[lovecat86]

If we take a look at the comments he received after his first audition, which set me up as an avid fan there and then, we see that he was loved by all 4 judges:

Video here

Transcript:

Cheryl: Wow! You had me singing along, dancing along. Natural born entertainer.

Dannii: Thank you for coming to the auditions. To see somebody that loves performing so much... that was brilliant.

Louis: James, you love performing, you love that stage, the audience love you. And we haven't had many singers like you on X Factor before. I think you're great.

Simon: You know what I like about you, James? You're fearless. Right? And you know how to perform, you got this lot [the audience] on your side within 10 seconds. We're gonna vote on this now. Louis, yes or no?

Louis: James, you stand out from the crowd, 150% yes!

Dannii: Yes, please!

Cheryl: This is really exciting now, yes from me!

Simon: James, 2 and a half thousand yes's [I recently learned that when pluralising a word it is correct to use an apostraphe ]. Well done!



Louis seemed particularly enthusiatic. Now he calls Jamie a pub singer (I wish he'd been there to give comments on Week 2, Jamie's best peformance and definitely one of the highlights of this year's XF for me), what has changed his mind so drastically?

I blame Simon's song choices, they don't allow Jamie to show off his vocal range and a mixture of quiet and anthemic singing. A shame, as he does both well and he has a very pleasant voice when he sings normally - noticed during Alphabeat cover and at the start of Hurt.

What do you think?

[ladygardener]

Louis doesn't like anyone who is a threat to J & E, which is all the other contestants. He is devious and underhand with his comments on the show.

[researchshirley]

He's a pleasant enough guy with a decent voice but he really doesn't have the x factor. It was bound to be a long shot putting an older guy who is essentially a rocker through but he's just not special enough to make an impression. His performances are fine but there's nothing there to capture the imagination. Few people (certainly among this show's audience) are going to find him attractive and even fewer are really going to identify with him. He's done well to stay this long and the fact that he seems likeable helps.

[lovecat86]

Originally Posted by researchshirley

He's a pleasant enough guy with a decent voice but he really doesn't have the x factor. It was bound to be a long shot putting an older guy who is essentially a rocker through but he's just not special enough to make an impression. His performances are fine but there's nothing there to capture the imagination. Few people (certainly among this show's audience) are going to find him attractive and even fewer are really going to identify with him. He's done well to stay this long and the fact that he seems likeable helps.

I appreciate your input, but if the first sentence were true, why the rave reviews at his audition? This is what I'm asking? He wasn't always viewed that way.

[Wtchfndr Spcfc]

Originally Posted by lovecat86

Simon: James, 2 and a half thousand yes's [I recently learned that when pluralising a word it is correct to use an apostraphe ]. Well done!

I'd get a refund from whoever taught you that - it's yesses.

[Psychosis]

Maybe it's because he hasn't really done anything different and the wow factor is gone. A great artist can always keep people on their toes, wondering what's going to happen next.

[researchshirley]

Originally Posted by lovecat86

I appreciate your input, but if the first sentence were true, why the rave reviews at his audition? This is what I'm asking? He wasn't always viewed that way.

I think probably because he's not exactly the typical entrant and the judges were impressed by that. The rave reviews were probably a little bit of an overreaction to his performances. Putting him through to the live shows probably exposes his weaknesses in this context. Personally I'd rather see him there than some of the others but I think the judges suspect the public won't go all the way with him and he doesn't really come up with anything new.

[lovecat86]

Originally Posted by Wtchfndr Spcfc

I'd get a refund from whoever taught you that - it's yesses.

It's in the book on punctuation Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

She cites the example "do's and don't's."

Anyways, back on topic...

[Selena]

Definitely the song choices with the exception of 'Hurt' Simon has chosen 3 songs in a similar style 'Rocks', 'Get It on' and 'Angel Of Harlem'. Which is not far on Jamie because he isn't getting songs that he can easily make his own like the others or ones that show his full versitility.

[Selena]

Originally Posted by Psychosis

Maybe it's because he hasn't really done anything different and the wow factor is gone. A great artist can always keep people on their toes, wondering what's going to happen next.

But isn't that Simon's fault with the song choices not Jamie's Simon needs to stop concerntrating on one act and fully support them all.

[Kimmoiserie]

I think the problem with Jamie is precisely that if you heard him for the first time, or heard him in a large pub/club/bar etc he's the type of singer who many would go up to say that they're great, need a record deal, bigger audience etc

It's only once listening to them in a bigger audience that it becomes clear how limited they actually are and how the smaller venue is where they actually do belong.

On hearing him sing for the first time it is a good sound, but at the back of your mind you're aware of how much he reminds you of so many acts and artists.

The more you hear him, it ceases to be similar, but becomes derivative, an imitation and a pale one at that.

It's not that he's not a good singer, it's just that the more he sings the more aware one is that it's nothing new, and has been done far more successfully before.

[lovecat86]

Originally Posted by Psychosis

Maybe it's because he hasn't really done anything different and the wow factor is gone. A great artist can always keep people on their toes, wondering what's going to happen next.

