Lopez Blogs

Clearly I am missing the X Factor more than I thought (for my thoughts on the Joe/Rage debacle check out Ken's blog on it and my comment!) I've had heated debates at work, re-watched the JLS/Alexandra duet an OBSCENE amount of times (we are talking Adem-Fame Monster levels of obsession!) and several times pretended that I am Michael Buble and duetted with the still amazing Stacey. So when I was programming my latest christmas playlist, i thought i would focus on that loveit/hateit genre of classical meets opera harmonic boy band pop... And as they all seem to focus on the same few Christmas carols between them, showing the same lack of originality of song choice that the X Factor does, I thought I would present them as the final four acts of the imaginary X Factor :P Because I'm bored and you can choose your winner in the comments. Vote wisely ;)

SONG CHOICE ONE:

• G4 - Silent Night: You could almost taste Simon Cowell's fury as the posh toffs from London progressed further and further in the inaugural X Factor, while he was busy developing Il Divo in the background. Oops. Anyway, this flawless acapella version of the classic is driven by Jonathan's lovely vocal and the sheer power of the gloriously harmonised backing vocals from, er, the other 3. It's all very reverent and restrained, then at 1m50s they just let loose and it's entirely showstopping. I saw them in Coventry Cathedral some years back and they were proper bonza...
• RyanDan ~ O Holy Night: From poptastic boyband to masters of harmonic convergence, the transformation of RyanDan (twin brothers from Canada) was one of their cannier moves. Appealing to a whole new market, they quickly came out looking absolutely gorgeous, blending their voices together like two finely tuned instruments and aided by some glorious production values, including the incomparable Steve Anderson. This is a beautiful performance that always makes the hairs on my arms rise - with an outstanding soaring note just before a gentle ending. I had the pleasure of interviewing the boys a year or so back and they were just ever so charming and lovely...
• Blake ~ White Christmas: If I recall correctly, Blake were the first group to be put together on facebook and while it may have been done electronically, the world is lucky that the four lads (here in their original line up) had the voices to challenge G4 and their ilk. Yes of course the song is a classic and the guy who leads it has a delicious baritone, but why on earth are they singing in a shed sales lot?! Hardly the most festive of surroundings, although they have some nice scarves on. Oh wait, there is a Christmas tree in the background and they do sort of look at each other with something slightly more than brotherly love. Oh let it snow let it snow let it snow!
• Il Divo ~ Do You Hear What I Hear: I'm a bit smitten with Camilla Kerslake at the moment (see below) so I'll allow an unsanctioned duet at this point of the competition (the competition that is fake and has no prize. Indulge me. I'm loaded on Bucks Fizz, the drink not the pop group). Anyway, Il Divo duetted with the lovely Camilla the other week on this great song, sounded marvelous (as did she) and would have had Louis jabbing his finger in his rule book relentlessly. Oh it's Christmas. Enjoy it - it's almost like a festive version of something hopeful from Les Miserables...

SONG CHOICE TWO ~ "WINNER'S" SONG:

• G4 ~ When A Child Is Born: The christmas song of choice for the poperas is also one of my favourite more religious based songs. The instrumental arrangement is warm and inviting and they build the song ever so gently to a carefully controlled crescendo in the last verse that leaves me all fuzzy inside with a giant happy. More please...
• Blake ~ When A Child Is Born: Ok, Blake's turn. The line up has changed ever so slightly but there are still some good looking lads here, and really that's half the battle won with the poperas. This has more of a solemn piano led arrangement than G4, which works equally as well - nice background ooos in verse two also as the piano gently lays a few chords in nice harmony. The last verse is suitably rousing with angelic choir soprano bits added that bring it to a fine conclusion. Amen brothers!
• Il Divo ~ When A Child Is Born: Of course when Simon Cowell is involved in the creation of your group you are bound to come out with the most bombastic, grandeur filled production of the lot. Is it too much? Never - enough is not a word that suits this song, although this version does somewhat lack the charm of the previous two versions...
• RyanDan ~ Can't Help Falling In Love: Deciding to mix it up a bit (partly because they haven't formally covered When A Child Is Born, though I bet they sing it around the piano at home and partly because I just heard this unreleased song from them today), I've decided that this song just sounds equally as festive and wonderful when sung by RyanDan. It's a gracious, elgaic version that has some heavenly muted trumpet, two line harmonies, a deep and generous backing choir and is delivered with such earnestness and sincerity that the song literally sparkles. Quite amazing. Like I don't have enough new obsessions, it then gets bought to a huge conclusion that knocks your socks off. Apparently they had a new song out in Canada earlier this year called Is Love Enough that is hopefully off a new album. I'll be writing LOTS more about them in the new year...

OK, cast your votes for your favourite wisely people. In the meantime, let's have a special guest to round things off :)

Camilla Kerslake ~ White Christmas: Discovered by Sir Gary of the Barlow, I just love Camilla's voice. Her rendition in Italian of Rule The World is spell binding. And frankly people always get bonus points in my book when they include the original beginning to White Christmas from the film. Because there has never been such a day, in Beverley Hills, LA. Of course this is string laden, with a few bell chimes hear and there and some lovely harp action.

See you tomorrow dudes!