Alexandra Burke Wins The X Factor 2008

The X Factor 2008 Final took place on December 13, 2008 with Alexandra Burke winning in style. The result was as I’d predicted and exactly as I wanted it to be – Eoghan Quigg deserving his third place, JLS being very worthy runners-up and Alexandra Burke being the right victor.

The recent poll I held on Brit Music Scene seemed to suggest Diana Vickers was the fan favorite but the witch went out last week, leaving the way clear for Alexandra Burke to come through and achieve her dream.

The night started with a very festive feel as all three remaining contestants performing a Christmas song. Eoghan sang Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day, JLS sang Wham’s Last Christmas, and Alexandra sang Silent Night. Although Burke had potentially the weakest song of the three, her performance was marginally better than JLS’s. Eoghan was terrible.

Next came the star guests. Eoghan performed Picture of You with Boyzone, and JLS made it a boyband orgy by singing Flying Without Wings with Westlife. But Alexandra trumped both by duetting with Beyonce Knowles. Despite crying at the appearance of Beyonce, the pair managed the performance of the night.

Then came the first vote count with Quigg rightly being voted off. he’s a decent enough singer and has youth on his side but the other two artists were in another league. Then JLS and Burke both performed their versions of Hallelujah, a Leonard Cohen song best remembered for an intoxicating recording by Jeff Buckley.

Both artists did a superb job but Burke’s version was better and her performance of the song that will now be released as a single was stronger. Alexandra was then declared the winner and performed the song one more time through a veil of tears.

So another X Factor comes to an end, and the right person won, unlike last year when Rhydian was robbed by Leon Jackson. Hallelujah will now be released and is highly likely to be Christmas number one. It’ll make a good Christmas number one although I personally agree with the numerous Facebook groups and YouTube commenters who prefer the Jeff Buckley version.

[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]