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Jedward land new record deal and steal Belfast X Factor show

Thursday, 18 March 2010

Jedward delight the crowd with the Ghostbusters routine

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Is Cowell’s crown starting to slip?

It must have been with some smug satisfaction that Jedward took to the stage in Belfast on St Patrick’s night.

The day before the curtains come up on 'X Factor Live' at the Odyssey it was announced that Simon Cowell's Sony Records had given the Irish twosome the boot.

But a mere 24 hours later, the terrible twins were signed up with Universal. Perhaps it was the luck of the Irish on St Patrick’s Day.

X Factor Louis Walsh gushed before last night’s gig: “I'm completely committed to Jedward and delighted we've secured them a new deal with Universal.”

“I'm completely committed to Jedward and I know they still have a great career ahead of them. The boys have a sell-out tour in Ireland that they start straight after The X Factor Tour in April.”

But last night they were back at it, romping around the stage and waggling plastic pistols at a blow-up ghost — though to be fair, you can hardly do the 'Ghostbusters' theme and not.

Wearing contrasting vintage suits, their hair gleaming terrifyingly under the stage lights, the duo's dancing is perfunctory and their singing . . . well, you've probably heard better warblers at the office karaoke party.

And yet, the unconfined joy with which the Grimes throw themselves into their performance is infectious, setting them apart from the dreary human-hairdryers who otherwise make up this year's crop of 'X Factor' contenders.

The competition was eventually won by a rosy-cheeked north of England lad named Joe McElderry, fated to go down in history as the man nobbled for the UK number one spot by Rage Against the Machine. He belts out Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing', a guilty pleasure whose rehabilitation, we can all now agree, has gone to unnecessary extremes.

In truth, though, the performances are all so blandly competent it's hard to tell who will or won't have a career after the dust settles.

Runner-up Olly Murs hams it up in an Austin Powers routine with dancers in polka-dot skirts.

Barbra Streisand look-alike Stacey Solomon flutters eyelashes the length of goose-quills before murdering Queen's 'Who Wants To Live Forever?'

It's hard to imagine either holding arenas in their spell six months from now.

Naturally, Jedward receive the loudest shrieks. But you can't simply put that down to the hometown audience.

Not even their mother (or Louis Walsh) would claim they are fantastic vocalists.

However, they possess what everyone else on the bill prominently lacks � a whiff of actual star power.

And isn't that what the 'X Factor' is supposed to be all about? Little wonder Universal Records snapped them up shortly after they were shown the door by Sony.

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23 Comments

When they came to nottz they recieved the loudest cheer and olly the second loudest. There going to be around for a while yet. x

Love you jedward.

Posted by lotty | 21.03.10, 00:19 GMT

Actually xfactor was supposed to be a singing competition.

Posted by Foxy Freedom (the band) | 20.03.10, 13:09 GMT

Jedward congratulations on ur new deal glad ur not over ur still singing and u will be making CDs and albums still made up ur not over meeting u was amazing thx for my double hug and hugs and pics listen guys give jedward a break there not over so ha leave them alone I love u jedward please come back to Liverpool or Manchester I miss u guys

Posted by Jessica | 19.03.10, 21:21 GMT

Yet another example of 'lazy journalism'. Or in this case 'hippy lazy journalism'! I doubt the writer of the article has even been to an XF concert. Probably had a quick look at a Jedward Appreciation Thread and was gullible enough to believe the hype load of old Blarney! You've been listening to the deluded mate!

Everyone gives there all at the concert. However, we all have eyes and ears and can judge for ourselves on what is good and what is not.

Whilst mildly entertaining in a Butlinesk way, Jedward offer something for the wee ones. I mean anyone over 10 cannot be taking them seriously muscially.

You go through several phases of enjoyable mediocrity until you get to the Sublime finish. A fantastic live performance, with superb vocals and a stage presence that just draws the audience in.

From the 'Ridiculous to the Sublime' not the other way around.

What a fitting end to an enjoyable show.

Posted by Weknowthetruth | 19.03.10, 16:58 GMT

Jedward, if you're reading this, leave the music biz, and become children's TV presenters.

