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BuzzJack Music Forum _ UK Charts _ The biggest selling X Factor winner's singles revealed
Posted by: ► ▲ N T ▲ 13th December 2014, 01:23 PM
The winner takes it all? The biggest selling X Factor winner's singles revealed
13/12/2014
The X Factor winner's singles
By Justin Myers
They’ve won the show, but who scores the ultimate prize as the biggest-selling winner’s single of them all?
And, just for good measure, how did that all-important debut album do? If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the answers.
The X Factor celebrates 10 years of Saturday night domination and unmissability in 2014, and while we await the coronation of the 11th winner of the ultimate talent show this weekend, we take a look at the 10 who came before.
As diverse artists as they all are, they have at least two things in common – first of all, they won the show and released a winner’s single. And secondly, they all released at least one album.
So when we count out the numbers, who comes out on top? It’s the ultimate display of public approval, the actual purchase of their music. So when the studio lights have gone down and they’re on their own, did their onscreen popularity guarantee them hefty sales?
Winner's singles
It’s a close-run thing when it comes to singles, with the Top 2 artists benefitting from the digital age. There have been four million-selling winner’s singles and it’s pretty close at the top.
1: Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah
The champion is Series 5’s victor Alexandra Burke, who was the first X Factor winner to have her single immediately available for download. Alex still managed to sell over 570,000 physical copies of her cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, and altogether the song cleared a million copies in just four weeks – over 570,000 in its first sales week alone.
It’s sold a total of 1.28 million copies in the UK, giving Alexandra another win to add to her haul.
2: James Arthur – Impossible
Snapping at Alex’s heels is 2012’s winner James Arthur, who scored the fastest-selling single of the year with this Shontelle cover. Impossible has sold 1.27 million copies in the UK.
3: Shayne Ward – That’s My Goal
The second winner of The X Factor, all the way back in 2005, super-talented Shayne Ward was the first winner to score a million-seller. Shayne is also the only champion to release a totally original song – everyone else has launched their career with a cover version.
Despite not having the advantage of convenient downloads when he won, Shayne still shifted an impressive 740,000 copies in his first week on sale. That’s My Goal has sold a total of 1.1 million copies in the UK.
And the rest…
There’s one more million seller thanks to 2010’s winner Matt Cardle, whose Biffy Clyro cover When We Collide has sold 1.01 million copies. Series 3 winner Leona Lewis has a million in her sights – she’s currently on 900,000 with A Moment Like This.
Toward the bottom of the Top 10, last year’s winner Sam Bailey still notched up a respectable 310,000 sales of Skyscraper, a hit for Demi Lovato only months before, while the very first winner of the show Steve Brookstein scores a sales tally of 200,000 for his winning single Against All Odds, originally a hit for Phil Collins and a Number 1 in 1999 for Westlife and Mariah Carey.
Here’s the full Top 10 ranking of all The X Factor’s winning singles so far…
TRACK ARTIST SERIES
1 HALLELUJAH ALEXANDRA BURKE 2008
2 IMPOSSIBLE JAMES ARTHUR 2012
3 THAT'S MY GOAL SHAYNE WARD 2005
4 WHEN WE COLLIDE MATT CARDLE 2010
5 A MOMENT LIKE THIS LEONA LEWIS 2006
6 THE CLIMB JOE MCELDERRY 2009
7 WHEN YOU BELIEVE LEON JACKSON 2007
8 CANNONBALL LITTLE MIX 2011
9 SKYSCRAPER SAM BAILEY 2013
10 AGAINST ALL ODDS STEVE BROOKSTEIN 2004
Debut albums
So once the winning single is out, talk turns to debut albums, but who had the selling power for their long-player? Let’s just say it’s not exactly a close-run thing.
1: Leona Lewis – Spirit
Way out in front of all her fellow winners is 2004’s victor Leona Lewis, whose debut album Spirit has sold an incredible 3.1 million copies, making it one of the bestselling albums of all time in the UK. Leona is behind only Adele and Amy Winehouse when it comes to bestselling albums by Britush female acts. Spirit’s success may well have been helped along, of course, by Leona’s launch single Bleeding Love, which is a million seller and was Number 1 for an astonishing seven weeks.
