I don't think Bad Boys is that bad really, it's her least good yes, but then she's had a fantsastic run of singles so far. The production sounds a bit crap though, at least to my ears. Plus I can't say Flo Rida's part does it any favours either.

 

I imagine Elephant will probably slot in just above it. It sounds like its going to be very 'current' (and as if I hadn't mentioned it enough) I hate the current electro/pop/dance sound.

 

Actually, I'm more a fan of balladBeast than uptempobeast anyway, most of my top 10 would be her ballads (Overcome, Before The Rain, Perfect and pretty much all the rest).

 

I did hate Bad Boys when it was first out, but I've come round to it, not hugely though. I'd probably give it a 7/10 like you did.

 

Hell yeah, the main reason I was looking forward to this era were some more ballads. Overcome is straight up amazing, and all the other ballads and midtempos are her best too, generally above the uptempos. She works really well with them.

*cue Jark CRIES of BUT HER UPTEMPOS ARE SO MUCH BETTER*

 

(or similiar)

That's what I love about Alex. She didn't become Leona mark II as expected, bringing a brilliant uptempo R&B/pop album - and yet she STILL brought the ballads. I'd actually say she's the best XF alumni in that respect (in fact I prefer Overcome to both Leona albums).

But they actually ARE!

 

Not that I don't massively like 'The Silence' and 'Overcome', the latter always reminds me of early Anastacia glories.

That's what I love about Alex. She didn't become Leona mark II as expected, bringing a brilliant uptempo R&B/pop album - and yet she STILL brought the ballads. I'd actually say she's the best XF alumni in that respect (in fact I prefer Overcome to both Leona albums).

 

Personally I prefer Echo to Overcome, but both are leaps and bounds better than Spirit. I agree that Alex is a much more interesting artist than Leona though, but I do think Leona is quite capable of doing uptempo's too (Outta My Head is amazing), they just pushed her down the ballad route so far she can't really come back (Collide was piss weak hence it 'flopped'). The fact they marketed Alex as the ''NOT LEONA'' has done her a lot of good really.

I don't mind Alexandra for what she is but that clip of a remix is just as awful and generic as they come, how can people be getting excited over it?

 

Mr Dandy* is a HUGE Alex fan and when I played it to him he wouldn't believe me when I said it was Alexandra, the vocal sections sound warped beyond recognition which is just ridiculous considering her vocal is her main selling point.

Obviously the music/instrumental is generic but it's a club remix, of course it was going to be! The actual vocal melody sounds great though, definitely something worth getting excited over, so we'll see what the production on the single edit is like and whether the verses are any good (the vocals used on the remix are just the bridge and chorus apparently).

 

*cue Jark CRIES of BUT HER UPTEMPOS ARE SO MUCH BETTER*

 

(or similiar)

She's very versatile with the potential to be a great all rounder but thus far the uptempos really have been an awful lot better. The Silence is her only ballad to date that will go down as one of the best songs from the early portion of her career. I know you love it but Overcome is bland dirge to these ears and for a big ballad it really fails at making any kind of emotional connection. The bonus ballads on the reissue were utter horseshit. She can and most likely will do so much better than that.

 

To this day, I still don't get why "The Silence" is a fan favourite. The single edit was alright but, in it's original form, it's possibly the weakest ballad she's recorded in post-X Factor career. Even before "Broken Heels" was released, I was adamant that it'd be a poor single choice and that it wouldn't do well. It didn't. (even with an X Factor performace) "Overcome" and "Perfect" are her best ballads - "Perfect" should have launched the deluxe edition of the album.

 

ANYWAY, this new song sounds pretty promising so far. I was dreading it, expecting it to be literal and connected to her 'beast' nickname. I'm liking that the lyrics are about the 'elephant in the room' and the production sounds fresh. I'm looking forward to the radio edit.

