Just how crap Liam was really shocked me, after shoving someone else out to accommodate him I'm pretty shocked at how bad he is at singing. He's just a pretty face, so I imagine he will win now -_-
Bad Lashes singing wonderwall as amazing though- did not expect that

Agree with you completely - Diana was really good tonight and I really didn't remember or care about her before... also Bad Lashes were good on their second song shown on Xtra factor as were 4instinct (who were only OK on the main show)

So for me the definite shockers were Diana, Bad Lashes and Alex (who I knew was good, but tonight she was actually fantastic!)

This makes very little sense... she may be well known in the record industry but far more importantly, she is well known on the X Factor! She was heavily featured up to this stage 3 years ago!

Was the article in the Daily Star by any chance?!

As for who shocked me...

Austin - I have to admit, he is actually pretty good.
Laura - I still had issues with it, but she showed her huge potential after a disappointing boot camp
Bad Lashes - a million miles ahead of Hope (and with a far better name as well!)

I REALLY hate sob stories (and fans of sob-story singers have got me banned as a result) BUT the guy who lost his wife sang really well.

despite the 'slapper' appearance, I thought the girls sang "Wonderwall" really well.

"Piece of my heart" - Erma Franklin and Janis Joplin - again really well interpreted.

Spanish lass sang well, until she lost her way.

I hate Wacko's image (semi-transexual child-obsessive), but the MJ song was done well too, despite their nerves.

I only hope that the judges don't go for the sympathy/cute/merchandisable acts rather than those who sing well - it is supposed to be a singing competition FFS.

I want people who sing as well as Brenda, Rhydian Andy Abraham, Voices with Soul, Ben, Leona and Brenda - not the likes of Leon, Shayne and that well-rehearsed muppet, Ray Quinn.

Ban the SOB story, that's what I say!

I found Girlband and Bad Lashes to be difficult viewing; they cannot sing as a group, at all. Desire were alright I guess but still; not great.

They sound no different to most groups of girls who try and sing together.

4Instinct shocked me on the xtra factor, why they didnt show that song on the main show is beyond me.

Alexandra; wow. Didn't suprise me though.

What did suprise me is how Rachel is... not impressing at all. Not that shes bad; but not living up to the hype, but that is the nature of hype.

fizix she (rachel) messed up once give the girl a break she is incredible you'll see!

Diana was better than she has been but I'm still not a fan.

Laura sounded pretty good tonight, haven't disliked her before but I think this was her best night so far.

Alex was great vocally, still a touch of the Leona about her in that she sounds like a winner but doesn't have the sparks of a winner.....

Deliberate pun to lead me on to my next comment, loved JLS's song choice of No Air but their version didn't impress me as much of the original.....not much does though to be fair to them!

Priority's song choices didn't seem to work, not their fault though.

So many of them messed up, that shocked me at this stage.....all in all, I got a few shocks but that's how I like it

xxxx

Its not that she messed up... I'm just not finding her as good as I was expecting.

I'm not liking her voice as much as I thought I would from her first audition.

Protecting your blessed X-Factor again

Care to elaborate?

No not Daily Star. Meet you back here after final night & we will see who is right

Your blessed X-Factor couldn't be a a total sham could it.

So what; shes not a star so the points null and void isn't it.

If the best singer wins, who cares. Thats the problem is neysayers; its an entertainment show... not a make stars out of the great unwashed.

Alexandra. I thought she was good but my god tonight she was spectacular.
Diana dissapointed me a little bit if I'm honest

I'm now getting a touch confused. You are telling me that Alexandra was planted to win because she is well known in the record industry? My point was simply that she has already been on the show and got far. Surely if they were going to "plant" her that is how they would have known her?! There really is no need for shadowy links to the music world when there is a link staring us straight in the face.

Any chance of a link to the article? Or perhaps telling me which paper it was in?

Whether she wins or not doesn't really prove much. She has a very good chance because she is the best singer at this stage. Personally, I don't think she will win. I think she might be the early favourite and the winner will be someone who shines or develops on the live shows. Alexandra may have peaked too soon.

And what is with the "blessed X Factor" crap?

The girl group who sang Wonderwall shocked me,as they ruined a classic song. Their lead singer sounded awful.

Biggest shock for me was just how amazing Hannah was, didn't like her at all until tonight, excellent song choice for her, I love Janis Joplin and my god she was brilliant.

Diana, excellent as ever, probably the best performance yet.

Alexandra, still really dislike her personality and air of "I'm gonna walk this" about her, then she really annoyed me more with her "I share a single bed with my sister" I was like WTF? this is a talent contest, not a "who has the most to gain" contest. Her performance was brilliant, she is no Beyonce obviously, but still the only performance from her I've liked. Still hope she doesn't get through though.

Laura really pulled it back this week, I actually liked her Back To Black performance, but this week was just in another league to the other girls.

Ruth-She good easily be a finalist, I can see her being really popular and making it far in the live shows.

The Brother/Sisters act who I've never liked much either were brilliant. Nice to see the brother get a chance to sing.

Bad Lashes. Really liked them.

Mali-Outstanding
Liam, Like wise.

[Note, Mali and Liam are anagrams of each other]

I thought Liam had a good voice The group who sang Wonderwall were terrible.

Laura I was so worried she would mess up but she pulled it out of the bag I love her!!

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JLS. I previously was indifferent towards them but their performance of No Air was simply stunning. I reckon they can go far in the competition if they can maintain that standard - possibly even to the final.

I've liked Alexandra for most of the competition without being blown away, but tonight's performance was incredible.

The family group were also really good tonight - surprising particularly after their absolute shocker at bootcamp.

Austin's performance also surprised me - I actually thought he was good, and that was despite my sister salivating over his bulging ...... :eek

Alex - Before tonight I liked her, Now I love her

Yeah Diana was very very very good. I don't know if she could cut it on the shows and with the audience. Not much of a sob story. Doesn't bawl over crying her eyes out at the drop of a hat.

She is probably the most unique out of the lot of them and if they were looking for X Factor on that show - it's her, but they're looking for copying off another artist in the charts star.

Most are still dreadful and are still like they're having a good time at a karaoke.

I don't know if it's "shocking" since I need to be ready for that by now - but every time I watch an idol show after reading a live thread first, I'm pleasantly surprised because reactions make me expect much worse.

(Except Priority, who really did suck).

But relatively to my expectations after the auditions and bootcamp, I thought those people were better that I thought they would be:

-4instinct who I really disliked so far.
-Girl Band who were really cute and vocally reasonable.
-Eoghan who was a lot better than his previous auditions and makes me optimistic because he really improved from time to time which is kind of the point.
-Daniel, because once I had a little more time to listen to hiim, I really like his voice. It's very warm and emotive.
-Badlashes. I actually love them, and I adore their song choices, they've been avoiding choosing obvious pop/girlband songs all the way through, which I think makes them stand out. But attributing Wonderwall to Ryan Adams, except for the annoying "can you please research first, and it doesn't sound like his version" thing, just made me feel very old!

I was shocked that we only saw Austin cry once, was expecting at least three crying scenes.

Lol that will come tomorrow