The X Factor Allstars

The 12th season of The X Factor starts on August 29th (also that is my Dad's birthday!). I can't deny - I love The X Factor! I am a fan of both live performances and cringe worthy auditions (plus I also believe Simon and I are to one day destined to be a power couple). This year there are a few changes, it is goodbye to Mel B, Louis Walsh and Dermot O'Leary, and hello to Rita Ora, Nick Grimshaw, Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.

I sometimes don't agree with who should make the live finals, there is always a Gamu or Jade Richards left behind - but more often than not the judges get it right. So as I do I have created a top 10 list of my favourite (and lets face it, everyone's favourite) X Factor contestants.

10. Rebecca Ferguson
Favourite Performance - Make You Feel My Love

9. One Direction

Favourite Performance - Torn

8. Diana Vickers

Favourite Performance - Man In The Mirror

7. Janet Devlin

Favourite Performance - Your Song

6. Ella Henderson

Favourite Performance - Believe

5. James Arthur

Favourite Performance - Make You Feel My Love (w/ Nicole Scherzinger)

4. Cher Lloyd

Favourite Performance - Stay

3. Alexandra Burke

Favourite Performance - Listen (w/ Beyonce)

2. Leona Lewis

Favourite Performance - I Have Nothing

NUMBER ONE

LITTLE MIX

Favourite Performance - Don't Let Go

Of course these four talented Queens are my top pick. Every week they shone, every week they were the highlight and god damn it every week was Little Mix week(except week one, when it was Rythmix week - remember that?). There is a reason why they are the only band to ever win The X Factor! This is something that can't be duplicated, they are pure magic (I know this was a perfect time to say 'Black Magic' but I don't know if that would sound a bit racial). Perrie, Leigh-Anne, Jade and Jesy are my top X Factor picks!

I HATE CHRISTMAS SONGS!

So its the beginning of December and of course every radio station, music channel and shopping establishment think there is only one type of music we want to listen to - Christmas songs! I may be a one man army when it comes to my hatred of christmas songs and for that I apologise, but as soon as I hear Noddy Holder scream 'IT'S CHRISTMAS' I can feel my eyes just roll into the back of my head. 

I understand people's love for them, they are happy songs that remind us of this great time of year. It's just I don't choose to listen to them. This will be my 25th Christmas that I have experienced and just for once I would like to not be slapped in the face with them. I work in a restaurant so of course all the other music has been shunned for the christmas cheer. I wouldn't even mind if we had a new bunch of christmas songs to enjoy, but we don't. We get the same ones again and again. Every 'Top 20 Christmas Songs' on the music channels is the same 20 songs. 

However, me being me, I do enjoy a bit of hypocrisy and there is some Christmas songs I do not hate.

• Mariah Carey 'All I want for Christmas'
• Danity Kane 'Home For Christmas'
• Destiny's Child '8 Days of Christmas'
• Boney M 'Mary's Boy Child'
• Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson 'Winter Song'
• Britney Spears 'My Only Wish'
• Greg Lake 'I Believe in Father Christmas'

My all time favourite Christmas song is by Jackson 5. 'Santa Claus is coming to Town' will get me in the mood for yuletide celebrations.

One thing that irks about some christmas hits is the songs that aren't actually about Christmas. You pair any random, slow, romantic song with a winter themed video and BAM you have a Christmas song. Every year they are brought back and we accept them as christmas songs. For example - 

• East 17 'Stay Another Day'
• S Club 7 'Never Had a Dream Come True'
• Spice Girls '2 Become 1'
• Gary Jules 'Mad World'
• Every X Factor single

I don't mean to spread hate especially within the season of joy its just they really bother me, there is no other type of music we are forced to listen to straight for a month or two. And in all honesty do you like Christmas songs? The last Christmas song to get to number one was in 2004 with Band Aid and before then it was 1990 with Cliff Richard! I am however excited to hear Leona Lewis' and Kelly Clarkson's Christmas albums though - their voices slay me.