Читать книгу Union J: The Unauthorised Biography - Rebecca Grey - Страница 14

It was just an ordinary summer’s night for George Shelley when a phone call arrived that would change his life forever. The teenager was sitting at home in Clevedon, chatting with his mum, when his mobile rang. It had been a few weeks since George had suffered the disappointment of not making it through the Bootcamp phase of The X Factor, but he’d managed to put it to the back of his mind. Instead, he was focusing on going back to uni and moving on with his life. But as George’s mum Toni watched her son’s face go ‘taut’ as he took the phone call, she knew something was up. ‘It’s The X Factor on the phone,’ George mouthed at her, stunned. Indeed, it was one of the show’s producers, who asked if George would be interested in returning to the show. Circumstances had changed and they were now keen to see the talented West Country teenager once more. George couldn’t believe it. As he put the phone down, he explained to his mum: ‘I’ve got an hour to call them back with my decision. If I agree to go back, I’ve got to be in London tomorrow morning!’

It was a no-brainer – George and his mum decided to go to London for this out-of-the-blue opportunity. George didn’t know it then, but behind the scenes there had been a lot of interest in him since he’d left The X Factor, and the stars were about to align in his favour.

Triple J’s manager Blair Dreelan had spotted the handsome singer at Bootcamp and thought he had the potential to be developed into a solo star. After getting George’s details, he stayed in touch with him and decided to manage him – but then, spookily, The X Factor producers also contacted Blair about Triple J returning to the competition. Incredibly, a last-minute slot had opened up due to a visa issue with one of the groups, South London’s Rough Copy. The Judges’ Houses episodes were to be filmed mainly abroad, so Nigerian-born member Kazeem Ajobo had to apply for a visa to travel to the United States and then back to the UK. Unfortunately for Rough Copy, the application hadn’t been approved in time, so the band wouldn’t be able to travel and take part in the show. With days to go before filming was required to start, The X Factor producers convened an emergency meeting with Louis Walsh – who was to be the Groups mentor – to discuss who could replace Rough Copy. There were two groups who’d stood out in the Irish mogul’s eyes: Triple J and Times Red. ‘When Rough Copy left, I found it difficult to choose between two groups to fill their place. In the end, I invited boyband Triple J to come to Judges’ Houses, but still felt that, as I’d lost such a strong group in Rough Copy, I wanted to make sure the category was the best it could possibly be,’ he told the Mirror. ‘I asked Gary, Nicole and Tulisa if they minded if I took a seventh act. They were happy as they felt they’d got the right six acts for their Judges’ Houses trips, so I asked Times Red to come along and they said yes.’

Producers quickly got in touch with Blair Dreelan to see if Triple J would be able to return to The X Factor – but they had another suggestion as well. Louis had felt that the band would benefit from adding another member to the line-up, and they already had someone in mind. Blair explained to Sugarscape.com that The X Factor suggested putting a fourth member into his group. Initially unsure of this idea, Blair was amazed when producers told him who they were thinking of to take this fourth spot. It was the same George Shelley that he knew and was now managing – what were the chances in a competition where 180,000 people had auditioned? It seemed like fate to Blair and so he accepted their suggestion.

The X Factor and Blair prepped the Triple J boys for what was about to happen – they were going to become a four-piece! The boys were chuffed – after all, they’d met George at Bootcamp and already hit it off with him. Jaymi had even shown Blair a picture of George, telling him how he thought he looked amazing. He’d then used his computer skills to scan in George to a line-up of Triple J, unwittingly predicting what would really happen to the band in real life when they became Union J. Triple J’s manager sensed that their personalities would mesh well, but with only a few days before they were due to go to Judges’ Houses, time was of the essence. The boys spent the next four days getting to know each other and practising their singing for the competition. It was a whirlwind time: just a few days before, they had thought their X Factor dreams were finished, and now they were about to return for a second chance at a place in the live shows with an extra member, in a doubly shocking twist.

It was a thrilling time for the newly formed band, who hit it off as a foursome straight away. ‘When they suggested it, it made sense,’ the boys told We Love Pop magazine. ‘When George came along, it wasn’t a big deal, as we were literally all so new to each other anyway.’ It was a second chance at The X Factor that none of them had been expecting after their bruising Bootcamp experience, and they were ready to take it on. After telling their families this exciting news, the boys began packing for the mystery destination. But one more thing needed to be sorted out before they could leave: a new name. Obviously, they couldn’t be ‘Triple J’ any more. Instead, the boys put their heads together and came up with an idea – they would take the name ‘Union Jack’ and shorten it to ‘Union J’, representing all their names. Although George’s name began with a G, it had a similar sound. As Jaymi pointed out later, even when they tried to change it to the Spanish spelling of George – Jorge – it wouldn’t work, because that was pronounced ‘Hor-hay’! And so Union J were born and they immediately released their first statement to the media. ‘We couldn’t believe it when we got the call about going to Judges’ Houses, and of course we jumped at the chance,’ they said. ‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re so happy to be a four-piece, too. The group feels so right together – it feels like we’ve been together for years!’

