DOTD UK 11/03: "The Winner's Song" by Geraldine McQueen

In the middle of last month, Leon Jackson suffered a humiliating chart defeat. His single "Don't Call This Love" didn't even make it to #2, forced to take the third slot after another song debuting the same week.

"The Winner's Song" by Geraldine McQueen.

What's so terrible about that? For starters, Geraldine isn't a real person. In fact, she is really British comedian Peter Kay in drag, who put the character together for his 2-hour sitcom special Britain's Got The Pop Factor...And Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly On Ice. The show is much-needed spoof of the reality competition craze.

The song, co-written by Take That's Gary Barlow, perfectly matches the parody. It follows every coronation song cliche. The intro sounds strikingly similar to X Factor winner Leona Lewis' single "Footprints in the Sand". The lyrics speak of Geraldine's struggle through the competition, reminiscent of an American Idol track. Finally, there is the must-have element of every reality singing competition song; the key change. All of this combined with Peter's Geraldine's earnest vocals makes for an absurdly hilarious single that you can't help but love.

The irony that a parody of a winner's song beat a real winner's song on the charts would be tragic if it wasn't side-splitting. But honestly, who were you going to choose; Leon, the winner of X Factor, or Geraldine, the lovable transsexual who nearly choked to death on confetti.

Duh, Geraldine.

Rating: 7.5/10