Live: Alexandra Burke

Verdict: ***

ALEX BURKE: I don't want to meet my brother

No1 singer Alex blasts lost relative for 'selling out'.

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By John Earls, 22/11/2009

Mencap Little Noise Sessions, London

THE last time anyone saw Alexandra Burke sing live, she was bursting into tears while trying to sing Hallelujah after winning last year's X Factor.

She's come a long way since, with her debut album, Overcome, full of confident, catchy R&B songs as good as anything Alex's heroine Beyonce has to offer.

Why, then, does she bottle it at her first proper concert, filling her show with covers that do little to dispel Sting's claim that The X Factor is glorified karaoke?

The show's 16million viewers already know Alex has a great voice, and she dutifully proves it again on emotional covers of Michael Jackson's I'll Be There and Oleta Adams' soul classic Get Here.

But it's a wasted opportunity to prove Alex's own considerable talent, as she performs only three of her own songs. Two of those - Dangerous and the chart-topping Bad Boys - are as sexy as they are infectious. Alex is a mean mover, as she struts around two crotch-grabbing male dancers.

With her energetic display and cheeky teasing of the crowd between songs, Alex has a big personality that could easily fill arenas.

Yet the show itself is cheap. Not only is it stuffed with pointless covers, it's all done to a backing track... which starts scratching on soaring ballad, The Silence.

At least the problems can be easily solved and Alex proves she's got the charisma to last longer than Shayne Ward or Ray Quinn. But, as for her management, they're a right bunch of burks.

Your comments

This article has 8 comments

Hallelujah have sold over 2 million and it's the biggest single from a British famale singer ever. Also her Album Overcome is Platinum in the UK, what are you talking about? Alex is doing great. Someone get a Platinum Album and they have failed?little voices is to help, MANCAP, it's NOT a big showbiz event just leave her alone. It's down to her management to get her a live band and backup singers. That will all come in time with Clive Davis taking over from Simon Cowell.

By Pauline Green.. Posted November 23 2009 at 1:00 AM.

Overcome Platinum
Hallelujah 2x Platinum
Bad Boys Platinum

I wouldn't call, these sell figures lackustre either, also Clive Davis is taking over Alex career. Just layoff her. Didn't she have 2 number 1 singles and a number 1 album? Well done Alex, happy to see Alex back with her mother she was at the show with Alex it was a great show.

Alexandra, was singing for Mancap, It's was to raise money for special need people. Alexandra is doing really well, and I love her album it's great. It's down to her management, but she will get a live band she need to request these things. I was at the show and she was great and live her voice was really powerful, I don't see anything negative it's not a competition, it was to raise money for Mancap.

By Helen Brown.. Posted November 23 2009 at 12:47 AM.

this is to melanie. alexandra's album is platinum so way over 260,000 and yes maybe shayne has sold 1.8 million singles sales but how many singles was that? alexandra has sold 1.5 million maybe a little more with two singles. i'm not dissing shayne, he's got a great voice and a great performer but 'lacklustre sales' is hardly true is it now?

by the way, alexandra's first headlining was in a church so isn't going to be this big spectacular show but i'm sure she could pull it off with ease.

By darren.. Posted November 22 2009 at 7:04 PM.

No need to belittle Shayne, He is an incredible talent, with a fantastic voice and is successful in his own right with 13 number ones to his name, both his album went platinum and his 3rd is coming out in 2010, just because hes had a break doesnt make him a flop he like Justin Timberlake has had 2 majorly successful albums and like Justin he is having a break. He has also been recording. Alex should have her chance and so im not gonna compare em, but seriously ask anyone whos seen him live and ask them if he has charisma, Why does no one give him credit where its due? He is a success story but for some reason everyone tries to forget that, just look at statistics.

By Jess.. Posted November 22 2009 at 5:10 PM.

Alex is a great singer and an all rounder, I am sure she will do a proper tour soon but this was not it.All Little Noise gigs are minimal not big lights, big stage big performance.All the reviews have been great and Alex has a superb voice and future.Simon Cowell said last night that both Leona and Alex have talent and can sell records.I have to agree though, what are her management doing with her. People want to hear more of that voice, get her touring and soon.

By Sue.. Posted November 22 2009 at 3:07 PM.

Do not forget that this was a bare bones charity gig not a proper concert,Little Noise is an acoustic set that raises money for MENCAP.She sang beatifully and proved she is a superstar in the making.
Emma just because you like Shayne there is no need to belittle Alex, how can her sales be lacklustre if she has barely been recording for less than a year.She will be around for a long time and deservedly so.

By Bernard.. Posted November 22 2009 at 2:48 PM.

Please, Emma. Comparing her to Shayne Ward is absolutely ridicolous! He's been around for much longer than Alex and has already 2 studio albums and working on his third now. So I guess your points are totally irrelevant and incorrect too.

Alex has the charisma, personality, dance moves and amazing vocal ability that will keep her in this music industry. There's nothing amazing or special about Shayne, which is why his career went down the toilet.

By Melanie.. Posted November 22 2009 at 12:34 AM.

Shayne Ward has the charisma, and has already done two solo arena tours of the UK. He has sold over one million albums (Alex has currently sold 260,000) and 1.8 million singles (Alex has sold 1.5 million). He has released two albums in 2006 and November 2007 and has many fans. Unfortunately Simon Cowell has delayed the release of his third album to concentrate on Leona and Alex.

Alex will only have a career as long as Simon Cowell remains interested, and with her lacklustre sales she might not be around for much longer.

By Emma.. Posted November 21 2009 at 11:02 PM.

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