X Factor

Chico Slimani - X Factor Final 6 Show

Chico Slimani
Song: Billie Jean (Michael Jackson )

A stripped down Chico Slimani awaits the verdict from The X Factor judges.

Last week Simon Cowell described Chico's performance of "Chico Time" as "horribly fantastic". Ever positive, Chico has been concentrating on the 'fantastic', because having made it through to the final 6 and with a Christmas hit in the pipeline that is exactly how he feels!

His brother Mac says "Chico has been destined to be a superstar from the day he was born" and tonight Chico is singing a song from one of his superstar heroes, Michael Jackson.

He cleverly uses his pre-performance VT to lower our expectations, telling us that he will be happy if he can do Billie Jean 10 per cent as good as Michael.

Once again it's not Chico's pipes that enthrall the audience, but the studio does become energised as soon as he launches into his Jacksonesque dance moves.

Suddenly though there's an extra loud cheer as another familiar face jumps onto the stage. It's the chief of the little Chico's, 'little Joe'! Dressed like Chico, little Joe is wearing a dark suit over a white vest and topped with a trilby hat.

Chico moans in mock surprise when hs sees the cute little dancer, "Oh no! Not you again!" They spar a little, impressing one another and the audience with some pretty slick moves. Then in a comic moment Chico boots little Joe off stage, shouting "c'mon, get out of here!"

Chico continues to entertain and there are more excited screams from the crowd as he takes off his jacket to reveal those manly muscles. Heaven knows what the reaction would have been like if Chico had kept up his bodybuilding!

Chico perfoms Michael Jackson's Billie Jean on The X Factor final 6 live show.

"Hey little Joe, you ain't getting away that easy... you signed a contract remember!"

Little Joe returns, dispensing with his own jacket along the way. Big Chico slips him some skin and the dancing duo deliver a tight finish, punching their right arms up in the air triumphantly.

Chico is well happy with the crowd reaction. He has exceeded his expectations and believes he's turned in a performance that's about 20% of Michael's original. He doesn't say what slice of that 20% little Joe gets though!

Chico has pulled out all the stops and there can be no disputing that he and little Joe have entertained the studio audience. However he may struggle to get the folks at home to vote for him tonight, unless they are prepared to disregard a very average vocal.

Panel-Bites:

Sharon Osbourne: (Introduction) Yes. Have you got time for Chico right now?
Intro clip...
Sharon Osbourne: We took a real risk last week by letting Chico do his own song, but it was great.

Chico: Saturday night has to be one of the most amazing nights of of my life. (Flashback to Simon's comments last week: "It was sort of horribly fantastic.") It was the first time really that I felt I had as much right as any other contestant to be on that stage, and not feel like an imposter. To have my family and friends there to support me, you can't find words to describe that.

Mac: (Chico's Brother) Chico has been destined to be a superstar from the day he was born. The only thing that surprises people is that it's taken this long.

Sharon Osbourne: How do you top last week? We had to aim high but I'm sure it's gonna be just fabulous!

Chico: This song is about one of my all-time heroes. The man is a legend! If I can do this song 10 per cent as good as he did, then I'm a happy man.

Chico sings...

Audience: Chico, Chico, Chico!

Kate Thornton: Okay, Louis, your comments please?

Louis Walsh: Kate that was a fantastic start to the show. Chico, well done, but Chico little Joe definitely upstaged ya. He was definitely fantastic.

Chico: He is definitely the star. I'm just…

Louis Walsh: He's absolutely... You know what, you pulled it off? I never thought you would. Well done.

Chico: (Bows) Thank you very much.

Kate Thornton: Simon?

Simon Cowell: Ahm, as much as I respect my learned colleague...

Louis Walsh: Me? Me? (Laughter)

Simon Cowell: "Mr Walsh", I'm afraid, Mr Walsh, I beg to differ.

Louis Walsh: Okay.

Simon Cowell: I thought it was a horrible impersonation of Michael Jackson. (Audience boos) I did. I did. Ahm, I like you, Chico, when it's kind of tongue in cheek, I understand that all the kids in this country adore you. I like you as a person...

Chico: Thank you.

Simon Cowell: ...However, for me, with the greatest respect, Mr Walsh, I thought it was just that - a bad impersonation of Michael Jackson. (More audience boos)

Sharon Osbourne: It wasn't.

Kate Thornton: Thank you, Simon. Sharon?

Sharon Osbourne: No, no, no! This show isn't 'Stars in your Eyes', this is 'X Factor'. (Cheers and applause) He wasn't pretending. Get it right Simon! Listen, he wasn't mimicking Michael Jackson...

Simon Cowell: I love the kid!

Sharon Osbourne: ...He was giving his own interpretation of the song and he did fabulously well and Michael Jackson wishes he had those arms!

Kate Thornton: Thank you Sharon. Chico, you heard what the judges have to say. Off you go!

Chico: Er honestly, thank you for the comments once again. But what I said actually... if I could do... it's probably song, the greatest entertainer and the greatest performer ever lived... if I could do it 10 per cent as good, I'm happy. Tonight I think I done it about 20 per cent. (Big cheers) And I would just like to say... I would just like to point out... since this competition, I've done every genre, I've done Pop, I've done Latin, I've done R'n'B, I've done Michael Jackson and my own song. So all I can say is I can't do every song brilliant...

Sharon Osbourne: (Shouting over) Get off before you mess it it up... go, go, go!

Kate Thornton: Okay. You've heard Chico hustle for your votes but does he get them tonight (Kate gives out the voting numbers etc) ...Ladies and gentlemen... (Laughing) ...let's hear it for Chico! (Chico laughs, hugs Kate and leaves the stage blowing kisses to the audience)

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