Selected for the lives to bring some singing quality to the 'competition' but not a threat to the chosen one because they're foreign and don't have home town or local support to get enough votes.

Andrea was clearly the best singer (just like Saara) but lost out to the local boy with plenty local support

Andrea was a far better singer than Saara, and much more likable, in my view, but I do see your point.

Similarity, yes.
I forgot my point.
Never mind.
*post*

I would agree that Andrea was better than Saara. In my view he is one of the best singers to ever appear on the show. He had several truly outstanding vocal performances including Listen, Feeling Good and Earth Song.

I wouldn't say he was far better. You make it sound like Saara's not that good or quuiite good. Saara may not be outstanding, but she still has one hell of a voice on her. She wouldn't have been chosen to sing for the film Frozen if she didn't have the voice required for it.

Saara has shown more versatility, though. Andrea unfortunately got stuck with "overdramatic" ballad performances.

No, Saara is a million times better, she can dance, move around the stage, she puts on a show.

Tbh they are different because Andrea had a chance to win throughout the stages before the live shows. He was even fave to win. Saara is currently at her highest in the odds bit throughout she has been in the bottom half of the odds.

Saara was in the bottom in the first week but now she's in the final 4. With Andrea others surpassed him due to their popularity rising. With Saara she seems to be the one gaining the support. Has a W1 bottom contestant ever to make it to the Final 4? I had a feeling Rylan was the closest with being in the B2 in Week 1 and then coming 5th.

I liked Andrea, but much as I have tried, I still can't warm to Saara - sorry.
I'm not denying that she probably has the best voice of those left, but I still don't get anything from her performances. And her ridiculous over the top behaviour when she gets through is grating now.

Whatever became of Andrea?

I've seen him quite a bit on Italian TV.

Quite the reverse i think...
Andrea : Fave to win from start
Saara : Bottom 2 from start

after entering the top 5
Andrea : Not a fave to win anymore
Saara : 2nd Fave to win

I see their run on X Factor very different from each other, there might be a comparison just because they are the best singers in their respective season, as well as being from another country, but besides that everything is completely different.

Andrea was a power vocalist whose main strenght was that, singing big diva ballads and just captivating the whole audience just by using his voice. He was never in the bottom 2 and during the whole competition he was almost favorite to win.

Saara on the other hand has a huge voice, but what makes her more appealing is her ability to perform, as most of her performances have involved dancing and moving around, instead of just standing singing a ballad. Also, she came into the competition as what seemed to be just "fodder" for the producers, where her being in the bottom 2 the first two weeks projected that she wouldn't last past week 5, but against odds now she is in the top 4, and has become my personal favorite in the competition (even after I used to dislike her a lot since the 4 chair challenge, she has completely changed that around for me).

I don't think she is this year's Andrea Faustini at all.

Andrea faced a much tougher series with better talent (minus Fleur) getting into his top 4.

I do feel that although not the same type of singer, she's playing out Luke Friend's journey more of starting from the back but their talent has elevated them past production pets.

If anything I think they're complete opposites tbh!

Andrea won the first two weeks by a mile and got gradually dragged down by producers. Saara was bottom 2 the first two weeks and seems to be making a late surge.

Saara is also an accomplished pianist incidentally, something that perhaps some voters are starting to notice when she accompanies herself. More than just a singer.

Faustini is a better singer and much more likeable .

Saara is much more likeable and is more versatile in her performances, I agree with the poster that said she's more of the Luke Friend of the series in regards to her journey but obviously she's a stronger vocalist than Luke was during his series.

Saara is the secret love child of Ruth Lorenzo and Kitty Brucknell...with a bit of Andrea thrown in.

I'd say her journey is more comparable to that of Ruth Lorenzo than Andrea.

Like Ruth, two big voices, both foreign, both queen of the sing offs and both found themselves in the bottom at the early stages but went on to gain alot of support later on.

Andrea had a fantastic voice and there is no denying his talent but he became very predictable by the end with his big ballads. I got bored. Sara on the other hand is very versatile. She can glide across that stage, put on a show and still hold a note. No easy feat.

Also what separates Saara from Andrea is that, Andrea was a early favourite, only to lose his momentum towards the end as the likes of Fleur and Ben went on to gain more support. Where as Saara started as a rank outsider and has now gone on to be a serious contender. It's never a good idea to start talking about the finals in the first 1-2 weeks. I still remember Mel B shouting "he is the winner" after his first live show. Ugh. I also think Sharon telling Honey B they are going to straight to the final is a bad move. Ditto Louis with 5 after midnight. Complacency is the worst thing in the competition and the general public hate being told. Anything can change.

I think the reason why so many people have got behind Saara is because, not only has she got this incredible range but also because she's been the underdog throughout. She's always cheerful and upbeat in her VT's, never complains and just soilders on. You can't help but root for someone like that against all odds, especially someone like Saara who has proven just how versatile she is.

I don't think she'll win but to get into that final would be such a turn around.

I liked Andrea and he had an amazing voice, but I think Saara is slightly ahead in terms of vocal and performance. Her version of chandelier in her audition was better than Andreas in the lives.

I see where the OP is coming from. Sighhhhhh - I loved Andrea. He was my absolute favourite, but they didn't want him to win and made sure he didn't in my opinion. His version of "I didn't know my own strength" at six chair challenge was just amazing. Everyone's reaction was just astounding.

I like Saara too though, but not quite as much.

All I remember about Andrea was his weird pug obsession....but then I think the producers were shamelessly stereotyping him as the "oh look everyone, it's a kooky foreigner!"

BIB Andrea had a sing off with Stevi Ritchie, with Stevi going home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc2FOa31nEs

Andrea was a good singer but he hasn't really had a career since and that's because you need more than singing talent which Saara has the stage craft etc, no one really cares for big ballad divas anymore