Morning:
8°c
David Smyth's rating
Hallelujah, it's Alexandra the (almost) great Burke
By
David Smyth
18 Nov 2009
Alexandra Burke’s debut album is doing very nicely, yet the Islington singer is still struggling to stand out among the X Factor participants past and present currently clogging the charts like Andrex in a lavatory.
No longer can the wannabes be forgotten as soon as the phone voting stops. Now the public will buy absolutely everything touched by the cold, dead hand of Simon Cowell.
Last year’s X Factor winner, playing her first headline concert in a week when runners-up JLS sit higher than her in both the single and album charts, might have chosen somewhere she could shout louder than the Little Noise Sessions in the hushed Union Chapel.
The annual series of largely acoustic concerts, organised by DJ Jo Whiley, is now in its fourth year of low-key gigs by biggish names. The coming week will feature sets by Mika, Richard Hawley, Florence and the Machine and David Gray.
The X Factor’s 2006 victor and Burke’s most obvious rival, Leona Lewis, played her first proper concert just a fortnight earlier in Hackney. That was an arena-ready spectacular complete with beefcake dancers, stunning visuals and confetti explosions. Performing with just the occasional services of two backing singers, two crotch-grabbing dancers, a barely used acoustic guitarist and a backing CD — which skipped during power ballad The Silence, Burke’s show felt cheap in contrast.
She was victorious, however, in the charm stakes. Gabbling between songs with the giddiness of someone who genuinely loves the stage, slipping in and out of cockney inflections for the benefit of a large phalanx of family and friends in the audience, she even tumbled into one of the famous weeping sessions that so endeared her to
X Factor voters. When she said it was “a little dream come true” to sing at this local venue, we believed her.
Her voice, too, sounded deserving of a more impressive platform, showboating with ease on They Don’t Know and a cover of Oleta Adams’s hit Get Here. Stripping away the orchestral syrup of her huge-selling version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, she showed she could almost do subtlety too. Before another cover, of Beyoncé’s Listen, she revealed that she had “studied” the R&B diva at the O2 Arena at the weekend, because “I want to be her”.
After this underpowered evening she has a considerable way to go, but it is impossible to imagine this passionate, likeable girl doing anything other than carrying on emulating her pop idol.
www.littlenoisesessions.org.uk
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (11)
beverley knight is great but hasant had similar sales speed as alex even though shes been around since 1994 on the underground scene.alex is fantastic at what she does backing track or backing band, it dont matter.
and so what if she likes beyonce...if she was so 2nd rate, beyonce would never have duetted with her in the first place so she must be on a level for beyonce to even consider flying over here to appear with her
stop all yall jelousy and embrace great british talent
- Kella Sutry, London, 23/11/2009 19:15
Report abuse
Alex be yourself, the show was for Man-Cap. Alex, just stop talking about other people. I couldn't take another beyonce anyway.
- Coral, London England, 23/11/2009 01:21
Report abuse
Beyonces a legend and the Greatest Female Entertainer ever, its a joke that alexandra feels she could be anything like beyonce because she clearly doesnt have anywhere near as much talent or the beauty. She should stop putting her name in the same sentence as Beyonces.
- John, Belfast, 20/11/2009 00:16
Report abuse
Not a fan of her singing but what a cracking pair of pins she has.
- Steve, London, 19/11/2009 09:09
Report abuse
Trust me yall, Alex is in good hands. She has the backing of almosts every music mogul in the states. Believe me when I tell you, Alexandra is going to be huge around the world!
- Kevin, Toledo US, 19/11/2009 04:23
Report abuse
I do not think that the reviewer was slagging Alex off, he just has not kept up to date with her career obviously.He seems to forget that this is an acoustic set for charity so it is always barebones not a full stadium concert.You could not fault Alex's voice it was superb, he did hold back but I think even he was impressed.I hope her management will let her do more live shows she is great.
- Ben, London UK, 18/11/2009 16:50
Report abuse
I can not believe this newspaper are actually slating alexandra burke's performance, whereas every other newspaper said her show was fab and people gave her standing ovation after another... her voice is amazing better then most of the singers in the market and its evident!
- Joseph, london, 18/11/2009 14:27
Report abuse
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless last night, she is far better now than she was on the X-factor.She is still only 21 and has yrs to grow and find her own identity.It is the British way to knock people but give her a chance and yes JLS are only currently higher in the charts because they released their single and album later.Beyonce is a great role model and good for Alex that she has goals and ambition.
- Bernard, London UK, 18/11/2009 12:30
Report abuse
This girl is extremely talented and no way is she a second Beverly Knight. She has the potential to be as good as Beyonce. With a spine-tingeling voice like that and being able to perform like she's been doing it for years, this girl has a lot more to offer than you think.
She gives me goose-bumps everytime and there are not a lot of singers that can do that. She's unique in her own right.
- Nicole, Manchester, UK, 18/11/2009 11:33
Report abuse
Of course JLS sit higher in the charts what a stupid comment they released their material after Alex.She has already sold 2 million of her two singles and album they have sold around 600,000.She is a star in the making and a voice that will take her to the top.She is not a second rate anyone.
- Sally Marr, London UK, 18/11/2009 10:49
Report abuse
Another tiresome Beyonce "tribute" act ? Yawn- just what we dont need. Ms Burke is quite talented enough in her own right and has no need of just emulating someone else. But I can't help feeling she's more like a second Beverley Knight than a second Beyonce.
- Richard, London UK, 18/11/2009 10:08
Report abuse
