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The X Factor has come in for a little criticism over the past week, with Sting making his feelings on the reality talent show clear. And the criticism obviously stung (excuse the pun) the judges badly, with Simon Cowell making reference to it on Saturday night’s show.
And now, Patrick Wolf has put the boot in as well. He may not be as big a name as Sting but his opinion still counts, especially as he is the complete opposite from the contestants on the show: him being alternative and home-grown; the contestants being manufactured.
He told Digital Spy:
“I do watch The X Factor. It’s like watching the Royal Variety show or something, I don’t take it seriously as music, it’s light entertainment. There’s no music TV shows apart from … Jools Holland.”
“The only place you can experience music on a mass level seems to be X Factor. If there were more platforms on TV then there would be more ways of having access to artists.”
“But it’s entertainment, it’s not music. It’s like You’ve Been Framed or something – it’s got nothing to do with music at all. Generations are going to think that that is what the music industry is about, but it’s not. It’s like a version of Benny Hill or something. It’s not music.”
Wolf has hit the nail on the head. The X Factor is pure entertainment, but it’s television and not true to the music industry. As Sting suggested, real talent happens naturally, developing organically in pubs and clubs and not being foisted on the public by Simon Cowell and his cronies.
I love The X Factor but apart from a select few gems, most of the contestants aren’t going to have long or sparkling careers.
[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]