11 The Silence

10 Bad Boys

10 Hallelujah

09 All Night Long

09 Broken Heels

09 Start Without You

 

I really like all her singles to be honest :D

01 All Night Long 8/10

02 The Silence 7/10

03 Hallelujah 6/10

04 Broken Heels 6/10

05 Bad Boys 4/10

06 Start Without You 4/10

 

None of her singles are either a 9 or 10 out of 10. But ANL is a solid 8. Hopefully 'Elephant' will be her best single yet!

 

In terms of her and Leona, I personally think Echo is a stronger album than both Leona's and Alex's debuts. It is more cohesive (bar OMH obviously) and, lyrically, it is the best album by far while, vocally, I'd say the same. Spirit could be a bit dull at times and Overcome just seemed a bit sub-standard in hindsight. But both debut albums are far better than the likes of JLS, Sticks & Stones and Wide Awake.

Overcome is the best X Factor alumni album to date. Less consistent than Echo perhaps but the highs go way, way higher.

 

I know you love it but Overcome is bland dirge to these ears and for a big ballad it really fails at making any kind of emotional connection. The bonus ballads on the reissue were utter horseshit. She can and most likely will do so much better than that.

 

I don't look to ballads for an emotional connection, at least not all the time, I just like them because they mean she can bring the VOX.

 

Well doesn't that miss the point a bit? She brings the vox on EVERY song. But if you're going to have a stripped back big ballad I think a bit of emotion is the least people can expect.

 

Beyonce is turning in her maternity wear at that comment!

Well doesn't that miss the point a bit? She brings the vox on EVERY song. But if you're going to have a stripped back big ballad I think a bit of emotion is the least people can expect.

 

 

She does bring a good vocal to every song, that's true. But the kind of vocal I LOVE (ie. big notes, key changes etc.) isn't really called for on the uptempo's. I don't think you HAVE to listen to a ballad to make an emotional connection, God knows half the ballads I love have all the emotion of a dry roasted peanut.

Beyonce is turning in her maternity wear at that comment!

 

I'm sure she would be if she could be arsed to have her own baby! But you do make a good point and that's probably why I have limited time for Beyoncé when she puts out crap like 4 full of dreary balladry.

She does bring a good vocal to every song, that's true. But the kind of vocal I LOVE (ie. big notes, key changes etc.) isn't really called for on the uptempo's. I don't think you HAVE to listen to a ballad to make an emotional connection, God knows half the ballads I love have all the emotion of a dry roasted peanut.

Do you mean to say that peanuts don't make you emotional? The amount of times I've weeped into a packet of honey-roasted!

 

In terms of commercial appeal, the highs of Overcome are far higher than the highs of Echo. But in terms of quality music, I'd say it is the other way around. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of both Alex and Leona but I'd say the likes of 'Happy', 'Don't Let Me Down' and 'Can't Breathe' are far better than 'All Night Long', 'Bad Boys' and 'Overcome'. I guess the best way to make my point fair is to say I think 'Outta My Head' is just as strong as 'All Night Long' (maybe ANL is slightly better) while 'Happy' is a far better song with more emotion and depth than 'The Silence' and 'Overcome'.

 

Now if I was comparing 'Scene of the Crime' to 'All Night Long', there would be NO contest. :kink:

 

 

I'm sure she would be if she could be arsed to have her own baby! But you do make a good point and that's probably why I have limited time for Beyoncé when she puts out crap like 4 full of dreary balladry.

 

4 isn't "full of dreary balladry"... :mellow:

 

'Run the World (Girls)', 'Countdown', 'End of Time', 'Love on Top' and 'Party' make up almost half the album and they are far from ballads. Also, the likes of 'I Care', 'Rather Die Young' and 'Start Over' are more mid-tempo. The only REAL ballads on the album are 'Best Thing I Never Had', '1+1', 'I Miss You' and 'I Was Here'. Less ballads then there are up-tempos.

+ 'I Miss You' and 'I Was Here' are basically the two best songs on there! FAR from dreary.

 

:D

I Was Here is amazing, oui. It's stuff like I Miss You, Rather Die Young, 1+1 that's dreary (and tuneless in the case of the latter two). But then the mid/uptempos on that record are pretty dreary too. End Of Time and Love On Top in particular are a chore to get through.