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How to watch X Factor UK from outside the UK?
You can watch X Factor live, online. ITV streams the show through the ITV Player. However, ITV blocks viewers from outside of the UK. To get around that, you need to use VPN connection. If Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is your preferred browser, install Hola extension and set them to UK server. Then open the ITV Player, make a free account and pick the right channel. The player will ask you for a ZIP code. Find an active UK ZIP code HERE. Make sure you have the cookies enabled. You can also try to find a working ITV stream on MyiPlayer.com, TVPC.com or FilmON.com.
The X Factor airs tonight at 8:00pm BST (9:00pm CEST, 4:00pm EDT, 1:00pm PDT) on ITV 1 (100min).
It’s Girlband vs. Boyband week and we are down to 8 acts. Louis says no one knows this theme better than him.
Dermot and his dancers dance to songs of Girls Aloud and One Direction. The judges walk on stage to the tune of Spice Girls.
Dermot opens the vote. Matt Terry is opening the show, 5 After Midnight are closing it.
Matt Terry – I’m Your Man (Wham!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLzw8UpzDYI
We see him do a press interview and show plenty of charisma. Then we see him go to a club with friends where he gets plenty of attention from females.
Solid pop vocals. He makes it look effortless. It’s no wonder why TPTB want him to win. He can sing and is very good looking. He has it, it’s that simple. I wish he did better song.
Louis says he liked it, but didn’t love it. He says the performance was a bit karaoke for him. Sharon loved it. Simon says this was the first time he said he didn’t like “I’m Your Man”. Simon loved it, he brings up Olly Murs. Nicole brings out her cheerleeding act.
We see a picture of Louis with Westlife, Sharon with Black Sabbath, Nicole in Pussycat Dolls and Simon with One Direction.
Simon is dedicating the next song to Louis, who managed Girls Aloud for a while.
Sam Lavery – I’ll Stand by You (Girls Aloud)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUfz1gVFZiI
She went to a Rebecca Ferguson gig and gets some advice from her. Sam wasn’t feeling her original song choice. I wonder what it was.
For the performance she gets a mic stand on a low platform. She has plenty of vocal problems, but at least Simon didn’t try to turn this song into a pop rock ballad. The second part of the performance was really nice with the key change.
Louis says she seems happy to be there and says this was one of her best performances. Sharon points out her sadness and Sam says the song is making her emotional. Nicole isn’t sure this was the right song choice for her. She says Sam is only 17 and singing too many serious songs. Meanwhile, Simon thinks the song was perfect for Sam.
Honey G’s mother is in the audience. Dermot brings up the “Granny G” pictures from Instagram.
Honey G – Jump (Kris Kross)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkIS55wk8aU
She saw Kris Kross in concert as a teenager. Haters are not bringing her down. Honey G visits kids in primary school. Kids question her authenticity, but she says she is not an actor.
The performance features plenty of flashing lights and jumping Honey G.
Louis says she smashed it and that this was her best performance so far. Nicole says Honey G brought the house down. Simon says “this is why the show is called the X Factor”. She says she is fun, believable, etc. Sharon says she is happy for Honey G and that she is looking forward to a Honey G album.
Most of the viewers would like Nicole in their band.
Ryan Lawrie – Twist & Shout (The Beatles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgvAEZm2y64
He was in the bottom 3 for the third time in a row last week and he is wondering if he is doing something wrong. He isn’t doing anything wrong, he just isn’t good enough. He struggles in rehearsal with Nicole and she is giving him a hard time.
Tonight they set him up with a backing band and he is actually sounding good, but the backing track is also partly downing him out.
Louis didn’t like the song, but he liked his attitude. Sharon asks him if he really let go tonight and says she wants more enthusiasm. Simon disagrees with Sharon and says Ryan isn’t a moaner and is working hard. Nicole says he sounded good on this song.
4 of Diamonds – Hold On (Wilson Phillips)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-9vFhGOJhs
After surviving the sing off last week they got a lot of abuse on the social media. This really brought them down. Later Jasmin gets a nice video from her sister and her schoolmates.
The girls deliver a nice inspirational and stripped down performance.
Nicole loved the song choice and says the girls really shined this week. Sharon also loved the song and says the performance was beautifully done. Simon says it was a brilliant song choice and says this was their best performance on the live shows. He says they need to show more confidence. Louis says he is really proud of the girls.
Saara Aalto – Sound of the Underground (Girls Aloud)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHWVbGUOhdE
During the week Simon asked her why she applied for the British XF. She says she had trouble building a career in Finland because she is different from everyone else, but she says she is getting support now.
Saara gave the song some oriental flavour. I’m not sure this cultural appropriation will go over well with the people. Saara is certainly giving it her all.
Louis loved the performance. Nicole says the performance was outrageously bizarre. She didn’t like the song because it goes nowhere. Simon says it as fantastically nuts. He says she is becoming stylists puppet.
Emily Middlemas – What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcb5LqbtO3c
She went to the “Pride of Britain” award show this week. She is dedicating this song to her mother.
The pop smash got the signature Emily treatment: it was slowed and stripped down. This trick got old weeks ago, but Simon is still pushing it every week. I’m not sure why they put the butterflies in the background.
Louis calls the performance “amazing” and says we found a star. Sharon says it was a beautiful song with a beautiful production. Nicole compliments Brian Friedman’s work. Simon says it was “beautiful, magic”. She thinks she got it “right”.
5 After Midnight – Say You’ll Be There (Spice Girls)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChokaHHYkYg
Gifty’s departure last week really shook them. They had trouble picking song for this week. Louis is surprised by the song choice, but likes the rearrangement.
Wow, this is a good one. Really, the boys picked the right song and made it their own. And for a change they aren’t dancing. Standing ovation from all 4 judges. 5AM really deserved the pimp spot tonight.
Nicole calls the performance a “complete game changer”. She can’t stop raving about it. Sharon says everything about the performance was “right”. Simon says the boys “landed” tonight. He says everything came from them. Louis says it was absolutely amazing.
Robbie Williams and Emeli Sande are performing on the X Factor tomorrow night.
