For Steve fans, and all those who maybe haven't heard of him as they didn't watch the first series in 2004.

I've been asked to do this thread to make it easier to find all the vids and info on this GREAT winner, who eats, breathes and sleeps music, sings it, writes it, produces and arranges it; values it above fame and had the guts to say no to Mr Cowell! Yes- Steve is a record breaker- the only X Factor singer to turn another album down!

This first vid takes you from the beginning, him telling his family he's through to the Live Finals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6YwQcwou8M

He did a podcast answering the question what would your dressing room demands be if you win. He said- a tv for the footie and some chocolate! I haven't seen that on vid yet I'm afraid.

This next vid I think is the introductory one to Steve's first Final night song, Smile, where Mr C shares his Steve love with us- and it honestly does look like genuine love! And the way he describes him is very touching and genuine with complete admiration.
(This vid also gives you a little taster of the kind of thing he had to take from Mrs O, showing her true colours again).

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?...30141&hl=en-GB

Just curious, what was the sales of the first album that Steve brought out with Mr Cowell?

From my recollection, Steve was dropped by the label and this is the first I have heard that Steve was the one that declined further work with Mr Cowell.

Wow he certainly set a precident , which no other male on that show has even come close to.

Thanks for sharing

Yep got to number one with sales of about 250,000. Enough for a Gold Record for the office, shame that the Teletubbies sold 1.1m in 1997.

Fair do's to the guy, he has kept going not bowing to the pressures of needing a hit single to further himself. Its like he has had his time, has been recognised and is happy to enjoy the rest of his life singing to those who DO appreciate him.

It's not that SD- he just can't get the airplay and he says- cos of his disagreement with Simon, he doubts he'll ever be on ITV again. BUT is that stopping him?
No- he is still writing, still recording, hopefully another new album out next year, he loves music too much- it's his life- that and his family of course. (New baby on the way!)

He has proof he turned them down- but knew it wouldn't come out in the press that way- he told us Max Clifford was Mr C's PR agent then (don't know if he is now) and he knew he was being set up for a fall. Mr C even stopped him sellling the full story to the press, the proceeds of which were going to the NSPCC!

Apparently, Chico (nice bloke) was on GMTV yesterday and said "You don't fall out with mummy." Good way of putting it!
But you just might be justifed in doing so if mummy is a control freak and is asking you to sell your soul!

Next vid of that same Final night- some great snapshots of the lead up to the live finals- and the 3 judges selecting their 3 finalists- plus lovely insights into Steve's character and a podcast from family and friends.

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?...04977731343462

Great vids remember it well still love the guy.

Thank you for posting I supported him back then and have both his albums, he's got a great voice.

Great singer and still my favourite XF winner. Great white soul voice, the like of which has only ever been seen on XF one since in Carl Pemberton of Journey South (and he didn't stand out as he may have done due to being one of a duo). May he carry on as long as he wishes to.

By the way, SC doesn't own or rule ITV. There is an increasing number of ITV execs, producers, etc who love any opportunity to nark him.

Shayne I loved Carl's voice- and I agree, no disrespect to his bro, and tho I loved their harmonies, I do think he'd have faired better solo.
(By the way- though Shayne was my fave that year- for some reason- it was Journey South I voted for!!) Women!!

And I agree, for me Steve has it all- the voice, the personality, the confidence in his voice (yet coupled with the same amount of self-doubt and humility which helps keep him on his toes!) and of course- the looks and stage presence. As Mr C said- give him an audience and he just comes alive.

Thank you for reminding everyone about Steve, amanduh.
It's a shame the way they tried to erase Steve from the XF memory, TBH.

Thanks again and I hope you will send Steve best regards from many of us.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think Steve's sales were that high coz G4 sold that amount in their first week.

Or were you meaning total sales overall. G4 sales on their first album enabled them to go TRIPLE platinum! Now that's what I call success.

And where did his second album get to in the charts?
Answer open to those who actually knew there was a second album!

Steve's first ever appearance on tv- 1997, in the BBC's version of X Factor..... The Big Big Talent Show! He won his 'heat', and coincidentally looks extremely hot!! Teehee!

This was where producer Ian Levine first saw him and wanted to work with him.

