IT’S THE FINALE.

I’ve invariably lost the will to blog by the final. Maybe it’s because all the acts I like have usually gone (poor Scottish Adele); maybe it’s because nothing could top Alexandra Burke crying in Beyonce’s face; or maybe it’s sheer exhaustion. So, readers, here are some half-hearted observations about Saturday’s finale (submitted approximately 16 hours too late).

1.  Basically by now we’re all essentially just looking forward to spending our Sunday evening being overly interested in the weekly voting stats. Right? Right.

2. Group song realisation: Amelia needs to join Little Mix. THEN we’d really have a girl group worth shouting about.

3. Marcus’ “Hey Ya” was all kind of mixed. Great song choice; none of the fun irony of the original; it was performed with sheer joy; it seemed a bit like Eurovision. If I’d been in charge he would have made it his own by copying the Will Young version only to erupt into the Outkast original half way through, in a way that didn’t remind everyone of Scooch.

4. Someone in this show is trying hard to put High Wycombe on the map. I once spent a while waiting at its bus station. Actually, that might have been Hemel Hempstead.

5. Little Mix’s “Everyone Loves This Especially Since It Was On Sex And The City” was their best performance yet, even if the production was a steal of Misha B’s brilliant drummer boy “Born This Way”. Strong solo vocals; but they need to harmonise more to really sound excellent.

6. Pringles are amazing.

7. Amelia’s “Ain’t No Other Man” was by far the best performance  of the three: flawless vocals and fierce attitude.

8. I begin wondering if I should start betting on the X Factor and then remember I predicted a Little Mix exit in week one.

9. Gary and Marcus’ duet of “More Than A Woman” was surprisingly understated and good, with clever Gary allowing Marcus to shine through the big notes; Little Mix and Tulisa’s Alicia Keys’ medley was well sung but needed a stand out moment; Amelia and Kelly Rowland’s duet was by far the best, even if it had moments of this.

10. I love Leona and in a parallel universe she is releasing her own original songs as good as “Hurt”. I know, I know, it’s wrong she’s covering this track, but what an absolutely brilliant vocal that was. And I’m a sucker for Buble, especially when singing that Mariah Carey Christmas classic.

11. Amelia was robbed. But didn’t have the time to build up a fan base. Well, Little Mix to win then please.