Xfactor final 2008

The Xfactor series is becoming something of a UK standard.
We can set our calendars by the whole thing, from the auditions full of no-hoping, talentless oddities. Right up until the final a couple of weeks before christmas.

This years series was no exception.

Fortunately I missed the agony of most of the auditions and only really started to tune in for the Live shows.

Even then, only a couple of the finalists really caught my eye. Not least JLS, but that was more in the case that they were forced into my view by every teenager and magazine this side of mars.

My favourite from early on was Diana Vickers.
Her voice really is one in a million. It's something all on its own.
It just bugged me, and possibly harmed her, that she never looked comfortable on the stage. In fact she reminded me of a rabbit in the headlights everytime the cameras started rolling.

Second Favourite was this series winner Alexandra Burke.
That girl has such a versatile, powerful voice, that I'm pretty sure she could sing ring a roses and do it justice.
Alexandra sings everything from the heart, and puts in 110%.

In my eyes there are 3 types of people who take to the stage to sing.
First is the singer. Who ranges from the karaoke singer to those who just stand there making a musical sound escape from their mouths. These people may love the attention or even thing that they are excellent. And many that I have seen really do have nice voices. But thats nothing without stage presence. I mean you may as well be listening to the radio.
Next comes the "performer". This is the person who really puts on a show. Those who sing and dance and give a polished routine. These are the people who get into finals at competitions. Maybe they even get a recording contract. But they also find that within a few years they get boring and fizzle out.
Now the type I truely love and envy is the person who "lives" each song.
Alexandra did that tonight with each song that she sang.
The winners song "Hallelujah" was truly written for her, years before she'd possibly even heard it.
The person who lives each song, is the one who can bring a tear to your eye. One who makes a song a story and makes you truly believe each word.
Someone who sends shivers up your spine. These people usually end up crying with raw emotion when they are done because they are truly singing from their soul.

All I have left to say is ...
Well done Alex... heres to a long career ahead of you.
Oh and... you blew beyonces voice away hehe.