X Factor 2011: Onwards and Upwards for Devlin

X-Factor / Mike Norman / 07 November 2011 / 4

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Janet Devlin - is she about to step up her game?

"So please, let Devlin sing whatever song she feels comfortable singing, and don’t dictate to her what songs she can or can’t sing by having a completely pointless theme week."

Mike Norman is fed up with X Factor themes and the British public but believes things will get back to normal soon, meaning that Janet Devlin is going to get better and better.

The worst aspect of penning a X Factor review on a quiet Sunday afternoon - when you're at the peak of your writing powers - is that there's always the possibility of the X Factor results show later that evening forcing you into a complete re-write.

That's what has happened here. I had this article penned by four o'clock yesterday afternoon, I was on the lash by five o'clock, and by seven o'clock I was throwing money behind the bar for the locals in anticipation of collecting my X Factor winnings.

But that's as good as it got. At exactly 8:37pm on Sunday evening (I know the exact time because there's an outgoing call on my mobile to the local hospital) Dermot O'Leary said the word, "Fraaankie", - meaning the sleazy rock star wannabe had survived another week - and I turned a ghostly, sickly pale colour. "Give him some water, he'll be fine", said the nurse on the other end of the phone. And I was, until Mr O'Leary said the words, "The Risk", - meaning the group was immediately eliminated from the competition courtesy of finishing bottom of the public vote.

Apparently I was only unconscious for 15 minutes, which is just as well because it meant I missed Johnny Robinson being eliminated also. Not only had my Frankie Cocozza wager lost, but my strongest bet of the competition - Robinson in the Over 25s market - had gone belly up too.

So what exactly is going on? Why are the public keeping Cocozza in, and why are they failing to vote for decent acts like Sophie Habibis and The Risk? I'll be damned if I can explain.

On Sunday afternoon I'd written about X Factor themes ruining the competition, and that Saturday night's 'Dance Floor Classics that Can Fill A Floor in a Club' theme (or whatever it was), was another example of a theme taking acts out of their comfort zone.

Quite frankly, who cares if Janet Devlin can't sing dance songs? I will only buy her album if it's a compilation of soft ballads sung in her unique, beautiful way. Her recording voice is perfect for that type of song, and not for singing up-tempo numbers that she doesn't feel comfortable doing. Lady Gaga has hardly failed to sell millions of pop records because she can't do a heavy metal number has she?

So please, let Devlin sing whatever song she feels comfortable singing, and don't dictate to her what songs she can or can't sing by having a completely pointless theme week. If The X Factor is about finding a recording artist, someone who can sell millions of albums, then I'm afraid there's only Devlin left in the competition who fits the bill.

As good as Craig Colton and Marcus Collins have been in recent weeks, if any of these guys win this year's competition then you will have an artist in the Leon Jackson mould - one that we will never hear of again after that initial bit of success.

I'm not for one second suggesting that Colton or Collins won't win because after what happened on Sunday night nothing will surprise me anymore. Both sang really well, and not for the first time. They are ultra consistent and don't appear to have any problems adjusting to whatever theme they have to abide by. But neither are good enough to sell millions of records, and therefore I hope neither of them win.

Collins is the [3.8] favourite in the Winner market after being available to back at [27.0] just three weeks ago, whilst Devlin and Colton can be backed at [4.6] and [5.2] respectively. Next in is Misha Bryan at [6.6], Rhythmix (Little Mix) at [7.8], and then complete outsiders Kitty Brucknell ([65.0]) and Cocozza ([90.0]).

I haven't got a clue about this week's 10th Elimination, but for information purposes Cocozza is the [2.06] favourite, just ahead of Brucknell ([3.7]). My money is staying firmly in my pocket, though I have had another bet on Devlin to win outright. The British public and X Factor producers will come to their senses sooner rather than later... won't they?

