|
| Show 2 - 1st November 2003 (Birthyear Songs) |
| The Pop Idol contestants are now installed in an incredible £multi-million mansion. They have a jacuzzi and an ice-making machine at their disposal , and they were all hoping they would cut the ice on stage this evening! |
| Tonights theme was 'Songs From Your Birthyear'. Each student had to pick a song that was a hit in the year they were born, and the song choices definitely had an influence on tonights result. |
| Brian Ormond chose a song few people are familiar with and Marc Dillon's song didn't really suit his voice. They have both given good performances recently, making their departure even more of a shock. With the predictions of the tabloids and the bookmakers going to pot, it's now becoming clear that this years Pop Idol competition is wide open. |
| Although the overall standard of performance was lower than last week's there were still some great performances. Roxanne Cooper performed with a poise and confidence that belies her young years, Andy Scott-Lee set himself a challenging song and showed he was up to that challenge and Michelle McManus closed the night with a vocal performance that showed the voting public what she's made of. |
| How did your favourites fare in front of the Pop Idol panelists? Click in the order of play below to see... |
| As Marc bounded onto the stage full of beans, his mum and girlfriend were in the audience cheering wildly for him. |
| Marc selected Kool and the Gang's Celebration from his birth year (1980). It's a very upbeat number and the set lighting transformed the stage into a disco inferno. Dressed party-smart in brown T-shirt and jeans, Marc seemed to enjoy himself and had the audience clapping along. How would the judges react? |
| Foxy seemed happy, "Great way to start the show, you did it well", though he also remarked "you don't have to do the greatest vocal performance for that record because it's such a great song". |
| Nicki too was positive about the performance, "you really perform to the audience, you really know how to own a stage", but less so about the choice of song "one thing I would say is that choice of record...I don't think it suits your vocal I think it's a difficult range for you to sing in". |
| Pete had a different take on things "You can't sing that song, you were absolutely lifeless". |
| Simon told Marc he had a problem "noone's going to remember you tonight after that song". |
| Marc's mum's head sunk into her hands as he acknowledged Simon's comments saying "That's fine, not a problem at all". |
| Simon disgreed "Well it is a problem" |
| "Well it is for you", Marc retorted. |
| "Not for me, for you" said Simon. |
| Unhappily for Marc, Simon's words were prophetic and he didn't poll enough votes to make next week's final 8. There were none of those famous tears from Marc tonight, he was philosophical about his fate and had no regrets. "Wow, this has been the most amazing experience!" said Marc and as he signed off from the show he thanked both his fellow contestants and the viewers at home. |
| Susanne was born in 1982 and from that year she chose the Yazoo hit "Only You". Susanne was casually dressed, wearing an off-the-shoulder top striped in blue and brown. She sang her song well, but without the same emotional intensity of previous performances. The sound balance in the studio can't have helped. The heavy backing music was booming over the vocals. The panel acknowledged this but nevertheless she received quite a mixed reaction. |
| "This is a complete pure pop song and you even managed to sing it brilliantly as well" said Foxy. |
| Nicki too was impressed "I couldn't quite hear you but I like the way you play with the tune you make it your own each time".
Pete couldn't really tell how Susanne did! "You sounded good but I couldn't really tell because ...(of the)... sound in the studio".
