Chatty Man One Direction and PRopaganda

Last night I received a tweet suggesting I should watch Chatty Man as One Direction were on it. Curiosity got the better of me and I went from a tribute to Amy Winehouse and went looking for some good ol' fashioned brain numbing British pop schlop on Channel 4. It was clear that talent died this week and drivel was born.

I switched over just in time to see five smiley lads squeeze uncomfortably onto a love couch and begin what I can only describe as a Saturday morning Swap Shop type interview. I was amazed just how long Alan Carr could talk inane nonsense to a group that had just 'celebrated' a year together without releasing a single record.

However, along with Cher Lloyd, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and Matt Cardle, One Direction will be releasing an album in time for the new series of The X Factor and Christmas.

Cowell is a genius when it comes to marketing. He uses the industry standard "throw enough shit at the wall and something will stick" technique. In 7 years, where the show was originally branded "Only ONE act will get a record deal", at my last count 17 acts had been through the mill.

So here I am watching a boyband put together using the propaganda tool of The X Factor on prime time tv celebrating merely their existence when out of the blue Alan Carr mentioned an argument I had 8 months ago with Louis's mum. Surely these five guys have some great stories to tell since coming third.

Now I know for a fact that my name came up with PR. The PR could have said, "Please, don't talk about that we are moving forward. Let's talk about the album." but they didn't. Instead they told Louis just to thank me and be the bigger person. They want teenage girls to get all defensive and protect the poor boys and put the boot into me at the same time.

My comments about Louis' audition were no worse than anything a judge has said on the show, the difference is, Simon Cowell is backing this act.

If you've not seen Louis's audition here it is: CLICK HERE

He was put through ahead of some really good talent that didn't even get seen on tv. Cowell called back five solo singers and said, "You were too good to let go!" Really? Anyway, that was the beginning of One Direction.

Now Louis has apparently "thanked" me hence taking the moral high ground. This is just more propaganda by the PR so that I cannot respond but as far as I'm concerned there is nothing to discuss. I made my point 8 months ago and I stand by my comments.

One Direction are now established as a brand with a huge teenie fan base even though they have released nothing. WestLife and Boyzone are the past and Take That are now a man-band. The battle of the new generation of boybands is now on.

I'm sure One Direction will have hits and be a massive success and good luck to them but are they better than JLS or The Wanted? I leave that question to teenage girls on Twitter to discuss.

I'm just an insignificant man who continues to ramble. My next blog is on Cowell energising the American Dream to a disillusioned nation with 45 million people on food stamps and $600 million spent on prisons. Fun stuff huh?!

Ryan Dunn - Great chance to talk global warming.

"Drink driving" is like global warming. It's pushed down our necks at the earliest convenience. As soon as we have a hot day there is some guy telling me to re-cycle my yogurt pots or pay a fine. I have views about why using anything other than a cardboard bike for transport is now unacceptable but that's for another day, this is about the untimely death of Ryan Dunn.

News Of The World hack Dan Wootton wrote on Twitter "There's only so much sympathy I have for Ryan Dunn when he drove his sports car 140mph while drunk. He could have killed an innocent child."

Yes, less than a week after Ryan's death Dan was ready and willing to put the boot in. There is a limit to Dan's sympathy. In fact, this was the extent of his sympathy. No mention at the time of his death just one public tweet about how lucky it was that he killed himself and not some imaginary 5 year old strolling the streets at 3:30am.

So I replied to Dan Wootton:

"The guy is dead. how big a bitch can you be? he could've killed a child at 3.30am? he didn't. He killed himself and a friend. "

Now I have found myself in an argument over drink driving with other tabloid hacks who think my comments are in some way condoning his actions.

News Of The World Tom Latchem responded first,

"He could have killed anyone Steve. Are you seriously justifying drink-driving?"

No I am not. He killed himself and a friend and it was only a few days ago. Can we not give the guy a break at least until he is in the ground?

But while the term "Drink-driving" had been mentioned, I couldn't help think ahead and my views on the power of words. Drink driving is a pointless expression. Drink-driving is not illegal. It doesn't relate to the crime. The crime is excessive drink-driving. It's like calling Date-Rape just date-sex. Drink-driving is only valid if the long term object of society is to ban drinking while in command of a vehicle. Otherwise I find it blurs the line of right and wrong.

