X Factor - new series starting soon

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 21 Nov 2006, 13:38

Perhaps Ben could do Gun's rock version of "Word Up" (from Barb Wire).

McDonalds could do "Yesterday" maybe?? (From Bean: The Movie).

Not sure about Eton Rd though.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 21 Nov 2006, 15:43

Some ideas -

Ben

Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory (Young Guns)
Patrick Swayze - She's Like The Wind (Piano version) (Dirty Dancing)
The Commitments - Try A Little Tenderness (The Commitments)
Guns 'N Roses - Knockin' On Heavens Door (Days of Thunder)
Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (Easy Rider)
Gun - Word Up (Barb Wire)

Leona

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (Bodyguard)
Whitney Houston - I Have Nothing (Bodyguard)
Maria McKee - Show Me Heaven (Days of Thunder)
Leann Rimes - Can't Fight The Moonlight (Coyote Ugly)
Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On (Titanic)

Ray

Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (Ghost)
Louis Armstrong - We Have All The Time In The World (On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
Huey Lewis & The News - The Power Of Love (Back To The Future)
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (Sleeping With The Enemy)

Eton Road

Bee Gees - Staying Alive (Saturday Night Fever)
Bee Gees - Night Fever (Saturday Night Fever)
Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love (Saturday Night Fever)
Seal - Kiss From A Rose (Batman Forever)
Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (Mannequin)

MacDonald Brothers

Righteous Brothers - You've Lost That Loving Feeling (Top Gun)
Simon and Garfunkel - Mrs Robinson (The Graduate)
Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love (Saturday Night Fever)
Kenny Logins - Footloose (Footloose)
Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You (Reservoir Dogs)

My choices for what they are worth are in bold. Whitney will surely be a test for Leona, some incredible hard notes in there.
Not giving Ray a Louis Armstrong song as he murdered the last one he sang.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 21 Nov 2006, 18:49

You're REALLY been considering this haven't you?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 21 Nov 2006, 21:43

Trying to make the best of a bad job, its the sort of songs I think they'll get anyway.
If Ben got I Will Always Love You or something though that would be funny

That's an idea, give Leona a rock song and Ben a ballad and see what happens.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 21 Nov 2006, 23:45

Talk about obsession Grim.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 22 Nov 2006, 09:03

I like X Factor

Its shite, but its compulsive shite

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 22 Nov 2006, 10:08

How about "Mad World" for the Benster?
He doesnt have the voice of Gary Jules but he can tickle the ivories.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 23 Nov 2006, 10:16

I've heard Leona is singing "Lady Marmalade" - probably she will base it on Christina Aguilera. Pink and Mya's version. Good to give her an uptempo song.
If she gets "I Will Always Love You" that will be more predictable - though she may well struggle with the "IIIIIIEI" and booming in the latter part of the song.

The McD's are gonna sing "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles"

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 24 Nov 2006, 14:06

Songs for Saturday - 25/11:

Eton Road - Somebody to love and....????
Leona - I will always love you and Lady Marmalade (?)
Ben - Your Song and Live and Let Die
Ray - Jailhouse Rock and The Way You look tonight
Mcdonalds - (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles and...???

Leona is going to ruin "IWALY" - it worked so well with Brenda last year but she had the power to pull it off, Leona will just sing high notes

Ben - "Your Song" - nooooo

At least its a song outside of his comfort zone though, but he does not have a "singing" voice. LALD is better for him.

Ray - The Way You Look Tonight is an oldie, sung by Fred Astaire from "Swing Time" (1936) - grannies will love it

I thought the McD's would do I'm On My way from Shrek

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Nov 2006, 11:07

Confirmed song choices:

Eton Road Can You Feel the Love Tonight (The Lion King)
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love - The Blues Brothers

Ben Your Song (Moulin Rouge)
Live And Let Die (Live And Let Die)

Leona Lady Marmalade (Moulin Rouge)
I Will Always Love You (The Bodyguard)

Ray The Way You Look Tonight (Swing Time)
Jailhouse Rock (Jailhouse Rock)

The MacDonald Brothers When You Say Nothing At All
(I'm Gonna Be) Five Hundred Miles

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 25 Nov 2006, 15:13

grim_tales wrote:Leona Lady Marmalade (Moulin Rouge)
I Will Always Love You (The Bodyguard)

Fuck my Christ! She's now actually singing Mariah/Whitney songs.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 25 Nov 2006, 19:59

Consider the Christ you speak of, fucked. She is so going to win.... and by a mile too. It'll probably be her and Ben in the final, but there will be no competition.

