I was inspired to write this review after some of my followers on Twitter (shout out to @Ranity and @OneOf_TheKids!) had given me the link to download season 5 winner of the British version of Idol, the X-Factor Alexandra Burke’s debut unfittingly titled Overcome. Once revealed to the U.K. audience in the fall quarter of 2009, the public embraced the effort with a wholehearted cuddle because of the sales of the album had exceeded past the expectations of any other contestant on the show (yes, even Leona Lewis. I know, right?). But, to me, as a singer and fan of the show, I was left in a mixture of confusion and disappointment. Burke doesn’t serve up half of the gutsy soulful vocal performances she was known for on the reality talent show. Overcome is a major departure from Burke’s neo-soul roots as singer, and it is clear to see the influence of pressure from the label to become a contemporary pop star. Much of the album has a techno-pop dance essence to it, which lacks life, no matter how much Burke belts out the lines with her sharp alto voice. With a reminiscent vocal ability of Lauryn Hill, Alexandra’s career could soar to new heights with the upcoming re-release for the U.S. audience with new material. I can picture her singing that sluggish ballad material, one that conveys the tales of falling in love or trailing a journey through heartache; much like “Resentment,” or “Ave Maria” by the emotionally conveying Beyoncé or like “It Kills Me” by the assertive soulful Melanie Fiona, hell not to mention the soul stirring melismatic Jazmine Sullivan. While listening to the tracks, I was consciously listing other singer that I felt would gel with the material more because most of the songs triggered a musical memory of other songs we’ve heard before. Here’s the verdict I came up with:
1. Katy Perry on “Bad Boys.” After all, it does sound like a heterosexual version of her “I Kissed a Girl.”
2. Beyoncé or Leona Lewis on the vocally demanding “The Silence.” The percussion claps resembles a mixture of “Halo” and “Happy.”
3. Christina Aguilera on “Bury Me (6 Feet Under).” This song has a early Motown flavor that tried to crossover to appeal the ears of the white audience. It also sounds like a leftover track that didn’t make the cut for Aguilera’s Back to Basics era.
4. Jordin Sparks on “Overcome.” It sounds like a straight jack of her “Battlefield.”
5. Leona Lewis on “Gotta Go.” Those higher parts that Alexandra strain to ascend her voice in, Lewis can coo in her sleep.
6. Jazmine Sullivan on “They Don’t Know.” It has hints of Brandy’s piano samples of “Long Distance,” but because of the style, I can hear Sullivan’s rough voice portraying the tale of a lost love.
7. Beyoncé or Pink on “Hallelujah.” This sounds like another jack of Be’s “Ave Maria.”
It’s easy to see the Alexandra personally has a lot to learn because her identity is lost behind the superficial popcorn music she conveys, which makes the whole project flop because it lacks her originality and doesn’t deliver the more natural musical production to accommodate her as the expressive singer she is. She’s still young though, so hopefully she won’t fall for Simon’s spell of trickery to mold his every artist into a polished pop star. Even though the production is good, but the overall quality of the project seems like an empty vessel wanting to be fulfilled. There is nothing groundbreaking about this debut, and Overcome has fallen short, leaving Burke with nothing more of an unobstructed entry to the music business.
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