Posted by Jemmabond | 19.03.10, 14:59 GMT

Remember where Ant & Dec (PJ & Duncan) started, basically childrens entertainment within the music industry, look at them now. Kylie Minogue's start in the music industry was hardly refined either, and she hasn't done too badly in hindseit.
There is a market for immature nonsense, and if those involved have any sense they can learn about the business while they do it. Simon Cowell made some of his early music money from novelty nonsense too.
I can see Jedward going far in the long run, although one of them is bound to cheat with the other's partner at some point causing them to fall out!

Posted by Don Anderson | 18.03.10, 22:18 GMT

Are the people at Universal "Tone Deaf" Theses Duds are a waste of space.

Posted by Jim | 18.03.10, 20:39 GMT

What a load of twaddle. Do any of these reporters actually go to a show. I have experienced the show for myself and Joe is the only one that can sing in tune and live. What show these have been to I don't know. I was at Manchester recently and I have never heard noise like it when Joe came on the stage, it was deafening. He is STAR QUALITY and his new modelling career will enhance his singing career nicely. Leave the lad alone.

Posted by Sharon Godbert | 18.03.10, 19:39 GMT

To Sean from Down

I read your comments with much amusement as your teachers must have at your homeworks when you attended school. You need to learn how to spell. ''Bhoys?' do you not mean 'boys' or is this some silly reference to a football team. Why do you always bring something 'religious' or 'inciting' into your comments? So narrow-minded.

Posted by studley lovebucket | 18.03.10, 15:20 GMT

Yet another journalist jumping on the overhyped Jedward bandwagon. They receive the loudest shrieks? Not surprising really, as children tend to be noisier than adults!
Jedward's performances are fun (esp for kids), I have to hand it to them but there is something for everyone at these shows. ALL the acts work extremely hard to put on a good show (not just Jedward), so to refer to them as 'human hairdryers' is erroneous as well as hugely insulting for them and for those of us who have bought tickets just to see our favourite acts (not necessarily Jedward). Don't assume Jedward are the only ones keeping the arena seats filled. A lot of us are far more entertained by a fantastic vocal performance than by energetic jumping around.
True 'star power' is someone who doesn't need the addition of props to hold people's attention when they're performing.
I've been to a few shows now and in each case, Joe has been the true star of the show and he continues to get better each time!

Posted by Helen | 18.03.10, 14:41 GMT

What a useless piece of reporting.
Last nights show was great, and that is what it was (a show). A great atmosphere and enjoyed by all ages that were there.

Posted by Alice | 18.03.10, 13:34 GMT

yet again another group of irish people in the international spotlight, who are genuinly an embarrasment to ireland. Annoying, talentless and just another cog in the simon cowell bid to rule the world. you people need to go and listen to some real music. not just what TV tells you to listen to...

Posted by mc | 18.03.10, 12:52 GMT

What a biased artical, compleat load of rubbish!!! Star Power!!! give me a break..
There is only one star of the show, Joe McElderry.
The twins may be able to act like idiots and entertain young children, but selling records, I think not!!

PS for the record its not ''Simon Cowell's Sony Records'' If you cant get facts right, dont write articals.

Posted by Vickie | 18.03.10, 12:07 GMT

Jedward are not musicians. They are entertainers. As far as entertainers go, i'd consider them lame, however i am not in their target audience, so really (and it galls me to say it) fair play to them!

Good on ya bhoys? Sean, you really are an angry man. I'd blame your da but you probably never met him (nor did yer ma for that matter).
Ya know, if you went to Dublin and preached your hatred, you'd be kicked out of town.

Posted by ChrisR | 18.03.10, 11:54 GMT

Great night!! Love all the finalists, especially Joe, Lucie and Jedward. Wow, Joe's voice is really unbelievable live. Used a portion of Love Story as a ring tone.

Posted by Melissa | 18.03.10, 11:50 GMT

The x factor show last night was brilliant!!!!! the finalists really pulled it off they are just all brilliant!!!but we gotta hand it to the twins they really put on a show!!!

Posted by Ellie | 18.03.10, 10:38 GMT

Just when you think "music" with a heavy emphasis on the inverted commas, can't sink any lower! Who in their right mind would want to listen to Jedward? Are today's young people devoid of all taste and completely tone deaf? How sad.

Posted by Jess | 18.03.10, 09:37 GMT