X-Factor Analysis And Predictions

Ninth Week: Semi Final


With Janet 'I can only sing in one tone' Devlin being voted off last week's show, it is safe to say that there are no more weak links left on the X-Factor.  Each act remaining could potentially win, which makes this weekend's show the most interesting to date.

Of the acts Marcus seems to be the one to beat, although Little Mix have a chance of surprising everyone and being the first group to win the show.

Either way, this semi-final is going to be a nervous one for all the acts and their judges.  Not so much for Louis, who can sit back and annoy us all he wants as he has no acts left.  Expect a lot of arguing, a lot of tactical criticism and, as always, a lot of tears.

The contestants again have two songs each: one a Mo-Town classic (which by X-Factor rules means either a real motown classic, or a song by a guy called Mo, or a song made in a Town) and the second song a song of their choice, which again in X-Factor rules means a soppy ballad.

This is how the X-Factor semi-final panned out:

X-Factor Analysis and Predictions

Eighth Week: Quarter Final


With two weeks to go until the final, this week is a big week for X-Factor fanatics.  Whether there are actually any X-Factor fanatics still out there is another question, as this year has not been the greatest for the show.  From lacklustre acts, to drug-taking morons and fake, scripted arguments between the judges, this year's show has not totally worked.

Despite that, there have been a few acts that deserve to be where they are and if the likes of Marcus, Misha B and Little Mix can keep up progressing as artists we will probably still have another X-Factor dominated chart this Christmas and into 2012.

So to the quarter-final.  This week all acts have to sing two songs, which is always tough for them to do.  After being unimpressive last week, Janet and Amelia will be under pressure this week, whilst Little Mix need a big performance tonight to certify their status as potential winners.

X-Factor Analysis And Predictions

Your Weekend Starts Right Here!

Last night saw the return of the X-Factor live shows and, being fans of the show ever since it discovered The Voice that is Leona Lewis, The Urbanite will be bringing you a weekly analysis of the show and our predictions for who will be voted off each week.

Last night's opening show saw a small twist added to it, with the twist being that for this week only the fate of the contestants are in the hands of the judges and not the public.  Each judge will have to get rid of one of their contestants, trimming down the number of acts from 16 to 12.

Here is our analysis and predictions

The X-Factor Goes Urban?

Whether you like it or not, it’s that time of the year when you start to kiss your Saturday nights goodbye.  Or, if you are anything like some of us at The Urbanite and want to try and maintain some form of a social life, it is that time of the year when you delay heading to the pub/club for an extra half an hour just so you can catch Louis Walsh telling a washed up karaoke singer that they are “simply brilliant”. 

Yes people, it is X-Factor time.  And apart from Walsh, who we just cannot seem to get rid of, this year’s X-Factor has taken on a new look.  Gone are Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Danni Minogue and in come Gary Barlow (Take That), Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child) and Tulisa Contonstavlos (N-Dubz) as our new judges. 

Now none of us here at The Urbanite have ever actually really liked any of the ex X-Factor contestants that have graced our charts (apart from Leona Lewis, who genuinely had an amazing voice) but there is something about the programme that keeps us hooked – the tragic real life stories, the delight in seeing someone completely flop on stage in front of millions, the cheering on of the ugly fat underdog with the good voice who is never going to win (last year’s Paige being the prime example). 

We must admit, however, that this year will be the most interesting for a while – purely because of two out of the three new X-Factor judges and the direction that British pop music has taken over the past two years.  A cursory glance at the charts this year has seen acts like Wretch 32, Chipmunk, Tinchy Stryder and Tinie Tempah dominating record sales, with the latter being one of the first British urban acts to truly break it in America. 

Love him or hate him, but Simon Cowell is an intelligent guy and he has not only noticed this shift in the British music scene but is seeking to ensure that his SyCo record label does not fall behind the movement.  That is why he signed Labrynth, the producer behind “Pass Out”, to his record label.  It is the reason why he has praised online urban channel SBTV to the hill.  And ultimately, it is the reason why he has chosen Rowland and, more specifically, Tulisa to his X-Factor bench as judges.