[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by GiRTh

To be honest I really couldn't care less. Why do you put every objection down to bitterness and jealousy? Do you think the most talented people made the final then? I actually enjoyed most of SD performances but there is no way on this earth anyone will ever convince me that they have either the talent, or the total marketing package to be worthy winners of this competition. It would be a farce if those two won the competition and received the million pund contract. However, a part of me would find it quite funny if they won. That doesn't seem all that bitter to me.

You just can't take anything that doesn't go the way you want it to. Like in the Britney threads, always something negative. If you don't like the outcome of this competition then pick up a phone and start voting, for god sake.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by MarkChap©
You just can't take anything that doesn't go the way you want it to. Like in the Britney threads, always something negative. If you don't like the outcome of this competition then pick up a phone and start voting, for god sake.

What is your problem? Why are you always so rude? There are meny times on this forum where I've agreed with you but as soon as I disagree you become rude, obnoxious and argumentative.

Red and I were having a good discussion in this thread. We don't agree. In fact, I dont think we will ever agree, but it was polite and respectful; then you come along to make it personal. Grow up.

[Z]

The whole part of being a pop star involves looks. That's incredibly conceited, but that's the way it goes. This'll come across as insulting, but it's not meant to be - Paul Potts is the only "ugly" person I can think of who's currently semi famous - in that he's not got perfect teeth etc. To have put the likes of W4 through over Hope would have been marketing madness. W4 were talented, yes, but I'd have said Hope were just about equal to W4 in terms of talent. Not quite there, but still. I think that, with the exception of Emily Nakanda, 11 good acts were put through. I think Steph should have been put through over Emily.

[GiRTh]

I dont agree. I'd take talent over mediocrity anyday. I'd hate a show full of pretty but average 20-25. Especially if more talented but less pretty people were clearly being rejected on the ground of their looks. I dont think the public would watch a show like that.

[Z]

Originally posted by GiRTh
I dont agree. I'd take talent over mediocrity anyday. I'd hate a show full of pretty but average 20-25. Especially if more talented but less pretty people were clearly being rejected on the ground of their looks. I dont think the public would watch a show like that.

I agree with that, 12 acts with just that is bland. But clearly you can see that, perhaps if not sounding like that, Hope looked like a girl band. I've used this example before, but would anyone really have voted Girls Aloud the winners of the X Factor if they were singing like they first did, e.g. Sound of the Underground, based on this year? I don't think so, I think they'd have gotten just as far as Hope did. Another thing to mention is that Rhydian was made to look bizarre to start with, and everyone said Leon and Same Difference should have gone in the early weeks - look who our finalists were. Perception changes, and people get better, and indeed, get worse. So really, I think it needs to be a combination of talent and marketability. Case in point - The Unconventionals. They were booted off in the first week, despite being vocally sound, they were just an odd bunch that nobody could do much with.

[GiRTh]

Agreed. Perhaps I have a alightly romantic view of it but I just wish they were baised towards the talent and not toward the marketability, as I think they have been this year.

[Z]

It definitely used to be more like that with the Pop Idol format. Obviously, Michelle McManus probably only won because of her size, but she could still sing quite well, as could all the rest of the contestants. Series 1 and 2 of the X Factor were definitely more on talent as opposed to image, but the past two series have seen a huge shift in stance. It's not fair really, but sex sells.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by GiRTh
Agreed. Perhaps I have a alightly romantic view of it but I just wish they were baised towards the talent and not toward the marketability, as I think they have been this year.

The whole point in the show is to find someone who can sell records and be a superstar. It isn't to see who can perform best on a Saturday night. Yes, it's a talent show, but that doesn't mean all the finalists this year weren't talented. Alisha/Emily/Niki were talented but I wouldn't buy their album, and I don't think you would either. You have to think about marketability because you don't want to waste your money voting for someone who'll last 2 months in the industry (Steve Brookstien).

[Z]

Originally posted by MarkChap©

The whole point in the show is to find someone who can sell records and be a superstar. It isn't to see who can perform best on a Saturday night. Yes, it's a talent show, but that doesn't mean all the finalists this year weren't talented. Alisha/Emily/Niki were talented but I wouldn't buy their album, and I don't think you would either. You have to think about marketability because you don't want to waste your money voting for someone who'll last 2 months in the industry (Steve Brookstien).

To stick up for Steve Brookstein - he fell out with Simon Cowell who subsequently abandoned Brookstein's career. He came up to Aberdeen and played a very small venue. I feel sorry for him.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by Z

To stick up for Steve Brookstein - he fell out with Simon Cowell who subsequently abandoned Brookstein's career. He came up to Aberdeen and played a very small venue. I feel sorry for him.

Yeah, but his future album/singles didn't exactly sell well. Last I heard he was performing at pizza places. He uses gags against Simon and Sharon too.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Z
It definitely used to be more like that with the Pop Idol format. Obviously, Michelle McManus probably only won because of her size, but she could still sing quite well, as could all the rest of the contestants. Series 1 and 2 of the X Factor were definitely more on talent as opposed to image, but the past two series have seen a huge shift in stance. It's not fair really, but sex sells.

Sex does indeed sell. I just think its a shame that people buy records basedon whether they fancy the singer.

I think Michelle McManus won Pop Idol two almost certainly because of her size . There were a couple of Ruben Studdard who won American Idol 2 is a very big guy and there was a singer called Frenchie who was big but was also an outstanding. They both featured in the 2nd season AI.

I hope the next series of X Factor is a vast improvement on this one or the public may turn on the show.