Why Eoghan Quigg can’t win The X Factor
We heard a rumour that Unreality TV was being discussed on a local radio station a few weeks back.
Why? Because we weren’t coming out in full support of Eoghan Quigg, our Northern Irish contestant.
Apparently, we’re a bunch of shits for not flying the flag for Eoghan. I’d like to clear up why we can’t support Eoghan (when I say we, I actually mean me, Lisa is shaking her head in disgust with me as I type this!). And it’s nothing personal. And it’s certainly nothing unpatriotic to our fellow Northern Irish folks! Read on…
What is The X Factor?
The X Factor is many things to many people. But to us, it’s the search for a major UK recording artist. In Unreality’s opinion, Leona Lewis’s win was the perfect X Factor ending – we created a major international star. Imagine if Ray Quinn had won that year?
So, before we go any further, The X Factor is about finding a recording artist who will sell records.
The problem with Under 25 boys
Young male contestants are popular on X Factor. It’s a combination of young girls wanting to have their babies and motherly types wanting to mother them. To be twee about it, it’s the Cute Factor.
Now, Ray Quinn had the cute factor. Leon Jackson apparently had it too. Neither have had memorable recording careers. Ray released a swing album and was released from his deal within a year. Leon’s just released his album, and judging by the response, he’ll be without a deal shortly too.
Skip on over to Britain’s Got Talent and last year’s winner, George Sampson. Same thing.
Why are these boys really successful on X Factor, but not when it comes to record sales? I’d argue that teenagers are more likely to txt in a vote for a teenage boy on TV. But by the time they release a record nearly a year later, their ‘audience’ has got over their crush and moved on.
There you go, another career in the toilet. Another flaw in the X Factor formula.
It’s not Eoghan’s fault…
Northern Ireland’s pretty strongly behind Eoghan. He’s got a lot of support around the schools, and the local media is rallying hard as well. And rightly so, he’s the best Norn Irelander to join X Factor. Remember Phillip Magee? No, didn’t think so.
But could I stand up and vote for him as this year’s winner? Absolutely not. Not having watched X Factor for so many years. If you look at what I’ve said above, by the time he gets around to releasing a record, his career will be over.
Is it possible that The X Factor makes more money in phone votes for young male contestants than a record company will make in sales for them?
Look at the acts that are still standing: JLS could be a pretty slick group if they can escape Louis Walsh’s bland clutches. Alexandra Burke already has the full pop star package. If Diana Vickers could regain her confidence, she’d be a great contender too. All of these three could potentially sell records.
And what can a failed winner expect?
Remember, right back at the start I said this was nothing personal against Eoghan? If I was in Eoghan’s posse, I’d be worried about him winning.
What if he doesn’t sell records? Look at Leon, now largely regarded as a charmless gump who never had a chance of a number 1 album. I’d hate to see another kid go through the same thing again. I’d hate for him to become bitter when the voting public don’t follow through and buy his record.
Also, Simon’s obviously thinking to the future as well: compliments to Alexandra were obvious on this weekend’s show, and he was quite blunt about Eoghan’s performance being weak. I have a feeling he knows whose record he’d like to be releasing.
Unless Cowell reveals some cast-iron plan for how to market Eoghan and what kind of music he intends to release, I couldn’t possibly vote for him. At this stage of the competition, the winner is often the one you can see releasing records, and of the four remaining contestants, Eoghan is the one who I have no idea what type of music he’d end up releasing.
Chat about this on the Unreality TV Forum »
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you might be right. but i hope you are wrong. because i think he is special. never liked the other acts you were comparing to eoghan.
honestly i dont think he should win . he is not good enough . austin was musch beter than him its just cause e is young people are voting for him. And d way they say ur only 16 is stupid. i think people forget dianna is only 17. Want her to win she is brilliant
Words of wisdom from unreality TV here I feel. Look, he’s a nice kid, but does he have the X Factor to sell records beyond the first single? Sadly not is probably the realistic answer. Now Ruth has gone (and to an extent Austin) then Alex has the all round talent, with JLS being a slick and charming second. Diana has a quirky different sound but I’m not sure I could listen to a whole album of hers. Anyway, just my opinions.
I dont dislike Eoghan at all, but it would be a travesty if he even reaches the final, but it seems obvious that he will based on the whole of Ireland voting for him (its how Michelle McManus won). When I watched his 2nd performance last week, the ‘high school musical’, I couldnt even see Eoghan amongst the singers, whereas I was totally focused on Leona and not her backing singers when she sang ‘run’. Also, why does Simon insist on him wearing white trainers? I know this seems petty but its the first thing I notice and I cant be the only one. His voice is too quiet and weak, short on range, and never really hit the high notes of Take That’s ‘Never Forget’ because the backing singers drowned him out.
Alexandra’s confidence has sprung from nowhere the past 2 weeks. My only issue with her is that we have Leona, Beyonce (and sister), Riyhanna, Mariah…..I really don’t know if there’s room for another ’soul diva’ at the moment. The shelves seem full. Right girl, wrong time? Fantastic and slick, but I think Leona’s performance of ‘run’ reminded people that we have literally unearthed one of the greatest voices we will ever hear.