Let's face it most people drink and drive. It may be under the limit but we do it. Even just half a lager or a small wine. You have drunk and driven. Now I'm not going to argue the case for zero tolerance. I'm just pointing out the error of a term like "Drink driving" and how it doesn't represent the facts.

This lead me to the obsession with certain crimes and diseases within the tabloid press. Again, I don't wish to expand too much but I mentioned suicide which is rarely reported but kills many more teenagers than knife crime for example. But hey, God forbid we have to discuss why people suffer from depression, that would be...depressing. It might even make us look at the way our society works. Advertising, selling to kids, sexualisation, greed, speed, need, want, buy, consume, debt. It's even too much for me to talk about.

I'm am just fully aware that things are not as black or white as the News Of The World wants you to believe. Maybe Ryan drove too fast and drank too much because he was depressed, maybe he was very happy and excited to go somewhere, maybe he loved all the great advertising and wanted to show his WKD side - I don't know. All I know is that he died on Monday and his family and fans miss him.

Yesterday, US film critic Roger Ebert apologised for the timing of his comments which were similar to those of Dan Wootton. Maybe tweeting on the day of his memorial was a little insensitive?

Ryan Dunn and Zachary Hartwell may you both rest in peace.

Cheryl Colgate - All Smiles For Cowell.

I was thinking of calling this blog "When PR goes bad" as part of a pitch to Channel 5 for a list of the top 10 PR disasters hosted by Richard Bacon. However, I think my preferred tabloid headline paid homage to News Of The World's Dan Wootton, who today is suffering such a horrific celebrity news meltdown that they've covered him with a tent a set up a 30KM exclusion zone.

Simon Cowell has really pushed the boat out today. He apologised to Cheryl Cole in The Mirror and The Sun. For a guy who offered a load of dosh for not sacking someone it feels a little excessive. The tabloid spin is so tangled that Simon's simple explanation seems logical.

I remember the day after I was supposed to meet Simon to discuss my concerns and my request to leave the label. He had gone straight to the papers to say that he was thinking about dropping me. It ruined any chance of an amicable settlement. It was clear that the relationship had broken down and this was now all about who could get there side of the argument out first. Even Louis Walsh was spreading lies to make it seem more plausible.

As you can see, he won and by the time I had a newspaper willing to print anything close to my version of events I had already been branded a bitter loser who just wasn't good enough. Nothing rings more true than Churchill's "A lie gets half way around the World before truth has a chance to put it's pants on."

This is why I have concerns over Cowell's sudden interviews when he had plenty of time to protect Cheryl Cole from this embarrassing situation.

The article in The Mirror starts with Cowell saying that he wasn't a monster he was trying to protect Cheryl. This is impossible to believe. He talks about how very close he was to Cheryl and yet he got a producer to tell her she wasn't wanted on the US version of the show. Really? Is that what friends do?

"Earlier, bosses confirmed that after failing to respond to their offer to come back (to the US show) , she had been officially replaced on the US panel by ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger."

So the scene is set, Cheryl failed to respond to the great news, she was offered to come back to work even though she was not fired. Cowell had made a mistake. The accent wasn't that much of a problem, the chemistry with the other judges wasn't that bad. Silly Cheryl fancy not responding. Apparently her manager Will. I. Am thought it was an empty offer. Cowell said it was a genuine offer.

"Cowell explained he and TV bosses had previously decided Cheryl was “uncomfortable” on the US show and felt offering her the chance to return to the UK X Factor would be the best option."

So Cheryl was not sacked, he just thought it wasn't working out, but he also said she was "doing well"? but offered her a more "comfortable" seat back in the UK. It was leaked that she was sacked for other reasons which he didn't respond to. Damn these leaks, you just don't know who to trust these days.

Considering these lies were financially more important to Cowell than the Ronan Parke fiasco I was surprised he didn't contact the press or stand up on Britain's Got Talent and say, "These stories are untrue. Cheryl is not sacked. She is doing a good job but we think she might be more suited to the UK."

He then goes on to say sorry a few times, hopes they are still friends and sorry again. He then plays the money card. Obviously with money being the most important thing in his life, a huge offer of loads of the stuff must make sense to any sane person.

“We were saying move to another show for even more money. There was an offer of around €2.8million on the table including bonuses.

“So how is that sacking someone? If that’s being horrible to someone then I would be quite happy with someone doing that to me."

