Kittylicious

X-factor 2011

Sunday, January 2, 2011 2:54:18 PM

Thoughts, Video, TV, X-factor

Happy new year everybody, I hope you had a great new years eve. I know I did.

Yesterday, on the first day in the new year, the Danish version of X-factor began. Some of you might know that I don't watch much TV in general, but I admit that I do watch X-factor and Denmark's got talent. Once a week, usually on Friday evening, I curl up in my blanket, drink Pepsi, eat candy and watch a talent show.

The first shows are always the funniest. That's where all the idiots are broadcasted. The persons that can't really sing, and that have been encouraged to join the show.

Yesterday they showed 17-year old Stephanie. She believed she had a fair chance. But seriously, the girl could not sing. The 'nicer' judged asked her if she was serious about being a contestant, or if she had some kind of bet going on. And the 'nasty' judge said "complete lack of sense of occasion"!
Now, judge for yourself. She starts to sing after 1 minute and 12 seconds:

So, what do you think?

3 minutes and 14 seconds after the video starts, the 'nasty' judge goes out to pee, and he finds Stephanie and her mum outside the studio. He asks the mum why she doesn't protect her daughter from that kind of humiliation. He says to her that she is her daughter's lawyer, and that she owes her daughter an excuse for not protecting her.

I have to agree with him. I have often wondered why so many people who can't sing, are even in the show in the first place. And why some of their friends and family haven't told them that it may not be the best idea in the world. It's humiliation for sure. And my point is, that it's what people want to see! I'm not sure that I'd even watch the shows if they only showed people who could actually sing.

After that the 17-year old twin girls, Rikke and Trine, went on. Very natural, unpolished and sweet. And they could actually sing. They're here, and they start to sing 2 minutes after the Youtube thingee starts:

The judges actually ridicule them to begin with, asking them which little island they were coming from and suchlike, but they're taking their words back afterwards. Thanks for that - the girls didn't deserve to be mocked before even starting singing! At least give people a chance before mocking!

That's it. I'll be there again next Friday, watching more.

Funny TyposIsabelle Caro, R.I.P.

Comments

Dark FurieFurie # Sunday, January 2, 2011 4:22:18 PM

That's the reason I don't watch these shows. The judges make them controversial by being as insulting as possible in an attempt to pull in ratings. Personally I believe humanity is above that, though they keep tuning in to hate a judge or agree with their predictions.

I also hate the parents and friends of people who can't sing and yet encourage them anyway. Have they never heard of being cruel to be kind? I know they want to spare the feelings of the person they care for, but if you have to step out of reality to do that then something needs to change.

Mad Scientistqlue # Sunday, January 2, 2011 4:41:43 PM

Originally posted by Furie:

I also hate the parents and friends of people who can't sing and yet encourage them anyway.

KittyliciousZaphira # Sunday, January 2, 2011 4:52:34 PM

I agree with you, Mik. I know what the judges are doing - and that's why I call them 'the nice judge' and 'the nasty judge', because I believe that's part of the concept, really. I believe in encouraging people, but not to encourage them to make complete fools of themselves.

Dark FurieFurie # Sunday, January 2, 2011 10:16:33 PM

And that's why I'm constantly murdering Kitty. She needs toughening up to face such a harsh world.

FlaRin # Sunday, January 2, 2011 10:24:53 PM

I think the concept of 'the talent show' is pretty good in an entertainment sense, but agree totally that the parents of kids who can't actually sing should be thrashed for allowing their kids to get up there and be humiliated in public and scarred for the rest of their lives. OK if they *can* sing\entertain, and just eventually get 'knocked out' by someone better, if they *really* are talented enough to be marketable, they'll be picked up, no worries about that at all. Agents & 'talent scouts' (if I can call them that) watch these shows very carefully too.

I enjoy watching too, and they honestly do sometimes bring people who *can*, into the public eye - Susan Boyle, Adam Lambert & so on. Then it's up to the individual - if they've got what it takes, then bloody good luck.

As for the judges, well - that's show biz, and in fact they are actually fairly astute, despite the persona they put up for the cameras. The 'mean judge' in Denmark has talent actually had the kid's best interest at heart, and said what needed to be said. It didn't really enhance the show per se but nonetheless introduced a little humanity into the aftermath, and maybe made future hopeful parents think a little bit before pushing their tuneless darlings into a lifetime of perceiving themselves to be a failure.