It was time for the groups to discover who was to mentor them and where they were going. Firstly, waiting at the airport, they discovered their destination – Las Vegas! The boys and the six other groups boarded their plane and spent the long journey across the Atlantic full of nerves and expectation. However, they also used the time to their advantage, practising harmonies and singing – after all, they’d only had a few days together so far, and this was an incredible opportunity to potentially make their dreams come true. Arriving in the dazzling American city, they all headed to Caesars Palace hotel and casino to find out who was going to mentor them. Pulling up in a white stretch limo, it was Louis Walsh! The longest-serving X Factor judge, Louis was also a seasoned manager of boybands, having driven both Boyzone and Westlife to huge success. He explained to the waiting wannabes that although there were seven of them in front of him, there was only room on the show for three acts – less than 50 per cent. The bands making it through would be the ones who impressed Louis by committing themselves fully to the competition the next day. Accompanying him was Sharon Osbourne, the former X Factor judge and a renowned music manager in her own right. Her advice was also deadly serious – the groups there had the chance for the biggest break of their life. In the setting of Las Vegas, where superstars from around the world performed, they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As if the groups needed reminding. Meanwhile, the other acts gathered in different corners of the globe to sing for their lives. Gary Barlow was at the grand Boughton House in Northamptonshire with the Over-28s, where Cheryl Cole came to offer advice. Nicole Scherzinger took her Boys to Dubai, with Ne-Yo as her second-in-command. Lastly, Tulisa took her Girls all the way to St Lucia, where Tinie Tempah helped her choose.

But for Union J over in Nevada, there wasn’t any time to relax in the opulent surroundings of their hotel or to enjoy the thrills of the Las Vegas Strip – soon they would perform for the first time ever as a group, and this performance was to seal their fate for good. Now the pressure was on more than ever. George could barely comprehend that in just ten minutes, they would be performing in front of the judges. As the boys sat in the hotel, Jaymi mused on the turnaround in their fortunes – just a few days ago they hadn’t even been together as a four-piece and now they had the chance to make it happen. It was clear they were still overwhelmed by what had happened to them. Fortunately the boys had bonded very quickly and, despite going through a ‘rollercoaster’ four days, they already knew that they had a brilliant rapport. They were so tightly connected, they felt like brothers. Although Triple J had been a great group, Jaymi knew that as a four-piece they could take on the world.

Finally, the boys strolled down the steps onto the hotel rooftop. It was night-time and the shimmering lights of Las Vegas below proved a dramatic backdrop to Union J’s first ever performance. Louis and Sharon sat forward on a luxurious white sofa, keen to listen as the boys, dressed for the warm weather in T-shirts and long shorts, steeled themselves. Louis quizzed the boys on what this chance would mean to them – if they made it through. Josh earnestly declared that it would be the best thing ever – returning home after their last disappointment had been crushing. Now they had a second chance at their dream. George shook his head, trying to take in this surreal situation. It was time for Union J to perform as Louis asked them to start.

This was their moment. George began gently strumming his guitar and Josh started singing the first few bars of Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’, an up-tempo dance track that had been everywhere in 2012. The boys slowed it right down and turned it into a sweet, romantic song, complete with stunning harmonies. Louis and Sharon leaned forward on their sofa, ears pricked up once they realised they were hearing something special. As the boys got into the song, their confidence grew and they started to smile and enjoy themselves. This positivity proved infectious and the savvy, seen-it-all-before Sharon began to smile as well. She and Louis looked at each other and nodded – this was going well. Louis thanked the group as the boys finished, sounding surprised at how faultlessly this brand-new boyband had performed together. Dermot O’Leary, who was waiting for Union J to the side, wanted to know how it had been for them. George was stunned and could barely get the words out, but explained briefly that it had been very affecting. Meanwhile, Louis and Sharon were discussing the boys, but it wasn’t a 100 per cent glowing reception. Sharon noted that a couple of the boys – she didn’t say who – had developed amateur tics with their delivery and performance. But Louis insisted that they had the potential to be much, much better if they worked hard. The boys returned later to sing their second song – ‘Forever Young’ by Mr Hudson – and delivered another impressive rendition, with perfect harmonies and Jaymi showcasing his powerful voice. Afterwards, talking to Caroline Flack on The Xtra Factor, it was evident that Union J were loving singing as a four. JJ enthusiastically agreed that, aside from their nerves, it had been a brilliant experience.

