Popjustice reflects on Sam Bailey’s year as reigning X Factor winner. Leona Lewis teases new music. Tulisa REALLY wants her old job back.
2014 A-Z: W is for WILL THIS DO
They usually talk about Steve Brookstein being the archetypal X Factor ‘failure’, don’t they? Sometimes Leon Jackson too. Sometimes Matt Cardle.
Obviously these people aren’t really failures in the proper sense, just artists who highlight the central flaw of The X Factor’s original premise. Because if you have a show that gives an opportunity to people who’d otherwise be overlooked by conventional music industry A&R system, chances are you’re going to end up with the sort of winner who’d, well, be overlooked by the conventional music industry A&R system. And for all their myriad flaws, big labels at least tend to ask one worthwhile question when they’re signing an act: “Is anyone actually going to buy their music?”
That’s not to say there isn’t a place in the world of recorded music for your Brooksteins and your Jacksons and your Cardles, but their potential successes are so different to (and so much more modest than) the successes you’d expect from an X Factor winner that things can only ever really end in disappointment.
Source: Popjustice
Leona Lewis fifth studio album | Snippet of new song “Fire Under my Feet”
The return to the music scene of Leona Lewis is a fact. This year, after breaking her deal with Syco Music/Sony Music, the X Factor winner secured a new deal with rival Universal Music’s Island Records UK.
Since then she is working hard in the studio giving shape to what will be her fifth studio album, scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2015.
The lead single from the album could come before the end of the year. About her new songs, Leona’s current boyfriend, creative director and choreographer Dennis Jauch, announced through his twitter that “we aren’t ready for them”
Leona shared a first teaser of new song called “Fire Under my Feet“, co-written by Ryan Tedder, as she promised on her social networks on Friday December 19th. She said: “Getting ready for 2015…”
Read more: Ultimate Music
One Direction take to the stage to give fans a Rockin’ New Year’s Eve… as it’s revealed their £180m stadium tour was the highest-grossing of 2014
They’ve been hit by rumours of both Zayn Malik and Niall Horan being on the verge of quitting the band.
But One Direction quashed all speculation by putting on a united front for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2015 TV special, where they delivered a rock solid performance as usual.
The boys serenaded fans with a selection of their biggest hits as they conquered the stage during the Billboard’s Hollywood Party segment of the evening, which was pre-taped beforehand in Los Angeles.
Read more: Daily Mail
Best House Ever? One Direction’s Liam Payne splashes out £5.1 million on Surrey mansion complete with ‘insane security’
Just days after it was announced that One Direction had the highest-grossing tour of 2014, it has emerged that Liam Payne has rewarded himself with a £5.1 million super-mansion.
The pop star, who grew up in a modest £150,000 three-bed semi-detached house in Wolverhampton, is now the proud owner of a stunning three-storey home in Surrey.
The property is said to feature an all-weather tennis court, cinema and heated outdoor swimming pool, in addition to a 700-bottle wine store and ballet studio.
The 21-year-old singer moaned last year about 1D fans appearing outside his home, but that’s unlikely to be a problem now.
A source told The Sun newspaper on Saturday: ‘The security is insane. Every part of the house and grounds are in camera isolation zones, many heat and motion monitored.’
Read more: Daily Mail
Absolutely ama-Zayn! 1D singer and fiancée Perrie Edwards are unrecognisable in their New Year’s Eve costumes as Edward Scissorhands and Cleopatra
They recently sparked speculation their romance was fizzling out due to the pressures of long distance.
But One Direction hunk Zayn Malik and his fiancée Perrie Edwards proved their love is as strong as ever by reuniting for a fun-filled fancy dress bash on New Year’s Eve.
The showbiz sweethearts, who got engaged 16 months ago, were perfectly in character as they struck a pose as Tim Burton character Edward Scissorhands and Egyptian queen Cleopatra.
Read more: Daily Mail
FAN-tastic? Harry Styles is mobbed by die-hard fans as he arrives at Los Angeles airport without his One Direction band mates
He is accustomed to fanatical followers as one fifth of One Direction.
But Harry Styles is, almost literally, a one-man band when it comes to being mobbed by die-hard fans – as his arrival at Los Angeles airport proved on Friday.
The handsome singer was greeted by an army of acolytes as he touched down at LAX and was escorted through the terminal by security.
