Red or Black? - Car Crash Television!

By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

WE ALL know that no-one in life is perfect.  Even the most successful people in television can make mistakes – take Simon Cowell for example.

     He has made his fair share of bad mistakes and decisions – “forcibly sacking” Cheryl Cole from The X-Factor USA, robbing glamorous Lucie Jones of a glittering music career by backing Jedward and hiring bumbling David Hasslehoff for Britain’s Got Talent are just of some of the errors of judgement that he had been put up against in recent times.

DOOMED: Red or Black? was a terrible idea from the start

     Nevertheless, Cowell is always in for the money and with his TV production company, produced a brand new show which aired last week on ITV.  A unique game, stripped across an entire week, in which seven people were given the opportunity to become millionaires, just by being lucky 10 times in a row.  Costing £15 million to produce, the biggest press launch in ITV’s history and a plethora of celebrities helping to decide what fate befall the contestants, Red or Black was ready to roll.  So what else possibly could go wrong?

CONTROVERSY: Nathan Hageman served time, but kept his prize

     Aired across all of last week (bar Tuesday due to England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales), things were initially looking bright, with seven million viewers tuning in to the first episode.  However, that was as good as it ever got.  After the first episode produced a millionaire, in bricklayer Nathan Hageman from Reading, it emerged that he had a criminal conviction after serving five years in prison for ABH (assault and bodily harm.)  The Sun led a nationwide campaign for ITV to strip Hageman of his cash after rules of application for the show forbids anyone from entering with a criminal record.  Three further people who were due to appear in following shows for the live studio rounds were subsequently kicked out after this revelation.  Surprisingly, Hageman was allowed to keep his prize, despite Cowell’s suggestion that it should go to either his attack victim or be donated to charity.

     Out of the remaining programmes, three more millionaires were created.  Intriguingly, no women contestant made it to the million pounds spin which led to some experts suggesting whether the show was fixed in favour of male contestants.  Challenges used in the programme were also complicated and sometimes meaningless.  I mean, since when did starting up a car decide whether you can advance in the game?  The challenges set in Wembley Arena were often impressive, especially one which featured footballers Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas.  Even games held in the live studio were completely way off the scale.  Jenson Button and David Coulthard’s go-kart challenge and a “punch-the-sheet” game featuring Amir Khan and David Haye were really the only games that captured excitement.  The final game before the million pound spin, entitled “Duel,” was also dramatic as it totally proved the theory of luck needed in the game.

     Having the programme itself split into two shows each night was a big mistake as it completely sucked out the tension of the first programme.  The live studio set was a mess, looking more like a giant disused bus stop, rather than a high-class set.  The programme never had any proper introduction/opening titles at all, considering the theme used to introduce the Red or Black wheel onto the stage was very epic and would have made a great opening theme overall.

     Ultimately, the format was a total mess and newspaper critics slated it left, right and centre, with blasted comments including:-

“It’s A Knockout for morons” – Rachel Tarley, Metro

“A sausage factory of sob stories” – Kevin O’Sullivan, Daily Mirror

“The dullest show of the week” – Ken Smith, The Herald

“A spin of a wheel away from total disaster” – Jan Moir, Daily Mail

“It’s so devoid of intellect that it actually sucks nearby intelligence into its vortex.” – Jonathan Liew, the Daily Telegraph

     Viewers quickly agreed with the critics and started switching off in their droves.  Towards the end of the week, BBC One deservedly thumped Red or Black in the ratings with its standard evening schedule.  This proves that Simon Cowell can’t always create a masterclass of show and Adam Crozier, chief executive of ITV, proving once again of his inept ability of keeping full control of the broadcaster all the time.  Come back Michael Grade, all is forgiven!

