Midweek News: CHERYL COLE New Album, X FACTOR Viewing Figures Down

Some music news first for you this week, although it’s Cheryl Cole so can we really call it music?  We can from now on, following her successful debut album in the UK and US Cole and her producer and friend Will.i.Am have confirmed they are currently working on the Geordie lasses third album.

Since Girls Aloud have been “ON A BREAK” Cheryl has carved herself a successful solo career even making in roads into TV, we all know how that went when she wind up in America on Simon Cowell’s new mega US X Factor.  Now fully out of hiding from that embarrassment Cole has now set to work in the studio again with an album of songs ready to be recorded.

This album is going to be like nothing we have heard from her in the past, unlike her last album of pop junk which saw one song feature Will.i.Am (maybe more), the duo have hinted that collaborations are already lined up with rap superstars Eminem, Niki Minaj and R&B artists Rhianna and Usher.  Along with that there is a slight rumour that she may well also be collaborating with hit DJ and producer David Guetta.

Things seem to be on the up for Cole once again and this is one album I can see myself taking a listen to, Cole has also just signed on to star in her first Hollywood movie What To Expect When Your Expecting which will also star Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz.

Some more music news now, seems I’m on a bit of a role this week although this sort of combines music and TV.  NME.COM are reporting that X Factor viewing figures are down 2 million from where they were in the 2010 live shows.  In 2010 the show pulled in 12.2 million for it’s first live show whilst this year it only managed 10.4 million still not bad for the UK but, what’s the problem?

The new judging line up?  I don’t think so for me the judging panel is a good one, apart from Louis Walsh, can’t stand the guy.  The inclusion of Gary Barlow for me is a great effort, he is a proven musician and songwriter and has really done well since joining the show.  Tulisa, again nothing to complain about obviously the new eye candy replacing Cheryl Cole but, also a proven artist and songwriter.  Then you have Kelly Rowland, I certainly have no problem with her.

So what is the problem?  To many twists and turns would be my guess, and the fact that it’s on TV far to much.  Personally I’m a little sick of it.  The first live show this year went on for two hours 30 minutes, way to long in my opinion.  I know this year they had 16 acts to get through rather than 12 but it’s still to long and some of it can be cut down if they take out all the talking.  I didn’t watch the show live I recorded it and watched it back, that only took about an hour, a suitable length of time.

Then you move onto Sunday night and the live results show, no problem with that apart from the fact it’s on for one hour, why?  So we can watch the two live acts who are on Simon Cowell’s payroll for the week.  Then awaiting the judges to make their decision was just ridiculous, if I could have skipped all the pausing I would have “The person I’m taking to the next live show is…………zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz” To long!

I said at the very start of this series of X Factor that I hope they don’t do with the show what they done with Britain’s Got Talent, they turned it into overkill twice a weekend then every night of the week it’s just to much.  Now it looks like the X Factor will be heading in the exact same direction.

Review: THE X FACTOR Auditions Episode 7

It's the last show of auditions and my batteries where fully recharged to watch the X Factor again this week, guess why!  I didn't watch it again, just like Saturday nights penultimate audition show I decided that watching the show back on ITV.COM would be a lot less painful.  Turns out though, I missed what has probably been the biggest laugh of the series, want to find out what it is then keep reading.


Neil and Margaret Sinclair are husband and wife who came to the auditions together but not as a double act, they were auditioning separately, I'm really not sure what would have been worse together or singles.  They participated in a bit of tongue wrestling, at least I think that's what they were doing before they went on stage.  They really need to watch more TV, that ain't how you kiss your wife dude.  Margaret was up first and terrible would be giving her credit, then La, lalalalala, lalalalala, lalalalala it was Neil's turn he decided he would do a little boogie for us on the night, I think right then the audience were maybe saying Ha, hahahahaha, hahahahaha.





Expelled from three schools, arrested a few times, drinking on the streets...Does he deserve another chance?  Bradley Johnson has probably heard that question quite a lot, at the age of 16 he has been through quite a bit I suppose, so maybe he does deserve another chance, I mean we give Rap stars plenty and they get locked up all the time right.  Bradley came on and done The A Team by Ed Sheeran in what was probably a nervous audition but he done ok and deserves his place at boot camp.



Next up for you is scaffolder Terry Winstanley, man he's a scaffolder I hope he's good otherwise he is going to be the butt of quite a few jokes at work next week.  Good job for Terry that he does have a good voice, a little over animated maybe but like Gary Barlow says that can be knocked out of him.  I'm pretty sure Simon Cowell is working on Terry's covers album right now.



