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Alexandra Burke's winning of 2008's X-Factor competition instantly made the young starlet a household name, thanks to her immaculate cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Her cover, which contorted Cohen's masterpiece into a soulful gospel record, instantly drew comparisons between Burke and the television's program winner three years earlier; another young British beauty named Leona Lewis. The two ladies' equally spectacular voices and ranges were all too comparable. However, post X-Factor, it's clear that Simon Cowell, the masthead to both of their lucrative careers, is doing a terrific job of musically distinguishing the two up-and-coming divas; Lewis' debut, Spirit, was poised and perfected, much in the vein of Celine Dion. Contrarily, Burke's debut album, Overcome, seems to pull away from much of the preppy glamour that comes with Lewis' overreaching ballads. Burke's debut is brimming with a vocal charm and characterization that Lewis' releases lack. In other words, if Lewis is Dion, Burke is Whitney Houston; an equally compelling vocalist whose imperfections are masked by the kind of charisma that ears crave. Alongside a team of A-List producers (who came with an A-List price tag), Burke delivers a bold and brazen soul-pop album that's so perfected that a quarter could bounce of the shine of the final product. Because of this overproducing, however, Burke unfortunately misses the mark a few times; the forced retro R&B sounds that have been bludgeoned to death in 2009 make their presence here, on numbers like "Bury Me" and "You Broke My Heart" (co-written by a retro contemporary, Pixie Lott). Not to mention, there is more than one track that seems to be stuck in the footsteps of pop groups like Girls Aloud or Sugababes; not necessarily in a bad way, but "Dumb" and "Nothing But the Girl" only perfect the electro-pop formula, they don't glorify it. However, the album is more than saved by some of the best ballads that any new-millennium diva has ever released: "The Silence," a storming, RedOne-produced number, is easily one of the most engaging vocals any singer has recorded for pop radio (yes, including "Bleeding Love") in quite some time. Other songs like "Gotta Go," "They Don't Know," and "Overcome" vary in level of formula and appeal, but all have the chops necessary to sell them. Not to mention, the album is laden with cross-Atlantic appeal. The album's lead single, "Bad Boys," is the most brilliant, perfect mainstream pop single of 2009; its thrashing, synthesized beat and larger-than-life chorus make Burke the prime U.K. import for the North American market, and a little guest chorus from Flo Rida only helps the situation. The album has the aforementioned charisma all the way through (ironically, see "All Night Long"), and Burke's bombastic voice is to be applauded -- not many soulful, booming types like her can even think of true mainstream pop success in 2009, but she stands a real chance. Songs like "Bad Boys" or "It's Over" -- a beautiful, midtempo pop tune probably best geared of all the songs for radio, even as a bonus track -- present a real vocalist who delivers phenomenally while being supported by modern-day beats and hooks. While this album is sometimes too generic and polished for its own good, it is the first record in years that offers us a vocalist like Christina Aguilera who can compete with the present-day Auto-Tuned Britney Spears of the world, and that in itself makes Burke's debut a hit.
© Matthew Chisling /TiVo
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Alexandra Burke Feat. Laza Morgan, Performer - Julian Bunetta, Composer - Julian Bunetta, Lyricist - Kristian Lundin, Composer - Kristian Lundin, Lyricist - Nadir Khayat, Composer - Nadir Khayat, Lyricist - Phil Tan, Mixing Engineer - RedOne, Edited By - RedOne, Engineer - RedOne, Other - RedOne, Producer - RedOne, Programmer - RedOne, Recording Engineer - Savan Kotecha, Composer - Savan Kotecha, Lyricist - Trevor Muzzy, Edited By - Trevor Muzzy, Engineer - Trevor Muzzy, Recording Engineer
(P) 2010 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Background Vocal - Alexandra Burke, Performer - Andreas Romdhane, Recording Engineer - Bilal Hajji, Composer - Bilal Hajji, Lyricist - Erik Arvinder, Performance Arranger - Erik Arvinder, Recording Engineer - Johnny Severin, Edited By - Josef Larossi, Recording Engineer - LJ Singers, Performer - Martin Cooke, Engineer - Martin Cooke, Recording Engineer - Nadir Khayat, Composer - Nadir Khayat, Lyricist - Phil Tan, Mixing Engineer - RedOne, Background Vocal - RedOne, Edited By - RedOne, Engineer - RedOne, Other - RedOne, Performance Arranger - RedOne, Producer - RedOne, Programmer - RedOne, Recording Engineer - Savan Kotecha, Composer - Savan Kotecha, Lyricist
