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Alexandra Burke cracking the states


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Old 05-06-2010, 12:18
prince357
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Apart from Zack06 and Boxfresh, i'm probably her biggest fan. We all want Alex to crack the U.S. and we know that she's has the full package but what if it's not enough?

Anyways, I asked Jacques from the prophetblog whose opinions I value due to his vast knowledge on the music industry, on Alex's chances of cracking the states. Still, it doesn't mean he's right but he does make some valid points.

Here it is:
You said you were disappointed with Alexandra Burke's album, what kind of stuff did you expect from her? What kind of material will help her as an artist and crack the states?

I don't think she'll ever be big. Her musical idols are like Beyonce, etc. When she spoke about her album she said how excited she was to work with her fave producers RedOne and Stargate.

She is incredibly talented, great voice, good looks, great performer etc, but she is too unoriginal and too standard. Her IDOL is Beyonce, but Beyonce has that radio R&B lane on lock. So does Rihanna and some other girls. There's no room for Alex. She would simply be a poor mans Beyonce, and I don't mean that as a diss since I prefer Alex to Bey and think that Alex is more talented, but it's the truth.

To reach that high level you need to do something different. Rihanna has the fashion thing going for her and exotic looks which really helped propel her great singles to the top. Beyonce has her radio friendly pop/R&B on lock. Lady GaGa does the dance music and the has the unique fashion and image. Britney is, well Britney lol.

Where would Alex fit? We already have a Beyonce.

If Alex wanted to be successful she'd have to do something different, but it's not in her blood to do that. It isn't who she is. I hope she continues to be successful in the UK.
The sentences/words that are highlighted are the valid points he makes. Don't try calling him a hater because he goes far to say that Alex is more talented than Beyonce.

The only points that I disagree with is when he said Alex will never be big. I think she has the potential to be big but her material doesn't do her justice. The Start without you clip is a generic radio filler at best.

Alex is also not talented than Beyonce and we all know that. Bey on the X Factor completley outshoned Alex and she was very tame and not even trying....but not relevant.

I also disagree when he said they can't be a room for Alex. Apart from Beyonce and Xtina, they're very few vocalists in the charts

BUT

Syco's marketing, image and material they're choosing for Alex is what will hinder her chances. What happened to the soulful Alex in the X Factor auditions? They've like completley washed her out.

Your thoughts? Boxfresh, Zack06, Stube, stargirl1, Patrick and mm83, where art thou?
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:20
Iceman09
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You need a song like Bulletproof to crack the states
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:22
prince357
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You need a song like Bulletproof to crack the states
I know! I'm shocked but impressed that bulletproof is doing so well. It is probably that they're not many songs like that on the charts and LaRoux image and fashion is quite unique.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:28
Pop_Art
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They should not be calling her the UK Beyonce. She is more the UK Rihanna.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:35
prince357
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They should not be calling her the UK Beyonce. She is more the UK Rihanna.
I'm talking in the U.S. and worldwide here. Shontelle is struggling and she's a Rihanna but more talented so what box should Alex be in?
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:39
Zack06
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I'm talking in the U.S. a.d worldwide here. Shontelle is struggling and she's a Rihanna but more talented so what box should Alex be in?
Trust me, if Jay Sean and Taio Cruz can do it, when the US already has Jason Derulo, Iyaz, Bruno Mars and Chris Brown, then Alexandra can do it too. She already has an interest in the US, just look at the US blogs most of which regularly post about her and her music. She will be big.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:41
mimicole
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Trust me, if Jay Sean and Taio Cruz can do it, when the US already has Jason Derulo, Iyaz, Bruno Mars and Chris Brown, then Alexandra can do it too. She already has an interest in the US, just look at the US blogs most of which regularly post about her and her music. She will be big.
Have they really 'cracked' America though? I would say so if they had been successful over there for more than 3 years.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:43
Zack06
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Have they really 'cracked' America though? I would say so if they had been successful over there for more than 3 years.
They both had billboard #1s and broke records, to me I consider that a thorough cracking.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:45
prince357
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Have they really 'cracked' America though? I would say so if they had been successful over there for more than 3 years.
Exactly, despite having a hit, they really haven't cracked the market yet. If they have two or more consecutive hits then yh.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:49
mimicole
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I think someone's 'cracked' america if they continue to have success over there especially after a few singles. Continued success being more than one successful album, selling out tours etc.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:50
Zack06
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Exactly, despite having a hit, they really haven't cracked the market yet. If they have two or more consecutive hits then yh.
Jay Sean has had more than 1 hit there, plus his duet with Rihanna will no doubt sell some records.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:55
Boxfresh
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Your thoughts? Boxfresh, Zack06, Stube, stargirl1, Patrick and mm83, where art thou?

