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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

256 replies

Bargaincatfood · 13/11/2021 21:30

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?

OP posts:
Grapewrath · 15/11/2021 08:10

Lady Gaga has it for sure. Miley too. I’ve heard what someone said about Tupac before, being absolutely magnetic.
I know someone who worked closely with George Michael and said he was quietly mesmerising and had a real presence.
Trouble with the X factor is they are decent singers and a lot of the public see themselves in their stories or empathise with them, so vote for them. Then when you strip it away there’s zero X factor. Leona Lewis is a cracking singer and stunning, but has zero charisma or star quality

TableFlowerss · 15/11/2021 10:48

Here’s my two Bob bit…

I think everything is subjective. What one person finds mesmerising, the next person doesn’t at all.

Having read just a few of these comments, lady gaga and Michael Jackson were mentioned, now I agree they both have great voices but many people have great voices but they never get lucky and are next ‘discovered’

Both the above are very (were) unique and wear alternative clothing etc… they do it to stand out from the crowd and grab the attention.

I think someone like Adele has got the X factor. She’s naturally talented and doesn’t need to dress in meat or wear extravagant clothing for attention and to be seen. Her voice alone commands everyone’s attention. She’s a humble down to earth woman with the most incredible voice.

She doesn’t need all that gimic shit because her voice alone carries her. Her charisma is from the fact that she’s real and she’s humble.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 15/11/2021 11:06

I think Lady Gaga tries very hard to have the x factor but it all feels a bit laboured to me.

authenticforgery · 15/11/2021 11:09

Victoria Pedretti is the x factor actress for me at the moment. I'm obsessed.

aSofaNearYou · 15/11/2021 11:53

@authenticforgery

Victoria Pedretti is the x factor actress for me at the moment. I'm obsessed.
She's definitely a scene stealer!

I have a long list of people like that I have loved watching and come away really hoping they go on to do well.

the80sweregreat · 15/11/2021 16:49

Lola young is a new one to watch , a strong voice and lots of attitude!

singingsoprano · 15/11/2021 17:10

@dayswithaY

How do you explain the success of Adele? She has now reached God-like status with every TV station here and in USA bowing down to her, Oprah interview, etc. This baffles me, what is it about her? Is she really any better at singing/performing than other current female singers?

To me, she doesn't have the X factor. That is a quality that draws you towards them like Kylie, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga.

Adele just stands and sings.

That is her 'X-Factor'. She doesn't need anything , just her voice alone has the ability to get the audience's hairs raised.
WhiteVanWoman91 · 15/11/2021 17:52

How do you explain the success of Adele? She has now reached God-like status with every TV station here and in USA bowing down to her, Oprah interview, etc. This baffles me, what is it about her? Is she really any better at singing/performing than other current female singers?

To me, she doesn't have the X factor. That is a quality that draws you towards them like Kylie, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga.

Adele just stands and sings.

Doesn’t she actually write her own music? If so, this is massively different to ‘just standing and singing’.

WhiteVanWoman91 · 15/11/2021 17:55

The concept of ‘X Factor’ is nonsense anyway. Basically just look attractive and have a good voice.

Most of them are happy to let their agents choose a look for them but real artists innovate and push musical boundaries and usually don’t give a shit about being squeaky clean for the public.

HerBigChance · 15/11/2021 18:44

Agree about Andrew Scott - there's a real intensity to him.

Blindleadingtheblind · 15/11/2021 18:51

I think Anne-Marie Duff in Shameless made that show. She was brilliant to watch. The show had some cracking actors but went downhill after the first few seasons. Anne-Marie had the X-factor in that for real. The role really suited her.

PolaDeVeboise · 15/11/2021 19:22

Don't any of you think Jesy Nelson has it? She was the one everyone talked about from LM. Also, Liam Gallagher has it, Noel doesn't IMO.

Ricetwisty · 15/11/2021 19:26

@PolaDeVeboise

Don't any of you think Jesy Nelson has it? She was the one everyone talked about from LM. Also, Liam Gallagher has it, Noel doesn't IMO.
No way, people talked about her as she's annoying.
debbrianna · 15/11/2021 19:40

Jessy was annoying. I love the group more now. Not annoying and they gel better. She always had a foot in the door. Interestingly, the door did hit her on the way out and reality kicked in hopefully.
😁

MynameisWa · 15/11/2021 19:50

Madonna def had it. Loads. She wasn’t that talented but she demanded attention.

I think Michaela Cole has star quality. She mesmerises me.

Adele bores me to tears.

Most celebrities do actually. They are only deserved in my eyes if I can’t imagine them doing anything else other than what they’re famous for. Like they are made for it.

Very few are.

DrSbaitso · 15/11/2021 19:55

The fact that we're all in so much disagreement is proof of what a subjective and amorphous concept it is.

YellowandGreenToBeSeen · 15/11/2021 19:55

Adele is lovely but zero X Factor for me. Just seems like a woman I’d love to hang out with.

I do wish she’d learn some bloody diction too ‘Take it Heasy Hon me baby’ is up there with ‘Skyfoal’ for me.

Grapewrath · 15/11/2021 20:22

Jesy is deffo the Geri of little mix. Interestingly Geri is a crap singer etc but was arguably the most interesting and the real character of the spice girls. I find Jesy the same, even on xfactor was the one you noticed and watched despite Perrie having a far better voice

adrianmolesmole · 15/11/2021 20:25

Eva Green and Marion Cotillard are two actresses I'd say have the X factor. The trouble is that these days to 'stand out' from the crowd it seems you have to disappear!

Blindleadingtheblind · 15/11/2021 20:32

@Grapewrath

Jesy is deffo the Geri of little mix. Interestingly Geri is a crap singer etc but was arguably the most interesting and the real character of the spice girls. I find Jesy the same, even on xfactor was the one you noticed and watched despite Perrie having a far better voice
I think Jesy can sing, she has a very distinctive vibrato and a warm smooth vocal tone. All of Little Mix can sing but Perrie always stands out to me. If she had left instead of Jesy, I doubt they would have continued.
Grapewrath · 15/11/2021 20:35

Oh I agree Jesy can sing but she’s got more about her than Perrie who definitely has the more powerful voice. Jade is a good singer, Leighanne less so. Together they work but don’t know if any of them wouldve managed solo but Jesy has pulled it off so far

supremelybaffled · 15/11/2021 20:42

Depends what you mean by 'celebrity' really. A lot of them are famous for being famous and are singularly lacking in the ability to hold the stage.

You don't actually have to be the most talented at something to be the person on stage that no-one can take their eyes off. Stage presence is an indefinable quality and can't be learned. You've either got it or you haven't.

supremelybaffled · 15/11/2021 21:00

@dayswithaY

How do you explain the success of Adele? She has now reached God-like status with every TV station here and in USA bowing down to her, Oprah interview, etc. This baffles me, what is it about her? Is she really any better at singing/performing than other current female singers?

To me, she doesn't have the X factor. That is a quality that draws you towards them like Kylie, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga.

Adele just stands and sings.

I am at a loss to understand her success - it's unfathomable.
blacksax · 15/11/2021 21:07

My trainers have more charisma than Adele.

GreenLunchBox · 15/11/2021 21:10

I'm amazed to meet fellow people who are baffled by Adele's success. Everyone I know loves her.
Every time her latest some comes on the radio I shake my head and mutter to myself how did she made it so big.