The X Factor
19.20, Saturday 23 September 2006, ITV1
It’s the final week of auditions and the hopefuls have their last chance to impress the Judges. The audition tour visits London and Birmingham and tonight’s show includes:
* Louis giving – and taking – a drenching.
* Singers from Russia and the USA.
* The original rapper.
* A broken dream for Jamie.
* It’s summertime for Gemma.
* Frankie the karaoke addict
* And the Judges finally learn which categories they’ll mentor.
Sometimes the atmosphere in the Judging Room reaches boiling point and tonight’s show proves just that. Debbie, 18 from Yorkshire is sure she’ll make a big hit on The X Factor. She certainly makes an impression on the Judges – but not necessarily a good one. She says ‘I’m amazing. I’ve got stage presence, I’ve got the voice, I’ve got the looks and I’ve got everything. I want to be able to stand on a big stage with millions and millions of people screaming at me that loud that I can’t hear myself sing. I dream about it I really do. My dreams can definitely become a reality because I’ve got it, I’ve got it all. I know I have.’ She confidently walks into the audition room and tells Louis ‘I’ve got The X Factor. I know I can win, I’ve just got it basically. I’m amazing, I’m pretty damn good. Nobody comes anywhere near close to me. She sings If You Believe by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.
But despite Debbie’s confidence, the Judges aren’t impressed. Sharon says ‘Your voice is ok. You’ve no star quality about you, no charisma.’ Simon agrees ‘A bit pub singerish I thought’. Louis adds ‘The reality is you’re not very good.’ His comment angers Debbie. ‘You are the one person I didn’t want to see today because I really want to slap you now. I’m not a good singer? That is why I have been a singer since I was 6 years old and everyone I’ve ever met, even people who don’t like me have come up to me and told me I’ve got an amazing voice. You can’t sing mate!’ Louis tells her that he doesn’t want to be a singer and she shouts ‘I don’t really care what you think, you can’t sing, you have no talent, get out.’ Simon interjects. ‘Louis yes or no?’ Louis replies ‘100% no. She’s got a really bad attitude. She will never be a star in the music business.’ Simon tells Louis that actually he likes Debbie’s attitude as Sharon escorts her out of the room.
But Debbie hasn’t finished. She returns to the Judging panel and says ‘I really want to throw your glass of water at him.’ She picks up Simon’s glass of water but Louis sees what she’s up to and they both throw their glasses of water over each other! ‘I saw that coming Simon. I saw that coming.’
Simon can’t believe what he’s just seen. ‘You threw water over a contestant Louis’ he cries. ‘You’re not supposed to do that. You can’t throw water over the singers Louis!’ Louis protests ‘She was doing it to me’ as they both stand covered in water. Debbie later says ‘I will be an international superstar in years to come because I have got what it takes and I don’t care what Louis Walsh say because he can . . ‘
The Judges are known for their frank views, but sometimes a ‘no’ is the hardest decision for them. Things look good for Jamie, 16 from Derby. His Dad explains ‘From the moment he was born he just put his arm on the bed in front of him, lifted his head up, looked around and a big note came out and I think from that moment on it’s all he’s ever wanted to do.’ Jamie says ‘In five years time I would love to be known as the winner of The X Factor, have a hit single, hit albums, everything that a pop star would dream of.’
The Judges look hopeful as Jamie walks in with the looks of a pop star. He sings Stevie Wonder’s Knocks Me Off My Feet. Sharon sums it up when she says ‘Jamie you’ve got a great look, a fabulous personality but your voice was just not a great voice.’ And Simon adds ‘Everything was great and then you started singing – that was the problem.’ He gets three nos and for now Jamie’s pop star dreams are over.
But for every disappointed hopeful, there’s another who gets one step further. Receptionist Gemma, 23, from Berkshire explains. ‘It would mean a lot, getting to the next stage would mean a great deal because it’s what I’ve always wanted to so it means huge amounts to me. She sings Ella Fitzgerald’s Summertime. Sharon says ‘Gemma, it’s so refreshing for someone to come in here and not do an impersonation of somebody else. You’re a beautiful girl, a great voice, you’ve put a smile on everyone’s face now.’ Simon agrees ‘Absolutely effortless for you. You could sing the phone book. I think we may just have been scratching the surface here. I like you a lot.’ She gets three yeses and sails through.
