NME News

'X Factor' winner Alexandra Burke to claim UK's Christmas Number One

Jeff Buckley to enter UK Top Ten with 'Hallelujah' too

December 16, 2008 | 21 Comments
Various Artists news RSS feed
More Various Artists news, reviews, videos and tour dates
Post this on Twitter or Follow NME

This year's 'X Factor' winner will comfortably claim the UK Christmas Number One single, according to midweek chart figures.

Alexandra Burke's cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' will follow previous winners, including Leona Lewis and Shayne Ward, in topping the charts at Christmas.

Burke beat rivals JLS and Eoghan Quigg in this year's final on Saturday (December 13), and is now over 120,000 sales ahead of her nearest rival – Lewis herself, who claimed the top slot last week with her cover of Snow Patrol's 'Run'.

However Burke's will not be the only version of 'Hallelujah' in the Top Ten.

Following an online campaign against 'The X Factor''s use of the song, Jeff Buckley's version of 'Hallelujah', which appeared on his 1994 debut album 'Grace', is currently at Number Three in the midweeks with nearly 20,000 sales.

Take That look set to claim the Christmas Number One in the UK album chart - their new LP 'The Circus' sits comfortably ahead of Leona Lewis' deluxe version of her debut LP 'Spirit' at Two.

Share this story:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Reddit
Bebo

Follow NME on Twitter

More News:

PREVIOUS Beyonce to play two shows at London's O2 Arena

NEXT Axl Rose sends open letter to the world

Buy NME Magazine right now

Subscribe here or get this week's issue delivered to your door

Comments (21)

Add a comment

thegoldslug

Dec 16, 2008

ohhh dear, i think we should all buy that new status quo christmas song to piss the x factor lot off.

Number Johnny Five

Dec 16, 2008

So, when she sings "remember when I moved in you" is she going to part her dress to reveal an enormous strap-on?

wales_rule11

Dec 16, 2008

i dont think it be a strap on, it be real enough :pBuckley for no 1

JennElectroPop

Dec 16, 2008

*agrees* Don't like the x factor and i especially dont like her. when i heard she covered hallelujah, i wanted to slit my main organs out. kthxbai xx

joebaia

Dec 16, 2008

So now X Factor winners don't even have a team of writers to do their songs for them? They just nick other artists' songs and make money that way? Talentless shit after talentless shit. It needs to end.

edwrd

Dec 17, 2008

the line 'but you don't really care for music, do you?' has never seemed more ironic.

kchant1975

Dec 17, 2008

What a load of rubbish, I'd much rather support this cause http://www.ultimaterickroll.com ...

Alan58

Dec 17, 2008

My favourite Jeff Buckley songs are Grace & Lilac Wine but his version of Hallelujah is still all I need to hear of that particular song.If I hear the corporate reality machine monstrosity I shall surely vomit over the nearest person. Thankfully, no need to ever hear this shit :o) X Factor does need to end!

MrDaveS1986

Dec 17, 2008

To Joebaia:Out of the 5 X-factor winners so far, only Ward has released an 'original' song for their debut hit (and even that was a westlife reject). Agreed, it needs to end, the artists need to write their own songs not get a team of writers to do it for them.

gibsonmelodymaker1959

Dec 17, 2008

my god, you boring shits need to lighten up.yes X Factor is shite, regurgitate plastic crap, but stop bleeting on 'bout JB's cover. yes its wondeful, very soulful.but Alexandras version isnt that bad, very over the top unlike the understated Buckley version but everyone is on such a fucking witchhunt you all end up as bad as the sheep that follow X Factor.i personly love the JB version but just because Alex's is from THAT show and not some fucking indie clone, dribbling down the mic doing their best jonny borrel impression, some how gives them 'credential'?!?!?. its bullshit musical snobs.....the lot of ya!!!!

sachogotlucky1

Dec 17, 2008

need it be mentioned that Buckley's version was also a cover...her version isn't bad.It's a good song, take it for what it is.

gazhat

Dec 17, 2008

.....the only good thing to come from this fucking terrible turd of a cover is Leonard Cohen will make a fortune, he's 73 years old and touring because he's skint, that's if he still has the rights tho, but no doubt Simon smug-as-fuck Cowell will make a packet from it also...

IndieWriter

Dec 17, 2008

X Factor is fine, and what they do is fine, some people like that it's up to them. But at some point along the thought process should have stopped and gone, 'we can't cover this - that idea is appalling, taht's the greatest song ever'. I can't believe she agreed to it, bet she hadn't even heard it before someone else played it to her

ed2005

Dec 17, 2008

simon cowell is responsible for some utter crap, he really should be tried for his actions. he is a symptom of a sick society, obssessed with celebrity, people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. These so-called 'talent' shows really have to end.

xx.haylie.xx

Dec 17, 2008

i don't like x factor. its a quick way to 'fame' whereas just about most bands and artists actually work hard and have spent years to get where they are and they deserve all the rewards they get . x factor winners use it as a quick way to release singles and make money which i find unfair and they don't deserve to be called artsists as most are 'karoke' singers!!

hook them up

Dec 19, 2008

you all lot are jealous of the x factor and simon's money.why talk rubbish about someone's success.its bad and doesn't do anyone good. they will still succeed whether you blast them or not. alex all the way and simon is the best

TheKLF99

Dec 21, 2008

Not another X factory number 1 again for Christmas. This is getting so boring. Every year for the past few years its been the same winner of the Christmas No. 1. Bloody X-Factor. Come on Simon give someone else a chance instead of your over-hyped media circus. X factor do it every year, get someone to have a one hit wonder and ensure it is released just before Christmas. It used to be fun trying to guess who'd be Christmas No.1. This year I knew back in January exactly who would be number 1, where is the fun in that? I might put Â£100 on January 1st at the bookies that next years Christmas no. 1 will be the X factor winner 2009. I can't wait for X factor to end up like Big Brother dead and buried.

sharlock32

Dec 21, 2008

Alex deserves to be number one!I've known Alexandra for three years and she is the most dedicated hard working musician. She writes amazing songs and you will all be blown away when she actually gets to do her own music. X factor may have been a faster way to get noticed, but there was no doubt that Alex would be a number one someday!I'm not a huge fan of X factor and shows like that but I love Alex!

donman71

Dec 21, 2008

Most of you are just a set of racist, jealous, tossers who have no idea of good music.

ed2005

Dec 24, 2008

Donman - as a white man married to a black woman, this is nothing to with race. There is no doubt that Alex can sing, but Jeff Buckley's version is considered superior by many who aren't foolish enough to fall for hype. As for Hook Them Up...jealous of Simon Cowell's money...he has made his money exploiting people. He cares NOTHING for music, just for money.

TheCFactor

Jan 11, 2009

TheKLF99 .. I couldn't agree more so I've set up a site to concentrate our efforts .. I'd bet that it wouldn't be an X Factor Winner this year, if everyone get's behind it then there's no way an X Factor "Winner" will get the Christmas 2009 slot. Have a look at www.thecfactor.co.uk