There you have it. Cheryl Cole is insane. She turned down the move back to Blighty after it was leaked that she was sacked even though she wasn't. Luckily Cowell had two female judges lined up in the UK just in case she said "no".

“But when the story got out, it changed everything. There was no more communication and we had set a deadline of Sunday, giving her six days to make a decision.

“That passed and we still had not heard anything. So we announced our UK judges. When she turned down the UK show, we got back in touch and said, well she is still under contract with the US show so we invited her back. Her position was still there."

Oh, I get it. She failed to call them to take the UK job just when it was leaked that she had been sacked. So she was invited back to the USA where a new more comfortable seat awaited. But when she failed to respond to that offer they gave her job to Nicole Scherzinger who just happened to be in the building. (That was lucky.)

It was more likely an attempt not to pay Cheryl and spin it that she wasn't sacked despite his embarrassment of convincing her to leave the UK show and not having the power to keep her on the US version. It's like when you find out that Darth Vader answered to Palpatine, an even more sinister individual. It's hard to believe that Cowell has a boss at the Fox network isn't it?

So the spin is complete, Cowell had a full line up of UK judges ready and waiting to sign contracts and in the US, Nicole Scherzinger who had appeared as a guest judge on last years X Factor was the ideal replacement. Things just turned out just fine for everyone. Well, except Dannii, Joe McElderry, Shayne Ward and Cheryl. But they are so last year. This is New New Labour.

Just in case you forget, Cheryl wasn't sacked, she was offered loads of money and Cowell was really sorry. Get it?

NB Excuse mistakes, I'm not one for checking. If you find any let me know and I'll sort it.

The Ronan Parkes Conspiracy or Britain's Got Fixations

NB. 10 minutes after I made this blog the article has been removed by SYCO.

A few days before the final of Britain's Got Talent Final there have been allegations that the show is fixed. (Where have I heard this before?)

An article has appeared claiming that Ronan Parkes was already signed up and BGT and The X Factor have "preferred" winners.

I have learnt that it doesn't matter what is said about any of Cowell's shows, people will be even more likely to watch because of the controversy than the talent. Ronan Parkes can sing and so too can Paul Potts and Susan Boyle but in my opinion the fuss surrounding these acts exceed their star potential.

What I do know about this article is that this is not the work of somebody at a record label. It's pretty much bullcrap. I don't believe the person who wrote this is in the industry and is more likely a blogger or in the tabloid media with links to Cowell just to make a story.

Now it is no secret that I don't like Simon Cowell and I would love this to be true but it just doesn't read well.

I think Ronan Parkes could well be known to Cowell but I doubt he has been groomed. He has been helped with styling and clothes but come on, it's the biggest show, do you expect them just to send the lad out any ol' how?

The thing that leads me to believe the writer isn't clued up is they go on to talk about stuff I know for a fact.

"Like all SYCO contracts, it is heavily weighted in favour of the label and are notoriously bad, even in the cut-throat world of the music industry."

The SYCO contract I signed wasn't bad. It was a standard Sony 4 album deal with option periods in favour of the label which is also standard. (My issue wasn't with the contract it was the lies and spin about the manner in which I left.)

Record deals are not that bad for artists these days. That's why Leona Lewis is sitting around doing diddly cos she's still getting paid and the next option period is probably worth another £250k in her bank account.

With regard to being a "preferred winner". This is vague. They've not mentioned Leona or Shayne or what connections I may have had with the show. I sense they are guessing. If they really were linked to Cowell they could give infomation. They don't.

Les Gibson was in The Big Big Talent Show final back in 1997 with me. He is known to ITV producers just like I was. Would that mean he is "preferred"? I think producers have to make certain decisions because ultimately it is an entertainment show for tv.

I can understand some of the allegations regarding Simon wanting a UK Justin Bieber and I have no doubt artists are put into this show who have links with the show, management, producers etc etc but this is nothing new. If Simon manipulates the public into buying a new Bieber then we deserve what we get. Just like FPTP (Oops! sorry about that)

What is sad is that acts like Joe McElderry could win a show but the label will spend £400k but will spend £1.5 million on the runner-up. This results in the winner being dropped and the label's "preferred" act being crowned the real winner. (Where have I heard that before?)

I've always said the show is manipulated, I've said it for years and nothing has changed. The public forget, move on and lap up the next series and they love it.

