Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke (born 25 August 1988)[1] is an English singer, songwriter and actress. She won the fifth series of the talent television show The X Factor in 2008. Following the show, she was signed to Syco Music and released the winner's single "Hallelujah", which became the European record holder for the most singles sold over a period of 24 hours, selling 105,000 in one day,[2] and became the top-selling single of 2008 in the UK and the UK's Christmas 2008 number one.
Alexandra Burke
In 2009, Burke released her debut studio album, Overcome, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spawned four number-one singles on the UK Singles Chart and the Irish Singles Chart—"Hallelujah", "Bad Boys", "All Night Long" and "Start Without You". The singles released from the album earned her three BRIT Award nominations. The album saw the release of UK top 10 hit, "Broken Heels" and "The Silence".[3] "Elephant" was released as Burke's comeback single in February 2012, and "Let It Go" served as the second single. Burke's second studio album, Heartbreak on Hold, was released in June 2012.[4] In 2018, she released her third studio album, The Truth Is, through Universal Music Group's Decca Records.
In June 2014, Burke replaced Beverley Knight in the lead role of Rachel Marron in the West End musical The Bodyguard, at the Adelphi Theatre,[5] touring with the production in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.[6] In 2016, Burke commenced a 12-month residency in Sister Act the Musical, leading the cast as Deloris Van Cartier.[7] In 2017, she competed in the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing alongside dance partner Gorka Márquez, which they finished as runners-up.
Life and career[edit]
Early life and career beginnings[edit]
Alexandra Burke was born in Islington, London on 25 August 1988, daughter of David Burke (born 1954) and British soul singer Melissa Bell (1964–2017).[8]
Burke shares the middle names Cecelia Ewen with her mother and her sister, Sheneice.[9] Burke said that she had to grow up very fast, at a very young age as her mother was always touring with her band and that she had to look after her young brother, which included taking him to and picking him up from school.[10] Burke's parents separated in 1992, while she was still young, but the pair continued to co-parent their children.[10]
2005–2008: The X Factor[edit]
Burke auditioned for the second series of The X Factor in 2005 (which was eventually won by Shayne Ward). She made it through to the final seven in Louis Walsh's 16–24 category, effectively the top 21 of the competition, but Walsh did not choose her for his final four as he felt that she was too young. Yet Burke did not give up and went on to seek professional singing lessons over the following three years.
Burke's second bid to win The X Factor came in 2008. Falling into the "Girls" category, she was mentored by Girls Aloud's Cheryl who selected her for the finals—a series of ten weekly live shows in which contestants are progressively eliminated by public vote. On the first live show, Burke performed Whitney Houston's classic "I Wanna Dance with Somebody". For the second live show she covered "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5. In week three, big band week, Burke performed Christina Aguilera's "Candyman" and received her first standing ovation. For the disco-themed fourth live show, Burke performed Donna Summer's "On the Radio". During Mariah Carey week on 8 November, Burke and the other finalists met Carey for individual masterclasses, with Carey complimenting Burke on her voice. Burke performed "Without You" and received a standing ovation from the judges, who all gave her positive feedback. In weeks 6 and 7, Burke received positive comments from the judging panel for her performances of "You are so Beautiful" and Dan Hartman's "Relight My Fire" (the popularity of which in the UK is mostly a result of Take That's 1993 revival thereof). The quarter-final saw her replace Diana Vickers as the bookies' favourite after performing Britney Spears' "Toxic" and Beyoncé' "Listen", for which she received another standing ovation. In the semi-final, Burke performed Rihanna's hit song "Don't Stop the Music" and Toni Braxton hit "Un-Break My Heart".
Burke avoided the final showdown every week and was joined in the grand final by Northern Irish teenager Eoghan Quigg and 4-piece boyband JLS. The three finalists were required to sing three songs – a Christmas song, a duet with an established music artist, and the song from their favourite performance of the series. Her Christmas song was an adaptation of "Silent Night". She then sang "Listen" as a duet with Beyoncé (who later performed her UK number-one single "If I Were a Boy"), and after performing with the American singer she proclaimed: "I have achieved a dream". Her final song before the first-round voting result was "You Are So Beautiful".
