It may be an assumption but have many posters here not seen the bootcamp episodes? In Ireland we have now seen 2 bootcamp episodes and I don't think there is much between the UK and the US versions. Judging on first auditions is always premature as we have seen with Janet Devlin and Cher Lloyd in the past ( both amongst my favourites). When the contestants hit the Live Shows is really the time when we see who can handle the pressure.
Also is it just me or are people more forgiving of over confidence when watching the US show? I can't imagine Cece getting the same amount of praise this side. I've never had a problem with confident contestants myself but they usually seem to be labelled all sorts on forums!

I think the X factor could do with a break for a few years let the talent pool replenish and some new producers wouldn't hurt.

I think a touch of realism wouldn't go amiss either when it comes to whether these people can sell records because right no either their deluded or they don't care.

I'm an American and I like the UK version better, for what it's worth.

For me, I can't stand manufactured pop music or the pre-written drivel these puppets usually produce when they are propelled to stardom. I've heard bleeding love, remember I'm not hear to say I'm sorry, actually liked that Ollie Murs track and know that Alexander Burke released a cover of Halleluya. And unfortunately can't erase the memory of it's Chico time.

I don't know any of the music of any of the contestants after that and have been watching it on and off for years.

My music tastes are far more refined and I like real artists and song writers who made it their own way and have produced brilliant stuff themselves. I know that will sound snobby and arrogant, but so be it, but the real greats in music who met their success through less contrived means have produced far better stuff.

I really only watched the shows for the funny auditions at the start, but have watched some series further than the initial stages. So whether they can be successfully molded and reshaped on the X-Factor pop-star assembly line is not what I was getting at. I don't consider that star quality.

Going on who walks on and straight away I think they could be a real star respected for real talent that hasn't been smothered in stage management and a team of writers like Adele, Emile Sande, or Amy Winehouse was (all British with no US equivalents on a par), and are credible as they stand based on raw talent, before all the smoke and mirrors, image retouching, song selection, vocal training and media grooming (which just shows how adaptable and amenable the contestant is and resilient to pressure to conform) then the US are has a better quality of contestant, hands down.


It may be that all the meddling from the mentors and pressuring them into fitting a certain mold the mentors and produces think the contestant should slot into is detrimental and they would have been better of with a real team who weren't so focused on over-producing a performer who will sell records for them first and foremost and do what they ask.

Why do you prefer the UK version?

I'm not sure if you're commenting as a tv viewer or whether you attended the auditions?
Tv auditions are heavily edited along with audience reactions- There have been many reports of standing ovations not shown/ shown for the corresponding contestant. I'm sure that performances are received differently at a live recording than as a viewer at home. I think there is some good talent on the US XF without a doubt, but I'm not overwhelmed either. I'm leaning towards the younger females being my favourites at the moment along with Tate Stevens and Jason Brock in the Overs.
The U.K. XF has also a few remarkable contestants who I think will shine more in the Live Shows.
Who would have thought, during their series, that Cher Lloyd and One Direction would be in the top 10 in the States but get a bottle of urine thrown at them in the UK( Poor Cher)?

Watching Xfactor on ITV2, was not impressed at all when it began, but the last couple of nights I have got into it. Although you don't really get to see that many acts and there are far too many video clips (seems like this is the in thing as even strictly dancing did it tonight). Still some of the acts were really interesting, the black guy with that deep deep country voice, amazing, the rock singer.

Had some funny moments the last couple of nights
Panda named after the colour of her mothers two prison inmates.Then wheeled off on a stretcher with oxygen mask on, pleading 'don't let Simon see me like this'
The bloke that sang so bad the judges walked off but he carried on singing and then goes on to nick a mic and gets arrested.
The poor ex boyfriend from that girls band painfully watching her getting praised to the hilt (bit sad really)
The thunder and lightening, Britney screaming.
The old hillybilly who puts handles on lawmowers.

As much as i hate to say it but USA Xfactor works because of Cowell, he brings a sense of humour to the show. Also Demi and Britney work well. I like it, makes our Xfactor look so amateur.

[quote=bingoes;61512169]Watching Xfactor on ITV2, was not impressed at all when it began, but the last couple of nights I have got into it. Although you don't really get to see that many acts and there are far too many video clips (seems like this is the in thing as even strictly dancing did it tonight). Still some of the acts were really interesting, the black guy with that deep deep country voice, amazing, the rock singer.

Had some funny moments the last couple of nights
Panda named after the colour of her mothers two prison inmates.Then wheeled off on a stretcher with oxygen mask on, pleading 'don't let Simon see me like this'
The bloke that sang so bad the judges walked off but he carried on singing and then goes on to nick a mic and gets arrested.
The poor ex boyfriend from that girls band painfully watching her getting praised to the hilt (bit sad really)
The thunder and lightening, Britney screaming.
The old hillybilly who puts handles on lawmowers.

As much as i hate to say it but USA Xfactor works because of Cowell, he brings a sense of humour to the show. Also Demi and Britney work well. I like it, makes our Xfactor look so amateur.[/QUOTE]

I agree with this. The show is produced much better and has been enjoyable to watch thus far! Think it may be the Simon factor as the contestants always seem to be waiting on his response more than the others. The panel is good though and better than the UK one overall.Though Kelly really grated on me last year, I really can't see what Nicole will bring.
The UK panel was at its best with Simon, Louis, Dannii and Cheryl.

[quote=bookclub10;61512228]
Agree with simon maybe they could move it so he could be on both. Never really liked Cheryl or Danni so not bothered about them not being on i actually prefer Tulisa

All I'm interested in is the artistic credibility and star quality of the contestant, not all the back stories, editing, audience reaction, judges comments or whatnot. Do they have the presence, voice and genuine talent of a great performer and entertainer or singer, based on their own song choices and performance the first time they get to showcase themselves before all the interference. That's what I look for.

