Week two and the SYCO juggernaut's search for talent is in full swing. I didn't want it to happen, but I may bid farewell to my Saturday nights. I'm hooked. The loss of Simon and Cheryl (sorry Danni, nobody cares) are but a distant memory now as my rebounded love for Gary Barlow grows exponentially with every show - whoever dubbed him as the new Mr. Meanie Guts was talking rubbish 'cause he's an absolute dote... *Swoooon*.
The judges are loosening up, the contestants are exciting and varied and overall the standard this year seems to be high. Even the nut jobs can sing. Johnny Robinson is a prime example. He has the speaking voice of Joe Pasquale and he's a ringer for a camp and chav-likeJasper Carrot but my God, he can sing! Sure, his rendition of Etta James' At Last remained firmly in the uppermost heights of the treble clef but he was bang on tune, even working in some impressive ornamentation that stole the hearts of the jaw-dropped audience. Don't you just love it when the self confessed 45 year old Kylie loving loners who think of themselves as Harrow's answer to Lady GaGa turn out to have talent? If this were the 'Shock Factor', he'd reign supreme. Caring for his dad up to his dying day three years ago and now living alone in a 'scummy' bedsit, if it were the 'Sob Facto'r, he'd fair alright there too.
Another timely sob story came in the form of Mischa Bryan, a sure contender to last 'til the finals. She regaled us with her life story while cameras followed her around on the bus. (How staged is that?) "I don't know who my father is. I've never met him - so my aunty stepped in and she's cared for me. If I didn't have the support of my aunty I don't know where I'd be." With a sniff and a tear, the camera men no doubt shared a chest bump upon capturing those telly perfect emotions. "Yea, just keep crying a bit more there, yep now give your aunty a hug, that's perfect, thanks" they didn't say. Raising the stakes, Mischa wowed the crowd with a swagger-ful version of Aretha Franklin's Respect. Kelly was first to stand up, shake her tush and show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T to the diva in the making. 'Oh momma praaaise the Lord' we've found a star. Finally a young girl who knows she can sing and has confidence to boot. Unlike that Janet Devlin one who shook like a sapling blowing in the wind.
To read the rest of Caroline's review, do make your way to our dedicated X Factor Page...