Hey listen up, you poke me I'll poke you back!  That's no joke especially for these "2" guys.  Not to much on the main show this week so I went over to the Xtra Factor and found Section 2.  A gay couple, who met by poking each other on Facebook, with 19 "likes" on Facebook, these two guys have more "likes" than this site, no I'm being serious they really do, please visit my FACEBOOK page and like the site.  I couldn't get the video as this was Xtra Factor so follow the ITV link to see it over there.

Review: THE X FACTOR Auditions Episode 6

Are you board with the X Factor?  I'm starting to get a little board although that was staved off this week as I only managed to catch the audition video's on ITV.COM when the show had finished, it seems X Factor is one of those shows where we all go yeah it's not as good as it used to be but yet we still come back for more all the time.  It's a new judging line up this year apart from Louis Walsh, I think they have done a good job Danni and Cheryl are not missed at all and Gary Barlow seems to have filled Simon Cowells shoe's adequately, so as always I'll march on and watch the rest of the show even if it is just the Internet clips when it's finished.

Well first up this week, we met a bit of a nut case.  Natasha doesn't think she is nuts though and she introduced us to her sexy dancing, it was about as sexy as when Ruud Gullit introduced sexy football to Newcastle United and left Alan Shearer out the side lines, if your not from England then you can take it from me that's not good.  Natasha got four straight No's for the dancing first off then the singing and was told by judge Gary Barlow that should she ever take singing lessons again she should make sure they have a refund policy.



It was tears all round on the night, especially for most of the audience and judge Tulisa when mum of four Michelle Barrett came and performed a Whitney Houston classic, she was a good singer but I didn't think she was that good.  I don't think she will win but I would imagine she might make it through to the live shows.



Next up for you this week some Essex girls, not the ones from TV, although they would probably be right at home on that show TOWIE.  2 Shoes (click the link for video) I think there name was, don't remember I lost interest during the VT thinking they would be terrible.  They weren't terrible it was ok, not great but ok.  They are not the best group of the year and certainly aren't the best singers, maybe just as there is two of them they will make it to the live shows and for the record I would have went with Kelly Rowland's vote of NO.

Next up a guy named John Wilding who last year got through to Danni Minouge's house, he's back with some weight lost and a wonky hat singing Jennifer Hudson's Love You I Do and as the judges would say he nailed it.



As always I save the best till last and this weeks best came from 23 year old newly qualified Math's teacher John Adams who wowed the judges and the ladies in particular with his cover of Damien Rice's Cannonball securing himself four yeses and sailing through to the next round.

Review: X FACTOR 2011 Auditions - Episode 5

So onto round five of this years X Factor auditions and as promised I'm back to give you the low down on the show which saw the X Factor train roll into both Liverpool and Birmingham.  I mentioned that I may stop reviewing this as views where simply not worth it but Sundays post has done quite well so let's just wait and see how this one goes, it has a whole week to build so maybe it will be better.

I didn't watch the show with the same enthusiasm as I usually would on Sunday night I think I was X Factor'd out and like I said in Episode 4's post I hope it's not going to be on TV every night like Britain's Got Talent was, doesn't Simon Cowell have enough shows on TV right now?

First one to mention from the night is Graham Bennett, a guy who wants to be a pop star following his success at the local Karaoke club.  Apparently women storm him and surround him dancing when he covers Shaggy's hit record It Wasn't Me.  I new from the intro this guy was going to be bad, standing in the changing room's flexing his muscles in the mirror whilst pretending to hold the microphone and sing.  He done Ricky Martin She Bangs, or at least that's what he said he was doing.  Needless to say Graham isn't going to boot camp.



Marcus Colin's turned up to the audition with his mother and even some of his hairdressing clients came along for the ride.  Wanting to give his mother a better life he's here for you now signed, sealed and delivered He's yours with a cover version of the hit song from Stevie Wonder.  As always I dont have room for all of the video's here so be sure to go check out Marcus at ITV or YOUTUBE

Nerves where a big thing on the night for the contestants and none were more nervous than soldier Jonjo, fresh from fighting in Afghanistan he has been pushed by his fellow colleagues to try out for the X Factor after he won a singing competition at work, he was pretty good, I think the nerves got the better of him on the night.  He did get four yeses but I don't think he will go any further than boot camp.



As always I keep the best until last and I think on Sunday night we may well have seen another potential winner of the show.  Amelia Lily is only 16 years old, that's right 16.  She looks at least 20.   With a cover of Dusty Springfield's Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart, Amelia blew the judges away and will definitely be a contender to win the show this year.

Review: X FACTOR 2011 Auditions - Episode 4

I'm really starting to struggle with the X Factor this year, not the show but the reviewing of every episode.  The views on previous postings have had are minuscule to say the least and generate no discussion among the comments.  Blogging in general seems to be pretty worthless at the moment, my traffic has been halved for reasons unknown and I can not remember the last time anyone commented on something I have posted, this site will still be going (.COM) hopefully over the next week, here's hoping that viewing and commenting will change.

