And so it begins - TV Britain’s most controversial show has once again hit our screens. It appears that the nation is already gripped and although 80% of the actual nation is doing something completely different, nobody can deny the genius PR of ‘The X Factor’ brand. It has it all, ‘live’ shows, merchandise revenue, record sales, phone voting revenue, sponsorship, and patent pending World domination.
The show opened with the obligatory slick montage to give the judges validity along with 1000s of hopefuls standing happily in queues and on demand cheering, waving and demonstrating ‘X Factor’ crossed arms which is also probably patent pending.
The latest fiasco involves making the contestants sound better than they really are ‘to deliver the most entertaining experience possible for viewers’ according to an X factor spokesman. This will only deliver more ratings as the public auto-tune in to debate the fairness of having some singers live and others assisted. The concept is hilarious. It would be like giving Barnet a 5-goal head start against Chelsea in the FA Cup. It would definitely make it a more ‘entertaining experience’ for the neutral. But what is scary is that the programme admits that the judges put these singers through before the vocals were enhanced. Well, that’s Barnet straight in the next round then!
Surely, this hasn’t been just a huge PR stunt? Who knows? But hey, who cares? For that moment - it’s awesome. Ok ‘awesome’ is a bit extreme but that’s another thing in the wonderful weird world of The X Factor, words have no tangible meaning either. The judges throw around phrases with so little consistency that you can’t work out what they actually mean anymore. The viewers are confused by the judges’ comments and vocal performances in equal measure and neither can be truly trusted again.
So what does having the x factor actually mean now that the brand has become bigger than the term?
On one hand, it gives hope to anyone who just may have it, whatever that may be, and on the other, it’s a tiny piece of personality over-shadowed by the brand and that makes The X Factor extremely clever. It has lowered the level of the quality control bar so much that anybody can join in the fun and believe in the dream. It’s actually easier to get over the bar than under it!
Sting has branded it ‘televised karaoke’ and Lilly Allen just last week laid into the show on her twitter by saying, ‘It’s everything that I detest about modern western culture. Cowell is the only one who really benefits.’ But despite growing criticisms from many international stars the show has not only survived, it has grown into a must watch, car crash monster and there is no reason why this year will be any different.
Apart from the big talking point on manipulating the performances, the first episode of the new series featured a 70 year old man, a sob story, a singer who went through with auto-tune but still sounded terrible, a likable Madonna type, a camp dancing house husband, G&S a gay and straight act and they were the good ones. Mercy, mercy! If there was any real talent they hid it well or are they holding it back for another week? They did show however, repeated clips of a contestant hitting her friend in the face and a visibly shocked Cheryl Cole who coincidently was found guilty of assaulting a toilet assistant in 2003.
I would love to comment more on the content but as so little was about music, to indulge in the trivia of glossy celebs with new teeth numbs my soul. I hope next week will be better.
By contrast, Sky One’s ‘Must Be The Music’ really worked for me. On first impressions MBTM feels much more real and sincere. It seems tasteful and talent driven with respectable artists as judges giving the show the edge in the credibility stakes. It will be interesting to see which of these shows best achieves the goal of discovering UK talent. You can actually believe it is about the music. Even the prize is a fair £100,000, a performance at Wembley and a single available to download. Then the rest is up to you. The winner will no doubt be inundated with record deal offers and will be able to choose the path that is right for them, total creative control and that is a dream for any artist. No golden handcuffs, no forced management, it’s simple and it’s fair.
The Judges consist of Rapper Dizzie Rascal who says it as it is, from the band Texas Sharleen Spiteri, who also says it as it is and then jazz artist Jamie Cullum who is the most diplomatic to those who are musically challenged. All three judges have a real understanding of music and stage experience that obviously is respected by the contestants. Now listen to this: The acts can even play instruments for their auditions! What a novel idea, a show about finding a musical talent that allows talent to play an instrument in their audition. If it sounds obvious, then that’s it because it is. I think X Factor have stayed clear of such things since Simon Cowell called a trombone a trumpet a couple of years back.
MBTM has only weeks to run and it is already at the semi-final stage. All 15 chosen acts would grace any X Factor live final and I’m convinced they have found a star if not more. It’s been brilliant! Britain finally has a serious outlet for up and coming new artists to showcase their skills.
It’s going to be a fascinating battle between the old magician whose tricks are looking tired and this new kid on the block. Yes, The X Factor still contains some magical moments with top guest stars, dancers and choirs but as it relies more heavily on smokes and mirrors it’s looking more like Ali Bongo than Derren Brown. In saying that, I just know that the disillusioned viewers disturbed by recent events will once again be laughing and cheering next Saturday as Simon digs deep and pulls a rabbit out of the hat. After all the show must go on.
