X Factor 6 – ROCK WEEK – 31st October & 1st November

Rock Week!! On paper this looked like a menu for a great evening of feasting on the UK’s most popular show, but was it going to be a Halloween Horror or a 5 star Rock menu.

First out tonight was Cheryl's protégé Joe McElderry, singing Don’t Stop Believing. While Louis tipped Joe for the final, Simon said the performance was a bit 'limp' in parts, annoying Cheryl.
He said: "Joe, you're one of the most consistent performers we have in the competition.

"'Whatever's thrown at you, you do your best."

Never easy coming out first, but I would think Joe will be safe.

Next up was Lucie Jones, looking very ‘rock chick’ , Dannii had chosen Sweet Child Of Mine, and after Simon’s comments last week of her being ‘too actressy’ he really enjoyed her performance, and she got high praise from all the judges. Another one that I think will be safe again this week. I still am not sure she quite connects with the audience.

Danyl Johnson had a real rock ballad with I don’t Want To Miss A Thing, this was not a good performance and Danyl looked defeated before he had even sung a note. It reminded me of the hotly tipped Laura White last year. Danyl received a standing ovation yet again from Simon. This was definitely Danyl’s weakest performance and although Dannii and Louis tried to boost his self esteem, Cheryl (and what was Cheryl wearing! Looked like she had two giant Catherine Wheels on the top half of her body) still doesn’t like or get Danyl. He looked devastated as he received the judge’s comments, and I feel he could well find himself in the bottom 2 this week. If he wants to stay in the competition he is going to have to regroup like Rachel has done.

Another low point of the proceedings was Lloyd Daniels, his song was I Kissed A Girl. and for some inexplicable reason started off his act on a throne. I have no idea how Lloyd got into the final 12. The vocals were weak the backing track at times almost drowned him out, maybe that was a good thing! Louis was up in arms again saying that he sang a pop song, not a rock song and that it was ‘cheating’ and then we had the bickering between the judges. He could find himself in danger this week.

Next up was Stacey Solomon. We had some VT footage from Brian Friedman who said Stacey would be moving ‘more’ this week. Stacey has come in from some criticism this week from Simon about how static she is on stage. Hardly surprising last week when she could hardly breathe let alone move in the dress she was in. She looked more like Stacey from the auditions this week and she sang Somewhere Only We Know. She somehow isn’t reaching the potential we saw in her auditions, but she received fair praise from the judges. She just needs to be given a good song and inject a bit more personality into her singing. Should be safe though.

Halfway through the acts and, the contestant this theme was made for. Jamie “Afro’ Archer, his choice of song was Get Your Rock’s Off. It was a adequate performance, Simon of course loved it, the other three were not so generous in their praise with their comments, feeling it was neither original or current. Cheryl questioned why suddenly there was a Rock Week this week, cue more bickering between judges.

Rachel Adedeji, seems to have found her mojo again after a bad start in the competition, the new softer look seems to have found her a new fan base, she started off a little shakily but managed to put in one of the better performances of the night. Simon thought it was a bit cabaret, but full credit to Rachel for getting her act together and upping her game.

What can I say? It was after all Halloween last night and Simon referred to John & Edward as ‘Night Of The Living Dead’. It was like Kiss meets Dracula. Brian Friedman must be loving every minute they stay in the competition as it gives him carte blanch to do his worst. Last night John & Edward struggled to stay in tune or in time. It is very difficult to make any kind of comment, but without doubt despite mixed reaction from the audience, somebody likes them. They could be in danger, but I think somehow they will make the X Factor tour.. They will be a huge crowd puller, if only for people to want to see how bad they are. They do entertain in a very crazy kind of way.

Last act of the night is the dark horse of the competition Olly Murs. He never fails to give a performance. He has grown in confidence week after week, and the judges were unanimous in their praise. He gave a good rendition of Come Together, complete with a rock star finale of ripping his shirt open. He manages to use the stage and look comfortable when he performs. I think we definitely will see Olly continue to improve and I am sure he will be in the competition for quite a while longer, if not in the final three.
What I did find a little odd was that there was no mentor this week, after making it such a feature of the previous weeks.

Sunday night and as the tension mounts backstage for the remaining finalists this week, the finalists kicked off the show with a group rendition of Aerosmith and Run DMC classic Walk This Way.

Wwe are treated to a guest appearance by American rockers Bon Jovi. They song a track from their new album which was their new single We Weren't Born To Follow, Personally I wish they would have performed one of their classic songs, it was just ever so slightly dull. Next up we had JLS with their new track Everybody In Love. Somehow Rock Week never 'really' happened this weekend, and I do wonder whether it will be repeated in future shows.

So, the moment of truth and in no particular order, Olly, Joe, Stacey, Jamie, Danyl, Lucie and yes you have guessed it John & Edward go sailing through to the next round. Leaving Lloyd and for the 3rd time Rachel in the bottom two.

An emotional Rachel, who has landed in the bottom two twice before, sang a moving rendition of Oasis hit Stop Crying Your Heart Out.

Cheryl informed us that Lloyd could barely speak let alone sing due to a bad throat, sang Billy Preston's You Are So Beautiful To Me.

And so to the judges vote, Dannii, as expected saved her protégé Rachel, as did Louis who called Rachel 'a real trouper'. Moving along to Cheryl, as his mentor, her vote went to Lloyd. That only left Simon, who I am sure many were convinced would save Rachel, but Simon maybe felt sympathy for Lloyd with his bad throat and took it to deadlock and the public vote. For Rachel Adedeji it was third time unlucky. So Rachel leaves the competition.

Did you agree? What did you think of Rock Week? Come and discuss it at The X Factor forum.