X Factor Live Shows Week 5

It's the halfway point of the live shows and, by now, we should be settling in. Every week, things should be getting more predictable and the results should be expected. And yet, this has been probably the most turbulent week (or two) in X Factor history.

Following on from the renaming of Little Mix, the resignation of a band member from The Risk and the immediate replacement of him, the absence of judge and Girls mentor, Kelly, and then the shock loss of Sophie Habibis (all in week's blog), this week we had a double elimination that continued to reinforce the fact that no-one is safe, and then the shock exit of Frankie Cocozza from the show. But more on that later. First, a run down of this week's performances.

This week, I was most saddened to say goodbye to Johnny. I find him entertaining and his charm and joy is infectious. However, he's not quite X Factor material so it was inevitable that he would leave sooner or later. Not only was he first to perform this week, and therefore vulnerable for that reason, I felt his performance was weaker than in past weeks. The staging was great and he looked fantastic on stage, and ever more comfortable when performing, but the first of the two songs in his mash-up didn't really work for me. You Spin Me Round was much better and it was a shame that he didn't just do this and skip Hung Up. As for Kitty this week, I also felt her performance fell a little flat. There is nothing better than a nice bit of Madonna, but Kitty murdered Like a Prayer. She doesn't have the best voice in the world, in particular her vibrato (the pleasant wobbly sound, for the uninitiated) is very forced and fast. It's distracting and I would much rather she just sang a clean note than force a vibrato. I also hated the staging. It annoys me a little that Kitty feels the need to prance around in her underwear every week. Having said that, she is a good commercial act, so the decision to keep her in over Johnny, was the right one. Part of me would rather have seen Johnny stay though.

Moving on to Kelly's lovely Girls, Janet was second in the line-up and committed the ultimate sin of performing - she forgot the words! Having said that, I strongly disagree with the feedback from the judges. I really enjoyed her performance. It was an excellent song choice that suited her quirky voice. I also loved the styling this week, with the softer make-up and hair. There's only one thing about Janet that continues to irritate me (and others that I know of) and it's her general attitude. She always seems miserable and the comment on the show about not wanting to dance because it detracts from the music is just pompous nonsense. I just wish she'd have a bit of fun for a change, because I want to have fun when I watch her. As for Misha B, now there's a girl who knows how to have fun on stage, and I always enjoy her performances. She did one of my favourite songs too - Proud Mary - and did a big song the justice it deserved. Win or not, Misha B is going to be an X Factor success story.

The other casualty in this week's double elimination was The Risk. After the last minute changes of the previous week, they were probably under the most pressure to bring it to the stage this week. The sad thing is that they did bring it. But unfortunately as successful as Night to Remember was as a performance, it just wasn't memorable. I had to go back and watch it YouTube to remind myself what they sung and it was only watching it back that I realised just how good it was. What a shame. But at this stage, every act has to do their best to stand out against the competition, because not doing so will cost you your place on the show, as it did for The Risk. The other remaining group in the contest, Little Mix, had a tough song, and if I'm honest, the vocal wasn't that great this week, it certainly wasn't as good as The Risk, so perhaps it's a bit unfair that they stayed and the boys went. However, I can't help but like them and, unlike The Risk, their performance was memorable. I do think they have a long way to go, I they want to survive future votes. Their harmonies are weak and when they sing in unison it's even worse because the sound is muddled and clashy (probably because they are not actually in unison, are supposed to be in harmony and there are harmonies on the backing). I love my Little Mix girls, but it's time for them to up their game.

Finally, the Boys - my favourite category! Craig Colton was a revelation this week. This should have been a weak theme for him, having stuck to ballads (and quite rightly, with that type of song being his strength), but the song really suited his voice and he looked so comfortable on stage, like he was having so much fun, it was infectious. I genuinely enjoyed the performance. It's getting to the stage where I can't wait to see what he pulls out of his bag of tricks next, and where I can't separate him an Marcus - surely they must both be headed for the Final. Speaking of Marcus, he was, as usual, superb this week. This is a guy I can get exited about. He's got a great voice, he'll have a go at anything and always puts in 100%. He's fun to watch, and really enjoys being on stage. Plus, he's really cute, although that is by no means the be-all of his charms. Once again, I can't wait to see what he will do next. Rather than Misha B, surely both Craig and Marcus are headed for great careers whether they win the competition or not.

