Bleeding Love - X Factor and Talent Shows
While the stars of TV talent shows may come and go with alacrity, it could be argued that the new democracy of phone voting keeps alive the punk ethic of 'anyone can do it'.
Britain's music scene is at an interesting juncture in the second decade of the 21st century. On the one hand technology is changing the rules of how a band interacts with its audience and how it supplies its music to that fanbase. Yet that same technology has also destroyed a band's traditional form of income: selling CDs. So, in a sense, music is now paradoxically both more and less popular. On the one hand, fewer people are actually buying music, and yet it's ubiquitous: in shops; on mobile phones; online and on TV, especially prime-time weekend TV where programmes like X-Factor, The Voice and Britain's Got Talent dominate the ratings wars.
The talent show is nothing new to the British audience. Opportunity Knocks debuted on radio in 1949, then appeared on TV in 1956 where it came and went for three decades. But when the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ revived the show for a final run in 1987, the Beeb's decision to use a telephone voting system created the format we still watch today (prior to this, rather sweetly, the audience was invited to post their vote in).
Leona Lewis' number one single, "Bleeding Love", is a perfect example of the modern hit. Sung by an X-Factor winner, it was not only the biggest selling single in the UK in 2008, but it was the biggest selling worldwide, hitting number 1 in 34 countries. But both song and performer had the advantage of being exposed on national television to an audience of millions. The talent show has given us an insight into the spectacle of creating a star from scratch. It's thrilling entertainment, a large slice of human drama complete with tears and triumph, adversity and audacity, and one that we can have a hand in shaping.
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Clip
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The People's Songs - Episode 34 Preview
Duration: 01:53
Music Played
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Leona Lewis
Bleeding Love
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Ed Sheeran
The A Team
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Bryan Adams
Heaven
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U2
Even Better Than The Real Thing
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Mary Hopkin
Those Were The Days
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Steve Bent
I'm Going To Spain
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The Fall
I'm Going To Spain
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Power Rangers
Power Rangers
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Tom Jones
Listen To The Music
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Leona Lewis
Bleeding Love
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Adele
Someone Like You (Live Recording)
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One Direction
What Makes You Beautiful
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Susan Boyle
I Dreamed A Dream
Share your comments and stories
Your contributions will play a key part in this episode, take a look at the questions below and :
- Are you a fan of the TV talent shows... if so, what appeals to you?Β Β
- Do TV talent shows make the music business more democratic as ordinary people get their say?
- Have you ever taken part or been tempted to take part in a talent show?
- Do these shows actually keep the punk flag flying in that βanyone can be a starβ?
You can
or read about
Broadcasts
- Wed 21 Aug 2013 22:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2
- Wed 23 Nov 2016 23:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2
Song Profiles
Read the stories behind featured songs, listen to & watch related clips & cover versions!