Do you think he could have done more with the song choices given? Especially this past week - it was rock week and Simon gave him Primal Sceam Or do you think he's made the most of a bad situation?

I wish that Brian didn't choreograph them on rock week... I don't think rockers have their moves taught to them by dance instructors. They just do what they feel.

[thinkfun]

jamie hasnt wowed me since his first audition except with hurt......everything else was just what he did in his audition.....hes not as good.

[Psychosis]

Plurals don't have apostrophes. Apostrophes are there for possession.

[Selena]

From all the comments it looks like everyone thinks that its Simon's song choices, that are not helping Jamie.

[Anika Hanson]

I dont understand all the negativity re Jamie. People say he isn't versatile. He could be if he was given better song, he showed what he could do when he sang hurt. But at the end of the day he is a rocker. At least he is sticking to his principles, i'd find it a bit embarasseing If I saw him doing a swing song trying to pull off Latin moves or a cheesy disco song and doing stupid dances. It shows that he has intergrity to me at least. Even when though he does rock songs, to me he is still miles better than most of the contestants anyway.

[Psychosis]

I don't know if it's Simon's fault or Jamie's. There are people who could make every song sound different. Whatever it is, whether it's Jamie's fault or Simon's, I find him the most boring in the competition right now. I haven't seen him do something like Lucie - going from big diva, to the soft, sultry tones in My Funny Valentine, to Avril pop-rock. I've just heard mid-range rock, mid-range rock, mid-range rock, and mid-range rock. I didn't think we saw anything except strain when he sang Hurt.

[lovecat86]

Originally Posted by Kimmoiserie

I think the problem with Jamie is precisely that if you heard him for the first time, or heard him in a large pub/club/bar etc he's the type of singer who many would go up to say that they're great, need a record deal, bigger audience etc

It's only once listening to them in a bigger audience that it becomes clear how limited they actually are and how the smaller venue is where they actually do belong.

On hearing him sing for the first time it is a good sound, but at the back of your mind you're aware of how much he reminds you of so many acts and artists.

The more you hear him, it ceases to be similar, but becomes derivative, an imitation and a pale one at that.

It's not that he's not a good singer, it's just that the more he sings the more aware one is that it's nothing new, and has been done far more successfully before.

I can see where you're coming from, I was beginning to wonder some of that myself after Saturday but then I watched the audition again (only because I foujd the vid for a new Jamie fan in the appreciation thread who hadn't seen it) and was blown away. I felt like I did the first time I saw it, just stopped and took notice (which is a rarity in the auditions cuz most of the televised ones are bland/mediocre so it's usually the bad ones that grab me) because I was amazed. Even more astonished to hear Louis's comments after it, now I know what he says to Jamie every week on Sat.

[lovecat86]

Originally Posted by Psychosis

Plurals don't have apostrophes. Apostrophes are there for possession.

And for joining two words together. Thank you. I did go to school, sixth form and university. I clearly pointed out in my OP why I had done it because I knew there would be backlash and people correcting it. It said so in a book looking specifically at punctuation, claimed it was a common misconception, and it surprised me because beforehand I thought apostraphes and plurals were a no no.

EDIT: I can't be bothered to go up two flights of stairs and find the book, but the reasoning (I think) is that if you write "nos" for no's, it looks like it should rhyme with poss.

[ASH_23]

Louis does this every year - on danyl's first performance on the live shows he said 'you're cocky, arrogant you haven't won the show yet etc etc' now he is saying he wants people to vote for him, he is one of the most talented their and he wants to see more of him - i do agree with louis though something isn't working with Jamie apart from Hurt the rest of his performances have been average which is a shame because i really like him and his voice, simon needs to challenge him more, i felt hurt was a huge challenge and he pulled it off, Olly is being challenged as is Danyl so he needs to bring the performance out of Jamie and stop giving him predictable song choices.

[lovecat86]

Originally Posted by thinkfun

jamie hasnt wowed me since his first audition except with hurt......everything else was just what he did in his audition.....hes not as good.

I feel the same way, although Angel of Harlem has grown on me, but why do you think that is?

[Maisie74]

Liked him in his first audition but haven't liked anything about him since - he gives me the creeps. Looks totally out of place on this show and when he sings in the group song he comes across like one of the contestants dad's.

[Selena]

Originally Posted by lovecat86

I feel the same way, although Angel of Harlem has grown on me, but why do you think that is?

My opinion. Simon goes on about other contestants having to be relivant and make Songs their own. But he keeps giving Jamie older songs which you do hear pub singers and Karioke singers singing. He needs to challenge Jamie with harder more modern songs.

[flamingGalah!]

I don't think Jamie has really improved, he is a decent enough singer, but he is basically doing the same that he did in his audition, he has no versatility I believe he cannot sing anything other than a rock song, hence why on Big Band week Simon cheated by getting him to sing a U2 song & then (as Cheryl pointed out) Simon for the first time has a rock week...

He's a nice enough guy, but he doesn't really have the X factor, he would be good doing small gigs & the like, but I don't ever see him as being a recording artist...

[Anika Hanson]

He just isn't getting the right song choices, it's a shame because he can do so much more. Here's to hoping he will get a good song next. But im still pleased with his performances so far.