Kittylicious

X Factor 2009

Thursday, February 12, 2009 6:41:46 AM

The British talent show "X Factor" has translated successfully to Denmark, but in an unusual step, two of the main judges have said they feel the show is too manipulative.

As the second season of the Danish version of X Factor kicks off, both Lina Rafn and Thomas Blachman from the judging panel have blasted the editing of the show for painting both them and the contestants in a false light.

Lina Rafn is better known as the female vocalist from best-selling pop group Infernal and composer Thomas Blachman is the straight-talking self-styled nasty judge on the panel.

Rafn complained that the editing of the show has depicted her as an eternal cry-baby after one clip of her crying was edited into other episodes repeatedly. She also took issue with the later addition of a music soundtrack to contestants audition songs, which made them appear to be singing out of tune even though they wasn't.

She thinks that it’s cheating. She agreed to appear on the show, because she thought our national broadcaster DR had a different approach to ethics than other television stations.

Her judging colleague Blachman said the producers of the second season of the show were creating "emotional porn" by asking contestants about their experiences with cancer and being abandoned by their fathers. He said he was looking forward to the live shows, which begin airing tomorrow, as he will be able to speak freely without being edited to pieces.

The entertainment editor for DR said that he was always happy to accept the criticism of the judges, but that entertainment shows are about using effects, music and editing to underline the emotional aspect that is already provided by the contestants.

I don't watch much TV in general, but I have been watching X Factor. I especially like the first shows, where all the persons who can't sing, are on. That's so hilarious to watch and hear!

Michael's MistakeChangeling

Comments

r♡serose-marie # Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:13:18 AM

So many programmes are accused for being "emotional porn". I guess it's all in the editing... After each new reality show, there's at least one contestant who complains about how the editing has done so that their "true" selves doesn't come out clearly...

I agree - it's always funniest to watch the first episodes in shows like this one

Dacotah # Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:26:39 AM

Darkogdare # Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:05:52 AM

Programmes on our TVs are a lot worse. This is why I don't watch TV

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:49:32 PM

@ Rose ~ You are right, there are always some of the contestants who complaint afterwards. What's special about this is that it's the judges who complain. I haven't heard about that before.
Tomorrow the "real shows" start. I don't know, perhaps I'll watch one of them. Just to see.

@ Carol ~

@ Darko ~ I am not too fond of TV either. But once a week or maybe twice, that's ok.

Angelikiellinidata # Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:52:14 PM

I do watch "American Idol" I wonder if it is similar...
I believe people should hear themselves in a tape before they audition, that will save many the agony!

I did hear myself

I knew my carrier will not be as a singer

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:57:20 PM

I agree with you, Angeliki. I've often wondered why their friends animate them to go to the programme and being broadcasted on National TV when they absolutely can't sing.

It's pretty similar to American Idol.

Angelikiellinidata # Thursday, February 12, 2009 1:00:16 PM

thanks! it sounded like it

"wondered why their friends animate them to go to the programme and being broadcasted on National TV "

not real friends!

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, February 12, 2009 1:05:55 PM

My thought exactly. Some of them sing even worse than my dad, and he is tone deaf!

(So he says himself, so he won't be upset that I say it!)

Here's a dude who tries to sing Robbie Williams, the dude is 58 years old and can't speak English!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYHzHiJKbDU

I think I'm going to die!

Spaggyj # Thursday, February 12, 2009 1:13:48 PM

I have the same feeling about it as you - I only like to watch the really bad auditions

. I agree with Blachman too, over here it is the same - they go deep into people's tragic pasts and try to make us all feel sorry for them.

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, February 12, 2009 1:15:32 PM

Kimmie, it's weird isn't it?! It's as if they want us to know that "I am here because I will sing for my mom, who is dying from cancer by the way", and stuff like that. I don't need to know that!
Just let me hear the weirdos make totally fools of themselves.

Angelikiellinidata # Thursday, February 12, 2009 1:25:54 PM

oh my!
oh my!
oh my!
oh my!

I need to change underwear!

oh my! this is a killer!

he is a sweetheart too,believing a second chance will do it!
somebody tell him "if you dont stop I will hurt you!"
not to mention his freshly colored hair!

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, February 12, 2009 1:28:28 PM

That guy actually tries to explain his accent. He says that even Britney Spears says "may" instead of "me"... The judges have such a hard time not to laugh too loud!

