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Double Hallelujah at top of the Christmas charts
Last updated at 08:52am on 22.12.08
Num,ber one: Alexandra Burke
It was a double Hallelujah at the top of the charts as X Factor winner Alexandra Burke won the battle for Christmas number one ahead of Jeff Buckley's version of the song.
The talent show star's record-breaking first single stormed straight in to the top spot in an "unprecedented" situation for the festive chart.
Selling 576,000 copies across CD and downloads, Burke's Hallelujah became the fastest-selling single by a female solo artist, according to the Official Charts Company.
A classic cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah by Buckley, who died in a drowning accident in Memphis in May 1997 aged 30, finished at number two on download sales alone of 81,000.
In a further twist, Cohen - who wrote the hit more than 20 years ago - made it a triple Hallelujah in the top 40 with a new entry at number 36.
The track was first released by Cohen on an album in 1984 and was covered by various artists before Buckley recorded it 10 years later.
Burke, 20, won a £1 million recording contract when she was crowned X Factor winner just over a week ago.
Her achievement knocked fellow reality show winner Leona Lewis off the top spot.
Lewis, who won ITV1's The X Factor in 2006, spent two weeks at number one with her cover of Snow Patrol's Run.
Burke said: "This is absolutely crazy, I can't believe it.
"It's been the best week of my life.
"Simon Cowell has given me a holiday to celebrate and said I can go anywhere in the world, but to be honest all I want to do is get started on the album.
"Thank you so much to everyone that has supported me and bought the single."
The reality TV theme continued in this year's Christmas charts after comedian Peter Kay's spoof singer Geraldine entered the top 10 at number five with Once Upon A Christmas Song.
In the album charts, comeback kings Take That claimed Christmas number one with The Circus.
The former boy band's latest effort passed the one million sales mark on Friday, making The Circus the fastest-selling album in the UK so far this millennium, according to the Official Charts Company.
The rapid ascent for Take That also left them with the second biggest-selling album of 2008, leapfrogging Coldplay's Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends.
Duffy's Rockferry was the year's runaway biggest seller so far, with 1.5 million copies sold in 2008 to date.
Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said: "December truly has been a record-breaking month for sales of downloads and CDs, and this week in particular has seen some unprecedented sales for both singles and albums - especially Take That and newcomer Alexandra Burke.
"It is a particularly amazing week for Alexandra Burke who has broken a string of records to announce her arrival in spectacular style.
"And, chart placings at 1, 2 and 36 are remarkable for a 25-year-old song which has never previously reached the top 40."
HMV's Gennaro Castaldo said: "It was pretty much a given that Alexandra Burke's cover of Hallelujah would dominate the race for this year's Christmas number one, but it's been such a strange year that we thought the charts would throw up some kind of a surprise, and the twist came in the form of the Jeff Buckley cover.
"It's unprecedented to have two versions of the same song at number one and two in the Christmas charts, and it's ironic that it's taken the X Factor to get a lot more of us to appreciate the music of Leonard Cohen and the talent of Jeff Buckley."
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Reader views (3)
Yes but unfortunately do to reality retards voting, we have No1 & No2 versions the wrong way round.
Alex offers ABSOLUTELY NOTHING different from Leona, she will no doubt be led to churn out song after song which 'appeals' rather than challenges the music industry and fans.
Merry Christmas to all fellow bitchers!!
- Janey C, inverness scotland
Oh my goodness how much better is Jeff Buckey's version!!!! i just listened to both versions back to back and have come to the obvious conclusion that even though Jeff Buckley didn't write it, it is by far the better and more authentic version than that over-excited popsicle Alexandra who really just makes you cringe everytime she opens her mouth.
- Esme, London
This girl is so pretty! I hope she has a gooood career life after the 'Hallelujah' success. The result of sucess is more hardwork, so you dont fade away with past glory..... Keep your eyes and heart on your career and goals girl! You 've got the celebrity spark now, use it while the candle is still bruning bright. There will be others tomorow. Make your mark and keep on keeping on. ...I love this girl!!
- William, Los Angeles, USA.
