Sigh. It all started off so promisingly. After Michelle McMammoth didn't deliver hits as big as her waist (charting at a number that is the same as the inches round your waist doesn't count), Pop Idol was quickly dispatched with and X-Factor was born. Which really was Pop Idol with more categories and a way for Simon Cowell to make more money. And at first it was all very exciting. There would be groups (yay!) and old people (less yay!) competing against the former pop idol wannabes. 2004 saw Steve Brookstein and G4 in the final, with Steve taking the prize. And from that second on it was clear that the X-Factor was all about making money through the advertising on television and the phone votes. There would be no real care and attention paid to the winner. Steve was saddled with some ropey Phil Collins cover and quickly faded into obscurity. In fact it is the only Idol/X winner song not to debut at number one, and one suspects it wouldn't have climbed higher than it's number two debut had the canny decision not been taken to declare it a charity record after the Dec 26th tsunami. The problem was Steve didn't have the X factor and actually G4 should have won the competition. They were vocally outstanding and bought something different and fresh to the world of pop. But then so did 2005 winner, Shayne Ward. As soon as Shayne took the stage in the live shows, it was clear that here was a guy who had the look, the looks, the chav makes good backstory and a stunning voice to back it up. He was one of the few contestants then and since to choose mainly contemporary numbers (Justin timberlake, scissor sisters, take that the week their documentary aired…) and everything about him just screamed POPSTAR! He'd proved he could dance and be funky, so why he was saddled with an album full of ballads is beyond me. Luckily, Simon Cowell seems to have realised his mistake and the boy's potential and a more diverse, upbeat album is promised for the new year which will hopefully see Shayne bring the REAL sexy back. Rar, etc……
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LINK: Buy Shayne Ward's debut album
MP3: Shayne Ward – All My Life
MP3: Shayne Ward - Hit The Ground Running
MP3: G4 – I Don't Like Mondays
