The X Factor: Glorified Karaoke?
Yesterday someone described the X Factor to me as ‘glorified karaoke’ and that for a musician to go on the show they must have sunk to an indescribable low. Furthermore, anyone who reached fame through this means must feel ashamed.
I must admit that the X Factor is one of my guilty pleasures. I even record it when I am going to miss it. But I do know that it is bad. The over the top dramatic music is terrible and over doing of sob stories to drum up interest in the contestants is a new level of annoying. But ‘glorified karaoke’, ‘indescribable low’ and ‘must feel ashamed’ are unfair labels. If a person has been struggling to get into the music business and it is all they want to do why shouldn’t they take any respectable means necessary. What exactly is wrong with getting a contract out of a competition?
Some of the singers who apply are terrible but generally the acts that reach the final 12 are genuinely good singers. Obviously I do not include John and Edward the vile twins in this statement. For example this year watch the auditions of Lucie Jones, Rachel Adedeji, Joe McElderry and my personal favourite Stacey Solomon, the ultimate opposite of expectations.
One piece of X Factor news that did amuse me however is that Cheryl Cole, one of the shows judges, is going to pre-record her own ‘live’ performance on next week’s show. Slight double standards there perhaps.
X Factor is next on Saturday 17th October on ITV1. In my opinion it is addictive TV.
Frederica Dixon