Anyways today, I reckon Eaton Road are oot... just a hunch...

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Nov 2006, 21:26

Eaton Road are out!

Ben's bottom 2 performance of "Your Song" was outstanding IMO.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 25 Nov 2006, 21:53

For a second... I thought Simon would vote out the biggest threat to Leona. But I think he realised that there is no threat...

I've never liked Eaton Road and felt that they should've been out last week. I'm not a huge fan of Ben either (his raspy screaming really irritates me) so would love to see him leave - but that's not gonna happen until the final.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Nov 2006, 21:59

Thought Eaton Rd were meh (based on their performance). From what I've read Leona didn't get the best comments from the judges.
Ben didnt do any screaming on Your Song AFAIK

He was really good (again IMO based on what I saw) but i didnt see the live show, or his other song.

Agree, I thought Simon was gonna send home Ben for a sec.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 Nov 2006, 13:47

LEONA (Lady Marmalade) - Thought she was OK but not outstanding. Nice to hear her sing an uptempo song though.
She was singing "Voulez-vous chantez avec moi ce soir?" (Will you sing with me tonight). Maybe if she'd used the real lyric it would have given kids (and Simon?) ideas

She was a bit drowned out by the backing singers. Hardly "on the money" as Simon said.
She was cute though

McDONALDS (When You Say Nothing At All) - Nice singing/harmony etc, serviceable but just bland and dreary. Simon had it right.

BEN (Live and Let Die) - Brilliant song - one of the best Bond themes ever - and cracking performance too. Really suited him.

ETON RD (Everybody Needs Somebody) - Fun but sounded pretty cheesy too.

RAY (The way You Look Tonight) - Very good performance of an oldie, even though I find his swing/Dean Martin schtick rather dull. To be fair to him Fred Astaire himself wasn't known for his singing. His (Ray's) best vocal to date.

LEONA (I Will Always Love You) - Simon: "One of the best versions I've ever heard" - WTF? He was clearly listening to something else. It was good but Leona's voice is too thin and it wasn't even the best version of that song I've heard on X Factor (Brenda anyone?) Not fit to lace Whitney Houston's shoes.

McDONALDS (500 Miles) - Fun. Good performance. Really suited them (not a fan of the song though).

BEN (Your Song) - Not sure about his gravelly vocals on this song when singing softly but he was good, a fine performance which had heart IMO. Very good.

ETON RD (Can You Feel The Love Tonight) - Awful. Cannnot be sung by a 4 piece. Enough to make kings and vagabonds vote for anyone but Eton Rd.

RAY (Jailhouse Rock) - Entertaining, but mistake to try Elvis. Even when he sings Elvis he sounds like a boy imitating Dean Martin. Bloody hell. Preferred his other vocal.

Il Divo's Spanish version of "Without You" was incredible.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 Nov 2006, 18:02

Next week Barry Manilow will be a guest (!) and they have to sing songs sung by him.

I bet Ray will do something like Beyond The Sea, Ben could do Mandy.

Who comes up with this crap?

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 26 Nov 2006, 19:33

Grim you'll be singing along with them. You love it man.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 27 Nov 2006, 03:17

LEONA

Lady Marmalade - Totally ineffectual. Don't like the song anyways.

I Will Always Love You - Carbon copy Whitney to the note. Still, it was her best performance, perhaps for that very reason?

McDONALDS

When You Say Nothing At All - Almost put me into a coma.

500 Miles - These guys just can't sing. The Proclaimers are very distinctive.

BEN

Live and Let Die - One-note, raspy, but not horrible.

Your Song - Uneven. First verse seemed shaky, but it improved as the song went on.

ETON RD

Everybody Needs Somebody - Awful. John Belushi is rolling in his grave.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Utter blah!

RAY

The Way You Look Tonight - Sung it nicely, but he still comes off like a kid pretending to be an adult.

Jailhouse Rock - Takes balls to do Elvis. Came across more like Shakin' Stevens, but it was entertaining and he tries hard.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Nov 2006, 09:40

Agree about Ray's 2nd performance Mark. he is a bit like Shakin' Stevens isn't he?
Leona's Lady Marmalade was hardly "sensational" as Simon said, it was OK but thats it. And not that this sould have much bearing but she wasn't dressed properly. A raunchy song and she wears jeans and a top?

