[Mark]

Pop Idol was on earlier and Aaron and Rik got through....poor Darius!!!

Anyway the final 10 are

1) Zoe Birkett
2) Gareth Gates
3) Laura Doherty
4) Hayley Evetts
5) Jessica Garlick
6) Rosie Ribbons
7) Korben
8) William Young
9) Aaron bailey
10) Rik Waller

Who do you think will win???
I think either Gareth Gates or Rik for the men and Zoe Birkett and Rosie Ribbons for the women!

Mark

[LEE]

I think last nights show was very good, one of the most difficult to decide who should go through, and I must admit I didn't vote for that very reason.

I do think that the right 2 went through in the end, but even the judges said they thought at least 6 people really deserved to.

I really like Darius, but I don't think he did himself justice last night. The song he sung is actually one of my favourites but I don't think it was the right song for him. It's a shame because I think he is very talented and I have a lot of respect for him having the courage to do Pop Idol after Popstars, but I doubt we have heard the last of Darius Dinesh.

I think it's going to be really interesting over the next few shows. Each show has a theme and each week all the contestants will be singing the same sort of songs. Pete Waterman made a very good point about Gareth Gates last night, he said that so far we've only heard him sing one song, and even though he agreed that he sung this brilliantly, we don't know know what he is like with other styles. The same is true of all the contestants, I think it's going to really show who are the better performers.



[Edited on 2-12-2001 by LEE]

I dont think Gareth Gates should win but I have got a feeling he will. His voice didnt amaze me like Riks did or Zoes.
I want either Rik to win, not just to mess up the judges opinions (well, maybe that a bit) but I think he has such a nice voice.
Also, Zoe who won in the first round was really really brill and I would like to see her win.

[Kaz]

Noticed the undernoted article on Ananova today, comparing the voting out of one Pop Idol hopeful each week to Big Brother:

I'm not arrogant, says Pop Idol's Rik

Pop Idol hopeful Rick Waller says he's never been arrogant in his life.

He was told he was getting "big-headed" by judge Simon Cowell after his latest performance on the show. Rick went on to win the public vote along with train driver Aaron Bayley.

"One thing I've never been in my life is arrogant," Rick told the official Pop Idol website. "Like a lot of people, Simon believes the whole 'Vote For The Fat Bloke' campaign was started by me. But why would I do that? I want to win the show on merit. I don't want a tainted victory."

Rick says the only reason Simon criticised his character was because he couldn't fault his performance. "I think the judges felt they had to say something bad about me," he said. "But I can't stop the papers printing stuff about me if they want to. I wish this could have happened another way, but at the end of the day, the public voted me through to the final and that's all that counts."

The final 10 contestants on Pop Idol will be given a song theme each week until they are whittled down to just two.

The show is set to continue until February with one contestant voted out each week, like Big Brother.

---------------------------------------------

Does anyone know what happens once we get down to the final two? Will it be up to the public to vote, or will the panel of 'experts' make the decision?

Incidentally, I believe the bookies are making Gareth Gates the favourite to win.

[Mark]

I hope it isn't up to the panel as that would be biased. I would imagine the choice in our hands!

Mark

[LEE]

It's still up to the public, right up until the end. That's what Ant and Dec said the other week anyway.

[sweetlittlesara]

i like gareth he is sooo sweet, awww

[Kaz]

Just a quick reminder that Pop Idol - The Story So Far is on ITV1 tonight at 10.30 p.m. It'll give us a chance to hear all the 10 finalists again.

[sweetlittlesara]

i am watching that right now, i didnt know how much i had missed!! Some of the auditons still crack me up tho!

i hate you pete waterman!!

[Mark]

My sis bought the video, and some of them have me in fits of laughter!

I think Simon is the one to hate...not Pete!

Mark :noel:

[Kaz]

Gosh, I'd forgotten how many of the original applicants were truly awful. I was in hysterics at the girl who did YMCA although - bless her - she was completely up for a laugh, and actually made Simon and Pete crack up too. :santa:

Roll on Saturday - hope Rick's voice has recovered by then. It would be a tragedy if he had to pull out having got so far. :xmas:

[Feefs]

I'm glad they are being made to sing all the same type of song each week, because I'm sure loads of people are heavily biased towards the sort of song they like.

Pete is right about doing different sorts of songs too. After all, if they want to stay in the charts for any length of time they'll need some variety. Even Westlife have taken to doing up-tempo numbers!

Some people might have a fantastic voice and can get every note in a ballad, but to carry off something more upbeat and poppy requires timing and perhaps a little vocal agility (as opposed to strength).

I will be interested to see how Gareth gets on with something a little less misty-eyed. I've only managed to see him singing once, on the very first show. When he started to sing I really paid attention. In fact I moved right up to my tv for a closer look. I'll confess I shed a tear. Something none of the other consestants have managed. I ran around telling everyone about him - insisting he had the 'voice of an angel'. Although, to be fair to the other finalists I'd just watched some of the worst singers ever. Plus, I was genuinely shocked to hear such a beautiful composed voice after the stress of him telling his name. In fact, I was practically in tears before he started. And he's really cute and you could pick him up and put him in your pocket.

I think this Saturday I'll try to watch everyone as if I'm seeing them for the first time. Does anyone know what sort of songs they are doing this week?

[Janette]

I really liked Rik, in fact I was close to tears when I heard him last week. But the guy the week before who sang "Light My Fire" was amazing!
I think it's going to be very interesting hearing them all doing different stuff each week. Like Simon Cowell said, we've only heard Gareth sing Living Without Wings so can he rock? I don't think he'll win, his voice is just too weak.