(P) 2010 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexander James, Composer - Alexander James, Lyricist - Alexander James, Producer - Alexandra Burke Feat. Flo Rida, Performer - Christian Plata, 2nd Engineer - Dave Kutch, Mastering Engineer - Erik Madrid, 2nd Engineer - James Busbee, Composer - James Busbee, Lyricist - James Busbee, Producer - Larry Summerville Jr., Composer - Larry Summerville Jr., Lyricist - Lauren Evans, Background Vocal - Lauren Evans, Composer - Lauren Evans, Lyricist - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Melvin Watson Jr., Composer - Melvin Watson Jr., Lyricist - The Phantom Boyz, Producer
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Vocal - Alexandra Burke Feat. Pitbull, Performer - Armando C. Perez, Composer - Armando C. Perez, Lyricist - Christian Plata, 2nd Engineer - Erik Madrid, 2nd Engineer - James Scheffer, Composer - James Scheffer, Lyricist - Jim Jonsin, Keyboards - Jim Jonsin, Programmer - Louis Biancaniello, Composer - Louis Biancaniello, Keyboards - Louis Biancaniello, Lyricist - Louis Biancaniello, Mixing Engineer - Louis Biancaniello, Producer - Louis Biancaniello, Programmer - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Michael Biancaniello, Guitar - Pitbull, Vocal - Ravaughn Brown, Background Vocal - Rico Love, Composer - Rico Love, Lyricist - Rico Love, Producer - Rob Marks, Engineer - Rob Marks, Recording Engineer - Sam Watters, Mixing Engineer - Sam Watters, Producer - Samuel Watters, Composer - Samuel Watters, Lyricist
(P) 2010 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Performer - Ari Levine, Composer - Ari Levine, Lyricist - Ari Levine, Mixing Engineer - Ari Levine, Other - Ari Levine, Recording Engineer - Bruno Mars, Composer - Bruno Mars, Lyricist - Bruno Mars, Other - James Fauntleroy II, Composer - James Fauntleroy II, Lyricist - Marco Marinangeli, Orchestrator - Philip Lawrence, Composer - Philip Lawrence, Lyricist - The Smeezingtons, Producer
(P) 2010 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
AJ Junior, Composer - AJ Junior, Engineer - AJ Junior, Lyricist - AJ Junior, Recording Engineer - Alexandra Burke Feat. Cobra Starship, Performer - Bilal Hajji, Composer - Bilal Hajji, Lyricist - Gabe Saporta, Composer - Gabe Saporta, Lyricist - Nadir Khayat, Composer - Nadir Khayat, Lyricist - RedOne, Edited By - RedOne, Engineer - RedOne, Other - RedOne, Performance Arranger - RedOne, Producer - RedOne, Programmer - RedOne, Recording Engineer - Robert Orton, Mixing Engineer - Ryland Blackinton, Background Vocal - Savan Kotecha, Composer - Savan Kotecha, Lyricist - Trevor Muzzy, Background Vocal - Trevor Muzzy, Edited By - Trevor Muzzy, Engineer - Trevor Muzzy, Recording Engineer
(P) 2010 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Performer - Chris Laws, Drums - Chris Laws, Engineer - Chris Laws, Programmer - Christian Plata, 2nd Engineer - Dann Pursey, Bass - Dann Pursey, Engineer - Dave Arch, Performance Arranger - Erik Madrid, 2nd Engineer - Ina Wroldsen, Composer - Ina Wroldsen, Lyricist - Isobel Griffiths, Contractor - John Baker, Copyist - John Bradbury, Director - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Steve Mac, Composer - Steve Mac, Lyricist - Steve Mac, Performance Arranger - Steve Mac, Piano - Steve Mac, Producer
(P) 2010 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Background Vocal - Alexandra Burke, Performer - Bilal Hajji, Composer - Bilal Hajji, Lyricist - Damien Lewis, Engineer - Johnny Severin, Engineer - Johnny Severin, Guitar - Nadir Khayat, Background Vocal - Nadir Khayat, Composer - Nadir Khayat, Lyricist - Nadir Khayat, Performer - Nadir Khayat, Vocal Arranger - Phil Tan, Mixing Engineer - RedOne, Engineer - RedOne, Producer - RedOne, Programmer - Savan Kotecha, Background Vocal - Savan Kotecha, Composer - Savan Kotecha, Lyricist - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2010 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Vocal - Alexandra Burke Feat. Ne-Yo, Performer - Carlos Oyanedel, Engineer - Damien Lewis, Engineer - Josh Houghkirk, Mixing Engineer - Mikkel Eriksen, Composer - Mikkel Eriksen, Lyricist - Mikkel Eriksen, Recording Engineer - Ne-Yo, Co-Producer - Ne-Yo, Vocal - Phil Tan, Mixing Engineer - Philip Lawrence, Producer - Shaffer Smith, Composer - Shaffer Smith, Lyricist - Stargate, Producer - Tor Hermansen, Composer - Tor Hermansen, Lyricist
