X-Factor - First Impressions

Tonight saw the start of the live shows on the television of the musical talent show the X-Factor on ITV 1. Like last year I thought it would be an interesting exercise to write down my first impressions of the different acts before going starting my act of the week spot that was popular last year on the blog.

So in the order they sung on tonight's show her are my views of each act noted down just after they sung their first song:

1. Amelia Lily - Girls - Confident start - Strong voice with lots of power. An ideal choice for opening the show. She has the look and the versatility to do well. She was in tune with what she was doing. Loads of energy and drive. For her age she sound like she had been doing it for years rather than this being her first time on national television. I can see her getting better as the show goes on.

2. Johnny Robinson - Over 25's - Amazingly camp and sang like a rat on acid who was sitting on the corner of a washing machine on a high speed spin cycle. Wouldn't have looked out of place in a freak show at a fair ground. I really not sure why he got this far given whet he did tonight and the sooner he goes the better. The problem is I can see him going on and on and the judges keeping him over better acts.

3. Rythmix - Band - Wasn't sure about them at the begging but they improved as the song went on. They sound good together and they worked the harmonies well given it was the start of the live shows. They were pleasant to listen too but I would like to see what else they can do as the show goes on and I hope they stay for a while. I think they have potential. A lot better than the average girl band on the X-Factor from the past but the question will be is if that can save them when girl bands are unpopular in general.

4. Frankie Cocozza - Boys - Sounded amazing breathy and nervous. It was almost painful to listen too when he started. I just wanted to give him an oxygen mask and call an ambulance. I can see he could be good but he murdered a wonderful song and if he continues carry on like this he deserves to go early. Being good looking isn't a good enough reason for being on the show on it and if you sound like you are being deprived of oxygen at twenty thousand feet, then it is time to leave.

5. Sophie Habibis - Girls - A very distinctive sounding voice. You could close your eyes and know who was singing. Lots of power in her voice and it was well controlled to produce quite a magical performance. There is a lot in this girl and as the show goes on she could be a dark horse. One thing is she need to put more of her emotion into performance. I that sense she seemed a bit disconnected with the song.

6. Jonjo Kerr - Over 25's - Sounded out of tune and was often shouting. It was a bit like listening to one of the people in the auditions that are in the show to make you laugh. The problem was there was nothing in the perforce to make you do even laugh it was just painful to listen too. He clearly has the killer instinct and he showed that in killing a classic Kinks song. I know he was nervous but he really shouldn't have been on the stage tonight. He wasn't ready and it showed and unless there is a massive improvement he won't last long.

7. Two Shoes - Bands - Lots of fun to watch and listen to. They both have a lot of chemistry. You can tell they are fun and having great time and that gives you a feel good factor. The problem is although they have good harmonies they are limited by the fact there is just the two of them. It is not going to go well for them as the show goes on and they could become just become dull and predictable.The will require a lot of careful song choices and arrangements if they are to avoid becoming boring.

8. James Michael - Boys - He voice seemed weak and without power that he needed, but saying that it was a nice voice and there is a certain charm about him as a performer. It was just all too understated and when the song demanded more power he just didn't have it. Not sure if that was the way he was told to sing the song or just didn't have it in him. I fear the it was later but if he isn't given the right songs what can he do. One thing he will need to do is connect with the song more, he seemed a bit distant from the feeling within the song. If he is go on he has to connect more to what he is doing.

9. Misha B - Loved the initial song choice. It really suited her voice but she did need to project more. It sounded like she didn't quite have the power to bring off the song at the start. The rap was alright but nothing special. The whole thing ended up being rather dull. Not sure what happened after the rap. It sounded like the rap and the main song were playing on two mp3 players in a tumble dryer. I can see promise, but they need to be careful they allow her to show off her skills if she is to do well.

10 Nu Vibe - Band - Good start with the separate vocals but when the harmonies kicked in in they sounded a bit like a football crowd. The didn't seemed joined together. It was a group of individuals and not a band and that is going to be their problem. It is like they are just a group of people whose aim was to further there own careers rather than that of the group. If they don't find any chemistry and the desire to sing together they won't last long. They just don't have it as a group and for that reason it seems likely they will be going to go early in the show.

11. Marcus Collins - Boys - Sounded confident enough and he has a good voice and made the most of it. Seemed into the what he was doing and he was connected with the music. Although one of the better ones in the show this performance was nothing special but that could be because the song choice was rubbish which made the whole thing boring to watch. If he not given good songs then he won't last.

12.Samantha Brookes - Over 25's - Lovely deep blues voice with lots of range and probably one of the most powerful voices of the night. Probably the best in her group but the whole thing again was spoilt by a poor song choice which made her performance seem bland. Out of her group she has the potential to last the longest if she isn't stereotyped and made to seem out of touch with the popular music world. She has to challenge the notion that singers with her type of voice can only do ballads.  

13. The Risk - The Bands - The best of the bands. The sounded great together and they worked well together. There is clearly a chemistry in the group that is working well for them. Wonderful song choice and so well executed. As the show goes on I can see them being a strong contenders for the final. They still need work but with it they could be amazing they end. They were the first act of the night that managed to give me that wow feeling that had been missing up to now in the show this year. The are by far the best of the groups.

14. Craig Colton - Boys - Lovely singing voice and distinctive. Just the sort of voice they claim they are looking for from the show. Seemed to be completely in tune with the song and it meaning while owning the stage. He was completely focused and used the power voice and matched it with the emotion of his soul. He sung from the heart which something I like to see in a singer. He was easily the best in his group and by taking away the choice of the song and the arrangement from his mentor he made sure he wasn't land with a lame duck like the rest of the group. If he carries on like this he could go far in the show.

15. Kitty Brucknell - Over 25's - Looked like a dogs dinner and unless they could get her to tone things down I feel she is going to put a lot people off with her styling. She has a good voice, that is powerful and has a good range which she showcased in tonights show. There is the talent there but can she win public support? At the moment it is all just too over the top. If wants to get do well she has to let go of what she think she is and reinvent herself, if she doesn't do this she won't get through the early public votes.

16. Janet Devlin - Girls - One of those voices once you hear it you instantly know who is singing. Her voice seems powerful, emotional and perfectly controlled. She was the star of the show tonight and like the band The Risk had that wow factor that makes me think I'm watching something good. The song choice for her first night on the show was perfect and it was sang with great skill. She is at the moment the best in her group and I can't see anyone knocking from that spot yet if ever. Clearly she is a very talented performer who should do well and make it to the end of the show.

It will be interesting to look back at this post at the end of the show to see if I was right or if the acts proved me wrong and how my views change of the course of the show. I know one thing for sure my general opinion of the show this year isn't good and I hope the acts that have talent make up for all that seems wrong with the show in general. It is the first series I'm not really enjoying since I started watching it properly with my family. It just doesn't seem as good as the shows of the past few years. Lets hope it gets better before people start asking the question has the X-Factor run out of steam and become another tired television show.