Since Saturday I've felt I've been living in some type of time warp. It's 2002 all over again! I'll explain.
Everyone knew Gareth Gates was going to win PI1. The day before the final William Hill had him at 1/4 and Will Young at 100/30. Phone polls had GG with a massive lead. The media had hyped him massively as the winner. Hardly anybody took any notice that at the end of the semi-final Ant and Dec said "One of you has 39.8% of the vote; the other has 39.3%", and those that did knew that it was Gareth with the 39.8%.
Conspiracy theories had already started (see posts by FastEddie on these boards) that the whole of PI had been set up to launch GG's career.
So, when Will won we had:
1. Conspiracy theories
There were more phone lines for Will than Gareth. The Sun quoted an unamed telephone engineer who confirmed this. GG fans who had problems getting through posted and were quoted everywhere. WY fans who had the same experience couldn't make their voices heard.
2. Young fans in denial
The bulk of GG's fans were pubescent girls who just couldn't understand the complexities of more people voted for WY than GG. It must be a fix.
3. Overwhelming reasons why WY couldn't be a pop idol
He was posh.
He had a lisp.
He didn't have good hair like Gareth.
He didn't dress smartly and look good like Gareth in his white suit.
4. The public couldn't be trusted to choose a pop idol
Industry "experts" and music journalists lining up to explain to the deluded voters that the Gareth package was what sold records. There was no market for WY's style of music. The peak of his career was when he was announced the winner. It was downhill all the way from now on.
5. Immediate signing and release of runner-up's single
GG was immediately signed and released his single hot on the heels of Evergreen/Anything Is Possible. It was hyped extensively in the media - it would sell more copies. GG was flown to America to record the video and there were plenty of stories about the stir he'd made over there.
GG's deal was just as good as (or even better than) WY's contract (allegedly).
6. Marketing deals
GG is signed to promote a hair gel and coke/pepsi(?). See he's more marketable than the winner - we told you so.
I can now look back on all this with amusement, but at the time it made me angry - and certainly took the edge off Will's win. Which is why, although I'm no fan of Steve, my heart goes out to all those who are. Been there, took all that, had the last laugh.
Everyone knew Gareth Gates was going to win PI1. The day before the final William Hill had him at 1/4 and Will Young at 100/30. Phone polls had GG with a massive lead. The media had hyped him massively as the winner. Hardly anybody took any notice that at the end of the semi-final Ant and Dec said "One of you has 39.8% of the vote; the other has 39.3%", and those that did knew that it was Gareth with the 39.8%.
Conspiracy theories had already started (see posts by FastEddie on these boards) that the whole of PI had been set up to launch GG's career.
So, when Will won we had:
1. Conspiracy theories
There were more phone lines for Will than Gareth. The Sun quoted an unamed telephone engineer who confirmed this. GG fans who had problems getting through posted and were quoted everywhere. WY fans who had the same experience couldn't make their voices heard.
2. Young fans in denial
The bulk of GG's fans were pubescent girls who just couldn't understand the complexities of more people voted for WY than GG. It must be a fix.
Quote:
“ok firstly we did not get thru for gareth once, not once. but our friend bry got thru second time for will, luck of the draw, no cos our friend em , a gareth fan could not get thru for gareth and decided to see how wills lines were going thru first time.angry she has given a precious vote away to will she tried to phone for gareth and did not get thru, maybe all the 4,600,000 votes were the same. so something funny seems to have been going on with the phone lines. also anything that us gareth fans say u reply and be evil. are we not entitled to our own opinions,especially when we know we are right?”
“ok firstly we did not get thru for gareth once, not once. but our friend bry got thru second time for will, luck of the draw, no cos our friend em , a gareth fan could not get thru for gareth and decided to see how wills lines were going thru first time.angry she has given a precious vote away to will she tried to phone for gareth and did not get thru, maybe all the 4,600,000 votes were the same. so something funny seems to have been going on with the phone lines. also anything that us gareth fans say u reply and be evil. are we not entitled to our own opinions,especially when we know we are right?”
3. Overwhelming reasons why WY couldn't be a pop idol
He was posh.
He had a lisp.
He didn't have good hair like Gareth.
He didn't dress smartly and look good like Gareth in his white suit.
4. The public couldn't be trusted to choose a pop idol
Industry "experts" and music journalists lining up to explain to the deluded voters that the Gareth package was what sold records. There was no market for WY's style of music. The peak of his career was when he was announced the winner. It was downhill all the way from now on.
Quote:
“ From The Guardian
The careers of the likes of Hear'Say and Will Young had already peaked when they won Popstars and Pop Idols. Getting to number one was a formality, and had nothing to do with talent or musical ability.”
“ From The Guardian
The careers of the likes of Hear'Say and Will Young had already peaked when they won Popstars and Pop Idols. Getting to number one was a formality, and had nothing to do with talent or musical ability.”
Quote:
“But Frith's (ie Mark Frith, editor of Heat) advice to the winner of Pop Idol might apply to anyone basking in its commercial success, 'I hope the winner looks at the experience of Hear'Say and realises he should just enjoy it while it lasts.'”
“But Frith's (ie Mark Frith, editor of Heat) advice to the winner of Pop Idol might apply to anyone basking in its commercial success, 'I hope the winner looks at the experience of Hear'Say and realises he should just enjoy it while it lasts.'”
5. Immediate signing and release of runner-up's single
GG was immediately signed and released his single hot on the heels of Evergreen/Anything Is Possible. It was hyped extensively in the media - it would sell more copies. GG was flown to America to record the video and there were plenty of stories about the stir he'd made over there.
GG's deal was just as good as (or even better than) WY's contract (allegedly).
6. Marketing deals
GG is signed to promote a hair gel and coke/pepsi(?). See he's more marketable than the winner - we told you so.
I can now look back on all this with amusement, but at the time it made me angry - and certainly took the edge off Will's win. Which is why, although I'm no fan of Steve, my heart goes out to all those who are. Been there, took all that, had the last laugh.
