I realise it’s probably not cool to admit that I enjoy watching TV talent shows like The X Factor, not least because my Twitter timeline is frequently full of people complaining about how terrible they are, but enjoy them I do.
The bit I enjoy most is the audition stage, but not for the reasons a lot of people will think. The auditions are where the producers make real fools out of those deluded people who truly believe they have talent when they don’t, or those who simply think they’ll push their luck. This is not what I enjoy, in fact I frequently fast-forward through these bits as I’m usually watching on a delay.
What I enjoy is seeing the occasional glimpse of seriously talented passionate people. People who love what they do and who do it exceptionally well. In this day and age it’s not easy to find success as a recording artist so why wouldn’t these people chance their luck on such a wide-reaching forum? It’s at the audition stage that we see their raw talent before someone persuades them to sing songs from genres to which they’re not really suited. For a few precious moments, they truly shine. Best of all, they surprise and delight us, and I hugely admire their courage and humility.
This video is the audition of a young man called James Arthur who epitomises the passionate few. Yes, there’s a bit of a sob story but ultimately his talent surpasses all that. If the rapping does nothing for you then please wait for him to start singing again, he is totally lost in the music and I love him for it:
And if you have any doubt about his talent and think maybe this was staged to look better than it was then please listen to this original track of him with his band which is just simply beautiful. He used some of the words from it in the rap part of the Tulisa cover he sang for his audition:
In my opinion he should be signed now because I want to buy his music. Much as I love to watch it, he is far too good for The X Factor.
Interesting. I can’t watch these shows because I can’t bear the sections where people are made fun of so mercilessly …
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I don’t like those parts either but ultimately those people do sign a contract and I have to admit to having little sympathy with the majority of them. I suppose in some small way I’m living vicariously through those whose talent I admire…and that makes it compulsive viewing for me. I’d never be brave enough to put myself in front of an audience like that and risk rejection.
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yes, by now I suppose they know what they’re getting into. But I still can’t bear to watch it. (overly sensitive soul)
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Being a writer, I like Drama and the X-Factor is great for that. I also enjoyed James’ Audition.
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[…] in August I wrote about why I love to watch the X-Factor. I said what I enjoyed most was the audition stage because of the occasional glimpses of seriously […]
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