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Will Young won Pop Idol 13 years ago today


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Old 08-02-2015, 01:25
blueface2222
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Well technically it's on the 9th Feb 2002 when Will won, so it's now 13 years ago. I know thats not today but thought i'd get this posted before i forgot.

Can anyone imagine back then if we knew that Will would go on to achieve a career that has spawned 3 Number 1 albums and 4 Number 1 singles without a flop so far. He's had 11 top 10 singles i believe and all his studio albums have always entered at No.1/2 and his Greatest Hits record did over half a million.

Leave Right Now and Friday's Child was the turning point...!

I personally have been buying Will's music and supporting him since then. It's amazing really. The same with Girls Aloud, they have really had a really long career to now (even if it's just Cheryl now).

Will's last record Echoes went to number 1 in 2011 and a new record is expected sometime this year under Universal Island. He released his autobiography Funny Peculiar two years ago and he has apparently sold over 9 million records and still to now holds the record for the biggest selling single in the 21st century although it's looking like Uptown Funk may overtake but 13 yrs on that is irrelevant - it was still the No.1 of the decade. No reality tv series has emulated the first Pop Idol series in terms of hype or getting the country talking.

Anyone else feel old!!
I remember watching live when Will won, stunned but pleased as i had thought that Will was the better singer and was sick of seeing Cowell fawning over Gareth with his rather limited singing ability with cash signs rolling in his eyes!!
He has also gone on to Bedlam, star in Cabaret, Mrs Henderson Presents the movie, over one million tour tickets sold i believe and with 5 nominations for Best British Male at the Brits not to mention 2 wins thanks to the public voting him Best Breakthrough and Best Single it's quite a career. I just hate that we have to wait so long for each album, i do hope that he has not been overtaken by others in the market by being absent so long!

Oh, Well done Will
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Old 08-02-2015, 01:28
Billy_Value
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i was never a fan. very sickly sweet for me
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Old 08-02-2015, 02:29
John_Lochery
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well, firstly, thank you so much for making me feel so old lol. gawd I remember being just 10 years old and being so annoyed as I wanted Gareth to win lol

its quite weird though that everyone, including me was shocked that Will beat Gareth and initially Gareth had more instant success. Then Gareth's 2nd album flopped and he was dropped but 13 years later Will is working on his 6th album and still going strong
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Old 08-02-2015, 09:46
Hitstastic
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I remember watching the Pop Idol final and feeling gutted all the way through because I was convinced everything was set up for a Gareth win even though I never saw his appeal - cute lad, spiky hair, stutter and ok but hardly spectacular singing voice.

Every performance Will gave in the final, I was just sat there thinking what a brilliant singer he was and how he should have won.

Then they revealed the winner. It remains one of the greatest TV moments of all time for me.

I've also been a massive Will Young fan since the beginning. I agree 100% that Friday's Child was the major turning point in Will's career and Leave Right Now also remains one of my favourite pop songs of all time.

The beauty with Will Young is that you never really know what to expect. He's such a versatile artist with the ability to do ballads, uptempo songs and everything in between.

When Jealousy got to #5 in the UK charts it provided a moment purely because I don't think many radio stations would playliist the song. I think only Radio 2 gave Jealousy any airplay so it looked like the single was doomed...but the fans were out in force and the song rightly went top 5.
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Old 08-02-2015, 10:02
CLL Dodge
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A sad day for British pop.
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Old 08-02-2015, 10:42
little-monster
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Was never a big fan, but his Echoes album was stunning. He was one of many who jumped on the dance music bandwagon but he did in a totally different way, picked a unpredictable producer and delivered one of the most stunning albums I have ever heard from a British male artist. and Who Am I is also one of my fav songs. It brings me to tears.
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Old 08-02-2015, 10:50
Doghouse Riley
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He gets a lot of feeling in his songs. Not a favourite of mine, but he has a lot of ability.
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Old 08-02-2015, 12:39
getty
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Still a massive fan and I'm certainly ready for studio album number 6 this year, I like how he's never compromised himself and always been himself.
Echoes is a brilliant album and I'm glad to see that Richard X is producer again and Jim Elliot and Mimi Stilwell (Kish Mauve) are also back on board who co-wrote with Will on 5 songs from Echoes including my 3 favourites, Jealousy, Silent Valentine and Hearts On Fire.
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Old 08-02-2015, 12:42
grimtales1
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Cant believe it was 13 years ago! I feel old I remember how everything seemed a shoe-in for Gareth to win Cute kid, spiky hair, stutter, nice enough singing voice but bland - Mr. Boyband (TM)
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Old 08-02-2015, 12:43
michael05031986
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Always been a big fan of Will Young. Wish he'd release some new material 😃
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Old 08-02-2015, 12:55
Doghouse Riley
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He had a small part in "Mrs Henderson Presents," an excellent film which was shown on TV a few months ago and sang this well, in the style of the era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR3H2Oit_hM
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Old 08-02-2015, 13:06
vdp2791
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That means 13 years ago today I was at a school disco in, I suppose, year 6 😮
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Old 08-02-2015, 13:06
Hitstastic
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A sad day for British pop.
No, that was when Leon Jackson won The X Factor.

