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London girl with the Alex Factor
Amar Singh11.12.08
WIN or lose in Saturday's X Factor final, Alexandra Burke is on course to become Britain's next big pop star.
The 20-year-old from Islington is favourite to win, but even if she loses to rivals Eoghan Quigg or JLS, industry sources say it is "only a matter of time" before the show's impresario Simon Cowell gets her in the studio working on her debut album.
Senior executives at Sony BMG, the label which signs up the finalists, believe Burke has the potential to be as successful as Leona Lewis, who won the show two years ago and has now sold more albums that any debut artist.
One industry source said: "There's talk of her spending a few months in the US with some of the producers who worked with Leona, but I've heard they may look to have a more 'British' sound for Alexandra in keeping with her mum's background with Soul II Soul."
Alexandra, who sang in the choir of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Barnsbury, earned a standing ovation from the show's four judges for her rendition of Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart in the semi-finals. She will see her "dream come true" by singing with Beyoncé on Saturday. If she wins, Alexandra will release a cover version of the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah, which could claim the Christmas No 1 slot.
Her 44-year-old mother, ex-Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell, missed the semi-final because of kidney failure brought on by diabetes, but has vowed to be at the final. She is on the waiting list for a transplant and has three bouts of dialysis each week. Alexandra said: "Mum won't let me donate a kidney. Diabetes has killed every woman in my family - and it is triggered by having kids. If I donate a kidney I couldn't have a baby as I would only have one kidney left to fight the disease."
Alexandra applied for X Factor in 2005 but missed out on the live shows. She vowed not to audition again, but the loss of a family friend changed her mind.
Pauline Harty, who cared for the singer and her siblings while their mother was touring, died of lung cancer in March. She had wanted Alexandra to give the show another shot.
Along with her sister Sheniece, 22, and brothers David Jr, 21, and Aaron, 16, she has made up with her father, David, 50, who walked out on his family when Alexandra was six.
Reader views (8)
Whatever happened to the Scots lad who won last year he was totally crap along with most of the other winners. The little Irish kid is a joke, the only reason he is there is because most of Ireland must be voting for him, if he wins it will be total obscurity for him within a week. Leona Lewis and Alex are boring and bland so let’s hope Mr Cowell takes this year’s winner over to the states for a few years. The judges are a joke just a bunch of little fish in a big empty pond with no talent in it, maybe that’s why they did so well.
- Stephend, London, England
People will obviously try to compare her with Leona but I actually think there's someting more likeable about this girl than Leona. I actually found Leona really dull and her Maria Careyesque warbling is quite annoying. Alex has a personality as well as a good singing voice. So if she has half the success that Leona has had she'll do okay.
- Pa, London
"She's a nice girl but her voice is nothing like as powerful as Leona Lewis' one."
Ha ha ha Is this the Leona Lewis whose pretentious and affected whoops and yodels ruin every song she takes on?
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Leona went to the USA as J Records also signed her on a bigger contract and worked on her rather successful album there.
Alex won't be anywhere near as successful unless she's signed by a big US label.
She's a nice girl but her voice is nothing like as powerful as Leona Lewis' one.
Also, the pint sized Irish boy will win, just as a pint sized Scottish boy won last year.
- Martin, Ashford
Paul, London. Whilst I, of course, appreciate your opinion that Miss Burke has a terrific voice it is not my idea of a terrific voice and therefore I am quite as entitled to my opinion as you. Your supercillious remark about a singing competition is totally unnecessary as that is surely obvious to every idiot. I made no comment or comparison about 'that little Irish kid' whose name is Eoghen.
- Mj, Essex UK
Very kind of you Mj! What makes her boring? She has a terrific voice, and if you hadn't noticed it's a singing competition! And she's far, far more talented than that little Irish kid.
- Paul, London
Leona who, oh yes the girl that won it not long back. Oh yes the girl Simon Cowell immediately shipped out to America as he knew theres more money to be made over there. Maybe he'll do the same with Alex and we won't see her for a year or two. Trust that will please all the fans who have been paying to vote for her?
- Dc, London
I hope this boring young lady does not win.
- Mj, Essex UK
