WATCH: Louis Tomlinson debuts single ‘Just Hold On’

Holding back emotions over his mother’s death, Louis Tomlinson performed his debut single, “Just Hold On,” on Saturday at X-Factor UK.

The former “One Direction” crooner teased his new single, a collaboration with Steve Aoki, and wowed the X-Factor judges and audience in the same stage where his talent was discovered six years ago.

“Oh, until it’s all been said, it’s not over until your dying breath,” Tomlinson recited. “So what do you want them to say when you’re gone? That you gave up or that you kept going on?”

His performance received a standing ovation from the show’s panel of judges that included his former manager, Simon Cowell, who praised Tomlinson. “I respect you as an artist, I respect you as a person,” Cowell said. “Your mom was proud of you, Louis, and she was looking forward to tonight.” Tomlinson is grieving over the death of his mother, 43-year-old Johannah Deakin.

On Twitter, he thanked his family and supporters for their non-stop encouragement. “This was harder than I imagined. I want to thank everyone around me and all of the amazing fans out there that made me so special,” he said. Daily Mail reported that Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan were present at the show to cheer for their former band mate. Though absent, Zayn Malik shared his support through a Twitter post on Friday.

@Louis_Tomlinson love you bro! All of your family is in my prayers. proud of your strength and know your mum is too x

— zayn (@zaynmalik) December 9, 2016

That was harder than I ever imagined. I want to thank everyone around me and all of the amazing fans out there that made that so special!

— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) December 11, 2016

Feeling so much love around me and my family . Mum would have been so fucking proud ( sorry for swearing mum 😝 ) love you !

— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) December 11, 2016

Tomlinson is rearing his infant son, Freddie, whom he fathers with Californian stylist Briana Jungwirth.  Gianna Francesca Catolico

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Edgier sound for One Direction

It feels like it’s been ages since guest judge Nicole Scherzinger came up with the wild idea of forming a boy band out of some of “The X Factor UK’s” male solo contenders, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik—who, as a group called One Direction, ended up placing third in the finals of the popular talent search in 2010.

Fast-forward three years later: The boys are now global superstars, and Harry has just become Taylor Swift’s latest ex—and, reportedly, next object of musical inspiration (and derision)!

Musically, however, they’re taking another step in the right direction: “Midnight Memories,” the pop quintet’s third album, debuts on top of the Billboard 200 this week—making 1D the first group since The Monkees (in the late ’60s) to reach No. 1 with its first three albums!


Pop-rock coating

The repertoire’s pop-rock coating—from the relentlessly catchy carrier track, “Best Song Ever,” and the rousing arena dazzler, “Midnight Memories,” to the grungy number, “Little Black Dress”—makes the boys seem older, edgier and more in-charge (they cowrote a good number of the tracks).

You’ll get a kick out of spotting “Diana’s” melodic parallels to The Police’s “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” the subtle harmonies of “Story of My Life,” and Zayn’s sublime high notes in “Right Now” and “You & I.”

Unlike many young acts these days, One Direction is in no hurry to sound more mature than they are. For the most part, the lyrics are alternately simple, insubstantial, straightforward or arbitrary—but, there are tunes (“Half A Heart”) that will make you sit up and go hmm!

But, the boys aren’t ready to alienate their young fans—so, part of their hefty lineup includes tunes with a tweener-hooking sensibility.

They’re served well by their sturdy pipes and talent-search-honed musicality: It’s hard to resist the accessible rock sheen of “Better Than Words,” the folk-pop smolder of “Through The Dark” and “Happily,” and the thematically wistful “Something Great”—then, judge for yourself if it was indeed written by Harry for Taylor Swift!

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

'X Factor' the musical to hit London stage in 2014

LONDON - Creator of "The X Factor", Simon Cowell, has given his approval for his hit TV singing competition to head to the London stage.

Syco Entertainment, Cowell's joint venture with Sony Music, is teaming up with Stage Entertainment UK to bring a musical based on the TV singing contest to the stage next year, the partners announced on Friday.

The show, to be called "X Factor - It's Time To Face The Musical!" will hit London's West End theatre district in early 2014 with its creators calling it an "affectionate poke" at the hugely successful TV show created by Cowell.

It is being written by British comedian Harry Hill with music from Steve Brown and will be directed by Sean Foley.

Production company Stage Entertainment UK, behind such hits as "Oliver!", "Hairspray" and "Singin' in the Rain", said in a statement that the new musical would follow the fictional character Chenice on her unlikely journey to stardom.

Described as "the only girl in the world who has never heard of The X Factor", she stumbles across an audition queue with her talking dog, an incident that changes her life forever.

Cowell has made a fortune from "The X Factor" and similar television talent shows, and is also a household name in his native Britain and the United States for appearing as the acerbic judge on several of his shows. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com