Why I've Changed My Opinion On The X-Factor

Finally, finally, Lloyd is gone from the X-Factor. With the departure of Jedward, it means it's truly back to being the competition it was envisioned as being.

Ask me 4 years back about my opinion on Pop and American Idol, X-Factor, Britain's Got Talent and all their ilk, and you would have got a very different response. In an interview for my secondary's paper, as the frontman of one of the school's top bands, I was downright vitriolic. It remains true that I would never go on any of them (unless as a featured artist or a judge), but I have to admit to being drawn into the panto of reality based shows. Having since worked closely with the brilliant Andrew Muir (2008 Britain's Got Talent Finalist), I also realised that they are sometimes a great platform or stepping stone for talented people who otherwise would get no exposure. I don't even mind the incestuosness of the situation, the endless procession of Sony artists or show affiliates who perform, thus, apparently, securing their position at or near the top of the charts the following week. I'd argue that, as long as people are aware of what's going on, then it's good, healthy competition for the music industry, like this generation's Top Of The Pops (except, of course creating rather than reflecting the charts).

All of which is why I get so angry with the British public, most of whom don't seem to have a fucking clue what the show is. From the Xtra Factor's People's Panel and guest panel, to Facebook, to Twitter, to the papers, so many people have totally missed the point. I'll break it down, point by point:

This show is NOT a popularity contest. First and foremost, this is an important point. How much you like the person singing is irrelevant unless that affects your opinion of the music. It sometimes does mine - I have difficulties appreciating Radiohead because Thom Yorke's head is so far up his own arse, it's a wonder you can hear him sing. But we should all be adult enough to separate art from the artist. Does the fact that the Gallagher brothers are twats make their music worse? No. Does the fact that Lloyd and Jedward are nice enough blokes make them better singers or performers? Not by a long shot. This intangible thing people don't like about Danyl is either latent homophobia (on the case of Danny Dyer, for example), or some other irrelevant thing (he has cow eyes, he opens his mouth too wide). We're now finally at the point where we have 4 acts who are talented enough to produce a single worth buying. That's one thing this show is about.

It's NOT about making people's dreams come true. It's not some absurd extension of Jim'll Fix It or the Make A Wish Foundation. It's a talent contest. Yes, Stacey's obviously a lovely lass (although they have rather glossed over her extremely early pregnancy - she's only 20, for chrissakes), but she's still the weakest singer left in the competition. She's the only one who hasn't produced a wow moment for me - Danyl and Joe have had loads, and Olly really won me over last night. It's academic now, but Louis' endless crap about "two young boys living their dream" is irrelevant. We're not here to help them. They're here to help us.

It's NOT about who has improved the most. If you start crap, and get good, you're still not as good as someone who starts amazing and stays amazing. They don't have "most improved" medals in the Olympics. The music industry isn't very forgiving like that. So all this bull about Joe being "too good" or "too perfect" is just that, bull. You have to judge on an absolute scale, not by the individual goals and achievements of each act.

It's NOT about voting for people who come from the same place as you - I'm looking at you, Essex and Wales especially. This is not the fucking Eurovision song contest. Where someone comes from is broadly irrelevant as to what capacity they have to make good music. It might influence their style a little, but there's hardly an Essex style or a Welsh style or a Geordie style. There's just good music and not good music. Get over yourselves.

This show IS absolutely about having the best artists at the end, and the best of them getting a recording contract. Or at least, that's what it's supposed to be. But until the British public wake up, and start treating it as what it is, rather than a joke, or a popularity contest, its detractors will have genuine ammunition. Obviously, some of you undoubtedly think it's a joke by definition. Fine, don't participate. But for the rest of you, it's not about what you want from the show. There's entertainment enough already. The more you lose sight of what this kind of competition is, the more often we'll get served duds like Leon Jackson and Shayne Ward, and miss out on those genuinely talented people who don't have any other chances...