[Kaz]

News from Ananova at lunchtime today:

Big Rik pulls out of Pop Idol

Rik Waller has pulled out of Pop Idol after losing his voice. He will be replaced by Darius Danesh. Darius has been drafted in because he came third in Rik's heat.

A Pop Idol spokeswoman told Ananova that Rik is very disappointed at losing out on the chance of becoming a pop star. He had hinted that he may be forced to pull out of the competition because of a sore throat at a press conference earlier this week.

The spokeswoman said: "Rik has seen a throat specialist and he has no other option but to pull out. His part in the competition is over."

The first of Pop Idol's ten final heats is on ITV1 tomorrow at 6.05pm. One hopeful will be voted off the show every week, until the public are left with just two finalists to choose from.

HOWEVER........ another story filed at 15.40 today:

Show's not over for Pop Idol's Big Rik

Rik Waller may still be able to take part in the final of Pop Idol. It was thought the contestant would have to pull out altogether after losing his voice. But after consulting a throat specialist, Rik has announced he might be fit enough to perform on the ITV show next week. It means there will only be nine contestants in the first of Pop Idol's 10 final heats this Saturday.

A Pop Idol spokeswoman told Ananova they want to give Rik every chance. She said: "If Rik rests his voice he may be all right to continue. He's very hoarse and need to rest. I'd say it's 50/50. "It means there will be only nine contestants in this week's heat. It's unfortunate but the only way to do it." If Rik is not well enough to perform the following week, he will be replaced by Darius Danesh, who came third in Rik's round of auditions.

Rik said: "I am absolutely over the moon. It's good to be given the chance to get better so I can show people what I can do." And in a joking reference to the 1970s rocking toys, he added: "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down."

Darius said: "Rik's a tremendous guy and I'm really, really sorry to hear he's too ill to perform on this Saturday's show. I'm happy to be Rik's stand-in if his illness persists. We get on really well. I'm sure he'll get enough rest to put him back on his feet and entertain us with that voice of his."

--------------------------------------------

Poor Rik!!!

I think he's fabulous (although I think Darius is great too), and would hate him to lose out because of this. Get better soon, Rik. :xmas:

[sweetlittlesara]

the YMCA girl was on capital fm a couple of weeks ago she was having a right laugh about herself with foxy. Aparantly she went to the pop idol auditions thinking it was for a television presentling job and when she got there she decided to give it a go anyway, sounds a bit like penny!!

I hope Rik goes for it - I think has an amzing voice and he deserves to be there after all the harsh media and controversy about him.
Who do you lot want to win and who do you think is gonna win?
I think Gareth will end up winning it cos he got like 64% of the vote but I want either Zoe or Rik to win cos I think that their voices are lovely and they have impressed me the most - doesnt mean to say I dont think the others ar e good - they all did well!!:snowman:

I know Mark and I posted this up the top but as no one has answered I still thought I would post it again!
Who do you trhink will win?

[Kaz]

Having watched tonight's show, Wildchild - I really don't know!!

I didn't think Gareth did himself justice, nor did Aaron. Will, on the other hand, was absolutely superb. I really liked Jessica and Zoe too. Now I'm more confused than I was before!!!

[Janette]

With 5 minutes to go before the results of the first show, I still say the same. William is a total star! (At least I know his name now, see my previous post!) He was incredible! Don't know what everyone sees in Rosie though, I just don't find her voice anything special

[Kaz]

Well, I have to say I'm shocked. Korben was voted out this week.

Although he wasn't one of my favourites, it hadn't crossed my mind that he would go so early on - just goes to show how good a judge I am! I think Laura was a very lucky girl, and definitely got the sympathy vote this week. She does have a fantastic personality, though. :xmas:

[Feefs]

I really liked Laura, but couldn't give her my sympathy vote because I wrote the phone number down wrong. I didn't think the song suited her either, but it's not like she sang it badly. Her personality might be stronger than her voice, but it also adds to it.

I also have no idea what makes Rosie so fantastic. She's technically a good singer, but there's nothing interesting about her voice. Vocals need character, not just musical accuracy, otherwise we'd just listen to instruments the whole time.

I didn't see Corban, so I've no idea if he was any good. The weakest performance I saw was Aaron, but I've never been blown away by him when other have thought he was great.

I enjoyed the questions from the audience section, even if the one about why they didn't wait for 10 weeks to do the voting was daft. BECAUSE IT MAKES FOR BETTER TV!

Perhaps they explained it properly at the beginning of the show, but why did they change the rules to 'vote for your favourite'? Anyone got any good conspiracy theories?

[LEE]

I completely missed this weeks show cos I've been away for the weekend and forgot to set my video.

It surprised me that Korben went. He wasn't my fave by a long way, but I would have put him in the top 5. I'm afraid I don't agree with you Janette and Feefs cos I think Rosie has an amazing voice - by far the best of the girls.

What do I know though !!

[Kaz]

Sorry LEE - and I know it's a bad move to disagree with an Administrator - but I have to side with Feefs and Janette. :santa:

IMHO Rosie maybe has a technically good voice, but it does absolutely nothing for me. Then again, I don't like Maria Carey either. Zoe's my favourite from the girls but, at the moment, my favourite is William. :rudolph:

[Mark]

I think Zoe stands a very good chance, and I think Gareth as well.

LEE I am going to have to side with Kaz, Rosie has a good voice, but thats it! She doesn't really look as if she puts much effort or enthusiasm in to it.

Sorry to argue!

Mark :noel:

I reckon Will is gonna wn cos the Pop Idol board are crazy about him and he is good, u gotta admit!
But my fave is Zoe, I think, for her age, she is brilliant and she is gonna go far!! I wann her to win! :santa::xmas: