According to judges Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, apparently not.
Rita, 24, Cheryl, 32, and Nick Grimshaw have revealed what makes the ‘perfect’ X Factor contestant, and you might be surprised by their comments.
“What makes the perfect X Factor contestant? Confidence, attitude, divaness, sass and ownership,” Rita insisted, before adding: “Oh, and a good voice… obviously.”
Cheryl, who has won the series twice in her run as a judge, revealed her secret to success and failed to mention vocal ability altogether.
She said: “The perfect X Factor contestant for me is someone who is sure of what they want, sure of which lane they want to be in and that is half of your work done then.
“All you need to do is give them the advice and the appropriate songs that you think they need to further themselves in the competition.”
Before you all despair and assume that this year’s competition is going to be full Wagner and Jedward types (which we secretly love, obvs), thankfully Nick, 30, seems to know the importance of being able to hold a tune.
He said: “I think the thing that makes the perfect X Factor contestant is ideally someone that can sing, very very well. Someone that is present and someone that you can trust.
“I think that everyone that I love in music are people that I trust. So I think those are the things that you need to be a winner!”
It helps of course if, like Nick, you actually are besties will everyone in the music industry.
Head judge Simon Cowell hasn’t given his tips on how to be a great wannabe pop star, but you can bet he’s got ‘one of the most exciting acts this competition has seen in a long time’ in his category.