As for Frankie (who gets a paragraph all of his own), what a naughty boy and what a vile performance. The least deserving of his place in terms of his vocal ability, I am glad that he's gone from the show, although I wish it had been by public vote and not because of his behaviour. I understand why Gary chose Frankie to go into the show, and I understand why he was still there, but his performance on Saturday was terrible. He was shouting rather than singing and was just walking around the stage rather than performing. The rumours that he was high at the time are hardly surprising. As for his behaviour, I hope that he will have learned from the experience. Considering the thousands of people that applied for X Factor, and the many hundreds of very talented people who weren't successful, rightly or wrongly, I can't help but feel that Frankie should have been more appreciative of the opportunity.

Thankfully, we have a chance to give one of the four acts that went out in Week 1 the opportunity to come back and be part of the X Factor again. Voting is open now and will close on Saturday during the live show (12th November some time after 8.15pm). You can vote for lovely Essex lasses, 2 Shoes (0901 616 1301), rock chick, Amelia Lily (0901 616 1302), curly-haired cutie, James Michael (0901 616 1303) or hunky hero, Jonjo Kerr (0901 616 1304). For more details and for call costs, click here. I'll be hoping that either 2 Shoes or Amelia Lily come back. I'd definitely like to see more of either of them.

Inevitably, there have been some people saying that the show should bring back Johnny, The Risk, or one of the other previously departed acts. However, it would be difficult to justify that to Ofcom, to whom ITV are accountable for their public telephone voting. The public have already voted against the acts that have gone in the past. I'm not sure what Ofcom rules are about it, but I'd bet it would be a headache for the broadcaster. In addition, some of the evicted performers have already made other commitments - Sophie Habibis, only one week out of the show, has been out and about quite a lot already, and will be at Birchwood Shopping Centre next Thursday (17th November) evening to sing and switch on the Christmas lights. Therefore, this lifeline to the initial four acts that were evicted seems like a good halfway house and I will welcome their return. I hope that whoever returns will be able to make something of this second chance.

NaBloPoMo Day 30 - X Factor Live Shows Week 4

What a shocker! But that's the way of this show; sometimes contestants that have the potential to go all the way end up in the bottom two, and unfortunately, who stays and goes all depends on who they are up against in the showdown.

So let's start with the Girls category. It's a testament to the fact that Kelly is actively mentoring her acts, that her absence this week, showed in their performances. It's important to say that there really wasn't a bad performance this week, from any of the acts, but there are always weaker performances and Sophie was, for me, probably the weakest of the night. She didn't really do anything wrong, but it was a terrible song choice - many people have tried, and failed, to up date it but it doesn't seem to work without that old fashioned, Nancy Sinatra type of vocal. That mistake left Sophie exposed, and her song for survival wasn't very impressive either. Although I did love her man-chair. Where can I get one? Ahem... I also thought Janet was quite weak. I love the Miss Havisham vibe that the production team put into the staging and I appreciate what she tried to do with song. It was suitably atmospheric, particularly on the flattening of certain notes, but some songs shouldn't be messed with. I can't help but reflect, as well, that Janet needs to smile more. I understand how much pressure she's under and she's obviously had some personal distress as well, but performing is about putting on a show as much as it is about plugging into your emotions (and those of others) and she's such a talented and beautiful girl, it's a shame to see her constantly solemn. Finally, Misha B. The one act from the Girls category that I didn't expect to see in the bottom two. I always love her performances and this week was no different. I love how adventurous she is with the staging and costuming and I think she has an amazing voice. Having said that, I think this week was her worst performance so far. That isn't to say it was bad: it wasn't. I honestly think the only reason she made the bottom two was because of the little disruptive rap bit in the middle of her song. It was unnecessary and didn't really work for me. I can imagine others being really annoyed by it and in such a close competition, that's a dangerous thing to do.