SORRY: The contestants didn't get a fair crack of the wheel

     Ultimately, the innocent acts in this debacle are the contestants, for bravely deciding to put their faith into the programme, win or lose.  I felt sorry also for the programme hosts Ant & Dec.  It’s not right to blame them at all.  They did the best they could all week and people have got to remember, they didn’t bring their names forward to host the show; it was Cowell’s idea to hire the pair.  It could have been a whole lot worse of course; imagine if Adrian Chiles was employed as host?  The show would have been off the air within days!

     I think it’s safe to say we won’t be seeing an abomination of a show like this again.  Channel Five tried a similar show with Chris Evans in January, ‘Famous or Fearless.’  That was a better show than this disaster and still got axed by Richard Desmond.  Now, whether you want to point the finger at Cowell or Crozier I’m going to blame them both, they’re as bad as each other at the moment.  ITV showed off all week saying they were Terrestrial Channel of the Year?  I must have been living on Mars for the past week!  Add Red or Black to ‘Sing if You Can,’ ‘The Premiership,’ and ‘Shafted,’ in ITV’s growing portfolio of disastrous programmes. 

Four words have to sum up Red or Black? . . . ONE BIG EPIC FAILURE!!!

News Corp takeover sparks legal claims

NEWS Corporation, Rupert Murdoch’s empire faces legal challenges from several companies, after getting permission to fully takeover BSkyB.  BT, Trinity Mirror and the Telegraph Media Group are considering taking matters further in a deal which would see Sky News become an independent news channel.

RELAXED: Jeremy Hunt seems satisfied with News Corp's intentions

     Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has given the go-ahead for News Corporation to go ahead with its ambitious plans.  Under the proposal, Sky News would become an independent public limited company, which would give Murdoch his complete power to fully takeover BSkyB.  Sky News would have an independent board, but News Corp would still retain nearly 40% of its shares in the news provider; the heartbeat of 24-hour news worldwide.  The remaining 60% stake would be owned by BSkyB shareholders.     Hunt has defended the move saying; “I believe that these proposed undertakings by News Corp will address concerns about media plurality.  The undertakings given offer Sky News more independence from News Corporation than it currently has.” 

EXCELLENT: Sky News logo (1994) has provided a brilliant service

     Sky News has been part of the BSkyB family since it launched on February 5 1989.  Had Murdoch not decided to relinquish Sky News, it would have left him with 100% complete control of BSkyB, alongside The Sun, The Times, The News of the World and 20^th Century Fox underneath his News International banner.  By allowing this change, it will give Murdoch the prize he wants more than anything.  Under the new plans, Sky News would have to restructure its news channel, alongside appointing a board of directors and an independent chairman.  News Corp would also guarantee funding for Sky News for the next decade.       

     However, the opposition against this takeover are furious.  They feel the new deal is a complete whitewash.  The coalition government have come under fire from these opponents for their relatively friendly relationship with the Murdoch family, especially as The Sun, the UK’s No.1 selling newspaper is politically supporting the Conservatives.  Ex-BBC board governor Sir Christopher Bland is convinced that the deal would be very bad for the UK media industry.  “The point is that the proposal does not address the fundamental issue, which isn’t about Sky News, which is an excellent service.  The issue, which should be outlined by the competition, is the power News International has over television and newspapers in the UK.”

     Clearance has yet to be fully given though, as these opponents to the takeover have until March 21 to try and changed the mind of Culture Secretary Hunt.  If that process ends up not working out, this could end in a messy little wrangle involving the courts; a process that is bound to drag on and on.  It is safe to say that we haven’t heard the last of this protracted takeover. 

Womack quits as EastEnders baby swap plot is to be cut short

EastEnders actress Samantha Womack, who plays the grieving mum Ronnie Mitchell, is to leave the BBC1 soap in the summer.  The show’s bosses have come under severe fire for its controversial baby swap storyline, and have now confirmed to end the plot earlier than expected after a record number of complaints.

