Journey South

Journey South

Andy and Carl from Journey South reached the final of X Factor in 2005 and went on to have a half a million selling No.1 album. Their second album ‘HOME’ is in the shops now. Here are their opinions on last Saturdays show.Carl – Well my final 3 prediction was right on the nail.Andy – I have to say though, I know you predicted it a few weeks ago, but no-one would have said from the original auditions that Same Difference would have been in the final.Carl – I know, I think that Simon believes there could be a market for them and he will probably be right. Their song choices for Saturday were good and they’re clearly aiming at the Steps or S Club cheesy pop market.

“I was pretty shocked that Niki went, although I didn’t think she performed as well as she has been doing for the whole serie”

Andy – Yeah I suppose there’s not much like it around at the moment, so Simon will think it’s a gap he can fill.Carl – You really feel for them at this stage though. Niki looked to me like she expected it. I cringe for them when they’re waiting to know who is safe. It brings back so many memories.

Andy – Yeah, the sense of dread is quite overwhelming. I was pretty shocked that Niki went, although I didn’t think she performed as well as she has been doing for the whole series. Maybe the nerves just got the better of her.

Carl – Nerves and the choice of songs I think. I just thought the Whitney song was too big for her. I think her voice is fantastic. It would be good if she got to release an album.

“I’m thinking that Leon could actually win the final. I think he’s getting more and more confident ”

Andy – I’m not sure that she will get a record deal, maybe if she’d have come third it might have been more likely. Although, she could end up on the west End like Brenda, which is still a great career, one way or the other she won’t be going back to being a dinner lady.

Carl – I suppose it depends if someone in the music business feels she might sell albums or not. I remember with us, we didn’t know we would get a record deal, we just went home that Christmas thinking it was all over. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

Andy – I know, I remember that Christmas trying the feel grateful for the experience but feeling dead gutted that it looked like the dream was finished. After the high of the show I remember feeling so down.

Carl – Yeah then after Christmas the offers came flooding in. the whole experience is an emotional roller coaster. I feel for every one of them at this stage.

Andy – I’m thinking that Leon could actually win the final. I think he’s getting more and more confident and for me now, he’s the one that looks like a star. I thought ‘the very thought of you’ was his best performance yet and I didn’t understand Simon’s comments at all.

“ I know this series has had a lot of slagging off in the press, but I think next weeks final will be really good ”

Carl – Yeah it was a good performance but I still think Rhydian to win. Danni seems to have calmed down with the over the top gimmicks and his vocals have been stunning and both of his songs on Saturday were note perfect.

Andy – I know this series has had a lot of slagging off in the press, but I think next weeks final will be really good and not the one horse race it looked a few weeks ago.

Carl – I agree. I’m really looking forward to the final and I’ve heard that the winner will be doing a version of a Mariah Carey song. It will be interesting to see what Same Difference do with that.

Andy – I don’t think it will be an issue as I honestly don’t think they could win it, they’ve been lucky to get this far. Although it is hard when they pick songs that might suit other peoples voices better, as I can’t imagine Leon doing Mariah Carey either.

Carl – Yeah, remember our version of ‘That’s my Goal’?

Andy – Yeah, Simon loved it and said at the time it was the version he would like to release.

Carl – He might have just been saying that because he was our mentor, so had to be seen to be on our side.

Andy – No it was true, our version was brilliant. I’m going to go and dig it out and have a listen.

Carl – So to conclude then, your money’s on Leon and mine is on Rhydian.