined to become a nobody, a la Brookstein & Jackson.

Stacey : My favourite, although i do admit the personality has something to do with her being in the top.


Olly : So entertaining, and has a real good voice, never had a bad moment since he started the live shows


Joe\Lloyd : They've both got good voices but are a bit blah performance wise.


J&E : entertaining, but they basically talk through their songs, i used to like them much more, but they haven't stepped it up since big band.


Jamie\Danyl : Sorry i don't like em as much, i was never a huge fan to begin with, i guess the over hype is a turn off, and they tend to shout the higher notes.

This is why we can't have nice things.

I tune in to watch Olly. I've liked him since the auditions and I think, out of all of them, he has learnt to perform the most. He takes risks, he ad libs and he interacts with the dancers. I like the tone of his voice and his phrasing and diction are clear.

Stacey has potential but it seems to me that she still has a lot to learn about using her voice. When she's on it, she can be really good but she wanders off it a lot too. She is a very awkward performer.

Joe has a lovely voice, he actually gave me goosebumps singing Circle of Life on Saturday but there's just something missing there. He seems like a nice lad and all but he needs some oomph.

The others I can give or take. Except for John and Edward. For me the joke wore thin after Oops, I Did it Again, which was monumentally awesome in a car crash kind of way.

I thought She's the one was actually the weakest performance in week one and I wasn't impressed by Twist and shout. Very much enjoyed his other performances though.

I ADORED Twist and Shout.

Maybe because it evoked a lot of memories of watching that movie several times with good friends!

I think my problem is that everyone that is left, except John and Edward, are a bit 'meh' in my eyes.

Danyl: I don't enjoy his singing. It isn't a style that I favour irrespective of who is belting the song out and he doesn't bring enough to it for me to want to vote for him. Also, I was stopped in the Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading last week by his mother who was trying to drum up support for him and she really annoyed me. I know that shouldn't be a factor in my voting but it was because she got quite stroppy with me when I said that I wouldn't be voting for him.


Olly : He's ok. He seems like a nice bloke and I can imagine having a beer with him but I don't know that I'd ever want to buy his records. Again, it is a style thing rather than anything else and at least, unlike Danyl, I do think he has a good voice. Perhaps I'd like him more if he was singing different songs.

John and Edward: I think that they'd be able to sing better if the same amount of effort went into their singing as it does into their routines and production. The singing coach woman said as much on Xtra Factor last week.

Jamie: I like him because it is something a bit different but I don't think he's really done anything as good as his first audition yet. Perhaps that will change if he is going to choose his own songs from now on. I'd like to see him go further in the competition.

Lloyd: I like him too and think that I must be hearing something different to everyone else because I think he has quite a good voice. Yes, he struggles with some notes but I think he'll get there with a bit more practice and training. He comes across as a very sweet boy and I'd like him to stay in for a few more weeks.

Stacey: She's got a lovely voice but some of her songs haven't really worked. I think if she gets the right song, she'll be great but I'm not sure that anything she's done so far has given her the opportunity to show how good she is.

Joe: I can see (or hear, I suppose!) that he has a good voice, he seems pleasant and quite sweet but it doesn't come together into a great overall package for me. Perhaps, for me at least, he does just lack the X-Factor!

I think that my overall feeling about the acts this year is that they are all a bit uninspiring. I am actually a dreadful person in terms of my voting patterns because I voted for Kandy Rain because I felt sorry for them getting stick for how they dressed, for Lloyd because he is sweet and I felt sorry for him and for John and Edward because they were getting grief in the media. So I think it is fair to say that it is sympathy that makes me pick up my phone!

Just because you weren't impressed doesn't really make him BAD that week, i meant the fact he wasn't criticized by the judges and managed to sing in tune, i do admit though his week 1 wasn't strong but it was still pretty good.

I think the problem for me is that he's done 4 songs in a row that are similar style. Not his fault (I made it clear how I feel about Simon's song choices). I like to see him take a risk because he's played it the most safe so far. But knowing Simon he probably pick the obvious choice of Crazy Little Thing called love.

Well some people would berate you for that, but whatever feelings provoke you to pick up the phone for someone are your feelings and therefore valid.

I gave Danyl a vote in his bad week, because he had been having a hard time. Usually on that performance, even as my favourite, I would not have voted.

So, I occasionally am giving a sympathy vote as well.

I was kind of hoping for "Don't stop me now" as it has a slow start and then goes into overdrive so he can do the leaping around I like so much!

Danyl : Fantastic voice, will do well even after the show. A possible winner but I, personally, just dont get him.

Olly : My favourite act, great entertainer, good voice, cheeky face. Love him. I just want to smoodge him. My prediction as winner.

John and Edward - Love them. Completely useless but they make me smile. Love their enthusiasm and the way they've coped with the haters. )And I know that's a word often used wrongly but they definetly are here.)

