Alexandra Burke - X Factor 2008

Alexandra Burke has defended The X Factor, after stars like Sting and Calvin Harris claimed that it is destroying the music industry.

In an interview with BBC’s Newsbeat, Burke said that the show is ‘amazing’ and allows people to ‘live their dreams.

Last year’s winner said: “That show is the most amazing platform. It’s great that these shows are around because it’s not a day and age when people can walk into a label and get a record deal anymore.

“You have to do something out of the box. It annoys me when anyone snubs that show because it’s the most amazing show. They give so many people the opportunity to live their dreams.”

She added: “I think it’s great that we’re taking over the charts. X Factor, we rule. I wouldn’t say [Simon Cowell's] saturating the charts. It’s music, and music is music.

“Okay, fair enough, we’ve come from this show but everyone is making great music which will hopefully be remembered for the next 50 years.

“If people are buying it then you must be doing something right. He must be doing something right. The public buy music; it’s not Simon Cowell buying the music. I’ll stick up for him.”

Major stars and their routines don’t come cheap, as The Mirror has revealed that Cheryl Cole’s record label recently shelled out £65,000 for her routine on The X Factor. Alexandra Burke’s wasn’t much cheaper at £60,000 and Bon Jovi’s label paid £30,000 for theirs.

An insider told The Mirror: “The performers have to pay for their own productions costs and it’s a small fortune.

“The money is spent on hiring dancers, costumes, extra lighting and lasers and any other special effects they may require. For example, JLS had to bring in special risers to raise the front of the stage while Cheryl and Alexandra had lots of dancers and Westlife had an amazing light show.

“The labels are more than happy to cover the costs as it means their acts are getting exposure to audiences in their millions. Let’s be honest, where else could Bon Jovi be exposed to almost 16 million viewers on a rainy Sunday night in November?”

Alexandra Burke has denied reports that X Factor stars are told to cry on stage by producers. However she did admit that they are told to let their emotions show.

Burke told The Evening Standard: “Oh, no, no, no-one’s telling them to cry. I mean, they do advise you not to be too professional. They say, whatever emotion you feel, just let it out.

“If you’re acting too professional, that will be your biggest downfall. It’s like, people on that stage are crying for their dreams.”

She added: “All that anger or sadness or anxiety that you might feel in the week builds up, and builds up, and then it’s just that one moment on a Saturday night. On live TV. They do say, ‘Don’t repress it’. Otherwise you don’t look human.”

Alexandra Burke admitted that she won’t mind if Cheryl Cole’s debut solo single replaces her ‘Bad Boys’ at number one this week.

Burke told BBC Newsbeat: “Her performance on The X Factor was absolutely outstanding and I think she deserves it.

“I wish her every success. I think she’s coming from an amazing group and it’s probably really hard and scary to go by yourself when you’ve been with your girls for so long.

“She just proves the point that if you’ve been in a group and you want to leave a group and you have time off, you can still be successful.”

She added: “The reaction to ‘Bad Boys’ has been out of this world. I feel very, very lucky and I’m just happy that everyone likes it and I hope they like the album too.

“The fact that I was up against Robbie Williams as well, it shocked me even more. It’s great and it just goes to show that hard work can pay off too.”

Clive Davis has reportedly offered to assist Alexandra Burke in her efforts to crack America. The former X Factor winner is currently number one in the UK music charts, with her single, ‘Bad Boys.’

“Alexandra was celebrating her number one record with friends and family. She got a huge shock when Clive appeared and said he thinks she’s the future of pop music,” a source told The Mirror.

Davis has been behind the musical success of singers such as Whitney Houston, Leona Lewis and Kelly Clarkson, so his involvement in Alexandra’s career would certainly be quite a coup.

“Clive may even get her to sing at his pre-Grammys party – it would be massive exposure given that the who’s who of the music world are attending,” the source added.