Simon was far more forthcoming. "You just had a look of horror on your face... That was awlward. It was average, it was your weakest performance by a mile." |
| Sam Nixon: Song: True Colours (Cindy Lauper - 1986) |
| Sam took the stage to sing Cindy Lauper's 'True Colours', a hit back in 1986 when he was born. As he finished he gave the audience that cheeky smile of his and he faced the panel. |
| Foxy wasn't impressed with Sam's vocals, which he felt lacked emotion, "You've got a great voice, you've got a lovely smiley face but no emotion in that for me." |
| Nicki somewhat disagreed, "Another consistent good vocal from you Sam. Erm, I like the fact that you picked a different type of song to sing, you didn't twinkle as much as you usually do for me, but I still think the vocal was good." |
| Pete had some advice for young Sam "what they're talking about is certain songs...you can't change the key, because it's the key that gives it the sparkle, and when you bring that song down to your key, it just takes off the sparkle. It's not you, it's just the song, okay. Learn that!" |
| Simon seemed distinctly unimpressed! "Honestly Sam, if I'd just seen that one performance...I'd say it was average with a capital A, no spark...flat!". (boos from the audience!) |
| Sam took it all in his stride. He told Ant and Dec "they're just giving criticism and you've got to take it on board". |
| Kim Gee: Song: Hot Stuff (Donna Summer - 1979) |
| Looking great in a silky purple top and black trouser bottoms, Kim hit the stage with a beaming smile and showed us some moves as she sang the uptempo 1979 Donna Summer hit 'Hot Stuff'. |
| Foxy wasn't so sure about Kim's performance, "My only worry is that you're doing these big, sort of 'belt 'em out' club anthems and...does that make you a bit of a one trick pony?" He acknowledged that the performance was good but added "it didn't blow me away". |
| Nicki enjoyed the performance "you do know what you suit and that is big numbers, big uptempo numbers... I like the fact that each week you're doing it different as well Kim, that's good!". |
| Pete warned Kim that she could go too 'karaoke', "These sort of numbers are pure karaoke. Nobody can argue that so far you're the best we've seen." |
| Simon seemed almost disinterested. (Maybe the jetlag was catching up?) With a shrug of the shoulders he said "I don't really have much to say, really, you know, its alright, good, well done!" |
| Despite being pleased with her performance, Kim found herself in the bottom three and was relieved to escape elimination from the competition. |
| Wearing a zippy denim shirt Chris put some zip into his rendition of the 1985 Bryan Adams Song 'Heaven'. |
| Overall, the comments from the panel were quite good. However, Foxy's words had the audience groaning and left Chris feeling perplexed. After refering to Chris's fans as his 'congregation and vicarage' Foxy said "No doubt you've got a great voice but I just feel a bit awkward watching you, I don't know why...you make me feel a tad awkward." |
| Nicki had no such reservations, she praised his sensational voice and said "I think this week we actually got a real emotion from you when you sang and that's the first time it all fitted together.". |
| The greatest plaudit came from Pete, "on behalf of the old age pensionsers of Britain, we love you!". |
| Simon threatened to dampen Chrs's ardour, "I personally don't think that song was right for you", but after declaring "I wish I could be more positive tonight" he was cajoled into a change of mind "Erm, it was fantastic!" he exclaimed. |
| What a big softie that Simon Cowell is! |
| After last week's close call Mark was hopeful that this week's song choice of John Lennon's 'Imagine' would serve him better. Singing such a well-loved song is always risky, but he gave an assured performance and sang the song in his own style. |
| Foxy seemed to think it was a performance of three thirds, "I thought the first bit was really good, the second bit you tried too hard...but it ended good.". |
| Nicky thought this was a better week for Mark, "I think your confidence is there Mark this week, well done!". |
| Pete Waterman was satisfied too, "Let's be honest, busting song. That'll do me son." |
| Simon Cowell proved more difficult to please "Everything I've seen so far tonight is really, really dull ...Was it a great performance? No, no, no it wasn't (boos for Simon who shrugs his shoulders) it was 'alright'." |
| However, Mark forced a smile out of Simon when he balanced things up with a piece of self-appraisal "I totally agree with you but I thought the song that I chose last week was silly, the song I chose this week was pretty daunting, but I thought I coped with it okay". |
| Roxanne looked relaxed as she stepped up to sing Berlin's 1986 hit 'Take My Breath Away'. Did her performance take the panel's breath away? It would seem so... |
