I always sneer at reality TV, but lately I find I've been watching it (while pretending not to). I've been watching the X Factor - a talent contest for singers here in Britain. (I watch purely for research purposes of course.)
Although I don't usually like singers like Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, I've been blown away by Leona Lewis, a 21 year old Black Londoner who can belt out songs in their kind of style.
The sad truth is that women don't usually win these contests (Alex Parks was an exception, and I loved her too), and nor do Black people, so Leona may not win, despite being better than many more famous performers. Apart from racism, I suspect that this is because people who vote on these shows are not the record buying public. A Black singer called Lemar lost out to some indifferent White performers; they all disappeared without trace, while he has gone on to win 2 MOBO awards.
You also come up against the regional factor. The British like to support local boys and girls. How else can you explain the McDonald brothers surviving so far into the competition? They hit on the winning formula of wearing kilts and singing old favourites from the karaoke circuit, and are an outside bet to win the competition, once all the Scottish mums and dads reach for their phones. I hear that they are planning to sing an old Scottish favourite in the finals, 'Donald Where's Your Trousers?' They will march up and down with a piper in the McDonald tartan, and mime the wind blowing up their kilts.
The X Factor is crap TV, full of fake disputes between the judges, tears from contestants and other ploys to get people voting and spending their money, but it is irresistible as long as Leona is on screen. Although she has only sung big ballads in the show, she has recorded more contemporary stuff which can be heard on the theschizofreniks web site. I hope she wins because she deserves to. Ben has a great rock'n'roll voice, and can do a good cover of Joe Cocker, but Leona is a potential superstar.
Although I don't usually like singers like Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, I've been blown away by Leona Lewis, a 21 year old Black Londoner who can belt out songs in their kind of style.
The sad truth is that women don't usually win these contests (Alex Parks was an exception, and I loved her too), and nor do Black people, so Leona may not win, despite being better than many more famous performers. Apart from racism, I suspect that this is because people who vote on these shows are not the record buying public. A Black singer called Lemar lost out to some indifferent White performers; they all disappeared without trace, while he has gone on to win 2 MOBO awards.
You also come up against the regional factor. The British like to support local boys and girls. How else can you explain the McDonald brothers surviving so far into the competition? They hit on the winning formula of wearing kilts and singing old favourites from the karaoke circuit, and are an outside bet to win the competition, once all the Scottish mums and dads reach for their phones. I hear that they are planning to sing an old Scottish favourite in the finals, 'Donald Where's Your Trousers?' They will march up and down with a piper in the McDonald tartan, and mime the wind blowing up their kilts.
The X Factor is crap TV, full of fake disputes between the judges, tears from contestants and other ploys to get people voting and spending their money, but it is irresistible as long as Leona is on screen. Although she has only sung big ballads in the show, she has recorded more contemporary stuff which can be heard on the theschizofreniks web site. I hope she wins because she deserves to. Ben has a great rock'n'roll voice, and can do a good cover of Joe Cocker, but Leona is a potential superstar.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
perdita:
thanks for the comment on my set!
mneylu:
just dropping by to send you a very belated thank you for the awesome and full comment you left on my latest set! that was awesome 