I shal continue to watch & be entertained, and amused, and sometimes horrified

Jurjenjekav # Sunday, January 2, 2011 11:14:46 PM

Haha, in the Netherlands there where two not do bright people that take part of a talent show, they were very, very bad. But they actually released a single and they did do performances, but only because they were so bad people thought it was a good joke. That was kind of sad really.
I agree, kids need to be protected, not only by there parents, but a tv show like this always have the choice not to broadcast it to save someones dignity.

So Anouk is also known in Denmark? Our musicians really conquer the world, aren't they!

r♡serose-marie # Monday, January 3, 2011 12:53:07 PM

Although I totally agree with some people having to be protected from themselves, I also see the fascination with watching ordinary people make complete fools of themselves... Maybe because you can exhale deeply and thank your lucky stars it isn't you on that screen...?

I haven't watched any of these shows for ages now, but I hear from my colleagues that they start out discussing and laughing at the bad ones, but then they all get their favourite contestants (among the "good" ones) and continue to watch the show because of the good singers.

Spaggyj # Monday, January 3, 2011 6:08:54 PM

I only watch these shows until the rubbish ones have stopped auditioning - I find those far more entertaining. What's not funny is the way these people's families lie to them and make them believe they actually have talent to such an extent that they publicly humiliate themselves.. It seems to be especially prevalent in singing contests. Here, there's always at least one person with such a family every year as far as I can tell.
Do people do this to their short, dumpy, buck-faced children on shows like America's Next Top Model? Not that I condone that giraffe look for fashion, but you know what I mean there.

FlaRin # Tuesday, January 4, 2011 4:55:54 AM

http://files.myopera.com/FlaRin/files/ox.jpg -

KittyliciousZaphira # Tuesday, January 4, 2011 4:11:51 PM

@ Mik ~ I'm as tough as I get, so you can stop now.

@ Flarin ~ When I saw the 'mean judge' go out and tell the mum off, I must admit I was like:

My god!

But on second thought, it makes sense. The mum should have tried and stop the girl from being humiliated like that.
Adam Lambert is taking it pretty far, IMO.

@ Jurjen ~ I agree! Wasn't there a chinese dude also, who couldn't sing at all, a couple of years ago. I believe he even made an album, which people bought because it was so bad it was funny to own it. *shakes head* That was kinda sad too, IMO.
And yes, Anouk made it to Denmark as well.

@ Rose ~ I do pretty much like your colleagues. I end up having a favourite or two as well. And I also have contestants that I dislike, and when they get voted out, I cheer!

@ Kimmie ~ It's weird with the family support, isn't it. I mean, of course you shouldn't limit yourself, but it's really something to make a complete fool out of yourself on national TV.

@ Flarin again ~
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/ksm/lowres/ksmn2026l.jpg -

Mad Scientistqlue # Tuesday, January 4, 2011 5:29:47 PM

Dark FurieFurie # Tuesday, January 4, 2011 9:12:36 PM

Always room to be tougher. What kind of friend would leave you vulnerable now after committing to help?

Jurjenjekav # Wednesday, January 5, 2011 7:29:21 PM

Originally posted by Zaphira:

Wasn't there a chinese dude also, who couldn't sing at all, a couple of years ago

I don't know, could be. I know of a Chinese dude that has a part in a tv game show, he hears a song on his headphones and than 'sings' along, which sounds really, really bad. Then the contesters have to guess what song it is. The guy does make a fool of himself, thats for sure... But I don't know if he believes he can sing

Unregistered user # Saturday, January 15, 2011 10:36:10 PM

Anonym writes: Imo, everyody can sing, its a natural aspect of our cultural education, kind of human behaviour. If someone fails in front of an auditorium, then the listeners failed, too.

FlaRin # Saturday, January 15, 2011 10:49:14 PM

I don't think everyone can sing, at all. That's why people get paid to do it. That's like saying everyone can be an artist - it's about self expression, not education. Sme people have it and can do it for real, some people can only mime, and that's the way it is. Anyone can learn to paint by numbers - that's not art. Anyone can learn to use a camera. That doesn't give them the ability to take good photographs. It's innate, not really learned. Anyone can learn how to phrase notes and learn lyrics, that doesn't give them a nice voice and the ability to 'hear' the song, or indeed the ability to actually sing.

If someone fails in front of a crowd, they're failing to entertain the crowd, because that's why they're there in the first place. The crowd is the judge, not the judged, as a rule. The crowd fail to be entertained.....that's showbiz, surely?

