Ruth Lorenzo es la concursante española en el reality show inglés X Factor en su edición del 2008. Ruth fue expulsada la pasada semana luego de una sensacional actuación. Les dejo la entrevista, eso sí, está en inglés.Ruth was voted out on Saturday night, and we received a storm of comments complaining that Eoghan or Diana should have gone instead. Many of our commenters said they’d never watch the show again!
And so we catch up with Ruth to chat about how she came to audition for X Factor, what her real musical tastes are, and where her career is headed after this. In fact, we may have solved the conundrum that was bothering me on Saturday night (I couldn’t work out how she could be marketed as a singer) - we have decided that Ruth should front her own rock band!
Commiserations on being voted out on Saturday night. Was it a surprise that you were the one to go?
You know, it was a surprise, but it wasn’t a surprise, because everyone has to go from now on apart from the winner. So, I didn’t want to go, so I tried my best, I sang my best and I tried to do everything the best I could. Obviously someone had to go and it was me. But still, I’m so proud of myself, so happy and I’m enjoying every single minute of it.
On Unreality TV, the article about you getting voted off has some 70 comments on it. Most of the commenters are vowing never to watch X Factor again, because you’re not on it. They’re saying it just won’t be the same without you.
Oh my God, that’s amazing! That just gave me goosebumps!
Actually, my taxi driver said the same thing this morning. He was like “Ruth, why did you have to go? You were my favourite! I’m not watching X Factor again.” I said “No, you have to watch it and you have to vote for Alexandra!”
The thing I’ve been hearing most over the weekend is that Eoghan and Diana were the weakest candidates and they should have gone instead of you…
But really, who votes? Eoghan and Diana are so close to the younger people, and they’re so young and so bright and full of life that it’s normal. The younger kids vote and they vote their eyes out. You know how much support they’re getting and they’re so proud of it. They deserve every single vote they get.
I’d like to know, what drove you to audition for The X Factor in the first place?
My best friend’s daughter - she gave me the application form for my birthday last year, so I just had to do it. I went to my first audition in Manchester and I walked through that queue thinking “How the hell am I going to do this?” There were 22,000 people there, and I was one of the last to get there, because I’m a Spaniard and we’re always late!
As I walked through the queue I was going “Listen guys, let’s just go home, I don’t want to do this.” And the little girl just held my hand and said “Listen Ruth, you have to do it. You’re getting through and you’re going to be in X Factor, I know you are.” I just did it for her, and just look at me now. It’s amazing.
We’re had a few contestants in reality shows in the UK from Europe. Chico comes to mind, although I think you’re not so much of a novelty act! How did you think your nationality would influence voters?
I really don’t know. For someone who’s not from the country, that obviously has a strong Spanish accent, it just shows how much this nation appreciates talent. It shows they liked me for who I am and not just because of where I’m from. I feel so much at home in this country - I’m not moving out of here!
I do want to sing in Spanish, because there’ve been people all around the world supporting me. From South America, from California, from the States, from Mexico, India, Australia. They’re saying “Ruth, it doesn’t matter what language you sing in.” So, I do want to sing in Spanish, hopefully one day if I make an album.
I didn’t want to sing in Spanish on the show, because I thought it was disrespectful to the British public. They know I can sing Spanish - they know that. I just wanted to be on the same level as the rest of the contestants and prove that I am a good singer. I didn’t need to shake my butt or wear a Spanish dress.
Yes, those thing would have stereotyped you, wouldn’t they?
Yeah. All this Ricky Martin style music, I like it but it doesn’t boil my blood. You could see if you watched the show - Purple Rain, Knocking On Heaven’s Door, all of those are the songs that I sang with the most passion. Those are the songs that I love.
I wanted to ask you about that - it was only after you’d been in the sing-off and had a chance to demonstrate your passion that people saw you as a good rock singer.
I think being in the bottom two twice has really helped me go far in this competition. Because I’ve been able to show the real me, and you know they call me now Rockarita Lorenzo or Spanish Rockarita [she sounds really sexy when she rolls her R’s at this point - Gerard], which I love!
You know, I used to have this problem in Spain too - I used to walk into a record label with my big hair and my curvy body and I’d say “Hi, I want to speak to the person in charge..” and they’d ask what kind of music I do. When I told them I do rock, they’d look at me, drop their jaws and say “That can’t be - you are made to dance, move your body and look sexy, whatever…” All the time I’d be so frustrated because no-one wanted to hear me sing, because they wanted to look at me and that is not what I want.
What I loved about Purple Rain was that I wasn’t wearing any of those beautiful dresses, I wasn’t showing my cleavage, I wasn’t doing anything apart from wearing a t-shirt, some jeans and singing. And people really appreciated it.
