I’m pretty sure that this year’s winner will come from the girls category. No wonder that this is the best and the most competitive category in this edition of The X Factor. I don’t know how will Kelly Rowland manage the girls and will she choose the right songs, but those girls have great potential, great talent. Even without Jade in there which, what was a BIG surprise for me, those girls are ‘gold’.
I can’t pick between Janet and Amelia. Both those girls are my absolute favourites to win this year. Both of them have shined since the auditions and from there they just kept becoming better and better through every stage of the competition. Of course live performance is different and a single moment can ruin it all, but I believe they would put the best performance in the following weeks.
The other two contestants on Girls category aren’t far from them. Misha Bryan owned the stage in the auditions and felt so confident on herself. That should be a boost for her in the live performances and I also think she might be the only “universal” singer in this category. I mean she can sing fast, rhythmic songs and also can do the slow ones. I don’t think Janet can sing rhythmic songs well, and also I don’t like her singing barefoot. Sophie is good. She can sing, but needs more self-confidence for live performances. Anyway it’s hard to choose from these girls, but I think Amelia is the best singer in this category, and the biggest favourite to win it all.
Over the Boys category I don’t see any absolute favourite. All the boys might be contenders for top spots but simply I can’t pick a winner in here. Marcus is great singer and maybe the best in this group. He has that amazing voice that can sing almost anything that you give him to sing. Frankie and James besides good voice are charming and loose, which will help them in the live performances, getting votes by most of the girls and being more confident on stage. Craig doesn’t look so much confident, but has good potential. I don’t think he won’t be the first of the boys to go.
I was astonished when Louie didn’t pick Samantha. Take a look at her audition, she was amazing. And there wasn’t anyone better than her on that group. At Over 25s there isn’t a winner. Oh, wait a minute. There is a potential winner. It’s Jonjo Kerr. He has great potential, amazing voice, but his live performance might be worrying. He missed the lyrics in the audition and didn’t look so much self-confident in the judge’s houses, but it was a great improvement looking back at auditions. He looks a bit shy maybe, not too open, somehow like Matt Craddle last year. He’s definitely the best in this group. Johnny Robinson has an interesting voice. He is likeable among viewers and might get solid number of votes. The one who won’t make it to the second week maybe, is Kitty Brucknell. She provides a great entertainment, puts up a show, but she doesn’t sing that well, and it seems like she’s pushing the wall through every phase.
And last but not least the Groups category. Watch out for The Risk. It was very smart by Tulisa to combine these guys with amazing voices and great talent. Simon did something similar last year with One Direction and they were simply amazing and really contenders. Nu Vibe are great group too. They have great chemistry and with Tulisa’s help they can put a hell of a show. Rhythmix are interesting group, but I can’t see them as winners. Same applies to 2 Shoes.
I don’t doubt that this edition will be much more interesting than last year and the new judges will bring freshness that will make us even more interested in this X Factor. And does anyone miss Simon, Cheryl or Danni. I don’t and I also don’t like US version of The X Factor. For me, UK version is simply the best X Factor these days. Let’s turn on the TV and have fun until Christmas.
Luan Morina