Indeed, having just watched Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny show on BBC iPlayer there was no shortage of "World Class Performances" from UK female singers Duffy, Adele, Lily Allen (a shockingly great turn at "The Lady Is A Tramp") & a peerless performance from a back on form Annie Lennox of "Why".

 

Anyone with half a musical ear can tell that Alexandra Burke is nowhere near their league in terms of star quality.

LILY ALLEN? Ok, I can see why you would say Adele and Duffy (even though I still disagree), but LILY ALLEN? That just murdered your argument. :o

 

Fair enough it being your opinion they they're better but the last sentence is b.s. Its very subjective and for me, Alex has/ or could have a better voice than them. She has a lot of faults with her voice but if she can get a lot of vocal training, she could be spectacular IMO. And im sorry but having a lot of diversity and variety is a big factor in a voice and Alex has sooo much of that. I feel she has the whole package and she can go so far.

LILY ALLEN? Ok, I can see why you would say Adele and Duffy (even though I still disagree), but LILY ALLEN? That just murdered your argument. :o

 

Fair enough it being your opinion they they're better but the last sentence is b.s. Its very subjective and for me, Alex has/ or could have a better voice than them. She has a lot of faults with her voice but if she can get a lot of vocal training, she could be spectacular IMO. And im sorry but having a lot of diversity and variety is a big factor in a voice and Alex has sooo much of that. I feel she has the whole package and she can go so far.

 

I really have no need to add anything, as your post has shown you up musically. She has been singing since she was 12 and has been playing regular gigs at the weekends and within a Gospel Choir for the past 3 years. All X-Factor proved is that she was durable enough to with stand the pressure on the voice (that was definitely Diana Vickers downfall). Whilst her mum was a former session singer & a lead singer of Soul II Soul, had starred in two West End Musicals alongside Sinitta! Oh, and is now a ............ professional vocal coach. :rofl: Therefore I don't think it is unreasonable to assume that Alexandra was near the maximum of her vocal capacity for her age which is why she was by far the most consistent act of the series never putting in a dud performance.

 

Alexandra Burke is the r'n'b vocal equivalent of do fries go with that sir. Mediocre ordinary McDonalds/Burger King fast food vocals. Sure she can hold a tune in a bucket ... but so could Michelle McManus and look what happened to her. There is absolutely nothing unique, special or distinctive about her IMHO which is why Simon Cowell's claims that she is "World Class" look laughable and as ludicrous as you'd expect from someone who has said that Bjork is the worst recording voice he has ever heard; thinks The Beatles were "grossly overrated" (he rates Abba & Queen far higher and on one occasion said that he preferred the 1960s output of the Dave Clark 5 & Hermans Hermits to the Fab Four); and said that he completely fails to see what is great about David Bowie & Kate Bush's music, saying that there work is "pretentious" and leaves him completely cold.

 

Being an artist is all about having an instantly distinctive vocal that is instantly recognisable on the Radio. That is something the likes of Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Kate Bush, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Bjork, David Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux, John Lydon, etc have whilst producing their own material.

 

Whilst that is definitely something UK newcomers Duffy, Adele & Lily Allen have with ease.

 

As for Lily Allen ask most people on Buzzjack and they know I've been very highly critical of Keith Allen & Alison Owen's daughter on many many occasions but the singing lessons she has had between first & second albums have vastly improved her singing abilities to go with her instantly distinctive annoying mockney vocals.

 

Lily Allen - The Lady Is A Tramp (on Jools Holland Hootenanny Later 2009)

 

As for Alexandra Burke, well the former head of Polygram Records Richard Park's (& BBC Fame Academy "Headmaster") quote "Nondescript identikit R'n'B" is spot on IMHO. As Richard Park said in December that although technically she is a very good singer there is nothing distinct about her voice to make her stand out from the crowd. Indeed the judges on X-Factor on occasions pointed out her performances were "Stars In Their Eyes" (Well she has previously appeared on the children's talent show Jane McDonald's Star For A Night).

 

Compared to the likes of Leona Lewis, Beverley Knight, Mary J Blige, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, etc or the fantastic new US R'n'B star Jazmine Sullivan who will hopefully be as big in the UK in 2009 as she is stateside; Alexandra Burke is nowhere near their class IMHO.

Sorry TIP but that Lily Allen performance was awful. :lol:

 

That aside, Alexandra is nothing more than your average Pop/RnB puppet. She doesn't have anything about her that sets her on bar with other Pop/RnB singers like Leona, Alicia Keys, etc. heck even Rihanna!