Moving on, one of the acts that I did half-expect to see in the bottom two was The Risk. Opening the show is always difficult and always a disadvantage, because everyone else is compared to you. It is therefore vital to put in a performance that will blow everyone else out of the water. I didn't think The Risk's performance measured up to the task. Having said that, it's hard to put together a show-stopping performance in 24 hours, which is basically all they had left after Ashley's shock departure, and Ashford's return. Turning to Tulisa's other group, Rhythmix... I mean Little Mix, I really did enjoy their performance and I'm pleased that the name change didn't damage them this week. I thought their interpretation of Alien was excellent and the staging was stunning. As much as I have enjoyed their previous shows, it was nice to see something more grown-up from them this week.

So who was strongest this week? That's always a tough call and the competition is impossibly close this year, but I agree with Gary that the performance of the night was Craig Colton. It was a stunning version of Set Fire to the Rain and the energy he put in stamped his identity on a song that is already quite iconic. The staging, once again, was brilliant and made it a memorable performance. As far as the rest of the Boys category goes, I also loved Marcus. He's very natural on the stage - an art which eludes me and which I am very jealous of - and he had a great voice. I really enjoyed his interpretation of Superstitious and, if it had been my choice, that's what I would've liked to see opening the show. It actually got me grooving in my seat. Frankie was, once again, the weakest of the three boys. Having said that, I did enjoy his performance and it was a good song choice for him because it hides the weaknesses in his voice. He's not quite my cup of tea, though, and I would honestly have preferred to say goodbye to him than lose Sophie.

In the fourth and final category, the Overs, I much preferred Johnny's performance from last week, but the song choice this week really did show off his voice. I adore him and think he has great appeal. He'll get a career out of this, but he's not really X Factor and I fear that it is only a matter of time before he falls by the wayside. Until then, I'll continue to enjoy his performances and his infectious smile. Last of all, Kitty continues to trouble me. She is gradually winning me over with her performances and this week was no different. It was a great interpretation of Sweet Dreams that made it really contemporary. I think the less she tries to impress with her off-stage persona, and the harder she tries on the stage, the more successful she will be on the show. For the first time, I can see her lasting, but her position is still precarious.

So overall, I would personally have liked to see Frankie Cocozza go this week, if only for the fact that his general laddishness doesn't appeal to me and I think he's a terrible role model. (I sound so old!) I didn't surprise me that Sophie was in the bottom two, but I didn't think she deserved to go and Misha B shouldn't have been in the bottom two at all. I still think Misha B is a winner. I haven't really seen anyone surpass her yet, but Craig, Marcus, Janet and Kitty are all serious contenders.

NaBloPoMo Day 28 - Group Therapy

It's all gone on in the X Factor house this week. At least for Tulisa's groups it has; it seems rather than going from strength to strength they are going from trauma to trauma.

Earlier this week, Stephen Fry tweeted a link to an open to Simon Cowell and his multi-million pound show from the organisers of a charity. The charity in question was called Rhythmix and works with young people in the South East of England. Their aim is to develop the kids' personal and social skills while encouraging creativity. They have reportedly worked with 40,000 young people in the twelve years since they were formed. When the X Factor four-piece girl group formed, they chose their name without knowing about the charity. When the Syco - Simon Cowell's production company - tried to trademark the name, the charity took action so they could continue to use their existing name. When the girls found out about it, they decided to change their name and this evening announced that, from this weekend, they will be known under the new name 'Little Mix'.

However, that's not the end of the changes. This evening, on twitter, The X Factor announced that four-piece boyband, The Risk, have lost one of their members. Ashley Baptiste, aged 22, said on twitter "I love The Risk to the core. I just know that I am not at the right place to commit fully." Rumour has it that Ashley still wants a solo career and was concerned about committing to the band, only to leave. Ashley has also struggled with illness during the live shows and last week appeared despite suffering from Laryngitis and Glandular Fever in the run up to the show. Rather than continue as a trio, the boys have petitioned X Factor hopeful, Ashford Campbell, who sang in the first and second live shows with rival group, Nu Vibe, to take Ashley's place.

It seems the Girls category is not short of their own problems this week as category mentor, Kelly Rowland has fallen ill during a trip to Los Angeles earlier in the week. A statement read "Kelly is devastated she won't be here for this weekend's show. She is extremely ill with a viral throat infection and her doctors aren't permitting her to fly." However, rumours abound that Kelly is considering quitting the show following accusations from Tulisa in last week's live show that one of Kelly's star acts, Misha B, had been bullying some of the other contestants.