2: Alexandra Burke – Overcome
Another Top 2 result for our singles’ winner, Alexandra’s debut album Overcome has shifted almost 820,000 copies since its release in 2009. The album contains three Number 1 singles, Hallelujah, Bad Boys and Start Without You.
3: Shayne Ward – Shayne Ward
Good news for Shayne Ward too: he scores Number 3 position in our albums countdown too, with his debut shifting over 530,000 copies.
And the rest…
The only group to win The X Factor, Little Mix, score fourth bestselling debut thanks to DNA, coming in with a sales tally of 350,000 so far. 2009 winner Joe McElderry comes in 10th place, with only 500 or so copies separating him and nearest rival Steve Brookstein.
Here’s the full Top 10 rundown…
ALBUM ARTIST SERIES
1 SPIRIT LEONA LEWIS 2006
2 OVERCOME ALEXANDRA BURKE 2008
3 SHAYNE WARD SHAYNE WARD 2005
4 DNA LITTLE MIX 2011
5 LETTERS MATT CARDLE 2010
6 JAMES ARTHUR JAMES ARTHUR 2012
7 THE POWER OF LOVE SAM BAILEY 2013
8 RIGHT NOW LEON JACKSON 2007
9 HEART AND SOUL STEVE BROOKSTEIN 2004
10 WIDE AWAKE JOE MCELDERRY 2009
Posted by: ► ▲ N T ▲ 13th December 2014, 01:26 PM
Sales overview:
Singles
1,280,000 Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah
1,270,000 James Arthur - Impossible
1,100,000 Shayne Ward - That's My Goal
1,010,000 Matt Cardle - When We Collide
900,000 Leona Lewis - A Moment Like This
310,000 Sam Bailey - Skyscraper
200,000 Steve Brookstein - Against All Odds
Albums
3,100,000 Leona Lewis - Spirit
820,000 Alexandra Burke - Overcome
530,000 Shayne Ward - Shayne Ward
350,000 Little Mix - DNA
Posted by: krissykins 13th December 2014, 01:33 PM
Queen Alexandra!
People forget what she achieved.
Posted by: Hadji 13th December 2014, 02:44 PM
If James Arthur can sell 10,000+ copies of "Impossible", he can overtake Alexandra Burke
Posted by: Michael Bubré 13th December 2014, 03:22 PM
People forget what she achieved.
I disagree, surely 'Heartbreak On Hold' was only such a hilarious flop *because* of what she achieved with the debut?
(A deserved flop anyway, the singles from 'Overcome' were all pretty horrid apart from 'Broken Heels' which was tolerable).
Posted by: ClausofKubrick 13th December 2014, 03:29 PM
(A deserved flop anyway, the singles from 'Overcome' were all pretty horrid apart from 'Broken Heels' which was tolerable).Well i'd say some have *now* forgotten or at least choose to ignore what she achieved because the "flop" of 'Heartbreak on Hold' may have overshadowed her previous accomplishments? You're also wrong about your opinions of her music x
She is the best all-round package to come out of the show for me, musically. Both albums were very strong (yes even the last one) and i hope she continues to make more
Posted by: girlsaloudjunkie 13th December 2014, 04:49 PM
'Let It Go' for me is Alexandra's best song. If it were released by say Rihanna, it would've been a worldwide smash. Poor girl.
Posted by: Envoirment 13th December 2014, 04:55 PM
The last figure for Leona's Spirit we have is 3,115,366 I believe. Also, I'm pretty sure "A Moment Like This" has been on 900k for years. 
Posted by: slowdown73 13th December 2014, 06:24 PM
The irony is that none of those x factor singles are actually very good. Pretty much all of them are cover versions of songs done by other artists (Shayne ward might be the exception as not sure who did the original song).
Posted by: Dobbo 13th December 2014, 06:26 PM
No you're right. That's My Goal remains the only original winning single. Gary Barlow was meant to write one for one of the series he was judging but that never materialised.
