Lloyd Daniels

What a turn around for Lloyd Daniels tonight. He sang in tune (mostly) and looked comfortable on the stage for once.

Once again, Cheryl Cole chose another song that suited his voice perfectly. They should’ve been doing stuff like this with him from the start. The only problem is that his voice is the weakest part of the mix.

Louis: Round 1, you kind of won me over. It just didn’t look like you were having a good time, and it was just a bit karaoke for me.

Dannii: Lyrically, you’re still proving a point there. A fantastic production. Vocally, it is still shaky, but better than the first song.

Simon: I thought that was a silly song choice. That retro routine didn’t suit you, it didn’t suit the song. It was like something from an amateur dramatics production. Cheryl, you are a pop star, you understand what’s right for the artist, what’s right for the song.

Tonight Cheryl Cole chose Take That's 'A Million Love Songs for Lloyd Daniels.

It was a safe enough tune for him with not too many nasty high notes to trip him up. The song actually worked  – no big performance, and a cutesy vocal that’s going to appeal to his teenage fanbase and the odd mother out there who wants to pinch his cheeks. No, not those cheeks…

I’m going to say it…this was probably his best vocal performance of the competition so far. Is he another stealth contestant, because he’s been steadily improving over the last couple of weeks.

Louis: Lloyd the thing is you are in the final five, so obviously people like you more than I do. I think the song suited you better than last week.

I was fully expecting Lloyd Daniels to murder this classic Queen song, however I was pleasantly surprised tonight. Lloyd looked 100% more comfortable on the stage, his vocals were stronger than before and there was actual animation on his face. The teeny and Welsh vote will be out in force tonight!

Judges Comments

Dannii Minogue: I think you’ve now arrived – that was your best performance. Louis: It was so much better than last week.

So full points to Lloyd Daniels for trying. His performance of the Katy Perry track 'I Kissed A Girl', was certainly more interesting than his other wishy washy performances to date.

However....his vocals were weak and his tuning was a problem. I know the teenies will have loved it but it just wasn't good enough!

Dannii: You are the heart throb here. It was a great performance, but your voice was drowned out by the track.

Louis: Lloyd, when I said I’d put you in a boyband, that was a compliment. The theme this week was rock and you sang a pop song. You cheated a little there.

Simon: What was good about tonight – it was a quirky song, it made you relevant. The vocals at the start of the track were actually pretty bad.

Cheryl: You took a great risk and – shut up you two – every teenage girl is gonna be wishing you were singing that about them.

So Cheryl gives Lloyd Daniels 'Fly Me To The Moon' and Simon Cowell just happens to single that track out as the one he shouldn't attempt. Staged much?

Lloyd looked uncomfortable in the white waistcoat get up and he sounded uncomfortable singing songs that were written decades before he was born. He was weak, in every area. The vocals weren't up to scratch, the stage presence wasn't there and a backflip? In Big Band week? Really?

Judges Comments

Louis: I’m a big supporter of yours and I know big band isn’t your thing. I think as a solo artist you’re a bit lost.

Dannii: Totally disagree. I think that was good entertainment. There was a point halfway through the song where you started to feel comfortable, and I know it wasn’t your strength.

I didn't much like Lloyd Daniels alternative version of Leona Lewis's Bleeding love. I hope she isn't listening tonight, getting hit in the face is enough for any girl to deal with, without having to hear someone murdering your song.

Lloyd is a wee cutie and obviously winning all those hormonal teen votes, however for us adults he is a bit bbbbboring! Lloyd cleverly played to the lower part of his range, staying in the safe zone and not trying any vocal gymnastics. However the performance was flat and though Lloyd has a nice voice, like Lucie Jones, he has no oomph or vibrancy.

Disappointed again!

Judges Comments

Cheryl – I will take full responsibility, (cries, Lloyd hugs her) I hope I haven’t let you down.

Ohhh scary VT. He can't hit the high notes when he sings for Robbie Williams and he can't master the dance routine for Brian Friedman. Not a good start for Lloyd Daniels.

Lloyd walks onto the stage and he looks so cute that it hardly matters if he can sing or not, the teenies will be voting for him in their thousands anyway.

Louis called him a born popstar....uh oh....he wants him for Westlife! But for once I'd agree with Louis, that song was way too big for Lloyd. He was helped by the very overpowering backing track and I couldn't actually hear if he hit the high notes over the backing singers. But it was nowhere near as good as Justin....

Judges Comments

Louis – You are a born pop star. I do think the song was far too big for you. You didn’t get the high notes but who cares, you’re a born pop star and you can only get better and better.

So Lloyd Daniels is definitely the teenage choice for this years X Factor and I'll be very surprised if he doesn't make it through to next week's live shows.

Thankfully, unlike some of the other young men that have appeared over the years, Lloyd can actually sing! Go figure.