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AIBU?

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Original poster

Alexandra Burke should move to America for her own sanity

136 replies

quencher · 04/12/2017 23:16

Now that her mum is no longer with her, which was the reason she never left. I just hope she finds people who will love her talent and appreciate it. It's being wasted and she will never get to her full potential. It's sad to watch and I don't think AIBU at all for thinking this.

OP posts:
Jengnr · 05/12/2017 11:54

People don’t want to see pro dancers win. It was the same for Natalie Gumeade. If you can already dance well there isn’t the same magic.

ijustwannadance · 05/12/2017 12:09

She wouldn't get very far in America at all.
She can sing but there's nothing else to go with it. Not unique enough. Nothing to stand her out in a crowd.

MissEliza · 05/12/2017 12:18

I had no feelings about AB really but I am finding the false modesty week after week irritating. This week I felt the look in her eyes was like 'go on tell me how wonderful I am.' Debbie has become a bit like that. Gemma and Debbie aren't great dancers but they are working hard and have improved greatly. Gemma was terrible in the first week. I think Joe has made the most progress so that's why I'd happily see him win.
This is the worst Strictly for a long time. So different to last year.

NashvilleQueen · 05/12/2017 12:33

I got into a bit of a row on twitter when I mentioned false modesty. It is my personal perception of how she comes across and a lot of people I know feel the same. The counter allegation is that this is, in fact, thinly disguised racism and black women have been conditioned by the prejudice in society so that they have to appear modest and grateful in order to get along.

It’s extremely difficult as I know for sure that I’m not racist but* wonder whether I am judging her on acting a certain way when the only reason she does it is because of a racist society per se.

  • i realise that racists traditionally say I’m not racist but .... it was just in the context of the argument!

I think that this week the public vote who stays in rather than the judges. If so then I think she may go. Her dance last week was incredibly good and should have received 40. To be in the bottom two suggests the public don’t like her. It’s just I don’t know whether they don’t like her because of how she presents or another more sinister underlying reason.

Afanofchocolate · 05/12/2017 12:43

I've only dipped in and out of strictly and don't read magazines etc, but I think she's a very talented woman. The dances I've caught have been brilliant. Her voice is so good too.

Xtrabroken · 05/12/2017 13:01

'British people should be proud of her and all that she does,'

Why Confused
Genuine question! Does she give back to others or do a lot for charity?

I'm proud of my children.
I'm proud of the people who risk their own lives to save others
I'm proud of the off duty police and doctors and railway staff who ran into the arena foyer to help those injured in Manchester.

I'm sure she's great but why should I feel pride as a British person for a pop and musical star.

Auburn2001 · 05/12/2017 13:55

Well, Davood, who lost the dance off on Sunday, appears the strong and silent type.
Oti is there as a professional dancer to show off her celeb.
Plenty of people who like Oti and voted for Davood to stay in have been Alexandra bashing and are therefore indignant when accused of racism.

My theory is that Alexandra is rare. She's a black female winner of another celebrity contest, and as well as being a talented singer, is also a talented dancer. I think she does have star quality. I never notice any mistakes she might be making as she is so mesmerising to watch!

On top of that she has previous experience of dancing and is very much liked by the Strictly judges to the point of their not giving her enough criticism. Why Craig pointed out her weaknesses in the 'Sunday' show, but didn't say them to Alexandra herself on the Saturday night show, is beyond me. She is also accused of diva like behaviour.

I think all of this has made her an easy target this year, sadly.

AngelsSins · 05/12/2017 15:21

I can't stand her, I never have been able to stomach that fake modesty in people. I have wondered about social conditioning, racism etc, but I just don't accept it. I'm not racist and I don't have to sing the praises of every non white person to prove it.

Having said that, she's a fantastic dancer and I wouldn't be upset if her or Debbie won, they deserve it. They have people with more dance experience than others every year, because viewers want to see people who can actually dance, not just a bunch of Ed Balls types!

Tippz · 05/12/2017 15:23

I couldn't give a shit about her. I can't stand her.

lightlite · 05/12/2017 15:28

I loved her rendition of "Hallelujah"

Original poster
quencher · 05/12/2017 16:37

Isn't Alexandra Burke the one who started releasing all these false stories when she first became famous, claiming she'd been kicked out of her home as a teenager, was homeless and penniless, slept on people's sofas as a treat, started from nothing and made some amazing rise against all the odds etc etc...
I have been a fun of hers for a very long time. I do remember this. When she said this, she did say it was when she was having trouble with her mum. If I am not wrong, she moved out for about six months/like runner way teen sort of thing. This was when she was about 14 or older. And I think it was to do with her music career or something like. Her mother is not that rich. Not in the same way she was probably in their hay day. Was she ever broke, I doubt it.

*You are hugely overinvested in the life of a minor star who you have never met.

That is very, very weird.* I don't think being minor should have any determination on how I feel about her. I love her singing and personality. She makes me laugh when I watch her. Tat should be enough for my own entertainment and one of my hobbies, thank you.

Is the married man mr. Selfridge. I know people hated her for dating him.

OP posts:
Original poster
quencher · 05/12/2017 17:02

nd if I remember rightly, didn’t she get to sing with Beyoncé on the final when the celebs sing with them?
Yes she did. One of the best moments in X factor history. m.youtube.com/watch?v=ccthIuJOi5A it's so emotional anyone who hates her crying should stay clear.

It is misogynoir. Moving to America will not solve it. I just think America is bigger which means she can have a wider audience with more opportunities.

I personally think it's a bit of desperation for the attention after her singing career kind of tanked, but the hate she's getting from the DM is horrid.
She has always been like that. She is very loud and over powering and at the same time very emotional.

She was doing musical theatre in the west end for the two years preceding Strictly, and before that was recording and touring.
She didn't release her second album because Simon and the person who helped her refused to release it unless she was willing to travel out side of the uk for promotion (allegedly). I remover waiting for the album and two weeks before it's release date it was cancelled. The first album was very good, so I did look forward to second one.

I didn't realise Allthebestnamesareused that Alex and Gorka's Strictly dances are personally choreographed by Craig. How did you come to know this? I think they meant sister act. Not strictly. Craig did ask the people talking about this, "how much dancing is in sister act the musical? "

Joe has problems done a lot more dancing in musicals than Alexandra Burke because of chitty chitty bang bang.

OP posts:
Original poster
quencher · 05/12/2017 17:14

It was the same for Natalie Gumeadethis was so stupid (Not you who posted this but the whole hate for her non-dance past, she was 4&5 when her mum took her to dance lesson. They asked and she mentioned this and every one went with this. Mind boggles with how people think sometimes. She was denied the win based on that, anyway plus her character in Corrie that people hated because she was an abusive lover of somebody the public lovedGrin)

OP posts:
BMW6 · 05/12/2017 17:23

I seriously doubt that she'll break the US market - IMHO just doesn't stand out from the crowd.

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 05/12/2017 17:43

I love her singing and personality.

What personality?

I still don't understand why you think Americans will like her any more than Brits do.

CheekyRedhead · 06/12/2017 20:37

I wish she would bigger off to America and not come back. She is so annoying, can't stand the girl.

Squid7 · 10/12/2017 11:49

Just a note for all those saying Alexandra has danced/been choreographed before, therefore implying an unfair advantage:
Joe: Stage school/worked in at least 2 musicals I know of

Gemma: stage school trained, went into acting

Molly: stage school trained; oart of a multi-platinum selling girl band who perfirmed choreographed shows every week whikst touring, and videos for goodness knws how long..is also 1 year older than Alexandra, but gets presented as a little girl lost in the press

Debbie: trained ballet dancer who ran her own school for goodness sakes.
Don't use prior experience as an excuse, why is it overlooked for all if these other people?

Squid7 · 10/12/2017 11:54

Funny how some people are 'offended' by 'stories' from several years ago, but have nothing to say about Gemma and Molly taking their kit off for the press practically every week.
Be truthful with yourself about the real reason u don't want her to win

ShowMePotatoSalad · 10/12/2017 12:04

Funnily enough though, most adults (like me), who lose their mother don't mention it every five minutes.

Alexandra hasn't mentioned it every five minutes. She mentioned it once and then a couple of other people on the show have mentioned it.

Some responses on this thread are pure spite.

ShowMePotatoSalad · 10/12/2017 12:06

I couldn't give a shit about her. I can't stand her.

You obviously do give a shit if you say you can't stand her? Surely the opposite of love is indifference? How can you be so spiteful about someone you don't know?

2cats2many · 10/12/2017 12:14

It's all about 'the journey' though isn't it?

The problem with AB is that she started too good. It's boringly predictable that's she's going to be good. I also dislike all that 'we just feel so blessed' shizzle that she comes out with every 5 mins .

However, I wouldn't blame her in the slightest if she kicked off after being told to dance for her mum. That's such a crass and insensitive thing to see. She's well within her rights to be totally pissed off about it.

Butterymuffin · 10/12/2017 12:14

She didn't release her second album because Simon and the person who helped her refused to release it unless she was willing to travel out side of the uk for promotion (allegedly).

Why didn't she want to travel? I can see how it seems reasonable to expect an artist to do travel to promote an album outside their own country, unless they have young kids or something similar.

As everyone's said with Strictly, as with X Factor, 'improvers' are more popular than people who've always been good/competent.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 10/12/2017 12:26

After reading some of the comments about her on twitter some about her looks, somedeeply misogynistic and racist. I remember she watched X factor on the day I was waiting to go into hospital to be induced with my first born. I am fond of her and JLS for that reason. They make me remember a very happy time in my life.

fascicle · 10/12/2017 13:02

AngelsSins
I can't stand her, I never have been able to stomach that fake modesty in people.

NashvilleQueen
I got into a bit of a row on twitter when I mentioned false modesty. It is my personal perception of how she comes across and a lot of people I know feel the same.

MissEliza
I had no feelings about AB really but I am finding the false modesty week after week irritating.

What evidence do any of you have to suggest that what she says and how she expresses herself is not genuine? I can see nothing beyond unpleasant speculation.

I think that some people are ready and raring to find fault - and it's insidious. I also believe that those who are super critical and prescriptive about how they feel others should behave/express themselves might also find fault if contestants who perform well on programmes like this were to sing their own praises.

anotherchange111 · 10/12/2017 13:14

This is a really excellent piece on the smear campaign against Alexandra https://t.co/2X5r5r7uiv?amp=1

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