DEPARTING: Samantha Womack is to leave this summer

Womack, who came into the show in 2007 – along with fictional sister Roxy, played by Rita Simons, has had a turbulent time in the Square, but her latest storyline has seen EastEnders move right into the public spotlight.  Her newly born son James was victim to a tragic cot death on New Year’s Eve.  Confused and grief-stricken, Ronnie walked across the Square and swapped her dead child with another newborn Tommy.  Viewers have been distressed to see the emotionally charged which have seen Kat and Alfie Moon, played by the popular Jessie Wallace and Shane Ritchie grieving at the baby’s loss, whilst across Walford, a guilty Ronnie is bringing up their baby. 

The BBC has received 8,400 complaints as of Friday afternoon, which has made it the most complained plot in its 26 year history.  It surpasses the 7,000 complaints received when Ronnie’s daughter, Danielle Jones was run over by Janine Malloy (Charlie Brooks) in April 2009.  The broadcasting regulator OFCOM has received approximately 350 complaints, though it is believed that the media watchdog is unlikely to make an official inquiry into the storyline.  

DEFENCE: Producer Bryan Kirkwood still has confidence in the plot

Ex-Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood, who revived the fortunes of the failing Channel 4 soap between 2006-2009 defended the plot on the official EastEnders website; “EastEnders never sets out to upset its audience - not only would it be counter-productive, it would be a breach of a long-established trust that we can deliver truthful stories that inspire debate in a way that's acceptable to a family audience.  "Although we have had complaints, we have also had positive responses from people who have been through the experiences we are currently dramatising who feel we've done this and have contacted us to offer their backing.

The Sun ran the story of Samantha Womack’s departure on its front page on Thursday, claiming that her reluctance to do the storyline has resulted in her decision to leave the show.  These allegations were firmly denied by Womack’s agent, Michael Wiggs later that day; "There's no truth whatsoever in any suggestion that Sam is 'quitting' EastEnders over the current storyline.  "Sam has had an incredibly happy and fulfilling time on EastEnders over the last few years.  "She has huge respect for the show, writers and producers and has thoroughly enjoyed playing such a complex role that has been involved in so many tough and challenging storylines."

Kirkwood has confirmed that scenes are being rewritten and reshot and the storyline, initially due to run for an entire year, will be concluded soon, possibly even as early as Easter.  He also revealed that there would be a happy ending and that Kat will be reunited with her son.

Personally, the storyline has attracted a lot of criticism and perhaps, EastEnders should have thought about running it, especially at such a highly-charged point of time, such as the happy festive season.  However, it has pushed the soap back into the media spotlight, after playing second fiddle to rival Coronation Street since Barbara Windsor’s tame exit as queen matriarch Peggy Mitchell last September.  By responding to the audience’s widespread complaints, it has managed to salvage some of the damage taken from the storyline and the acting qualities of Samantha Womack, Shane Ritchie, Jessie Wallace and Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) have shone through brilliantly, especially in filming such highly-charged scenes.

Manford quits One Show over sex allegations

THE One Show was plunged into crisis today after the resignation was confirmed by one of its show hosts, Jason Manford.  In a statement released by the comedian, 29 – he revealed his resignation is to do with tour and family commitments. 

RESIGNED: Jason Manford in happier time

However, allegations seem to hint that he has engaged in saucy sex messages with a series of woman over the internet, which he has allegedly confirmed via an interview with The Sun.   Manford was only handed the role to co-anchor the hit BBC show, following the departures of Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles to ITV.  His last appearance on the show came on Wednesday night, with Chris Evans standing in last night, alongside Welsh presenter Alex Jones.  It is believed that Manford’s resignation comes through with immediate effect.

Jason’s Twitter account has been suspended and there is talk that his role as a team captain on the Channel 4 panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats is also in severe jeopardy.  Manford has allegedly told The Sun of the details of how far these encounters went; "We would start off flirty, then innuendo and then a bit saucy. They were moments I thought 'I shouldn't be saying that'.  "I went on Skype with a few girls. They also sent pictures on Twitter.  It all happened on tour."

