December 21, 2011 15:07

Annie Lennox: 'The X Factor is stitched up by puppet masters'

The Eurythmics singer also said Lady Gaga is 'just pop'

Photo: PA

Annie Lennox has spoken out against The X Factor, calling it a 'factory'.

The Eurythmics singer said that the show would never produce an artist that was a poet or political commentator. In the interview with Absolute Radio, she said:

You wouldn't find a Joni Mitchell on X Factor, that's not the place. X Factor is a specific thing for people that want to go through that process, it's a factory, you know, and it's owned and stitched-up by puppet masters.

In the same interview Lennox spoke of her admiration for Adele, saying the 'Someone Like You' singer "moves me". She also said it was unfair to compare Adele to Lady Gaga. "It's not fair to compare one artist to another because they all come with their own sort of elements to the picnic, you know," she explained. "Adele brings a beautiful voice that's resonant, it's heartfelt, it's nuanced."

She added that Lady Gaga was "just pop". "I think she has an extraordinary voice and I think 'Ooh, I wouldn't want to be Lady Gaga', because I mean I just couldn't handle it," she said.

"Obviously she's someone who really is... I would say probably a bit compulsive about the dressing up thing and all of that. The only thing for me is I'm not quite sure what it all means at the end of the day, other than it just being extraordinarily startling."