Read more: Daily Mail
Alexandra Burke dons plunging white dress for New Year’s Eve meal with family and friends… before slipping into a sparkly bodysuit for G-A-Y gig
She’s been masterminding her return to the charts with her long-delayed third album, which is now planned for 2015.
So Alexandra Burke had every reason to celebrate new beginnings as the clock struck midnight, and was fortunate enough to enjoy both a meal out in London and a gig at G-A-Y on Wednesday evening.
The 2008 X Factor winner got dolled up in a plunging white dress with cut-out side panels to dine out at STK Restaurant with a large crowd of family and friends, including her mum Melissa.
Read more: Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE ‘This is my second life’: Olly Murs reflects five years of fame, fortune and finding love with model Francesca Thomas
He’s come a long way since making his first appearance on The X Factor as a brash call centre worker with high aspirations of fame and fortune.
But while he remains true to his Essex roots, Olly Murs admits a rollercoaster five years of prolonged success in the music industry has helped him break away from the comparatively conventional life plan followed by many of his childhood pals in home town Witham.
‘What changed for me was The X Factor and this job, it’s like it’s a second life in way – a fresh start,’ he tod MailOnline ‘When I was 25 my aspirations were to get a solid job and meet the girl of my dreams, settle down and have a family before I’m 30.
Read more: Daily Mail
The name’s Cowell… Simon Cowell: X Factor mogul takes to the Caribbean on a jet-ski… as bikini clad Lauren Silverman enjoys some quality time with baby Eric
He’s currently enjoying a welcome break with partner Lauren Silverman and their baby son in Barbados, but Simon Cowell left his nearest and dearest on dry land as he ventured out for a spot of jet-skiing on New Year’s Eve.
The 55-year-old X Factor mogul looked like an old pro as he powered across the shimmering water during another day of coastal fun as a successful 2014 slowly draws to a close.
Sporting another pair of cheerful Bermuda shorts, Cowell – riding high after helping white van driver Ben Haenow to The X Factor crown in December – was in high spirits, and his chipper mood extended to the numerous holidaymakers apparently keen to have their picture taken with him.
Read more: Daily Mail
The EX Factor: Former judge Tulisa is desperate to get old job back
FORMER X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos spent last week cosying up with Simon Cowell on Barbados to fight for a comeback on the show.
Show boss Simon, 55, is considering a possible return to the judging panel for the controversial singer who was axed in 2013.
Although Tulisa’s camp is playing down a potential return, we can reveal she is desperate to make it happen.
The former N-Dubz singer has enjoyed several conversations with X Factor’s executive producer Richard Holloway, who is also holidaying on the island.
Read more: The Daily Star
_ _ _
Irish Charts
Singles
1 Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)
.
5 Ben Haenow – Something I Need
12 One Direction – Steal My Girl
13 Olly Murs – Up (feat. Demi Lovato)
17 Olly Murs – Wrapped Up (Feat. Travie McCoy)
18 One Direction – Night Changes
21 G.R.L. – Ugly Heart
29 Ella Henderson – Ghost
57 Ella Henderson – Yours
58 Cheryl Cole – Crazy Stupid Love (feat. Tinie Tempah)
71 Cheryl Cole – I Don’t Care
98 One Direction – Where Do Broken Hearts Go
Albums
1 Ed Sheeran – X
.
5 One Direction – Four
8 Olly Murs – Never Been Better
9 Ella Henderson – Chapter One
71 One Direction – Midnight Memories
72 One Direction – Up All Night
77 Susan Boyle – Hope
84 One Direction – Take Me Home
97 Union J – You Got It All
_ _ _
The Official Charts
Singles
1 Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)
.
4 Ben Haenow – Something I Need
6 Olly Murs – Up (feat. Demi Lovato)
8 Take That – These Days
13 Olly Murs – Wrapped Up (Feat. Travie McCoy)
19 One Direction – Night Changes
21 One Direction – Steal My Girl
30 Ella Henderson – Ghost
37 Ella Henderson – Yours
57 G.R.L. – Ugly Heart
71 Cheryl Cole – I Don’t Care
78 Cheryl Cole – Crazy Stupid Love (feat. Tinie Tempah)
Albums
1 George Ezra – Wanted On Voyage
.
6 Olly Murs – Never Been Better
7 Ella Henderson – Chapter One
9 One Direction – Four
12 Take That – III
46 Cheryl Cole – Only Human
48 Union J – You Got It All
68 Susan Boyle – Hope
83 One Direction – Midnight Memories
98 Sam Bailey – The Power Of Love
