Matt Cardle breed new live into a Britney Spears classic song ‘Hit Me baby One More Time” on the X Factor on Saturday night.

Avoiding the pit falls of a previous male reality show contestant who tried to make this song his own – Darius Danesh – Matt delivered an impressive acoustic performance that Darius would be envious of.

The 27 year old former painter and decorator played the guitar for the first time in the live finals and showed us a different side to his talent. He looked cool and at ease on stage and brought a new tempo to the song and delivered it with great emotion.

We Loved it!

Here is what the judges had to say:

Simon Cowell: Matt it was absolutely incredible. You know that’s why i love this, I like people who take risks. It’s so easy Louis to do straight cover versions of songs but to take a song like that and turn it into your version….it sounded like a hit record.

Dannii Minogue: We can sit here and say you look like a popstar, you sing like a popstar, you act like one but these guys know who a popstar is. After you’ve sung that version, that’s the only version I have in my head. I can’t wait to buy it on iTunes.

Louis Walsh: Wow everybody loves it here. When I first saw you at the audition I never imagined you doing a Britney song but you did a pop classic and made it your own. I think that version could be a number one record again. I love that you’re not predictable and you take a chance. Matt you are unique in every way.

Cheryl Cole: The best way to find out how you did, is listen to the audience. You took such an iconic sing, we 100% associated with Britney but somehow I felt like I was sitting in an unplugged session where I was watching an artist sing an acoustic set. It was really fantastic.