Alexandra Burke may have beaten Diana Vickers in X Factor; but there’s every chance she’s going to be less commercially successful.
Alex has just released a new video called “All Night Long” – it’s a strong pop song, but a bit derivative. The video is very similar to Lady GaGa’s Just Dance and early reactions show a few comparisons to Rhianna. This could leave her a bit more open to being buffeted around on the fickle forces of pop. Have a listen:
What’s most bizarre is the way Alex has been packaged – anyone who watched the X Factor knows she probably wouldn’t be throwing mansion parties where frat boy and girls dress up in personality clothes and bounce about being kooky. The same sort of Americanisation happened to Leona Lewis, and it is telling that her releases accompanied by videos in which she looked most uncomfortable were the least successful.
Where Diana Vickers excels, from a commercial point of view, is that she came self-packaged with a bit of a quirky (dare I say maybe a bit affected) voice and no shoes. She was ripe for any company to market her as a bit of a mainstream Joanna Newsom without really chipping away at her. She’s also shown a knack for survival. After being turned down by Simon Cowell’s label (which is called Syco….no joke), she hibernated in the west end till an assault on the charts was possible – and built up a fair reputation as an actress in the process. This shows a rare knack for longevity which other X Factor contestants just haven’t got.
Alexandra Burke will no doubt have some success, but the fear is that she’s still much more liable to be put on the shelf and to join the ranks of Steve Brookstein, Leon Jackson and Michelle McManus. Then again…she hasn’t served up anything like Eoghan Quigg’s attempt; a song which makes music itself cry.
Picture Courtesy of Alessio85
Read More:
5 comments
James O'Connor says:
Apr 29, 2010
Being a Diana fan myself, I am inevitably somewhat biased. However, as the article states, Diana has far more about her than Alex does. Alex is your typical, second division standard diva, a rip off from Whitney Houston, and an act more suitable to Stars In Their Eyes. She has had limited success so far, seeing as how she has had huge publicity and Cowell’s millions ploughed in, and has only gained two No.1′s, both of which were strongly supported by X Factor. Her latest effort, the song above, has entered the charts at a poultry #43. It seems even the necessity for Alexandra to include rappers in her videos is now beginning to let her down.
Diana, on the other hand, has had time, commitment and quality from her label, RCA, and has produced a brilliant debut album. She has worked alongside Nerina Pallot, Guy Sigsworth, Cathy Dennis and Lightspeed Champion to create a wonderfully crafted album full of hectic, eccentric up-tempo songs, alongside some beautiful, slow and love songs. Her fanbase has increased significantly since her successful appearance in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which seen her claim the Best Newcomer award at the Whatsonstage Awards 2010. She also has a near sell out tour in May and is due to appear at the V Festival and The Summer Sundae Festival in Leicester. Her voice is fresh, unique and different and, whilst it doesn’t have the polish that an Alexandra Burke style singer has, it has a great vulnerability and quality about it.
I have no doubts that Diana will (perhaps already has) step out of Alexandra’s shadow and become more successful. The rise of Florence Welsh and Ellie Goulding, amongst others, shows that the British music buyers are in a genuine search to find new music, and not for Beyonce style impersonators.
Bernard says:
Apr 29, 2010
Alex already has a double platinum single(Hallelujah), a platinum single(Bad boys) and a silver single (Broken Heels) her album is almost double platinum.I think you should wait to see if Diana can do just that before you comment.
Martin says:
Apr 29, 2010
Alexandra was always going to be up against it after the success of Leona. They’ve never tried to launch her in the USA yet either.
However, I do get bored with this snobby stuff about Leona and Alex being “Americanised”. Really?
Amy Winehouse is the biggest copycat of American singers going but no one hangs that around her neck, why not?
Vicky says:
Apr 29, 2010
I think the points you make James are interesting but not based on facts.All Night Long Alex recent song is not released until the 17th May.All Night Long which has charted so far is from downloads only the album version and this did so without a video yet to be released.If Alex was a standard Diva she would not have album and single sales that are appraching 3 million in the UK alone.She has already charted Top 10 and Top 20 in Europe in at least 14 countries there with Bad Boys.Sadly Diana may be new but her sales have been disppointing and she will have to pull off large album slaes to succeed.She only sold less than 70 thousand singles and is aleady down to 5 on itunes.Alex has made a great start and will launch in America this year.
Aaron says:
Apr 30, 2010
You know…I’m not sure if I can really add much to this, as I’ve not got the first hand experience you do – but is it possible that they can both co-exist on the charts??? As far as I can tell, they are kind of pursuing different musical styles..