The X-Factor

Our dreams have been shattered; our eldest son is never going to win the X-Factor.  Why?  Because he was the only one out of the school choir that wasn’t invited to sing at the school concert next week.

Harsh?  Yes, I agree…but I can also see his music teacher’s point.  He came home from school yesterday, understandably upset that he had been left out when he’s been going every day and singing his little socks off.  I don’t like to see any of my children upset…and yet I’m not deaf, either.

He told my husband and I of his rejection as we sat eating together and we exchanged a glance of understanding over Josh’s head, whilst simultaneously telling him that he can’t be good at everything and not to worry about it, he can still carry on singing because he enjoys it…just not in the choir.

Josh came to the decision (with a little encouragement) that he doesn’t want to go to practice anymore anyway and asked if I would let his teacher know so he didn’t get into trouble for not turning up.

After speaking to his teacher this morning, however, I’ve realised that whilst she’s tried to take the Cheryl Cole/Nicole Scherzinger tack of letting him down gently, by telling him that his voice ‘isn’t quite ready’ and that he ‘needs more practice’ he’s heard more of a Cowell/Barlow vibe of, ‘You’re tone deaf!  Never darken my doorstep again!’

His teacher explained that she hadn’t wanted to upset him and that he tries very hard but that ‘his voice is in his boots’ and where she’d once thought that his voice ‘HAD sounded like it could have potential…’ She didn’t need to finish the sentence for me.

She said she’d explained to him in the beginning that he was ‘on trial’ (so at least his audition got him through to ‘judges’ houses’) but, reading between the lines, he’s now basically the equivalent of a bad Jedward and Rylan hybrid with a severe throat infection that sounds like he’s hanging upside down by his ankles whilst gurgling water so in conclusion…well let’s just say we’re not really hopeful about the ‘live shows’.

I couldn’t help but laugh when she said that she’d thought that his voice could go one of two ways but she’d had to make a decision because they’d started to ‘hear him above everyone else’.  Bless.  You’ve just got to love that enthusiasm, though, especially when he told me last night that his singing had been, ‘perfect’ (the poor, disillusioned little soul).

I assured his teacher not to worry because he clearly takes after both me and my husband for musical ability and we’re not about to turn into pushy parents that insist he sings, regardless of talent and that unfortunately, tough though it is to accept, competition and therefore rejection are a part of life.

His teacher thanked me for being gracious about it and we said our goodbyes but in hindsight I really feel it’s for the best anyway.  I mean, he couldn’t have been a pop star AND a professional footballer, now could he? 🙂