So there you have it. I strongly suspect this to be fake and a PR exercise to get people talking and that is what it has done - just before the final. Win or lose Ronan Parkes has had a great showcase and a record deal waiting for him.

PS I'm tempted to do another X Factor blog this year. I remember Gary Barlow telling Cowell not to mess things up for Leona Lewis. It's make or break for her this year so I'll be interested to see if Gary says anything to his new boss. I doubt it.

excuse mistakes, i don't spell check and the wife is out.

Cheryl Cole - "The People's Princess" is back.

I felt compelled to write a brief blog because The X Factor spin doctors are hard at work re-branding Simon Cowell's Miracle Elixir and I'm afraid to say that people are buying it. The man himself has crossed the Atlantic to flog his wonderful life-changing snake oil to the land who invented the stuff.

I was amazed when I heard Cheryl Cole was going to judge in the USA. One thing the Americans do well is music. They have a rich history of artists. My top 10 favourite singers are all from the US. So for Simon to make a talent search that included in the judging panel a girl who quite frankly is not in the World's top 10,000 singers was bizarre. Cheryl Cole isn't even a well-known name in the US. More importantly they don't like people who mime and beat up black toilet attendants. This hair brain scheme now appears to be just a publicity stunt to reinvent the UK version of the show.

Cheryl had a terrible series last year. She kept Katie Wassiel over Gamu which upset a lot of the show's fans. She then decided not to vote and the judges manipulated the exit of another contestant. The hardcore X Factor fans wanted her out. Despite this and Cheryl's obvious lack of credentials for a US market, she is off to judge the best talent in the World? Nah, I don't buy it.

Meanwhile back home, Louis Walsh is to stay on despite his decline into a comical Dame. The guy is a clown but obviously a clown with access to Cowell's dark secret past.

Then we have the Dannii Minogue problem. Cowell had chosen Cole to be his beard and there was obvious tension with Dannii and Cole. Dannii was the most popular judge by far and yet she was allowed to go. Crazy? Nope, not if you have an ego the size of Cowell and it is his show. But Dannii knows what side her bread is buttered, Dannii won't rock the boat and say what happened...yet. She'll move onto her next gig and do another "tell all" book in a few years. This time it won't be about Sharon Osbourne.

Simon Cowell is King Spin. He plays the media game better than anyone but his track record doesn't match his own personal success. His show has dropped 4 of its 7 winners and the remaining 3 are far from safe bets for World domination. It was time for his quick getaway.

To leave The X Factor without a big change and reinventing the show wouldn't have worked. The show had peaked and it could only go down. Look at Britain's Got Talent.

If this huge change goes wrong no biggy. Remember the voting and the auto-tune scandals? It gives him the chance to say, "Sorry, we got it wrong, we will do what the public want...and we'll get X back." And when I say "X" I obviously don't mean myself, Shayne Ward, Leon Jackson or Joe McElderry.

The X Factor is and will always be about the judges. Welcome back Cheryl.

"Can't do the time, don't do the crime."

I made the front page of The Manchester Evening News over a court appearance last week. They managed to use "Judge" and "Simon Cowell" to promote a TV show. It also kicked another major dent in my public image.

This "X Factor flop" has made the papers yet again for the wrong reasons 7 years after my 15 minutes was up. However, only last December I was in Manchester doing a gig for The Mustard Tree Homeless Charity and when we really needed it, The Manchester Evening News showed much less interest.

I am often asked to discuss The X Factor and most times I decline but when I do respond I'm greeted with a cacophony of disgust at my anti-Cowell views. I've lost count of the number of times my name has been associated with "bitter" or "flop" by the tabloid media. I've complained to the Press Complaints Commission and have won more times than I've lost but it continues because the truth about my treatment is not wanted by the mainstream media who make a fortune from The X Factor gossip. "Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story." Who said that? Anyway...

On the 20th October last year I received a letter from Manchester Police saying that my car was in a "hit and run" on 9th October and could I provide details of the driver at the time of the offence. I spoke to my wife as to what we were doing that day. It so happened I was picking my wife up that morning from the train station as she was returning from a trip to Aberdeen. It was impossible that I drove from Manchester at 8.40am to Wimbledon for 11.30am and I knew I was at home. It wasn't my car.

I phoned Manchester Police (I provided a phone bill proving this call was made on the same day I received the letter). I told the Police that there is a mistake and it was not my car as I live in London. I was told to write a letter explaining that, which I did. I put it to the back on my mind content it was dealt with.

