Bristol's young voters get behind The X Factor's Girlband
Pupils at Westbury Park Primary School are keeping their fingers – and arms – crossed for Bristol X Factor hopefuls Girlband.
The four-piece girl group – Marisa Billitteri, Tita and Phoebe Lau and Layla Manoochehri – were forced to sing for survival at the end of last weekend's live shows after the viewers' votes left them in the bottom two.
Their families are determined not to let it happen again and are hot on the campaign trail, visiting schools and workplaces in the city to hand out fliers.
Their first stop was Westbury Park primary in Bayswater Avenue, where Marisa's cousin Tony works.
Marisa performed a song at the school a few years ago when she released a charity single and many of the children from Year 6 remember her performance.
Sunniegh Baker, 10, said she and her classmates had been inspired by the girls' success She said: "I try to watch all The X Factor shows.
"I like it because Girlband are really good. I really like singing. Me and Emily and Izzie from school have got a band and we like to sing Rihanna songs. When Marisa came in it was really good and it's really weird because now she's in The X Factor."
Harry Owen, 10, said: "I was at the school when Marisa came to sing a few years ago. She was really good. It's quite surprising to see her on TV because she wasn't a big-time singer then, and now the band are on The X Factor. If I can I will vote for them."
Lia Ekaney, 10, said: "I think Girlband are really good. I always watch the audition shows because my mum likes those. My auntie watches it every week so I like to watch it with her.
"I'm going to try to vote for Girlband now."
Rob West, 10, said: "Tita and Phoebe went to my sister's school, Redland High, and sometimes the girls come in because they still have friends there.
"When they visited a couple of weeks ago all the students were really happy to see them and to see them on TV after. I will probably vote for them now."
Julie Billitteri, Marisa's mum, and Karen Lamprey, mother of Phoebe and Tita, visited the school in Bayswater Avenue to hand out fliers and take part in a question and answer session.
The youngsters asked about what inspired the girls, what their favourite song is and how they formed as a band.
Talking about this weekend's live show, Julie said: "I'm confident they will do really well this weekend and I'm sure they won't be in the bottom two this time.
"I spoke to Marisa and they have been rehearsing like mad. She said they have already got their song polished and ready to go, so she's confident it's going to go really well."
Karen said: "I'm looking forward to this week's performance because they proved themselves last week, so it will be great for them to get back out there and show what they can do."
24 Comments
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by Chris, Bristol
Friday, October 17 2008, 3:42PM
“"Living their dreams" is a phrase that keeps getting trotted out, but these girls are still virtually children with no idea what real life is like. Their 'dreams' do not involve achieving anything other than being on telly and getting in 'heat' magazine. Some dream.
They will be going after tomorrow's show - they're singing one of Michael Jackson's most cringe-inducing songs, they have NO chance whatsoever.”
by sarah, bristol
Friday, October 17 2008, 1:08PM
“alex, alex, alex!!! sounds like you are the one who is unoriginal, talentless and need i say...um boring(you seem to have commented on every story here, nice life!!)...whilst they are having the best time of their life, you are sat fixed to the screen waiting to make the next bad comment on them....the more you write about them the more envious you sound...so why dont you do yourself a favour and get outside the house...i mean you seem to be tracking them more than anyone right now so does that make you a fan?????”
by Jean, Bristol
Thursday, October 16 2008, 11:19PM
“Some people need to get a life. With all the doom and gloom out there, surely we should be enjoying this experience along with the girls. If people don't want to watch they can turn over as there are loads of other channels and if they don't want to vote then don't. However, I will be voting for GirlBand because I believe we should encourage them and they are after all a local band. Go GirlBand Go.”
by Alex, Bristol
Thursday, October 16 2008, 11:14PM
“But Sarah, they are unoriginal, talentless and boring... Why support them.
Sorry, but it's trash”
by Sarah, Bristol
Thursday, October 16 2008, 10:35PM
“In reply to your comments....maybe they don't have the voices of some of the other contestants but they are a group of girls who are living their dream which is more than alot of us can say....they are between 18 and 22 and having probably a one in a lifetime experience so yes we should promote to our younger generation that dreams can come true.....also i think what the parents are doing is fantastic....i will disagree with any parent that that wouldn't be helping lengthen the experience and supporting there child through this oppurtunity....go on girls!!!! xxxxx”
by Mike B, Bristol
Thursday, October 16 2008, 6:02PM
“Reply to Sam (below) . . . Yes children should be allowed to have fun, but what these people are doing is nothing less than exploitation of youngsters, encouraging kids to use their mobiles, phones, nagging parents to vote for GirlBand, not just to be made aware of music in their lives . . . . Yes lots of bands do go around schools, but they don't say "Vote for us" . . . . I've never stated I don't like stories, I merely comment on the stories as that's what this website is about, and I frequently get my comments printed in the BEP (there's one in today's paper) . . . . I also rarely reply to a message here, as this is not a forum, and I do not slag people off, (as you have done), or make disparaging comments, such as yours . . . One final thing, I'm not posting from the house. I'm a high-tech person posting from a Blackberry mobile, during my frequent travel-stops . . . . Have a good evening Sam :D”
by Chris, Bristol
Thursday, October 16 2008, 6:02PM
“The X Factor is a talent show. Voting should not be based on where an act comes from, but on how talented they are. It's not about who they know, or which school they went to. The lengths the families of Girlband and the BEP are going to in order to try and sway voting only goes to show that Girlband are simply not talented enough - it speaks volumes that no mention is ever made of their singing ability by the BEP. They're from Bristol, they're from Bristol, they're from Bristol. So?”
by Sam, Bristol
Thursday, October 16 2008, 3:55PM
“GET OVER YOURSELF! Mike B - Surely children are alowed to have enjoyment at school as well as to be "educated". Hundreds of bands go around to schools to show them that there are dreams out there that can be followed. It's good to show that there are other careers out there other than the average day job and showing children this is a great way of EDUCATING them. There is no harm in spending 10 mins with some children to show them what can be achieved with hard work. One other thing - If you dont like the stories / comments, stop clicking on them, get out the house and GET A LIFE!”
by Tommy, bristol
Thursday, October 16 2008, 3:24PM
“you lot are so sad it's unbeleivable.. it's promoting a local band.. not promoting war.. get over yourselves.. all you all do is moan moan moan.. if your unhappy with all the stories on girlband.. don't read them! it's simple.. why would you continuously read them and comment on them if your fed up and bored of them,. makes no sense..”
by Tom, Bristol
Thursday, October 16 2008, 3:20PM
“The only reason the EP keeps on about this is because she works for them and have given her 6 weeks unpaid leave. Funny thing is she aint going back so she is actually an ex-employee who couldn't give a stuff about the EP.
To be fair they have done well to get this far but they are not good enough to go much further.”