The BBC confirmed that they had accepted Manford’s resignation and will begin talks over a full-time replacement in the near future for the stand-up comedian.  Steve Jones, who is leaving T4 after Sunday’s T4 with the Stars extraganvanza, is amongst the favourites, along with Matt Baker, Richard Bacon and Tony Livesey.  Bookmakers Paddy Power are also giving odds of 16/1 for Chiles to come back to the broadcaster, at least on a short-term measure, especially if the doomed breakfast show, Daybreak gets the axe.  For now, guest presenters are expected to fill the role.

FUNNY: On his stand-up tour, can Manford's career survive

Manford insists that his marriage will overcome this flaw, and it needs with his wife pregnant with a third child.  He isn’t the first and won’t be the last celebrity to be caught in this embarrassing situation and as much as his creditability has been damaged, his respect for owning up and stepping down before getting sacked might just about salvage his career in the future.

The Independent Launches Spin-Off Paper

LAST Tuesday saw the launch of the new daily national newspaper for the first time in over 25 years.  Despite the wave of electronic technology, that has restricted the role of a newspaper impact in recent times; the Independent has decided that there is room for more newsprint in this world.

The new paper has simply been called i.  All the articles from this paper will come from its parent source, but they will be shorter and carry a far more populist approach.  With the Independent’s daily circulation dropping well below 200,000 readers, some are saying that this is a desperate last throw of the dice by its under-fire owner.  Unlike the Evening Standard and Metro newspapers, those who want to read i will have to pay 20p.  This could be seen as vital revenue for its Russian owner Alexander Lebedev.

This daily newspaper will be 56 pages in length, and is the first paper to be launched in a generation.  The last were The Independent itself and Eddy Shah’s Today newspaper, both born in 1986.  Despite its early success, Today disappeared in November 1995 and with the Independent having changed its strategy on several different occasions in the last twelve years, it seems to indicate the newer newspapers simply can’t last with the established generation, such as The Sun, Daily Mirror and the Daily Telegraph. 

This gamble could pay off, but if it doesn’t work off, then the Independent doesn’t have a Plan B and could well totally disappear off the market.  Then again, if i becomes very popular and starts taking readers away from the parent version, then it could make things even worse for the Independent.  Whatever way you look at this, it is a brave and bold gamble, one that looks incredibly risky, especially in this economic climate. 

News of the World Heads Down The Online Charging Route

Following the successful changes to the Times’ website and the charging for online content this summer, News International are spreading their wings further, with the announcement that the News of the World will go down a similar route from the beginning of October.

Some sensationalist exclusives in recent years have rocketed up the popularity of the News of the World, as it is now the biggest-selling Sunday newspaper in the UK.  Its trend follows off the Sun, which is the biggest-selling daily newspaper in Britain.  To continue accessing the website, readers will be charged £1 a day, or can sign up to a four-week subscription for £1.99.  To go along with the new charge in income, the NOTW website will get a complete new look, with the aim on providing the stories quicker as they matter to the general public.

The editor of the News of the World, Colin Myler has backed the idea, calling it a “significant change in the newspaper’s history, for the right reason.”

"The paid site makes the most of our heritage, presenting our unique content with a real focus on exclusive video and pictures,"

The News of the World has broken the stories of the John Higgins alleged snooker match-fixing, the shamed Pakistan cricket players caught also under a match-fixing storm during their recent test series in England, and the shaming of England striker Wayne Rooney’s private activities.  It becomes the third partner in the News International Corporation to go into a subscription-based format, following The Times and Sunday Times announcement back in March.  You must feel that The Sun will go a similar route rather soon, as could Sky News award-winning website.  I’m not a fan of paying to view news content, but if it’s a working profitable gain for the global corporation, then they are always going to continue with the successful experiment.  Let’s see what developments will happen in the coming months involving News International’s dealings, because it could be very interesting.