The X Factor auditions rolled into Manchester this week, a place where Take That front man Gary Barlow thought they may well find this years winner, unfortunately things didn't go exactly to plan with only a couple of good acts presenting themselves on stage.

First up it's Andy who is 17 years old and from Ripley in Derbyshire, hands up now y'all to the left, to the left and keep going please Andy. This guy is a beauty student (stop laughing) when he is not singing.  Ok you can laugh now he has started to sing, honestly who tells these kids that it's a good idea to go on TV with no talent.

Now to a girl you may remember from last year, Chrissie who got through to boot camp last time and she has now rolled up with her three good friends from Newcastle.  They call themselves Twisted and they want to be as big as Destiny's Child!  Not going to happen for them but at least Kelly Rowland saw enough potential in the voice of Chrissie to go backstage and invite her back to audition as a solo artist.

I can't get a video from YouTube for this as all the embedding has been disabled, here are a couple of links one to ITV for my UK viewers and the other to YouTube for my international readers, go check out the video's and come back when your done! Pretty please.

Kendro, Kendro.  That is something I don't think you will hear to many people shouting from the roof tops, I really think these two best friends only turned up hoping to impress judge Louis Walsh and maybe become the next Jedward and star in celebrity Big Brother because let's face it it they can't sing, and to be honest the dancing really wasn't much better.

Sami Brooks for you now, a bar maid who has always wanted to be a singer.  She was singing Whitney Houston's One Moment In Time, I was worrying at this point.  I think you always do when people say they are going to sing Whitney, it generally doesn't work out unless there trying to impersonate her on crack.  Luckily that was not the case in this audition and Sami blew the judges away winning four straight yeses and sailing through to the next round.

I thought I would save the best act of the night until last.  I watched the video for this on YouTube this morning, I thought this guys name was Mercel, don't ask why!  Maybe I misheard.  His real name is Lascel Woods a 20 year old guy who came along to the auditions with his mother.  Great voice and definitely one to watch this year, I think this guy will go all the way to the final.

The X Factor is on here again tonight, I don't know why but I'm sure all will be revealed at 8.15pm tonight on ITV 1, I hope they are not going to go into overkill like they did with Britain's Got Talent.  I got really board with that last time and I'm hoping it doesn't happen with the X Factor.  I will probably review tonight's show to and then see how it goes from there.

X FACTOR Auditions 2011 Episode 3

Tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Sa sa sa sa sa sa, if your English or have ever watched comedy show Shooting Stars then you probably get that, if not then it's my attempt at being funny.  It doesn't always work out.  Seriously though this could be the Tulisa show, I'll give you Kelly Rowland is hot but Tulisa steals it for me.  Ok what are we here for again?  That's right a review of Saturday nights X Factor auditions and again this week I have some good ones and some not so good ones to share with you.

First one to mention this week is David Wilder, this guy got through I'll tell you that straight off but I really don't know why.  He wants to be a rock star, you can't fault the guys energy but as far as being a rock star goes......Dream on David.

The show is as always open to 16 year olds and above and it seems that the 16 year olds are going to take Mr Cowell up on the offer with loads of them turning up on Saturday Night, including this kid Luke Lucas, try saying that when your drunk!  He is 16 if you hadn't already guessed and is another one in the long line of people who wanted to profess their love for N-Dubz star Tulisa, he got a peck on the cheek for his efforts and blew the judges away with Michael Jackson's Who's Loving You granting him 4 well deserved nods through to the next round.

Whilst I'm on the subject of Michael Jackson, I may as well talk about Michael Lewis who turned up on Saturday.  He was in the show last year and came dressed up as the king of pop, that didn't do him any favours and he didn't do himself any on Saturday either, let's face it if you can't sing when dressed like MJ then you probably can't sing, take note Mr Lewis.  Oh yeah he can't dance either.

Onto a girl group now, well more of a clan actually.  Angel, I don't think you can count yourself as credible when you audition with the Willow Smith song Whip My Hair, these girls had real attitude, not good though, it was bad and one of them even fired back when Tulisa criticised them, straight home for these guys then!

I thought I would save what I thought was the best until last, 21 year old Jade Richardson came all the way from Fife, Scotland (Tulisa didn't know that!) to audition in order to turn her life around.  Jade rolled up with almost her whole family in toe before blowing the judges away with her version of Adele's Someone Like You.

The X Factor Episode 2 Auditions

I know, I know this post is late again.  Just to mention again what was said on last weeks X Factor post this will normally be out on a Sunday but, as it’s been bank holiday weekend here in the UK I spent most of it in the pub watching football, good times.  Well it was until today when I had to come back to work never mind though.

