1. Not content with simply winning The X Factor, Joe McElderry is preparing to take on the
likes of Olly Murs and Alexandra Burke in the charts with his new single. Colin Gentry
pulled up a chair with the star from South Shields and quizzed him on starting a new dance
craze, the lovely Cheryl Cole and whether he's going for the Christmas No.1 again.
Let's talk about the video for Ambitions. Whose idea was the dance routine?
Mine. The choreographer came up with the routine that the dancers were doing and I thought
that this routine was too good to let pass. I wanted to be in on this one! I said to her, if I don't
look good you can take it out but at least let us try! And it's quite heavily featured in the
video! Im hoping it becomes one of those routines that everyone picks up and dances.
Why did you choose to release Ambitions as the first single from the album?
It was the first song that made me sit up. I had heard so many songs and I was losing
perception, but I was so pleased when I heard it and that it was a n up-tempo song. I was like,
please let it be the single! I sang so many ballads on X Factor and I didn't do any dance
routines and I needed to show that I could do something different. I also wanted it to be a
surprise. I wanted people to be like, what the hell is that?! I would have hated it if I'd brought
a song out and people were like, 'oh that's Joe McElderry's single, that's what we expected'.
What can we expect from the album?
It's very young. It's relative to everyone. There's ballads, there's up-tempo. It's a really feel-
good album. I hope there's something for everyone on it.
There are some really high notes in Ambitions...
Hell yeah. I didn't realise it was in my range until I started singing it. I find it not easy a
challenge. It's really broadened my range and made me quite flexible with songs because I've
been able to hit those notes. It's more difficult than my natural "ballad voice" but I had so
much fun recording it.
With all the press about The Climb not reaching the Christmas No.1, are you feeling the
pressure to do well?

2. Yeah, I do feel a little bit of pressure but I thrive on it. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me
working hard. I get an adrenaline buzz from it. It's not an easy ride and I enjoy it.
Acts like JLS and Diana Vickers are doing really well, but then some X-Factor
contestants like Leon Jackson have faded away. Does that worry you?
Its a hard one because you never know what's going to happen. I've got lots of determination
and I'm just taking the challenge on. I can't really comment on that until it happens, and I'm
gonna make damn sure it doesn't!
Are you still in touch with people from The X-Factor?
I'm really good friends with Olly and I see Alexandra a lot. She's hilarious. We keep on touch
and I'm always excited to hear what everyone's up to because its like we're part of a big
family.
Your mentor on the show Cheryl Cole is releasing he r new single Promise This soon. Do
you like the electro-pop sound s he's going for this time around?
I love it. I think it's really good. I think its such a cool song. The video is amazing and it's
very catchy.
Are you in touch?
She doesn't mentor me now. We're more friends, but she gives me a lot of advice and we
speak a lot on the phone and through text messages. We will try and catch up but we've just
been really busy in different parts of the world!
Are you planning on going for the Christmas No.1 again this year?
I might give it a rest and stop any silly campaigns... I'll see. It depends where we're at singles-
wise. We'll play it by ear.
The single Ambitions is released on 11th October, followe d by the album Wide Awake
on 25th October.