The X-Factor - Where Are They Now? (Part 1)

THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN BY MY BROTHER, JASON WRIGHT

BY JASON WRIGHT

The X Factor, widely regarded as Britain’s biggest and best talent TV competition, returns for its seventh series on Saturday.  Since its launch back in 2004, it has become a national phenomenon and is always a Saturday night (and from last year, also a Sunday night) ratings banker for ITV1.  Last year’s series attracted a record series average of over 15 million viewers, including a peak of 20 million for the finale.

As the new series draws closer, I will be taking a trip down memory lane to look at how previous contestants have fared since making their appearance on the show.  This first of two blogs looks at 12 acts that didn’t win the show outright but have either gone on to enjoy success or be consistently in the public spotlight.

G4 (Series 1 Runners-Up, 2004)

This quartet of male vocalists may have lost the first series final to Steve Brookstein but there is no denying that they were the true winners of that year’s competition.  There debut album reached number one in the albums chart and their lead single from the album, a cover of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ went on to strike the top ten in the singles chart.  The group split in early 2007, citing disagreements over their record company, about their UK tour schedule.  Group member Jonathan Ansell has since had a successful solo opera career.

Andy Abraham (Series 2 Runner-Up, 2005)

Originally a binman from North London, he won over thousands of fans in the second series and was rewarded with second place.  His debut album reached number two in the charts but since then, nothing has gone right.  A last-gasp effort to revive his career by appearing as the UK’s entrant at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest failed thanks to the domination of tactical voting by Eastern Europe in the competition.  He is now beginning a new life as a property developer.

Chico (Series 2 5th Place, 2005)

The real joker of the pack in series 2, he became well known for his catchphrase ‘It’s Chico Time’ which became the title of his first single which reached top spot in the charts.  Since then, he has become more of a children’s entertainer, regularly appearing at Butlins holiday parks, and still is today.  He also competed in the failed ITV2 reality series CelebAir in 2008 and was one of a dozen people to release an unofficial anthem for the 2010 World Cup called ‘It’s England Time’.  Needless to say, it failed to chart in the top 100!

Ray Quinn (Series 3 Runner-Up, 2006)

This young Liverpool lad was already a star by the time he entered the show in 2006, having starred in the Channel 4 soap Brookside.  Critics wrote off his chances before the live finals, but he soon got them on his side and reached the final.  Despite his one and only album not being as successful as he hoped, he has gone on to be a success in the West End, appearing in shows such as Grease and Dirty Dancing.  In 2009, he appeared in Dancing on Ice and turned it into a one man competition, finishing top of the judges’ leaderboard every week.

Rhydian Roberts (Series 4 Runner-Up, 2007)

His operatic voice in series 4 made him the hot favourite to win; in fact some bookmakers had begun paying out to punters on the night of the final.  Then he lost to underdog Leon Jackson and the controversy began, several people claiming ITV had fixed the voting which was strenuously denied.  This allegation led to ITV now publishing voting statistics for every reality show after the series end.  Despite being beaten at the last, his debut album went platinum and his second the following year sold more than 100,000.  Earlier this year, he left his record company, the full reason of this has yet to be established.

Same Difference (Series 4 3rd Place, 2007)

Written off by everyone before a note was sung in the live finals but it turned to be completely the opposite for this brother and sister duo from Portsmouth.  Louis Walsh couldn't stand them them but the public loved them and voted for them to get to the final.  A record deal was sealed, but several rescheduling issues over their debut single and album was to be the ultimate downfall.  Neither reached the top 10 in 2008 and they were swiftly axed.  Like Chico, they’ve have now resorted to the Butlins tour circuit.

JLS (Series 5 Runners-Up, 2008)

There is some debate as to whether Alexandra Burke or this four-piece group were the real winners of The X Factor 2008.  Most believe that it is JLS and the evidence is simple.  They have scored three number one singles, two BRIT awards, two MOBO awards and several marketing deals.  They are also due to begin a career in the US next year.  On the basis of that, it shows that some acts don’t need to win the show to be rich and famous.

