September 10, 2012 14:24

'X Factor' contestant Eddie String covers The Strokes' 'Last Nite'

Online reaction to String's rendition of the 2001 favourite has been damning

A contestant on this year's X Factor has covered The Strokes' classic 'Last Nite'. Watch the controversial by clicking above.

The singer, whose name is Edward Wilkinson, but calls himself Eddie String, performed the cover during the summer and was shown on this weekend's edition of the show

Apparently attempting to adopt a cheeky persona, the singer's video montage begins with him kicking over a plastic chair and telling the camera "I love showing off". He then goes on to explain his name change by saying: "You can't have a boring name, especially if you're trying to be a rock star".

The singer begins his introduction by bantering with Gary Barlow and, when his performance actually begins, String runs around the audience and attempts to gee the crowd up a number of times.

Despite his vocal limitations, String somehow manages to snare a clean sweep of positive reactions from judges Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh and guest judge Leona Lewis. Although Barlow did at least point out that he was "on the verge of being annoying."

Reaction on Twitter has been pretty negative, with user Nuzhat Nakamura perhaps summing it up best, she wrote: "Prime example of why I cannot stand x factor: some Mika look alike prick ruined my favourite Strokes song. #die"

The X Factor is currently showing on ITV1 every Saturday, but viewing figures are reported to be down 3 million on last year.

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