I'm really sorry that I judged it without hearing it.... but anyways just heard it today and I have to say that It was everything I thought it would be. Formulaic, unoriginal, repetitive dross.

I don't understand how anyone in their right mind would buy this song. its a major testiment to the X Factor and its formula that someone who upon hearing the winners song 3 days after its hype found it to be everything they thought it would be.

Yeah I thought it was poor when I heard Miley's version months ago. I could have guessed how they would try to jazz it up for the X Factor, but the fact is it's a really mediocre song that doesn't go anywhere. But people watch X Factor for the journey and experience as much as the song, so they'll quite happily buy anything they're offered at the end of it.

If it was any good then Miley's original version would of been a success. Anyone who thinks it's selling because of Joe is as deluded as the fact that they think x factor is good for music proves.

They obviously chose it because of the lyrics about having to overcome hardships and work hard for success, which is pretty much the ultimate irony. X Factor is the easiest route to success - go on tv for a few weeks, sing a few other people's songs, and the puppets not only get a no.1, but they also get to work with renowned songwriters and producers, and by being on X Factor they automatically get their fame, and get promotional apearances and airplay on pretty much every tv show and radio station going. Those puppets will NEVER know the meaning of hard work. Most real artists spend years from a young age writing their own songs, forging their own sound, playing in clubs, and trying to get noticed and fight for a record deal - all with little resources. It's insulting how Cowell and co tell us how the X Factor mob have had to work hard.

Very true. I agree with all you've written above.

The winner's songs from the X-factor are always awful and this one is particularly bad.
Cowell has missed the point that it is the song that counts not how well someone can sing.
Many artists have had hits with great original songs who are not necessarily the best singers in the world. Having a great sound, a great song, something different about you, something to say, something that makes you stand out - that is what matters.

Because maybe some people actually LIKE undemanding pop? personally i hate the damn song and general style, but wouldnt judge others for actually liking it.

so what is this mythical formula?

and what's that? a repetitive pop song, where the chorus is sung more than once? really?


you don't understand how anyone could like something that you don't?

Iain

ok, we get it, you love x factor and anything that comes off it.

all you're doing there is ignoring the point with a total strawman.

i don't love TXF and anything that comes off it. i watch it yes, but only have two related songs in my itunes library - bleeding love and run by Leona.

how you reached that conclusion from my suggestion that its absurd that people can't believe that other people might like different things to them, i have no idea.

Iain

I think he probably reached that conclusion because of the deluded tripe you are spouting.

iain, what's wrong with the OP and others calling the "The Climb" bland and formulaic?

pshh pshh. i'm not an avid fan of the x factor but i appreciate music if the singer and the song is good. 'the climb' by joe mcelderry IS good and i'm thrilled that it will be xmas no. 1 as the ratm campaign will fail.

It's an ok song but that's about all you can say. It lacks something because it seems to go nowhere. Prefer the Miley version (only just) if i'm honest but neither version is something i would listen to or buy if i had a choice.

steve brookstein - against all odds
shayne ward- thats my goal
leona lewis - a moment like this
leon jackson - when you believe
alexandra burke - halejua
joe mc elderry - the climb

theres definitely a common thread running through the winners songs which mostly seem to be about struggling and despair .

you mean deluded tripe like pointing out that different people like different things?

that sort of thing?

but if you've got something to say, don't sit on the fence - feel free to say it to my face, seeing as you're obviously such a charmer.

Iain

nothing at all - i just asked what this formula was?

because saying that something is bland and formulaic is, ironically, a bit of a bland and formulaic criticism.

Iain

FABULOUS post!!!

No, X factor is a global brain wash, the forumla is very old, the song sucks, the only reason the chap will get anywhere is because he was on the x factor, being impregnated on the viewers and non viewers mind.... sneak advertising. It's BS - without the show there would be no rubbish single to head to the top spot at christmas. Other artist would get a look in. Glad the rival single is Rage against the machine...

About time X Factor got the message that a lot of people actually see through the play acting and know the whole thing is a farce from start to finish.

evergreen,. all this time etc etc etc they all sound the friggin same.... the climb is no different

ok - so the only reason anyone bought it is because they've been brainwashed?

it couldn't possibly be that they actually like it?

i'm not disputing the fact that TXF obviously gets gives people an enormous advantage - i'm disputing the idea that people only buy it because they've been brainwashed.

as is evident by the fact that some X factor winners have clearly been more successful than others.

if winning the X factor was all it took, then Steve Brookstein would have been as successful as Leona Lewis.

as should be obvious to anyone Leona's success compared to Steve's was clearly about more than simply winning TXF.

Iain

I quite liked the original - she does seem to be putting some heart and soul into it.
This X-Factor cover is so bad because the singer doesn't seem to put any personality or spirit into the song whatsoever. It sounds like a cross between Will Young and Neil Sedaka, and in a song which, if it is to be worth anything at all, has to be put across with guts and determination, it sounds really feeble.
I know nothing about the X-Factor other than hearing this, and I have to say it's probably the worst single of the year.

Your a bit special aren't you?

Major winters

I just listened to Miley Cyrus's version on YouTube, and I agree, her version is much better than the X Factor version (as Disneyfied pop tunes go!). It has quite a nice country feel to it. There's not a whole lot to the song itself, so how successful it is depends on how much emotion the singer manages to get into it, and as you say Miley succeeds in that respect far better than Joe does.

To be fair though, I don't think that's entirely his fault. His version is auto-tuned within an inch of its life - presumably because they didn't have the time to spend in the studio getting it right - and it sounds tinny and emotionless. And the song really doesn't suit his voice, either; last year's Hallelujah would've been a far better song for him. I feel sorry for him being lumbered with this one, but at the same time it really is second rate stuff that they're putting out.

Similar here, I only have Bleeding Love and Forgive Me by Leona, but dont actually watch the show. I was in HMV earlier and saw stacks and stacks of the winner's single and thought to myself "Wonder how many sheep will buy 'em?"

The real test of how good this song is would be to find out how many people buy it who have never seen the X Factor.

I bet that number would be extremely low.

Thinking the X-factor single is a classic, is a bit like finding John Prescott attractive. Of course, you're entitled to your beliefs- who you are attracted to is no more or less relevant than who anyone else is attracted to, but you're bound to get a few people thinking 'what the hell?'