He even complained after the show was broadcasted, he said that they made him look bad - and sing out of tune! *Explodes in a giggle*

Angelikiellinidata # Thursday, February 12, 2009 1:33:12 PM

awwwwwwwwww he still believes... I won't be suprised if he shows up again in a future audition!

Britney has nothing on him!

he is the real deal

Dacotah # Thursday, February 12, 2009 2:08:06 PM

Hi Zaphira, how are you?

Dark FurieFurie # Thursday, February 12, 2009 2:40:03 PM

They're after the Rocky effect. When the viewers find someone put down by life who they can root for against the villainous judge (usually the person who actually knows the business and knows what sells) they're more likely to watch again, and vote using the premium rate numbers. That's why lesser talents with sob stories get through on these programmes. Having one of the judges getting emotionally invested (crying) just adds to that effect.

Unfortunately most people are stupid and will fall for those tricks. Without them these programmes wouldn't last into a second season, except for maybe the crap rehearsals process where the deluded people in each culture come out to make their mark.

Have you had any people who are so painfully out of tune that they need to be put out of their own misery with a shotgun, yet whose parents tell them they're wonderful yet? Over here, it usually ends with them not getting on the show, and the parents going in to the judges and screaming abuse. It happened once a few years back, and has been a regular event on seasons since then so I reckon it's a plant.

Darkogdare # Thursday, February 12, 2009 2:49:49 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgL2MKfWTo

JenJavaen # Thursday, February 12, 2009 3:43:03 PM

I have watch several seasons of American Idol. I used to dream of going on, but alas, no more. (Our judge, Simon would totally make me

)

Of course, they edit, they find the inspirational, sad, funny, pathetic, moments, and pluck them out. Yes, they want the judges to fight, or flirt. It's not just a singing competition. It's a story. It doesn't have to be real, just really entertaining

And when you get you Idol or X factor winner, they want you to feel that the world is as it should be once again.

It's the attempt to have good TV. So they get the good money.

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, February 12, 2009 6:52:49 PM

@ Mik ~ You really had parents yelling abuse at the judges over there?

I haven't seen anything like that here - at least not yet. Usually we don't even see the parents or hear about them, so it's the contesters themselves who do the crying/yelling/whatever.

@ Darko ~ Ken Lee is such a classic, it makes me laugh every time I re-watch it!

Thanks for reminding me of it!

@ Jen ~ Simon is tough, I've seen one or two of the American Idol show. Our Blachman is similar to him, being very "honest" with people, not hiding anything if he thinks people suck at singing.
The funny thing is, that the ones who get really far in the show believes that this will be the beginning of a great singing career for them, but that just rarely happens. Usually they are forgotten after half a year or so.

Dark FurieFurie # Thursday, February 12, 2009 7:13:55 PM

They've spent ages telling their kids how wonderful they are, ignoring all the facts, to the point that they believe it themselves. When their kids don't get through they blow their tops.

JenJavaen # Thursday, February 12, 2009 7:32:16 PM

Very true, Mik. That's why I'm keeping my expectations for my little one closer to "hope she's happy".

Chthoniidchthoniid # Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:43:25 PM

Very curious.

I'm afraid I tend to give these sorts of things a wide berth

Suntana # Friday, February 13, 2009 5:49:43 AM

I for one don't get remotely entertained by the Horrible Singers rounds. That pisses me off. They want their couple of minutes of being on TV and I refuse to humor them by watching. Many are obviously over-Fugging Up on purpose in hopes of making it to the VidClips that will be shown.

IMO, as soon as someone pulls that stunt, the camera should go off that instant and their audition should be declared over. They should be shown the door and told to quit wasting their time.

KittyliciousZaphira # Friday, February 13, 2009 7:17:24 AM

@ Chthoniid ~ Lots of people do. I just thought it was funny that even the judges complain over the editing.

@ Sunny ~ I get your point. But what is funny is, that the first rounds (the ones I watch), they show a lot of people, that absolutely can't sing. After last Friday they picked 9 who were good enough to make it to the live shows, which starts tonight. But they haven't even shown the audition of all those 9.

That's silly.

theoddbod # Saturday, February 14, 2009 5:08:34 PM

Never watched it, although my brother's a big fan. Given his own complete lack of timing, his tone-deafness and lack of voice control, I suspect he thinks even the bad ones are good