Regardless of whether there is any truth to the rumours, the question is, how will this week's X Factor roller-coaster affect Little Mix, The Risk and three girls, Misha B, Janet Devlin and Sophie Habibis? Such upsets, if playing on the contestants' minds, could affect their performances, and The Risk in particular, face the challenge of bringing a new member up to speed in very short shrift. No wonder Gary is feeling confident for this week. And of course, the earlier controversy over fourth judge, Louis Walsh, is now forgotten. How convenient.

NaBloPoMo Day 27 - Sing Live

I had two options for tonight's blog post. The only thing that prevented me from writing about Manchester City Council's proposals to close facilities at Heaton Park was the fact that I did a political post last night and I am trying hard to keep my blog more lighthearted during NaBloPoMo. Instead, I want to tell you all about one of my passions...

I joined Sing Live in 2009 to perform a concert of Big Band music. It actually seems like it's been much longer than two and a half years because I feel like it has been a long (although incredibly fun) journey between then and now. After that first concert I was privileged to join the company for the 10th Anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall, followed by Movie Musicals in February last year, the Beatles Story in June the same year, and then Magical Musicals in June this year. Last summer I also performed with Sing Live on the channel 5 TV show, Don't Stop Believing. Looking back, it's no wonder that it feels like more than a couple of years!

In case you haven't come across Sing Live before now, it is a company aimed at sharing the joy of singing with everyone. The founding principle is 'ordinary people doing extraordinary things in exciting places' and when I think, not just about the venues that I've performed in, but also the ones I haven't been able to join for (Disney World in Florida, Venice, Cruises and even The Vatican) that guiding idea is certainly coming true. Almost everyone I know within Sing Live is an amateur. We are literally ordinary people - very few are exceptionally talented, including me - but we get to sing in amazing places. And it isn't as if we're bad - we are skilled, disciplined and Sing Live concerts are always of the highest possible standard. There are no auditions to join, which means that whether you sing in public or just in the shower, you can participate, and the group environment is a great place to sing while feeling supported and safe.

When I think about my journey with Sing Live, that's exactly what I needed, especially at the beginning. I used to sing when I was in school, but hadn't done any singing (other than along with the car stereo) for well over 10 years. I have no illusions about my ability but I really felt, despite getting a lot out of singing, that I couldn't sing. I felt very out of practice and very unsure of myself. Over the course of the past couple of years, I have got back into the groove and grown in confidence. I've even tried out for solos, and recently started personal singing tuition to help me improve further. And all of that is down to the friendly, nurturing environment that Sing Live provides.

Our next concert starts rehearsing in early November and we will continue through until early February, when we perform at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. If you are a frustrated (or not so frustrated) singer, come along to one of our preview nights next Wednesday or Thursday. If you don't want to sing, why not come to our concert. Even if you don't live in the Manchester area, Sing Live operates across the UK and also in Florida. More details available from the Sing Live website.

NaBloPoMo Day 16 - Open Mic Night

Tonight I had the privilege to watch and here some of Greater Manchester's (and some from further afield) best performers.

I was there supporting my friend, Kirsty, who is a superb performer with a belting voice (you can see another of her competition-winning performances here). Tonight she gave a flawless rendition of "On My Own" from Les Miserables, which is one of my favourite songs. She looked fabulous too, in a stunning electric blue dress.

Most of the performers tonight were very impressive but two (apart from Kirsty, of course) stood out from the rest. Eli Cripps, a young woman with a lovely tone in her voice, gave a great performance that struck a fine balance between attitude and cocky. It was lively and fun and very enjoyable. The other notable performance of the night was from a group of three young lads; Hip Hop Disciples. They were by far the best performers of that particular genre and really deserve some recognition.

Sadly, Kirsty didn't quite make the cut tonight, but it is certainly not a negative reflection on her talent or skill as a performer. Well done to her on a great performance and to those who were successful.

This is my first encounter with the Open Mic UK competition and it is worthy of support, offering help and exposure to performers across the UK. For more information, visit the website: www.openmicuk.co.uk

NaBloPoMo Day 15 - X Factor Live Shows Week 2

It was a great show tonight and I had that rare pleasure of watching live - ordinarily I record it and watch it back the next day to spare hubby the 'pain' of having to sit through it but there was nothing else on so I won... DEFAULT DEFAULT DEFAULT!

