The X Factor - The Final Countdown

Can you believe we’re nearly at the end of another series of The X Factor?! We have our final three and I have to say I’m delighted with them. I think that the right three went through to next week’s final and I was thrilled to feel like I was making a difference this week by being able to vote - very exciting!

During my annual Christmas trip to London with the girlies (for some festive shopping and a Saw Doctors concert!), I used the opportunity to vote like crazy! Every week when Dermot says “If you don’t want to see your favourite going home you have to vote for them” I wish that I could vote so this week I ran up a huge mobile phone bill voting for Olly Murs over and over again - as I was strolling around the shops, while I was getting a cuppa and even as I was boarding the plane, for good measure! So, needless to say, I was pretty pleased when his name was called out first this week. What a relief.

Round of applause for Stacey!
For me Stacey was both brave and brilliant this week and I thought that some of the criticisms that she received were a little harsh. I agreed with Cheryl when she said that she looked hot during her first performance. I didn’t think that it was overly gimmicky and I felt that she was just trying to answer her critics, who moan about her lack of movement every week. Her vocals did suffer ever so slightly during that ‘chair walk’ but I thought she deserved praise for stepping outside of her comfort zone on semi-final week - not an easy thing to do. That said, I preferred her second performance. Her voice is so amazing that I suppose she doesn’t need any frills. Thrilled she made the final. It’s refreshing to see someone so natural in a competition like this.

No stopping Joe?
It seems that Joe McElderry is going to continue to go from strength to strength. He’s flawless most weeks and this week was no exception. Credit must go to Cheryl for two great song choices that really suited his style and vocal ability. I was a bit surprised though to hear Simon claiming that Open Arms was a song that nobody would have heard of. (Should I then hang my head in shame that I knew all the words to it?!) I would have thought that the Mariah Carey version of the track would have made it popular with new audience recently as well but what do I know? Simon is the expert!

Odds songs for Olly?
While Olly did well I thought that his song choices were odd again this week. It’s not that they weren’t both great songs but I just felt that they didn’t play to his strengths at all. He made the most of Can You Feel It? but I just wasn’t completely sold on We Can Work It Out. Sure, he got his unique dance moves in but I think that younger audience members might have been a bit lost. I’d love to see him working those dance moves to a Jason Mraz track or something else that’s a little bit funkier and more modern. Let’s hope he pulls it out of the bag next weekend.

Danyl’s last week
At this stage of the competition it’s always hard to see anyone leaving the show. You never really feel that they deserve to go after all that hard work and you’d have to admit, whether you’re a fan or not (I can see the attraction but I’m afraid I’m still not a fan) that Danyl seemed to give it his all out there every week. For me, his final song choice this week was excellent. I really liked his version of I Have Nothing. It was a risk but it seemed to work. I was with Louis on the polar bear thing though. It might have been appropriate for Heal The World but it seemed a bit over-the-top for Man in the Mirror. And, while I appreciate that Danyl really performed this song, I didn’t really like it. For me he changed it too much, losing the melody in parts, particularly at the start. Sometimes it’s nice to put your own stamp on something, sometimes though if it’s not broken…

No more sitting on the fence!!
I love it every week when Holly and Dermot try to put either the judges or celebrity guests on the spot by asking them who is going to leave or who is going to win. The amount of people who love sitting on the fence amuses me. I’d love to be diplomatic and list out all the reasons why each one of them deserves to win but it’s too hard to watch the show every week and not pick favourites! So who’s going to win? My head says Joe but my heart says Olly, Olly, Olly! Stacey is great. I love her personality. I think that her voice is amazing but I just don’t think that she’s the winner this year. Sorry Stacey. I think it’s Joe’s to lose, so I’m almost tempted to book another flight to London next weekend… just to vote for Olly Murs! Obsessed much?!

Linda McGee