Cultured Views

And if you don’t believe me just google ‘John and’, because instantly John and Edward appear in the drop down and with a very respectable amount of hits available.

Just what is it about these twin 18 year old boys from Ireland who cannot sing, cannot dance, look like the offspring of Tin-Tin and yet stand scarily poised to take out the title of winner in the X Factor…? and what is even more startling is the fact that Simon Cowell seems to be warming to them after weeks of piling criticism on them. I can tell you what it is: they have what is known as ‘It’ and let me tell you something – they have ‘It’ in abundance. Last night as they stood beside that lovely Welsh sweetheart, Lucie Jones, on stage who did YOU look at?…if most of you were being honest you would admit that you were looking at John and Edward. Lucie is gorgeous and she has an incredible voice but she lacks that gimmick that John and Edward have, even if that gimmick is being the ultimate in cheese they have a gimmick none the less and THAT is what makes them so darn watchable. THAT’S the X Factor guys.

You can agree or disagree but these two kids have more people talking about their non-talent than any of the other contestants have talking about their talent. The truth is there is no single quality that defines the ‘It’ element – and you don’t need talent to have it. Simon Cowell knows this only too well. Just as there are many people knocking these kids there are as many more who pick up the phone each week and vote to see them again. Just consider past winners; Leona Lewis – a good singer but, in my opinion, dead boring as an entertainer. Alexandra Burke – good singer but, once again, I’ve seen more sparks fly off a car battery. And no, I can’t sing better than them but I also would not open my purse to buy their cd’s because they don’t entertain me.

John and Edward, for some strange reason, do. They sing out of tune and rarely ensemble – they dance to their own beat and probably have the thickest skins I have ever seen on two performers…which they will need more than anything in this business. They have been criticised more than any other contestant on the show and still manage to smile each week where certain other singers take every tiny critical word and beat themselves with it. But what really appeals to me is their bursting enthusiasm for going all out on stage, they really do put everything (whatever it is…) into their act – they set out to entertain. I say good luck to them.

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1. Why Karen Matthews reminded me of a little Australian boy named John Ashfield.
2. Too much ‘reality’ kills a Reality TV show – just ask John Sergeant.
3. John Titor – where IS he?
4. Who was John Titor?
5. Aussie hero’s 3: John Flynn – the Royal Flying Doctor Service