*Cue predictable "They're all crap/don't write their own songs/don't play their own instruments/don't flush their own toilets" crap*

Who would you say it is?

*Lemar?
*Will Young?
*Girls Aloud?
*Susan Boyle?
*G4?
*Paul Potts?
*Leona Lewis?
*Alexandra Burke?
*Javine?
*Jade Ewen?
*Hearsay?
*Shayne Ward?
*Or one of the many others?

Girls Aloud, undoubtedly

Delete.

Girls Aloud, they're the only ones to have lasting success really.

Can someone please explain to me in words of one syllable how a solo artist can be manufactured?

I understand a group being put together to make a certain sound or look but a solo singer is a solo singer and cannot be "manufactured".

So Girls Aloud must be best as G4 got together at the Guildhall School of Music before they entered X-Factor! GA were put together by the producers of Pop Stars - The Rivals.

Umm, Will Young, nearly 8 years since he won PI and just had his fifth platinum album, I think that equates to lasting success

It's all down to personal taste at the end of the day, your best may not be my best and so on.....

Even though I don't really like them, I'd say Girls Aloud. I went to see them (not through choice) and although they're not my thing, I can see they've done very well.

I don't consider Leona manfactured. Mainly because with her second album, she has taken control and you can take her lyrics more seriously as they have been written by her.

Susan Boyle is heavily manfactured. Ok, the woman has a great voice but recording an album full of covers is easy breezy. At least Leona took a good year out to make what I feel is a good album. I don't have any respect for people who do an album full of covers. I know Leona has done covers but just the odd one and yes she did get 2 number's by having cover songs, but overall she isn't a cover artist. Susan Boyle is.

[quote=Gill P;37421365]Can someone please explain to me in words of one syllable how a solo artist can be manufactured?

I understand a group being put together to make a certain sound or look but a solo singer is a solo singer and cannot be "manufactured".





I agree with this - you can't 'manufacture' a solo singer

Based on the list of suggestions I'm assuming the OP means artists/groups that have come from a reality TV show...

Easily the best "manufactured" singer is Kelly Clarkson. In my opinion she's actually one of the best singers in music overall. She also has had worldwide success and has always had some creative input in her music but she isn't one of those pretentious musicians who feels they need to write all their own material.

Girls aloud, without a doubt.

They have stuck around for longer than anyone could've predicted (coming from a show and all that)

They have had a record number of Top 10 singles, and throughout the years they have grown along with their fanbase, and the only other girlband about the place to match them is Sugababes.

In my opinion: I can't pick one but it would have to be one of these three:

Jordin Sparks - Amazing voice and the best winner of a X-Factor type show. One of only two American Idol winners to impact the UK. With her first two singles from 'Battlefield' making the top 15 with no promotion (compared to only 1/3 of Kelly's latest making the top 15). I don't know how well the album is doing but I imagine its doing quite well for something with no promotion.

Alexandra Burke – Amazing singer and performer and best X-Factor winner.

Jade Ewen – Really spectacular voice, shame about her sole career but she’s still brilliant as a Babe.

In terms of actual UK success it would be Will Young, Leona Lewis or Girls Aloud.

Girls Aloud.

Not by only using words of one syllable, no. But I can try and explain...

Some people consider other factors, aside from simply putting a group together, as manufactured.

Things like, having all or most of their songs written for them- having their image all too meticulously crafted to make sure they target a particular market (or as broad a market as possible, which is often the case), or people who have made it through appearing on huge talents shows, such as the X-factor.

I am not criticizing manufactured bands/ solo artists- just stating what I think most people consider as manufactured, since you asked.

Has to be Girls Aloud

I remember the final of popstars when the two groups were formed, no one thought they'd beat the boys let alone be around 7+ year's later with 6 platinum albums, 20 top 10 singles, huge sell out tours, etc.

I know they're not the best singers but they're simply a brilliant group, great songs (which they do have some writing credits on), great performances and all of them have great personalities.

It's far too early to judge the likes of Alexandra and JLS yet, they're still on their first album!

Lemar & Will Young are the standouts for me.

Although I hate to admit it, it has to be Girls Aloud.

Will writes his own songs so he can't be counted in the list.

Except some people still consider him manufactured because he made his name through a talent show. I never said they had to have all the points I listed to be considered manufactured. Suppose it depends who you talk to.

No way! I had to go and see them! My mum got me tickets for them and I went to the O2 this year and it was so uneventful. When they were doing Sound of the Underground I was praying Nadine would shove Cheryl into the flames. Liven things up a bit.

As for the OP's question, Girls Aloud, Lemar, Will Young, Leona Lewis have all done well.

Esmee Denters, The Saturdays, Sugababes 2.0, JLS, Alexandra Burke and John & Edward look set to have good careers. Possibly Joe McElderry, Ruth Lorenzo and Diana Vickers, too, but we will have to wait and see

Lemar is the most improved.His last output had a little bit of genuine soul & he wrote his own songs I think.I don't particularly like his tonality though.I don't like any of them really - I respect Paul Potts & that blonde guy out of G4 for having genuine talent but they are not the thing I like listening to.Can't think of anyone others.Only a few of them are totally manufactured but their output is highly controlled which suppresses their abilities.Girls Aloud are the most highly autotuned or processed.

Leona and Alex are my favourite from that list.

Girls aloud without a doubt, I can safetly say I know all of their songs, and I also like how they have grown up and stayed in touch with current music, brilliant band

The fact Girls Aloud are winning this shows how boring british pop music has been this decade

Leona and Alex