X-Factor Review: Consumate package conjures visions of Leona

X-Factor / Mike Norman / 15 October 2008 / Leave a comment

A great voice and a body to die for might not be enough for one contestant now that Simon Cowell has declared his affections, says Mike Norman.

Our X-Factor exploits got off to a flyer last week when Bad Lashes (advised here at [7.8]) were the first act to be eliminated from the competition, leaving the Groups category at the mercy of our "outstanding bet" selection JLS.

However, for completely different reasons, things didn't go quite so well for our outright winner selections Ruth Lorenzo ([44.0] to win) and Rachel Hylton ([11.5]).

In Ruth's case, it's not how she performed that saw her chances of winning go.... well, tits up (if you'll excuse the pun), it's more of the question of her popularity that concerns me. Looking stunning, having a body to die for, and being Spanish will serve you well away from The X-Factor, but if all it does on the show is get Simon Cowell to admit to fancying you then your chances of winning the competition quickly diminish. Cowell's flirting has inadvertently alienated Ruth from the female voters, and at [8.4] she is worth a small interest in the second Elimination market.

Rachel on the other hand was stitched up big time by her mentor Dannii Minogue. Given a hideous up-tempo song to perform (Robyn's With Every Heartbeat) she looked like a social worker who had fallen into some karaoke joint on her lunch hour. Still, she pulled it off and was told she is a potential winner given the right song. I completely disagree with the people who think she won't be popular because of her past. She is likeable, outgoing, and has a tremendous talent. If she doesn't win X Factor it will be because someone is better, not because she used to be a jailbird.

Back on 17th September I flagged up Alexandra Burke as a potential winner, saying she was Leona Lewis-like and that if you can get matched at around [6.0] then don't miss the opportunity. She is now available at [5.6] and I'm more than happy to jump the Ruth Lorenzo ship and lump on Alexandra.

For me she is the consummate package. She is beautiful, extremely sexy, looks like a pop star, and has a voice to rival anything we've heard in previous years - including Leona. She proved at the weekend by singing Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody that she has more strings to her bow than just singing ballads. She is clearly not as confident and outgoing as others, but when she takes to the stage she looks and sounds like she has been doing it all her life. My one and only worry with Alexandra is whether Britain will vote for another artist in the mould of Leona Lewis.

Laura White ([3.9] to win) and Diana Vickers ([7.4]) got fantastic comments last week including (in Diana's case) being referred to the singing version of Marmite - you either love it or hate it (and Simon loved it).

Laura's voice range is incredible, but when it comes to belting out the classics in later weeks I think Alexandra will out sing her. For now, I'm happy to lay Laura - but not at [3.95] in the Winner market, but at [2.3] in the Girls market. If she is to be beaten, then it is very likely to be by one of the girls in her category as much as anyone else.

Diana is not so much a dark horse now, but more of a live contender to win the show outright. She has a unique singing style and though I have reservations as to whether the public will keep enjoying it, I only have to think back to Will Young winning Pop Idol to realise it didn't do him any harm. And remember that youtube form I alluded to last week? Well Diana has three clips from Saturday's live show and she's been viewed more than 250,000 times so far - more than twice as many as the next most viewed contestant (Alexandra Burke).

As for the other betting opportunities I think Austin Drage is worth a wager in the Boys market at [2.22]. He looks to be the one contestant out of them all who can mix up his style of singing and I think he will go further in the competition than Eoghan Quigg ([2.02]), who will struggle when he strays away from ballads.

Although Ruth is my selection in the second Elimination market, I will be having a saver on Daniel Evans at [4.0] - the guy just can't sing. He has to attempt a Michael Jackson song this week - I can't see it being a Thriller, can you?