Sam Bailey: It’s a tough call but I can see Max Stone being axed this weekend
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The X Factor headlines have been stolen by Bupsi this week, with last week’s loser blaming Simon Cowell’s song choice for her early exit.
I think she’s got it all wrong though. For me it was just the right time for her to go. I don’t think it was the song choice that cost her as she was clearly one of the weaker contestants. There was no real competition between her and the others.
I mean that in the nicest way as she was a very entertaining performer but she was in amongst some really tough competition and she was just outshone by some better singers.
Even if she did think the song choice was wrong it’s no good blaming Simon after the fact; you have to take a stand and fight for what you believe in as this is your big opportunity.
I phoned a security guard I know earlier this week and he just so happened to be stood next to Anton as he was doing some work at the X Factor house. He asked me if I wanted to speak to Anton and I thought ‘uh oh, here we go’ because of some of the comments I have made. But it was great to speak to him and I explained that I wasn’t just slating him for no reason as I believe he does have a great voice. I just said I think he needs to think outside the box a little bit and not do the old clichés like Luther Vandross songs.
The last thing I said to him was ‘stand your ground and enjoy the ride’ and Bupsi should have done that. If someone tells you to do something and you don’t believe in it you have to say something. The guys on the X Factor will listen and admit it if you’ve got a better idea – so spitting you’re dummy out afterwards is a bit silly.
It’s all about compromise. If you give them some other options they will listen to you.
Another double eviction keeps things exciting
I’ve just heard that this week will be another double eviction and all I can say is wow! How much drama can they take?
We just don’t know who will go. We knew Bupsi would go last week but beyond that it’s difficult to say. It’s just a guessing game at the moment. It’s edge of the seat stuff on a Sunday night.
I’ve said so far that wild card Monica Michael isn’t really doing it for me but this week the show’s head vocal coach Annabel Williams has said to expect big things from her. Annabel is a great judge of character and really knows her stuff. She came on tour with me and we’ve remained friends since I was on the show. She’s taught me a hell of a lot. She must have got something out of Monica that we haven’t seen yet.
Annabel can do that though. She can get you to do things you didn’t know you could do. She has taught me some great things and it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s helped Monica get rid of some bad habits. I’m excited to see how she performs now.
My thoughts on this week’s stand out song choices
My sources tell me that Louisa is singing Billy Jean by Michael Jackson and I absolutely love that song. I don’t know if she’ll slow it down though. She’s only done a ballad so it could be a risk if she does an up-tempo version.
Especially as people don’t really like change and MJ is so well loved. This could put a real spanner in the works as I have no idea which way it will go or whether people will like it.
Anton seems to have listened to my advice by taking on a mash-up of Jessie J’s Bang Bang and Meghan Trainor’s All About That Bass. I love this idea. You can’t even imagine what it will sound like. It’s completely different to what we’ve seen. I’m not sure what it will sound like it but I’ve got a smile on my face just thinking about so that can only be a good thing.
4th Impact are rumoured to be singing the Girl’s Aloud track Sound’s Of The Underground and that might be a be a bit weird for Cheryl to listen to one of her own songs. I’m not really sure how you can change up that song. I don’t know what they are going to do with it. They are amazing at what they do, with the up-tempo stuff and changing it up might be a risk. Hopefully they’ll do justice to the song for Cheryl.
Mason Noise is set to sing Teardrops by Womack and Womack and I really like that song. I think it’s a good choice, I’ve decided to wipe the slate clean in terms of Mason. I’m going to judge him as if he’s just come into the competition and forget about all the baggage he comes with. This will be a vocal thing rather than him running around the stage and it will give him a chance to show his vocal ability.
I’ve heard Sean is singing the classic California Dreaming and I think he’ll turn it into a ballad. I don’t think he’ll speed it up but I’m sure I’ll like whatever he does with it. I like everything he’s doing. To be honest he’s creeping up on Louisa and Che for me, He’s got a bit more about him and he’s different from anything else out there and that makes him really exciting to watch.
It’s a tough call but I think Max will go this week
I think Max could go this week. Last week he didn’t really do anything for me and he’s the only one I can see going. If Annabel says Monica wills steal the show then she’s as good as safe for me. I think it will be Max and then a bit of a lottery as to who else goes.
I’m gigging this Saturday so I won’t be able to watch the show live, but I’ve got the X Factor set to record and I can’t wait to watch it in bed on Sunday morning.
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