X Factor winner to cover Mariah
Wednesday, 28 Nov 2007 16:08
Sharon, Simon and Louis will be treated to renditions of When You Believe.
The winner of this year's X Factor will be singing yet another cover for their debut single release, it has been confirmed.
A spokesman for the show revealed that When You Believe, the Mariah Carey/Whitney Houston song penned for the 1998 film The Prince of Egypt has been rewritten for the victor in the ITV1 talent show.
While X Factor series three winner Shayne Ward was given original song That's My Goal for his debut release, the winner of the fourth series will follow in the footsteps of Steve Brookstein and Leona Lewis in releasing a cover.
An X Factor spokeswoman confirmed the choice, saying: "After 150,000 people applied, only three acts will remain to compete to become this year's X Factor winner in the final.
"As well as the £1 million recording contract the winner will also release a single in time to compete for the prestigious Christmas number one.
"We are pleased to confirm that renowned lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz has rewritten his Mariah Carey/Whitney hit, When You Believe especially for the X Factor winner."
Just five acts remain in this year's competition - girl band Hope, brother and sister duo Same Difference, Scottish crooner Leon, power ballad queen Nikki and Welsh opera singer Rhydian.
And it could be Rhydian who gets to step into Mariah and Whitney's shoes, with bookmakers naming the Welshman as favourite to win the live final on December 15th.
"Rhydian is red hot as far as the punters are concerned, so it looks like he might be singing a Mariah Carey song," said Robin Hutchinson of Ladbrokes.
"But it might not be his first choice, so it will be interesting to see where the betting goes in the next 24 hours."