X Factor: Bad Lashes went home

Finally, the first live show of the X Factor 2008. The nerves, the drama, the emotion, the anticipation! 12 acts squared off and one had to go home. And one certainly did.

I don't think that there's any doubt that there's a pattern in what type of people win the competition. Allow me to illustrate:

Series 1:

Winner - Steve Brookstein - white, male, over 25
Runner up - G4 - white, male, group

Series 2:

Winner - Shane Ward - white, male, 16-24
Runner up - Andy Abraham - black, male, over 25

Series 3:

Winner - Leona Lewis (oh my God, she doesn't fit the criteria!)
Runner up - Ray Quinn - white, male, 16-24

Series 4:

Winner: Leon Jackson - white, male, 16-24
Runner up: Rhydian Roberts - white, male, 16-24


I hate the idea that the competition is inevitably going to be won by yet another white male. Why are the numbers so disproportionate? Why in 4 series has only 1 group and 1 female been winner or runner up? Why, I ask you, why?!

Of course, there's the audience. If teenage girls are watching the show then they're likely to vote for the cute boys. But don't we already have enough cute boys? Everyone wants to point to Leona as the one who broke up the pattern, but seriously. She was such a powerful vocalist that not even sexist or racism could have prevented her from winning. There couldn't have been any other choice.

Unfortunately, this pattern shows no sign of slowing down. Girlband and Bad Lashes were in the bottom two and Bad Lashes had to go home. I had been rooting for Bad Lashes from day one. I loved their audition and was so pleased when they got through boot camp. I've always been a fan of girl bands (like Girls Aloud for instance) and thought that it would be really great if a female group could win the competition.

Girlband's performance of "Venus" was lackluster to say the least. It ventured into cheesy and the vocals were little better than drunken karaoke night with your friends. However, "That's what friends are for" was incredible. The singing was amazing, the girls looked great, and they sang their hearts out. They had the X-Factor.

Bad Lashes were abysmal. I hate to admit it, but they were simply terrible. They were out of tune, out of sync and wandered around the stage like lost puppies. After their performance all I could think was if that's the best they've got then they don't deserve to be in the competition. "Wonderwall", which they performed brilliantly at boot camp, was just as bad. For me, the decision was clear. However, the judges went to the public vote. The public which has consistently votes for white, male, solo artists.

But were Bad Lashes the worst band that night? Did they really deserve to go home?

There's no denying that Scott Bruton's performance was horrible. The judges blamed the song choice but the song choice can only account for so much.His performance was, in my opinion, much worse than Bad Lashes'. Yet the public still voted him to safety.

Diana Vicker's performance started out off-key and rather painful. She has a beautiful voice but for her first time on the big stage she wasn't bringing her a-game. Did she deserve to go home for her failure to hit the majority of the notes right?

Rachel Hylton, quite frankly, annoys me. The fact that her audition took up 7 minutes of the show is just ridiculous. Every time you see her she starts talking about her kids and her past run ins with the law. Yes, we know your sob story, can you get on with the singing now? Her performance certainly wasn't anything special. The song wasn't suited to her voice and in my opinion there is a very, very limited range of songs that her voice actually suits. Her performance of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" at boot camp was appalling.

But now, the people I actually did like:

Yes, he's a young, white, male but I loved Eoghan Quigg. His version of "Imagine" was simply flawless. If he wins (which I think at this point it's down between him and Austin) he really does deserve it. He truly impressed me.

Ruth Lorenzo is another performer who really impressed me. Her vocals on "Take my breath away" were perfection itself. Even Simon agreed that she was totally captivating. I also like that she's not from the UK and brings a different flavor to the X-Factor. She deserves to place very high in this competition.

Finally, JLS. I liked them from the start and their performance of "I'll make love to you" was incredible. The beginning vocals were a little shaky, but by the end they were in the zone. They sounded wonderful and best of all, they looked like they were having fun. Their chemistry is amazing and I just want to keep watching them.

So we'll see what unfolds next week. Will Girlband be out? Will all of the white males go sailing through to the next round? Will Austin ever stop crying?