It is after all a forum GG, and what I said was only my opinion.

I think you did take my comments out of context- what I did mean is I believe more teenagers vote than (as you put it ) older people. I too like Shayne, but I also think the song choices for him have not been the best. The first week my top three were Shayne, Andy and Brenda, now my three are Brenda, JS and Shayne.

On that I do not agree with you Lulu g.. have you been and listened to Conways album go to the thread about their dad and there is a link they wrote all of those songs.. so for me they should be singing one of them.. I am not looking for a clone, or a cover merchant.. and I think it would bring something to this show if we could see something more from people.. if they write exploit it don't hide it. Brenda for me is a choir singer nothing more.

Now hold on one of the reality shows did let them pen and sing their own stuff.. was it FAME acadamy and it showed some brilliant talented people one who is not a writer and not a singer..

I do not think everyone has to write but for me it helps to see what the future may hold for them as an artist.. but just an album of covers SORRY totally boring.

GG

As I have said before, the logistics and dynamics of the show wouldn't really allow for artists to perform their own songs - they would have to produce a suitable backing track or if they used the Conways own backing track there would probably be issues - also would mean that they would have to offer the same service to the other contestants - basically they would have to change the whole format of the show and all the while they are coining it in why would they?

I do agree though - I think for an artist from the XF to have any real credible success they need to either write their own stuff or have access to original material

I don't agree with this. Fame Academy was a similar format (in that every contestant had to perform live every week) but they still managed to incorporate artists' original music as well as duets, etc. Altogether a more rounded show, but the GBP were still voting for one artist.

If an artist has written a track, it must already have some sort of tune. For the musical director to come up with an arrangement for that tune is no different than what he does for all the other music in the show every week.

I agree about them raking it in though - there's no incentive for the producers to change until we start getting bored. Oh...we are.

I was not trying to be rude, sorry if it came across that way. It is odd as on the many sites I visit and the ones I own as well the people voting for Shayne appear to be broader than the others are getting. He seems to appeal across a wide range from 4 to 80 and I mean that as well I am not making it up. Whereas Andy and Brenda seem to not be getting votes over such a wide age range.. although I know Andy appeals to my 11 year old but Brenda does not. Maria I think has the mens votes ! again an observation.

Oddly my top three have not altered at all. Journey South, Andy and Shayne although the songs he has sung now 3 weeks in a row have not shown him for me at his best, but have to say I also think Chico is great as well.

We all have people we like oddly more people this year seem to have more than one person.. not everyone has a clear favorite I wonder why that is.. for me it is not that there is more talent this year it is because at the moment 3 of them appeal to me for different reasons.. if pushed I would have to say Journey South are the ones I find refreshingly new.

GG

I am trying to edit this to say NOW a writer and it is not letting me ..

I agree with much of what you say, GG, especially with regard to future success. And yes, it might be interesting for some of us to hear any self-penned songs that some of the acts may have. However, in a contest of this kind, it is very important for the song an act is performing to be recognized and (already) liked by the audience. Any act singing a previously-unheard self-penned song would be at a huge disadvantage. For that reason, even if for no other, I can't see any of the mentors allowing their acts to sing original songs in the contest.

Well the thing is, if they allowed one performer to do their own songs then wouldn't they have to allow all the performers to do their own songs?. As the logistics and dynamics of the show mean that they don't just take people who write their own stuff that would mean that it would be likely that you would have a mix of performers, some that wrote their own stuff and some that didn't - as far as I can see it would be a bit messy and one sided if you had some performers that did their own songs with others doing covers.. also from a voting therefore money point of view people - a song that no one has heard before would have to be incredible for people to like it enough straight away to vote compared to someone doing a popular cover, its a shame but its true, if you ever go to a gig the majority of people who just go to a gig for entertainment rather than to search out new music would rather hear covers.. as for the production side of things - I don't know how they do it - do they have a company that more or less provides them with "off the shelf" backing tracks? or do they have an inhouse team of musicians that provide one off tracks to suit each performer..? I think the former, these days its much easier to cut & paste tracks to make them the right length for the shortened format that they use in the earlier shows.

Where the Conways are concerned if they only have the Irish vote then they could sing the song they had in the charts and still get the vote.... and maybe pick up a few more as we may JUST may see what they are made of and can do.

I would rather see the risk taker.. was that not what SIMON said of JS.. and not all these songs are well know I did not know one last week cannot remember whose it was shows how memorable that was then!!!! , but I do not know the Conways one this week.. so what is the difference? They could sing there own I think far better than they are at covering all these other songs they have attempted and failed to sing well.

Journey South write, Maria writes, Conways write...anyone else in there.. not sure I think the show could be changed to be far more entertaining.. cos it gets to something when the only thing I look forward to making me smile IS CHICO TIME... the show is losing it appeal it is boring and people are turning OVER, it is losing the ratings.. which means it must be losing voters voting.. TIME to WORRY Simon.. and not about Chico winning.. but that could HAPPEN... I think that may make my Christmas complete.

GG

On 24/7 this week the music producer was talking about his job and I think he said they record the backing tracks with an orchestra on a Wednesday.

Yes he did, they are not off the Shelf Spiv.. which is why they could be more adventtureous than they are being.. HENCE why I think Journey South took the risk that way THEY were in charge. Some weeks the backing is TOO loud as well.

GG

i heard him say they recorded them on a weds

but they still sound bog standard

hell i can do better backing tracks on my clav.

i just wish they would be a bit different

the drum beats are always to loud

maria struggled against the beat last week it sould have been softer

Thanks for that this means that they would needed to have been provided with detailed sheet music for each performance - if artists wanted to perform their own songs they would have had to have sheet music created for their songs - a lot of people who write stuff at home never do it with the thought of having an ochestra perform it in mind - they would need to worl very closely with the music producer I reckon to turn their music into an arrangement that could be done by an orhestra / band.. I think it would be a great idea if they did this - but time constraints would not allow it and all the while Simon is raking in the pennies not doing it why would he decide to undertake something that is obviously going to be more expensive and complicated..? Don't get me wrong from a viewing point of view it would be much better than it is now but they don't really care about that as long as the money keeps rolling in they are happy..

At the bookies, she's a bit under-rated, but on here (DS) she is RIDICULOUSLY over-rated. Look at the poll where she's got about 3 times the amount of votes as Andy FFS.

I think frumpy women must like her.

She is completely overrated. Brenda could maybe have a career as a session singer but imho that's it. Quite simply she's just not unique. There are enough singers like her around already, e.g. Jocelyn Brown. I would also suggest that she lacks likeability or sparkle in her personality to make a long-term career out of it.

Brenda is definetely underrated, she is clearly the best singer out of the 12.

I wouldn't argue with that actually...but i think she knows it....!!!!

I like Brenda - and think she has a good voice. I am just unconvinced yet that she has the X Factor. I think she could make good money as a session singer - but just not sure about carrying an album on her own and appealing to today's market. If she wins I see her going down the same route as Steve.

And the one Michelle McManus went down and Sam and Mark.. and many others.

For me I would not pay £30 quid to go and see her in concert and I would not dish out £10 for a CD either. Session singer yes, but best singer of the 12 SORRY not for me. I think Andy may be.. but I am waiting to see what a few others do this week.

GG

Oh, I think she's definitely better than Andy - her singing is far more consistent, though I don't think either are amazing, nor have that wide an appeal.

I'd be quite happy if Brenda wins but i don;t think she will.