I think tonight's show demonstrated just how strong the field is this year. In past years there has always been a mish-mash of talent when it comes to the first couple of live shows, mostly, I think, due to the pressure. This year, however, there is plenty of talent on display and it is actually very refreshing.

The Groups opened the show this week with one of the weakest performances of the night from boy-band, Nu Vibe. Louis nick-named them No Vibe, which, despite their decidedly average performance, is a bit unfair. They were much improved on the previous week and it was easy to see why they had got through. However, it was just an average performance when taken in context and opening the show is always the worst slot, so I fear they will be in the bottom two, and will probably be going home tomorrow night. Of the other two groups, The Risk put in another solid performance, although the start of their number was a little dodgy. I wasn't sure whether it was the vocal or that the sound balance was off. But even so, it was a good performance. Rhythmix were the stand-out act in the group category for me. These four girls look great, sound great and do something a little bit different from the usual girl-band type of stuff. They feel fresh and new without being weird. They're comfortable on stage and so that makes them easy to watch. For the first time ever, I have voted in the first show and I voted for these girls. I'd like to think that's a sign that they are something special.

I think the Girls category was probably the strongest overall tonight. Misha B is a genuine pop-star. She has the look, the personality and above all the voice to be something really special but she is humble with it. It's like she knows she's good, but that she relies on the goodwill of others to carry her, and she's OK with that. Janet Devlin put in another lovely performance tonight too. She has a beautiful voice that is unique, which makes her ideal as a recording artist. She was a little downbeat in her performance, and her personality didn't come through, but I think that's to be expected due to the bereavement. What a little trooper. Finally, Sophie Habibis is the big question mark for me. When I hear her sing, I think she could be the dark horse and sneak up on this contest. Normally, this would be the kind of contestant that lingers in the background for a few weeks and then suddenly shines and goes on to be very successful. However, I wonder how much time she has. The competition is tough this year.

The Boys category also had some highs and lows for me. Lets talk about Frankie Cocozza. I completely understand why he's there, and I do agree that he deserves it because he knows how to put on a good show. But the song choice this week left him completely exposed. He was uncomfortable (probably due to the late change) and although it was a song that suited his vocal, it's also one that is impossible for him to hide in. The weaknesses in his voice were all too obvious and I wonder if he will survive. Both Marcus and Craig put in great performances tonight. They are strong contenders and I hope they both stay for a few more weeks at least.

Finally, the Over 25s category. This is still a category that is suffering rather than benefiting from Louis's guidance. Sami was first up with her stunning diva voice, but the song was hopeless. The problem with a song as iconic as 'I Will Always Love You' is that it is impossible to make it sound anything other than a cover of Whitney and it's so rooted in pop-culture that it shows it's age. Of course, Sami nailed it and made it appear effortless, so that should see her through but I hope that Louis starts listening to some contemporary music to find her something better for next week. Johnny is my guilty pleasure in this contest. Far from being the light entertainment like Jedward were, he has talent and he puts on a show. He didn't get great comments and I know he has his haters, but I love him to bits. Now... Kitty... her performance tonight was flawless. She took another old and iconic song but did make it a bit different and I thought her stage presentation was brilliant. Having said that, I find her so utterly fake that I can't believe her or her performance. I find her cocky and arrogant, and I actually wouldn't mind that (because the world is full of cocky an arrogant people and she has incredible talent, so would perhaps, be justified in her cockiness and arrogance) but she tries to hide it. She stands on the stage trembling and meekly thanking the judges for their comments, but it's a lie. You can see it in her eyes.

So, my prediction for the bottom two is Nu Vibe for sure and maybe Kitty, just because the public aren't warming to her. It should probably be Nu Vibe and Frankie Cocozza, but I can't see that happening. Marcus could be at risk, because I'm not are how strong his following is. I would be genuinely surprised if it was anyone else in the bottom two. I think Nu Vibe are going home tomorrow night. I still think Misha B could win this year. In the meantime, I will be looking forward to more from the girls and from Rhythmix in particular.