Recommended Bets

Back Janet Devlin @ [4.6] in Winner market (2pts)

Previously Recommended

Back Frankie Cocozza @ [2.1] in Eighth Elimination market (2pts) - LOST
Back Marcus Collins @ [15.0] in Eighth Elimination market (1pt) - LOST
Back Sami Brookes @ [4.6] in Sixth Elimination market (1pt) - WON
Back Nu Vibe @ [4.0] in Fifth Elimination market (1pt) - WON
Back Gary Barlow @ [5.0] in First Mentor Eliminated market (2pts) - OPEN
Back Janet Devlin @ [4.0] in Winner market (2pts) - OPEN
Back Craig Colton @ [18.0] in Winner market (1pt) - OPEN
Back Kelly Rowland @ [2.6] in Winning Mentor market (1pt) - OPEN
Back Johnny Robinson @ [4.2] in Over 25s market (2pts) - LOST
Back Sophie Habibis @ [14.0] in Winner market (1pt) - LOST

*betting pts settled = 8; pts returned = 8.6; profit/loss = +0.6

Star Predictor

So with just seven acts remaining what does the Betfair market say? For the latest odds on the winner and next elimination markets check out our shiny new X-Factor Star Predictor...

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Harold Hornet | 07 November 2011

You are saying what I had said before a 'ball was kicked'. The current format means we will end up, more often than not, with someone destined for cabaret and cruise liners.

I mean, would the producers expect to ask Oasis onto the show and ask them to sing in the style of the Black Eyed Peas? Or get George Michael on and ask him to do an Iron Maiden number? Or would they, for that matter, get Take That on (just for Barlow, the man who keeps moaning about potential wedding singers) and request they do something by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five?

The reason most chart acts are successful is they have a style, which they are good at - and which a number of people enjoy enough to buy records. I can't imagine Madonna would have sold many copies of an album of her interpretation of great Ladysmith Black Mambazo tracks.

Surely any singer who can do rock, dance, ballads and soul is the total antithesis of what they actually want to find?
Mike | 07 November 2011

Thanks for your comment Harold.

You're absolutely correct, and I'm glad you understood the point I was trying to make.

We all know Frankiie is garbage, but he's a rock singer. So what's he going to sing on ballad week for example? It's unfair to criticise an act for singing poorly a style of music they don't sing. These theme weeks are just silly.

This year's competition has been silly. If they just let Janet sing soft ballads week in week out, Frankie rock songs, Little Mix pop songs and Kitty power ballads etc then it will be far better viewing/listening. Then we can judge them on the songs they are supposed to be good at rather than ones they aint.

People will always disagree and say that someone with the X Factor must show diversity and be able to sing any style of music, but I'm not so sure. I'd rather someone excel and be brilliant at just one style than someone be just good at a wide range of styles.

It's an interesting one that's for sure, but right now I'm more concerned with how the public are voting. Very strange indeed.
Harold Hornet | 08 November 2011

The whole 'theme' thing is a joke really. Look at last weekend: it was supposed to be club classics week, right? Much as I like Proud Mary, it's not a club classic. I'd argue that Like A Prayer is not really a club classic either.

Rock Week was even worse.

But the actual 'themes' are so flimsy, it makes a mockery of the whole idea. I mean, US v UK week allows artists to choose any song that has been a hit in the US or UK. So that's any song in the world pretty much.

What next? 'Nice song week' . . . 'Popular song week' . . . 'Song I know the words to week'.

I don't watch Strictly Come Dancing, but the difference there is that a good dancer has to be able to master the different dance forms.

A good singer doesn't need to me multi-faceted. No-one would ever criticise Elvis or Sinatra because they didn't have dozens of different styles. Like him or loathe him, Sir Cliff has got this far without dipping into rap or hip-hop.

X Factor, by its very name, suggests it is looking for someone who has just that: an x factor, something special, a unique talent.

What is risks delivering is someone who would raise the roof down the pub with their karaoke ability, but would not deliver many hits because they have a 'jack of all trades' skill set.

Anyone want a ticket for a Steve Brookstein/Leon Jackson double header show?
Mike | 08 November 2011

Yes Harrold, you've basically said what I've already said about themes, especially the USA v UK theme, totally pointless.

And thus far, every theme has been pointless. As I said in my review a few weeks back, 'Rock Week' basically meant you could sing any song in the world as long as you were wearing a fingerless glove and held your fist in the air - Freddy Mercury-like - at the end of the song.

Last week's theme actually got changed to floor fillers. Again, another pointless theme. I was at a wedding last week where the floor was filled with part-goers dancing to Aggado!