After the elimination of Quigg, Burke sang what was to become her debut single, a cover of a 1984 song by Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah, for the first time. Finally, with over eight million votes cast in total, Burke was revealed as the winner of The X Factor 2008 with 58% of the final vote.[11] She performed the single again alongside the other X Factor contestants, and at parts she was too moved to sing. The single went on to become the Christmas number one of 2008, holding the top spot for three weeks and selling one million copies. At this time there was also a campaign to take Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah to the top of the Christmas chart to deny Burke the top spot.[12] The campaign was fuelled by Jeff Buckley fans' dislike of The X Factor's commercialism and the song's arrangement,[13][14] as well as a desire by this contingent to introduce younger music fans to Buckley's version.[15] Burke herself was not enamoured of the choice of song, and dismissed the original by remarking "It just didn't do anything for me".[14] As winner, Burke received a recording contract with record label Syco, which is co-owned by Sony Music Entertainment. The contract had a stated value of £1 million, of which £150,000 was a cash advance and the remainder allocated to recording and marketing costs.[16]
Artistry[edit]
Music and voice[edit]
Burke's music is contemporary R&B, and also features soul and pop in certain songs. Burke's vocal range has been compared to those of Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston and Beyoncé.[88]
Since winning The X Factor, signing a record deal with Syco Music and recording her debut album Overcome, Burke has been heavily involved in creating the music she records and releases.[89] She said about being involved with the album's music: "I said to my manager I want my music to be fun, to be uplifting and to be bold. I want it to reflect my personality. I want it to be in your face, I want it to be a beast. I want it to be energetic and fun. When I record the ballads I want to cry. And if I go through a roller coaster recording this album then I want the listener to go through a roller coaster when they hear it."[90] During her first studio album, the genre ranged from heavy R&B songs to dance-pop tracks, after she collaborated with dance production team RedOne, as well as working with Stargate and Ne-Yo. Burke labelled her first album as "very Americanised".[10]
"The Silence", Burke's sixth single from Overcome was an emotional R&B ballad inspired by her aunt's relationship with her boyfriend.[91] She said: "My auntie was going through that situation and she came over to Los Angeles to spend some time with me and get away from her fella, etc. And she was telling me about her situation and [...] why does he let the silence do the talking? Why doesn't he let you know how he feels? And then this song came about".[91] Burke said that her voice will give the tracks soul, but the music is pop and R&B. Although Burke did not have any writing credits on her first album, during the production of her second studio album, Heartbreak on Hold she went to writing camp with many Americans.[92] Burke has received co-writing credits on a number of songs on her second album.[92] She said that she was going to get "down and dirty", "sexier", and a lot "fiercer". Burke also announced she wanted to take more risks on the second LP and that she was going to go "insane" on Heartbreak on Hold.[36] On her second album, Burke's album features electropop,[93] R&B and electro house.[94] She was the executive producer on her second album and said that "what [she says, goes]" but that she still takes advice from her management.
