Matt Cardle "When We Collide"

Here's the single version of X Factor winner Matt Cardle's new single, "When We Collide." Released early this year by Biffy Clyro as "Many of Horror (When We Collide)," it's a song I like quite a bit. Cardle sounds pretty good it on. Reminds me a bit of James Blunt. The arrangement is not much different than the original version until the end, where they throw in the obligatory final chorus key jump. Always a welcome gesture in a big pop song. I guess I don't mind this, but mostly because I really like the original song. It's certainly a much better choice than giving Joe McElderry a Miley Cyrus song to sing.



Here's the original Biffy Clyro version:

Matt Cardle Wins X Factor

Matt Cardle has apparently won The X Factor. Here he is performing Biffy Clyro's "Many of Horror," which will be his winner's single, out tomorrow.

Joe McElderry "Ambitions"

Last year's X Factor winner returns next week with the first single from his debut album, Wide Awake. The song is called "Ambitions." When I first heard it on Radio 1 yesterday morning I thought it was ho-hum, but I just watched the video, which is super cute (and Joe is looking quite good these days). If it were any more bubbly it would be a glass of champagne.

X Factor in America

With Simon Cowell having announced this week that he's leaving American Idol to focus on producing an American version of The X Factor, the British talent singing contest is suddenly all over the American press. It's been fun to see, as someone who is at least somewhat familiar with the X Factor. Certainly I follow who has won and have a working knowledge of what the show is about, even if I've never seen a full episode. Alexandra Burke, Shayne Ward and Cheryl Cole, who are complete unknowns in America, are suddenly getting quite a bit of press, as reporters inform future American X Factor fans about what the show is.

For example, CNN has a nice piece here highlighting the biggest stars to come from American Idol and X Factor. It features five of the The X Factor's six winners, although it says that Alexandra Burke has approached Stargate and Timbaland about working on her album, when in fact said album was released two months ago and includes two songs produced by the former and none by the latter. It also claims that Jedward was a popular novelty act (really?) and ignores the fact that nonwinner JLS has managed to become successful too.

I wonder who the judges will be? I'm not holding out any hope of Dannii Minogue or Cheryl Cole getting any U.S. screen time. Since the U.S. version is slated to air in the fall--the same time as the British one--I imagine we'll be getting new judges (unless they want to shuttle themselves across the Atlantic with Simon, but really, who would want to do that?). Maybe another pop has-been will resurrect herself or himself--a la Paula Abdul. Celine Dion? Ricky Martin? Toni Braxton? Here's your big chance.

UK Christmas #1 Update

Friday's midweek sales report shows that Joe McElderry has significantly closed the gap between him and Rage Against the Machine for Christmas #1. Yesterday RATM led by 37,000, but today its lead was only about 9,000. There's no Saturday report that I know of, so it will be a nail biter down to the finish Sunday. How exciting!

Rage Against the Machine for Christmas #1

A grassroots campaign to block The X Factor from having Christmas #1 has taken flight. The effort, organized through Facebook, is encouraging everyone to buy Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name." So far, they've been successful, as today's midweek's report shows RATM leading Joe McElderry by about 6,000 copies. Likely such an effort won't hold through the week, particularly after "The Climb" single comes out on CD tomorrow; however, it's still likely to give Rage Against the Machine their biggest UK hit ever. "Killing in the Name" hit #25 in 1993. The band's biggest hit, "Bulls on Parade," hit #8 in 1996.

Joe McElderry Wins The X Factor

The X Factor winner was crowned tonight, and it is 18-year-old Joe McElderry, who beat runner up Olly Murs for the honor. Having never seen the show, nor heard their performances, I didn't quite know what to expect. Last week, I looked up the three finalists out of curiosity, and decided Olly was my favorite based solely on looks.

Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" was chosen as the winner's single, and Joe's version will be out tomorrow, and will surely top the UK singles chart next weekend to become Christmas #1. But honestly, "The Climb?" What a terrible, terrible choice. I never really cared for the song, but I think it's a real tragedy they chose a song which was a hit so recently ("The Climb" hit #11 in the UK 7 months ago).

I just watched both clips on YouTube, and I agree that Joe did better. Check them out yourself.

Joe's version of "The Climb":



Olly's version:

You Are Not Alone

The X Factor Finalists' single "You Are Not Alone" is out and selling like gangbusters. Today's midweek report shows its already moved 82,000 copies. That's about 3,000 copies less than Leona Lewis's "Happy" sold all last week. So obviously, it will be this week's #1 hit, and likely the biggest selling single to date this year (that is until one of these finalists releases his, her or their debut single Christmas week).

"You Are Not Alone" is, of course, a remake of Michael Jackson's 1995 #1 hit. Now that he's gone, I imagine we'll be seeing a lot more covers of Michael Jackson songs. There are relatively few major ones--the only other one that comes to mind is Alien Ant Farm's 2001 version of "Smooth Criminal," a #3 hit in the UK. Mariah Carey had a US #1 in 1992 with "I'll Be There," but technically that's a Jackson 5 remake.

Several of Jackson's or Jackson 5's songs have been sampled prominently: "Human Nature" on SWV's "Right Here (Human Nature)," "Can You Feel It" on The Tamperer feat. Maya's "Feel It," and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" on Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music."

Will Young gets an X Factor

Will Young performed his upcoming single "Grace" on last weekend's The X Factor. Consequently, it looks like "Grace," which isn't due for release until December, will chart in the top 40 this weekend. Hopefully it will eventually fare better than "Changes," which landed at a very disappointing #10.