There tends to be only one success from each series of the X Factor and it doesn't tend to be the winner. When Matt Cardle was crowned champ over One Direction in 2010 the cameras panned to Harry Styles mouthing 'think how much pussy you'll get', I doubt he got any as he was forgotten within weeks whilst the 1D boys are global megastars, each worth £20 million and Styles is yet to turn 21!People moan about the X Factor, I like it but I watch it as a Saturday night entertainment show, it's just a bonus if there's genuine talent to make it on the show. In 2012 Ella Henderson left the show early on despite being a favorite to win but found herself in the bottom two with eventual winner James Arthur whose career is already over. A couple of years have passed, Ella, now 18 has grown up, had to deal with personal issues in the press but returned with the brilliant debut single, Ghost, a power ballad with a huge chorus co-written by One Republic's Ryan Tedder who has worked with the likes of Beyonce, Leona Lewis and Adele.
On first listen Chapter One sounds one dimensional although Empire and Glow are strong pop songs, they are a little predictable when following Ghost, but as you peel the layers back you discover some real gems as she modernises classic sounds. Yours and All Again remind the listener why Ella should have gone further in the X Factor as her vocals stand strong but it is Hard Work where the album peaks. The timeless track has a vintage vibe running through it without sounding dated and a chorus that doesn't tire, if there was a check list for the perfect pop tune this would have every box ticked. Pieces doesn't fall too short as a potential huge hit either.
At times it is hard to believe that Ella is just eighteen but she does show her youth with tales of young love and heartbreak, notably on Mirror Man and The First Times, which is no bad thing. The fact that she can put these moments into songs is maturity in itself. There is nothing naive or immature about the glorious and explosive Give Your Heart Away where emotions run raw. The only problem with this debut is that choosing well established songwriters and producers like TMS production team (Emeli Sande/Olly Murs/The Vamps), Camilie Purcell (The Saturdays/Litle Mix) and Salaam Remi (Alicia Keys/Estelle) at times it lacks individualism, but when the songs are as strong as they are then she can get away it.
As X Factor alumni's go this one is likely to have the longest career as she doesn't need to stay on trend like Little Mix or appeal to an audience growing up as One Direction have found, this is likely to be the first of many chapters for Ella Henderson.
