[Red Moon]

Another bad blow for Louis

LOUIS Walsh’s disastrous form continued this week as another of his bands became the second act to be voted off X Factor.

Girlband were in the sing-off again for the second week, and went crashing out to Ruth Lorenzo after the judges couldn’t decide who to send off, sending the competition into deadlock.

The girls from Bristol and Birmingham received the fewest votes from viewers for their first performance of Heal the World, which Simon described as “gimmicky”.

Phoebe Lau, 18, said through tears: “It’s been the most amazing journey ever, we’re just happy to have been in the competition”

Louis said of his act: "They sang their hearts out and did their best."

But the Irish music mogul couldn't resist making a sly dig at Simon who called Rachel by the wrong name during the show: "At least I know their names, Simon doesn't know the name of anyone in the competition."

Alexandra - I'll Be There

There’s no denying this girl has a cracking voice. Last week she got up, sung a Whitney song and sounded just like Whitney – no easy task.

This week she got up, sung a Mariah Carey version of a Michael Jackson classic, and sounded just like Mariah Carey.

But, of course, the world already has Whitney and Mariah, so the question is: ‘Just what is the point of Alexandra?!’

Well I’ll tell you – anyone who can make Luis Walsh go ghetto-tastic and shout: “You got it going on girl” is worth a premium rate phone call for comedy value alone.

Scott Bruton - She's Out of My Life

The best thing about this performance was the clip of Simon open mouthed and almost scared eyes – he looked like he was awaiting the results of a paternity test.

Scott did well singing this lesser known Jackson track – a sterling effort compared to last week’s turkey – but it was far from a show stopper.

Ruth Lorenzo -I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Simon says she needs be making more of the fact she’s a firey Latino femme-fatale. I couldn’t agree more.

GirlBand - Heal the World

Crumbs. This was more twee than the Eurovision song contest in the 70s.

Laura White - You Are Not Alone

Solid performance.

Austin Drage - Billie Jean

This was the first performance that sounded like a winner.

Austin’s slow and haunting version of Billie Jean didn’t get the warmest reception from the judges but I loved it.

He made the song his own and dared to be different.

Daniel Evans - One Day in your Life

This was more like watching Max Bygraves than Michael Jackson.

If you’re a fan of a) cruise ships, and b) Dan Evans, you’re in for a treat because it really can’t be long before he’s signed up by P&O.

JLS -The Way You Make Me Feel

Fair play to the boys they went hammer and tongs to give a full stage show – singing, dancing, role play and eight girls.

At no point though did you see even one of the boys make eye-contact with any of the girls – instead choosing to focus what they were gyrating.

Hilarious viewing.

Diana Vickers - Man in the Mirror

I couldn’t work it out – I was sure I had heard her/this song before, but where?

And then it dawned on me, she sounds like the countless US acts that take any 80s track, slow it down using nothing but an acoustic guitar, throw a kooky voice over the top and then play repeatedly on all of their teen dramas.

I look forward to hearing her over the more poignant moments of One Tree Hill, Smallville, The O.C. (I know, I know, that one’s been cancelled), etc in the not-too-distant-future.

Rachel Hylton - Dirty Diana

This was the one act I was really looking forward to. Rachel’s great with a powerful voice that’s just itching to be fully unleashed, and this is the best Jacko track by a country mile.

But something about the performance was lacking, and she failed to impress.

Eoghan Quigg - Ben

Who’d have thunk it?! Cute little Eoghan singing cute little Ben.

I’m sure there were 13-year-old girls up and down the nation in tears of adoration before the lad from Ireland got through the first line.

Source: News of the World