 

"Alexandra! She can sing! She can dance!", yes she can, but not very well! Give her a couple of months and we'll never hear from her again.

i saw lily allen live about 3 years ago and i've always said her songs do nothing for her vocals, aka that mockney accent she defo has a vocal range!!

I really have no need to add anything, as your post has shown you up musically. She has been singing since she was 12 and has been playing regular gigs at the weekends and within a Gospel Choir for the past 3 years. All X-Factor proved is that she was durable enough to with stand the pressure on the voice (that was definitely Diana Vickers downfall). Whilst her mum was a former session singer & a lead singer of Soul II Soul, had starred in two West End Musicals alongside Sinitta! Oh, and is now a ............ professional vocal coach. :rofl: Therefore I don't think it is unreasonable to assume that Alexandra was near the maximum of her vocal capacity for her age which is why she was by far the most consistent act of the series never putting in a dud performance.

 

Alexandra Burke is the r'n'b vocal equivalent of do fries go with that sir. Mediocre ordinary McDonalds/Burger King fast food vocals. Sure she can hold a tune in a bucket ... but so could Michelle McManus and look what happened to her. There is absolutely nothing unique, special or distinctive about her IMHO which is why Simon Cowell's claims that she is "World Class" look laughable and as ludicrous as you'd expect from someone who has said that Bjork is the worst recording voice he has ever heard; thinks The Beatles were "grossly overrated" (he rates Abba & Queen far higher and on one occasion said that he preferred the 1960s output of the Dave Clark 5 & Hermans Hermits to the Fab Four); and said that he completely fails to see what is great about David Bowie & Kate Bush's music, saying that there work is "pretentious" and leaves him completely cold.

 

Being an artist is all about having an instantly distinctive vocal that is instantly recognisable on the Radio. That is something the likes of Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Kate Bush, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Bjork, David Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux, John Lydon, etc have whilst producing their own material.

 

Whilst that is definitely something UK newcomers Duffy, Adele & Lily Allen have with ease.

 

As for Lily Allen ask most people on Buzzjack and they know I've been very highly critical of Keith Allen & Alison Owen's daughter on many many occasions but the singing lessons she has had between first & second albums have vastly improved her singing abilities to go with her instantly distinctive annoying mockney vocals.

 

Lily Allen - The Lady Is A Tramp (on Jools Holland Hootenanny Later 2009)

 

As for Alexandra Burke, well the former head of Polygram Records Richard Park's (& BBC Fame Academy "Headmaster") quote "Nondescript identikit R'n'B" is spot on IMHO. As Richard Park said in December that although technically she is a very good singer there is nothing distinct about her voice to make her stand out from the crowd. Indeed the judges on X-Factor on occasions pointed out her performances were "Stars In Their Eyes" (Well she has previously appeared on the children's talent show Jane McDonald's Star For A Night).

 

Compared to the likes of Leona Lewis, Beverley Knight, Mary J Blige, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, etc or the fantastic new US R'n'B star Jazmine Sullivan who will hopefully be as big in the UK in 2009 as she is stateside; Alexandra Burke is nowhere near their class IMHO.

Well your post has showen you up musically because to suggest that she is near the maximum of her vocal capacity isn't right. Have you not listened to her? Her breathing is dreadful (which also happens to be one of the main things in vocal training) and just overall her voice could be so much more polished. I mean I thought she held her own when singing with Beyonce but technically their voices are on another level and thats because of all.

 

And im gonna come back to this "She can sing, she can dance" thing but its so important and she is so diverse that she could combine so many different genres of music into her Album and make it so good, from proper soul to an RnB/Hip Hop club banger to a straight up pop joint.

 

And comapring her to Michelle Mcmanus is laughable. She was just dreadful!

 

But anyway im sure im not on my own in saying that she has a great voice and well I guess we're gonna have to agree to disagree because I think almost the complete opposite to what you are saying. :\

 

I feel that although Alex may not be the best at many things, she is an all-rounder which can be equally as great. I mean thats the same as beyonce. If you look at a sport like Tennis you dont have to have the an amazing forehand to win the US Open, if you great on each shot then you're still in with a great chance. Alexandra may not be an amazing singer for you but with PROPER and INTENSIVE training she can go from at least being "good" to "great".

 

Oh and that Lily Allen performance is pretty bad.... :puke2:

Edited January 2, 200916 yr by Rena

we also caught the lily allen performance and we both thought it was awful.... was she drunk?

 

but apart from that TIP is spot on.