But this week also features Dennis, a 26 year old Russian music student. He says ‘I want to be a singer. I want to win the competition and if I have success here I’ll have success in Russia.’ He greets the Judges ‘I’m so happy to see you in real life and not just in a museum of Madame Tussauds. I’m from Russia, from Russia with love, lovely Sharon.’ He sings Enrique Iglesias’ Escape – badly - complete with over the top dance moves. Simon says ‘Truthfully Dennis, you are a horrible singer. Everything about it was awful. If I was your friend Dennis I would say 100% to do something else. He gets three nos but is optimistic about his future. ‘Next time, next time’ he shouts as he leaps off!
Tonight’s show also features auditionees from France, Poland, Brazil as well as 47 year old Deborah from San Antonio, Texas. She is supported by her husband David whom she met on a Christian internet chat room. She thinks that her voice has kept them together. She says ‘He heard me singing in the chat room and he decided he wasn’t going to let me know then. He asked me to marry him after a year and I said yes. So far my voice has brought me David and I’m hoping and praying it will take me further in The X Factor. David accompanies her into the audition room and she sings Leanne Rimes’ How Do I Live Without You to him. Louis assures Simon ‘I think there’s a market for someone like this Simon. People buy Christian records. They may not chart so much but there is a market.’ He says yes, but for Simon it’s a no. Sharon says ‘I don’t want to be sent to hell again. I’ve (already) got a VIP pass’ and says yes and Deborah is through to Bootcamp.
47 year old Roxanne is a bag of nerves when she walks into the audition room. She explains why. ‘When I was 14 I was in a really bad accident, I was in a bomb explosion. I put my life on hold completely. I would have pushed my singing career a bit more but with that happening to me I wouldn’t go out and didn’t basically want to do anything. I was too frightened. I’ve got lots of scars and I’m very conscious of them and being here today has proven to me that I can come out and be in company and be in crowds.’ She tells the Judges ‘I was in a bomb explosion in Northern Ireland. I was standing next to a car bomb and it went off. So after it happened couldn’t go out, I couldn’t get involved in anything. I didn’t want to be in crowds, I was so nervous.’
She sings Maria McKee’s Show Me Heaven. Simon said ‘I heard something but it was difficult to judge properly because you were so nervous. I’m going to say no because I don’t think you would cope with the middle stages.’ Louis says yes and Sharon agrees. Roxanne says ‘After everything that’s happened to me it’s worth it all. Everything’s got their time and this is my time now. I’m over the moon, I’m gliding out of here today.’
Another group who do well is Eton Road. They sing a song from the film Leap Of Faith. Despite the Judges preconceptions, Simon says ‘I love that song. This is the first time I’ve seen a group of guys who look interesting. You look quite odd. Odd is good. It’s an interesting mix. One of the best groups we’ve seen in my opinion.’ Louis adds ‘I’m totally surprised because when you walked in I though god. I’m totally taken aback. You were really good.’ The group receive three yeses and are through to Bootcamp.
The Judges meet David, 46, from Middlesex the self proclaimed ‘original rapper’. He explains to the Judges what the word rap is from the Greek word rhap and relays an old fashioned poem to them as his audition. Sharon points out the The X Factor is a singing contest when he says ‘What this programme needs is a good injection of what we might call street cred. This is my special approach’. Simon tells him ‘It’s as relevant as a cat turning up for Crufts saying I’m different’. So David – who started his audition saying that he wanted to make ‘enormous bags of cash’ – walks out empty handed.
And Frankie the karaoke addict hopes that he can break into the mainstream. Dressed in a bizarre jacket and cap he tells the Judges ‘Everyone keeps telling me I’m too professional to be a karaoke singer so they chose the song for me to sing. My fans, the song they’ve chosen is Hey Babe by DJ Ozzie. They all love me wherever I go.’ He sings and Simon says ‘The problem is Frankie you are an atrocious singer. Absolutely atrocious.’ And as Frankie gets three nos and leaves Simon adds ‘Frankie doesn’t go to Hollywood!’
Tonight’s show reveals the Categories that each Judge will be mentoring for the remainder of the series. With Shane Ward the winner last series for Louis, the 16 – 24 year olds is a popular choice. And once again The Groups is not a popular choice. Louis says ‘I really don’t want the Groups because too many people to deal with and some of the Groups that have been put through this year don’t have The X Factor. I think Simon should get The Groups, he deserves them, he really does.’ Sharon agrees ‘I think I’m going to get the Groups. I’m not going to like it but that’s it.’ The Producers make their decisions and inform the Judges. Will the Judges be pleased with their choices?
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