To think that very few celebrities have the 'x factor'

[Bargaincatfood]

not an intellectual thread
Especially not most of those who won the show?! I remember the year 1direction were in it, my friends and I used to watch it before going out. We used to talk about the curly haired one, he wasn't that good looking, wasn't the best singer or the best dancer but my god was he mesmerising. Even my mum commented on him. Now he's the only one out of that insanely popular band with any semblance of a career.
It makes me think how few celebrities there are with that utterly mesmerising, star quality, where they're the only person you pay attention to on stage. It's hard to distinguish this from talent, obviously you pay attention to someone with an amazing voice. But that's not enough on it's own, as poor Leona found out.
I used to think it about Corrine Bailey Rae too, she was just so unique in tone and beautiful, but then she faded into oblivion so i mustn't have been in the majority.

Who has the X factor for you?

I never understand the confusion around Adele. I'm not a super fan by any means but she clearly writes decent modern power ballads, which is a genre that has always been massive and is under represented these days.

Also, Liam Gallagher has it, Noel doesn't IMO.

Nonsense. Noel actually wrote most of the songs whilst Liam was just a pissed up gobshite. Noel defo wrote Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Live Forever and Champagne Supernova amongst most of the others.

Denzel Washington has it. Even if the film is crap you can't help watching any scene with him in it.

I always thought it was interesting that Adele made it big whilst Rik Waller faded into obscurity. They were like mirror images.

Yeah, Noel wrote the songs but as a person he doesn't have that elusive quality that makes someone a massive celebrity. Gobby Liam does. People wanted to shag him or they wanted to be like him.

Oasis would never had been as successful if Noel had been the frontman.

Donald Trump defo has it too. Manages to get away with murder! Whether or not you like him you can’t deny that he says what he wants and still manages to be voted in as the most powerful man in the world.

@WhatHoMarjorie

Yeah, Noel wrote the songs but as a person he doesn't have that elusive quality that makes someone a massive celebrity. Gobby Liam does. People wanted to shag him or they wanted to be like him.

Most people want to punch him IMO.

Christopher Walken

Noel could never cope with the fact that Liam was more popular either.

I think with music, though, you really need the songs too. Somebody like Adele who was a reet porker but had the songs has a much better chance of sticking around than a one hit wonder bimbo. Ideally, you want the sex factor and the music talent.

I am at a loss to understand her success - it's unfathomable

She’s got the mist soulful voice, with different tones and ranges that other singers could only dream of.

She also writes her own songs and she’s written and performed some of the most iconic songs this side of 2000.

She might not be your cup of tea but surely it’s not unfathomable that she’s a global superstar?!

That said, Amy Whitehouse was better than Adele IMO.

@WhiteVanWoman91

That said, Amy Whitehouse was better than Adele IMO.

She was certainly unique. It’s so sad and such a waste of talent that she’s no longer here bless her

@WhiteVanWoman91

That said, Amy Whitehouse was better than Adele IMO.

They were different people singing in different genres, both talented I would say!

I'm sure Amy had Adele's "legendary" status in her future had she lived.

@Artesia

Do you not think over-exposure plays a huge part too? There's no magic or mystery about "stars" any more- the paps photograph them filling their cars with petrol, doing their shopping, pulling a funny face.

I agree, but would attribute it more to their own social media use. There is almost no one who rises above instagram and it really degrades any intrigue imo. That and advertising anything they can get their hands on. Jennifer Aniston is a classic example of this.

@WhiteVanWoman91

Also, Liam Gallagher has it, Noel doesn't IMO.

Nonsense. Noel actually wrote most of the songs whilst Liam was just a pissed up gobshite. Noel defo wrote Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Live Forever and Champagne Supernova amongst most of the others.

The X Factor isn't about talent though. Noel can also sing better than Liam but he doesn't have the stage presence.

Jude Law as the Pope was the very definition of charisma. Likewise James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano.

Taylor Swift has it in buckets. So does Leonardo di Caprio.

Pink, Taylor Swift, Chris Cornell, Alicia Keys

@WhiteVanWoman91

I think with music, though, you really need the songs too. Somebody like Adele who was a reet porker but had the songs has a much better chance of sticking around than a one hit wonder bimbo. Ideally, you want the sex factor and the music talent.

“A reet porker”?

@Liverbird77

Paul McCartney and Michael Nesmith for sure. Very few people really though.

Paul McCartney's voice is truly awful now!

Interesting thread & it makes me wonder if it can be faked to a degree for the camera as I'm seeing people mentioned here I've met or been in the region/company of in RL & I'd say they didn't have "it" as is an unknown mesmerising quality that just draws people to them & they just can't disappear into a crowd as whether they are good looking or not as they just stand out & just have an innate ability to command a room

I've met both Kylie & Danni via work. Kylie was lovely, funny & very down to earth, but she didn't stand out at all until she was talking to you, then you suddenly realised it was her, she could easily have disappeared into the crowd. Similar for Dani as far as standing out goes, she just didn't have it, even though she was trying very hard to make you think she did. Can't say she impressed me at all tbh.

Bowie had it in spades, so does Grace Jones & Madonna

Adele had a compelling voice when she began singing, it was somewhat unusual at the time, and her songs were different than what was being played.

Since then there are a lot of little pop singers who sound similar who have been picked up, with similar types of songs, so possibly she doesn't sound so unique. I also think over time, her songs, while not bad, are fairly similar in a lot of ways. No surprises really. Plus, her voice has been compromised by poor technique.

As far as personality, I don't think she has the x factor, but I do think when she started she was quite charming, which is different. I don't know if she still does, a lot of it was about her accent, and seeming very natural. It's difficult to maintain that as a famous person, people just naturally become more guarded.

I think actors are probably more likely to have the x factor than singers. Singers can be enjoyable to listen to without huge presence on an intimate stage and on a big one they fake it with clothes and gimmicks and dancers. Actors, if they are good at all, need to be able to assert themselves on the stage. Though maybe it's not so important for film.

I think there is something special about Harry Styles, I find him extremely likeable.

I really don't get the hype about Harry Styles. He seems quite dull and obvious to me.