Cee Lo Green: 'X Factor cover was cool'

Cee Lo Green has praised hopefuls who compete in The X Factor, claiming that he would not progress far on the show.

The Gnarls Barkley singer told The Guardian that he did not have a problem with the group cover of his single 'F**k You!', performed on the reality talent contest last month.

Green said: "I saw it, I thought it was cool. I commend the people who go on those shows because you're naked up there. But my voice is so peculiar that Simon [Cowell] would never go for me. I'm in no way a perfect singer, but I've got something..."

Asked about the UK's embrace of his music, he continued: "So many of the bands that influenced me growing up were English, even if I didn't realise it. English pop ruled the world in the '80s!

"A Flock of Seagulls, Culture Club, Duran Duran… My sister bought me the 12-inch of "The Look of Love" by ABC and I loved that. I never looked at music in terms of black and white, just in terms of quality."

Green added: "I remember thinking, when I saw the singer from ABC wearing his gold suit, 'This is very stylish'. I'd wear a gold suit today if I could get one made. Hopefully, if someone like Tony [Hadley] from Spandau Ballet sees me looking stylish, they'll recognise it comes from them."