Steve was advised to sing a new song and came second in the overall competition...
I really like it actually, Behind a Blue Smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo1TuozWElQ

The night of the final was the night Princess Diana was in the car crash which led to her death so you can imagine, quite rightly, where the press coverage was.

I loved Steve's second album .But when you have to use your own money it's hard to let people know with advertising.

As for g4 they had a good manager who new when to bring there album out and good luck to them hope they all do well in the future.

I do like Steve singing this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18lCXYG8U6U

Whoohooo Look at that old git!!
I love it and so is he!!

Thanks for posting the links

Have you got a video of steve singing in the x factor final?

From what i understand, simon basically couldnt be bothered much with Steve after the show, and they wanted him to keep releasing cover albums -which he didnt want to do so they parted ways.
i think that shows how much these judges actually care about their acts...Simon was acting like Steve's best mate on the show- but in reality he didnt give a toss. He just wanted to make good tv...

Maybe he did give a toss at the time but after steve's debut album he didnt. Why did they want him to keep releasing cover albums? arent their any decent song writers about nowadays.

Here you go Cooler:

Smile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj7lm_S5TVw

Against All Odds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Tv1e8t7DI

I think he may have sung Have I Told You Lately too, which is one of my faves... can't find a vid of that though.

Wonderful. Thank you.

I went to see him saterday great night .

I saw Steve on Saturday night too and he was HOT. His voice has even improved over the years and he puts on a show, doesn't just stand there and churn out the lyrics - he lives them and the patter would qualify him as a stand-up. Despite what you may have read the place was full and he did not say anything like Leon being crud. As it happens someone else who was there posted a little snip of video of him singing and he can clearly be heard saying 'Big up to Leon XF winner 2007' so unless you think congratulations are a form of insult it shows what 'crud' you read in the toilet papers.
I think Steve was the trail-blazer for the next two winners. He wanted to release some original tracks as well as covers. He didn't mind the covers actually it was just that he wanted to put his own interpretation on them but Simon insisted on them being sung note for note as the original. As Steve has said, even if you sing a song you wrote yourself, you don't always sing it exactly the same each time but Simon required this on the album. One particular track Steve wanted to sing in a certain way and with his wife Eileen playing flute and Simon said no so Steve offered to pay the £5000 himself to record it and if Simon liked it afterwards he would pay. Simon paid. We all felt that the release of the first album was left way too late, partly because Steve had to have an operation but I think with it being the first show Simon et al were not too sure exactly when and how to do things. This lesson was learnt for the next two, as was the using of original material and the making of a promo video, (which Steve wasn't given) and the arranging of a tour for the winner (which Steve wasn't given). It was great that Steve laid the trail for the others to follow and that they were then able in subsequent years to do all the things that Steve had suggested the first year, but a shame for him. He was asked to do the second album but again Simon wanted covers which would be exact copies of the originals and Steve found that he was unable to sit back and accept this. He is not a young, malleable and quiet person(!) and obviously made his views known and Cowell is not best known for his allowing imput and Steve asked to be released from his contract. I well remember at the time on the original OS his regular posts telling us how his solicitors were having trouble pinning Cowell down and in the end the news was announced by Cowells people that Steve had been dropped which I suppose in a way he was because unless he did as he was told, when he was told and how he was told he was not Cowells choice. Our gain. When you listen to his voice and his original material and his treatment of old favourites you can see the frustration he must have felt doing things the way someone else wanted. Even the journalist who filed the derisive report about Saturday admitted that he had been surprised and impressed by the set and had returned to the office singing his praises and said he was going to seek out the album. 'Nuff said really. Convert! Which is what happens when people actually get to see him in person instead of soaking up all the negative stuff written by people who actually know nothing

You speak the truth Peugeot.

More Steve X Factor videos:

Greatest Love:

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

Sweetest Feeling:
He missed the intro to this, explained to us that when the artists come out, the noise is deafening as the audience kicks off and he just couldn't hear it! BUT- he picked it up effortlessly as though nothing had happened.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4DwNwYjbGU

If You Don't Know me By Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a-0vy_NCQQ


More to come as a fan uploads them to youtube.

Awww Thanks for those Amanduh, what a great nostalgia trip. He's still my favourite ever X Factor winner