X FACTOR 2012 ~ IT'S (ALMOST) TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC!

Ooo, the non-existent summer is almost over, which of course means that The X Factor is back! On our screens! Like it never went away! As a precursor to tomorrow's launch episode, I thought I'd pop together a playlist of my top ten X-factor alumni songs to date. Only one song per artist to give it a bit of diversity :) Let me know your faves and join me on Sunday morning for my first full post show review. Excitement!

• 10 = Diana Vickers ~ The Boy Who Murdered Love: Diana's second single was a smart sophisticated pop tune that was criminally overlooked in it's chart placing. She successfully conveys a gamut of emotions from her stabbing anger at the beginning fo the tune, through to her wistful melancholy as it ends. Genius.
• 09 = Joe McElderry ~ Ambitions: Aw, little geordie Joe. Certainly one of the more exuberant sounding (musically) songs to come out of the show, that was at odds with the more downbeat lyrics. Joe pulled it off though and managed to make it sound bouyant & optimistic. Plus I still love his celebratory, fist pumping, good time video. (Note - his new song is entirely lovely too).
• 08 = JLS ~ Everybody in Love: In general, JLS songs fall into three categories - club infused thumpers, dreamy ballads and upbeat, infectious pop such as their finest moment to date, Everybody in Love. I love any song that instructs me to put my hands up & this was also the perfect showcase for their silky smooth vocals. Catchy, feel good and eminently likeable. I fully approve

• 07 = G4 ~ First of May: I was routing for G4 to win all the way through the first series of the X Factor. Partly because I'd seen them busking in London and they were very polite to me when I threw some money in the pot and partly because they were just generally very ace indeed. First of May is my favourite of their plethora of covers because it is very earnest and lovely. Their harmonies are perfectly nuanced (and their AA side cover of When A Child Is Born is my all time fave version of that festive classic). PS Jonathan Ansell has continued to charm me with his solo career :)
• 06 = Olly Murs ~ Dance With Me Tonight: Ooo that cheeky chappy Olly. What a triple threat - affable tv host, good looking fella & nifty pop star also. Dance With Me Tonight married classic pop sounds with a modern day sensibility and effortlessly seduced an entire nation. Surely the wedding dance song of the summer (no doubt alongside The Way You Are by American counterpart, Bruno Mars)!
• 05 = Alexandra Burke ~ Bad Boys: Now that's how you do it, Alexandra. Launch onto the pop scene with a brilliantly catchy track that rather audactiously has FloRida doing a middle 8 rap for you. Throw in a funky dance routine and you're onto a winner.

• 04 = One Direction ~ What Makes You Beautiful: Ah, the first group to be put together by the show and the first act to become a bonafide worldwide sensation. This song certainly helped - appealing to every teenage girl ever, it was a joyous celebration of pop music and boy band mania, delivered with verve and aplomb. Tremendously enduring, it's up there with Call Me Maybe as a modern day classic.
• 03 = Shayne Ward ~ If That's Ok WIth You: I love Shayne. Love love love. One of my fave X-Factor contestants ever and certainly the one who seemed tailor made for worldwide acclaim. His performance of Over The Rainbow remains my fave X-Factor performance ever. His lead single from his second album was full of random lyrics but that's what made it so deliciously charming, singalong and enjoyable. I'm pretty sure there's not a song out there that he couldn't a) make his own and b) make utterly excellent.
• 02 = Leona Lewis ~ Bleeding Love: Genuinely one of the best pop songs of this millenium. Leona had the voice to provide a haunting, memorable performance of this tune (and most other tunes she has done since). Quite rightly a world wide megahit, but it's criminal that - like Shayne Ward - there has been such a massive gap between the second and third albums. Bah, SYCO, Bah!

• 01 = Same Difference ~ Karma Karma: What an exhilarating breath of fresh air Same Difference were on the X Factor. Embracing pop rather than being embarrassed by it, their general joie de vivre carried them - quite rightly - all the way to the final. And 5 years on, they are still one of my fave pop acts despite only putting out 2 albums. Karma Karma saw them team up with Alcazar for one of the finest pop moments in recent memory. Do hurry with new music, per favor. Merci beaucoup :)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Kylie Minogue, Timebomb
20 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Winner
19 ~ Mika, Celebrate
18 ~ Delta Goodrem, Dancing With A Broken Heart
17 ~ Alanis Morrisette, Lens
16 ~ Little Mix, Wings
15 ~ Jason Mraz, Living In The Moment
14 ~ Christopher, Colours
13 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, How To Be A Heartbreaker
12 ~ Carly Rae Jepsen, Good Time
11 ~ Chantal Claret, Honey Honey
10 ~ P!nk, Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
09 ~ fun., One Foot
08 ~ The Overtones, Loving The Sound (NE)
07 ~ No Doubt, Settle Down
06 ~ The Killers, Runaways
05 ~ Stooshe, Black Heart
04 ~ Alphabeat, Love Sea (NE)
03 ~ Maroon 5, One More Night
02 ~ Little Jackie, 21st Birthday Party
01 ~ Spice Girls, Spice Up Your Wannabe Life (2012) (NE/1 Week)