X Factor

Andy Abraham - X Factor Final 5 Show

Andy Abraham
Song 1: Easy Lover (Phil Collins )
Song 2

Andy Abraham remains calm as The X Factor panelists squablle over his performance of "Easy Lover", his first number on tonight's Final 5 show.

Andy goes uptempo for his first song tonight. He takes to the stage looking swish in his shiny suit. The suit fits him well, but unfortunately this song doesn't.

Andy's vocal is 'okay', but on this song it somehow doesn't sound like anything special. He also doesn't look that comfortable on stage. Some of his movements seem a bit too full-on and over-done.

It's possible that last week's missed intro could be playing on Andy's mind a bit and causing his performance to waver a little. However, we think the biggest problem is the song and its arrangement, which starts off quite abruptly with no proper lead in.

"Easy Lover", Andy Abraham's first song tonigh, somehow doesn't seem to suit his singing style.

Basically the song doesn't fit Andy's voice or his style. He's not bad, but in truth, judging this by his own standards, this performance isn't good either.

Panel-Bites:

Sharon Osbourne: (Introduction) Ooh, is it me again? I love this. And I love this man. My Andy.
Intro clip...
Andy: Last Saturday was very nerve-racking, I froze. (Flashback to Andy missing his cue at the start of last week's number)

Sharon Osbourne: Andy is really doing this to give his family and him a better life, but he realised that it could just slip away.

Andy: I could either hit the stars or crash and burn and it would be my fault.

Sharon Osbourne: Up to a few months ago Andy's job was emptying other people's rubbish and he thought that was gonna be his life.

Andy: The X Factor has made me more steely, more determined and it's given me a fighting spirit that I didn't think I had...

Sharon Osbourne: If Andy doesn't focus tonight, he might be in trouble.

Andy: It's got to be right otherwise I will be remembered as somebody that didn't fulfill their ambitions.

Andy sings...

Kate Thornton: Louis, your comments, please?

Louis Walsh: Andy, you know I'm a big fan. I love you doing the big ballads. That wasn't great for me. (Audience groans) Not great.

Kate Thornton: Okay, thanks Louis. Simon?

Simon Cowell: Andy, I'm gonna keep this short... and I like you. That was an appalling choice of song. (More groans) It was. And furthermore, if you haven't got a second better one, you are in trouble.

Kate Thornton: Okay. Sharon, you're... you're mentoring Andy, what would you like to add to that?

Sharon Osbourne: Don't listen, because they're both trying to change the audience at home! (Cheers) ...Because they're scared of you.

Simon Cowell: It's got nothing to do with that Sharon...

Sharon Osbourne: Yes you are!

Simon Cowell: ...got nothing to do with that... (Audience continues cheering Andy)

Sharon Osbourne: Yes you are! This is a mental strategy! They want to win. Do not listen.

Simon Cowell: It's not a strategy.

Sharon Osbourne: Bullies!

Kate Thornton: Okay, thanks judges... thanks judges. Okay, Andy will be back for a second song but if you are impressemd enough with that tonight and want to give him your vote... (Kate gives out the voting numbers etc) ...(To Andy) We'll see you back here a little bit later.

Andy: Yeah, sure will.

Kate Thornton: He's no 'Easy Lover', it's Andy! (Andy exits the stage waving to the audience)

Andy Abraham
Song 2: When I Fall In Love (Nat King Cole )
Song 1

Andy Abraham's fine performance of "When I Fall In Love" regains him some lost ground in The X Factor contest.

During the Final 10 show Andy sang Nat King Cole's Unforgettable, today for his second song he turns to Nat's songbook again and picks out the classic 'When I Fall In Love'.

Andy is styled smart and casual, wearing a dark suit with waistcoat over a white open-necked shirt. He sings the first half of the number sitting on a stool near the front of the stage, before standing up to belt out the final bars.

This is definitely a better song choice for him. From the very first bar it's obvious that this is an Andy type of song, as all those now familiar rich and resonant tones flood back into his vocal.

Andy must be relieved to hear positive words spouting from the judges' lips once more. He probably will still be worrying about the public's reaction to his first number tonight, but this second performance has surely helped restore a lot of faith in the Enfield crooner.

Panel-Bites:

Sharon Osbourne: (Introduction) Ohhh... ha ha ha ha ha... (Becomes more serious) ...The velvet tones of Andy.

Andy sings...

Kate Thornton: Okay, Simon your comments, please?

Simon Cowell: Ah, you know, there was just a sense of relief all around this studio when you started singing that song, Andy, because, you know, in my opinion this is the era that suits your voice absolutely the most. It was a little bit tentative, I can feel the nerves... it was a million times better than the first song. (Cheers)

Kate Thornton: Okay, thank you Simon. Louis, what did you make of that, please?

Louis Walsh: Andy I absolutely agree with Simon. I was so relieved 'cause nobody sings Nat King Cole like you do. You're great on the big ballads. You're a great crooner and well done. (Cheers)

Kate Thornton: Thank you Louis. Sharon, you're Andy's mentor. Two very different songs tonight what did you make of that one?

Sharon Osbourne: Well, disagreeing with the judges' opinions earlier, I think 'you' have 'The X Factor'! (Cheers)

Simon Cowell: Sharon... you can't! ...You know, we all make mistakes, okay?

Sharon Osbourne: Oh, here we go!

Simon Cowell: But no, no... no I'm being serious.

Sharon Osbourne: Oh yeah?

Simon Cowell: The first song was a mistake.

Louis Walsh: It was yeah. It was Sharon... it was honestly.

Simon Cowell: It was a big mistake. You know, you're very lucky Andy you got to sing two songs tonight. Really, really lucky.

Louis Walsh: And you are a great singer.

Sharon Osbourne: See they are digging at you again...

Simon Cowell: No we're not!

Louis Walsh: No!

Sharon Osbourne: They're nervous of you Andy. Both of them are nervous.

Simon Cowell: Sharon you are being childish now.

Sharon Osbourne: I'm not being childish!

Simon Cowell: (Places his hand over Sharon's) Yeah... this is... this is...

Louis Walsh: Sharon, you made a mistake!

Sharon Osbourne: (To Simon) But I know your mental strategy! I know... this is a war game...

Simon Cowell: Sharon, Mental strategy? You said...

Sharon Osbourne: (Talking over Simon) I know! You've been trying to change the public vote!

Simon Cowell: ... you couldn't comment on the Journey South second song... that it was 'too sad'. That's a mental strategy.

Sharon Osbourne: (Shaking her head) No, it's not!

Simon Cowell: This is about being honest. Not patronising someone.

Sharon Osbourne: No, it's not... Games! Games!

Simon Cowell: It's not games.

Sharon Osbourne: Stop playing mental games.

Simon Cowell: It's not games.

Sharon Osbourne: ...with the British public.

Louis Walsh: Sharon... it was the wrong song the first song. This is great!

Sharon Osbourne: (Turns and points accusingly at Louis) Don't you start!

Louis Walsh: (Still praising Andy) It's great. This is great.

Sharon Osbourne: (Warning) It is raining in here. (She grabs her glass of water)

Simon Cowell: Andy overall...

Louis Walsh: (Notices Sharon's water) Sharon stay away from... (Groans from the audience as Sharon raises her glass and... sips the water!)

Kate Thornton: Thank you judges! (Turns to Andy) Er, lots of talk of mental strategy, the judges are now going mental, quite clearly.

Andy: Yes.

Kate Thornton: Er, what would you like to say back to them, Andy?.

Andy: Well I'd just like to say that ehm, I'm trying, I'm trying not to... to so much to be like Nat King Cole. I'm trying to sound like Andy Abraham doing it in the modern way. So, erm, I really hope that people love what I'm doing and (Cheers) I hope... I really want them to vote by phone, by text, to keep me in because there's a lot more from me to come, a lot more. (Cheers)

Kate Thornton: So, Andy, what would it mean to you to be back here singing in the semi-final next Saturday?

Andy: It would... it, basically it would mean for me to step up a gear again, you know, to just perform in front of the fans who have been amazing through, you know, my hard times and the good times so I want them to share my times.

Kate Thornton: Okay, so are you gonna give Andy the time of his life next Saturday...

Andy: Yes, give me the time of my life!

Kate Thornton: ...at the semifinal. (Kate gives out the voting numbers etc) ...Ladies and gentlemen, let's here it for Andy!

Andy: Thank you. Thank you so much. (Andy kisses Kate on the cheek and exits the stage)

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