She was singing a more recent song though and looked her age.

Is Leona the new Shayne in that regard? When Shayne did Justin Timberlake, it was just a copy. Same for Justin Hawkins. But he wasn't picked up on it. Leona didn't get criticzed tonight for a carbon copy of Chrsitina/Whitney on both songs (though to be fair its hard to know how she would of sung Lady Marmalade otherwise).
Did you notice The McDonalds sounded more Scottish when they sung 500 Miles?
Eton Rd. could have done "Only You" by The Flying Pickets, Antony (sp?) could have done his showy falsetto

Perfect.
I think Live and Let Die suited Ben better than Your Song but at least he was trying. Your Song was good.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 30 Nov 2006, 20:25

On Saturday Ray is singing Mandy (for his Barry Manilow song) and My Way (!)

Sinatra the legend is rolling in his grave

Leona is singing Could It Be Magic and Without You

Bet no-one saw that one coming, in a much higher key than usual.

McD's are singing Shang-A-Lang (Bay City Rollers)!!

Ben is doing Somebody To Love (Queen) (acapella)

I think Ben is the fall guy here. Didn't Bo Bice leave in AI S4 the week he choose to do a song acapella? I doubt Ben's voice is up to it.

McD's are doing "Can't Smile Without You"
Ben - "Made It Through The Rain" (?)

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 02 Dec 2006, 20:43

X Factor tonight:

McDonalds (Can't Smile Without You) - Meh. Very dull IMO.
Shang-A-Lang - Cheesy but good fun, got the crowd going. Louis' Scots nationalism gets up my nose though, as if he' saying people will vote for them because of where theyre from?

Ray (Mandy) - Sounded bland IMO. He isnt a recording artist.
My Way - Well, I can admit when I'm wrong. Particularly at the finale, he was very good, he DID have a fine voice here. Classic song sung with real emotion IMO. His best performance by far. Maybe the best of the night.

Ben (Made It Through The Rain) - Can't pass judgement on this one as I don't know how it originally sounded. A bit shouty maybe.
Somebody To Love - Fair play to him for taking a risk here, singing acapella (kind of) was very brave at this point. Again there was emotion and heart in his performance IMO. However, he was getting lots of help from the choir.

Leona (Could It Be Magic) - Like the uptempo version but nothing spectacular. No denying she can sing though.
Without You -

Technichally very good, but I tell you this - if I heard that on the radio, I wouldn't know who it was because Leona was just copying Mariah Carey's version IMO. Blah

If this had been anyone else they would have been blasted for doing karaoke, but Leona is the favourite like Shayne last year.
I preferred Brenda's version (on X Factor). But Harry Nillson's is the best version and Simon is letting his cock do the talking.

Oh, and Leona cannot sing soft or in a lower register.

The right act (McD's) went home tonight.

degeneration · Post by **degeneration** » 02 Dec 2006, 22:41

Gotta agree that it was about time McD's went home. I liked the fact that they got this far cause it got up simon's nose, but now that it is very serious and the final three, I think the three best remaining should go though and that undoubtedly was ben leona, and ray - but only cause he survived other rounds. I personally thought Ben's Somebody To Love was one of the best performances of the series. It was a very brave thing to do at this point, cause if it went badly he'd be out for sure. He coulda played safe and done another Joe Cocker/Rod Stewart style song that he is good at and got good praise that way. I thought it was so good cause it was completely different to all the songs that have been done over the past 8 or so weeks (or however long is has been going for), and I thought his voice handled it very well.

Also cause I like the song, it was was interesting to hear a completely different take on it.

but I do think Leona will win as she has the more mainstream appeal. Ben 2nd and Ray 3rd.

If I got my way it'd be Ben 1st, Leona 2nd and Ray 3rd.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 03 Dec 2006, 00:13

I hope this is the last series.

X-Factor is sooooo fucking boring this year.

If it comes back and ratings suggest it might PLEASE change the judges.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 03 Dec 2006, 09:19

Agree. Lose the theme weeks too.
Ben got lots of help from the choir on his track but I thought it was brave of him to take a risk and do something outside his comfort zone at this point, nobody else did that. I thought it he did very well.
I wonder what next weeks theme will be?