"Lisa Adams the Last Word" (California Chronicles)

By Lisa Adams

AS THE race for the Christmas No.1 kicks off, X Factor winner Matt Cardle is the hot favourite to scoop the top spot.

It's obvious to anyone who owns ears that rival finalist Rebecca Ferguson was robbed.

If it was a competition based on pure talent then the 24-year- old mum-of-two from Liverpool would have sent Matt packing. He'd have been pulling on his painter/decorator overalls again and offering to do up Simon Cowell's latest London pad for a discountin a flash.

I think Rebecca lost because she lacked the raunch factor.

It's deeply depressing that in 2010 there are such double standards on Britain's most popular television programme.

Shabby Matt romped home despite spending the majority of the contest in a dodgy hat and taking to the stage in the final with the most lurid luminous yellow trousers imaginable.

And the message was loud and clear to young women everywhere: To stand a chance of making it as a female pop star in today's world, you have to take your clothes off.

No wonder the show inspired a flood of complaints from viewers to telly watchdog Ofcom. Platinum-selling singing sensation Christina Aguilera burst on to our screens wearing virtually nothing during the X Factor final. Dressed in a black, low-cut dress,she turned heads with a racy routine that was entirely inappropriate pre- watershed.

As Christina cavorted with her backing dancers in G-strings to promote her new film Burlesque, married men all over the country quietly choked on their beers baffled that soft porn had just entered their living rooms.

I was hugely relieved that my six-year-old daughter was already tucked up in bed. But many more girls who rate the X Factor as their favourite show would have witnessed it.

It's even more incredible that the show was repeated at 9.30am on Sunday morning. Multi-million-pound selling female artist Rihanna, who sang with X Factor winner Matt, didn't do a lot for feminism either.

The 22-year-old Umbrella singer stripped down to a pair of knickers, fish-net tights and a bra as she gyrated on stage.

Her dramatic striptease revealed the most startlingly beautiful pair of toned thighs but what was that really Her dramatic striptease revealed the most startlingly beautiful pair of toned thighs but what was that really saying about her new hit What's MyName?

Robbie Williams, on the other hand, strolled on to stage looking effortlessly cool in jeans.

Dirrty singer Aguilera and Rihanna should take some tips from a true diva, Aretha Franklin. The 68-year-old queen of soul, who sadly revealed that she is Dirrty singer Aguilera and Rihanna should take some tips from a true diva, Aretha Franklin. The68-year-old queen of soul, who sadly revealed that she is fighting pancreatic cancer, has won 20 Grammys, had 20 No.1 hits and was the first female to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

A music legend, her song RESPECT became an anthem for wronged women everywhere.

And in my book, respect starts with keeping your clothes on.

(c) 2010 Daily Record; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

"JMU-Journalism.Uk"

Rebecca Ferguson’s dream of a singing career started to turn into a reality for the Liverpool student, as her soulful voice earned her a place in the X Factor live shows.

The single mum of two from Anfield was the first girl to get picked by Cheryl Cole to go through to the live performances stage of the competiton, making the final 12 from 200,000 applicants.

Rebecca was the only girl at the judges' houses stage who had not yet met her mentor Cheryl, as the Girls Aloud singer had missed her Manchester audition as she was ill with malaria.

Before Rebecca perfomed Cheryl said: “So me and you haven’t met. I’ve watched your tapes and I feel really happy to have you here.”

The Scouse beauty then sang Owl City’s 'Fireflies' and blew both

Cheryl and Will.i.am away. The Black Eyed Peas singer was

assisting Cheryl to pick the finalists at a mansion in Ascot.

Will.i.am said: “She has a superstar voice. She’s timid and she

keeps looking down when she sings, but she’s great.”

The shy singer admits that she struggles with nerves and that her

confidence was knocked when she fell pregnant with her two

children, Lily May, 5 and Karl, 4.

When Cheryl sat Rebecca down to tell her the amazing news that she was through to the live finals, she said: “It feels like there’s no confidence there, there’s no eye contact, no belief and it’s a major issue, But I think I can bring your confidence out in you... I’m going to take you through to the final three.”

