‘The X Factor’ UK final preview: Should Reggie ‘n Bollie or Louisa Johnson win?
Today is the show that so many “X Factor” fans have been waiting for, and also one that could shape what viewers in Britain truly care about the most: A great singer, or great entertainment.
In terms of a story, we cannot imagine a better one than the showdown between Louisa Johnson and Reggie ‘n Bollie. In one corner you’ve got the show’s longtime favorite, a teenage singer with a huge voice that, with the right people around her, could become a big star in this industry. Comparisons to her own mentor Rita Ora are understandable, as are comparisons to Christina Aguilera. For Louisa, personality is somewhat of the weak point, given that we really do not know a whole lot about her beyond what we see on the surface. She’s given more of the ordinary-teenager, discovered-out-of-nowhere story that we’ve seen so many times before.
If you want a winner who truly represents what many singing competitions are about — quality singing — then what other direction can you take here?
As for Reggie ‘n Bollie, the two bring something that few acts do this far into the competition: Silly fun. They make you want to dance, sing along, and have a good time. They at one point were not even expected to make the live shows, but we feel like their rendition of “What Makes You Beautiful” really changed the entirety of their career. They went from being also-rans to beloved, and they followed that up with a series of other great performances. Teaming up with Craig David, they had probably our favorite duet.
So what’s the disadvantage? As likable and fun as they are, neither Reggie nor Bollie can really sing. They use backing tracks much of the time, and may not appeal to older viewers who don’t like music with free rhymes and driving beats.
In the end, we think Louisa will win, but maybe it’ll be closer than anyone things.
Who do you think should win tonight? Vote in the poll below, and head over here to get our take on yesterday’s show! Also, you can sign up over here to get some other TV news on everything we cover, sent right over to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ITV.)