nothing you lot don't really know, i'm sure.

just wanted a little vent over some of the stories i have heard this year. the most current one is this...

naturally, the production team are readying songs for each for the semi-finals. they have asked each contestant to pick 3 songs for a specific theme, and 3 songs of their own choice.

now. a band (who shall remain nameless) have submitted their songs for a theme, only to be told that they can't do their favourite, because a solo artist has chosen it, and they think it is perfect for that contestant.

then they submitted 2 songs of their own choice to put forward for their other song (if they are lucky enough to get through). these are songs they have performed previously, are well versed and confident about - and have already had a fantastic reaction from the people who have seen them.

the first is a song they performed at judges houses where they moved people to tears and generally got an ecstatic reaction. this song was also performed in part on the xtra factor. the second song is a number that 2 of the contestants in the band performed at bootcamp - and has also been performed in part on the xtra factor (and they received high praise for this).

both songs really showcase the range of skills of the band in question - and they are sure that they'd be the best possible songs to perform at this stage in the competition.

production have dismissed the songs out of hand completely. they aren't willing to let the group perform them if they get through to the semi-finals. the production team argued that the songs would guarantee their exit from the show, and not be popular with the public at large.

when the band complained (vehemently), they were put down and told to stop being brats. this comes a few weeks after a certain person (creator of the show) told them to assert themselves and stand their ground with important choices. up until last week, the production team (NOT THEIR MENTOR) has made every choice for them. it's disgusting and disheartening.

obviously, when they were given this feedback from the production team, they spoke to their mentor, who then informed them that they were powerless to do anything.

this seems unfair on so many levels, i hope the posters on here who think that certain acts receive unfair bias realise that it is not an easy ride for ANY contestant on this show.

ultimately, the production team's desire for complete control will be their undoing. if only they could show a little more creativity in the way they deal with contestants.


there are a few more shockers i could share with you (and i'm sure many of you have other stories to tell), but this seems the most relevant right now.

yours disgustedly,
benfoldsfan

X-Factor fanfiction now?

I suppose it makes a change from made-up voting leaks on here.

well...i certainly have a more creative imagination than the production team.

i'd like to hear your (no doubt scintillating) point of view on what i've posted, all the same.

I have heard this too and I think it is absolutely disgusting. But maybe I've been too naive. I'm more than aware that what the judges say on air is not necessarily how they feel, and that they are often tactical in their criticisms etc. But I truly thought that they had the final say on song choice, with the style teams etc designing everything around this.

But then again it's the 'producers' who decide who gets to audition in front of the judges in the first place, so I guess that sets the scene really doesn't it.


(For those unaware, 3 auditions in front of producers before '1st' audition with judges)

Certainly seems like a farce from start to finish.

Well we can all see the producers and co do their best to rig the outcome.

Janet has sang in the first half of the show for seven weeks - never once singing in the final 3.

Yet Amelia gets two pimp last place slots in 3 weeks.

We all recollect the emergency sing off in last year's semi - where Dannii (on orders) voted to send home Mary.

Plenty more examples - but these are just a couple.

The producers seem to want an Amelia or Misha win - i.e. that means Syco do. Little Mix will be signed - but Marcus and Janet aren't exactly their preferred candidates!

Aren't all pantomimes scripted?

It's been this way for a long time now, I may be cynical, but I tend to think the winner is chosen before the auditions. I believe ( no proof whatsoever) that some of the contestants are invited to audition, possibly so that the show can get at least some talent on the show.
It's the cynic in me, sorry

The show is not fixed as such but there is clearly a lot of manipulation going on.

Yes you are correct some people are invited to the auditions and the audition process is nothing like the opening shoys of x-factor implies where they give the impreession thousands of people are auditioned by the judges in a day. In reality most have a few seconds audition with the production staff probably to look for the joke candidates. The realy ones with singing potential have probably all been preaudtioned

OP are you related to or close friends with anyone out of Little Mix. It's just you seem to know an awful lot about what's going on behind the scenes. I notice your previous posts and there's stuff on there you wouldn't know unless you were in the know.

Notice how Misha's never taken the death slot?

You're basically saying then, the producers are desperate to throw Little Mix under the bus?

JM2 - i don't think they're desperate to throw little mix under the bus - i think they're desperate to retain 100% control of the show's output - including which contestant gets the best possible song choice. who knows - maybe they were keen to punt amelia in order to remove janet from the competition? it's all so cynical - who knows how amazing the competition could be if people who really care about the music were guiding the contestants?

realitybites1... happy to say when the show is over...

old.tallen. i agree it is a pantomime, and as such it needs guidance...but i think they're squeezing any spontaneity or creation out of the contestants.

Happy with that, just to let you know I know the same info as you. Thats why I was curious

...What did I just read?

Seriously. Trying to keep it covert made it extra confusing.. also the fact that there's one band left and we know who their mentor is kinda wrecks the secrecy.

Producers dictate the show from start to finish, do you think Simon an co where going to USA and not have already laid the uk show out week by week from the start.
Permission to use songs and royalties will also play a big part

Interesting read : are Little Mix not Plan A for the producers then? I wonder who the favoured solo artist is.

Other than your broken shift key on your keyboard, this is an excellent post!