The UK this year has got a bunch of average at best (being very generous) people desperate for a bit of stardom and the money and attention that goes with it. No real stars. It's awful for a country that has produced the best bands, performers and song writers in history bar none, and currently some of the biggest and best acts in the world.


Let's take to near identical examples. Joe Whelan and the US equivalent of the Dad and Son. Whelan was good and could sing like Robert Plant in Led Zep and did a decent rendition of With or Without you.


By the other guy was way more than a good imitator. He made a great song his own, added his own voice, and did a rendition that blew people away like a true great does and made a version that is arguably the best heard.

The difference between the two, and the same in other categories is huge in terms of quality.

[quote=superspooky123;61512290]
I know Danni has had quite a following on DS but I was never a fan and never understood why she was a judge in the first place (was she second best to not getting Kylie?). Cheryl for me was smug (still is) and was rude and quite cruel to some contestants (Daniel and even Wagner). Tulisa has gone down hill since the sex tape and publishing a book about her upbringing, date rape etc etc...... its all too much. In my opinion there are far more worthy and talented people that should be judging than any of those three.

I wouldn't describe all of this year's finalists as piss poor. Jahrmain, for example, is a great singer, and if he can stop that simpering nervous thing, could stand alongside the great US acts you mentioned. Similarly, Lucy Spraggan has something that Americans rarely, if ever, produce, and Ella is already a quality songwriter with a voice that is nearly as good as Adelle.

Having said that, twerps like Rylan would have been eliminated for US X-factor very early on. He can't sing much, and conducts himself in an embarrassing fashion. Then we have Kye Chimney Sweep, who just wanted someone to believe in him.... but turns out to have had a contract with Sony and toured with Madonna!

Not reflected in its mediocre ratings: http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1734519

[quote=bingoes;61512410]

I thought Danni was nice but a bit dull, I always thought Cheryl was a bad judge and mentor with song choices and the people that she put through to the live shows. I think the lives are make or break for Tulisa she is a better mentor than judge and hopefully she can show it again this year.

They have far more numbers applying so obviously they will find a few more due to music not really being about skill, you can't practice to be better in your voice. Does the OP expect us to be as good??

Jahmene's OK I suppose, if you can stick the high pitched whines which he squeezes into every 16 bars and that sounds like he has caught his little man in his zip, but between them he has a nice voice. But the nerves and personality means he has no star quality.

Lucy, well I think she's a joke. A quirky northern novelty act.

Ella could compete possibly, I do like her, and she should win the UK show, but probably won't.



I don't know how many times I've addressed the numbers thing. But man for man, woman for women, toe to toe, line up their best against all the best of the British lot. and when it comes to X-Factor, they are far more heavyweight and have far more gravitas as performers.

Yes, I'd expect Britain, who has produced more great artists and song writers than any other country historically and still has the better artists today in the female category, to have a least a few that could punch it out with the yanks.

But I haven't seen any with the same natural, raw talent.

yeah right its mostly full of fake lonely spoilt bitches on that version, just had to look at that rachel crow kid when she got eliminated ha TV gold without trying.

Just watching a re-rerun of the Panda episode, and just seen Jessica's performance. The gulf in quality of contestant who go out and own the stage is massive. No question.

The first two bootcamp editions were shown in the States this week.

The last two audition shows are show here next week

This is your criteria? Not how talented and exceptional they are but a few acted like lonely,spoiled bitches? I ain't seen any of that. I'm just watching the first auditions at this stage.

As far as X Factor (and for that matter AI) go I only really start watching at the bootcamp/Hollywood part of the show cos that's when it generally tends to start kicking off between the acts

Oi cool it, yeah! Last year there wasn't many overrall in the auditions that were good and then when it came down to picking the finalists wasn't much to chose from.

What I've noticed, and have noticed for years, is that the majority of contestants on the U.S X Factor, American Idol etc have so much more confidence than anyone we've had on a UK show. Just as an example, Diamond White on U.S XF is only 13 years old, but she oozes confidence. Not just her though, most of the contestants do. The only one I can think of from the U.K who has entered the competition and oozed confidence and star quality is Alexandra Burke...completely worked the stage every single week. That's what I like to see, confident people who want to win. Apart from Alexandra, I can't think of anyone else on the UK version ever who's had that star quality. In the U.S though, there's loads of them. And that doesn't have anything to do with the talent pool over there being bigger. I don't know what it is. But over in the U.K we only seem to get the people who are extremely shy, people who are nervous, sob stories etc. I mean, Jahmene is a fantastic singer, but does he have star quality? Not a hope in hell. He will not be a worldwide star. I'm not saying the U.S version doesn't have sob stories because it does, but they are careful with it over there because the U.S don't get get sucked in by all that crap like the UK does. Overall though, I think the U.S version is miles better than ours.

No they just don't go on karaoke TV contests/soap operas like this they'll never be taken seriously over here, see the many incidents that have taken place, Rage Against The Machine, Urinebottlegate involving Cher, one reason is it takes the hard work factor out of it.

In my experience, the UK version shows more of a growth to the contestants. In the audition stages, they are very rough, but by the end of the competition, they are much more polished. It looks like the competition and the mentors/judges actually helped them. In the one full season and bootcamp stage of the current season in the US, so many of the contestants already look prepared for the stage. This may be the "talent" referred to in the title of the thread, but for me the UK version is more endearing. As far as potential, I think the two are equal, but I feel closer to the UK acts because I've seen their growth. It makes me a bigger fan of them than the US acts.