Hannah's got soul, bags of it, that's why she went through.

Absolutely and she kinda reminded me of Mary J Blige - which is probably why MJB got quite emaotional. I can imagine her singing I'm Going Down

When Mary J. Blige spoke to Caroline and Matt on Xtra Factor she said she loved Hannah because she knew where she was coming from, because she (Mary) had been that girl herself once.

Totally agree with you a couple of weeks with Abi's "unique twist on songs" (c) Abi and people will be fed up.

Yet you are posting about her and everyone is talking about her, funny that.

I know....if you read MJB's background, you will appreciate the struggles that she went through to get to where she is today...she is an absolute legend and still making quality music today.
BUT I can see Hannah doing a MJB track on live shows

Yes they have and the competition can help them grow into stars. Melanie has peaked and that peak isn't very high.

No need, I know plenty about Mary.

I thought it was somewhat brave of Tamera to sing a MJB song at Judges' Houses, in front of her.

Let's wait and see what Tamera, Hannah and Abi's peak on the live shows is. If they're all vastly superior to Melanie and have room to improve, they're all certs for the top 4/5 right?

I thought it was brave as well but she did OK....can't beat the original though

Not one of them would touch Mary B. amazing singer.

I don't think she was that great IMO

I didn't know going far is the proper measure for this. I'm not making bets on how far they will go in the competition.

If they do make it far, they will do better than Melanie will had she made it and gone as far. Think of it this way, had Mary Byrne been in the final instead of Cher Lloyd, would she have as far of a reach as Cher does now? Didn't think so.

it wasn't brave at all. the contestants are told what to sing at .J.H. they don't get a say in the matter. but I agree it must have been nerve racking to have to sing a mary j song

Simple, because she was'nt good enough.

One Direction aren't actually that popular in the UK, they had a TV show in a good slot on Channel 4 a while back and it performed well below the slot average. They finished third on X Factor as well, with other third place contestants getting a higher percentage of the votes than them.

But, and its a massive but, the fans they do have are extremely vocal and loyal, and so they are a massive commercial success. To bring it back to this thread, personally I don't think Melanie was that good or anything special, but as you say you can't deny her popularity and over the course of the series that would've translated into votes and ultimately, record sales.

I'd be interested to see what would happen if she went on The Voice, where she would be a dead cert for the finals.

The star quality critique keeps being given to Melanie a lot. Out of all of the final 12 how many of them have star quality?
Some of these arguments are really weak.
Most posters are trying to insinuate every act to have made the live shows has star quality.

I disagree about adele not having star quality. If you watch her interviews she has a very fun personality and is quite charming. And that Brit performance of sly was captivating.

She's just naff. Loads of people sell cd's just because of their voice and she could do that, but she'd never be cool. I think the X Factor try to find acts that can be cool, despite acts like Nicholas Mcdonald and what's his name Malibu Ken that Louis chose, but Louis always makes TERRIBLE decisions.

Gary made good decisions except for the tired formula of the boyband but he was probably forced to make that decision. Sharon's choices have been a wreck right from bootcamp I'm not interested at all in any of her acts.

Hannah is the best singer but I doubt she'll win as she doesn't fit the pre-printed X Factor design. I'd predict rough copy as winners if it weren't for the likelihood that they'll inevitably be sacrificed for Boring street or whatever they're called.

This. Tbh, I think Abi has even less star quality than Melanie. I can see people getting very tired of Hannah, and Tamera...I don't know, she'll probably end up going the same way as that Jade Ellis from last year: good voice, star quality, but given song choices every week so horrendous you lose complete interest in her.

Saying she wasn't picked because she has no star quality or personality and yet they picked Abi. So this is a non point.

but the thing is: many votes to good record sales doesn't always happen. They probably got rid of Melanie because, as I see it, the producers think she will follow that trajectory (someone who won't shine after the show despite popularity in the show).

Like her or not, Abi has a great deal more star quality.

I don't see much difference between them. But Abi is certainly not the life and soul of the party from what I saw.

Luck can play a very important role in these things. Timing is also important.

This year there doesn't seem to be any big character like Rylan or Jedward or Wagner. Perhaps one will develop on the series like Christopher did but if Rylan auditioned this series, would he have made it through?

That isn't the sole criterion by which these things are judged. She gives an impression of who she is as a person, whether that impression is accurate or not. Melanie was a bit like a robot.

True enough.

Yes, it's a mistake not to have at least one fun contestant.