I am not sure about the Telegraph comment, whether they are saying his suitablitiy for the role is based on his vocals or on his appearance - you can take it how you want depending on whether you want it to be negative or positive. How do you know they aren't saying he is perfect based on his vocals and his presentation. The Phantom is meant to be scary and tortured

And What's on Stage has always had issues with Rhydian since the comments of ALW in the final and the subsequent invasion of their forum by over-enthusiastic fans who joined in his defence when there was negativity towards him as a result of the Phantom speculation in the press. Everything else I have read has been mainly very positive indeed and in What's on Stage their comments relate more to the presentation than his singing which was judged by many FMs to be good. Unlike most of the others appearing, he had never sung in theatre and the comment of someone that he had probably practiced his moves alone in front of a mirror was most likely near the truth. He just needs a little guidance

Anyway, for these two links, there are many who say he was excellent. It depends what you want to find

Unlike you, I haven't seen him sing live before or since the final - but going by the youtube videos of a few of his many performances, most have been at private events, he has been as excellent as ever in spite of often battling with feedback and a dodgy backing tape. It is a matter of taste I suppose, whether his style appeals or not. Of course, the sound quality usually isn't great in the videos and he has had to sing the X Factor songs but I see no change, in fact I believe he is even better now.

Leon has an excellent voice, no doubt about it. And Rhydian could well turn out to be the most successful runner-up. Time will tell if either will do well with sales, but success isn't all about records. Rhydian certainly seems to have been very busy since the final which is a sign that things could go very well indeed in his future, about five events a month I believe he once said - he has sung at events attended by Prince Charles and Prince William respectively - he gave one of the most passionate renditions of a National Anthem that I have ever heard in the Cardiff Stadium which was televised on Welsh TV, it was truly beautiful. He has sung at events in various European countries, appeared with Mick Hucknall and Katherine Jenkins So even if he doesn't sell enough albums for Sony, he can still be very successful

I didnt find Rhydian's MOTN performance wierd at all, I thought it was fantastic showing great ACTING (given Rhyd was in character) as well as singing

Just to clarify to my opening post.

When I said 'success' I was referring to X Factor-type success ie record sales. I've no doubt Rhydian will be a success on the West End stage, but I think he could also be a big success in regards of album/DVD sales, here and overseas.

I think he's notably different from the Russel Watsons and the Bryn Terfels...

He has the talent to. Unfortunately talent isn't the only variable.

I would be very suprised if he isn't a major star though.

I tend not to judge any artist until I have seen them live and with X Factor folk it needs to be well away from the show or tour.

I was there on Sunday night. So here is my opinion - although listening to Rhydian may be one thing actually seeing him sing with his very pale face and white hair dressed in satin shirt with lots of rhinestone buttons on a big screen - the intensity and campness was very, very uncomfortable. I came away with the feeling that he may end up being a one trick pony as that song is perfect for him but will he find another?

The likelihood is he will be pushed towards a recording deal unless SonyBMG have included performances in the contract and from experience we know that does not make money for the artist and credibility is depatable.

There has been a lot of wishful thinking posted above. Rhydian has done very little so far and Sunday night did not really do him too may favours as there was a general feeling of 'Why?' here he was someone who came second in a reality show - not even an ALW show - but done nothing else so far of any note - singing one of the top numbers of the night. You came away with the feeling that someone had thought it a good idea to get Rhydian fans in to pay the bills! Sad but true.

Compare that with Andrew Johnson who was scared rigid but enchanted us probably for that very reason. Then take Jonathan Ansell - who was also there - he sang Evermore Without You - very well but it was not a major song of the night but he came away with awareness but his integrity in place by not trying to upstage the musical theatre folk. Real shame he did not do one of the duets with Hayley Westenra as they are really good together and the ones she did with Duncan James and Lee Mead were nowhere near the same standard. But Jonathan is carving a career for himself as a live performer and gets invited to these kinds of things as such - like he did the Don Black birthday show.

Not sure I would go anywhere now to see Rhydian live as it was just not a comfortable experience but come to think about it that was probably the reason for watching him on X Factor to see what he would do and I lost interest when he stopped camping things up!

I have often heard this comment made about Rhydian but I'm not so sure it's true. I feel pretty sure that there is as wide a range of opinions on Rhydian as there is on any other singer. For example, I neither love him nor hate him. I just think he's all right, but not as good as he was cracked up to be by some.

I gave a link to both positive and negative opinions to support the view that he is still marmite, possibly as a reaction to exaggerated claims about his holy greatness.
I am far from being against Rhydian. I have followed him for too long, I really hope that he is successful.
My present opinion is based on youtube. I haven't seen him live since the tour either, and that's one reason why I stated that I reserve my judgment until his album is out.

I thought you posted the Telegraph as a negative Chi, because I personally am not sure what the journalist is saying, however, I believe it is more likely to be positive.
I too hope he will be successful, it is too early to say.
Clearly Daisy Chain didn't like his performance on Sunday although I don't see why one song is considered to be the main song over others. I think they are all pretty equal in importance. Others were apparently won over by it and gave him a standing ovation having been disinterested whjen he started (I wasn't there so this is only what I have read) - so I suppose you are right and he really is Marmite.

G4 are going to have to some beating.

I agree.G4 had sensational opening week sales for their first album and had a number of highly successful tours.
It will be interesting to see how Rhydian fares. It is very difficult for any new act to make an impact especially with people less willing to shell out money due to the poor economy. Hopefully he will be successful.

