‘The X Factor’ UK: Why Sam Smith never wanted to audition

At just age 22, Sam Smith has already become a revelation in the music industry. He has multiple hit songs, Grammy nominations, and is considered one of the best voices to come out of Britain alongside the likes of Adele.

So why did he never consider making it big as a part of a singing competition? They are everywhere in Britain; given that there is a smaller population in the UK than America, it is astounding that there are three annual competitions in “The X Factor,” “Britain’s Got Talent,” and “The Voice” UK.

Speaking in a new interview with the Mirror, Smith explained that his reasoning for not trying out for a show is simple, at least in that he never wanted to become known for singing other people’s songs before his own:

“It was a very conscious decision for me not to audition. It is for people, and it isn’t for people. I feel that X Factor is perfect for singers who sing, and that’s all they want to do. They don’t care what they sing, they just love singing.

“You could sing on a cruise ship or release a cover album, that’s what it’s for. Because when you think about it, every week, that’s what you do. You’re singing other people’s songs. People are judging you on other people’s music.”

There may be some out there who interpret what Smith is saying as some sort of dig at the series, but we don’t see it that way. He may have a very good point. Most of the “X Factor” stars were not known for their writing ability at the time that they were on the show, and many developed that talent later. Many performers just do not have that sort of background, but we feel it is what separates the very good singers these days from the true superstars. You look across the board now at the likes of Taylor Swift, Adele, Smith, and Ed Sheeran, and the reality is that most of them are skilled songwriters to go along with singers and performers.

Is there truth to Smith’s comments in your mind? Let us know in the comments, and head over here to acquire some other TV updates worth singing over via our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ITV.)