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?

Geoff Lynne is very talented

I felt like James Arthur really did have the X factor. I think biffy Clyro all have the X factor. People like Madonna had the X factor.

Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson

I always thought Michael Hutchence had some kind of other worldly performance intensity.

YANBU. Reality TV has a lot to answer for!

Obviously, there are many very talented celebrities though.

Pink is one of my favourites - I love her songs and what she writes about. I also think she has a great voice and is an excellent live performer.

Lady Gaga has star quality for me as well.

Let's not poo poo x-factor the TV show. The recipe worked better than the voice. No star has been created out of the Voice both here and America because you need to be more than your voice to survive on TV. Those who won and didn't do well still managed to have a Christmas number 1 from x factor.

How I would describe it in a performer is that it transcends talent. In its essence I would say it was:
Kurt performing 'where did you sleep last night?' Nirvana unplugged
The Beatles on top the roof at Apple
Stormzy at Glastonbury
Beyoncé at Cochella

This is very different to people that put on a great show with props, dancers light etc. Britney puts on a great show and is a phenomenal dancer. IMO she does not have the X factor.
Coldplay put on a great show. Metallica are phenomenal live. They are not what I'm talking about.
When I saw Harry Styles at 15 on X factor he just commanded the cameras attention. It was really strange, he wasn't even the best singer in 1D!
Another example is N*Sync. JC Chavez was the best singer, he was a good dancer. Justin Timberlake was not the star. Yet I find him utterly mesmerising. He performed a sort of medley of hits at the VMA's and just danced on his own with nothing else on the stage and it was just amazing. And I've never been a fan.

I think people from the Hollywood of decades ago were products of the studio system, so every bit as manufactured as the reality stars of today. We just never got to see the mask slip, so we remember them as STARS! and not as humans.

Someone I think seems immensely charismatic is Oti from Strictly-she outshines all the others, be they 'celebrites' or dancers. Some politicians have it in person too, John Major seemed very grey and boring but in person was allegedly incredibly magnetic.

@debbrianna

Let's not poo poo x-factor the TV show. The recipe worked better than the voice. No star has been created out of the Voice both here and America because you need to be more than your voice to survive on TV. Those who won and didn't do well still managed to have a Christmas number 1 from x factor.

Also the shows were about making money for the Cowell machine via sales, tours, merch and votes, rather than creating big stars and enduring art.

The point is they new what the public wanted. This included anyone who got to the top ten in the show. Some may not have won but they could have easily and they went to do well outside of Simon. They all had it to a degree compared to the voice singers in general. Most of x factor relied on personality and just the voice. In the voice, we never got to know them and the public only got involved towards the final stages which creates a disassociation. For people who spent money everyweek voting on the xfactor, they became attached to the singers and I think this paid of on the outside world for Simon. Whether for a year or five years.

@debbrianna What about Becky Hill? Shechas fantastic voice and has had a ridiculous amount of singles and been credited on as many others.

I have just checked Becky Hill and I do remember on the voice. However, her only number one song features MNEK. I will put that down to MNEK and not Becky. MNEK has his star power struggles but I think they are coming into their own and the music industry being more accepting. MNEK charted more with his voice and not showing their face or being in front.

No star has been created out of the Voice both here and America because you need to be more than your voice

Melanie Martinez from The US Voice sold millions of records.

A-listers these days are so boring. Angelina Jolie had the X factor and so did Will Smith. They’re probably the only recent actors.
Lady Gaga has “it” as well.
Disagree with the people saying Taylor Swift. She’s as dull as dishwater.
Harry Styles is also insipid.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

I don't get the Harry Styles thing. He's nice looking and seems pleasant. But because he sometimes wears a skirt or ballgown people act as though this is so fresh and new. In 2021?

And his music is so bland. That boy writes cheques his (lack of) talent cannot deliver.

Tbh the wearing a skirt thing is only a recent development and people have been enamoured by him for a lot longer than that.

I'm not a huge fan and he doesn't have any stand out music for me but I think it is what OP is saying; something about him is charismatic.

@CottonHeadedNinnyMug

This is really interesting, I work in the 'business' and have seen and met alot of folk. The only person that I have seen who had the X factor in the original sense of the word is Jude Law - I don't fancy him at all, but he is absolutely magnetic, I couldn't take my eyes of him. This is the Hollywood x factor that people like Marilyn Monroe had I think.

God yes, Jude law. A bit short but my god, is he handsome and sexy as hell.

Liz Hurley has that special something about her. Incredibly beautiful but also that extra bit of stardust too. Not exactly noted for her acting talent but youd definitely notice her in a crowd.

Carey Mulligan. She was amazing in Dr Who. She carried the entire episode. Also agree with Adam Driver, Sam Rockwell and James Spader. Also something strangely compelling about Thom Yorke (esp Radiohead’s performance on Smash Hits Poll Winners’ party circa 1995).

If you like ballet, Sylvie Guillem definitely has the X factor.

Totally agree with Adam Driver, I found him so compelling in Marriage Story when he sings at the end.

I find Robert Sheehan really intriguing to watch.

I think Zendaya stands out head and shoulders amidst her fellow actors.

@Tonkerbea

Totally agree with Adam Driver, I found him so compelling in Marriage Story when he sings at the end.

I find Robert Sheehan really intriguing to watch.

I think Zendaya stands out head and shoulders amidst her fellow actors.

I thought Robert Sheehan would have had THE BIGGEST career but he really didn't.

[quote Bargaincatfood]@KatherineJaneway not for men, Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Frank from Arctic Monkeys, they're hardly lookers. I think unfortunately this doesn't apply to many women, Amy Winehouse and Adele aren't conventionally attractive but they have a lot of talent and charisma. I think it has set them apart in a world of Ariana's.[/quote]
There’s no Frank in Arctic Monkeys?

Amy Winehouse music had real soul. Adele is just background pop.

@supermoonrising

Amy Winehouse music had real soul. Adele is just background pop.

Adele just wails. I don't think she has a good voice at all. I wouldn't even call it average!

The uncomplicatedness of Adele's songs is what makes it translatable. She is not there to do vocal gymnastics. Just like Army Winehouse, they have ways with words which are really funny and very good story tellers. Adele is one of the funniest celebs hands down and very British to the core.

Yeah, I don't get why he's not had a massive career, thought he'd do a Timothee Chalamet, but I guess you have to have the x factor coupled with the right parts at the right time

I thought Robert Sheehan would have had THE BIGGEST career but he really didn't.
I suspect homophobia in Hollywood for this one. He's astonishingly talented and charismatic.