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Does Louis Walsh Have Any Credibility?


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Old 13-10-2008, 23:43
Foxy Moron
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I know he's had success waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back with Boyzone and Westlife but was that all down to luck? Was he just in the right place at the right time? He's not done much recently that I'm aware of.

I fail to see what he has to offer the acts as a mentor and he appears to be so out of touch with what's current. He also comes across as a bit of a buffoon on X-Factor IMO and has done for a good while now. Is he just there to make Simon look even better?

What do you all think? Do you agree that the man is an idiot or are there any Louis fans out there who feel his position on the show is justified?
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Old 13-10-2008, 23:45
marlyly
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I think both he and Simon are living in the past when it comes to music. Louis was good at what was popular at the time, but in today's scene, he is sadly outdated.
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Old 14-10-2008, 00:02
coda
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It depends what you mean by credibility. Westlife have zero credibility as artists, but they've had many no. 1s pandering to a certain type of audience, and I've read that Louis doesn't really manage them as Simon and his team make all the important decisions. Boyzone was the Irish Take That, Girls Aloud sacked him early on, and Shayne Ward had to have a creer rethink after the first album.

Simon has been very lucky with Leona, this year I don't think so...
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Old 14-10-2008, 00:14
Honest Tom
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Louis is past it I'm afraid. I don't think he's relevant at all now. Simon, on the other hand, is, and due to SyCo Records he'll have far more influence on the career of the winner than any of the mentors.

Of course, the real power brokers aren't these guys, but the execs of Sony BMG who, along with Cowell, decide how much money to put into marketing subsequent albums. In those situations, it's the Sony BMG guys who have more input than Cowell.

I remember playing golf with one such person shortly after Michelle McManus won who said that he was going to drop her as soon as he could. And did.

It's a very harsh industry, and winning something like X Factor can be a curse as well as a blessing. The likes of Will Young and Leona Lewis are the exceptions rather than the rule.
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Old 14-10-2008, 00:35
Fudd
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Louis' got more credibility than either Danni or Cheryl if you want to be pedantic. He's had more success in the music business than the two women put together.

I think his weakness is that he doesn't see the bad in his own acts which he notices in everyone else's. In fairness, the only judge who always has is Simon. However, this lack of accepting problems within his own groups sees him become slightly bitchy and moany with some of his comments.

I still like him, though, and think the show needs him currently. This series I doubt anyone could do anything with the groups, so if he can get just one act beyond the half way stage it, IMO, would be a success.
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Old 14-10-2008, 00:36
C14E
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Westlife, however annoying you (and I) may find them, have collected 7 platinum awards in the UK for their last 3 albums and all 3 albums have gone to #1 and featured in the top 10 of the year. Louis and Simon actually employed a remarkable strategy that saw Westlife weather the demise of all 90's pop by targeting them at the "more mature" female demographic.

Simon obviously has done pretty well for himself through novelty pop (WWF, Teletubbies, Zig and Zag, Robson and Jerome) and bubblegum pop (A1, Five, early Westlife). It's interesting that his biggest selling album on Syco is actually Il Divo's debut (although Leona will inevitably break this marker shortly) so he is still able to appeal outwith these shows. Recently hits from Paul Potts and Leona have sold massively around the world. Although technically, he has the worlds biggest signing on his books, that being the entire "Idol franchise" which is all with SBMG thanks to him.

Neither of them have bowed to the recent years of indie-pop, but they can still appeal to the public and unlike many successful managers/A&R execs of the pop era, they both weathered the indie surge with ease. And we seem to be moving firmly in the direction of pop again. And Louis will be raking it in after that Boyzone tour.
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Old 14-10-2008, 01:29
cooler
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How many times is louis going to say 'you look like a popstar', 'you look like a diva'. its repetitively annoying. cause they do, they've been dolled up by the makeup department.
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Old 14-10-2008, 04:50
johnloony
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I can't stand Louis. I hate the way he puts his head back and wobbles it and nods dementedly while he's giving his opinion, as if somehow that makes it more valid.
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Old 14-10-2008, 09:36
Patti-Ann
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Louis admits he won't win:

http://ukpress.google.com/article/AL...fjXMzpvbzM7KPg

lol at the picture
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Old 14-10-2008, 09:37
angelofthenight
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Both Simon and Louis dont really have that much credibility when it comes to signing up acts IMO. Apart from leona both of them have nobody that is really rocking the world. Now someone like Timberland would be great as he is moden.
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Old 14-10-2008, 09:39
mulder_uk
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I do not think Simon or Louis care about credibility they are raking in the cash year after year from the public vote
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Old 14-10-2008, 09:51
coda
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You can't really have street credibility in middle age anyway.
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Old 14-10-2008, 14:17
fairy_
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I despise Louis, he is so rude about Dannii all the time, it's so unnecessary
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Old 14-10-2008, 14:58
Official Diva
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The only acts Louis can class as successful on his books are, Boyzone who's biggest hits were covers and Westlife, who's biggest hits were also covers.

I suppose credit were it's due given Westlife have sold a huge amount of albums over the past ten years but that's more down to the guys themselves rather than Louis as a manager.

I'll never forget the way he went on about Samantha Mumba being the black Britney and now she was going to rock the world. Yet she was his biggest flop. The guy is a bit deluded.

Louis can only manage pretty boys. He has no idea how to market anything else.
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Old 14-10-2008, 16:47
kyri
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Louis and Simon manage the winner anyway so I don't think they care less who wins out of the judges.
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Old 14-10-2008, 18:00
Love Bear
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NO. He's an idiot. He owes his celeb status to Cowell.

He has a face that I would never tire of punching.
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Old 14-10-2008, 19:22
C14E
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Both Simon and Louis dont really have that much credibility when it comes to signing up acts IMO. Apart from leona both of them have nobody that is really rocking the world. Now someone like Timberland would be great as he is moden.
It depends what you mean by credibility, I suppose. X Factor is about finding a potential popstar and so populism leads the way. And both have an excellent track record at finding something popular. In terms of worldwide acts, Simon also has Il Divo. Somewhat surprisingly, Paul Potts has been a worldwide success story as well.

The only acts Louis can class as successful on his books are, Boyzone who's biggest hits were covers and Westlife, who's biggest hits were also covers.
I wouldn't say that "only" is the right word there. Most managers would be happy to have just one Westlife/Boyzone in their entire career.

I suppose credit were it's due given Westlife have sold a huge amount of albums over the past ten years but that's more down to the guys themselves rather than Louis as a manager.
Westlife wouldn't be around were it not for the move into the more mature market. They sing well (at least the lead guy does), look the part and act the part but so did plenty other boybands and it never lasted for them. IMO one of the main reasons they are still around is the change of direction that lead them to appeal to the "more mature" market as bubblegum pop died. IIRC, they were inititally dubious about the idea (one of the reasons Brian left), although it was more Simon's idea than Louis.

And having felt like I've been defending Louis a bit much, I think I should add that I find his judging repetitive and his head bobbing unintentionally hilarious.
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Old 14-10-2008, 20:28
WelshieRachel
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Well,he has been a music manager for a large amount of his life,so I'd say so. I find him very funny,and I think it'd be boring without him.
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