JLS: As long as they dont give any vocals to the ‘tallest one’ they’ll be ok. The girl band ‘Hope’ were criticised for making Phoebe their lead singer, but she was the strongest. Aston should always take the lead. He reminds me of a little Sammy Davis Jnr and has an incredible voice with wonderful range. He carries the band totally.
Diana: Oh Diana, my favourite, but Louie was right. He said ‘Diana I’ve seen it all before week after week’, and he’s right. Even I was bored with the same bare-footed ’strolling around the stage’ performances last week. I rate her version of ‘Call Me’ as one of the best in the entire live shows and she has to deliver this week. They say her confidence is shattered after what happened with her infection but last week, after singing ‘Patience’, she was jumping around like a lunatic and full of confidence, so where did it all go so wrong last week?
I had Diana as my winner, but I must admit Alexandra is classes above the rest, and has improved phenominally over the live weeks. It just concerns me that there’s not alot of room out there for her to sell her records.
This week? I think Diana and JLS in the bottom 2 (although I’d rather JLS and Eoghan). People will always vote out a group rather than a single person. If you were a tennant…it doesn’t feel so bad to evict 4 people rather than 1. JLS can console each other whereas Eoghan or Diana will feel very alone. JLS have a deal anyway, so winning might put a ‘cheesy’ slant on their image…’oh its the x-factor winners’. Go Aston…youre excellent.
u ar wrong es a great singer..jus bcuz sum ov d odrs ar gud 2 dusn mean hes crap…stop comparing him 2 odrs…its not fair e is supposed t b difrent t d odrs…he wil sell records..cuz if e wins im buying it! its not dat i disagree entireli..he dus av sum bad tyms but dusnt evry singr…imperfection is perfection
It has to be Alexandra to win the X Factor because she has everything, superb voice and real class. Alexandra will go far whatever the outcome butif we are to have faith in programmes like the X Factor to produce the entire package then it will be a travesty for her not to win. Good luck Alexandra.
I have to laugh at you all, the xfactor needs someone who has it all,
Looks(Eoghan and JLS have, alex aint that attractive.)
Personality(Eoghan definitely has, JLS do and alex doesnt, her favourite line is.. shake what ma momma gave me…. pathetic.)
Voice(Eoghan has a good live voice, i saw him yesterday and he blew me away, JLS do, So does alex!)
Likability( Eoghan, JLS,)
Charisma( Eoghan)
Genunine (Eoghan)
Eoghan was the only person who didnt have to beg for votes, he takes the criticism very well and doesnt have to get his top off or cry for a few extra votes.)
Ive met him and he is a really down to earth person.
Eoghan- 6
JLS-4
Alex-1
1st- Eoghan
2nd-JLS
3rd- Alex
You can take that to the bank with you.
You’ll come here in a years time when eoghan is selling millions…
I really dont think Eoghan will last in the music world if he wins. If he does I will admit I was wrong but you just look at the talent out there and compare him. He just doesnt make the mark. Do you really think he could sell out tours?
Alex is a brilliant singer but she is always going to be up against Leona and im afraid Leona is a better singer with more range and will always be on top.
On the otherhand if JLS win I think they could go far. Get rid of Louis and go back to the group they were when they first auditioned and there you have an R&B/mo-town/ soul group, something the industry is missing big time. They could also smash the states as that kind of music is massive there. Can you really see anyone but the irish getting Eoghan? I really cant.
If Eoghan wins and is a success, I would be happy to be proven wrong, but at the moment I think he doesn’t stand a chance at being successful or shaking off the X Factor label. If he wins now, he will always be “little Eoghan from X Factor” which won’t be cool when he turns 21 and wants to have a serious girlfriend and sing serious songs. Not only will his management have a fit if he talks about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll in interviews (because it will kill off his Granny followers), he probably won’t be allowed relationships in case of a ‘kiss and tell’…remember when Gareth Gates slept with Jordan? It was all over the papers and it really put off his fanbase.
People will want the cute factor and at 16 without a record deal, Eoghan would be more than happy enough to go along with that…but give him a few years to grow up and mature and he will come to despise being seen as cute. No man in his twenties wants to be cute, he wants to be sexy, and because of all the High School Musical crap they will have him singing, Eoghan will never be transformed into a sexy or serious artist when he’s a bit older.
Anyway, none of the finalists deserve to win. They’re all talented, but none of them deserve to release Leonard Cohen’s beautiful ‘Hallelujah’. They will all murder it.
alexandra is worldclass; she is truely amazing. but, the was she got on on the final was very fake, leona would have never carried herself like that.
eoghan is fabulous and i sure would buy his ablbum without a doubt. i really hope that he does release one.
as for JLS, they have nothing unique about them and they are just an other run of the mill boyband. i will never buy anything they release.
but, that’s just my opinion.