NaBloPoMo Day 12 - Alexi Murdoch

His music is generally unappreciated but it is his album, Time Without Consequence, is the last thing I listen to at night and the first music I listen to in the morning. It's a relaxed, laid back style of music, but for all its gentleness, is no less complex than any other great music.

Time Without Comsequence is a delicate mix of guitar, piano/keyboard, and drum work with meaningful lyrics and a simple vocal that is complimentary to the music. It has modern folk vibe, a little like Newton Faulkner in some respects, although more heartfelt with less sass.

My favourite track on the album is Breathe, which curiously enough, just started playing as I typed this. It's charming and lyrical with a catchy chorus that I find utterly irresistible.

I first came across the album through Prison Break - I forget which season - when the track 'Home' was used in a suicide scene. It's a strange combination, but one that genuinely works to give the scene the impact that it deserved. Tracks from the album were also used on the soundtrack to the movie 'Away We Go' starring Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids) and directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) and while I don't much care for the movie because I find it a little aimless in terms of the plot, Alexi Murdoch's music is the perfect partner to the movie's best scenes.

Alexi Murdoch was born in London and raised in Scotland. He now lives in New York and has a small house on the west coast of Scotland. The irony is, despite the fact that he is a UK born artist that still bases himself here at least some of the time, when I bought the CD album for my Dad, I had to import it from the US. He is, however, available on iTunes, so why not check him out.

NaBloPoMo Day 10 - X Factor Live Show Week 1

If there is any doubt, I love X Factor. It's one of the few talent show / reality show type of programme that I watch, yet I have stuck with it since the second year. Religiously.

I really enjoyed the shows this weekend. Despite initial concerns, I love the new judges; they each have a refreshing air of honesty about them and it's nice to see evidence in the VTs of them actually mentoring their acts. However, I wish they'd binned Louis Walsh as well. The only thing he adds to the show is his hackneyed catchphrase book ("You belong on that stage"... "You could win the X Factor"... "You look like a popstar") and a catalogue of dated music; sometimes he even manages to make his acts dated when doing current stuff. I really don't know how he does it.

The field is also strong this year with several potential winners. It is, of course, always hard to tell how things will play out with so much depending on what happens in the press and whether there are any shocks in the public vote, but even at this stage, I think we're looking at a winner in the girls category. All four performers were excellent on Saturday night and I'm sure it was a tough decision for Kelly. Despite a stunning vocal, I expected her to send home Sophie Habibis - as the least distinctive of the four Girls, I fearthat she will fall foul of the public vote sooner rather than later - but I can't say that I'm disappointed that she stayed. It was a shame to reject Amelia Lily, who opened the show with a strong performance, but at 16 and with her talent, she should have plenty of opportunities ahead of her. In the Girls category, Misha B was the stand-out performance for me. And it's rare for me to enjoy a cover of an iconic song like Rolling in the Deep.

I was unsurprised at the result in the Boys and the Over 25s category. In the Boys category, while James Michael had more potential, he bottled it on the night and put in a weak performance. It was a bad call to start with a Beatles song on opening night and when compared with good performances from Frankie Cocozza (even though that breathy thing was really irritating), Marcus Collins and a stand-out effort from Craig Coltan, it was inevitable that James would be the one to fall.

The Over 25s category is the weakest this year (and indeed, it's the weakest Overs category I've seen for several years). Sami Brooks has a great vocal but I can't see her competing for long. Kitty Brucknell is a great entertainer but the public don't like her. She will inevitably be in the bottom two for week after week and constantly get saved before the judges finally let her go. Until then she will be the contestant that everyone loves to hate. Johnny Robinson is adorable and I'm so glad he's made the cut. His performance on Saturday was very average but he's such a character and a pleasure to see. Although I genuinely liked Jonjo Kerr, I felt that his performance was boring and lacked sparkle. He wasn't ready for the live shows and it was right that he should go.

