Gareth Gates or Will Young?

[GreenBuggy]

Who won the UK version of Popstars - was it Will Young or Gareth Gates? What is the story behind that, did they both win? Was it a controversial decision, and what do the general public think of them both being on the charts?

[DB]

Will Young won Pop IDOL, a search to find solo stars. Gareth Gates was runner-up. Popstars was won by a group called Hear'Say (now split up). The runners up in that were the more successful and better Liberty X (originally called Liberty). There was some controversy in that Simon Cowell, a judge on Pop Idol and a big wheel in the music industry, wanted Gareth to win. Gareth seemed like more marketable teen pop material and there was some upset. There were also claims that people couldn't vote for Gareth as phone lines were jammed. I don't think people mind them being in the charts too much - but no-one seems to think they will be around forever. Real music will win through in the end.

[rja211077]

firstly I think it is debatable that Liberty X have been more successful than Hear'say - Hearsay have sold far more albums and singles. Liberty X's success has just come later and there's no guarantee their successful period will last any longer than Hear'say's. And also I don't believe ALL the members of Liberty X were 'losers' on Popstars although i could be wrong. DB is right though - Gareth was 'meant' to win by the BMG (record co) people as the first single (Evergreen/Anything is Possible) clearly suited Gareth far more and Will was uncomfortable with it. I don't really have a problem with them - i think both have talent (Will more than Gareth). A career as a Daniel O'Donnell type crooner beckons for Will (appealing to the 'older' listener) god knows what'll happen to Gareth, but i can't see his success lasting all that long. The problem with these people is they're just ordinary Joes who lack the charisma required for longevity in the pop world.

[froggequene]

As my learned friend has pointed out Will Young actually won Pop IDOL. I personally voted for Will Young every single week and I feel outraged that every time I open the papers that it is that young whippersnapper Gareth Gates that gets the publicity etc. I feel like demanding my money back as it was obviously a complete waste of time having the general public vote. I was particularly outraged though not surprised when Simon Cowell recently admitted that GG had been promoted at Will Young's expense, this was precisely why I voted for Will Young because he was that slight bit older and more mature plus his parents seemed to more sensible then GG's. Sometimes I feel like starting an "I voted for Will Young" campaign or better still a "Justice for Will" campaign.

[bignairy]

Who gives a $%&%^*^*))^?