Hallelujah is, in all sorts of ways, 'sacred' and now that line has been crossed by the X-Factory, I'm not sure what they could possibly do that could be worse.

Moreover, I can't think of another song in the same catagory - a hugely popular song loved by all but that has managed to retain a 'specialness'. Is there another?

I wouldn't be surprised if it's Angels by Robbie Williams.

Failing that, Towers of Dub by The Orb.

Stacey's going to win. She's the new Cilla don't you know. All together now "Step inside luv..."

I don't care what she sings, she has a beautiful voice (when she's singing that is).

Like a Leona Lewis Run... It's about time One by U2 was murdered - they have done it during the show often enough.

why do they persist on foisting all that depressingly dull and dirgelike Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston type shite on the public?

Pop music should be fun and cheerful, bring back Racey that's what I say!

obviously John and edward winnng as they can't sustain the X Factor big ballad so to ensure that hit.....
"Surfing Bird" by the Trashmen
all together now "Bird, Bird, bird, bird is the word" ruined forever

The winner for me would be whoever could complete and sing the lines of any of these soon-to-be classic AC/DC tunes:

Lipstick on me Gearstick
Bone Marrow Donation
Bell End
Uncork the Pork
While You're Down There
Greased Nipples
Mothering Sundae
Talking With Your Mouth Full
Crank the Shaft

Stately pace, not yet ubiquitous, already been covered in a soulful way but not a huge hit, scope for OTT towards the end....?

How about a bit o Wings? You can Olly or Danyl hamming it up something rotten on Maybe I'm Amazed.

Personally, I'd love if they'd do this:

the winner tackling the Dead Kennedys classic "Too Drunk To Fuck."

I can see it now: Full orchestra and choir building up to a crescendo, as those two knobends with the daft hair croon: "Went to a paaaarrdyyyy. Weellll that's awwwwwriiiiiight. Had fifteeeeen beeeeeers and I started up a fiiiigggghhht. Come on you all know the words. Let's see those hands in the air."

Or, alternatively:

My Old Man's A Dustman

Star Trekkin'

Shuddup A Your Face

A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers

Paranoid Android

Tarkus

I will vote for the first contestant to try a Sigur Ros number. The Winner's Song should be Ara Batur.
If those pandas win, they should do DIzzee's "Bonkers".

By the way, I am not a fan but watch this show as I have two daughters aged 9 & 6. In my view, Cowell's deliberate ousting of the talented Lucie in favour of Jed Ward (or whatever their name is) was the beginning of the end for the X Factor. Many people I know at work are boycotting the show, and many more are voting for Jedward so that Cowell will have to manage them if they win. The general view is that it has ceased to be a talent contest. I'd give it another 2 years max.

BTW Part 2: Don't you find it interesting that the backing music on the X Factor is always much better than the lukewarm songs they're usually given to sing? Led Zep's Kashmir (to signify high drama) or Sigur Ros (to signify emotion) come to mind.

Would be nice to hear them make a pleasant easily listening version of this "classic".