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X Factor Alex ‘will sell a million singles this week’
Amar Singh15.12.08
X 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.
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.
"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 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 out of the spotlight for a few months and send her out 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.
Reader views (22)
Well done to Alexandra. She deserved to win as she was the only person with real star quality. I was a bit stunned at how stunned she was but put it down to her overwhelming excitement and relief and that she would soon recover! I wish her good luck for the (very bright) future ahead of her.
- Y.B, London, England
Raminder - not being able to converse is gracious is it? Alex behaved as a young lady who is able to speak when spoken to. Is JEALOUSY rearing its ugly head??? Singing is a gift and Alex has a gift as well as Leona. Comment on things that are accurate and don't try to hide your jealousy by hiding behind negative remarks aimed towards Alex who is beautiful,talented and an emotional person. Lastly how do you know how people from council estates are? Did you leave them behind too??
- Jj, London England
How can anyone say that JLS were robbed? Only one of them sings!!! Whilst they may be marketable in the UK they would not break the States as they do not have the vocal ability - try comparing them to Boys II men or the motown singing quartets and you'll see what I mean. Alexandra has an amazing voice and has some attitude so will do well globally hence why Mr Cowell particularly supported her. Yes she cries a lot, but its not a personality contest its a singing contest!
- Mrs S, London
Awful version of a great song. At least Leonard Cohen will do well out of it.
- Robert Turner, United Kingdom
I was gutted that JLS didn't win, as i've supported them right from the start. I personally do not think Alex has the X-factor, but that's just my opinion. I have always found her personality a bit fake and old beyond her years. She needs to remember she is a little fish in a big pond.
- Triffidqueen, London
All I can say is Thank God Ogghie didn't win. can you imagine him trying to sing Hallelujah, or even trying to sing , period?
- Keith Price, Luton, England
I have no problem with X-Factor as long as they stick to covering songs that no one cares about but when they start covering classics such as Hallelujah, you have to wonder who buys this dross and how their dole money stretches that far.
- Bob, Cheam
strange..........everyone i know who watches the show agreed that JLS had the most talent, marketability and individualism. Whilst not wishing to pour cold water on her win....Beyonce was poles ahead!!!
- Gary, amersham
here is a BIG difference between Leona nad Alexandra, Leona is gracious and articulate and softly spoken where as Alexandra is sooo soo fake and she only has to open her mouth to talk you know she been bought up in a council estate!
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
How dare you make such a sweeping comment Raminder! therE is nothing wrong with being brought up on a council estate and Alexandra, for all her blubbering, actually has very good diction. I agree that Leona is a gracious elegant young woman but for your information she was brought up in Hackney! I would love to hear how 'well' you speak - CANNOT ABIDE SNOBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Kh, London UK
Come on Mike from Bedford you are being very unfair, the young girl does have a good voice and possibly some talent and whilst she may have previously worked in pubs and clubs she really is not a "pub style singer". Anyway, you did make me laugh. What did not make me laugh is the outrageous comment from R Bhalla implying that if you come from a council estate then no good can come out of you. I have no idea where R Bhalla comes from but by the nature of the remark I can only assume it's not good.
- Daniel, London
What is wrong with being brought up on a council estate?
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
Just buy Leonard Cohen. He's much better. X Factor is Karaoke, it's the new 'Stars in their eyes', it's a money-making machine and anyone paying into it must be easily manipulated.
- Alex C, London
WOW! Damning comments from the UK's finest haters! If she had been brought up in a council estate then the overwheming magnitude of what she has acheived in this competition would indeed be mirrored by her reactions on saturday night. The one thing that stuck with me whilst watching was that through all the tears, muttering to her self and hugging her friends mid-sentence, she was still singing and it was PITCH PEFECT!! This was a singing competition after all, shouldn't her voice be the main thing we judge??
Speaking of judges, how drunk was Chery Cole on the Xtra Factor show?? She could barely open her eyes!
- Melissa, London
"she only has to open her mouth to talk you know she been bought up in a council estate!" Raminder Balla - pardon?? I was brought up in a council house as was my daughter and I resent that comment. Alex comes across as a modest young lady. She could have used a sob story, such as the fact that her mum is seriously ill, but she didn't, she used her talent and her likeable personality, something you obviously have no notion of, being in possession of neither.
- Yvonne, Doncaster, UK
There is no doubt Raminda from Northholt and E from London, that Alexandra has massive talent. Yes she did cry a lot, but you get up there and sing like that and start fulfilling your dream. You'd be really hard hearted if you didn't cry. And don't forget this is primetime saturday night TV. This behaviour is encouraged. It makes great TV.
Anyway Raminda, I thought this kind of TV was only for people that lived on Council Estates. What a snob you are.
- Niki Barnett-Henry, clerkewell, london
No opinion either way but Raminder, what is wrong with growing up on a council estate? I did and I am not ashamed of it.
How judgemental are you!!?
- Sheilagh, Cordoba, Spain
Sorry, who is this lady exactly?
- Wpw, London
There is a BIG difference between Leona nad Alexandra, Leona is gracious and articulate and softly spoken where as Alexandra is sooo soo fake and she only has to open her mouth to talk you know she been bought up in a council estate!
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
right from the auditions I wanted JLS or ALexandra to win, but I must say, over the last few weeks, I think Alex has been playing it abit, knowing how close it would be. Crying virtuallu every week. This week every time she was next to Dermot, and she knew the camera's would be on her she was mouthing endearments around. Also at the end when she could barely stand or talk, as soon as Dermot tried to take the miek off of her, she grabbed it quickly to keep on talking. This has dulled my opinion of her. And I think we should also note what gracious runners up JLS were, as was third placed Eughon.
- E Sullivan, London
Not bad for a pub style singer.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England
Pull yourself together woman. You nearly spoiled it all by blubbering too much, and in front of Beyonce too; it was so embarrassing. Alex is a strong singer. But JLS were pretty good too. And so was the other one.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex
I think Alex is a Amazing Singer!! she will sell loads like Leona Lewis, i was hoping she would win from the start and i bet all her dreams came true! THANK YOU to everyone who voted for her.
I screamed when she won !!!!! I love You Alexandra Burke xxx
- Brooke, england kent
