Sunday, 8 September 2013

Comeback kid Melanie McCabe sails through to X Factor Boot Camp... but Dolly Rockers' dreams are left in tatters

The agony and the ecstasy: Comeback kid Melanie McCabe sails through to X Factor Boot Camp... but Dolly Rockers' dreams are left in tatters

PUBLISHED: 21:17, 8 September 2013 | UPDATED: 22:28, 8 September 2013

It was the week of the comeback kids for Sunday night's episode of The X Factor.

And while some contestants dreams were left in tatters as they were told they wouldn't be progressing any further in the competition, other aspiring singers saw themselves come one step closer to their hopes of worldwide super-stardom.

After auditioning on four previous occasions, Melanie McCabe was giving her X Factor dream a final shot, before calling her singing career quits.

FOURTH time lucky! Melanie McCabe was delighted after sailing through to X Factor Boot Camp on Sunday night's show

The 19-year-old student explained just how important getting through to Boot Camp was this time around, with her family about to lose their home.

She explained: 'Singing is the only thing I've ever been good at. I feel like the person I'm supposed to be when I sing. I can't even put into into words how much it means to me.

'My family have been so supportive to me over the years, we don't have a lot of money at the moment and we're losing our house at the moment. I feel like everything is falling down around me.

The 19-year-old student explained just how important getting through to Boot Camp was this time around, with her family about to lose their home

Singing for her life: The Irish teen dazzled the judges with a heart-warming rendition of Titanium

'This is my last go at X Factor; I'm singing for my life, basically.'

Receiving a standing ovation from the Arena audience after performing a heart-warming rendition of Titanium, Melanie received four enthusiastic yes votes from the judging panel, Nicole Scherzinger, Gary Barlow, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh.

Sharon said: 'I don't know what went on with you and this show before, I wasn't here and I don't care. I think you're sensational.'

Gary added: 'You're a great vocalist and you have a great stage presence. You knocked it out of the park today.'

Thrilled: Melanie received four enthusiastic yes votes from the judges, Nicole Scherzinger, Gary Barlow, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh

Talented teen: The student couldn't believe her luck as the entire arena audience got up on their feet to applaud her

Nicole enthused: 'You have a great voice and effortless control. Beautiful job today. Her voice is limitless. This is her time now.'

Louis concluded: 'I wanted you to be so good today and you were sensational. I think you're a star, and it's not just because you're from Dublin.'

Melanie later explained: 'I felt so much pressure this time, it really was my last chance. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my whole life.'

Last chance saloon: Melanie admitted she was ready to give up her dream if The X Factor didn't work out this time around

Third time lucky: Jade Richards also got through to Boot Camp after three attempts at the competition

Jade Richards, 23, who has appeared on the ITV1 reality show for the past two consecutive years, also sailed through to Boot Camp with four yes votes, despite being told she needed to work on her performance skills.

Explaining just how nervous she was, the unemployed singer said: 'It's just a big deal coming back for me. I can't believe I cried so much, I was so emotional because it was such a reassurance that I was doing the right thing by coming back.'

Gary said: 'Jade, I think you're a fantastic singer but there's no climax to your auditions.'

Comeback kid: Jade performed a faultless rendition of Amy Winehouse's Back To Black

Work to do: The judges told Jade she needed to connect more with the audience

Unsure: Gary told the other judges he felt that Jade lacked passion

Sharon added: 'There's no passion, there's no fire inside you. You disconnect from the audience.'

Gary later commented: 'I feel like some of them have demons from where they went out last time and can't get beyond it.'

But it wasn't a case of third time's a charm for everyone who was returning to the competition, with Dolly Rockers breaking down in floods of tears as they were sent home without getting through to Boot Camp.

Gary said: 'You needed to make drastic changes to be even close, girls. We needed it 30 seconds ago.'

Sharon quipped: 'This contest is going to eat you up.'

Tipped for success: Girlband Dolly Rockers were also hoping to impress after auditioning for a second time

Devastated: The girls were left inconsolable after the judges told them they hadn't made it through to Boot Camp

Not this time: Sharon told the group the competition would eat them up, as they weren't up to the standard of the other contestants

It wasn't just previous hopefuls who dominated Sunday night's show, with a number of first-timers also taking to the stage for their second round of auditions.

Shelley Smith, 34, wowed the judges with her flawless rendition of Nina Simone's classic Feelin' Good.