No, I disagree. I thought she was a good singer, but I was still a bit skeptical about her until that last day... I wasn't led by any hype but I just thought that whole duet was SPECTACULAR and I thought she oozed emotion in the live Hallelujah performance. I havent even bothered buying the single because I much prefer the live version... So much emoton. Its just my personal preference, nothing to do with the Media or Simon Cowell. :)

 

but you clearly ARE being lead by the hype :) and how tf can she ooze emotion about a track she doesnt understand? :wacko: and the whole circus has EVERYTHING to do with the media and cowell....

but you clearly ARE being lead by the hype :) and how tf can she ooze emotion about a track she doesnt understand? :wacko: and the whole circus has EVERYTHING to do with the media and cowell....

Lol, we've already had this conversation. For me shes added something different, a different perspective on how the track should be delivered. It doesn't mean that i've been lead on by any hype. I know as well as you do about cash cowell, but just because I dislike the man, doesn't mean I have to hate Alexandra too. I fully accept and understand that the track doesn't get to you and why you prefer the original version, but you have to accept that just because people will have a different opinion to you in regards to this interpretation, doesn't mean that they have all been brainwashed. I get goosebumps when I listen to it, its got nothing to do with simon cowell, I just think its a great version. Im not here to compare them but I just like it and I don't think you should hold anything against me for doing so.....

Edited January 2, 200916 yr by Rena

Lol, we've already had this conversation. For me shes added something different, a different perspective on how the track should be delivered. It doesn't mean that i've been lead on by any hype. I know as well as you do about cash cowell, but just because I dislike the man, doesn't mean I have to hate Alexandra too. I fully accept and understand that the track doesn't get to you and why you prefer the original version, but you have to accept that just because people will have a different opinion to you in regards to this interpretation, doesn't mean that they have all been brainwashed. I get goosebumps when I listen to it, its got nothing to do with simon cowell, I just think its a great version. Im not here to compare them but I just like it and I don't think you should hold anything against me for doing so.....

 

The thing is though Rena ... she really doesn't stand out from the crowd. I think she'll have her obligatory hit with her first album ... but I do think she'll disappear quite quickly after that. If she reminds me of anyone ... its Bev Knight but with about 1% of the talent.

 

Norma

Lol, well only time will tell....

Burke signs $3.5m US record deal

 

 

X Factor winner Alexandra Burke has signed a $3.5m (£2.4m) US record deal, her spokeswoman has confirmed.

 

Burke, 20, who became the first British female solo artist to sell a million copies in the UK of her debut single Hallelujah, has agreed the deal with Epic Records.

 

The singer is flying out to the US to meet Simon Cowell and the rest of the team who will help with her launch.

 

Burke's X Factor predecessor Leona Lewis also signed a huge US deal.

 

She has been working with the man who discovered singer Whitney Houston.

 

Clive Davis, 74, also mentored Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake.

 

In April 2008, Lewis became the first UK female solo artist to go straight to number one in the US album chart.

 

Burke took the title on the fifth series of The X Factor, after previously auditioning but failing to get through to the live shows.

Bloody hell. I didn't realise they were quite so serious about her. For my money, now the hysteria has gone, Hallelujah is a pretty crap record but she has enough star quality, dancing and vocal ability to be an amazing artist - maybe the new Beyonce.

I hope this goes really well for her, I'd like nothing more than for her to prove the doubters wrong :D

I'm very happy about this because I loved Alexandra all along, but I just hope this doesn't push Leona onto the back burner.

Nobody would be stupid enough to put Leona on the backburner given the success of her debut. I'm still surprised she hasn't toured with it tbh...

 

Fantastic news for Alex. Let's just pray Clive doesn't lump her up with a load of sad ballads. I want upbeatness! Bryan-Michael Cox, Soulshock & Karlin, Jim Jonsin would all be fantastic producers for her.

I think upbeat songs would work much better for her than it would for Leona ... I can see her next big single being a big ballad though.

Hmm, should be interesting I guess. I agree that upbeat songs will suit her better than they did for Leona, Forgive Me would have been quite a good song for Alex.

Alex is not working with Clive Davis.

 

Burke's X Factor predecessor Leona Lewis also signed a huge US deal.

 

She has been working with the man who discovered singer Whitney Houston.

 

Clive Davis, 74, also mentored Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake.

 

That is referring to Leona.

I feel a bit sorry for her to be honest. Unless she comes out with a hugee record (like Bleeding Love) she's always going to be compared to Leona in terms of success. And will most likely always be living under her shadow as an artist.

 

I've never thought Alexandra was anything special, and I still go with that judgement, but i'll wait to hear her material before I go making proper judgements.

She just gave her soul to the devil :(