The X Factor is a singing competition show that has many international variations, and is very popular worldwide. The show provides very entertaining acts: some brilliantly talented, and some embarrassingly humiliating. No matter the type of audition that contestants perform for the world, they always seem to provide good television content. While some viewers believe that The X Factor is a rigged television show, one cannot deny the incredible difference it has made in so many lives of aspiring artists/musicians. The winner of The X Factor UK wins a record deal with Simon Cowell’s record company, Syco. Even though most contestants do not win this opportunity, the show provides media exposure and attention from viewers and record companies around the world.
One Direction, as a band, owes all of its success to its days in the X Factor. Coming in third place, the band still became an international phenomenon. All of the members initially auditioned as solo artists in 2010. Harry Styles auditioned with “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder. His acapella performance wooed two out of the three judges, but as you might be able to predict, Harry qualified for the next round of auditions. Liam Payne auditioned with “Cry Me a River” by Ella Fitzgerald, completely capturing the adoration of the judges and the audience. Since this audition was his second X Factor audition, Payne returned with a point to prove. Niall Horan auditioned with Ne-yo’s “So Sick,” and his charm convinced the judges to pass him to the next round, despite the judges disliking his song choice. He immediately was nicknamed, “Irish Justin Bieber.” Zayn Malik sang “Let Me Love You” by Mario for his audition, which earned him three ‘yes’s’ from the judges. Zayn’s mother reports that Zayn actually did not want to get out of bed to audition for the X Factor that day because he was so nervous! Lastly, Louis Tomlinson auditioned for the X Factor signing, “Hey There Delilah” by The Plain White Ts, which also earned him his way into the next round.
Many of the boys were pushed to the next round due to their innocent and confident personalities rather than their actual singing talent, but fortunately the confidence the judges had in the boys proved to be validated. After Simon Cowell formed the band on July 23, 2010, during Bootcamp, they started gaining a very large fan base in the UK. Even though the band had its problems in the beginning due to personality clashes, the boys quickly turned into best friends. Finishing at third place, One Direction had their first album, Up All Night, along with brand new singles such as “What Makes You Beautiful” on the way. Rather than hitting their peak during their time on the X Factor, One Direction’s success soared, becoming one of the most successful boy bands of all time.
Hi Bella,
I enjoyed reading your account on the X Factor. While I do not typically watch the show regularly, I have seen clips on YouTube, and they are pretty entertaining. As you mentioned in your post, many of the participants proceeded through the rounds due to engaging personalities that appeal to audiences. Since the One Direction members had striking personalities that were likeable, they gained some ‘points’ in their favor in order to move on and gain popularity.
For some reality/competition shows, it is difficult to watch due to the obvious bias and fabrication of storytelling. Anything going on television is bound to have superficial aspects to maintain a level of ‘entertainment value.’
Often times, the people who win the television talent competitions do not become as famous as the others contestants on the show. For instance, One Direction gained widespread popularity despite not winning. This happens quite often!
Honestly, I am usually disappointed with who wins the various televised talent competitions as I usually view another candidate as better and more genuine. Personally, my favorite reality competition show is NBC’s World of Dance. This show demonstrates great bias though when deciding who to moves through into the next round. For instance, the judges favor hip hop dance styles and disregard the techniques of other dancers on the show.
Anyways, It was nice to read about their journey and how the show gave them a push start toward global fame. Great job!
– Julia Mertes
Hey Bella,
Great article! One of the most interesting aspects of One Direction for me is their sustained prevalence over the years. The true artistry in each band member is highlighted through their own commercial success as solo artists. In the earlier days it may have been easy to write some of the members off as not having “true talent”, but these thoughts would have all been proved wrong after their dominance in the music industry over the years. One Direction should serve as an inspiration to those who are interested in pursuing musical endeavors outside of their normal group.
– Andrew