| Foxy told her "I'm sure I will play one of your records, because you look like a popstar, you've got a great confidence, you are very talented". |
| Nicki too was encouraging "I think this week you've really risen to the challenge and you're getting better." But she did also warn Roxanne "don't dip again, you can't afford to". |
| Pete added his enthusiasm "Great song Roxanne...you did a great version." |
| And Simon made it a clean sweep for the baby of the bunch "You were in a different league to everybody else tonight...(for) the first time tonight... I've looked there and I've thought, 'you know what, there's a future pop star in the making'!" |
| Roxanne couldn't have looked happier, she danced her way over to Ant and Dec and told them "I was so nervous...I'm excited now though, I love it. I loved it it's brilliant 'Oh My God'!" |
| Last week Andy sang a difficult song and came through. This week with Michael Jackson's 1980 ballad 'She's Out Of My Life', he chose another tricky song and once again he got a result. |
| Foxy teased the audience, "Andy, vocally that was not good", they groaned, he continued "...it was excellent!", they cheered! |
| Nicki also praised him, "I think you pick some of the hardest songs to sing in this competition... but I think you did a really good job". |
| Pete told Andy he could have a career in A&R (how about Simon's job?) because he picks the best songs to sing. Pete added "Not only do you pick the best songs but you sing them the best!" |
| Simon agreed "...you did great. Well done!" |
| A happy Andy told Ant and Dec that he "loved it, absolutely loved it...it was a hard song, but I love that song and I enjoyed it." |
| The 1979 Billy Joel number 'Honesty' was Brian's birthyear choice. He gave a good performance, but because of his choice of song the panel didn't seem to think it would be good enough. |
| Foxy agreed that Brian sang it well but also said "that was probably the weakest song to choose in a week when you probably needed to choose a really strong song". |
| Nicki agreed "It's not the best known song and so much does ride on what you choose." But she also told him "you did it justice Brian, you do have a very good vocal." |
| Pete was a bit bemused! "I honestly don't know... I just don't know. Brian, honestly I don't know. I don't know whether that song is good enough to carry you through mate." Brian asked Pete if the vocal was good, Pete said "I wouldn't question that, I just don't think the song, the whole thing, was probably good enough." |
| Simon went further, "you lost your clarity this week... a bit pub-singerish tonight Brian if you want the truth" |
| Trying to clutch onto something positive Brian asked Simon "Did you enjoy it Simon? No?" |
| Brian told Ant and Dec that felt that he'd chosen the best song he could from his birthyear. "I thought it was the best out of what I had, the best out of bad bunch... hopefully people have voted y'know on the performance and the vocal rather than 'oh do I know that song or not'... fingers crossed I get through, we'll wait and see." |
| Unfortunately for Brian the panel were proved right and his song choice was his downfall. When the votes came in he didn't pull enough of them to move on to the final 8. After it all Brian was still able to raise a smile, "I've just had a fantastic time y'know, and I had to go sometime and tonight was my night!" |
| Michelle's song choice (the 1980 Donna Summer classic 'On The Radio') really suited her and she gave a confident performance. As she commented afterwards to Ant and Dec she was even "giving it a bit of booty shaking"! Looking good in her black leather skirt ant top she must have been eager for a bit of fashion approval from Foxy and Nicki after their comments last week. |
| Foxy began on a negative "Honestly what you're wearing and the way you present yourself tonight, no way pop-idol." (boos for Foxy!) But contined on a positive "You sound every inch pop-idol tonight." (cheers for Foxy!) |
| Nicki liked what she saw, "a bit of a disco diva coming through tonight, and you looked far more comfortable this week than I've seen you in a long time Michelle." |
| Pete had no reservations, "Great song Michelle... I noticed the Glaswegian accent came out really strongly there... good!" |
| Simon added the icing to the cake "Michelle you have that ability...the audience here adore you, you can always entertain them." |
| Simon even challenged Foxy's comments, "Foxy you can't keep going on about Michelle's appearance because we've known what she was from day one." Foxy asked Simon if people will buy into Michelle's image. Simon hit back "You should have said that five weeks ago. The point is you've got to judge her now on her song." |
| Michelle thanked the valliant Simon as she might thank a knight in shining armour! |
|
| Go Back |
|