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Performer - Alexandra Burke, Vocal - Andrea Martin, Background Vocal - Andrea Martin, Composer - Andrea Martin, Lyricist - Andrea Martin, Producer - Christian Plata, 2nd Engineer - Element, Producer - Erik Madrid, 2nd Engineer - Hitesh Ceon, Composer - Hitesh Ceon, Lyricist - Hitesh Ceon, Recording Engineer - Kim Ofstad, Composer - Kim Ofstad, Lyricist - Kim Ofstad, Recording Engineer - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Marianne Pentha, Background Vocal - Rikke Norman, Background Vocal - Tor Hermansen, Composer - Tor Hermansen, Lyricist
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Background Vocal - Alexandra Burke, Performer - Bilal Hajji, Composer - Bilal Hajji, Lyricist - Johnny Severin, Edited By - Martin Cooke, Engineer - Martin Cooke, Recording Engineer - Martin Kierszenbaum, Composer - Martin Kierszenbaum, Lyricist - Nadir Khayat, Composer - Nadir Khayat, Lyricist - RedOne, Background Vocal - RedOne, Edited By - RedOne, Engineer - RedOne, Performance Arranger - RedOne, Producer - RedOne, Programmer - RedOne, Recording Engineer - Robert Orton, Mixing Engineer - Savan Kotecha, Background Vocal - Savan Kotecha, Composer - Savan Kotecha, Lyricist
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Performer - Andre Merritt, Composer - Andre Merritt, Lyricist - Christian Plata, 2nd Engineer - Erik Madrid, 2nd Engineer - Louis Biancaniello, Composer - Louis Biancaniello, Keyboards - Louis Biancaniello, Lyricist - Louis Biancaniello, Producer - Louis Biancaniello, Programmer - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Samuel Watters, Background Vocal - Samuel Watters, Composer - Samuel Watters, Lyricist - Samuel Watters, Producer - Tamyra Gray, Background Vocal
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Aeon Manahan, Co-Producer - Aeon Manahan, Composer - Aeon Manahan, Keyboards - Aeon Manahan, Lyricist - Aeon Manahan, Programmer - Alexandra Burke, Performer - Christian Plata, 2nd Engineer - Erik Madrid, 2nd Engineer - Herbie Crichlow, Composer - Herbie Crichlow, Lyricist - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Ravaughn Brown, Background Vocal - Samuel Watters, Composer - Samuel Watters, Lyricist - Wayne Wilkins, Composer - Wayne Wilkins, Keyboards - Wayne Wilkins, Lyricist - Wayne Wilkins, Producer - Wayne Wilkins, Programmer
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alessandro Destefanis, Assistant Producer - Alexandra Burke, Performer - Chris Worsey, Acoustic Cello - Dan Carpenter, Trumpet - Dave Williamson, Trombone - Derrick McKenzie, Drums - John Metcalfe, Viola - Jon Kelly, Engineer - Jon Kelly, Mixing Engineer - Kate Robinson, Violin - Natalia Bonner, Violin - Niara Scarlett, Composer - Niara Scarlett, Lyricist - Pixie Lott, Composer - Pixie Lott, Lyricist - Richard George, Violin - Sarah Ozelle, Background Vocal - Simon Hale, Performance Arranger - Simon Willescroft, Saxophone - Steve Booker, Composer - Steve Booker, Keyboards - Steve Booker, Lyricist - Steve Booker, Producer - Steve Booker, Programmer - Warren Zielinski, Violin
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Performer - Carlos Oyanedel, Engineer - Chase & Status, Co-Producer - Damien Lewis, Engineer - Josh Houghkirk, Mixing Engineer - Mikkel Eriksen, Composer - Mikkel Eriksen, Lyricist - Mikkel Eriksen, Recording Engineer - Ne-Yo, Co-Producer - Phil Tan, Mixing Engineer - Philip Lawrence, Producer - Saul Milton, Composer - Saul Milton, Lyricist - Shaffer Smith, Composer - Shaffer Smith, Lyricist - Stargate, Producer - Tor Hermansen, Composer - Tor Hermansen, Lyricist - Will Kennard, Composer - Will Kennard, Lyricist
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Performer - Brian Kennedy, Producer - Brian Seals, Composer - Brian Seals, Lyricist - Charles Parker, Violin - Christian Plata, 2nd Engineer - Davis Barnett, Viola - Eliza Cho, Violin - Emma Kummrow, Violin - Erik Madrid, 2nd Engineer - Glenn Fischbach, Acoustic Cello - Gregory Teperman, Violin - Igor Szwec, Violin - James Cooper III, Acoustic Cello - James Fauntleroy II, Composer - James Fauntleroy II, Lyricist - James Fauntleroy II, Producer - Jeff Chestek, Engineer - Larry Gold, Performance Arranger - Luigi Mazzochi, Violin - Manny Marroquin, Mixing Engineer - Michelle Bishop, Violin - Olga Konopelsky, Violin - Peter Nocella, Viola - Rick Friedrich, 2nd Engineer - Rob Kinelski, Recording Engineer