Can you tell us what types of music you like to listen to?
Oh, I’ve listened to all kinds of rock. I also love U2, Muse and Coldplay - that type of music, I love it. My big influences were Guns N Roses, Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin [At this point, I’m tempted to propose… -Gerard].
Simon obviously had a bit of a crush on you. Do you think that was genuine or was it just for the cameras?
Do you know what, Simon Cowell never lies, so I guess some part of it must be true that he fancied me, or at least I just want to believe it like that! At the end of the day, I’m a woman and I like to feel pretty.
But you know, he’s actually a really cool guy, and I really appreciated all the comments that he gave me when he said that yes, I was a good singer. Those were the comments that really got to me and really made me feel good.
I felt so good last Saturday with the comments that he gave me after I did Always for a second time. I could see that the judges were really emotional with me.
Yeah, Louis Walsh was crying at the end, wasn’t he?
He was crying, he was genuinely crying. We have a cool connection, Louis and I, and I love how passionate he is about JLS and how much he’s fighting for those boys - he really believes in them and I respect that so much.
I thought you were very practical on the Xtra Factor - you were already talking about lining up gigs for next week! Are you always that way?
I am. Why see bad things in life, because life is so short. We need to enjoy it while we can.
When something really really bad happens, I think the only bad thing that could happen in my life is losing one of my family members, and I don’t even want to think about it. I think you have to take life with positivity, always looking at the bright side. There’s not one bad thing I can take from this experience, except that I’ll miss everyone in the house.
I’ll miss the dirty house, the messy rooms. I’ll miss Alexandra, I’ll miss JLS. I’ll miss them all.
You and Alexandra seem to have struck up a really solid friendship. Where did that come from?
Yeah, we did, and it is truthful. Alexandra is just like you see on TV - she’s fun, she’s nice and our friendship is great. I never thought in my life that I’d come out of X Factor with such a good friend. She’s my best friend right now.
It was at bootcamp, and we had a friend in common and I said “Who’s she?” and I said I would love to meet her. She’s got this special spirit, she’s got these eyes that are a live. And then she went to him and said “Who’s that girl with the big hair you’ve been speaking to?” So, he introduced us and that was it. We were friends.
And we’re moving in together and hopefully she’ll win and I won’t have to pay rent! You know why? Because I think that the winner of X Factor gets given a flat, that’s why.
But won’t you guys be out travelling on the X Factor tour?
Yes, we’re going to be on tour. It’s going to be amazing, and I can’t wait to sing with everyone. I think this is going to be another part of the competition to be honest with you. I think whoever proves here that they can work onstage, that can work with musicians, can gig day after day without losing their voices. I think those people will have a big big chance of getting contracts.
There are many eyes on us right now and we’ve got to make sure that we do our best.
And what are your plans for after the tour?
My biggest dream would be Simon Cowell ringing me up and saying “Hey Ruth, do you want to record something?” And if it doesn’t happen, I’ll just have to go and knock on his door and say “Simon, Simon, come on, let’s do something!”
I do want to do my own CD and put some of my own songs on it. I want to sing. That’s all I ask for.
Do you write your own songs?
I do. I play the piano and the guitar and I write music. I translate music and do other things.
Would you put a band together?
I would love to have a band! I’m not a diva singer - I can’t be alone on stage. I’d love to work with other musicians. It’s the best best feeling. I want to have a band.
Do it! Put a band together! Actually I think that’d be a great way forward for you. Front your own band! We need some more rock chicks.
Ah, so you liked it then?
Absolutely! There aren’t enough rock voices on The X Factor, so it was nice to see someone up there singing those songs.
James Corden was in the studio and criticised Britney for miming during her performance. What was your take on her appearance?
Well, I think most artists have mimed at some stage in their lives. She went onstage, she looked gorgeous, she danced, she got the audience going. For me, I thought she was great.
We didn’t get to meet her, because she was so busy - she came in, did her thing and then left. She came straight from Paris. I’m sure if she’d had time, she’d have done a masterclass with us.
I noticed that you didn’t technically do a Britney song - it was a Joan Jett song that Britney covered, I Love Rock And Roll.
It’s a good one! Nigel, the music director, made it like the original. He didn’t make it pop!
How did you feel about the themed weeks in general?
I think that limits you. If we’d had rock singing, that would’ve been great. If it had been jazz, Laura would have shined.
Anyway, as my last question I usually ask who you hope will win the show, but I think I can guess what you’re going to say!
No, it’s Alexandra, and JLS on the final!
