Song choices will see Sam Bailey safely into X Factor final
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Sam Bailey has shortened to odds-on 1/3 favourite for this year’s X Factor title after a flurry of bets and the prison officer’s song choices for this week will further boost her popularity.
The theme for this week is Beyoncé v Elton John, with each of the semi finalists picking one song from both artists to showcase their range.
And while all the songs selected by the remaining hopefuls are undeniable classics, Bailey’s Elton option, “Candle in the Wind” is such a favourite among UK music lovers that she is almost guaranteed a place the semi-final.
Bailey – dubbed Screwbo by fans who liken her rise to fame to that of Susan Boyle – will also take on Beyoncé’s If I Were a Boy, which will give her plenty of opportunity to showcase her powerful voice.
Nicholas McDonald has also been canny with his song choices opting for touching Beyoncé ballad Halo and Elton’s Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me.
The 6/1 second favourite will be well aware by now that slower tempo songs make a better showcase for vocal talent and these choices are likely to prove popular with audiences.
The remaining contestants, however, have their work cut out.
Luke Friend, a 7/4 second favourite for elimination this week, will sing Best Thing I Never Had and Something About The Way You Look Tonight.
The 17-year-old is already playing catch up, according to the betting, and is looks to have peaked with his rendition of Skinny Love earlier in the series.
However, while Friend is now an 8/1 outsider to win the show, he should at least make it through to next week, with Croydon three-piece Rough Copy 5/4 to get the chop this week.
Kaz, Sterling and Joey will sing Survivor and Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word and while the group’s harmonies have been lauded in the past, the up-tempo nature of the Destiny’s Child number and the obvious Blue comparison that the Elton number will bring could spell the end for the trio.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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