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Jamie Archer: X Factor left me depressed and demoralised
Updated 17:17pm on 16 Nov 2009X Factor reject Jamie Archer admitted today that he felt "depressed" and "demoralised" by some of his experiences on the show.
The 34-year-old pub singer from London, voted out last night after a sing-off with Lloyd Daniels, said he realised the show was not right for him and made him lose confidence in his abilities.
Archer - known as Jamie Afro because of his distinctive hairdo - found it difficult to get to grips with the song choices and realised his "journey had come to an end".
He told the Press Association today: "It was really demoralising for me, because it made me feel like 'Is it me? Am I being difficult? No-one knows what to do with me - maybe there just aren't any songs?' but I just got on with it really."
Archer dismissed suggestions that he had planned to quit the show, following disagreements with mentor Simon Cowell over song choices.
"I didn't say I was leaving, I just said 'Maybe it's the wrong show for me'. It was after we did Unchained Melody and we tried it, and I had to change my song last minute.
"I said at this point 'Maybe this show isn't really the right show for me because we keep having to change my song, which means we quite clearly don't know what to do with me'."
Archer said he was "gutted" about receiving the fewest public votes, but said he was glad to be out of the competition.
"I didn't think there was anywhere else to go with me. I just had a feeling in my heart that it would end and it wouldn't go any further," he said.
"I've been pretty spot-on with my predictions about the show and everything, and this week I just looked at it logically. I just felt that, unfortunately, we didn't get me right in the show, in terms of how to present me to the public, the song choices and what-not.
"We tried a few great ideas and everything but, ultimately, I felt like, in X Factor-land, my journey had come to an end anyway."
However he felt that the contest had given him a grounding for further success.
"I really did feel like I got what I needed to get out of the competition, which was exposure and the chance to do my own thing. I truly believe that's what my destiny was in the show - it was there to help me get footing in the next part of my career."
Archer said his only spats with Cowell had been about which tracks he should perform.
"It was about song choice and song choice alone, that was it. Simon Cowell is my friend and I love the guy.
"We were just two guys in a music competition and I had my ideas, and he had his ideas about song choice. We had to debate which one we thought we should go with, and for what reason.
"I was passionately saying 'No, I truly believe we should go for this song', and he was like 'No, we should definitely go for this song'."
He added: "As people, we get on famously. We take the mick out of each other - I call him Cow, I call him the Emperor. When he walks in, I'd say 'Uh-oh, the Emperor's here'. I hope to stay in contact with him and to work with him, but we'll find out in due course."
Archer - who is now supporting his over-25s "brother" Olly Murs to win the show - wants to be "one of the great British performers", similar to US rockers Kings Of Leon.
"I want to release an album that everyone talks about, that everyone sings along to. The X Factor has given me that platform to really kick-start my career and get on with it," he said.
"I always, always wanted to record an album of rock anthems - strong, fresh rock anthems. Now I can do my thing.
"I've got a great following, so I just want to go out and make my album, do loads and loads of gigs and, ultimately, I would like to - eventually in a couple of years - be massive and play stadiums, and have people tell me that they love my album and that they sing along.
"The end of The X Factor is the beginning of my career, so now people will see me play guitar when they come to my shows and they'll see the real me. You'll see who I really am. That's a really exciting prospect."
Reader views (7)
Jamie was the most interesting thing about the show this year. I think he will captivate the world- just because he believes in himself doesn´t mean that he is second rate or smug. To have continued for so long in this business without giving up means he has to believe. AND many of us believe it will go SOOO well for him!
- Diane Datson, london, 12/12/2009 00:34
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Jamie was great and I found his all of his performances so refreshing a breath of fresh air as compaired to the other act who lacked the ability to interact with the audience.
He has as he has said gain what he wanted from the X Factor and is now ready to put more work in to carry on his career.
Good Luck Jamie, don't worry about people like Louis who are very self serving just go out there and do your thing.
- Anne, england, 10/12/2009 20:41
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I started out loving all that Jamie brought to X Factor, yet, by the end, I was so glad to see the back of him. He became so smug in a repulsive way, and none of what he said could be trusted. Now he confirms this in the above article and confirms also all that Louis Walsh said about him. Sadly I think he's gone as far as he can but will still be able to give good performances as a back up act. Hopefully his fall from grace will bring him back to earth.
- Art Birchell, Montpellier France, 17/11/2009 10:17
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The x factor is Not a talent show, its simply a brilliant entertainment show, reflecting current ideas about entertainment and following a brilliant financial model, any other interpretation is a bit like people writing in complaining the Star trek, is nt REALLY in space what a con etc etc ....Cowels become a multi millionaire and i m sure hes delighted to get people on regular wage giving him advice and comments about the mistakes in the show and how its rubbish etc , mmmmm the people who seem to misunderstand the entire concept of entertainment ( be it frivilous or not)basically.
- Paul Mcgowan, london uk, 17/11/2009 09:47
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The x factors become ridiculous the bubblle'as burst. Four people study the acts and vote but noy for their own act as they want to keep them in the show, if they are the worst act they should go. The twins are appalling singers and dancers but are supported by louis simply because they are his act and Irish not right suppoprting your conutrymen for that reason only. Its about the best act winning and not heaping praise on the worst act to keep them going to make money for Louis. They may end up a big hit in the clubs of Dublin, Thomsons foreign holidays abroad, in pantomimes and childrens birthday parties but thats it and better simgers are kicked out of the show wrongly already.I have two sugesstion to stop it going on the viewers vote to decide and one is that 1)a Fifth judge should come in who is not connected to any of the acts and that he should only hear the sing off songs if there is a tie so he can make a decision based on what he thinks are best and he alone will be totally impartialThe viewers vote may have been corrupted when Simon failed to get rid of the irish boys who are like Butlins entertainers, yet better people continue to go out. Jamie booted off this week is far superior to the twins but this could have simply been a vote against Simon. 2) is more simpler keep the four judges but a judge who has a contestant in the two can't vote. so the three remaining judges vote.If 2 judges can't vote then you use the independent judge thats a far fairer way to vote
- Geoff Wrigght, Grampian region, Scotland, 17/11/2009 00:25
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Oh dear, so the "choosen few" who make it through the auditions to be the latest reality pawns feel used? Nevermind Jamie, think of the thousands of deluded souls buying into the Cowell dream who get rejected for having zero talent and take comfort in the fact that you have at least had your 15 minutes of fame and in the process added more cash to the cowell coffers.
- Steve, Hereford, 16/11/2009 22:18
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I did not vote for Jamie but I thought he was great. X Factor over and as Jamie said it is onwards and upwards, he has met the people that count in the rock world and since Freddy died Queen does not have a front man???
I love Danyl and Stacy and not a week has gone by that I have not given then each a vote I also voded for Rachel from week 1. I loved Rachel since the first time she fell.
Lynda
- Lynda Lacy, London, England, 16/11/2009 21:10
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