Diana Vickers (Series 5 4th Place, 2008)

A girl that well and truly split the nation with her “unique” voice.  But love her or hate her, she just couldn’t be ignored, and at one stage becoming the favourite to win.  In the fifth week of the competition however, she had to withdraw because of a throat infection and then literally battled as far as she could afterwards, finally succumbing at the semi-final hurdle.  Since her rollercoaster appearance, Diana has had a successful stint in the West End and this year, returned to the music scene with a number one single and album.  Whatever you’re views are on her, everyone has to admit that she is an act that is here to stay for quite sometime.

Laura White (Series 5 8th Place, 2008)

Before the live finals, the girls category was looking to be the one to beat and this 21-year old was tipped to be the favourite.  However, something didn’t gel in the live finals and Laura was booted out on week five.  Her exit prompted outrage.  Facebook petition groups were set up, calling for her reinstatement and Louis Walsh, who had the casting vote that night, to be sacked.  A subsequent Ofcom investigation cleared ITV of vote fixing and Walsh then made the grave mistake of going public with his comments on blaming the viewers for her exit, rightfully being heckled by the studio audience throughout the following week’s programme.  Laura has since gone onto release a single but her early exit from the show hampered any chance of being successful.

Olly Murs (Series 6 Runner-Up, 2009)

This wasn’t the first time this Essex lad was on TV.  He took part on the Channel 4 show Deal Or No Deal in 2007…and won just £10!  In the live finals, he won everyone over with his regular upbeat performances and rightfully reached the final two.  In the final, he became great mates with Robbie Williams and their performance of ‘Angels’ is widely regarded as one the best moments in X Factor history.  Williams invited him to play in this year’s Soccer Aid charity football match and Olly is now set on releasing his debut single, ‘Please Don’t Let Me Go’ later this month with an album to follow shortly after.

John & Edward, a.k.a. Jedward (Series 6 6th Place, 2009)

In a mild context, these identical twins from Dublin raised a lot of eyebrows in the sixth series.  When Louis Walsh was revealed as their mentor at judges’ houses, they became a dead cert to be in the final 12. They were despised by the public left, right and centre…and Simon Cowell, who famously described them as “vile, little creatures” and that he would be on the next plane out of the country should they win.  The twins courted massive controversy in week five when Cowell chose to save them instead of ditching them and their luck finally ran out a fortnight later.  Since their appearance, Jedward earned themselves a number 2 hit with their take on the Queen song ‘Under Pressure’, mashed together with ‘Ice Ice Baby’.  Following this, they were dropped by Sony, only to be snapped up 24 hours later by Universal and worse is to come, they have there own television show beginning on ITV2 next week.  Anyone with a nervous disposition should look away now!

Lucie Jones (Series 6 8th Place, 2009)

The 2009 series once again boasted a very strong girls category.  This time it was this beautiful Welsh teen who was leading the pack.  After a solid, if unspectacular, first three weeks of performances, she really came into the competition in week four.  However the following week, she ended up in the bottom two with Jedward and when Simon Cowell made the shocking decision to let the public vote determine the elimination, the twins’ growing popularity with the public sealed her fate.  Lucie's fans slammed Cowell's decision and slowly boycotted the show.   The Sun, a popular newspaper for the programme, labelled Cowell as THE MOST HATED MAN IN BRITAIN and even later reported that he had been sent death threats over the vote.  Cowell eventually apologised to the public over his decision.  Following her shock exit, the 19 year-old has signed a deal to become a fashion model and more recently, is performing in the West End.  Even though we may not see her now enter the world of music, her future is still definitely bright.

These 12 acts are just handful of contestants that have shown you don’t need to win The X Factor to either launch a career or earn a bright future ahead.

Coming up soon is part 2, focusing on the previous six series winners.

The Times Goes Subscription Based - Is This The Future For Online Journalism?

As news broke on Friday of News International’s latest monkey-making scheme, there are many questions that have been raised by Rupert Murdoch’s decisions, which is risky to say the least.  From June 2010, The Times and The Sunday Times Websites will go subscription-based.  Online viewers will have to pay £1 a day or £2 a week to access the news stories from their sites.

