But credit where it is due, some X Factor artists like Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke did actually do all that hard work. They did gigs etc for years and tried to make it into the industry.

If would of been better if I sang one of his other songs like Dance With Me Tonight or Thinking Of Me.

I don't even like him but you're all drama queens. He did alright last night and somehow keeps selling alot of records.

I thought he was alright.

Although Rizzle Kicks were dreadful.

...but they still had to rely on Cowell though...and a prime-time telly show...and therein lies the issue for me, personally.

Cmon! They've got brilliant voices! Its not their fault that they had to try and use the only public option to get a record deal. Just because they were on a talent show doesn't negate their talent. They still sh@* over the majority of singers out there regardless. You surely can't say that their origins dictate their value, because it doesn't. You didn't see the world moaning Leona came from XF when she topped the charts globally with her debut did you?

Listen, they can hold a tune. Are they exciting, interesting, different and original? For me, no. Leona is particularly dull.

Anyone who comes from a talent show doesn't really have any credibility, do they?

All just my opinion of course. What do I know?

HOLD A TUNE!!?! WTF? They clearly can do more than that. Madonna can hold a tune, Matt cardle can barely hold a tune. Now comparing their vocals to the girls, I'd say it's more than a tune.

You don't think Will Young has earned his place after ten years - genuine question. I'm interested to know at what point would you see them as the same as someone who'd come from another way into the industry.

For instance, do you think Lenny Henry doesn't deserve his success because he came to fame on a talent show? (You may or may not find him funny of course but that's just down to opinion )

I think Will does. His entry is irrelevant. Some buy their way in, and win Brits along the way *cough cough* and noone says anything. He's made some good albums and brilliant singles too. This Brit school crap favouritism is another form of hypocrisy ie we won't give an XF contestant (the female winners mind) anything bar British single, but we'll let Jessie J and Adele get pimped out/given top billing. Oh, no take it back. leona has had nominations in all categories, but she certainly deserved to win some. JLS won brits and she didn't?

But seriously. Leona Lost in the female (2008) categories to Kate nash. Now Kate's single was eliminated in the single categories. (I love Foundations btw). And had no other nomms. How did she manage to lose? She can sing well, and took the world by storm. Mika deserved the best breakthrough however. She surely should've won the best single and female categories.

2002-2006 were his most successful years weren't they. Again, he can sing, he can hold a tune. Successful? Not sure really. He was initially wasn't he. Credible? He will never escape the 'reality' tag will he, in my view.

Re: Lenny Henry. I think it is easier for dancers, comedians to gain credibility if they travel the 'talent show' route because they can't hide behind backing tracks/pre-records/productions can they...as it is all visual. It is, as a result, easier to pick out 'genuine' / 'real' dance/comedian talent...in my view.

Hey ho, it is all just my opinion.

In my opinion, anyone who gains instant fame with next to no hard graft for years doesn't deserve to be rewarded. That is just my take.

Even if they tried to enter the industry and failed to do so?

Referring to?

Anyone who 'hasn't really worked hard', shouldn't be rewarded...but especially those who have had a 'short cut' via a talent show.

However, you love The X Factor and the like, which is fine...but we will never agree will we.
Last edited by miles19740 : 22-02-2012 at 20:23

Totez agree. All these oldies need to realise the days of bothering to sing properly are over. Just the way it should be.

Are you being serious or messing? Not sure how to respond / react to the above.

I dont love the show, merely the talent that emerges. I only my money on those who can sing. I was referring to Leona and Alex. The former had demos done and submitted them whilst also singing gigs too, and the latter sang frequently at various events ie Bar mitzvahs, weddings and the like. But none of that guarantees a career. JLS also gigged a lot, and were recognised by the Urban music awards for best unsigned act. I know Ruth lorenzo wrote songs too, and gigged a lot. Jamie Archer also did a lot of gigging too.

Well he's just had a number one album and sell out tour. His heady days are over but still a consistent seller and excellent live performer. You see, I think if he was all "visual" as you say then he would and should have failed by now. My point is, if it's there then the route really doesn't matter a jot! Creativity and integrity are the measure for me, not the amount of hours slogging away in a pub - I've heard some pretty dire rubbish in pubs

Superb post.

Seriously I'm agreeing with everything you're saying. I'm always bemused by how seriously people take these programmes. Instead of wasting their time and money voting for these contestants they should go out and buy a Bowie album and realise there is infinitely more to music than the Cowell conveyor belt.

There is more to music than being able to belt out songs in tune. People get so excited when a Leona-type contestant appears because they can sing louder and more in tune than the hapless "singer" next to them but take them out of their X Factor bubble and you see the vacuousness for what it is. There is real talent out there, real artists trying to create new and exciting music, doing gig after gig and not relying on the ridiculous short lived fame The X Factor gives, or for that matter, the uninspiring songs written for them. There is nothing exciting about a puppet being given a song to sing.

he should of sang dance with me tonight
jessie j should of been booked to sing domino
rizzle kicks -mama do the hump
ed sheeran -could of sang for the whole night, love him

Yes, I do know that. I only like very good singers on these sort of shows, not pure belters. I preferred Alex over Laura White. IMO one had soul and the other did not. Take Alex/Leona out of XF and they aren't vacuous at all. Far better than most out there. I'm on about quality of voice (not simply belting). Puppet arguments again....ah *sighs* Its only recently that artists write their own material. Motown acts are legendary and hardly any of them were allowed to write their material, but were special and had class and talent.

Well to say that there arent many albums out of this process, your point doesnt stack up. People obviously buy other albums, but those that vote IMO, don't even buy music at all. They really don't, as the low sales of the returning winner shows (in the long run).