Alexandra Burke has denied rumours that she was forced to include more upbeat songs on her album, in a bid to differentiate her from Leona Lewis.

The X Factor winner told Popjustice: “It was most definitely something I wanted to do. I’ve been dancing since I was little, I was dancing in school and that. My personality is very in-your-face and I wanted my music to portray that.

“I love to get up on stage and sing and dance. It’s just me. It’s definitely me. The only thing that’s the same about Leona and me is that we won the same show. You know, basically, the album really reflects my personality.”

She added: “The up-tempos on it are very in-your-face, and ballsy and they’re just there. And it reflects who I am on a day-to-day basis. And the ballads – well, the ballads are megaballads.

“I cried when I made them. There’s not many ballads though, the album’s generally more up-tempo. There’s probably, like, three ballads in total. Four including ‘Hallelujah’.”

Alexandra Burke - X Factor 2008

Former X Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, has admitted that she is nervous about returning to the show tonight.

“I’m nervous about going back on the show,” she told the News of the World. “Who wouldn’t be? It’s The X Factor. I’ll be back in front of the panel – and Simon Cowell, which is extra nerve-wracking!

“But I’m excited and I can’t wait to see what people think of my album Overcome. We’ve worked hard on the performance of ‘Bad Boys’, so I hope everyone tunes in.”

Alexandra Burke has insisted that she is not dating any of the men she has recently been linked to, including JLS singer Aston Merrygold.

Burke told The Sun:

“Aston is like my brother. We dance all the time together. Don’t get me wrong, he is a great-looking dude. But nothing is going to happen.”

She also rubbished rumours that she is dating Chipmunk or US singer Cameron Quincy Jagher. On Jagher she said:

“We were just friends. We went out for dinner then his people placed a story about us.

She added: “Chipmunk is a bit young for me. But he’s a very cute guy and we have loads of mutual friends.

The X Factor winner admitted that she has actually only been in two serious relationships in the past and that both were with “bad boys”.

Burke said: “I was 16 when I had my first relationship. It lasted about two years. Then I dated another guy for six months last year. But he was a bit of a nutcase.

“I let him go just before X Factor went live. He was very insecure and I have no time for that. There’s been no-one since.”

Alexandra Burke has admitted she’d love to duet with X Factor judge Cheryl Cole.

The Bad Boys singer told handbag.com: “I can’t confirm that rumour, but all I’ll say is that I’d love to duet with Cheryl Cole, so watch this space.”

When asked about recent rumours that Cole was afraid to sing on X Factor, Burke said:

“Well I think if someone’s been in a group so long, it’d be quite daunting to go on stage without your girls.”

She added: “When you’re by yourself, it’s probably going to feel scary for that one minute, but I’m sure when she gets that mic in her hand she’s going to be like ‘right this is my moment, let’s beast it out.’”

Former X Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, has claimed that she is a bit of a wild child, party girl and that fans will see the real her when she takes to the stage.

Burke told The Daily Mail that she was inhibited whilst appearing on the show, in case people thought she was weird.

Burke said: “When I was on the show I could only show my personality to a certain extent. I didn’t want people to think I was weird! But now I’m letting rip.

“The fact is I’m a loud, bubbly person, and a bit of a party girl. But it was hard to portray being a party girl on the show. Now I can be free. When I perform I call myself ‘The Beast’ – I’m a monster! They’re going to see me go wild on stage.”

On the rumours that Simon Cowell controls your life after you sign with his record company, Alex added: “It’s been the complete opposite for me. When they first asked me what I wanted to do with my career, musically, I said, ‘Right, guys, I need a week to just live, eat, breathe, study music’.

“So they sent me away to Mauritius, and I listened to everything from AC/DC to Rod Stewart, thinking, where should I go? My voice will give it soul but the music is pop.

“If somebody tells me what to do and I don’t believe in it, I’ll do the opposite. Syco said, ‘Can you not get another tattoo please?’ and I went and got it. They’ve learnt that about me.”