Other ventures[edit]
Fashion lines[edit]
In 2010, it was reported that Burke and JLS who came second to Burke during The X Factor were in talks to release a clothing line together.[99] JLS and Burke said that they have wanted to release a clothing line since before they were famous.[100] The pair have been using ideas and inspiration which they have collected together over the years.[100] It was later reported that the company would be called 2KX and the company would sell a range of men and women's clothing which could be worn casually during the day or for a dressed up night out.[100] With the clothing range being sold exclusively at branches of USC around the United Kingdom and Ireland.[100] 2KX was released in Spring 2011 during a heat wave in the United Kingdom which raised sales of the company.[100] In order to promote the company, both artists began wearing the clothing at gigs performances, music videos as well as Facebook page opening for the company, an official website launch and YouTube ads.[101] JLS wore the clothes in their music video for "Love You More".[101]
Burke later signed a modelling contract with IMG Models.[101] Burke and JLS took part in a photoshoot wearing the clothing to promote the range. In one of the images the group poses in underwear. Another image shows them in clothing ranges which would be included in the Spring Collection.[102] The company will accommodate for men and women, with JLS designing for the men and Burke designing for the women.[102] The company will reflect their personal styles and their love for fashion.[102] It was reported that the Underwear Collection would launch in March 2011,[102] and their Clothing Collection would be released the following month.[103][104] The underwear which went on sale in March 2011, price ranged between £15 – £19[105] Burke said that they wanted the clothes to retail at a "reasonable price" that people would be able to afford.[102] Burke was praised for her dresses and for bringing her own style to the fashion line.[106] Burke and JLS decided to release a t-shirt from the company almost five months before the company was due to launch, in order to raise money for Capital FM's Help a Capital Child charity campaign. The aim was to raise £10,000 for charity by 1 January 2011. The t-shirts were priced at £15 with £1.50 from each sold T-shirt going to the charity.[107] The company did reach their funding target.[102] The company name, 2KX, refers to "2010", the year in which Burke and JLS founded the company and launched the label officially. 2K is the abbreviation for the year "2000" and "X" is the Roman numeral for 10.[108] The company is based London.[109]
Reality television[edit]
Burke first appeared on reality television in 2001, when she took part in the second series of Star for a Night. She became the runner-up of the series, behind Joss Stone. She went on to audition for the second series of The X Factor in 2005, where she made it to judges houses before her mentor Louis Walsh decided she was too young to continue in the competition. She returned to The X Factor for its fifth series in 2008, where she went on to win the competition with 58% of the public vote. In 2010, she was a guest judge on the British version of So You Think You Can Dance, during the auditions and choreography camp stages.[110] She also appeared as a guest judge during the fourth week of the eighth series of The X Factor.
Burke was one of the last ever celebrity contestants to appear on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? before the show ended in February 2014.[111]
She is also a Manchester United fan, having appeared on MUTV.[112]
In August 2017, Burke was announced as a contestant on the fifteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[76] She was partnered with professional dancer Gorka Márquez.[77] On 16 December, Burke and Márquez reached the finals of the competition, and finished in joint second place.[113]
Philanthropy[edit]
From a young age Burke has supported a number of charities around the United Kingdom. Before Burke auditioned for The X Factor and attained a successful music career, she went on tour with Young Voices. Burke performed in large venues such as the Royal Albert Hall before she became famous. Burke went on tour with her mother's band, Soul II Soul where Burke sang to raise money for charity.[9] Burke's mother, Melissa Bell, said that herself and Burke only do professional gigs together for charity.[9] In 2008, while Burke was a contestant on The X Factor she and her fellow series five contestants released a cover of Mariah Carey's "Hero" for the Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion charities. The release was backed by, and originally suggested by, The Sun newspaper.
On 30 October 2008 it was announced that British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling would waive all tax on copies sold on the single. He said:
Personal life[edit]
In 2015, at the age of 27, Alexandra Burke appeared on Channel 4's Celebrity First Dates; her date was a professional model named Louis.[137][138] On camera they both agreed to a second date but as the credits rolled the viewers were informed Burke had met someone else. In January 2018 she became engaged to stage manager Joshua Ginnelly.[139][140] In July 2019, three weeks after separating from her fiancé, Burke was photographed with new boyfriend Rotherham United defender Angus Macdonald during their date at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. By August 2019, Macdonald had been diagnosed with bowel cancer, an illness he later recovered from. The couple announced their separation on 21 October 2020.[140]
In June 2020, Burke spoke about the racism she had encountered in the music industry. She said that industry figures had previously asked her to bleach her skin, not have braided hair and tailor her music to a white audience.[141]
On 14 February 2022, Burke announced that she was expecting a baby with her boyfriend Darren Randolph.[142] On 10 October 2022, she confirmed on Loose Women that her child was born in June 2022.[143][144]