Explaining how difficult it was to go back to her day job as a van driver after her first successful audition, Shelley said: 'My first audition was just amazing, it was what I wanted and what I dreamed about. Going back to work was a bit of a comedown, I was in my van covered in grease.'

Working the crowd: Bubbly Shelley Smith, 34, wowed the judges with her flawless rendition of Nina Simone's classic Feelin' Good

Impressed: Scoring a resounding four yes votes from the judges, the panel gushed over the bubbly blonde's immense talent

And the aspiring star's seven-year-old daughter, Madeleine, has high hopes for her: 'I think my mum's the best singer in the world and I want her to win The X Factor so she can buy lots of puppies and a swimming pool.'

Scoring a resounding four yes votes from the judges, the panel gushed over the bubbly blonde's immense talent.

Nicole said: 'Now that's a Pussycat Doll if ever I saw one. That song was perfect for you, as this is a new dawn and a new day for you, my love.

Daily grind: Shelley admitted going back to her job as a van driver had been a struggle

Mum's the word! Shelley's family waited patiently backstage as they heard the judges' verdict

Sharon added: 'Shelley, you are so sassy! Do you have a date? You should be going out tonight and celebrating. Fabulous performance.'

Louis gushed: 'You had everyone in the arena on your feet, you're not just a singer, you're a performer.'

Meanwhile, Gary concluded: 'It's effortless for you, you just throw the vocals out there and the place is on its feet.'

Yodelling teen Barclay Beales also impressed once again with a unique rendition of One Direction's What Makes You Beautiful.

Watch out, Harry Styles! Yodelling teen Barclay Beales also impressed once again with a unique rendition of One Direction's What Makes You Beautiful

Whoever knew yodelling could be so sexy? Nicole was up on her feet like a shot as the talented teen took to the stage

Thrilled: Nicole couldn't hide her delight as she whooped the aspiring star on from her seat

After getting up on her feet to boogie away, Nicole said: 'I love a good yodel. It's super-dooper hard and technical, but you make it look easy.

Although Sharon said: 'I don't want you be a gimmick so you need to back it up with the voice. You have to promise to work on those vocals.'

Louis added: 'I think you have star quality, with or without the yodelling.'

Euphoria Girls were slammed by Gary for their brand of energetic pop and sent home, while Birmingham-based housekeeper Relley Clarke scraped through by the skin of her teeth.

Teen idol: Louis told Barclay he thought he would be a star

Proud as punch: Barclay's dad looked thrilled as he hung out backstage with host Dermot O'Leary

Impressed: Nicole praised Barclay's technical ability as she gushed over his yodelling skills for a second time

Sharon said: 'That was a weird song for you, I think you're capable of much better.'

Gary added: 'The reason we're on this panel is because we see potential in people, and I can still see a good singer under there.'

One of the most moving performances of the night came from 18-year-old supermarket worker Abi Alton, who impressed the panel with a touching self-penned song.

Awkward! Dermot visibly cringed as he heard the judges slam Euphoria Girls while standing beside their friends and families

Fail: The energetic quintet were slammed by Nicole, Sharon and Gary, but Louis told them he thought they were 'fun'

Speaking before her audition, she said: 'It was really overwhelming, it was amazing to get the feedback I got off Gary.

'Since my first audition, quite a lot of things have happened in my life and that's what my song today is about. It's a really personal and emotional song about a boy who broke my heart.'

Looking utterly amazed as the arena audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation, the talented teen was left in floods of tears on stage as the panel delivered their verdicts.

Gary enthused: 'Lovely, that. Very nice. There was a really magical moment just then, it was like your dreams coming true in front of your eyes. What an incredible audition.'

Only just: Birmingham-based housekeeper Relley Clarke scraped through by the skin of her teeth

A helping hand: The aspiring singer was comforted by a friend after being told her song choice was 'weird'

Sharon added: 'It's answered the question as to whether you'd translate in a big arena and you got a standing ovation. I love you very much.'

Fighting back the tears herself, Nicole said: 'I just think you're so courageous. Thank you for sharing it with all of us today. You, little angelic songbird, you.'

And despite being unsure the first time around, Louis commented: 'I wasn't sure about you the first time around, I was wrong.'

The X Factor returns for another round of auditions next weekend.

Talented: One of the most moving performances of Sunday night's show came from 18-year-old supermarket worker Abi Alton, who impressed the panel with a touching self-penned song