Jamie - My second favourite. i vote for him and Olly every week. Huge potential but is being stifled by really bad song choices. Would love to see him win, I think he might pee his pants.

Lloyd - Dismal

Stacey : Leaves me cold. Good voice, will never be Leona. Her personality annoys me, I dont get this worshipping at the shrine of stupidity thing. The nations new Goody.

Absolutely loved Rachel, was gutted she went.

Joe: Cant bear to watch him. He reminds me of Marti Pellow and I hate him. No seriously I do.!

God! Yes! It's the permagrin!

Nice thread

In no particular order....

Olly - definately my fave I love him! I love him dancing and his x factor videos are hilarious.

Danyl - Used to be my favourite but Olly took over, I think he has a great voice.

Jamie - Love his relationship with Olly, think he is a good singer. Want him to stay in or my boss will be in such a mood!

Stacey - Just cant warm to her, I think she has an ok voice but just not too keen! Would like to see her go next.

Jedward - I used to really dislike these guys but I find them mildy entertaining now. I do feel sorry for all the flack they are getting.

Joe - I really like his voice and hope he does well but would really like all Simon's acts in the final!

For me it has to be Joe for the top spot. He can sing almost anything, has the purest voice of all of them and I just love his face and smile, so definitely Joe for the win!

I really like Olly, but I think that he should do something different!

Really like Jamie, but I dont think that he has really sung to his potential since the auditions!

I dont mind Stacie, but dont think that she can win, not strong enough

I like little Lloyd but his voice is not big enough and thinks that he might be in danger this week!

Although Danyl can sing, like Cheryl I just dont get him, he does nothing for me at all!

As for the twins, nothing against them, but this is a singing contest and they just cannot sing and should not even have got through to the finals!

Heres hopeing that it will be Danyl and the twins in the sing of this week but I think that it might be Lloyd and Jamie!

Me too. Probably not going to happen though.
Can still hope up until one of them goes home though.

Jamie - numero uno. Love the voice and style - he's the only one I'd actually buy an album of.

Danyl - Still think he has a great voice capable of singing a variety of styles. Prefer less big note drama though.

Joe - Consistently good. Like a new Michael Ball but doesn't spark for me.

Stacey - I think she could be great with practice and polish - something a bit early Streisand about her.

Olly - Seems like a fun guy and talented and should be higher but there's just something that annoys me about him.

Lloyd - Young and time to improve, Not singing well at this time.

Jedward - Chancers who've hit a goldmine. Happy for them to ride the wave, but not at the expense of the others.

Danyl : Very talented, good performer and i enjoy watching him. I dont think personally that he will win because of the bad press he has got over the past few weeks. I wouldnt discribe him as the "best ever" but he is very good. I quite liked his confidance as well...i mean look at robbie, he is very cocky!

Olly : I like him but his voice does remind me a little of will youngs. He is deffinately not the best singer, but is a good performer and very entertaining. possible finalist.

John and Edward - Bless them, they have taken soooo much stick for 2 17/18 year old lads. I do find them really entertaining. The thing with this year is that all the acts are more about performance, not just singing. if this was all on that then the would win

Jamie - he is there just to be the "rocker"

Lloyd - No.

Stacey : She is a sweety and probs symbolises what the "competition" is about, she has the story. The only thing is that she has a young shild, o would she be able to live the pop star lifestyle?

Joe: dont like thew vibrato in his voice at all


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Danyl – Terrible mentoring from Simon, IMO, which has really let him down. Not helped by the fact that he was so revered at the auditions. It seems the only way was down for him. He unfortunately hasn’t impressed me at the live shows. I don’t understand him when he sings, his enunciation is appalling. Possibly a one trick pony. I would have preferred Daniel (One True Voice) to have taken his place in the final 3.

Olly – I was surprised when he got through to the live shows, but he has grown on me more than the other Overs. Possibly a poor man’s Robbie? I’m still undecided on him. Seems like a nice lad, with a decent voice, but I’m not sure I want him to win.

Jamie – I find the whole ‘rocker’ slant so contrived, and I feel that if he did have any rock roots, he’s completely sold out in a last-ditch attempt at fame. Yes, he sings in a band, yes his voice is different from what we are used to hearing on the X Factor, but I don’t think he can win. If he did, it wouldn’t do him any favours. He’d be another Steve Brookstein, IMO.

Stacey – I believe that the whole ‘ditz’ thing is genuine and she has a pleasant voice. As much as I love Dannii, I don’t think Stacey’s song choices have been great. I think I’d be happy if she won, but I don’t think she’d have a career like Leona’s.

Lloyd – I don’t think he’s as bad as people have made out. I believe there were more deserving contestants to take his place in the final 3 (Ethan and Duane), but I feel quite sorry for him. Poor song choices by Cheryl. I predict he could be next out.

