X Factor 2011 (UK) - The Last 4 Weeks

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

She doesn't have the X factor because she's not likeable? How does that have any bearing on anything? I think Lady Gaga is a prick, but she's definitely got the X factor. It's got nothing to do with likeability.

Also, as was already said, Kelly gave her more time - so what? She was the best of the bunch, by far. Anyway, that's more a problem with Kelly Rowland than it is with Misha.

But for people who are voting, likeability is part of the show. True, there are plenty of divas in the music business, Lady Gaga is probably one of them, but before she became famous, we weren't presented with every little detail of her life. I've seen her on TV loads of times, I know she's from New York, but that's about it. Normally a person becomes famous through their talent (and maybe a little bit of luck) and you learn about the personality afterwards, and much of that is down to how they portray themselves and how they choose to interact with the media. Also if they've had to work their way up, they've had time to deal with all this stuff. By that time, you've decided if you're a fan of the music or not and the rest of the stuff is irrelevant.

I have playing here at the moment the Stone Roses debut album. It's absolutely fantastic. I love the Stone Roses. Aside from their names, the fact that they are from Manchester and the odd snippet that was in the media over the years (Ian Brown getting a jail sentence), I couldn't tell you a single thing about them. I have no idea how old they are, if they are married, what their family background is, where they worked before they became famous. Nor do I care.

On X-factor it's the other way around, we have their back story shoved down our throats for 12 weeks of the live show (for some contestants more than others), and the knock out stages prior to that, I could tell you all about Misha's life story at this stage, and all the associated stories in the media (whether they are true or not is a moot point), yet even if she had won, I couldn't tell you what kind of an artist she would be, or if I would be likely to buy her records, because we see them do themed weeks every week, and all of them cover versions. So I have no idea what kind of artist Misha will be - soul, rock, rap etc after all this is finished. So what else are the public left to go on but the personality? How can I be a fan of the music when I don't know what kind of songs she will sing? It might be a bit more clear cut for some acts than others, Little Mix will be a girl band, non offensive, cast in a similar mould to All Saints or Girls Aloud or something. Marcus, again like Misha, I have no idea what road they would put him on.

Amelia is second favourite now after Little Mix.

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

Nice touch of reverse racism from her aswell only using Black dancers...

Wow...what an idiotic sentence.

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

This is what I'm saying though. That's the problem with the show. It's not about talent. If it was, Misha would win. It's a personality contest, and that's how people vote. It's not as much a problem with the voting public as much as it is with the producers of the show, who create the show in that vein and make mountains out of mole hills regarding personal lives and background stories. Having said that, the people voting should have the sense not to buy into that. It's pretty clear each week, regardless of the themes, who is the best and who is the most solid contestant who can handle anything thrown at them. Misha did have a pretty clear R n' B/hip hop style that she incorporated into most of her songs (apart from when Rowland had her singing ballads), and she was by far and away the most consistent performer. The best contestant by a mile, and still she was voted out. Why? Because people didn't like her personality. So f*cking what? Like I said, why does it even matter when it's someone who clearly has talent, is consistent and seems to know the direction the want to go in. So long as the X Factor continues in this vein and people continue to vote this way, the show is never going to have a shred of credibility.

That was always the point of the show. How many times during the audition stages have we heard from Simon and every other judge "It's not just about having a good voice, you have to have the Xfactor" - which is a likeability factor, an ability to connect with the public in order to sell music. So many good singers have been left behind on Xfactor because they just don't have it.

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

Why..?

First of all, there's no such thing as "reverse racism"...Racism is prejudice against someone of any race, not just black people.

Secondly, if that had been a white performer and they'd just had white backing dancers would you call that racism? Would you even have noticed???

the problem is, very very few contestants have the x-factor at all.

Mischa does not have it.
Little Mix do not have it.
Marcus does not have it.
Amelia does not have it.

the X-Factor does not equal likability - it equals the ability to sell out shows and sell records. simple. be that to a niche market, or the entire market, that is the X-Factor - that unquantifiable quality that means people will pay to see you or buy from you. that's it. likability can be part of that charm, but it's not it by definition.

Jedward have more X-Factor than anyone this year - because they have a niche market they can plug into, that they are attractive to, and will sell to. that's it.

only a percentage of the quality needed is the ability to sing to an excellent standard. to win with just a voice, you need to be a Leona Lewis, who is just otherworldly in terms of how good her voice is. you can't help but kind of want to listen to her. she is the only one who "made it" from this show on voice alone (i.e. NO personality). the rest like JLS or One Direction made it because they have that niche market that makes them profitable. simple.

being likeable helps you win the competition; it doesn't mean you'll make it in the real world.

being a good singer helps you win the competition, but it won't help you shift records, unless your voice is absolutely phenomenal.

nobody this year has any sort of edge that means they'll be profitable in the future IMO. as i've said before it's the worst year in memory. Mischa, no matter how good her voice was, doesn't have "it". she has the edge of being a diva, but she doesn't have the personality or depth of character for the public to forgive her for it.

all in all, the X-Factor is just a buzz word. this is not a singing competition, no matter how many times the judges with throw that in there. they're not looking for someone who will record a beautiful album. they're looking for someone who can sell.

that is all the X-Factor is.

(i realise i'm not saying anything a lot don't already know!)

Resi12 wrote: »

Also I don't agree with your above post, everyone left but Marcus are popstar's in some form or another. Marcus can do well in musicals, he is nowhere near a popstar. If he won it would be Mc Elderry 2.0.

