No.1 for Interviews - Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole

Cheryl: ‘I don’t feel Nadine is any competition’

Her act may not have won The X Factor this year but things aren’t all bad for ‘the nation’s sweetheart’, in fact 2011 could just turn out to be her best yet

It’s been a year of intense highs and lows for Cheryl Cole. Her first album 3 Words, went multi-platinum whilst her second Messy Little Raindrops, released in November, went straight in at No.1 along with her single ‘Promise This.’ But that professional success has been offset by personal sadness. The divorce ending her four year marriage to footballer Ashley Cole was granted in September after he repeatedly cheated on her, and having contracted a deadly form of malaria in one of her few holidays this year, she was so ill that doctors told her she needed to make a will. And The X Factor hasn’t exactly been a barrel of laughs for her this year either. First she was vilified in the press for not taking Gamu through, then she faced criticism for favouring Cher Lloyd and for refusing to pick between acts. So is she glad that 2010 is nearly over and are the reports that she is to be a judge on the US X Factor true?

In:Demand’s Romeo caught up with her to find out.

You were recently at Madam Tussauds for the unveiling of your waxwork. What was it like when you saw yourself?
The weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life!

Did you touch it?
I did, I touched it and I was looking and then I stood back and had a look and I looked from the side, and it’s just, it’s just weird! It felt just like a candle. I had a little look around afterwards, and some of the waxes have their own little features. Like Brad Pitt you can pinch his bum and it’s squishy! And Will Smith is made of silicone so he feels real! It’s really bizarre.

Does your waxwork have any features? Can we touch or squish you?
No, but I sprayed it with the fragrance I wear so you can smell my perfume!

When you first saw it did you think they had done a good job?
I think they do an unbelievable job, it’s so precise and they put so much work into it but, when I look it’s like you can’t see yourself if that makes sense. How you look in the mirror and how you look as a wax is very different! When you look in a mirror you see everything back to front so it seemed weird!

So whose is better your’s or Simon Cowell’s waxwork?
I think mine’s more realistic!

Speaking of Simon, I’ve got to give you credit for your comeback during this year’s show: “your teeth look whiter tonight Simon” after he’d made a comment about your fake tan!

[Laughs] Well he’s not one to tell me about looking orange or not is he?! Really? He’s in no position. Tell me that you don’t think I chose the right song, tell me you don’t think I did the right job this week but don’t tell me that I look more or less orange!

So, when Mr Cowell makes his ‘witty’ remarks on The X Factor do you just think; ‘I’m just going to hit back with as good as you give’?
Yeah, I think it’s just what I’m like! I can’t help myself! I know sometimes I maybe shouldn’t but I just can’t help it. I always just think, ‘No, don’t be rude’. I like to tell him my opinion, he’s not always right is he?

So are you going to be heading Stateside for The X Factor next year?
I actually don’t know. I actually have no idea. I’m trying to just keep focused on this year and do the best that I can here and then, if that conversation comes up, I’ll have it.

You were on The X Factor, performing  your single ‘Promise This’, do you still get the nerves going on that stage?
Oh more than ever! Butterflies! It is  exciting though, it’s like the start of the new album for me. It’s exciting to do a big performance and do what I love, which is the music. It’s terrifying but exciting at the same time!

It must feel good to be a judge on the show and to be able to get up there and do your thing as well!
Yeah I try and keep the two different things in different places in my head. I’m a mentor when I’m a mentor and when I need to switch and perform it’s like a different place in my brain.

During The X Factor you must be so busy, do you get any days off?
I actually took a Monday off and that was specifically designed to recover from the weekend! I got so drained from the Saturday, it’s such a rollercoaster; getting the girls out and trying to make sure they do their best and waiting for the criticism from the other judges. Then on the Sunday you get the big heartbeats on the results show so by Monday I felt like I’d been hit by a steam train! So I had Mondays at home just chilling with the dogs, watching Corrie and having cups of tea.

You’ve had huge success with the single ‘Promise This’ and now your album Messy Little Raindrops. It’s quite different to your first album, it feels like there’s a lot of passion and emotion in it?
I feel like that actually, I feel like I’ve grown from the last album to this. I suppose I’m not as nervous about stepping away from the girls as I was the first time. I’ve had that time to be able to grow.
There are some great collaborations on the album too, there’s a track called ‘Yeah Yeah’ with Travie McCoy...
It’s one of my favourite tracks, it makes you want to smile and dance doesn’t it? The Dizzee Rascal collaboration is really exciting too and I’ve got Will [Will.I.Am] on there again. I’m bursting for people to hear it!

J R Rotem, who worked with Jason Derulo is on there too and Star Smith has produced as well hasn’t he?
Star Smith was great.

When JR produces a track he always puts his little stamp on the start and sings his name, did he do that on your album?
Yeah he does! “JR!” It’s like the, (sings)“Jason Derulo”!

Did he say to you, “Cheryl you might have to sing your name at the start of the song”?
No he didn’t actually but I would have said no on that one!

We hear Rihanna is desperate to work with you?
Well I’m here, I’m ready! Let’s go! I’m in the studio tomorrow if she wants! I’m ready and the feeling is mutual.

Nadine’s got her music out as well, do you feel any competition there with that?
Not at all, she’s my girl you know? She’s part of Girls Aloud. I don’t feel competition with other girl artists in general. I think when you start thinking like that, that’s when it goes wrong. I’ve got to keep my eye on my own ball and do the best at what I’m doing. The minute I start thinking about what other people are doing is when I’m in trouble I think.

So are we going to see you on the road with this album?
I hope so, if people want it and they enjoy the album then definitely.

 

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