The 24-year-old, who was studying to be a legal secretary at Bootle's Hugh Baird College, burst into tears and promised that she would “try” with her confidence.

Rebecca will enter the first of the X Factor live shows for the final 12 next Saturday on ITV1, along with Cheryl’s other two selections for the girls category, 17-year-old Cher Lloyd, and 24-year-old Katie Waissel.

Simon Cowell will mentor the groups, Louis Walsh is the over-28s' champion, while Dannii Minogue is hoping for an X Factor victory from her boys' category.

Original Article Posted by: JMU Journalism.Uk

"Liverpool Echo Users Show Support for Rebecca"

LIVERPOOL ECHO.CO.UK users have been showing their support for X-Factor hopeful Rebecca Ferguson.

gweedo wrote, "She was first class, hope she goes to the final and wins."
dogleash added, "She did Liverpool proud. I really liked the 'Billie Holiday' look and the way her voice was all about the music and not just showing off like most, if not all of the morons on the Cringe factor.

"She has too much class for that kind of show and I'm sure that many of dummed down, brain dead viewers wont get it.

"Good luck and thank you Rebecca you have a beautiful voice."

standupguy said "This girl was great,her style,her look, her attitude and most of all her voice.

"I hope she keeps it up and manages to go all the way, remember you don't have to win this to be a star - let's support her."

fisticuffs wrote, "What a stunning beautiful young lady very well spoken too delightful voice a real good advert for Liverpool - I hope she can go far"

Original Article Posted by: Echo.Co.UK

Rebecca Liverpool Law Student

Rebecca Ferguson Single mum of two from Anfield got three 'yes' votes from the panel with her emotional rendition of the Sam Cooke song 'A Change Is Gonna Come'. X Factor judge Simon Cowell told her: "Potentially, you have an incredible voice. Your voice is absolutely on the money right now. And I like you.”

He also warned the shy 24-year-old that she needed to overcome “a confidence issue” after she struggled to make eye contact with the judges or the live audience in Manchester.

Rebecca revealed that she suffered at the hands of bullies in her school days, and she feared her singing dreams were shattered when she first fell pregnant as a teenager.

“I was bullied as a kid because my family were poor and I never had the right clothes or toys,” she said. “I used to walk home from school crying because of all the bullying. But through everything singing was

my only escape.”

Mum to five-year-old Lily May and four-year-old Karl, Rebecca admits she was once a “cocky” kid who thought she was “the bee’s knees” and it was only when she became pregnant with Lily that she worried

her singing career was at an end.

She added, before breaking down in tears: “When I fell pregnant everyone just said 'your life’s over, you’re never going to become anything'. I started to think, ‘Well, maybe I won’t be able to become a singer’. I lost my confidence a lot, to be honest.”

Rebecca said she had only ever dreamed of being a singer, but had decided to study law at college to educate herself as a back-up plan. “I thought I need to have something steady and stable for the kids,”

she explained.

Cowell and fellow judges, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger, were charmed by her singing, despite a nervous audition. Guest judge and Pussycat Doll singer, Nicole, said: "Rebecca, your voice really moves me and I love to listen to you."

Her fan base is already growing, with a Facebook page packed with comments about how well she performed. One supporter, Claire Louise, shared the sentiments of many when she wrote: “Love her voice and she is making Liverpool really proud. You go girl, win the show... you’re already a star now.”

Even top celebrity blogger Perez Hilton featured Rebecca on his site: “She is very sweet and there is an innocence to her which is very endearing. She instantly reminded us of Leona Lewis.”

Rebecca is now up against the rest of the hopefuls from across the UK and beyond who passed the live audition stage. All of the singers are vying to become the 2010 X Factor winner, earning a lucrative recording contract, and a shot at having the Christmas number one.

