For me this Big Band week has been rubbish. I don't think any of the acts up to now have been comfortable with the theme.

When the focus is on the judges rather than the acts you know the show is in trouble.

What are your thoughts? is this Big Band week rubbish? or is it just me that sees it

It's this year that's rubbish, TBH.

Last year was pretty awful too.

I just find myself feeling totally apathetic about any contestant who has the chance to win it this year.

Most of the ones who I thought would shine didn't do so well, let's hope Fleur can save the night!

It hasn't been too bad, but definitely underwhelming...

The problem has been the tempo this year, they have slowed down most of the songs that much, that they are barely recognizable.

Overall, Big Band Week was poor.

It was dire. To pull off Big Band you need to oozes class, but none of these acts do. There is not one performance from tonight id consider watching again on YouTube.

From the good old days of Pop Idol - classy, with a feel for the song and the style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hure5ua9vog

Big Band is a genre that really challenges singers and exposes them to the weaknesses in their technique. It's also surprisingly difficult to sing with a live band, and so very very different than singing to a backing track.

So it's no surprise that many of the performances are underwhelming, as the acts this year just aren't good enough for this.

Drop 'Big Band' week.

Always same songs, i was waiting for feeling good to pop up, I hated it

The big band theme needs to change to any song with a live band

talk about outdated, i'm guessing no other x factor series around the world would do something like this

I remember Pop Idol, especially Big Band Week. They could all sing in those days.

Why doesnt Simon Cowell just let the acts choose what ever theme they want. Leave it down to the contestants.

Scrap this set theme thing week after week, let the contestants make their own choice.

Nothing came close to Rough Copy doing Hit The Road Jack last year.

They'll have to.
It shows up the weak singers.

I actually enjoyed it this year considering it's usually such a boring week.

Hear, hear. I often wonder what on earth the point is in having people sing in a genre most of them would walk a million miles to avoid.

How I wish they had. It was abominable.

I think a show based to some extent on singing is right to have a variety of music genres. It separates the wheat from he chaff. Sadly this week was virtually all chaff!

I love Big Band week because it always shows up the weaker singers. I love Fleur but I didn't think this week was her strongest. It would have worked better if the band had just played the original arrangement instead of making it a swing version. She sings much better when there is funk and a beat to the track anyway. She was still one of the best of the night however, which shows how dull a lot of the other performances were. Stereo Kicks sang well but in such a trite, bland way. Ben's voice doesn't work with the range required in Cry Me A River, no contrast there just the same roughness all the way through. Jay was terrible, karaoke rubbish. Lauren had a few bum notes, Andrea didn't emote well. Only The Young were campy fun as usual. Steve was appalling. OTY are more fun than he is, it's just a pale imitation of a joke act now.