Posted by: -SCOTT- 13th December 2014, 06:50 PM
Hmm, wonder where Ben will slot in
Posted by: Merry Fareekmas! 13th December 2014, 07:15 PM
Nowhere cause he's not going to win.
Posted by: Michael Bubré 13th December 2014, 07:27 PM
Well he is the favourite to win now so I wouldn't write him off.
Posted by: Mistletoahspike 13th December 2014, 07:38 PM
6 JAMES ARTHUR JAMES ARTHUR 2012
Glad this is still the case.
After seeing Cardle's remarks, Arthur tweeted: "First week sales.. My album will still sell more you'll see"
Posted by: Michael Bubré 13th December 2014, 07:41 PM
Hasn't there been a few hundred sales between Steve and Joe for years? Joe's album must literally be selling about 1 copy per month at this stage I wonder what he's doing recently, he seemed to be having sustained decent album chart success after the disastrous debut but now hasn't released a new album for over 2 years.
EDIT: Just looked him up and he has been doing a few things to keep his name vaguely out there (including winning ANOTHER TV show which I wasn't aware even existed, something about ski jumping). Presumably releasing album 5 in 2015. Gwon Joe.
Posted by: Merry Fareekmas! 13th December 2014, 07:54 PM
Why is he the favourite all of a sudden? anyway favourites don't always win competitions. Liverpool were once the favourites to win the Premier League last season and look what happened there...........
Posted by: -SCOTT- 13th December 2014, 07:57 PM
Because of last week's voting figures leaking today: Ben 50%, Fleur 22%, Andrea 16%
Posted by: Michael Bubré 13th December 2014, 08:01 PM
These voting figures 'leaks' are quite often fake aren't they? What is the source for this?
Posted by: Merry Fareekmas! 13th December 2014, 08:02 PM
Oh I see. Well that was last week, doesn't mean Ben will get the most votes again this week.
Posted by: -SCOTT- 13th December 2014, 08:05 PM
No, it's from the Daily Star which (surprisingly) have been very accurate with X Factor vote leaks over the years.
Posted by: frosTthesnowBoy 13th December 2014, 08:09 PM
Matt Cardle top 5 in both is brilliant. Should be top in both really.
Posted by: fchd 13th December 2014, 08:26 PM
Latest odds (best odds available via oddschecker)
Ben Haenow - 5/6
Fleur East - 7/5
Andrea Faustini - 16/1
So Ben is definitely the favourite at the moment, with the odds trending in his favour with every single bookie listed.
Of course, as someone mentioned, favourites don't always win.
Posted by: fchd 13th December 2014, 08:42 PM
And just to show how quickly things can change, two bookies now have them as joint favourites and one has Fleur has a marginal "jolly". Even Andrea has seen her odds drop to 14/1
Posted by: Mistletoahspike 13th December 2014, 08:46 PM
You don't follow the show do you?!
Posted by: fchd 13th December 2014, 08:51 PM
No, I take it Andrea is a bloke then!
Fleur East (who I'm pretty sure is a woman!) is now slight favourite across the board.
Posted by: zeus555 13th December 2014, 10:10 PM
Over-all Leona Lewis has actually been the most long term success from The X Factor.
She's had UK Top 5 Singles from 2006 to 2013.
Posted by: zeus555 13th December 2014, 10:10 PM
Although Shayne Ward recorded 'That's My Goal' in 2005, it was actually offered to Westlife in 2003.
Westlife rejected it, as they felt that it was very weak.
Posted by: zeus555 13th December 2014, 10:10 PM
In today's 'The Sun' Simon Cowell said that if he saw Andrea performing in a Club he would not sign him.
That he lacks something. He called him 'Too predictable'. He added that he 'Would not be a fit' at his Label.
(That Andrea would not fit in there, in other words).
As the 'Competition' is still on-going I thought that it was a very inappropriate thing to say. After all, it is supposed to be a 3
way Final Weekend. It is as if Simon already knows that Fleur will win, so he sees no reason why he cannot say negative things
about Andrea in the UK Press.
Posted by: Dobbo 13th December 2014, 10:16 PM
Westlife rejected it, as they felt that it was very weak.
