Certianly Michael Buble saw the talent a mile off...

Great way of describing Leon's appeal, Chops

Spot on - even when he missed the note he was aiming for the overall performance was enough to more than make up for it. I was listening to Home earlier and remembered this was his second time live in front of an audience. Leon gave it all - the performance was great.

Great post! My thoughts exactly

First three posts in this topic that referred to someone else. And yet it's always Rhydian fans that get accused of pot-stirring. Good luck to Leon with the Buble duet anyway, I'm sure his fans will appreciate it.

I listened to Niki's youtube and she claims that everything was being staged for Rhydian to win.

Could you show a link for this, karijn. I tried looking but couldn't find it?

Thanks

PS This would confirm much of what lots of people were thinking

Good post and I agree totally.Leon has such a special quality and I'm so looking forward to what he does on his album. He could almost sing anything and make it sound good. (I never liked When You Believe until Leon sang it)

Found it...but all she said was 'it's definately been pushed for Rhydian to win'. No examples.

I agree it is sad that it still goes on instead of Leon's fans being able to be thrilled about the fantastic start to his career.
Rhydian sings from the heart and very clearly so, he moved many people including Michael Buble but his very positive comments have been conveniently ignored. He is more versatile than Jon and as talented as a singer. He has had the lead in all productions during his university career - and ALW has contacted him after the show and expressed interest.
Jon did not say he wasn't impressed by Rhydian - on that evening he said he liked Leon's performances the best. Anyway, I'm sure his view is not that important to Rhydian, the fact that he has Louis and Simon very much on his side - and it seems ALW - is more important.

I don't think the show was geared to Rhydian. Maybe Niki was jealous of the close relationship he had with Simon who took a personal interest in him - sadly so as it was his song choices that led to his downfall. If anything, you could say the final was favouring Leon.
It would be nice if it could be possible for Leon's fans to write about him and his upcoming international career complete with super-star duet and leave Rhydian out of it, at least in threads that have nothing to do with Rhydian - that is, unless there is something nice to say about him. But I suppose some Rhydian fans are guilty of the same
Leon is on the way to a super career as singer and song-writer, he will possibly be an international star with great success coming his way.
Rhydian is happy to with how things are going for him. He seems to have a small national tour in January, like Leon the X factor tour and then an album and tour - maybe ALW's musical and a possible invitation to sing the national anthem at a rugby international, one of his dreams.
Lets just be happy for them both

I, for one, am thrilled, Liz. But it has been difficult to be as thrilled as one would wish for Leon, knowing he has to cope with all the hype coming as a result of some people who, IMO, are not used to the difficulty in voting during the final of XF shows.

Also, DS threads such as 'How long before Leon's career dies...' etc etc.

Why can't people discuss surprise in the fact that Jon Ansell liked Leon and also our equal surprise that he didn't support Rhydian? I'm sure if Michael Bublé had invited Rhydian to sing with him in his Wembley show, people would have been puzzled....given the genre difference. Indeed, I have thought this very interesting but chose not to start a separate thread, since I imagine it would have caused some upset.

ATM, in fairness to Rhydian, I am less sympathetic towards him than ususal after his comments on Welsh TV. The less said, the better, however. But it's just to put things into current context.

FWIW, I'm sure that Rhydian will do very well - there was never any doubt of that.

Haha. Yes, i know it was taken from 'The Lion King' but did his family or fans make it up?

Of course it is Ok to discuss why Jon liked Leon best but not to interprete it as he doesn't rate Rhydian, that Rhydian sings without emotion and heart etc. - that Jon is much, much better, in fact pretty much everyone else is better
I agree there are dreadful threads about Leon but also about Rhydian.
He made one comment on Welsh News that would have been better left unsaid, but that is only one unguarded comment out of hours of interviews, he normally says exactly the right things. He has always supported Leon and praised him both as a singer and person. But he is as new to all of this as Leon, and also has to learn what to keep to himself, this one comment is an example - but he will learn as will Leon learn that there is a difference between what you can say to your mates and what you should say to the national press.
I would not have expected Michael Buble to invite Rhydian to his show - they do not fit. But I did feel the need to also write here his glowing comments on Rhydian because he was being put down because of this - especially as it fitted to the Jon comments, he said no-one could fail to be moved by his singing and he has an ability to convey emotion through his singing.
Like everyone else, I guess I just feel very protective to my favourite - I feel the need to champion their cause

I feel quite the same and I agree with lots of what you've said All that I would say and have said is that Rhyd's 'one comment' is far more unfortunate than it would have been, if it hadn't been for his early comments.

I did read Rhyd's comments on the 'Slams Leon's Single (or whatever it was called...)) and there, they are far more in line with what one would expect from a gracious runner up.

I haven't seen any other comments - I tend to believe only what I actually hear, and I did hear this one particular comment and thought that it wasn't so wise. But all the alleged fix comments were, for example, a total fabrication. And I find the header of the 'Slams Leon's single' article misleading - he was in fact supporting Leon saying the song isn't ideal and his version would have been slated too. It is irresponsible journalism and just stirs things up still further.
All I can hope, is that all this will eventually blow over and both can follow their paths without negativity, whether they will succeed or not is another matter, but their hard work shouldn't be followed by the one fraction hoping for the failure of the other. It should be possible to have songs on youtube without the other's so-called fans ruining the comment section with abuse, or it should be possible for local papers to advertise Rhydian's tour in January without negative readers comments. I suppose it is the downside of reality TV shows which is designed to whip up fierce loyalties and inevitable hatred.

Couldn't agree more, Liz-G. Very well said. The article in the press about Rhyd 'slamming' Leon's single is weird....and as you say, he doesn't criticise Leon at all. If anything, he is supportive....he's just being honest about the song, as far as I can see. Weird....since that source is ususally very supportive of Rhydian. Anyway...the content speaks for itself

Yes, I understand that - I watched the whole final show again yesterday and I must admit that Rhydian does have warmth in his voice and also that he is a spectacular singer and performer.

I just preferred Leon and like you felt protective towards him as the backlash from him winning seemed to grow out of all proportion. With so many people including journalists coming out with statements like he can't sing, he can't hold a note etc etc, it became more necessary to cite the celebrity singers opinions on Leon to try and prove his credibility as a winner. I don't wish Rhydian bad luck at all, and he isn't going to need luck because his career is assured. Leon himself says that he has more to prove because of the backlash.

The put downs towards Rhydian have been borne out of a reaction to the general idea that Rhydian was superior to Leon, not just vocally, but in his attitude and his family background. It's difficult to be impartial when your favourite is being attacked. We should all make an effort to look for the good instead of the bad in people I think, the world (and the forum) would be a better place.

Couldn't agree more with this post either....

I think it was Dermot that came up with it...

But I'll bet he read it on LAT. I think thms coined it for us....?

I know hecame up with 'Leonardos' not sure about that one?

Probably a drunken moment of mine, thinking that.

Lol maybe.

So i had an idea last night: maybe Leon will return the favour and have Buble join him on stage at some point during the XF tour to sing Home...