The rest of 2010 turned out to be a disaster. The next day I flew out to Cyprus for a gig and was due back a few days later so I could join my wife at a gig she was doing. My plane was delayed and I phoned her to tell her I couldn't make her gig and that I'd meet her at home.

We've never spoken about this, but Eileen was pregnant last year. You can guess where this is going. She told me that on the way to the gig she had started bleeding heavily. She was distraught, I was a mess because I couldn't be there for her. Eileen was half way through a show knowing that she had just lost her baby but she carried on singing. We would be apart for just a few hours more but it felt like a lifetime.

After a long evening at the hospital it was confirmed that we had lost our baby. I'm so proud of my wife at how she brave she was.

Before the haters say " why mention it now?" I mention it now because as it's 8 months ago it's easier for us to talk about and we have nothing to promote. No album, book or X Factor on TV. Nothing. I can't be accused of profiting from our loss.

Unfortunately, we had agreed to record a song ironically called "Don't Give Up" . It involved promotion throughout the whole of November and December. I found myself in yet another badly organised project. I really don't want to go into details but it wasn't what we needed at that time. I blame myself, we shouldn't have done it. To be fair, we should have just pulled out. We had good reason to, but at the time I guess it was a case of "The show must go on".

In January we arrived back home both mentally and physically exhausted. I had another X Factor season of tabloid abuse mocking me as a flop and a failure made worse by our personal grief. We had spent a long time apart from our two year old so it was a time for us to unwind. It was over, a new year had begun roll on 2011!

On the 1st of February I opened my post. To my astonishment I had two further letters from the police saying that I was due in court at the end of February for failure to give details of the driver. What??? I can't believe this.

I rang the court then the police. I had a long chat with a policeman who reassured me that this thing won't go to court and can I provide evidence that it wasn't my car. I emailed him my evidence and he emailed me back to leave it with him. I felt confident that the police were going to sort it out. (I provided emails and phone bills).

Three weeks later I received a letter saying I had been convicted.

To cut a really long story short (TOO LATE!!)

I went to Manchester to appeal in March. The prosecutor said that it would be wrong if I was found guilty of not providing details of a car that wasn't mine. The case was re-opened.

I went back to Manchester last week for the trial.

The judge listened to the evidence and said that I should have just filled in the form. Even though I had contacted the police on the day I received the letter and on TWO occasions policemen had told me that it wasn't necessary. I have also been informed that it isn't a legal requirement to fill in the form. The prosecutor at the trial said that she found it hard to believe that a policeman would tell me not to fill in the form. But it was the truth.

The judge said that 1000's of people fill in the form. He didn't make any reference to people who didn't fill in the form because it wasn't their car involved in the accident.

I was fined £550 and given 6 points. The Judge was call Finestein. You can't make this shit up.

On my way out I saw the policeman who was my point of contact. I felt angry that I had made every effort to contact the police and that I was accused of lying under oath about a policeman who had told me not to fill in the form.

I asked the policeman, "Do policemen ever tell people not to fill in the form?"

He said "Yes!"

So to recap, I called the police on the day I received the first letter, I called the police the day I received the following letters and even though it wasn't my car I am fined and given points. I wait to hear if I'll be prosecuted for the hit and run. I will be interested to see if The Manchester Evening News will report on this with the same amount of vigor.

I really don't think that this court case was in the public interest. I consider this sort of intrusion into my personal life frustrating and it's been very upsetting for my wife. Thank you for taking the time to read my side of events.

If you wish to keep up to date with my live work, my wife and I have a fan page that you can sign up to for updates. Thanks.

A powerful PR man once said to me, "Talk to the press and we'll bury you, I'd love to see you at parties in three years time but that won't happen if you talk." It took much longer but he was right.

*Grammar Nazis please excuse any mistakes as I haven't really checked this blog over.

Come On Wagner - You can do it!!!!

Hi Guys,

I never got this over to the team at London24 in time so I am putting it up on my private blog. These are my views and not that of London 24. If you wish to see my blog there CLICK HERE

Anyway here we go. The run down on acts 9-16.

Apart from a few acts ANY of the others could go this week. As with last week, whoever is on first will struggle with the exception of One Direction, Aiden, Matt and possibly Rebecca. My hot favourites to have a tough week are the wild cards. All 4 survived last week and that was a big surprise so I think the judges would want at least one to go this week. It must be annoying to see someone you didn’t really like much being more popular than someone you are endorsing.

