I agree, I thought he should have been praised for taking a risk and not just singing some typically popular swing song. He tried something different and basically got slaughtered for it. I think it sent out the wrong message. The amount of times Simon moans about acts "playing safe" and then when someone actually tries something different he changes his tune.

I thought the song was ok. I certainly preferred Charlie to George. Didn't George just steal his act from that advert? The only decent bit was the end when he jumped onto his back.

Oh well, each to their own.

Wrong thread.....

Yeah good luck for him for doing something original, who wants to hear the same old cover versions churned out over and over, the easy option really aint it. Personally thought the song was OK, not as bad as the judges were trying to imply, just because they're not familiar with it on first hearing doesnt make it a poor song though it was always going to be a big risk for the lad.

Always remember hearing Bohemian Rhapsody first time and thought it was awful, then three or four hearings down the line was one of my favourite songs ever, just as an example, sure everyone else has felt similarly about other songs

When he started doing beatbox I knew he was finished.

Career suicide by his parents. Poor lad had no say in it.

I dont agree with the judges saying we will definelty see him again, there are thousands of brilliantly talented people out there and not everyone makes it, no matter how good they are. Most people only get one shot at fame and he blew his.

I thought he should definatley have gone through over Strike. He sings quite well, but he also has something about him that you can't help but lilke him. He just seems to really enjoy what he's doing and smile all the time.

Just watched it on Youtube again, all the judges are screwing their faces up after about five seconds, just because they cant believe its a song they've never heard before!! Very shallow of them.

If he had sung a good original song it might have been better but the song he sung was very repetitive

I agree with this. Furthermore, singing an original song is more difficult than singning a cover (no-one to imitate) and shows a singer's own ability. It wasn't a terrible song and Charlie sang it well. He certainly deserved better treatment from the judges and credit for his courage in singing something original.

Exactly!

Why did Simon pretend that he hadn't heard the song before? Why did he ask Charlie in public who wrote it? Obviously, for copyright reasons and accompaniment and rehearsals, the details of the songs had to be known in advance.

If Simon is providing Faryl with a free voice coach and a team to prepare her for tonight's performance, why didn't he intervene for Charlie and give him some help in choosing and preparing a song? It must have been appalling for the child to be ambushed after the actual performance and told that the song was a poor choice, when they had plenty of time to tell him earlier.

Welcome to the world of Simon Cowell.

I didn't think the song was that bad. Surely Charlie's performance was what he should have been judged on anyway. He is only a year older than the girl in the Cheeky Monkeys and yet I thought the judges comments were quite harsh which maybe because he is such a talented performer. He should have gone through.
Hopefully he will do well in the future. He has music and rhythm in his bones.

I couldnt agree more Foxie - that is exactly the point!! The more i think about it what a SETUP!!!!!!! Like if simon and co were so concerned about song choice why did not someone take charlie aside and say listen chose a different song....i mean come on, obv the whole production team came up wiht the idea for Georges dance - i hate that kind of favouritism, it sucks!!!!!!!! They obv didnt want charlie through and this was the perfectt way to critisize him - like even their faux looks of shock when he was singing - how horrible

At the beginning last night, Simon said quite clearly that what they wanted to win was "not" a singer, so they had to find something in his act to criticize. They couldn't fault Charlie, so they picked on the song, which was (as I've said on another thread) brilliant, as was the arrangement.

Charlie's performance was polished, and although I also like "Summer Wind", I thought of the two last night's was the better in every way.

I really liked him and thought he should have gone through (and strike do nothing for me at all). However, I think one of the main reasons he didn't was because they have already put some singers through and they want it to be more than a singing competition.

These are my thoughts exactly. Exactly this.

Yes, he should have gone through

I felt he was set up with them criticising his song choice so it would give them an excuse not to pick him should it arise. I think they just didn't want too many singing kids in the final.

I reckon this kid and that song might have done really well for us in Eurovision

Well i am glad he didn't get through and feel the same for all of the kids no matter how talented. Kids should be having their childhood not involved with the rat race which is show business. With proper mentoring and good guidance their talent will shine through eventually.

I think Lena Zavarone's early childhood fame was the death of her

I was well unhappy they chose not to put him through, as to be honest Strike well I wouldnt pay to see them, but I would buy this boys CD HE is very talented.

Anyway i was upset until this morning as on GMTV they stated he has been given a recording contract by Simon Cowell anyway which makes a lot of sense.

I look forward to listening to his music he is very talented.

Er, ok I would like to see you 'jump around' and 'stretch your legs' like they did. What they do takes immense physical fitness, timing and skill. You don't often see acts like them, whether you like them or not.

However cute, kid singers are a dime a dozen. I liked Charlie but the song let him down (not his fault I know), it was cabaret at best.

And as for keep going on about them 'stealing' moves, have you heard how ridiculous and juvenile you sound? There are going to be similiarities between certain dances/choreography because of the similar styles but to say they 'stole' them is daft. So who did Nemisis, George and Flava steal their moves from then? Or are they the absolute original inventors of the moves? I can just picture Strike watching every dance act and writing it all down and going 'ooh we'll just do all of this, it'll be fine!!!'.

Strike deserved to go through, if Charlie was 50 and singing that averagely no-one would care that he didn't get through. He has been given more credit because of his age, simple as that.

"on GMTV they stated he has been given a recording contract by Simon Cowell"

Does anyone know what that means, exactly? Is there any money up front? Vocal coaching? Does it just mean that IF the child produces something marketable, Simon will promote it and take a cut?

No i like Charlie regardless of his age - i like him becasue he is talented and is a fantastic, engaging performer, i am judging him based on his PERFORMANCE...so please dont assume everyone who likes charlie is lije awwwwww he's so cute - i like his the fact his self assured confident and poised actually and a lote more so then the older performers!

Fair enough - but lots of people have made the comment 'he;s good for his age'. My 1 year old daughter is a good dancer for her age - it doesn't make her exceptional (except to me!). But then, its each to their own. I've seen a lot of criticism of George yet I thought he was amazing.

TBH it was more a criticism of Beer, I completely agree with all his comments about George Sampson in other threads and this one, but he seems to have a really bee in his bonnet about Strike, which is a shame

Do I think Charlie should have gone thru..... nope.

No doubt he will be back next year, that's if this awful programme is still going.