One of these names (the last one) isn't an Alex fan at all. Just saying. Maybe you got confused.

As for the thephrophetblog, I wouldn't call him a hater neccesarily, but he's very much influenced by the opinions of Toya from Toyaz World, who most defintely is a hater (an extreme one in fact). I know he considers Toya a big influence on his own site, and I noticed his opinion of Alex dropped the more Toya went in on her. His view is just a less extreme one of the one Toya propagates.

As for Alex chances....decent as anyone elses. Will she be selling millions of albums straight away. Unlikely. Does she have a chance at denting their singles market and building a rep for herself. Hell Yes. And that'll be a good start.

Alex is probably one of the best live performer we have right now. That's her trump card really. Lots of people can get a hit record, but I think the key to her establishing herself is as a live performer.

There's a common saying in the movie industry coined by screenwriter William Goldman. It goes "nobody really knows anything". Goldman was basically saying, for all people's expertise, no one really knew why some movies bombed and some succeeded.

Same holds true for the music industry. Who would have imagined that Jay Sean and Taio Cruz would be the most sucesful British imports of the last year? Neither are wildly orginal. America has loads of guys like them, yet they are doing well.

If they choose the right song for Alex, and she's well promoted, she can make inroads in America. It's ludicruous to think that she has to be as big as Beyonce to be considered a success in America. She can be succesful in America without reaching Beyonce levels, which face it, few artists do. Taio Cruz will never be Usher in America, but he's having success most British artists can only dream of there.
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:56
stargirl1
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It's unfair to compare her to Beyonce, who has been in the business a long time and has a lot of experience of performing etc behind her - there would be something wrong if Beyonce hadn't been better than her on the x-factor!

Also, she is way more pop than Beyonce. I don't see her music as being in the same vein at all. Whether she will go down the more RnB route in the future remains to be seen, but going by the short clip of the new song it doesn't look like it at the moment.

And let's face it, very few artists go on to have success at the level of Beyonce, GaGa etc. She can have a successful career without ever reaching those heights. And she can also have a successful career without ever breaking the States - just as Take That, Robbie Williams, Oasis and Kylie!
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Old 05-06-2010, 12:59
Anika Hanson
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They should not be calling her the UK Beyonce. She is more the UK Rihanna.
Uk Rihanna??? Rihanna can barely sing. Alex has a great voice.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:16
kutox
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They should not be calling her the UK Beyonce. She is more the UK Rihanna.
This is one of the things that really annoys me.

Why are people always comparing X Factor singers to American artists? Leona gets compared to Whitney, Alexandra gets compared to Beyonce or Rihanna (I know Rihanna is Bajan but you get what I'm saying)... Just because Simon Cowell wants them to be all Americanised and hates British music doesn't mean everyone else has to follow him.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:21
Boxfresh
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This is one of the things that really annoys me.