This is why I think if Paige and Wagner are on very early then they will be in real danger of going. John shouldn’t be struggling but with the popularity of Matt and Aiden, he could have a hard time of it every week. John needs to stick to singing SOUL but as soon as Louis gives him a duffer, he is gone.

My previous blog had acts 1-8 here are 9 through to 16.

9. Paige Richardson “Killing Me Softly”–Simon said he looked like he was from ‘an American sitcom”, that wasn’t far wrong. I was expecting to see a McDowell’s backdrop and some petals thrown on the stage to welcome King Jaffe of Zamunda! A total stich up. They spent nothing on his performance except a jacket from the set of ‘Coming To America’. Louis had a stupid moment by calling him a ‘cuddly Luther Vandross’ and Paige now has the backing of Simon, a certain kiss of death. I like Paige but he is on borrowed time.

10. Katie Waissel – “We Are The Champions” - All the press this week has been on other contestants and that will give her a break. For some reason the judges want this girl to survive. Everyone is talking about her clothes but the real problem is her weak voice. I don’t care if she becomes the biggest star this side of the Milky Way, Louis is right she is ‘style over substance.’ Big X Factor names are showing her support and I’m not surprised. She needs to pull a rabbit out the hat to survive another week. Don’t be deceived by the fragile vocal, it isn’t emotion with this girl. It’s lack of control from a lack of training or practice. Should go but won’t. They will put her next to a crazy card.

11. Mary Byrne – “It’s A Man’s World” A very good solid performance of a great song. Simon said, “I can see how you developed an image from Cheryl” and then called her a “Tryer”. There was another reference to her Tesco past to keep us aware of just who she is. Mary isn’t a star but she is vocally much better than some. Tesco Mary, the middle-aged singer from Dublin. There are enough votes in that last sentence and with a few more little digs from Cowell she should be all right for long time to come.

12. Nicolo Fest – “Just Dance” - Gone! Not great but the judges helped his departure with some weird remarks. Best comments, Louis Walsh “You’re a diva, you’re quirky and you’re in tune!” followed by Simon saying “I liked it – you look better than you sound.” A good-looking guy with a decent voice spoiled by a diva persona and too big a production.

13. One Direction – “Viva La Vida”- My favourites to win the show unless parents can put locks on the home phone. They are ok at best. They sang ok, but have the full weight of Simon Cowell behind them. Their video trailer sees them jostling around like ‘Shoving Buddies’ from an episode of Family Guy. A cliché representing closeness that the young girl voters will love. On a week where manufactured girl band ‘Girls Aloud’ admit they were never close, it makes me think about their value. Louis had a point on styling. One had a leather coat and scarf on and another had shorts and a t-shirt. Simon says that he is leaving it to the boys. So who is he mentoring – Diva Fever?

14. Wagner – “She Bangs/Love Shack”- If there’s any justice in the world, Wagner will win The X Factor. He is my favourite crazy card. Wagner is there for a joke, but it would be priceless if the joke backfires. The Sun have made much news over a little argument in the house between Wagner and John so I expect one of those to have a backlash this coming week. They won’t want him to hang around too long just in case there is a momentum in his support. A bongo solo every week is the key to his success even if it’s a ballad. We need to start a support group!

15. Aiden Grimshaw – “Mad World”- I like Aiden. He has style and an interesting delivery. He is also a very strong singer that has more to give. Louis said, ‘you are the next big male popstar’, considering what Louis did with `Shayne Ward, Aiden shouldn’t take much notice of that remark. However, on this occasion, Louis could be right. He is the closest thing to having the x factor. I don’t think his performance and originality matched that of Matt but still very promising. He is going to get better and better. A class act.

16. Treyc Cohen – “One” –When you consider Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Maria Lawson, Cassie Compton, Laura White and Brenda Edwards, it’s not the best year for female power singers. I think it is so that the previous winners can come back and still looking like mega stars. Treyc is the only one carrying the touch for the big ballad vocalist and she sang well but not amazingly. She has a beautiful face and with the right songs could do well, but they have styled her into some “Tina Turner” tribute act. I would hope she hasn’t shown her best or she could be in trouble.

I’ll at a charity ball to raise money for Diabetes this weekend, so I will be tweeting only during the result show.