the Alexandra Burke thread

[drewbilation]

Alexandra started singing around the house when she was just 5. At 9 years old she sang on stage in Bahrain with her mother, one of the singers from 'Soul to Soul', and the audience loved her. From that moment onwards she was hooked on performing.

At the age of 12 years Alexandra entered 'Star for a Night' where she was the youngest person in the competition but was beaten to the no.1 spot by Joss Stone. When she first started school she was bullied because she won all the singing competitions and was in all of the school choirs. As time went on the bullying resided and she now has fond memories of school. She left school after her GCSEs to pursue a career in music.

When Alexandra's mum asked her to sing to Jean Carne, Jean was so impressed she asked her to perform at her show the next night and at 12 she sung down the phone to Stevie Wonder. Alexandra recently went on tour with 'Young Voices' a charity that raises money for children with Leukaemia where she has performed at huge venues like The Royal Albert Hall.

Alexandra has lived in Islington all of her life and has 4 brothers and 1 sister. When she was 5 years old her parents split up and only recently has her father been there for her and her siblings. Alexandra's Grandfather was always the backbone to the family and when he passed away in 2004 it left them devastated.

Alexandra has had no professional vocal training and learnt to sing through her mother and by listening to music. Her other hobbies include acting, dancing, and going to the gym.

After auditioning for X Factor in 2005 she got through to the judge's house's stage but was kicked out by Louis as he thought she was too young. Despite this she continued singing at small events and writing her own songs and she can't imagine doing anything else.

her debut single, a cover of Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah," will be released digitally on December 14th and physically on December 15th, with her debut album following on March 16th, 2009.

[Re:★]

Why release the album so early? It'll consist of mainly covers if it's released in March. I'd rather wait until Autumn/Winter like Leona did until the album's as good as it can be, it surely worked for her anyway~

I love Hallelujah. LOL @ all of those sadacts on Facebook.

[micster]

I didnt get to see the final part of the final [I only saw Egg Nog finally leave] so I dont know what her version of Hallelujah sounded like but I wanted JLS to win ;/

I mean even watching it last night you could tell it was somewhat fixed in her favour - I mean come on, She got Silent Night AND Beyonce? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Oh and about Christmas Number 1 - Geraldine McQueen to get it plz.

[drewbilation]

Originally Posted by Re:★

Why release the album so early? It'll consist of mainly covers if it's released in March. I'd rather wait until Autumn/Winter like Leona did until the album's as good as it can be, it surely worked for her anyway~

I guess 'cause Leona is supposed to be releasing her second album next fall, and they don't want them in direct competition? I just hope her album doesn't suck 'cause I've already pre-ordered =x

[mi|kshake]

I think it's pretty unfair of the record label to have Alex release her album so early. They should stick with releasing it at the end of the year. I think after Leon's album, they're thinking it's not a good idea to leave a gap between releases incase interest wanes.

mi|kshake~

[drewbilation]

Originally Posted by guardian.co.uk

Alexandra Burke's X Factor single Hallelujah is fastest-selling download

The X Factor winner Alexandra Burke's first single, a version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, is the fastest-selling download ever across Europe despite only being available since yesterday.

Burke's single has sold more than 105,000 copies since going on sale at midnight on Saturday, fewer than two hours after she won the fifth series of the ITV1 reality show. HMV is already predicting that she has the Christmas No 1 "all wrapped up".

The hefty download sale has already put Burke at the top of internet sales charts, including iTunes and HMV.com, with the CD version of the single not out until Wednesday.

Burke's sale eclipsed the previous fastest download of 82,000 in one day — the previous X Factor winner Leona Lewis's debut release, A Moment Like This, two years ago.

By comparison, Take That's recent No 1 single Greatest Day sold 9,488 downloads on its first day, while Girls Aloud's chart-topping hit The Promise sold 7,600 downloads on the day of its release.

Gennaro Castaldo, an HMV spokesman, said: "We're seeing a phenomenal rush to download the Hallelujah single from our website. It's both our fastest and biggest-ever selling download, and Alexandra already has the Christmas No 1 all wrapped up.

"The physical CD single, which comes out on Wednesday, will give the release another huge boost, and it's now about how many copies Alexandra may go on to sell. HMV is ordering massive extra stock to keep up with the unprecedented demand."

A peak audience of 14 million viewers tuned in on Saturday for The X Factor finale – the highest ever rating for the reality show.

Burke already has an official website set up – www.alexandraburkeofficial.com – where users can order her debut album, even though she has not recorded any songs for it, apart from Hallelujah. Unsurprisingly, the song is already at the top of the Play.com pre-sales chart.

the video for "Hallelujah" has just been released as well.

[kang daesung]

I was rooting for her on the show but I already am kind of over this chick.

[bondingo]

So happy she won. I was rooting for her from the very beginning.

Hallelujah's amazing too. I preordered the album pretty much right away. I hope she has crossover success like Leona did, but I'm not really sure. It's just too bad they're rushing this album. Hopefully it turns out amazing regardless.

[MemorialAddress]

I just watched the results show, and damn.
That host guy, (whatever his name is) was so annoying! He looked so rude when Alexandra was crying & couldn't talk. He was like "Ummm okay, say something *****!"


Rude!

Spoiler:

[Adrian20]

Who is she?

Alright I'm closing this thread as well...

Spoiler:

Just kidding She has a great voice.

[kang daesung]

^Wow, I didn't know you were a mod.

I hope she comes to America and does something really interesting, and something very hip-hop. I can see her doing something like Fergie!

[MemorialAddress]

^Really? Idk, I hope she doesn't do something like Fergie
I think it would be a waste of her nice voice, but who knows.
Whatever she decides to do, I'm sure I'll like it.


@Adrian: HA! You WISH you could close threads!

[bondingo]

Ummm...hip-hop is not at all what she should be doing. She needs to work with Xenomania. It was clear from her performances of Don't Stop The Music and Toxic that she could do that type of music very well. Of course she'll probably do some great ballads though.

[kang daesung]

I think she just needs to maybe sex up her image and get 50 Cent or Lil Wayne on her track. Her voice + hip hop beets + a rapper + sex appeal would equal so amazing and a definite US hit!!

[drewbilation]

she's said she wants to do an old school meets new school soul album with a pop twist.

she's also said that she will definitely collaborate with Girls Aloud, so we might get at least one Xenomania track.

[kang daesung]

^Girls Aloud? Hmm, I think PCD would be better for her.

[drewbilation]

why? she never did anything even remotely urban on the show, and stuck to mainly dance-pop and ballads. besides, she actually has a connection to Girls Aloud with Cheryl being her mentor.

[kang daesung]

Originally Posted by drewbilation

why? she never did anything even remotely urban on the show, and stuck to mainly dance-pop and ballads. besides, she actually has a connection to Girls Aloud with Cheryl being her mentor.

Hmm cuz that's my favorite kind of music!! plus I think she could get really popular in the States with a voice like that + some sex appeal. Right now she would only appeal like like 50 year old moms

[MemorialAddress]

What? 50 year old moms? So I guess that means that all the thousands of UK residents who have downloaded / bought her single are all 50 year old moms? Right..

She has a beautiful voice, so I honestly think it would be a waste of her talent to just sex her act up merely to appeal to Americans.
I would rather have meaningful, nice songs.

[kang daesung]

^I mean in America, hello! Rappers, sex appeal and hip-hop would help her so much if she wants to come here (and I would LOVE that!!).

I think she should do something like E=MC2!