Why are people always comparing X Factor singers to American artists? Leona gets compared to Whitney, Alexandra gets compared to Beyonce or Rihanna (I know Rihanna is Bajan but you get what I'm saying)... Just because Simon Cowell wants them to be all Americanised and hates British music doesn't mean everyone else has to follow him.
Slightly diversionary, but British music and muscians have long been directly influenced by Americans. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and Dusty Springfield took the sounds and influences of American artists, and sold it right back to the Americans.

It's nothing new, and not even Simon Cowell can be blamed for that trend. Many of our greatest artists were "Americanised" in how they came about.

Amy Winehouse, who is widely considered one of the most significant British artists of recent years, is almost entirely compared to American jazz vocalists, on which her style is based on.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:37
Taz93
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Apart from Zack06 and Boxfresh, i'm probably her biggest fan. We all want Alex to crack the U.S. and we know that she's has the full package but what if it's not enough?

Anyways, I asked Jacques from the prophetblog whose opinions I value due to his vast knowledge on the music industry, on Alex's chances of cracking the states. Still, it doesn't mean he's right but he does make some valid points.

Here it is:


The sentences/words that are highlighted are the valid points he makes. Don't try calling him a hater because he goes far to say that Alex is more talented than Beyonce.

The only points that I disagree with is when he said Alex will never be big. I think she has the potential to be big but her material doesn't do her justice. The Start without you clip is a generic radio filler at best.

Alex is also not talented than Beyonce and we all know that. Bey on the X Factor completley outshoned Alex and she was very tame and not even trying....but not relevant.

I also disagree when he said they can't be a room for Alex. Apart from Beyonce and Xtina, they're very few vocalists in the charts

BUT

Syco's marketing, image and material they're choosing for Alex is what will hinder her chances. What happened to the soulful Alex in the X Factor auditions? They've like completley washed her out.

Your thoughts? Boxfresh, Zack06, Stube, stargirl1, Patrick and mm83, where art thou
?
You missed out me, Postbox, Liz, myoldmate, yodavid, Liya and others.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:38
*Liya*
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I'm not sure why the OP is hellbent on this issue. I distinctly remember you starting the same thread over at the Xfactor forums ...

The words "unique" and "different" are used to by stans to create their own image of those they're supporting. Beyonce and Rihanna come out with pop songs with instant melodies and catchy hooks, just like many artists are trying to do right now and have always done even before they were around...there's no secret formula to their success. Their A&R have the perfect touch of spotting hit single material...that's all there is to it. In the US radio is key. It's just a question of them jumping on your material and for a very big station like Z100 to playlist you. It either happens for you or it doesn't ...you can't predict these things.

All Night Long has already received a few spins on that station and various others without having an adds date.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:41
Taz93
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Why is she compared to Beyonce? Because she sang with her and she is her idol? No one expects her to have the success Beyonce has achieved.

Leona was the same when she cracked the States, no one expects her to sell the 200 Million records Whitney and Mariah have sold, a consistent level of success in this day and age is more realistic.

I suppose everyone gets compared to another artist.

Leona the new Mariah/Whitney
Alex the new Beyonce

It is unavoidable but slightly silly IMO.

That is why there is suddenly a new crop of "unique" females: they don't watch to be compared to others. They want to be the first of their type eg: Pixie Lott, Diana Vickers, La Roux, Marina, Ellie Goulding. However, ironically they are being compared to each other now!


Anyway, I think she can do well over there she certainly has 3 singles from Overcome which she could release. It also depends on her competition and reaction of the Americans,.

Yay my 8000th post spent discussing Alex's career!
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:41
Stube
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Alex CAN crack America!

The only bit I agree on is that Alex has to be more original. I've always said that her image has to be distinctive. Rihanna has that orange/blonde mohawk going on with the tom-boy alpha-female look. GaGa is just gaga. Beyonce has the glitz and glamour look with big hairstyles which make her stand out.

Alex, imo, needs to create her own style. I don't mean in a contrived sense either. The All Night Long video made her look distinctive.

