When it comes to predictions, the best people to ask always were bookies. The accuracy of their predictions is very closely connected with their profits or loses. So what do they think about the upcoming first Polish X-Factor final?The TV show enters its most important point this week: on Sunday, 20:00 CET the first of seven final episodes is going to be shown live on TVN (a Polish TV). The jury last week chose 9 finalists from three categories that each one of them had control of: under 25, over 25 and groups.
During each of the seven concerts that will take place now, one competitor will have to be eliminated – the participant will be chosen among the two who finish the particular episode with the lowest number of votes and in a special playoff where they sing an extra song, gets the lower score than his opponent did. The last three competitors left in the show will then fight it out in a grand finale.
It is still a long way to go, but the bookmakers already have their picks. Who are their favourites?
(The number you see next to a person’s name are the odds. For example odds of 6.60 mean that with every 10 dollars spent on that person you win 10 dollars x 6.60 – if you are right, that is. The people with the lowest odds are the biggest favourites.).
1. Ada Szulc (2.65)
The top favourite is only 21 years old. She studies pharmacy and is a music school (class of violins( graduate. She sings with the group Chilitoy, whose newest video you could have seen on our website last week. If the X-Factor website tells the truth, her favourite artists is Rihanna. Below is her version of Cindy Lauper's "Time After Time".
2. Gienek Loska (3.25)
Closely behind her, a 36-year-old… busker. Well, not only a busker, but anyway a man who loves music so much that you can meet him every so often in Wrocław’s market square, with his guitar and characteristic voice. Very charismatic and loved by the fans as he already left one program of this kind, because the producers wanted him to sign a exclusiveness deal. He declined, left and came back strongly this time with fans applauding him like a superstar during each casting. Often compared to the legend that was Czesław Niemen.
3. Mats Meguenni (7.00)
A 23-year old student, who came to Poland from Norway to study medicine in Cracow. A son of musician, for the last few years used to work in pubs during holiday to make his living. Now his seems to have a good shot at 100.000 PLN (the show’s main prize).
4. Michał Szpak (8.00)
Only 20 years of age, but he has been singing since he was 9. Never had a proper musical education, he’s self-taught. Likes to experiment with mixing his singing, dancing and stage image during his performances. Below is his cover of ”Purple Rain” (and a little bonus from the bootcamp challenge).
5. Avocado (10.00)
Those five guys (aged between 31-42) really like to experiment with creating music without any instruments. Not affraid of beatboxing they’re inspired by bands like Take 6. A short performance below.
6. William Malcolm (10.00)
25 years old, Malcom is of Scottish-American descent. Frontman of the Timmy and the Drugs groups. Likes to mix up a bit of classical music with electro or any other kind of music you’re not expecting him to mix it with. Also: works in a music theatre in Gdynia and loves comic-books.
7. Małgorzata Szczepańska-Stankiewicz (12.00)
This 49-years old primary school teacher is among the underdogs to win the show, but might just have an outsider’s chance. Works with elderly people giving them free singing lessons. Thinks that the most important thing in her performances is her contact with the audience. ”Music is my everything, my cure” – she says before the performance posted below.
8. The band ‘Girls’ (18.00)
A duo playing accoustic music. The girls (29 and 30 years old) like to play with the lyrics and add animations to their performances. Their style is said to be something circulation round blues, babriba jazz and rock’n'roll. They-are-(not)-family.
9. Sweet Rebels (100.00)
Now, if you know something that the bookies do not know, put your money on them! You’ll win a hundred times more than you’ll put in. The group (five girls aged 22-27) is strong technically: every female in it has graduated from a music schhol and all of them are dance instructors. Is that the unlikely X-Factor?
- the round up was prepared by Adrian Fulneczek
Source : PolishSound
Additional changes in the article and the video choice made by Arno.
So what do you think about our contestants, do you agree with the predictions that the odd-makers have made?