I watched this weeks show Monday night, a few sheets to the wind as they say so lets see how we get on.  Not to many crazy people to mention this week I think finally after 8 seasons of X Factor the nutters appear to be steering clear allowing people who can actually sing some time on the stage.

I may as well start with someone who if I’m honest I thought was going to be one of those nutty people I mentioned above.  Johnny Robinson is a 45 year old from Harrow in London, he even left the judges staggered who I think had already formed an opinion before he started to sing.

Craig Colton, now he’s a bit of a dude turning up at the auditions to surprise his parents, did anyone else think his dad was Peter Kay’s double?  The 22 year old from Liverpool done them proud on the night singing Adele Hiding My Heart Away and sailing through to the next round.

Being in Liverpool this week, it’s only right that the judges look for some talent from the bands that auditioned.  Unfortunately for the bands being in Liverpool they are compared to the Beatles.  Then the Keys turned up, they were good but I don’t think they will compete with JLS or the Wanted.

I have to throw someone in who can’t sing, he wasn’t crazy I think he genuinely thinks he can sing.  Don’t worry though after this audition Mark Byron was reliably informed by Simon Cowell, sorry Gary Barlow that he can not sing.

Derry Mensah from Corydon next, I’m not sure if he turned up to sing or just profess his undying love for Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland.  He was pretty good and he is right Kelly is very cute but Tulisa steals the show for me.

I think we may well have seen the winner of the show during this episode Misha Bryan a 19 year old from London who has been singing since the age of 9, she hopes to make it big and on Saturday night (Monday for me) she wowed the judges with her very own re, re, reeeeemix of Aretha Franklins Respect.

The X Factor 2011 Episode 1 Auditions

the new panel are ready, finally that was a bit of long intro 15 minutes or so before we even see the first act of the year.  The new judges are here Tulisa Contostavlos (N-Dubz), Kelly Rowland (Destiny Child), Gary Barlow (Take That) and of course old timer Louis Walsh is back for the ride once again, a lot has been said as to weather the X Factor will survive whilst the shows creator Simon Cowell is off launching the series in America, and then we lost Cheryl Cole for no reason at all after she landed a job on the American version but was sacked by the third show as Americans didn't understand he accent.  I really think it can survive and with all of the new judges, they were all brilliant and I for one didn't miss either Cowell or Cole.  It would seem from the evidence of the first show that Gary Barlow is probably going to play the Simon Cowell role, as he certainly didn't hold back in telling people what he thought.  Tulisa from N-Dubz, where did she come from?  She must be majorly dressed down to Chav status in N-Dubz because man is she hot, Cheryl Cole won't be missed as long as she is there.

The new judge line up and layout of the show really look as if it will be a real hit, judging by a couple of the contestants things won't change much there either with the good, the bad and the ugly all making an appearance to show us their talents, so check out the best and worst of the first night in the video's below, don't forget to leave your comments and come back every week for your dose of the X Factor.

Frankie Cacozza from Brighton the first contestant of this year, you can generally tell if someone is going to be good or bad, I thought this guy would be ok.  He was after he put his ass away (watch the video), he probably won't win but he was ok and got 4 votes to see him through to the second round.

Kitty Brucknell next I really thought she was going to be terrible, don't try and pull off Gaga when you cant sing.....Good job she can really, excellent voice, a little cocky and in your face but there may well be a reason for that.

The next contestant was throwing up before she went on stage, that's not a good impression straight off, presenter Dermot O'Leary almost threw up, honestly some people.  Having watched this Sunday night I had been pre warned about this lady and her attempt at singing.  Goldie Cheung sang Papa Bell (I haven't heard of it either), then she went Rolling On The River.

Janet Devlin reminds me of Katie Waisell from last years competition, not in attitude just her singing voice her Elton John cover was really good and she deserves the pass to the second round.

Last one for you from this week, George Gerasimou.  A contestant who auditioned a couple of years back with a group named Triple Trouble, not much has changed for little old George!  He still can't sing and he clearly forgot to wash out his mouth before auditioning.

X Facotr Voting On Facebook

ITV and Simon Cowell are about to start a new trend and quite possibly change the way we vote on reality television programs.

Bosses are now in talks with 26 year old Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg the owner of Facebook currently the biggest website in the world with 550million members worldwide. The voting system is hopefully going to be introduced on both side of the Atlantic with the American X Factor set to start later this year.



Facebook Owner Mark Zuckerberg

 This is set to revolutionise the way we vote on reality television programs like X Factor, Britain Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here to name but a few. Viewers in the UK will be able to buy facebook credit enabling them to vote, unlike our American counterparts who do not pay to vote due to Broadcasting laws

Surely two of the richest men on the planet are going to see themselves get even richer, with even more people being introduced to the website that revolutionised social networking.