The great thing is that Alex is has a very dark skin tone and that will make her stand out in America. What current commercially successful female has a similar skin tone to Alex? Toni Braxton? She's flopped. Whitney? Under-performed.

The thing that i'm mainly worried about in regards to Alex's US career is her being another Keri Hilson i.e never having a hit of her own and always relying on US rappers - Pitbull, Flo Rida, Ne-Yo. It's not the way to go.

That's where I think Zack 06 is wrong. Taio and Jay haven't cracked America - their songs have. They need to rely on established artists to get a hit over there. Where have their albums charted?

I think Alex could be screwed if she leads with a collaboration but then she kinda has no choice. It's either going to be Bad Boys, All Night Long or the new track which has been announced as yet another collaboration.

So, to conclude, yes I do think Alex can crack America but she needs to know she has to be herself - which she does (as she has stated in various interviews). But her material needs to reflect that:

Bad Boys - Womanizer
GNGM - original imo yet lacks strength
All Night Long - Sweet Dreams/Don't Stop the Music
Start Without You - Alejandro/Rude Boy

To ensure her music doesn't become generic, she needs to work with new, quirky and diverse producers. Look at Rihanna. She's worked with Chase & Status on Rated R. Russian Roulette is very distinctive due to the lyrical concept and the sound effects. I can't think of a song, released before Rude Boy, that sounds like it. Te Amo is very distinctive too. Latin-vibed.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:43
Anika Hanson
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You missed out me, Postbox, Liz, myoldmate, yodavid, Liya and others.
And me
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:45
stargirl1
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I'm not sure why the OP is hellbent on this issue. I distinctly remember you starting the same thread over at the Xfactor forums ...

The words "unique" and "different" are used to by stans to create their own image of those they're supporting. Beyonce and Rihanna come out with pop songs with instant melodies and catchy hooks, just like many artists are trying to do right now...there's no secret formula to their success. Their A&R have the perfect touch of spotting hit single material...that's all there is to it. In the US radio is key. It's just a question of them jumping on your material and for a very big station like Z100 to playlist you. It either happens for you or it doesn't ...you can't predict these things.

All Night Long has already received a few spins on that station and various others without having an adds date.
Very sensible post. There's nothing being done that hasn't been done before or is not being done by countless others. In that sense, the words 'unique' and 'different' are bandied about far too much by over-zealous fans.

There's a great deal of luck involved in the entertainment business, that's why there are really talented singers that never get a break and mediocre singers that do.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:46
Taz93
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I knew I'd forget somebody sorry Anika.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:47
Taz93
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I'm not sure why the OP is hellbent on this issue. I distinctly remember you starting the same thread over at the Xfactor forums ...

The words "unique" and "different" are used to by stans to create their own image of those they're supporting. Beyonce and Rihanna come out with pop songs with instant melodies and catchy hooks, just like many artists are trying to do right now and have always done even before they were around...there's no secret formula to their success. Their A&R have the perfect touch of spotting hit single material...that's all there is to it. In the US radio is key. It's just a question of them jumping on your material and for a very big station like Z100 to playlist you. It either happens for you or it doesn't ...you can't predict these things.

All Night Long has already received a few spins on that station and various others without having an adds date.
Hmm the big American radio station have played All Night Long? I wonder if that is a positive sign.
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Old 05-06-2010, 13:52
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I'm not exactly Alexandra's biggest fan, but with a second album that is HER own style, maybe her contributing to song writing and maybe helping to co produce her album as well as bring in her own idea's of sound and structure, i can see her having the opportunity of cracking the states but the bland material she has released so far (except broken heels) is gonna do her no favours. Espically the HORRRIFiC MESS that is bad boys.

Plus i think she should release a solo single in the US, because in the long run that will help her because the featuredc artist may be the only reason why people are buying it, she needs to say this is me, i'm in the states, not this is me, butr yeah i'm kind of cheating by using someone really popular to sell this record but hey.
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