Both newspapers feel that the decision they’ve made was inevitable, largely thanks to the consistent fallings in newspaper reading circulation and the rapidly growing competition from the Internet.  What it does give is a possible outlook to how online journalism may operate in the future.  Competitors such as the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail have already voiced their concerns over this latest development, both thinking that there is a major danger that the Times may price itself out of the online market. 

To date only specialised papers like the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal charge consumers to view their online content.  Therefore, this is a risky strategy, as The Times is such a popular source for hard-hitting news stories.  James Harding, the current editor of The Times has admitted that this move might not work out, but is confident that the behaviour of people on the Internet will change, so consequently, the switch will be made for the better.   It will leave people with food for thought, whether they want to pay the pound to access The Times’ website, or look at similar articles for free on competitor’s websites, such as The Guardian, The Independent or the Daily Mail. 

Murdoch has taken some major gambles in the past, but by being a successful media mogul, most have paid off, such as the launch of BSkyB in February 1989.  He insists that for quality journalism, free doesn’t work anymore, especially with the falling newspaper sales.  There is an also strong possibility that Murdoch’s other newspapers underneath his News Corp empire, The Sun and The News of the World may end up going to a subscription based website.  The next few months for the entire journalism field will watch with waited breath to see whether this gamble will pay off, with either winning results or an experiment that won’t go up successful avenues. 

Helping Haiti - A Worthy Cause

The debates can rage on about the subject, but as long as it is giving to the people who need it the most, the sufferers in Haiti, then that’s the most important thing.

Having bought and listened to the single, I would agree that this isn’t the strongest charity single I’ve ever heard, certainly nowhere near the famous 1984 hit ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas,’ which raised millions for the dreadful famine conditions in Ethiopia.  However, sometimes we must put musicality aside to see what the real story is.

The people of Haiti need all the support they can get, following the devastating earthquake, which struck just under a month ago.  Many survivors are battling against the elements, still in urgent need of aid, such as water and food to stay alive, and in a country so poor as Haiti, there is always the risk of disease setting in.  Therefore, everyone needs to give and donate as much as they can to help these unfortunate people who do not deserve what they are going through.  The emotions are still running along, and although it’s not so much a feature on news broadcasts, we must not forget those who need your support.

Together, Simon Cowell and the Sun newspaper have teamed up for a real charitable course.  The demand of artists who wanted to get involved in the single just shows how much dedication there is in the music industry, to human causes. In the end, cuts had to be made – as there weren’t enough lines for everyone to sing a cover version of R.E.M’s 1993 hit ‘Everybody Hurts.’  Cowell’s choice in song is a bit odd, it doesn’t really go with the cause, but nevertheless, it is still a powerful effort from everyone, despite it lacking the obvious feeling and musicality of the original version.

Twenty-one artists feature on the single, including Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, Alexandra Burke, Cheryl Cole, Susan Boyle, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Joe McElderrey and Gary Barlow.  Like mentioned earlier, it doesn’t have the voices of the original, but sometimes that doesn’t matter, especially for these worthwhile causes.  This is not a money-making exercise, it’s another source of income for the people of Haiti and I encourage everyone to download or buy the single, because it is going to a worthy cause, not Cowell’s back-pocket, as some music people have suggested.  I also must ask about musicality and what would you buy?  This version of ‘Everybody Hurts,’ is a decent attempt and wins hands-down over Jedward’s horrific cover of Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ice, Ice, Baby,’ which quite frankly, a bunch of primary school students could do better.

It may turn out to be one of the weakest No.1’s of the entire year, but already a million downloads have been purchased in just over twenty-four hours – so it will be amongst one of the fastest singles of all-time.

To sum it up, this is a ‘must-buy,’ for a worthy cause.  Let’s not forget, the people of Haiti need all the help and hope they can get in such a depressing situation.