Last year a shocked myself and I am still a little ashamed about why. It all started one night at home when I didn’t have much to do. Flicking through TV channels I was caught by the odd sounds coming from one programme, some delightful, some rather painful. A group of everyday dreamers hoping for a shot at the big time. It was the X Factor.
I became hooked. Yes, I watched until finals night, desperately clutching a pillow with nerves and cheering for joy when Joe McElderry was crowned X Factor King. He hadn’t been my favourite all along, Danyl Johnson was a local guy and reminded me of Prince, and so he had my heart throughout until he left and the final four became three.
But I consider myself a music buff, with no time for this manufactured nonsense. Where are the years of hard work and perseverance? Where are the true musicians who sing, write and play? What is this ridiculous consumerist obsession doing to true talent?
Yet, I have to give it to him Joe McElderry has an incredible voice. Flawless and warm, consistent throughout. While he has been fast-tracked to fame, and profit-driven Simon Cowell is pulling all his strings, he does deserve to be recognised as a musical talent.
So why on earth, when some money-generating, manipulative singing competition actually finds a great vocalist, do they drown him in reverb on his debut single?!
All the quality of Joe’s voice is lost behind a myriad of production and post-production on The Climb, as if they fear any true talent escape from this manufacturing exercise. Perhaps there is a studio formula that every X Factor winner must adhere to, lest the lucky ones start to sound different to each other. God knows the public can’t cope with more than one voice on their radios.
I would say they have shot themselves in the foot by missing a great opportunity to sell a fantastic voice, but undoubtedly Joe McElderry will make them millions dressed in his new, fancy wardrobe, after all, ‘he’s that boy from the X Factor’.
Shame on them, and let their shame be bigger than mine! Anyway, I feel I redeemed myself by cheering even louder when Rage Against the Machine hit Christmas number one. You gotta take the power back.
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A manufactured music lament
Last year a shocked myself and I am still a little ashamed about why. It all started one night at home when I didn’t have much to do. Flicking through TV channels I was caught by the odd sounds coming from one programme, some delightful, some rather painful. A group of everyday dreamers hoping for a shot at the big time. It was the X Factor.
I became hooked. Yes, I watched until finals night, desperately clutching a pillow with nerves and cheering for joy when Joe McElderry was crowned X Factor King. He hadn’t been my favourite all along, Danyl Johnson was a local guy and reminded me of Prince, and so he had my heart throughout until he left and the final four became three.
But I consider myself a music buff, with no time for this manufactured nonsense. Where are the years of hard work and perseverance? Where are the true musicians who sing, write and play? What is this ridiculous consumerist obsession doing to true talent?
Yet, I have to give it to him Joe McElderry has an incredible voice. Flawless and warm, consistent throughout. While he has been fast-tracked to fame, and profit-driven Simon Cowell is pulling all his strings, he does deserve to be recognised as a musical talent.
So why on earth, when some money-generating, manipulative singing competition actually finds a great vocalist, do they drown him in reverb on his debut single?!
All the quality of Joe’s voice is lost behind a myriad of production and post-production on The Climb, as if they fear any true talent escape from this manufacturing exercise. Perhaps there is a studio formula that every X Factor winner must adhere to, lest the lucky ones start to sound different to each other. God knows the public can’t cope with more than one voice on their radios.
I would say they have shot themselves in the foot by missing a great opportunity to sell a fantastic voice, but undoubtedly Joe McElderry will make them millions dressed in his new, fancy wardrobe, after all, ‘he’s that boy from the X Factor’.
Shame on them, and let their shame be bigger than mine! Anyway, I feel I redeemed myself by cheering even louder when Rage Against the Machine hit Christmas number one. You gotta take the power back.
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Filed under Comment, Music