KittyliciousZaphira # Sunday, January 16, 2011 8:27:11 AM

Listen to this, and tell me that everyone can sing, again:

And this:

Surely (almost) everyone can make noises, but singing, no. I agree with Flarin on this one.

FlaRin # Sunday, January 16, 2011 10:48:03 AM

Hahaha. Oh dear. My point exactly

KittyliciousZaphira # Sunday, January 16, 2011 8:22:20 PM

And there's lots more where that came from.

Mad Scientistqlue # Monday, January 17, 2011 7:26:01 PM

Sure, everyone can sing. And everyone can dance too.

.
I, for one, know I can't sing. So I don't even try to sing in public.

KittyliciousZaphira # Tuesday, January 18, 2011 7:34:13 PM

It can be funny to dance ugly!

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/1237576060_funny_dance.gif -

FlaRin # Wednesday, January 19, 2011 1:31:27 AM

FlaRin # Thursday, June 16, 2011 4:22:51 AM

So is there any news of the final winner, Pussy Cat? Have they made a record, or been on TV in any other way yet? :interested: I thought the 2 sisters were bloody good, and I wished for them to win - have you heard any more about them??

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, June 16, 2011 4:49:54 AM

Funny you should ask, because Sarah is releasing her first single tomorrow. It's called "Okay", and is about daring to be yourself. The music video to the single will be released Friday next week. The album will be released on August 8th, and I've read that there's a sample of the single on her Facebook page. I haven't checked it out though. Even though I cheered for her, I'm not really interested in buying an entire album with her.

And that's exactly where x-factor fails. I don't see x-factor to discover new talents. I see it for the entertainment, and that's it. I believe that lots of other people do the same.

FlaRin # Thursday, June 16, 2011 5:04:09 AM

Oh right

I'll be interested in your opinion of her single. If there's a youtube, wanna point us to it, please??

It *is* all about entertainment, full stop. If the show didn't make millions, they're be pushing reruns of 'Friends"

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, June 16, 2011 8:19:51 PM

Yes, I'll point you to it when it gets broadcasted. I'd be surprised if it didn't reach Youtube too.

I'm a little bit ... umm... sad, may not be the right word, but anyway - that her first single has references to her sexuality. It shouldn't be necessary to use that to sell music. But that's just me, of course.

FlaRin # Thursday, June 16, 2011 9:48:05 PM

I agree - it's cheap, basically, and probably wasn't her idea - but that's the thing, record companies turn artists into ~~whores~~ product, and that's just the way it is - unless the artist has a measure of control, they do pretty much what they're told, at least until they get some bargaining power (which means sales) behind them...

Perhaps that's a bit cynical, but so is showbiz

KittyliciousZaphira # Friday, June 17, 2011 4:15:15 PM

It's a huge industry, and thus somewhat cynical, I agree. I wonder if it's the record companies that have had such a great influence on what clothes the singers are wearing in music videos and such. It's as if you don't have to be able to sing very well, as long as you're willing to act more or less half naked in your videos. It's a friggin' porn show!

KittyliciousZaphira # Saturday, June 25, 2011 5:44:24 AM

Here's a link to Sarah's first single, 'Okay'.
My first impression is that it's a copy of Pink's 'Fucking Perfect', both in sound and in contents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdZc8FVqoFM

FlaRin # Thursday, June 30, 2011 7:50:27 AM

Maybe so....I quite like it though - she's got a good voice here, nice and throaty...it's very 'safe', but I think she's got a reasonable future - this is pretty good for a starter

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, June 30, 2011 8:18:46 AM

Yeah, her voice is good. But nah, I don't think she'll make it. I'm not sure I think X-factor is a good way/the right way to start a music career. Not many make it, you know.
I can only remember two persons internationally that has made 'something' out of their TV-start, and that is Adam Lambert and Mark Medlock - and I think that the latter is only known in Germany. So there...

FlaRin # Thursday, June 30, 2011 10:39:46 AM

yeah I guess you're probably right - you usually are

I prefer Lena Marlin, anyway - she was great - what happened to her??

KittyliciousZaphira # Thursday, June 30, 2011 7:48:59 PM

I didn't even remember her until I googled and YouTubed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g47HSVt_ykc

FlaRin # Thursday, June 30, 2011 9:20:57 PM

I always liked this one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mov0dnY_6NM&feature=related

That album could possibly have been the very first *real* CD I bought my daughter, way back when