Says it all when even Westlife feel a song is too weak
Posted by: Jonjo 13th December 2014, 10:47 PM
So would Leona have the third best selling album with 'Echo', if all X Factor winners albums were involved? 
Such a flop. omg.
Posted by: Michael Bubré 13th December 2014, 11:18 PM
Such a flop. omg.
Not calling her a flop but considering only 2 of the X Factor winners' debut albums went 2x platinum, it's not really *that* impressive for the follow-up to a 3m+ seller to outsell all but those two.
Posted by: The Hit Parade 14th December 2014, 12:30 AM
That he lacks something. He called him 'Too predictable'. He added that he 'Would not be a fit' at his Label.
(That Andrea would not fit in there, in other words).
As the 'Competition' is still on-going I thought that it was a very inappropriate thing to say. After all, it is supposed to be a 3
way Final Weekend. It is as if Simon already knows that Fleur will win, so he sees no reason why he cannot say negative things
about Andrea in the UK Press.
Or he's deliberately trying to whip up votes with his carefully managed Mr Nasty persona?
Posted by: MistleJoe. 14th December 2014, 01:19 AM
She is the best all-round package to come out of the show for me, musically. Both albums were very strong (yes even the last one) and i hope she continues to make more
I agree with this. And people have generally forgotten what she achieved. I'd go to the length to say her second era flopped so much the general public didn't even realise she had a second era, it was handled terribly and have little support.
The first album was a great success with a handful of successful singles to go with it. I'd say every single choice was great (apart from Start Without You - which went to number 1 anyway)
Posted by: BillyH 14th December 2014, 03:04 AM
The astonishing one for me is still Impossible. I still can't quite believe how big that was given the show had properly passed its peak by then, what made it so big in comparison to the other two post 2010?
Posted by: frosTthesnowBoy 14th December 2014, 10:18 AM
Impossible is also a shocking cover. I'm so glad James Arthur never ended up being huge, and I don't say that about a lot of artists.
Posted by: Eric_Blob 14th December 2014, 10:27 AM
Am I the only one surprised at Matt Cardle's single sales. Didn't it pass a million ages ago, and now it's only at 1.01 million? I know X Factor singles don't tend to trickle-sell well, but I didn't think they'd sell that slow.
James Arthur's sales were probably helped a bit since I think his was the first year where the winner's single was also a charity single.
Posted by: Regina 14th December 2014, 11:14 AM
That Shayne slayage *.*
Posted by: zeus555 14th December 2014, 11:27 AM
Apparently the 2014 Winner's Single will be the OneRepublic Single from 2013 - 'Something I Need'.
It was not released in the UK or USA, but it was a Top 10 Hit in Australia & New Zealand.
Posted by: Vidcapper 14th December 2014, 11:31 AM
So that'll be in about 1000 weeks then...
Posted by: Dobbo 14th December 2014, 11:47 AM
It was not released in the UK or USA, but it was a Top 10 Hit in Australia & New Zealand.
I wonder if that may actually affect the sales as it's the first time it'll be a complete mystery song to the majority of the public. Of course there'll be the contingent that supports the winner & buys the song regardless of whether they know it but I suspect a small fraction may be put off...
Posted by: Jayeux Noël 14th December 2014, 12:25 PM
I'd say Leona's A Moment Like This could fall into that category too. Most viewers probably hadn't heard it before or realised that it was Kelly Clarkson's winning song on American Idol 4 years previously (she launched in the UK with Miss Independent).
I don't think the 2014 winners single being a largely unknown song will necessarily be an offputting factor, perhaps it could be an advantage because it'll seem fresh? I assume a fair chunk of the X Factor viewers probably weren't aware of the likes of Hallelujah, When We Collide, Cannonball or Impossible either. These were all slightly more left field choices than Against All Odds, When You Believe etc.
Posted by: Hadji 14th December 2014, 01:35 PM
It was not released in the UK or USA, but it was a Top 10 Hit in Australia & New Zealand.
OneRepublic's version may enter the top 40 next week as every other original version of the winners song has
Posted by: truly talented 15th December 2014, 08:38 AM
Wonder if using this unreleased track is a down payment for getting Ryan Tedder on board to write for the winner's album.
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