Lopez Blogs

Despite being only 4 singers left in the competition, all battling for a place in next week's final (really? I would have never have worked that out if ITV didn't keep shouting it at me), this is going to be a mammoth post. So grab yourself some festive log, pull up a chair and get comfy cos coming up you've got Elouise, the top 5 X Factor Christmas songs, the show review and Same Diff get even more amazing!

THE REAL X FACTOR:

Last week I featured one of 2010s most exciting pop artists, Simon Curtis. This week, I'm back to writing about another artist who would have been pretty amazing if she had appeared on this year's X Factor. Elouise has had me enchanted for a fair portion of this year, whether it be her delightful version of One Night Only or the powerhouse originals like Another Day or Pretender (clip at the end of the video above). Her latest recording is I Owe You Nothing - at first I was a little sad that this wasn't a Bros cover, but having listened several times, it's hard not to fall in love with this completely intoxicating string laden torch song. Whether it's the raw emotion poured into the verses, the careful use of flute (?) in the chorus that sets off the song perfectly or Elouise's impassioned vocal, it's a masterpiece of a song that once again bodes well for an album of instant and timeless standards. The production adds many layers to the song (whether it's the use of instruments to create drama, or pulling back to focus on Elouise's voice at precisely the right moment to fuel the song forward) and raises it from Disney ballad (which would be more than super) to anthemic delight. Something very special and wonderful is being created here, and I can't wait to hear more. Please check out her amazing Fireman of my Dreams song also and go visit her at Cafe de Paris on the 12th Dec :)

THE X FACTOR GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST:

I have to make this week's X Factor post fit in with my advent calendar themed month of posts somehow so I thought I'd showcase some of the Christmas tunes that have either been performed on the show (or similar) or spun out of the show.

• 5 - Pop Idol2 Finalists; War is Over ~ It may have been the year that killed off the pop idol format in this country, but I still adore this treacly treat. Yes, it's the early version of an X Factor charity single - inspiring lyrics, people looking smug that they are still in the competition and others aren't, etc. Plus it has my beloved (and robbed) Suzanne! And Andy Scott Lee back when he was sexy and not the needy nobody he is now :/
• 4 - JLS; Last Christmas ~ works perfectly for the boyband that has ever since straddled the line between cheesy and cool without ever teetering dangerously (though some of the album is too close to cheesy for comfort)! Long may they reign...
• 3 - G4; When A Child Is Born ~ In the rewritten X Factor history in my head, these lovely toffs were the winners and Circle of Life was the winner's single. They didn't sing this on the show (that would be the lovely O Holy Night), but it came a year after and is a perfectly harmonised version of my very fave traditional carol. It's all in making the last chorus soaring, and they did it proud.(For more decent versions of this song, see Il Divo, Shayne Ward, and uh, Lee Ryan!)
• 2 - Shayne Ward; Somewhere Over The Rainbow ~ His version of When A Child Is Born was his festive offering and very well done. However, seeing as I've just covered that song, I'll say once again (for the nth time) that this is my favourite X Factor performance ever. His vocal is amazing, it works wonderfully as a hopeful festive plea but enjoyable all year round. Bah to him being left on the pop shelf, bah!
• 1 - Same Difference; All I Want For Christmas ~ Ah my favourite non-winners ever. Just watch the video. Need I say anymore? The most joyous and delicious act ever, embodying pure pop. Bring on the new music in 2010 ~ their new website has just launched and features all new grown up pics by them where they both look AMAZING. The end

THE LIVE SHOW!!

Thank god this is coming to an end! It feels like it has been going on forever. Plus it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Joe has won, which just breaks my pop heart. It is just such a massive step backwards for pop music. Oh well. Optimism for Stacey! It's MJ night tonight and Dermot is all excited and impressed that Janet will be on stage tomorrow. We all are Dermot, dear, but frankly I'd be more impressed if MJ got on stage and did the greatest comeback known to man :(