But it wouldn’t be long before they learned their fate. The next morning, the four boys were up on the hotel rooftop again, waiting to hear Louis’s verdict. The hot sun beat down on them, intensifying the tension that they undoubtedly felt. For them, it was a strange feeling of déjà vu, as they prayed that this time they would hear good news. An emotional Jaymi couldn’t bear the thought of having yet another no after so many disappointments. Josh agreed, saying that they craved for this band to work and were prepared to give it their all. After going through such ups and downs over the past few weeks in their X Factor journey, the boys knew that a second rejection would hurt twice as much as the first. Jaymi knew that there was a reason they’d been brought back – the kernel of something special had been spotted in them. Another rejection would be awful. Pacing around the hotel roof, with the dramatic mountain backdrop behind them, Josh tried to steady his breath. He worried about the impact on his nearest and dearest, aware that he’d been through so many near-misses before. George patted his chest as his heart raced, and then put a comforting arm around Josh’s shoulder as the emotion got to him. It was a sickening moment for every single lad.

Louis opened proceedings with a compliment, praising their first audition, as the Union J boys stood in a line in front of him, George biting his fingers nervously. Louis went on to explain that, as Jaymi thought, there was potential for the group to be great. Louis had taken a chance by putting George into the mix and he was pleased with how things were going. But – and it was a big but – Louis wasn’t sure there was enough time to get Union J show-ready. After all, they hadn’t been together long. Red-eyed and on the edge, Union J prayed that this didn’t mean Louis thought they were a lost cause. They knew they would work harder than they’d ever worked before if only they got this chance. As they pulled together, arms around each other, they listened to Louis continuing his appraisal. Soon, Louis appeared to confirm their worst fears by highlighting the other boybands in the competition – with their increased experience they had an advantage over the newbies, Union J. Josh tensed his jaw and JJ’s mouth dropped open in shock – they thought it was all over. As Jaymi gazed at the floor, he wiped away tears. Now it was time for Louis to make his decision. He explained to the boys that he didn’t like taking chances. As JJ silently mouthed please under his breath, Louis delivered his smash. He was ready to take a chance right now. It was an unexpected twist – the boys all raised their heads in a sudden burst of hope. It was true – they were through!

It was the culmination of months – and years – of dashed hopes. Union J cheered with joy like they’d never cheered before, and immediately ran towards Louis in utter elation. As JJ, Jaymi and George pushed Louis onto the sofa for a bear hug, Josh collapsed onto his knees, unable to take in the incredible news they’d just heard. The four boys then ran into a group hug, shouting ‘Yes!’ and hiccupping with the emotion of the moment. They could hardly gather themselves, as Louis, breathing out a sigh of relief, tried to regain order. He warned the boys that the difficult phase was just starting – they were surrounded by rivals who were all as hungry for the X Factor crown as they were. JJ sobbed, and declared his loyalty to the judge. The boys had never felt like this before. In the space of a couple of weeks, their fortunes had turned around by 180 degrees and now they would be taking part in the X Factor finals – the biggest platform for a pop group on British TV. Louis laughed as he made sure the boys knew that they had to demonstrate that they were worth this chance. The bandmates ran off in hysterical happiness. They yelled and shouted about their good fortune as they pulled each other into another tight hug. Flying back to Britain after such an incredible few days, they couldn’t wait to tell their families, who had no idea what had happened yet. They sat at Gatwick Airport, nervously waiting for the boys to return, all the while hoping they’d be coming back with good news. ‘We were all there sitting in Costa Coffee, waiting for the contestants to get off the plane,’ explained Toni, George’s mum. ‘We still, at that stage, didn’t know whether they had got through. But then I saw George and he shouted “Yes!” and then there was lots of hugging and kissing.’

What a moment for Union J – their lives would never be the same again. After believing their X Factor dreams were over, they were now through to the finals, which would come to determine the course of their futures forever. Despite their jubilation, Union J knew there was more hard work to come. They now faced the toughest competition of their lives as the judges selected the other finalists. Turning down Times Red – who, like Union J, had been given a second chance at Judges’ Houses – Louis instead selected MK1, an urban hip-hop duo from East London, and GMD3, the vocal harmony three-piece boyband that had previously defeated Union J at Bootcamp. Nicole Scherzinger had selected her three boys: firstly, James Arthur, a talented guitarist and singer from Saltburn, Teeside, alongside Jahmene Douglas, a shy singer from Birmingham with an astonishing voice. Rounding out her trio was Rylan Clark – a controversial entry, as the out-there model and actor from Essex had bags of charisma but didn’t have the strongest voice. Meanwhile, Gary Barlow had chosen his Over-28s. They were Carolynne Poole, a talented singer from Yorkshire who’d been booted out at Judges’ Houses the year before by Louis; former chimney sweep Kye Sones from Pinner, Northwest London, and Melanie Masson, a children’s entertainer from Glasgow. Lastly, Tulisa had chosen an amazing group of girls for the live finals: Lucy Spraggan, a quirky guitarist and singer from Buxton who’d already hit the charts with her self-penned X Factor audition song, ‘Last Night’; Ella Henderson, a 16-year-old with an incredible voice, and Jade Ellis, a talented singer from Southeast London who oozed star attitude.

A wildly different bunch, they would now be pitted directly against each other in the bear pit of the X Factor finals. Now not only the judges but also the voting public would have their say – and so, too, would the media. Union J were about to embark on the ride of their lives.