Hugh's singer destined for X Factor fame
A St. Hugh’s first year is to sing for Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne in the latest series of “The X Factor,” to be aired in August of this year. JJ Powell, who studies French and Spanish, auditioned for the programme at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London after applying last month. His successful performance has earned him another chance to sing in front of Cowell, Osbourne and two ‘mystery judges’.
Powell told The Oxford Student, “The next stages are in the summer holidays, so depending on how that goes, I may consider taking it a bit “I don’t know what they’ll make of me, an Oxford student who left Eton last summer,” said Powell. “Maybe that’ll be my ‘story’.” His dabbling with show business began at school, with Powell taking a leading role in a musical production of “My Fair Lady.
So far Powell has shown no intention of packing in his degree for a life in showbusiness. A friend of Powell’s, Nikita Malik, said, “He’s focused on his degree, but still wants to see how far he can go with this. “It’s a dream, but obviously won’t necessarily become a reality. “The producers were apparently very impressed; they clapped him, And now he’s going to sing in the second round, which will be recorded for TV.
A self-confessed crooner who serenades his friends with the ballad ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, Powell prepared Rat Pack classics ‘Ain’t that a Kick in the Head’ and ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ for his audition. He was also asked by the judges to improvise by singing ‘It’s Got to Be Perfect.’ Powell remains confident about his impending encounter with the notorious X Factor judges. He said, “I’m not nervous about it. I don’t think I’ll find Simon intimidating.
10th May 2007