Marcus is the ONLY one who has half a chance in the real world, as he is an entertainer. so he'll make it if he gets lucky in the pop world, or he'll make it in musicals big time, as you mentioned.

the rest will be gone after their first single/album is released.

Amelia shouts, she doesn't sing. she's a Z-list version of Christina Aguilera.

Little Mix are likable, that's it. the need to be better vocally, and they need to be more interesting to last any length of time. the only thing in their favour is the fact there is a gap in the market for a British girl group at the moment.

Mischa is was the best singer bar Craig, but her lack of charisma, and lack of likability killed her stone dead. it'll be hard work to make people forget that when she releases stuff next year sometime.

and yes, by the dozens of sources you can find online, including in papers such as the Telegraph and Guardian, she has been far too big for her shoes for a long long time in that competition. and you just get a vibe off some people anyway. i swear, she did her audition, and i immediately couldn't stand her. you can see a mile off she thinks far too highly of herself for someone who, at the end of the day, has achieved nothing yet.

I would like Little Mix to win, purely because Gary or Kelly would be unbearable if one of their acts won.

Although Misha showed herself up on the xtra factor last night - when asked who she would like to win she said either Little Mix or Marcus - basically giving two fingers to Amelia. So she probably thinks she would have made the final instead of Amelia diluting the vote between the "girls" or she's pissed that Amelia got back in a few weeks back. It was rumoured that Misha and Marcus were angry that she got back in at such a late stage in the competition.

SlickRic wrote: »

Mischa, no matter how good her voice was, doesn't have "it". she has the edge of being a diva, but she doesn't have the personality or depth of character for the public to forgive her for it.

walshb wrote: »

Misha is IMO a terrific vocalist. She also seems very comfortable on stage. And, of all the contestants this year she is streets ahead in terms of vocal talent and vocal range.

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

I never said not likeable means she hasnt got the x factor, I just feel yes Misha can sing but to me she isnt likeable plus isnt entertaining on stage and having x factor doesnt just mean just a good singer

SlickRic wrote: »

Mischa is was the best singer bar Craig, but her lack of charisma, and lack of likability killed her stone dead. it'll be hard work to make people forget that when she releases stuff next year sometime.

Going by these comments if you had never seen Misha before you'd be convinced she was 'Leona Lewis Lite', someone who just stood there and was a good vocalist.

The reason people believe she has the best shot at making a good career out of this is because not only is she a good vocalist but she can put on a performance on stage.

Since 'bullygate' its been obvious they were trying to focus on her vocals to try and win the public around again. If she had been put in big productions she would have been accused of having too much swagger and all that nonsense. She was damned if did and damed if she didn't.

In the first few weeks of the live shows, Misha gave me the feeling she was like a UK version of Nicki Minaj. She is clearly creative, can rap, can sing, and can perform in a big production. Everything went tits up after that but she will be back and if she is the kind of artist I think she will be then I think she will be successful.

P.S. I get what SlickRic is saying about the term 'X Factor' and what it represents but the reason I'm resigned to calling it the likeability factor is because the term has been diluted so much by the judges associating it with acts that are nothing more than just likeable making it impossible to define it more substantially than that.

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borderlinemeath wrote: »

Although Misha showed herself up on the xtra factor last night - when asked who she would like to win she said either Little Mix or Marcus - basically giving two fingers to Amelia. So she probably thinks she would have made the final instead of Amelia diluting the vote between the "girls" or she's pissed that Amelia got back in a few weeks back. It was rumoured that Misha and Marcus were angry that she got back in at such a late stage in the competition.

Jeez your as bad as the tabloids when it comes extracting something out of nothing, because Misha said a + b she must not like c. You could come up with half a dozen reasons why she didn't say Amelia but it must be the negative reason because Misha is not a nice person. :rolleyes:

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walshb wrote: »

I agree. Of all the contestanst I have seen Jedward were so so unique. Not the best singers, ok, but they had so much more charisma and style than any of the others.

Fúck me your having a laugh. They appeal to kids who are of an age where they see Jedward and think, 'ooh sparkly jacket! I like them!'.

I've nothing against them making money out of the niche market they have. The best you could say about them is they have charisma and style suited to there market but certainly not in general.

borderlinemeath wrote: »

It's not something out of nothing, it's straight out of the horses mouth!!

Have you never heard the expression it's not what she says but what she doesn't say?

FFS, saying that out of 3 finalists that you would like 2 of them to win it and alienating the last remaining contestant is as nasty as it gets - and if it was any other contestant I would have said the same thing. When all the other contestants were asked who they would like to win they usually said one act - or even out of solidarity, somebody from their own group.

She didn't explicitly says she doesn't like Amelia which is what you were implying so it wasn't straight from the horses mouth.

So she thinks Little Mix and Marcus are better than Amelia. Thats her opinion (and she is not the only one who holds such an opinion) and doesn't automatically mean she was "giving two fingers to Amelia".

Solidarity to your own group? I hate when people do that. Thats one of the problems with having mentors, is all that solidarity crap.

swordofislam wrote: »

Reckon it could be any of Amelia, Little Mix or Marcus.

Good point.

swordofislam wrote: »

Misha has known Marcus and the Muffins longer than she has known Amelia. She isn't obliged to like everyone.

As many of us on this thread aren't obliged to like her as she portrays herself on the xfactor show.