(P) 2009 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Alexandra Burke, Performer - Andreas Quiz Romdhane, Mixing Engineer - Andreas Quiz Romdhane, Producer - Andreas Quiz Romdhane, Programmer - Andreas Quiz Romdhane, Recording Engineer - Bryon Jones, Performer - Candice Johnson, Performer - Carol Riley, Performer - Dick Beetham, Mastering Engineer - Esbjörn Öhrwall, Guitar - Henrik Janson, Arranger - Henrik Janson, Conductor - Ian Agate, Recording Engineer - Josef Larossi, Mixing Engineer - Josef Larossi, Producer - Josef Larossi, Programmer - Josef Larossi, Recording Engineer - Joy Malcolm, Performer - Julie Costello, Performer - Ladonna Peters, Performer - Lawrence Johnson, Arranger - Lawrence Johnson, Performer - Leonard Cohen, Composer - Leonard Cohen, Lyricist - Marcus Johnson, Performer - Markus Wiborn, 2nd Engineer - Neil Tucker, Engineer - Pat Scott, Performer - Patricia Fashanu, Performer - Pearl Jarrett, Performer - Peter Ljung, Keyboards - Peter Ljung, Piano - Priscilla Jones, Performer - Rita Orr, Background Vocal - Stockholm Session Orchestra, Performer - Ulf Janson, Arranger - Ulf Janson, Conductor
(P) 2008 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Album review
Alexandra Burke's winning of 2008's X-Factor competition instantly made the young starlet a household name, thanks to her immaculate cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Her cover, which contorted Cohen's masterpiece into a soulful gospel record, instantly drew comparisons between Burke and the television's program winner three years earlier; another young British beauty named Leona Lewis. The two ladies' equally spectacular voices and ranges were all too comparable. However, post X-Factor, it's clear that Simon Cowell, the masthead to both of their lucrative careers, is doing a terrific job of musically distinguishing the two up-and-coming divas; Lewis' debut, Spirit, was poised and perfected, much in the vein of Celine Dion. Contrarily, Burke's debut album, Overcome, seems to pull away from much of the preppy glamour that comes with Lewis' overreaching ballads. Burke's debut is brimming with a vocal charm and characterization that Lewis' releases lack. In other words, if Lewis is Dion, Burke is Whitney Houston; an equally compelling vocalist whose imperfections are masked by the kind of charisma that ears crave. Alongside a team of A-List producers (who came with an A-List price tag), Burke delivers a bold and brazen soul-pop album that's so perfected that a quarter could bounce of the shine of the final product. Because of this overproducing, however, Burke unfortunately misses the mark a few times; the forced retro R&B sounds that have been bludgeoned to death in 2009 make their presence here, on numbers like "Bury Me" and "You Broke My Heart" (co-written by a retro contemporary, Pixie Lott). Not to mention, there is more than one track that seems to be stuck in the footsteps of pop groups like Girls Aloud or Sugababes; not necessarily in a bad way, but "Dumb" and "Nothing But the Girl" only perfect the electro-pop formula, they don't glorify it. However, the album is more than saved by some of the best ballads that any new-millennium diva has ever released: "The Silence," a storming, RedOne-produced number, is easily one of the most engaging vocals any singer has recorded for pop radio (yes, including "Bleeding Love") in quite some time. Other songs like "Gotta Go," "They Don't Know," and "Overcome" vary in level of formula and appeal, but all have the chops necessary to sell them. Not to mention, the album is laden with cross-Atlantic appeal. The album's lead single, "Bad Boys," is the most brilliant, perfect mainstream pop single of 2009; its thrashing, synthesized beat and larger-than-life chorus make Burke the prime U.K. import for the North American market, and a little guest chorus from Flo Rida only helps the situation. The album has the aforementioned charisma all the way through (ironically, see "All Night Long"), and Burke's bombastic voice is to be applauded -- not many soulful, booming types like her can even think of true mainstream pop success in 2009, but she stands a real chance. Songs like "Bad Boys" or "It's Over" -- a beautiful, midtempo pop tune probably best geared of all the songs for radio, even as a bonus track -- present a real vocalist who delivers phenomenally while being supported by modern-day beats and hooks. While this album is sometimes too generic and polished for its own good, it is the first record in years that offers us a vocalist like Christina Aguilera who can compete with the present-day Auto-Tuned Britney Spears of the world, and that in itself makes Burke's debut a hit.
© Matthew Chisling /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:00:16
- Main artists: Alexandra Burke
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Syco Music UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
Tracks 1-16 (P) 2010; Track 17 (P) 2008 Simco Limited under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
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