‘The X Factor’ UK: James Arthur, Jahemene Douglas, Christopher Maloney’s best

Before “The X Factor” UK wraps up for the year with what will hopefully be an epic finale on Saturday and Sunday, we thought it best to take a look back at the entire series in order to try and figure out just what were the best numbers performed by the remaining three contestants over the course of the year. Some of these decisions were easy, while others were like picking the best bar of gold out of a sea of precious jewels.

Christopher Maloney – “You Raise Me Up.” This was actually the easiest decision of the songs here, mostly because it was one of the few times Christopher established himself as someone who could be in the modern music industry. You can say what you will about the tabloid rumors or his relatives voting for him, but this proved that while he may be cheesy, sometimes it can be a very tasty slice of cheddar.

Jahmene Douglas – “Angels.” This, to us, is where Jahmene belongs: in front of a choir, showing off a mix of contemporary pop and soul. He turned a song by Robbie Williams into something that was completely unique, and this is something that he has at other times lacked in the competition. Vocal perfection, friends!

James Arthur – “The Power of Love.” Gary Barlow had it right: this was the performance of the series. Emotional, current, and packed full of passion, this was a slower song that was still so fresh and edgy that it could sell a million copies together. Jahmene and Christopher are both great singers, but James to us is really the only contestant who may go on to be a superstar. This was a close first, as his “Sexy and I Know It” is also stellar.

What was your favorite performance this season? We want to hear from you, and you can read some more scoop on the finale from James over at the link here.

Photo: ITV