It’s Official: X Factor Fails to Recognise Real Talent

For the past several weekends, I have unashamedly bolted home from the Acupuncture Student Clinic, needles in one hand, white coat in the other to catch the latest X-Factor episode.  I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the standard of talent – not only from the impressive vocals but by interpretation and arrangement of songs (although how much of that is a result of production and management team input?).

This week’s evictee (Laura White) was a complete shocker and one which might actually persuade me to boycott the rest of the series (yes we can make a difference if we collectively switch off our TVs!).  As probably (in my humble opinion) the most talented pick of the current bunch, I cannot believe that a) the public failed to vote for her and b) that the judges voted her off.  Every week her performances have been near flawless, and her stunning rendition of “God Bless the Child” was truly jaw-dropping.  She undoubtedly has a distinctive sound and whilst her style is consistently and predictably heavily R&B influenced, she really has the power to (and sorry for the cliche) “make the song her own”.  Its an absolute travesty that she has been voted off, especially when there are some real lightweights in the competition (sorry, Eoghan and Daniel).

My first bone of contention is how the public could possibly fail to vote for Laura.  Clearly, the public is either completely clueless when it comes to talent, or they are voting with other criteria.  I think “sympathy” and “cuteness” are the real culprits.  Or perhaps its the population of the voting viewers: middle aged housewives (Daniel), teeny-bopper gals (Eoghan and his hair).

The judges constant pummeling of poor Daniel Evans may well have ironically reversed his fate as favourite to win.  Brilliant. I wouldn’t mind seeing the day Simon shells out a £1m contract for a singer he truly believes belongs on Bournemouth Pier.  Eoghan (and his hair) clearly elicits the “cuteness” public vote.  His rendition of the Nat King Cole classic, L-O-V-E, was truly horrific, with weedy vocals barely discernible against the big band backing. He looked as though he’d been plucked straight out of a low-budget stage show of Oliver.  Please England PLEASE, let’s not have him as our X-Factor winner, because he certainly does not have the X-Factor.

My second bone of contention is that ultimately, the judges voted off Laura.  How could this happen? Even against Ruth’s passionate but strained rock vocals, Laura is by far a more talented singer – with an interpretive intelligence way beyond her years and a sound that is soooo “now”. But they still voted her off.  Over the past few weeks, its almost as if Simon Cowell has decided to throw a spanner in the works for Laura.  Despite consistent outstanding performances, he’s criticised her for her lack of style. Why? What the hell does that have to do with her singing? Perhaps he’s bitter that she turned down X-Factor three years ago for another TV show?  Perhaps he’s eliminating the real talent so that his only survivor, Eoghan (and his hair), might win? Surely not: its a win-win situation for Simon, so surely he would pick the one that will sell the most records with the best chance of longevity? Or perhaps its to give Rachel (his favourite) a chance of winning?  Or perhaps its just a cheap ratings shot – no one wants to tune in week-on-week to see a long drawn out competition where the winner is a foregone conclusion?  

Whatever the reason, the root of it all lays at the central fault of the show: there is only one true winner of X-Factor: Simon Cowell.  All the contestants are just powerless pawns in his cruel but cash rich game.  It’s a large scale dolls house that Simon manipulates each week and its tiresome.  Why should one man control the bulk of the music industry and in such a heartless and talentless manner?

The other judges are indeed more pawns in the game.  Poor old Danni’s good looks and youthful (yet botoxed) demure has been eclipsed by this year’s starlett: Cheryl Cole.  Danni might be a successful club singer, but let’s face facts: she’s no Music Manager. She’s clearly going to be out on her ear next year.  And Louis is really just a tired, middle aged Yorkshire Terrier – renewed to nip Simon Cowell’s heels.  His reason for voting Laura off was based on “how much fight is left” highlights in itself a very sinister component to this competition – its like a modern day version of bear baiting – sure the absence of physical damage makes it ethical, but what about the emotional damage?  Why not stick spurs around their necks and have them really fight! Let’s also not forget Louis shameless comparison of JLS’s potential victory to Obama’s.  Come on Louis, its a singing competition, not world politics!

And I’m sick of the excerpts of the private lives of contestants.  I don’t care if Rachel was a drug addict and I don’t care if Eoghan (and his hair) has a new baby sister. I want to see some real talent people, and this TV show is buoying people up and then knocking them down.  Rachel looks like she’s had a frontal lobotomy, her character and strength beaten out of her.  It’s disgraceful.  No doubt Simon’s clever tactic of poisoning us all against the front runners (suspect Diana will be on the guillotine next week), together with his support of the poor drug addict will no doubt sky-rocket her to overnight success.  But folks, let’s vote on talent and talent alone!

So how do we fix this shameful tripe that dominates our TV’s and our record stores? Do we keep watching X-Factor? Do we keep buying music churned out from Simon Cowell’s record companies?  I think we should all unite and vote Daniel the winner – that’s bound to wipe the smug smile of Cowell’s face.  Come on folks, we can all do it together.  Comments appreciated