X Factor winner Alexandra Burke set to perform with Elton John following a tremendous number with Beyonce.
“Thank you for making my dreams come true, everyone,” said a tearful but jubilant Alexandra Burke when she won “The X Factor” on Saturday. The 20 year old with the powerful voice won the heart of Britain and a cool one-million-pound recording deal as she swept up the majority of votes of the 8 million viewer audience of the show, beating the vocal harmony group JLS who came in second place and Eoghan Quigg, the teenager from Northern Ireland who had to settle for third place.
The singer said after the nail biting final “I went for this show three years ago and I got told to go home because I wasn’t ready. I took three years to get myself ready, I came back and look what’s happened.” Louis Walsh dismissed the talented Burke 3 years ago after she made it to the top 21, but now she is looking forward to a clear path to international fame just like Leona Lewis winner of the 2007 season of X Factor.
Already stepping up to a throne in stardom, Alexandra Burke will wow viewers at the London O2 Arena on New Year’s Eve, performing with the legendary Elton John.
Judge Simon Cowell, known for his blunt and sometimes harsh critiques of the contestants, finally said “I’m rarely speechless but I am now. Alex, God bless you. You deserved it. No-one can deny what this girl achieved tonight. There would have been a riot if she hadn’t won. I’ve got a really good feeling this is going to be one of the biggest-selling ‘X Factor’ singles. I’ve got a good feeling about her.”
Burke and the other finalists got to perform with icons of the music industry in the last battle for viewers votes. Beyonce and Burke sang “Listen” while Quigg performed with fellow Irishmen Boyzone singing “Picture of You”. JLS also produced a beautiful version of “Flying Without Wings” with Westlife, but after a heated battle where the contestants also had to sing a Christmas song, Alex Burke emerged triumphant as 2008’s X Factor.
She is certainly going to be propelled into the limelight - with the fastest-selling single by a solo female artist. But what a weird phenomena - one song (Hallelujah) by Leonard Cohen at the top spot, number two AND number 36 in the charts! Burke’s cover also doubled the weekly download record that Leona Lewis set in 2006 by selling 289,000 digital copies. It’s not just winning X-Factor - there’s a whole machine behind it too.
The X Factor has been fabulous this time round and Alexandra Burke has got to be the most deserving winner. I’m so proud of her determination to succeed, and I hope she goes on to great success!
I can’t get to the 02 Arena for New Year but I’m gonna love seeing it on TV or DVD at some point. Elton brings Vegas to London the papers say - and they also picked up on his outrageous comment about preferring to have his wiener bitten off by an Alsatian than watch X Factor…..even though the lovely Alexandra Burke will accompany him for New Year??
Well I’m one of the lucky ones to have tickets for tonight! Can’t wait! The Rocket Man to get New Year off to a flying start!