My big disappointment in the result came from the Groups category. I rath enjoyed The Risk and Rhythmix. Although I don't find them all that distinctive in the wider market place they have talent and are appealing acts. The other two groups stood out in the category for me: Nu Vibe for all the wrong reasons and 2 Shoes for all the right reasons. I thought Nu Vibe were terrible and by far the weakest performance of the whole night, while I love the fun and cheeky character of the 2 Shoes girls. I enjoyed the performance, even if the song sounded a little odd without the other 3 parts that it was originally written for, so I was very disappointed that they were the ones that went home and not Nu Vibe. I can only assume that the pregnancy was an issue for the show and hope that the girls will be back next year

So overall, a great start to this year's live shows. My early (and I emphasise that this is EARLY) prediction is a winner from the Girls. At this stage, my Monopoly money is on Misha B with Frankie Cocozza the runner up. But it could all change and I can't wait for next week.

NaBloPoMo Day 6 - Sent From My iPhone

There were a number of different topics that I considered writing about today, but all that fell by the way when I saw the news.

Steve Jobs died today.

Sometimes a technology comes along that really does change lives. Medical advances like MRI machines and pacemakers literally save lives, while other advances change the way we think or the way we use something. Apple and the technologies the company has developed in recent years have done just that.

In the same way that Sky+ changed the way I use TV, the iPhone changed the way I use my phone. I remember the days when I used to schedule study time around what I wanted to watch on TV and these days I very rarely watch anything at the point of broadcast, and I remember the days when my mobile phone was for making and receiving calls. These days all my TV viewing gets recorded to the Sky+ and I'm more likely to use my phone to check Twitter or my email than to make a call. My iPhone keeps me informed and keeps me connected to friends and family across the UK and all around the world. My iPhone is my camera, my music player and the whole internet in my pocket. It's communication, it's entertainment and it's knowledge in the palm of your hand and the technology that has come after it (namely the iPad) is just as impressive - this blog post is written on an iPad.

These are amazing tools that set make accessing the Internet and media easier and they are tools that set us free from the office. And they as beautiful as they are versatile.

Some people will play down Apple's contribution and Steve Jobs' role in it but make no mistake, while these great products are the result of great software and great design that is developed by many many skilled and talented people, but Jobs brought that talent together and inspired the company that facilitated that development. You may not be a fan of Apple and you may not use any Apple products but look around, look at the technology you do use: would your MP3 player exist without the iPod, would your Android phone exist without the iPhone, would tablets have had the resurgence they have experienced without the iPad? For the past decade, Apple has been leading the way and every one else has been playing catch up.

So I feel perfectly justified in saying the Steve Jobs was a genius and a visionary and that his death is a loss to the world of technology. This is a sad day for those of us that appreciate Apple products and so, in tribute, I say this:

Sent from my iPhone.

Dig Out Your Soul

More than six months ago I managed to get four tickets for myself and some friends to see Oasis in Heaton Park. We went on Thursday night and, despite a few problems, had a great time!

Firstly, the music was fantastic. Oasis are very much on form. They played some of their best hits and sounded better than any recording. They were funny and really connected with the crowd to create a really good atmosphere. Their warm-ups were good too. On Thursday we missed out on The Enemy due to illness in the band, but we had the Reverand and the Makers instead, which was an excellent treat. Anyone who isn't familiar with their music should check out 'Heavyweight Champion of the World' or 'He Said He Loved Me' which are both excellent examples of their unique music and witty lyrical style. Kasabian were also excellent. I'm not a fan so hardly knew any of their tracks but I enjoyed their performance very much and will certainly check out their music.

Couple of problems though. The first, a few people will already be aware of, which was a series of power outtages that interrupted the performance twice. The concert had an 11pm curfew which they breached by over 30 minutes. It wasn't too much of a problem for those of us there that didn't have a bus to catch, but for the residents - most of whom are elderly - it must have been a hell. It surely didn't help that the general behaviour of some of the attendees of the concert was pretty poor. Despite police notices that searches for drugs and weapons would be carried out, there was a lot of 'soft' drugs being used and my group also saw two people snorting coke. There were a lot of people at the concert that also managed to get blind drunk. All this means more noise and disruption for residents as people were leaving the gig. It's a real shame because this can only jeopardise any future similar events at the park, which bring millions into the local economy of Manchester and Bury.

