Introductions... Kate Thornton: Well, let's start with you, then. Who's up from the 16-24s?
Simon Cowell: Okay, first up singing (the) Dean Martin classic "Ain't That A Kick In The Head", it's Ray.
Intro clip... Ray: (To camera) This week is my week, me favourite week. This is what I've wanted from the start. This is where I wanted to be where it was Big Band week on the X Factor on the live shows.
Simon Cowell: (To camera) This is the music he... he's listened to all of his life and now he's meeting one of the biggest stars from this era, Tony Bennett, and that was a big deal.
Clip of Ray rehearsing as Tony Bennett appears at the doorway. Ray: ¯ I go to sleep I keep grinnin' ¯ (Ray sees Tony and keeps grinnin') ¯ If this is just the be... (laughs) ...ginin' ¯
Ray: (To camera) I had to stop singin' like, you know...I was like... "Oh my God, here's Tony Bennett"
Ray: (Back in rehearsals, extends his hand to Tony) Wow! What an honour.
Tony Bennett: You sounded pretty good there, you know... (Shakes Ray's hand)
Ray: Thank you very much.
Tony Bennett: ...doin' that Dean Martin number, that's wonderful.
Ray: Oh my God, yeah.
Ray: (To camera) You know, I've learnt so much from him. I'm so inspired by him because he is such a legend.
Tony Bennett: (To Ray, during rehearsals) The whole idea is just to become yourself. If you're yourself then you're gonna be different than anybody.
Ray: (Smiling) Yeah.
Louis Walsh: (To camera) It's gonna be interesting to see Ray's performance tonight. He's gonna have to do a lot more than just stand there and smile.
Simon Cowell: (To camera) How can you criticise an 18-year-old for smiling when he is having the time of his life? What's he supposed to do? Cry?
Ray: Aww! It's gonna be boss. I'll be feedin' off the band, be feedin' off the crowd.
Tony Bennett: (To camera) I think he is terrific. He has got a very strong potential. This is what I wanted and it's finally here.
Back live... Kate Thornton: Ladies and gentlemen, it's Ray!
(Cheering And Applause.) Ray sings...
¯ How lucky can one guy be? ¯ I kissed her and she kissed me ¯ Like a fella once said ¯ Ain't that a kick in the head? ¯ Her room was completely black ¯ I hugged her and she hugged back ¯ Like a sailor said, quote "Ain't that a hole in the boat"? ¯ My head keeps spinnin' ¯ I go to sleep and keep grinnin' ¯ If this is just the beginnin', my life is gonna be beautiful ¯ I've sunshine enough to spread ¯ Yes ¯ It's just like a fella said ¯ C'mon! ¯ Tell me quick ¯ Ain't that a kick in the head? ¯ Like a fella once said ¯ Ain't that a kick in the head ¯ All right, baby ¯ Whoo! ¯ C'mon! ¯ Like a sailor said, quote "Ain't that a hole in the boat" ¯ My head keeps spinnin' ¯ I go to sleep, I keep grinnin' ¯ If this is just the beginnin' My life is gonna be beautiful ¯ I said ¯ Beee-autiful ¯ She's telling me we'll be wed ¯ Yeah ¯ She's picked out a king size bed ¯ And I couldn't be any better or I'd be sad ¯ Ohh-oh-ohhh ¯ Tell me quick, oh ain't that a kick ¯ C'mon ¯ Tell me quick, ain't that a kick in the he-e-e-e-e-e-e-ad All right baby ¯ Yo! ¯ C'mon! ¯
(Cheering And Applause.)
Louis Walsh: Ray!... Ray, what a brilliant start to the show tonight. This is the song that you sang at the first audition. This is what you're great at. You remind me of a young Michael Bublé, young Robbie Williams... You're brilliant at swing, you owned the stage, you're a great showman. The on... my only negative is what else do you do apart from swing?
Ray: Anything you want. (Laughs)
(Mixture of cheers and groans) Louis Walsh: You do this so well... you do this so well! I just don't know what you're gonna do next week. Fantastic!
Ray: Thank you.
Louis Walsh: Absolutely.
(Cheering And Applause.) Sharon Osbourne: Ray, I now know why you're smiling all the time, because you've been keeping all this in, waiting to show us what you're all about and let me tell you... (Cheers) ...I think he's like a young Tommy Steel. You... you're... you've realy shocked me tonight. I have to tell you. Who knew you could dance that like? (Ray grins as he feigns a move, the audience cheer.) Really, you excelled yourself, you were brilliant.
Ray: Thank you very much.
Sharon Osbourne: Really... keep smiling!
Ray: I will. (Laughs)
Simon Cowell: Ah, Ray... ah, that was a brilliant start to the show. Watched the show back last week, thought a ton of it was boring. That wasn't boring. That was all about being a performer and you can only sing this music well if you love this music. You love this music. Picking up on what you said, Louis, it's always better to be good at one particular thing rather...
Louis Walsh: Absolutely.
Simon Cowell: ...than a jack of all trades... and this is what this guy is all about. It was a great performance.
(Cheering and Applause.) Kate Thornton: (Joins Ray on stage) Thanks judges. Ray, this is the week you've been waiting for and I'm guessing, 'the comments' you've been waiting for. What would you like the say to the judges?
Ray: Well, I mean, the past 2 weeks that I've had, you know, I haven't quite... I mean, they've been brilliant comments, but I haven't quite got the comments that I wanted... and I think this week I've shown what I really can do and I've got what I've wanted... so... and I've waited for this moment for a long time. (Cheers)
Kate Thornton: Very quickly, Louis says "Can you do anything better than you do swing?" What would you like to say to that?
Ray: Well, you know, I love swing obviously. This like, it's my... it's my life, I grew up singin', listening to it and it's amazing stuff, you can't beat it... But, whatever you throw at me I'll give it 110 per cent because I know I can do anything. (Cheers. Ray laughs)
Kate Thornton: There'll be two acts going tonight. He needs your vote! To get Ray back here next Saturday... (Kate gives out the voting details) Ladies and gentlemen, what a great opening to the night (she turns to face Ray) ...it's Ray. (Cheering And Applause.)