I guess you have to be a fan of Musical Theatre to understand the ALW hits - all the songs were top 10 type hits but only a handful No 1s! So for example from Jesus Christ Superstar Steve Balsamo did a barnstorming version of Gethsemane but Superstar (murdered by Joss Stone) or I Don't Know How To Love Him (bit bland by Jessie Buckley) are the songs we all know and love.

I think you will find that the 'standing ovation' was the same for everyone - you were either standing up or you weren't and from what I have read elsewhere it was only the people at the front who were standing not those behind but there were 20,000 people so the interpretation will be different for different people. I was about a quarter of the way back and once the Phantom segue started everyone in front of me was on their feet and remained so pretty much till the end of the show.

Thanks for explaining that Daisy Chain - I know nothing about musical theatre. I suppose someone wanted Rhydian to sing MOTN, he certainly will not have invited himself to the party. However, I don't think it will have damaged him to have been given it to sing. Even though you didn't enjoy it, I'm sure there were people there who did, including some who maybe did not know him before. So all is not lost.
For all new artists it is difficult getting over the first hurdle. for Rhydian, Leon and everyone else coming along. I hope he will be successful or rather happy with what he achieves. I do think Sony will include performances - they have certainly arranged many for him so far, or at least they have given their OK. I can imagine it is in their interests for their artists to be heard.

When I said about the contract including performances I meant tours - of course Sony and any record label will organise PAs but it is only recently they have talked about backing tours and taking a cut as that is where the money is being made not out of albums! Not sure a record company will get into Musical Theatre unless they are actually the producers?

Well I seem to have misunderstood both your post and that of Chi!
But I agree that a record company is unlikely to be interested in one of their artists disappearing to the West End for a long time unless it is their own production and they can profit from it financially. I anyway think it is too soon for Rhydian to take over a leading role in a musical apart from maybe a short stint somewhere if he is suited to the role. If the album doesn't sell well enough for Sony, then he will be free anyway - the music industry is a ruthless world. I very much hope this will not be the case, but it is an unknown at the moment, not a note has been heard. The first winner of X Factor had 66% of the vote, won nearly every week, but the majority of these people didn't buy his album. He didn't have the support that Leon, Rhydian and SD have enjoyed though.

My point of vivews Rhydian will be commercially sucessful in the long-run.

Why am i so sure it because Simon C/Sony BMG, do not seem to treat him as a runner-up at all Sony seems to hire the most influential song-writers in the industry and they are not the cheapest, such as "Water Afanasieff/Diane Warren and Desmond Child" for sure they will give him the best signature power ballads and the best thrill songs.!!

He know how to fill ppl into the Arena/Stadium!

I never 'got' Rhydian. Maybe he'll have some success but I don't see anything long-term.

No truth in that whatsoever. You seem to be unable of separating the truth with your opinion.

I seem to recall Simon Cowell saying earlier this year that Rhydian could make 20 million over the next 5 years if he were managed well......

I'm not sure if that constitutes "successful" since I'm clueless about the sums of money involved. So, over to you guys!

If he does in fact make that amount of cash then yes I would say he has been pretty successful.

(snip)

This is a thread about Rhydian. Can we possibly put the result of last year's final behind us. I don't want another of my threads to be locked through posters hijacking threads with different agendas.

I think Rhydian will be a success, but whether he tops G4 is another question. G4 are in the same genre as Rhydian (popera) and were phenomenally successful. For an artist to even HAVE three albums in this day in age is extraordinary, and G4 really paved the way for an artist like Rhydian.

(I mean the last bit in terms of G4 singing Britney, Rhydian singing Go West)

Disappointingly however, I think Rhydian's success relies on what kind of finalists we have this series. If there is a brilliant male singer, Rhydian will be sitting on the backburner this time next year. If the male contestants are a bit ropey, then he'll have more success.

......well his performance is certainly the one most people are talking about and has more hits on youtube than all the other performances put together

He will have been told what to sing by the powers that be (even ALW for all we know) because they knew he could more than cope with such a big song (and he did not disappoint)

ALW was at pains to point out that he had nothing to do with this show - he had said it in interviews and again in his thankyou speech at the end!

Rhydian is certainly being talked about - may be a good thing may not as personally I was put off when I expected to be impressed and I don't think I was alone. But as everyone else has said it depends on the album and where he wants to go from here?

I don't know where you were sitting/standing Daisy Chain but everyone around us was mesmerised by Rhydian's performance

and he was doing a theatre song so you could hardly judge on the fact that you were watching him on a big screen

OT G4 were very successful but Sony refused to let them go overseas so I think Rhydian will have the same/if not more success in this country but what will set him above G4 is that he will get the chance to promote overseas

Although ALW did say on This Morning that he was involved to the extent that he wanted to be sure that the right artist sang the right song, it didn't want his songs ruined. So the song list and artists singing them were passed by him. However, he also said that had it been new material he would have been very intensively involved - he said Joss Stone would have to sing something from Jesus Christ Superstar. So he was involved even if in only a minor way.

With Rhydian, I have heard that a number of people liked the performance, you didn't and no doubt a number of others didn't like it either. Some have criticised the 'choreography'. But it doesn't mean it was a bad performance. If it is true as you say that some of the audience were annoyed he was given the song, then that is quite an obstacle to overcome.

I suppose it depends which part of the park you were in, others have reported a very positive reaction and they were not among his fans.

While not all publicity is good publicity, it is not a bad thing to be talked about here. Rhydian has had good reviews and comments, some maybe not so good on forums, but his comments were not universally bad like one or two artists or no mention at all like others - for example, your comment was the first I have read about Jon Ansell.