Will Young could sing in tune. Well, Will could sing full stop.
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Old 09-02-2015, 10:52
Thom001
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I remember the look on Will's face when he won Pop Idol and then being lifted in the air by the other contestants.

The votes were neck-to-neck and I really did think Gareth Gates had it in the bag in particularly the sympathy that the public would have for him for his stutter.
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Old 09-02-2015, 13:20
walterwhite
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A sad day for British pop.
In what way?
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Old 09-02-2015, 14:13
Makson
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Not a fan of his older stuff but I did love his last album with Jealousy and Losing Myself being great songs and a sound I hope he sticks with.
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Old 09-02-2015, 15:46
Tejas
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I feel old as well now!!

Will Young is great, I've got a lot of time for him and own all his albums bar the first one. His win was definitely a 'moment' and although I do think Gareth Gates has talent, the best singer and artist definitely won! I don't think any subsequent talent show acts have come close to him personally.
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Old 09-02-2015, 16:07
Thom001
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I feel old as well now!!

Will Young is great, I've got a lot of time for him and own all his albums bar the first one. His win was definitely a 'moment' and although I do think Gareth Gates has talent, the best singer and artist definitely won! I don't think any subsequent talent show acts have come close to him personally.
And that is something I agree with.

Pop Idol has effectively become known as the predecessor to The X Factor. The X Factor which I watched for four series (2005-09) was always more lavish and extravagant; losing sight of what made Pop Idol so engrossing. All of the singers on Pop Idol had a strong bond and they would even share a sofa. Now that is something that would never ever happen on The X Factor
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Old 09-02-2015, 16:16
Puterkid
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He had a small part in "Mrs Henderson Presents," an excellent film which was shown on TV a few months ago and sang this well, in the style of the era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR3H2Oit_hM
Thanks for posting this. I know Sam Smith is getting a lot of accolades for his voice, but iMO Will's is even better. This is real ear delight!

I'm looking forward to album 6. He seems to have been away for ages.
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Old 09-02-2015, 16:17
Tejas
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And that is something I agree with.

Pop Idol has effectively become known as the predecessor to The X Factor. The X Factor which I watched for four series (2005-09) was always more lavish and extravagant; losing sight of what made Pop Idol so engrossing. All of the singers on Pop Idol had a strong bond and they would even share a sofa. Now that is something that would never ever happen on The X Factor
If they did that they'd probably kill each other! Plus the show is too much about the judges now and they don't give a stuff about finding an artist with longetivity!

I seem to remember reading once that Pete Waterman said Pop Idol worked well because none of the singers auditioning had a clue how big it would become, whereas now X Factor is just another opportunity to get on TV and have your 5 minutes of fame. I actually thought there were several talented singers on that first series, but absolutely hate X Factor!
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Old 09-02-2015, 17:45
dd68
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I remember I was in New york and got a friend to text me the result
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Old 09-02-2015, 18:56
Hitstastic
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The saddest thing about Pop Idol is how it went from an incredible series 1 with so many great singers to Pop Idol 2 which was the complete polar opposite and one of the worst TV "talent" shows I've watched. BGT 2011 and The X Factor 2007 are also up there for showcasing some of the worst "talent" Britain had to offer in its live shows. Would explain why they produced three of the most underwhelming winners I've ever seen. The fact all three were Scottish is a pure co-incidence.

Madness!!!
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Old 10-02-2015, 23:11
Thom001
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The saddest thing about Pop Idol is how it went from an incredible series 1 with so many great singers to Pop Idol 2 which was the complete polar opposite and one of the worst TV "talent" shows I've watched. BGT 2011 and The X Factor 2007 are also up there for showcasing some of the worst "talent" Britain had to offer in its live shows. Would explain why they produced three of the most underwhelming winners I've ever seen. The fact all three were Scottish is a pure co-incidence.

Madness!!!
Yeah, the second series of Pop Idol - which I never saw - I have read was infamous for introducing the sob stories and also Pete Waterman walking off set when Michelle McManus won.

Jai McDowall won BGT 2011 and Leon Jackson (from across the Forth from where I live in Fife) won The X Factor 2007. Rhydian was glad he didn't win though because he felt he would never have been able to deal with the insane pressure. Public sympathy won in the end for Jackson. I wonder what he is doing now?
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Old 09-08-2016, 16:30
Sarah_Jones5
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Will Young is confirmed for Strictly:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...cing-show.html
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Old 09-08-2016, 18:59
Hitstastic
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Ohh, interesting move.

Will has had plenty of practice then if his music video for Losing Myself is anything to go off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c19BbGGJU5E

Will Young FTW!!!
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