One Direction? That Direction is Up

I've read somewhere that Simon Cowell is going to give One Direction a record deal whether they win the X Factor or not.

From what I see, hear and read, this new boyband are seriously popular. As I've said before, I can see why - they're very young (closer to teenage girls' age than say, The Wanted), they're cheeky, they're wild, they're alpha males, and they can sound out a pretty ok tune together ...

But isn't this just turning into a farce now? Why not just proclaim them winners right here and now? Or if they're that popular, have them withdraw from the competition and have their record deal without going through the formality of winning?

Whatever the situation, these guys are seriously lucky. Good enough to make it to bootcamp, but not good enough to continue, but not bad enough to be dropped, what were the chances they would have even dreamed of being thrown together in a boyband with four other strangers, the chances that they'd actually get on, or sound well together, or the chances that they've grabbed the public's imagination like they have ...?

Perhaps I'm a bit bitter here. Life is a bit too easy for these boys. Sure, they might work hard at what they do - but who doesn't work hard? It all just seems a lot that not only are they insanely popular but are now even immune to the competition of winning the show, because they may as well have won it already. What value does winning the show have now, if people are assured of having won something equivalent already?

That world of showbiz is too cruel. We have Simon Cowell practically shoving a contract in One Direction's hand, whilst the other finalists are still left nervously waiting as to what their future will be ... and it all depends on the X Factor.

But now One Direction have gotten so big that they no longer need the very show that has made them, whilst Diva Fever, John Adeleye, Nicolo Festa and Storm will all probably have it as the highlight of their careers. Yet for One Direction, it's just the beginning (and they don't even need to win it).

One final rant. I've nothing against the boys. But one of them, Zayn, threw a paddy at bootcamp and refused to take part in the dancing task for fear of looking stupid. Now safely in the band, I'm of the opinion he should've been eliminated for throwing the paddy, so that his place could have been given to someone who would have gladly done anything that is thrown at them.

I guess that's what they call Showbiz.

That's showbiz.