Comments on: Alexandra Burke Wins Simon Cowell’s X Factor

By: itsalleternal

itsalleternal — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:36:38 +0000

My thinking: X Factor will be coming to America in 2011, once the AI broadcasting deal expires.

By: khomphuong

khomphuong — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:20:52 +0000

I think these 2 guys (Not famous) sing better than Alex... Check this out. David choi (the guy on ur left) is good.

By: maryannaflapjack

maryannaflapjack — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:10:10 +0000

If anyone’s looking for a really good woman’s version of Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…â€œHallelujahÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , try k.d. lang. Here’s a live performance of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE

By: SallyinIllinois

SallyinIllinois — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:06:45 +0000

It was kind of Beyonce to appear esp. after what Simon said about her in the past. A good sport.

As for Alexandra, sorry but I see Broadway in her future, like many of the ex-Idols. The field is too crowded right now with her type of singer. If she cannot break out of the Diana-ross-cross-over-pop-R&B mode, (say go the Sharon Jones or a blues singer mode), then she’s toast. The entertainment field is just too crowded. And for Simon to say she’ll make her a bigger star than Leona….well, I wonder how Leona is taking that….he always manages to get singers to compete against each other.

By: lavender1960

lavender1960 — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:37:37 +0000

Two R & B divas in a row though for X Factor, like the world doesn’t have enough R & B divas, is that all the UK’s got?

Well yes is there such as thing as too many good R & B divas. At least Leona Lewis has a unqiue quality to her voice that I can’t put into words.

By: Rea

Rea — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:14:25 +0000

That being said, IÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve heard some other stuff of hers and she ainÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t bad. I do want to kick SimonÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s ass for treating Syesha so bad, yet praising these clones of other singers across the pond. SyeshaÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s listen was every bit as good as Ms. BurkeÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s maybe even better. Maybe one day he will be youtubing and catch it.

Simon didn’t praise Alexandra at first. She got some critique similar to Syesha. I remember they showed a backstage video of her crying and saying it’s difficult to hear Simon say that Laura and Diana are so unique and she isn’t. (Or something like that.) Later she was able to sing some better songs (like Relight My Fire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ia9k679kBU ) and show her personality. Maybe if they would have had different themes on AI Syesha would have also been able to prove herself as a performer more. But I do think that Simon expects to hear big voices in the US but when he hears them in the UK he is pleasantly surprised.

ETA: Here is the backstage video and Alex singing Candyman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvb07wFpJhY

By: gingerly

gingerly — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:52:34 +0000

I happen to think that Jason broke the song for Idol. Nobody can live up to that. While his isn’t the best version ever (imo) it is the quintessential Idol version that can’t even be lived up to. Some songs (like anything David Cook sang) should never be attempted on Idol (or X-factor or whatever you want to call it) again. That Simon asks people to do them again is really sad although he wanted David Cook to do FTEISYF and he nailed it…how many times could that happen?

By: Jae

Jae — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:01:23 +0000

This girl has a nice voice but her take on that song doesn’t do it for me like Castro’s…or the original by buckley or cohen. I think its the maie sentiment that makes it work. I still love JC’s version but maybe becasue that is the one I heard first. I have herd him do a more complete version sense Idol and he rocks that song. These “me too’s” can’t cut it. I am waiting for someone on Idol to do it.

By: abbysee

abbysee — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:24:15 +0000

I love this song and loved it way before Jason sang it on AI. If I am not mistaken it was on the AI radar for some reason it was discussed during season 5, not sure why and it what context, and that was when I heard scores of covers. My fave will always be Leonard Cohen’s because of the ‘character’ of his voice, the lyrics are emphasized. With this song, that is key. I loved the Buckley and Lang version equally. Both stunning. John Cale’s is prolly right under those. Haven’t heard Bon Jovi do it so I will check that one out now. I just think it’s an incredible song. I didn’t might the Alex Burke rendition too much until the caterwauling began. She needed to realize that less is more in most cases.

That being said, I’ve heard some other stuff of hers and she ain’t bad. I do want to kick Simon’s ass for treating Syesha so bad, yet praising these clones of other singers across the pond. Syesha’s listen was every bit as good as Ms. Burke’s maybe even better. Maybe one day he will be youtubing and catch it.

By: gabam

gabam — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:57:38 +0000

I really love some of Leonard Cohen’s versions of “Hallelujah”. I had never heard the song and had never heard of Cohen until Top 24 week when Jason sang the song. I had heard of Buckley but I didn’t know any of his songs.

After Jason sang the song, I bought his version and the Cohen and Buckley versions. I also looked up their videos on YouTube. I can look at the Cohen ones for hours (and I have). Some of the live performances this year are terrific. I love the versions that he did years ago too. I love how he changes up the song verses whenever the mood strikes. The audience can never know which lyric set he will sing in concert.

Jason must have reminded Simon of how much he liked the song and when both versions had great sales on iTunes, Simon probably just saw dollar sings from then on when he heard the song.

By: sabby_rina

sabby_rina — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:47:33 +0000

Anyone heard Halleujah done by Allison Crowe? She covers in on the piano and it’s quite lovely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIMOdVXAPJ0

I’ve got her version in my ipod along with Buckley, Castro, and Rufus Wainwright’s.

By: Rea

Rea — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:40:27 +0000

I love how Alexandra grabs the single from Dermot. :lol_wp:

BTW I thought Alexandra’s earlier version of Hallelujah was better. She wasn’t quite so emotional at this point yet…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wRzOxi086A

By: listen

listen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:58:47 +0000

Dlynne – I forgot about Bon Jovi’s version; thanks for reminding me. I love his version as well, though not quite as much as KD Lang’s.

There is another Bon Jovi tubey link that was posted about a year ago. On that one some of the comments re Bon Jovi were really hateful and mean. I guess lots of people just don’t like the guy or his singing or something. And many people thought he shouldn’t have dared to sing Hallelujah. Regardless of what one thinks of a singer’s prior work, you would think a person would try to judge a performance on its own merits. I am not a huge Bon Jovi fan, but I thought his version of Hallelujah was right on. I especially like the violin – thought it brought a beautiful, haunting quality to the song.

By: clee1107

clee1107 — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:05:46 +0000

bigjr6633 Thank you.
Beyonce was amazing. Beyonce and Alexandra duet was great.
My favorite was Ruth. Especially, purple rain and Knocking on HeavenÃƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Door was insane. She blew me away. She was 5th. right? I’m fine with that.
I think Alexandra has showed various type of music and performance during the competition. She can sing and dance. That’s why I enjoyed her performance.
Anyway…I was a little disappointed with top 3. Among top three finalists, Alex. was a right winner. well…the competition is over. I just wish her best luck.

By: Dlynne

Dlynne — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:44:09 +0000

I’m sorry I missed this show. I will have to watch next time.

I love the Hallelujah wars. hee! My favorite female performance is by KD Lang. She just blows me away. There are at least a dozen different performances on youtube and she’s hard to beat.

Having said that, my favorite male performance, besides by Jeff Buckley, is Jason Castro’s. I was unfamiliar with the song (I know, I know, head under a rock) until he sang it on AI and I fell in love with it.

But there is another performance by Jon Bon Jovi that is pretty amazing too. It’s got a different vibe, obviously. Here’s a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnPg0MyKydc

ETA: Jon’s is also worth watching because he’s very easy on the eyes!