Original Article Posted by:@jmu-journalism.org.uk

"The X Factor's Family Secret"

The X Factor' hopeful Rebecca Ferguson kept her audition a secret from her entire family. The 24-year-old brunette - who had failed to get through to the boot camp stage of the ITV1 show in the past - admitted she thought her chance was over and so avoided telling her loved ones she was auditioning so not to get their hopes up. She explained: "My family have been behind me all the way. They have so much faith in me. I really struggled after not getting through to 'The X Factor' in the past. But my family all saved up and chipped in for me to fly to New York for five days to audition for P Diddy's 'Star Maker'. It cost about £1,500 in total, which to me and my family is a huge amount of money. Unfortunately, I didn't get through that audition either. "I really thought my chance was over, so when I auditioned for 'The X Factor' this year I didn't want to tell anyone because I didn't want them to think, 'Oh, here she goes again'." The pretty brunette - who wowed judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger with a rendition of Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' on last night's (18.09.10) show - explained singing was her only solstice when she was bullied as a child. She added to the Daily Star on Sunday newspaper: "I used to walk home from school crying because of all of the bullying. But through everything singing was my only escape. Looking back I think kids avoided me because I wasn't the same as them because I was mixed race. "But now I finally feel on top again. I feel like I have got back the confidence to follow my dream."

Copyright (C) bangshowbiz.com 2010.

"Struggling with Confidence"

In an interview with The Daily Star Ferguson admitted that her self esteem problems arose from a difficult childhood.

She said:

“I have always suffered from lack of confidence and haven’t had the easiest of childhoods. “I was bullied as a kid because my family were poor and I never had the right clothes or toys. “I used to go to a decent school but only had one or two friends because I didn’t look like the rest of them. “I used to walk home from school crying because of all the bullying. But through everything singing was my only escape.”

The Liverpool girl, who is mum to Lilly May, 5, and Karl, 4, added:

“Looking back I think kids avoided me because I wasn’t the same as them because I was mixed race.“Then when I got pregnant I got down. My body changed and I felt like my life was over really. “But now I finally feel on top again. I feel like I have got back the confidence to follow my dream. “I want to be able to give my kids the things I never had. They are my life and priority now.”

Original Article Posted by: UnReality TV @www.unrealitytv.co.uk

The Audition

The 24-year-old battled with nerves to put on a brave performance at the Manchester X Factor auditions, impressing judges with her rendition of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come.

The single mum-of-two, who got through to the bootcamp stages of the talent show, said she auditioned to make Liverpool and her children proud of her.But, despite praising her singing, judges Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger picked up on the fact she didn't 'connect' with the audience while performing, highlighting her shyness and lack of self-esteem.

'I wanted the kids to see me do well and be a better role model,' she told the Liverpool Echo.The Scouser added: 'I want to be a good role model for Liverpool. Some people have a bad impression of the city and I want people to see we are nice people. I do not want to let the city down.'

Rebecca has dreamed of having a singing career for years, but she said being a mum to five-year-old Lillie May, and Karl, four, has had to be her priority.

She previously auditioned for The X Factor but was unsuccessful. This year, she decided to give it another go, saying she would have to rethink what she wanted to do if she didn't get through again.


Original Article Posted by: Mirror Co Uk@www.metro.co.uk

"Rebecca Ferguson 10-1 to Win XFactor"

By Derek McGovern 25/09/2010

About five years ago I wrote on these pages, Crash at 10-1 for Best Picture is the best bet you'll strike.

Crash did win the Oscar but I was still wrong. The best bet you will ever strike is Rebecca Ferguson at 10-1 to win this year's X-Factor.

With the looks of an angel and a voice sent from heaven, it's a surprise to learn the 23-year-old Scouser has two young kids. At 23 most Scouse birds have at least four.

But on Saturday she restored faith in womanhood 20 minutes after that unspeakable orange thing from Wakefield had destroyed it.

Rebecca oozed star quality from the moment she hit the first note. Singing that ode to vending machines, A Change is Gonna Come, she was a cross between Sade and Nina Simone.

Most blokes laugh at the idea a voice can move you - unless it's Madonna's, which moves me into the next room - but the young mum's performance brought a lump to the throat each time I watched it this week, mainly because I missed all the 16-1 available about her on Sunday.

Guest judge Ms Pussycat Doll was mesmerised. She hasn't been so mesmerised since she saw Lew's bank statement.

Rebecca WILL be in the final 12, by which time she'll be about 4-1. At 10-1 she's the bet of all-time.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JOHN SHAW

Original Article Posted by: @www.mirror.co.uk