Joe – Seems like a sweet kid, but much more suited to musical theatre. Probably has one of the best voices. He’s quite same-y and bland, though. Saying that, he’s the type of person that could win it.

Twins – LOVE THEM! Haha. They are so awful, they’re actually good. I’d love them to win because a) they’re not Simon’s act and b) the X Factor is a pantomime and I don’t believe it’s about the singing any more

Olly - improving. I posted that he needed to start trading on his athletic sex appeal, dancing, and sing funky numbers, and he has. The only thing they're doing wrong now IMO are the clothes, he shouldn't be dancing in suits, it somehow makes him look middle-aged.

Joe - he's improved because he's toned down the vibrato. Far and away the most consistent of them all, and looks like an established pop star, as if a past winner returning to the show. But this polish and slickness also makes him seem a bit bland as a competitor. He's like a comfortable pair of slippers. Needs to sing something edgy or emotional and drop the permanently sunny disposition, at least during the performance.

Lloyd - has been given the most unsuitable songs. His voice has good tone, but it's a quiet voice with a low range. To be better heard and to stand out more he perhaps needs to sing with little or no accompaniment one week - like Cheryl had him do in a restart at his audition. Just him sat on a stool, perhaps a guitarist at his side.

Danyl - is starting to really come good. I wanted him to stop the affectated drawl/snarl on the start of lyrics, rein in the OTT vocalising, and start looking at the camera using his soulful eyes to match the soulful voice, and he has done all that. He's starting to look directly at the camera and so he's connecting with the audience instead of coming across as self-indulgent, eyes tight shut, singing as if for his own entertainment. Loved the falsetto in Purple Rain, it's a quality one, not a Shayne screech.

Jamie - poor guy seems to have lost his way, and the sparkle in his eyes is slowly going out. He needed to break out of his stadium rock comfort zone and did so brilliantly with Hurt, but since then his return to rock songs has sounded less accomplished and his attempt at another ballad (Crying) not as good as the first. Needs to get back on track soon or he is out.

Stacey - It was necessary to make her sing something up tempo or contemporary and get her to move around or she'd turn into a singing spinster, and she has done all that, but vocally none of it has been as well executed as the first couple of weeks, so I think she needs to get back to basics again. Her voice has a purity of tone, a stability on the notes, and that's her selling point rather than trying to adapt it to sounding like Dusty, when you need a voice like Dusty or an Alison Moyet to do Son Of A Preacher Man justice. I'd like to hear her sing a Carpenters song, perhaps For All We Know or Close To You.

J&E - they should perform The Sound Of Silence, in the dark, and preferably during an ad break.

In order from most liked to least liked:

Joe: Best voice in the competition by miles, lovely personality and really, really handsome. He is my absolute favourite.

Stacey: Beautiful voice and a hilarious personality. She hasn't wowed me yet though.

John and Edward: They are brilliantly entertaining and great performers and John hasn't got that bad a voice. They are also quite hot.

Jamie: The best in Simons category, although Simon doesn't seem to agree. He has a great voice and he can really work the audience.

Lloyd: He seems like such a sweet boy and I want him to do well, but whenever he's on stage he just looks like a rabbit in headlights! His voice is actually very nice, just not very strong.

Danyl: The running round the stage, mumbling a bit, chucking the microphone around, then screeching a long note at the end of the song just isn't doing it for me.

Olly: He is the favourite to win, I suppose because of his personality and likeability, because his voice isn't up to much. I would actually rather listen to Lloyd's voice than his. He is a Butlins type of performer.

Great thread by the way!

I'd like Lloyd to do a contemporary, pleasant song that is simple, but gives him some chance to do some proper singing in places as well.

I think something like "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz would be a perfect choice. It's been the biggest selling song worldwide this year, it's not been done (at least in the UK X-Factor) before and I think he could actually sing it well.

I think for me Jedward has become tedious, i loved the Ghostbusters performance, laughed myself silly, but their sing-off was about my limit.

Lloyd can't sing beyond second-row boy band level.

Jamie i find boring, he can sing, but just doesn't excite me, not a very dynamic singer imo.

Danyl has a great voice, but it grates on me. I just can't listen to it, i know it's tallent, but it makes my ears bleed.

Olly annoys me now, same old predictable performance every week. We never really get to hear him sing over the loud backing tracks.

Stacey has been a huge disappointment for me so far, love the girl, but her performances are so stilted, unchallenging and dull. Danni never pushes her to really open up, so she doesn't.

Joe i think is great, of all the acts he's the one i don't mind listening too week-in week-out. Unfortunately i have no interrest in any of the other acts, so i won't be watching on Saturday, instead i'll pick up the performances I want to watch on youtube during the week.

Bottom line, i had 5 acts i liked (Rachel, Lucie, Miss Frank, Joe and J&E), 3 have gone, one i can't be bothered to spend an hour watching the other mediocre pantomime drivvel wating for his performance and one has now worn thin.