There was also a second problem, for which only the event organisers can be held accountable. The way that a municipal park works as a concert venue is as follows: the stage is erected and an area around it is then fenced off. The park remains open to the public but the concert 'arena' can only be accessed by ticket holders. For these concerts the event organisers have sold 70,000 tickets for each of the the three nights. However, the area that's been fenced off is far too small to comfortably accomodate this volume of people. The Milton Keynes Bowl has recently had its capacity increased from 65,000 to 75,000 and is much larger than the area designated for this concert. Take That at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground has sold 50,000 per night. Although the area in Heaton Park is larger than the cricket ground, it's not that much bigger. In the Heaton Park arena there are no designated walkways around the food or drink stands which inevitably means that people resulting in a lot of pushing and shoving and an almost constant crush. I'd be interested to know how decisions were made about the number of available tickets!

So overall, great music, but some disappointing aspects to this concert. I can't wait to find out what my sister in law makes of it - it's her birthday today and she is attending the concert tonight with her partner and my nephew!

Bank Holidays Are Made for Moby

Ever have one of those perfect moments where you think 'yeah, that's what it's all about'?

It's bank holiday Monday, the sun is shining and it's almost uncomfortably warm (for once). There are kids walking down the street with footballs and riding bikes, families heading out for the afternoon and hardly any cars about. I've just finished a long, hard slog on my last Open University assignment for this year (only two weeks late... oops!) and Moby is playing on iTunes. But not just any Moby, the original and best album: Play; the one from which every track has been used either in a movie, a TV series or an advertisement. Yes, this album is just that good. The music from The Beach came from this album and so did that awesome track that plays at the end of the Bourne movies.
So apart from the bloke over the road that is rather noisely jet-washing the patio furniture and their kids' outdoor toys, it was one of those perfect moments. But we'll forgive him for his ceaseless whirring and spraying noises for now because we're in a really good mood.

Fun Stuff

OK, so serious stuff is over and done with now it's time for the lighter side.

First, I am now inhumanly excited about the new Star Trek movie. I remained so sceptical for so long but now I simply can't wait. Simon Pegg was on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross last night, which only served to inflame my quiet hysteria. I think I might have to book us some tickets for the premiere - preferrably on IMAX! Oddly, after watching Friday Night... I also have a strange compulsion to go and see the Hannah Montana movie. I think Miley Cyrus has been exercising so sort of new hypnosis technique on me: The clue was probably the repeated shouts of "See my movie!" in hilarious fashion throughout Ross' show.

I recently found (or rather, was alerted to) a 'new' TV channel which I have been enjoying recently. Rocks & Co (Sky Channel 642) are modelled on the long running Gems TV (broadcasting on Sky, V irgin and Freesat) in that they offer a range of gemset jewellery in 'Reverse Auctions'. Basically they start at a ridiculous price and 'crash' to a lower, more realistic price and generally keep dropping until they hit the lowest price that they want to sell that item for. It's essentially a game of chicken: which viewer will 'blink' first and buy? If interested in something, the longer you wait the lower the price, but also the greater the chance that someone else will get there first. You can almost hear the masses reaching for the phone with one hand and the 'plastic' with the other! Whether you buy anything at any given time is up to you - I rarely purchase this sort of thing for myself, but tend to buy jewellery for my Mum - but what I'm loving at the moment is the 'window shopping'experience. Rocks & Co have some fabulous gemstones in sizes, quality and varieties that most people will rarely get the chance to see. I highly recommend it but make sure you lock the credit card away first. They have a ring resizing service, but much to my dismay have thus far been unable to resize my credit card! That 27ct Rubellite will have to wait.

Finally, Thursday nights is now music night for me. I have my piano lesson straight after work and then from there I head straight out to Bolton for choir practice! After careful consideration I decided to join SingLiveUK, who recruit amatuer singers for events that they organise all over the UK, and sometimes overseas too. (There is a group at the Vatican this weekend!) I'll be taking part in the performance of Sing The Music of the Big Bands at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on June 28th. Tickets are available online from https://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk or direct from SingLiveUK. Personally, I am very excited and can't wait to get back into singing after 12 years of musical silence! We'll be performing some of my personal favourites made famous by the likes of the Rat Pack and, more recently for the younger generation, Michael Buble and Robbie Williams. Incidentally, I will also be the third person in my immediate family to give a musical performance to a public audience: My Granny was a violinist for the Halle Orchestra many years ago and my Dad performed a few years ago at the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness.