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Alexandra Burke Releases Hugely Anticipated Second Album

Published by HJPR | May 20, 2012

Proving the doubters wrong with a Top 3 comeback smash single, Alexandra Burke finally unveils her highly anticipated second album ‘Heartbreak On Hold’, released June 4th.

‘Heartbreak On Hold’ is a collection of pop smashes, effortlessly wrapping lyrical sadness in songs that make you want to dance. From the frustrated stomp of first single ‘Elephant ‘– a song written about a relationship that was slowly stalling - to the exuberant throw-your-cares-away dance rush of second single ‘Let It Go’, ‘Heartbreak On Hold’ is an album that acknowledges the hard times but offers a window of opportunity for people to forget about it all. Alexandra says: “Yes it's upbeat and uptempo and I want to get you dancing but I want people to understand the deeper meaning behind the album.”

While ‘Elephant’ and ‘Let It Go’ both slot nicely into the current pop trend for dancefloor stompers, ‘Heartbreak On Hold’ also displays Alexandra's love for 90s dance, specifically the emotional house music of Robin S or the soul-inflected dance of Soul II Soul, as heard most obviously on the heart-burstingly bittersweet title track. Featuring a vocal that almost erupts with emotion (“I tried everything to get over you, trying to make it through but nothing ever seems to work”) it's the kind of song that makes you want to dance while tears stream down your cheeks.

Elsewhere the “very sexy” ‘Between The Sheets’ and ‘Daylight Robbery’ bear a stronger R&B influence, whilst the fluttering synths and four to the floor beat of ‘This Love Will Survive’ marries Alexandra's survival extinct (“Sometimes if you really want something you've got to fight. It's telling the other person 'we will survive'”) to a beat that Alexandra rightfully says you'd have to be dead not to dance to.

The album finishes with a big, emotionally-charged blubathon that closes the album and features a lone piano and Alexandra's raw emotion speaking directly to the listener, ‘What Money Can't Buy’ is possibly the best thing she's ever done. Alexandra executive produced the whole album. “It basically meant that nothing got passed me and my say was the last and final say,” she says of her new role. “The amount of control I've had is unreal.”

One of the first decisions she made on a personal and professional level was to be more honest and open with her emotions. ‘Heartbreak On Hold’ isn't just a collection of songs it's a representation of Alexandra Burke, the artist. “This album is a lot more sexier and grown up. It's deeper. I think and feel it has an element in there where it's just more uplifting than ever. I'm just trying to give a bit more of my personality and how I see life, which needs to be positive.”

The 2008 winner of The X Factor, Alexandra has sold over 1.5 million copies of her debut album ‘Overcome’, had three UK No.1 singles, a sell out debut national tour and sold over 4 million records worldwide.