OLLY:
They show Olly's initial audition which makes everything he's done since seem like just such a disappointment. I'm hoping Olly at least has the grace to look sad at missing his brother's wedding. No such luck. He's dressed for a mormon baptism and doing a version of Can You Feel It that is sub-par to the amazing V version from a few years back (which makes me want to call up Poppostergirl to discuss this)! Simon stands up to clap which is a bit of an overreaction to the song. Louise reels off the same old platitudes he always does, while Dannii alludes to the "crotch"! He licks his lips again while Dermot reads the number. PORN!
JOE:
Sigh. The vt shows that Joe could probably be the biggest theatre star since Ray Quinn. Oh god. He's doing She's Out Of My Life which is just so ridiculously predictable (at least it's not Ben) and an utterly safe choice. Could he have not done Black or White with a guest rap from Jedward? Or In The Closet (ahem)? No. It's this dullard ballad. I actually make a quick phone call during the performance because it seems like the right thing to do, but then also as improper as secretly texting at a funeral. All the judges are going on about it being outstanding. It was not. It was nice. Hideous shirt though. And his bro-hug shoulder bump with Dermot is still not perfected.
STACEY:
Oh god please vote Stacey. It costs less that a packet of cheese and onion heart attack inducers. Oh she's gone all cabaret club sexy! It's The Way You Make Me Feel. You can't tell she's having wisdom teeth problems at all. It's a bit hard to concentrate what with all the good looking boys grabbing their crotches in the background and there is a weird key change. It's not my favourite performance of hers ever, but she's always lovely and endearing and at least that was a performance, not just sitting on steps (the things you use to go up and down, not the pop group)!
DANYL:
Simon believes that Danyl is the best singer, but I'm personally not sure I would buy his album. Still, I had no interest in Alexandra after being so invested in JLS, and I quite like Overcome. He's doing Man In The Mirror (which Stacey should have done). Simon looks mortified. He's right to. Danyl looks absolutely maniacal and bug eyed, and I'm pretty sure he's quite flat for the first part of the song. In fact, I'm pretty sure the key change was only put in to make his voice in key with everything else. He absolutely flips out near the end, totally overstimulated. I actually want to invoke the Mental Incapacity Act! The video behind Danyl is far better suited to earth song than this - utterly bizarre. Simon tells Danyl it was amazing, but then has to choke on his words, which is most amusing...

OLLY:
His parents are on the vt - clearly his dad is too furious about him missing his brother's wedding to even talk! I'm not even sure what Olly is singing - and dear god, in the instrumental breakdown he totally overdoes his "cool guy" dancing and looks a right goon. Simon thinks that song will get him in the final. Yeah, well Simon thinks a lot of things that are never gonna come true. Olly is wearing a shirt I just ordered (before the show!) from asos! I'd pair it with a bow tie, jeans and this amazing navy blue tux jacket I found though...:P
JOE:
I think I'd rather Joe's gran win the X Factor than Joe though they keep showing that Circle of Life clip which weakens my resolve a little. Oh. Another ballad. Cheryl claps really enthusiastically for no reason at a fairly standard note. Oh don't hate me mark (great x factor blog btw), I am quite liking Open Arms and can see this being single number 2 if he wins, probably rush released in April. It is more the song that I like though - oh no, I'm being swayed by song choice! He sings it very well, but as one of my friends here says "he is very good, but the only thing making me watch is hoping he falls off that box he is standing on". Indeed. Simon mentions it is a song no one knows. Um ok, not only is it the second Journey song Joe has sung in the show (he likes to repeat artists), but it's been used twice on American Idol (Clay Aiken, Elliot Yamin) and Mariah took it to number four. Hardly obscure! Once again Simon is off his face tonight. OH! (what's occuring) - the annual "record that tomorrow and it will be number one" quote comes out. DRINK!
STACEY:
Ooo, Stacey's brother is quite attractive :P That is neither here nor there because her version of Somewhere is entirely flawless, powerful and gorgeous. Seriously, it's one of the most spellbinding performances on the x-factor ever. Record that tomorrow and i'll remortgage my house to get it to number one :P Incredible. Whatever happens now, she is my winner.
DANYL:
So Simon's acts have been last four out of the nine weeks with Danyl taking three of those slots. Yes that seems fair. Oh god, he's on the edge of manipulative tears again in the video. Pull yourself together man. He's doing I Have Nothing. Cheryl won't be pleased because it is a boy singing a girls song and that is ridiculous. It's mainly in tune, which - considering all the insistence of his brillo singing - is actually quite rare. His eyebrows are absolutely crazy and freak me out.

Back tomorrow with the results, Janet Jackson and Lady Gaga in the comments section :)