Black Out?

Nov 4, 2017 by Rob

The question following the first live weekend of X Factor is, did TPTB show their hand too early in having Grace and Rak-Su in the top 2 spots?

To ensure the Sunday night sing-off between the top 2 doesn’t become a predictable yawn, they now have a job on their hands trying to manoeuvre different acts to the top of the vote.

It’s the Boys and the Groups tonight; Girls and Overs tomorrow night for this week’s ‘Viva Latino’ theme.

The most obvious ones to fanfare, possibly from the pimp slot, to try and get them above Rak-Su and Grace, appear to be The Cutkelvins and Holly.

Both have song choices that could offer the window to shine. The Cutkelvins track has changed from Hey DJ to Reggaeton Lento which looks a much better fit on paper.

Holly has the massive hit ‘Despacito’ which at first glance looks a tough assigment. But assuming they conjure up a manageable arrangement – it seems unlikely Holly will be tasked with singing it in Spanish – and decent staging it could work well.

But as always with X Factor you are second guessing how things are likely to play out on the live stage and the script the judges will be reading from.

Grace may well do a stripped back version of ‘Ciao Adios’. It would come as no surprise if she is on earlier in the running order and they will possibly keep a lid on the praise.

Rai-Elle has the huge global hit ‘Bailando’. This may offer a window for the judges to talk her up as a fresh, relevant young talent, but busy staging and a tricky arrangement could make things difficult for her.

Among the Girls, Alisah looks potentially the most vulnerable one pre-show. It is questionable how well suited she will be to J-Lo’s ‘Let’s Go Loud’ as it’s a little out of her comfort zone of belting out power ballads and she may lack the sexy swagger of J-Lo to sell it well.

Assuming The Sun was correct with its information and 3 will be leaving the show this weekend, we must assume it will utilise the sub-section in the Voting Ts&Cs which states: ‘This may be either the act with the lowest number of votes across both categories that performed or the act with the lowest number of votes from each category that performed.’

It is glaring how Sam has been given a dated mash up, and Leon a song that doesn’t fit the theme – a chance for judges to distract from the performance arguing with Louis over the song choice, perhaps? On the plus side at least ‘Get Lucky’ is a modern hit song and Leon appears to have a loyal army of online fans. Sam has also endured some negative press which doesn’t bode well.

Lloyd singing ‘Hero’ doesn’t seem the most natural fit given his theatrical delivery but he will no doubt sing it well.

Sean and Conor and Jack and Joel have both been given song choices which look decent on paper. The concern with Sean and Conor will always be the quality of the live vocal delivery. Rak-Su have another Rak-Su ‘original’ which it is probably safe to assume will get the plaudits but could be on early.

It was likely a red herring Tracy was left standing there with Talia at the end of last Sunday’s show as Dermot always stresses ‘in no particular order’.

Tracy is building up a position as this year’s ‘feel-good’ contestant and J-Lo’s ’Ain’t Your Mama’ should suit her vocal well, but her progress is very much in the hands of TPTB continuing to ramp her.

Matt looks as if he is being turned into the new Chico with his choice, and such a hackneyed selection looks a clear sign of a deramp. Enough to get him bottom of the vote on Sunday? Probably not. Kevin looks the most vulnerable Over pre-show assuming he is given vote dampening, middling praise for a rather low-key song.

If only 1 departs tonight, it looks a straight Leon vs Sam shoot-out. If it’s 2 you would have to expect Jack & Joel to be bottom of the pv among the 4 Groups even if they do a decent job.

This new X Factor elimination format means it is essentially a case of fastest finger first trying to assess who is in the cross-hairs during live in-running betting on Betfair.

Sam looks the pre-show value call for 3rd elimination singing a very dated mash up. He performed 6th last week and could easily be lined up for an early r.o. hatchet job tonight.

This weekend’s song choices – ‘Viva Latino’ theme

Nicole’s Overs
Kevin Davy White: Santana Ft. Rob Thomas – Smooth
Tracyleanne Jefford: Jennifer Lopez – Ain’t Your Mama
Matt Linnen: Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca (with rap)

Sharon’s Girls
Holly Tandy: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito (Remix)
Grace Davies: Anne-Marie – Ciao Adios
Rai-Elle Williams: Enrique Iglesias Ft. Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno & Gente De Zona – 
Bailando
Alisah Bonoabra: Jennifer Lopez – Let’s Get Loud

Louis’ Boys
Lloyd Macey: Enrique Iglesias – Hero
Sam Black: Ritchie Valens / The Beatles – La Bamba / Twist & Shout medley
Leon Mallett: Daft Punk Ft. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers – Get Lucky

Simon’s Groups
Rak-Su: Original song – Dimelo
The Cutkelvins: CNCO & Little Mix – Reggaeton Lento (Remix)
Sean & Conor Price: Sia Ft. Nicky Jam – Cheap Thrills (Remix)
Jack & Joel: Camila Cabello / Nicky Jam – Havana / Hasta el Amanecer medley