X Factor

Steve Brookstein - The X Factor (Final 3 Show)

Last week Steve was thrown at the start of his Jackie Wilson number '(I Get) The Sweetest Feeling'.

He couldn't hear the backing music due to studio noise and he came in late on the song. Steve's confidence has been shaken a bit by this and mentor Simon Cowell is concerned.

Steve Brookstein sings Van Morrison's 'Have I Told You Lately' with a great deal of tenderness.

Before Steve comes on tonight, we see video of Simon chatting to Annie Skates and Sinitta about the problem. Annie says "I'm really surprised he didn't actually just crumble and say 'Can I start again?', y'know because I thought he was going to. He seemed so thrown by it."

Simon tells Annie "You have to restore this guy's confidence...because he's had a bashing." So vocal coach Annie sets to work on Steve's outer and inner voices this week!

After Annie's coaching Steve seems more upbeat, "Now that I'm in the top three there's a bit of me that thinks, 'wow, how great would it be to win this?' That would be amazing."

Boot-camp buddy Lloyd Wade certainly thinks it would be great if Steve won! Lloyd is seen willing Steve on as he steps out smart-suited to sing his first number tonight, Van Morrison's ballad "Have I Told You Lately?"

It's a slightly restrained performance from Steve with no prolonged vocal flourishes, but it's also a very tender treatment, beautiful in its simplicity.

For his second number Steve chooses George Benson's "The Greatest Love of All" (also a hit for Whitney Houston). Steve is kitted casually in open-necked shirt and trousers this time around. He sings it really well, it's an easy song to overdo but Steve finds a nice balance for the vocally intense and intimate portions of the song.

Steve Brookstein delivers a great rendition of George Benson's The Greatest Love Of All!

So, will the panel get vocally intense with Steve, or will they intimate that he made a decent job of things tonight?

Kate: Okay Steve. It's time for the judges verdict... Nice and quiet please, thank you very much! (To Steve) Wow, they like you tonight! (Steve smiles and shrugs his shoulders) Okay Sharon, your thoughts please?

Sharon: (with her bow-wow Minnie on her lap) Oh... very nice. Really, really well done. Love... last song. One of my favourite songs and I love the suit you wore tonight. (a delayed cheer from the crowd. Maybe they were waiting for Sharon to sound excited!) ... very nice.

Kate: Anything else you'd like to add Sharon?

Sharon: (sounding a little startled) No-o.

Kate: No?

Sharon: No...fabulous.

Kate: Okay, Louis!

Louis: I think Steve is a great ballad singer y'know. I think both songs were very pleasant and very, very nice. And he's got this great, great confidence that I wish I had. (cheers)

(Simon and Steve both seem unconvinced of the sincerity factor. Perhaps due to the deadpan delivery of both judges.)

Kate: Why are you pulling faces? They've been nice! What's your problem?

Simon: (smiling and nodding his head) Hello Louis!

Kate: What's the problem Simon?

Simon: It's just that Louis...(sic) talking about lack of confidence. Give me a break! (A few squeals from the audience)

Louis: But, Simon... Simon. You're a very confident guy and your artists are getting as confident as you are and sometimes it's not very nice. (boos and a few cheers)

Simon: Wh...what are you trying to say here Louis?

Louis: I think you're over confident both of you. That's what I'm trying to say.
Steve: (points his finger skywards) Can I say something?

Louis: Both of you.
Steve: Can I say something?

Kate: Okay...Steve yeah by all means.

Louis: You think you've already got the competition won!
Steve: I'd just like to... I'd just like to say that on my first audition I was accused of having a defeatist attitude. So I just think I've come a long way.

Louis: (replies, but his words are drowned by audience applause for Steve)

Louis Walsh with a surprised look on his face while the panel critique Steve Brookstein.

Kate: So in 6 months you've gained... a lot of confidence?
Steve: Yeah.

Kate: Yeah.
Steve: I mean listen to 'em (the audience), they're great.

Kate: Yeah, and ... (the audience noise is too loud to be hear. Kate signals to Simon to wait a moment) ... Simon, yeah sorry you wanted to say something?

Simon: Ah, you know the whole purpose of this competition, particularly with the older category... is to find somebody with a talent who has been kicked in the teeth a bit from the industry... and give somebody confidence...

Sharon: (shouting) Just looking for sympathy!

Simon: ...(over Sharon and Louis who are shouting) ...that's all, that's all...that's what we're here to do. And I think we've proved it tonight.

Kate: Thank you, I wanna hear from Steve now. (to Simon) Thank you... (to Steve) Steve! You're now Simon's only hope of winning the competition. We've heard that you're suffering from excess confidence, but do you believe you'll be here next Saturday?
Steve: Erm, (big cheers) I hope I will be here next Saturday. I mean, about my confidence, I've got a friend of mine (Steve points into the audience) Owen Glass that I worked with er years... years and years ago when I was in my early twenties and we wrote loads of songs we were doing a lot of stuff and nothing came of it. And he, he knows how hard I've been working. And nothing's come of it... and this is good! (big cheers)

Kate: Well done Steve. Good luck tonight. Ladies and gentlemen let's hear it for Simon Cowell and Steve! (Cheers)

Steve Brookstein's Results Show Reprise

The song chosen for Steve to sing as the results show reprise is Van Morrison's 'Have I Told You Lately'.

After singing, Steve meets up with Kate Thornton for a quick word.

Kate: Well done Steve. The lines are open. Why should the public vote for you tonight? You've heard how tight it is.
Steve: Er, I just want people to vote because I... I've had some chances of getting this far and I really nee... I am enjoying what I'm doing here and I do want to do an album. Just like G4. I want to record something. I've never had an album out. As Louis' had millions, I haven't sold one!

Kate: 'Kay. Thank you Steve. Let's see how you do with the voting. Ladies and gentlemen it's Steve!

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