'Good on you Rhydian' blog discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's 'Good on you Rhydian; well done for explaining the real cost of talent show democratization' blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's 'Good on you Rhydian; well done for explaining the real cost of talent show democratization' Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

Fran

My view on Rhydian (which must represent a proportion of the nation's thinking) is that his singing doesn't stir me enough. Yes he is a good technician but that's not what people are voting for. I'm sure there are plenty of good classical singers that 'singing wise' could be 'better' than others on the show who have not had that training. I am delighted that Leon, who would probably otherwise slip into obscurity, has had this enormous opportunity at the age of 18, who came to the show without the big confidence and technical background of Rhyd, now has this chance to shine. I think he has more talent than other X factor winners and will be around for years.

I'm not keen on opera but was extemely impressed with the 'Britain's Got Talent' winner Paul Potts. He is outstanding.

So the cost.... it is expensive to phone these shows and it's a shame it's not free and only one vote each, they make enough money out of it anyway. When you vote you are hoping the outcome will be the one you want but eg. if buying the bank charges single/itunes track you know what you are buying so it is a 'safer' way of spending your money.

whitewing

Yes, I must admit if it had been free votes or 10p a call, I would have voted for Rhydian (probably five times!) but I don't feel that 35p a call is value for money. Sorry Rhydian because I know it meant an awful lot to you.

shaz77_2

So Rhydian got knocked down by O'Leary for pointing out that it can be quite expensive to phone in and vote, thats pathetic does anyone have a link to this on youtube?

silvasands

I don`t phone in as I have better things to spend(not waste) my money on. I did, however happen to catch the last programme where the winner was announced and could hardly believe my ears . A few minutes before, my husband who was working in the hall actually came into the tv room and asked who was making the awful noise ! I didn`t tell him that `the awful noise` actually WON the competition. Perhaps if people listened `blind` they wouldn`t have seen the winner blub his way to stardom with the sympathy vote /good looking guy vote ,and the guy who actually could sing, `lose`.
And yes, Rhydian was quite right to make a point about the cost and the richie presenter should have had the guts to agree gracefully or was it `more than his job was worth` ? Let`s vote for a max of 10p a call and then the mums of those kids who do ring in won`t have a fit when the tel. bill arrives in the new year...along with all of the others !

Mum_of_5_2

I totally agree, he immediatley went up in my estimation when he made that comment about it being expensive on prime time telly! Personally i think that while Rhydian had a good voice, it wasn't anything amazing and yes Leon won because he cried a lot, but I don't think it was a ploy, I know I would cry loads if it was me! Leon isn't an amazing singer and really in the talent stakes as Simon Cowell said 'if we judge this purely on voice Rhydian should win' clearly said before all the voting, but Leon is cute and crying. Another thing i thought Rhydian was good for was the way he took his defeat, he didn't looked shocked and was happy for Leon, a good bloke i think, i hope he does well.

stuartmitch

Funny... I was thinking about this issue myself the other morning... it's also spooky that Martin mentioned iTunes.

I wondered if SYCO could make more money *and* provide a better "service" for the audience by actually selling downloads of the tracks performed on the show (each artist could record their track(s) during the week in a proper studio rather than selling us the llive version). That way you could count the downloads to see who gets knocked out AND everyone who "votes" gets something for their money.

Of course, it will never happen as it would dampen the mad rush to buy the winner's single completed with almost guaranteed Christmas #1.

JayD

I agree with Rhydian, the cost of calling and voting is extremely expensive and infuriating when we know that call in votes to similar TV shows in America are free. (Even more frustrating still when we are suspicious that the results are going to be rigged anyway - Simon Cowell's final comments to Rhydian suggested very strongly that he wasn't gong to win - long before the voting deadline had been reached). It's all about making money - and it will be worked to ensure the most money is made with very little interest in the cost to the public, or the injustices done to the contestents. Cynical? I think not.

Fran

JayD wrote: »

Simon Cowell's final comments to Rhydian suggested very strongly that he wasn't gong to win - long before the voting deadline had been reached).

I thought that as well as though he (Simon) had been told how the voting was going and was sending out a warning. I agree with you about the making money too.

culpepper

I didn't vote at all this series(I've never actually watched the X factor before this year) ,mostly because of all the scandal about telephone voting etc being rigged.
X factor does not appear to be a talent show at all but is based on the fanciability of the competitiors (and how much the viewers like the mentors:mad: ) and so why waste 35pence of our hard earned cash?

Ryhdian was absolutely right and as he is just an ordinary chap with ordinary wages and an ordinary mum and dad,he can see it from the 'person on the streets' point of view rather than the point of view of Dermot who is earning a nice pot of gold for actually very little work and so sees 35p a vote for however many weeks it is,as laughable.

Good on you Ryhdian . Your version of the xmas song was by far the better.

Once the cutesy novelty of young Leon is gone,so will his record sales be.

Tindella_2

Have to agree - Rhydian was the best but that doesn't always make you a winner - it's the people that vote who chose the winner, some of whom must have been either tone deaf, Scottish and biased or liked a sob story.

Well done Rhydian for pointing out the cost - and I, for one, will not be downloading Leon's "effort" - but I might have downloaded Rhydian's version if it was available.