The X Factor UK 2011 - Wembley Final

TEAM GARY BARLOW
1. Marcus Collins - Hey Ya (Outkast)
An odd choice for a competition like this, given the lack of, well, singing. The falsetto was competent, but not the most pleasant sound. He did a decent job, but it's not a song that requires great vocal dexterity. Great staging though. A plane! A plane!

TEAM TULISA
2. Little Mix - You've Got The Love (The Source feat Candi Staton)
Adopting Misha B's military beats, the girls deliver a surprisingly good vocal. The arrangement did feel a little stiff, going nowhere fast, but a decent start, the girls certainly put on a show.

TEAM KELLY
3. Amelia Lily - Ain't No Other Man (Christina Aguilera)
She delivered with a real confidence and sounded incredible, especially given it's Xtina's song against which to compare.

TEAM GARY
4. Marcus Collins & Gary Barlow - She's Always A Woman (Billy Joel)
Their voices blended rather nicely, and I quite liked that Marcus was the one doing the vocal upstaging. Aww, wasn't that sweet?

TEAM TULISA
5. Little Mix & Tulisa - If I Ain't Got You/Empire State of Mind (Alicia Keys)
Their harmonies have never been better. Perhaps Tulisa deserves more credit than she gets. If N-Dubz split, she at least has a fall-back.

TEAM KELLY
6. Amelia Lily & Kelly Rowland - River Deep, Mountain High (Tina Turner)
Another great blending of vocals, great song choice too. They truly brought out the best in each other.

Blimey, these mentor duets really are rather good. All three have been flawless. I can't call it.

RESULTS
It's goodbye to Amelia Lily.

7. Marcus Collins - Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson)
Marcus redoes his favourite previous performance. Personally, I'd have gone for his awesome INXS/Stevie mash-up. Still gagging to get my hands on that single. This was alright. Great tune, great voice, great performance. But the kind of thing that Olly did, and ended up second place.

8. Little Mix - Don't Let Go (Love) (En Vogue)
I'd have opted for E.T., but this was their best vocal previously and they did it well again. I do wish the performers would pick slightly more obscure songs like this, it'd take the karaoke element out of the show a bit more.

9. Marcus Collins - Cannonball (Damien Rice)
So the rumours were true. The exceptionally dull Cannonball has even chosen as the winner's song. And even with the trademark X Factor stop, doosh, key change... it's still dull.

10. Little Mix - Cannonball (Damien Rice)
Yay, we get to hear this snoozefest twice. Actually, Little Mix have changed it up a bit, giving it an acapella intro and tweaking the arrangement slightly. God damnit, they've done a Leon Jackson on me. Just as he unexpectedly out-performed the superior Rhydian, so Little Mix have out-performed the superior Marcus.

(Several guest stars later... Well, Coldplay)

The winner is... Little Mix.
I can't help but feel an entire nation say "whatever" before changing the channel. If they don't, they get to hear Cannonball again. Oddly, the singing continues as normal once the girls are swamped by former contestants. Hmmm...

Well, for literally the first time ever, I have no intention of buying the winner's single. Little Mix would have had a recording contract even had they come second, but Marcus? I'm not so sure. Hopefully Gary Barlow will have some sway and help him out. Let's just hope he doesn't give the same kiss of death he's given to the careers of Matt Cardle, Ronan Parke and Westlife.

See you in 2012, no doubt.