Lol @ you two
I haven't actually been watching this series of X Factor but I saw the thread title and wanted to chime in anyway lol. Because I don't think Simon has ever really cared what the contestants sound like. I think when he's watching performances he doesn't hear singing, he sees £££ signs. There's a few reasons why I stopped watching TXF, but one of the things that put me off was the way the judges always seemed to push certain acts (and slate others), regardless of their performances, based on their commercial viability. I think it's really patronising to the audience. Obviously I don't know if that fits well with the example you're talking about though Mock, more of a general thing.