Alexis Jordan – Live Review: London, The Scala 30/06/11
London, The Scala 30/06/11
In a week where people seem to constantly talking about Beyonce’s performance at Glastonbury I was able to go and check out Alexis Jordan. At just 19 she’s already secure two top 10 hits in the UK and a top ten album, that’s no mean feat that’s for sure.
Alexis Jordan mixes bubblegum pop with dance music and she does it well. With the infectious debut single “Happiness” still picking up loads of airplay and follow up “Good Girl” being one of those songs that sticks in your head, grabs hold and refuses to leave, going round and round all day. Alexis Jordan shot to fame in America back in 2006 on America’s Got Talent, not winning didn’t deter her as she uploaded videos on YouTube and then got a record deal. It all sounds a bit like a pop Sandi Thom doesn’t it. Being picked up by Jay-Z’s label, her debut single became a worldwide smash hit. So what is all the fuss about? I admit I enjoy a bit of pop music every now and then, like a dirty little secret, although I’m not really that ashamed of it if truth be told. When the chance came to go and check Alexis’s show out it seemed like a pretty damn good idea to me.
The venue for tonight was The Scala in King’ Cross, London. A venue I’d never been too before and to be honest it was like a matrix inside. So many stairs, possible ways to walk and try to find the actual performance room. But inside I was impressed, loads of various viewpoints, meaning you could also get a decent view. I like venues like that, good stuff. Although I did feel very under dressed inside. Loads of people had really gone for it tonight. And there was me, a skate punk in shorts, hoodie and baseball cap. I didn’t see the memo on a dress code, and to be fair I would have ignored it anyways. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn’t full of kids leaving me feel like I was an old man who’d taken his daughter to the show and had to stand at the back to keep an eye on things.
Anyways, we got in just after the support acts had finished and around 9.45 the lights dimmed and Alexis Jordan hit the stage. Backed with 4 dancers, a live band and backing singers the crowd screamed in anticipation. The atmosphere was pretty electric at this point.
Kicking things off Alexis Jordan started with album track “Shout Shout”. A rousing number and the live band helped to kick proceedings off with a nice rock feel. A perfect start for me. She grabbed my attention right away. The opening track heavily borrows a chorus from the 80’s hit “Shout” by Tears For Fears. You all know the one….the one with the chorus that goes “Shout, shout, let it all out. These are the things I can do without.” The crowd loved it, the high energy performance really did get things going in perfect fashion. Next up was current single “Hush Hush”, another dance number to really get the crowd down the front moving. It did just that, they were singing along and jigging around like fireflies around a lit bulb. You could really see how much they were enjoying themselves. The songs kept coming as Alexis danced around in a dress that shimmied away, basically it looked like being made of loads of shiny silver dog tags, but obviously not metal, all in ruffley rows. Yep, as you can see fashion knowledge is something I have very little of!
“Laying Around” was another highlight in the first half of the set but then Alexis dropped a little bit of a bombshell for me. She opted to perform a cover of “Someone Like You” by Adele. Now this is where I am torn because there’s no denying that she performed it beautifully. She has a stunning voice, loads of range to it and possibly sang it better than Adele ever could. My problem is that I really hate that song. I could tell I was most definitely in the minority of the crowd, but its personal choice and all that. Also the cover was very much straight forward. I know you can say how it was a tribute and you shouldn’t mess with a song that’s already perfect, but I like to hear artists put their own slant when they perform a cover version. But the rest of the crowd loved hearing her perform the song and you can’t knock her performance of it at all, stunningly done.
Luckily straight after came for me her finest moment, “Good Girl”. A stunning pop song, with a high energy dance routine to boot. I already knew that I loved this song, a great slice of pop music but the performance just really hit home how great a song “Good Girl” is.
Closing with “How You Like Me Now”, Alexis left the stage and I think every single person knew that she’d be back pretty soon to play her biggest hit single. Every artist does this trick, we all know its happening. It’s like when Europe leave the stage and still haven’t rocked “The Final Countdown”, everyone knows they’ll be back.
So, out she bounded, with a huge grin on her face and the crowd went totally crazy as the opening bars of “Happiness” kicked in. Another of those damn addictive pop songs that you just can’t help smiling at.
A thoroughly enjoyable show, Alexis Jordan has a stunning voice and being just 19, has plenty of years ahead of her to conquer the pop world. Look out Beyonce, look out Kylie, look out Madonna, you lot might be the Queens of pop music right now, but Princess Alexis is gunning you down and will be wrestling that title from your hands very soon!
Check Alexis Jordan out here: www.alexisjordanofficial.com
Live Review by Mr. T
Huge thanks to Jenny @ Chuff Media.
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