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X Factor Alexandra is breaking records
Last updated at 10:11am on 15.12.08X Factor winner Alexandra Burke's single is selling so fast online she may reach the Christmas No 1 slot before the CD hits the stores.
HMV today said the 20-year-old singer's debut single is its fastest ever selling download — and bookmakers predicted she could sell a million copies in a week.
Winner: Alexandra's single is proving popular
Burke, from Islington, won the TV final on Saturday night and a recording contract worth £1 million.
Her version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah was released online hours later, priced 69p on HMV.
Gennaro Castaldo from HMV said: “Hallelujah promises to be the biggest X Factor release yet, and the chances are that Alexandra will have the Christmas No 1 single in the bag even before her CD single officially hits the stores midweek.”
Burke today begins an unprecedented whirlwind promotional tour of interviews, public appearances and TV shows.
Record label Sony BMG will put her through a media “blitz” as she plugs the new single, and she is set to make TV appearances on GMTV, The One Show, This Morning and Richard and Judy's New Position.
A staggering 14.6 million viewers —58 per cent of the total TV audience —tuned in for the final, in which Burke triumphed over boy band JLS and Northern Irish teenager Eoghan Quigg.
More than eight million viewers voted in what bookmakers described as the biggest reality television betting event they had witnessed. Burke's chances of topping the charts this week were rated as 1/8 by Ladbrokes, and 1/5 by Hill.
A William Hill spokesman said: “The winning song could do the unthinkable and sell a million copies in a week.”
Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: “It's as close to a certainty as you're likely to find.”
Burke said on GMTV today that she plans to recreate her duet with Beyoncé. She said it had been a “dream come true” to perform her heroine's hit Listen with her in the final. She would also like to sing with 2006 X Factor winner Leona Lewis, from Hackney.
“I would love to do a duet with Leona, to show the world how different we are,” she said.
Her next major live appearance will be at the O2 arena on New Year's Eve, where she will perform alongside Sir Elton John.
The former pub singer will also perform at venues across the country as part of the show's lucrative spin-off tour.
Industry sources say the show's impresario, Simon Cowell, is planning to remove Burke from the spotlight for a few months and send her to Los Angeles to work on a debut album in the hope that she can emulate the success of Lewis.
Cowell said: “No one can deny what this girl has achieved. There would have been a riot if she hadn't won. I've got a really good feeling this is going to be one of the biggest-selling X Factor singles. I've got a good feeling about her.”
Burke dedicated her performance to her mother Melissa Bell, the former Soul II Soul singer, who has kidney dialysis three times a week as she suffers from chronic diabetes.
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Reader views (7)
Get a grip, Somi from London! She won a popularity contest and is just ripping off another artist's song! Nothing special, and no great achievement, in that.
- Helen, London, UK
She aint no Cliff Richard!?!?!?!? What's that supposed to mean James from London??? This is raw, untouched, pure British talent and we should be proud of her. Alexandra is a beautiful young lady who can sing her socks off and I hope she has a long standing career in the entertainment businees where she obviously belongs.
Here's to Aleaxandra!!!!
- Somi, London
Alexandra your 15 minutes of fame start ..now.
Make the most of it.
- Al Stuart, ealing
She's no Cliff Richard though is she.....
- James Mcardle, London
You can always tell who Simon is backing by how much he dips in his pockets for the final; the other two got sad, UK centric boy bands, and Alexandra got Beyonce! Was the same last year with Leon and Kylie.
She did deserve to win though.
- Wendy K, London
Congrats Alexandra, Cheryl, Simon.... The next thing is seriuos training for Alexandra on how to do interviews, she gets too emotional, excited and carried away. She may need to learn the ropes and start talking like a laydee. Britney spears revealed all during her early days in showbiz and regretted afterwards. I see her saying stuff she will regret later if she doenst learn to zip it sometimes. I can understand her excitement but I am also scared for her...... No boyfriends for now, was translated as No sex for now....She is going to be skinned alive by people who dont think she 's got talent. CHERYL WATCH OUT FOR YOUR GIRL!!!
- Missye, london
Alexandra is brillant - voted every week for her and wish her all the best for a long and successful career. The duet with Beyonce was amazing.
Go girl!!
- Elaine, London
