"Embrace the Mattness"......my take on Matt Cardle's success

OK, let's get this straight....I cannot stand the X-Factor and what it represents but this year I have actually found myself watching some of the shows. The main reason....Matt Cardle.

Matt comes from Little Maplestead in Essex, which is a couple of miles away from where my lovely Angel lived for many years, being an Essex girl herself (born in Chelmsford to be exact). Obviously, Angel has been cheering Matt on and so have I. Not because he comes from Essex but because the guy is extremely talented and, thank God, normal. He has been playing pubs for years as a solo singer and in his band, Seven Summers, and has worked extremely hard to get to where he is. He took the bull by the horns and decided it was time to have a go at the X-Factor and saw it through to win the final. And, in my personal opinion, it could not have happened to a nicer guy.What I love about the guy is that even though he now in the headlines as an X-Factor winner and on all our screens and in the national newspapers, he is still honouring all of his solo and band commitments from before the X-Factor. This to me speaks volumes. Obviously, from a PR standpoint, it all works in his favour, but I think there is much more to Matt than that. He is a regular guy who fulfilled his dream and, more importantly, cares deeply about his supporters and fans, and the people and family who got him to where he is right now.

I also love the choice of the Biffy Clyro track, "Many Of Horror", for Matt as his X-Factor song. Renamed to "When We Collide" for Matt (probably as most people will ask for and look for the track as that), it is an inspired choice. Biffy Clyro are a superb band in their own right and, as usual, the bitter detractors are there, saying that Biffy Clyro have sold out to the X-Factor. Rubbish. Biffy Clyro would have had to give their permission for the song to be used, and if you look at Journey and last years X-Factor, with the track "Don't Stop Believing", it can only work in their favour and get them more success. Hey, I think Biffy Clyro have got it sussed. Think of the royalty payments when Matt's version gets to No.1 for Christmas. They're not daft.

For once, I think we need to applaud and congratulate Matt on his success. I really like the guy. He is just...normal. I, personally, really have had enough of all the bitterness everywhere. Sure, the X-Factor is not one of my favourite shows at all on many levels, but for once, they right guy won. Surely that is a good thing? Now, if Wagner had won, then we would have a problem, right? But, a guy who can sing and play superbly has won.

Here's a Twitter quote from Peter Gordon (@PGradio) who is the Breakfast DJ at 96.4 Eagle FM down in Surrey where I used to live:

"Reasons why Matt cardle deserves number 1: he has been a hardworking musician for years, he had the guts to do something about it and seems a pretty straight forward chap. And I'm fed up with people in this country being bitter about everything. So embrace the mattness".

(Peter - thank you so much for giving me an idea for my blog. Appreciate it!)

I, too, am a singer and songwriter who is waiting for that break (if it ever happens!). Whilst I would never go on the X-Factor for a HUGE number of reasons, I can totally see why Matt did. I agree with Peter Gordon. We are so bitter about anyone who has any success. Matt is providing pleasure to all who listen to him. I think he has a great voice and I loved the fact that he got a guitar out on the X-Factor when he sang. I challenge anyone who has never sung and played guitar at the same time to go try and do it. It is hard to do, let alone with millions of people watching, plus the X-Factor judges. Matt is talented, period. Leave the guy alone and let him enjoy his moment. He deserves it. I am sure we will see plenty more from him and his band.

I mentioned bitterness. We are so close to Christmas we can touch it. I suggest we all try and be close to our loved ones (snow permitting) and lose the bitterness. Be nice, and as Peter Gordon said, embrace the Mattness. There is too much bitterness in this world already, don't add to it.

So to all who read my witterings here, I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year. Let's do our utmost to make 2011 a year we can all do our best to be proud of. Let's fight our demons and achieve our goals. Let's make that call to someone we love or better still, surprise them with a visit. Love thy family and thy neighbour. What was it the Beatles said.....? All you need is love.

Here's to a lovely festive season to you all....

Shaun x