The Silence (song)

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"The Silence"
Single by Alexandra Burke
from the album Overcome
Recorded2009–10
Studio
  • Album version:
    Henson
    (Los Angeles)
  • Single mix: Metropolis (London)
Genre
Length3:35
LabelSyco
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)RedOne
Alexandra Burke singles chronology
"Start Without You"
(2010)
"The Silence"
(2010)
"Elephant"
(2012)

"The Silence" is a song by

drums
. The lyrics of the song feature the protagonist asking why the other person in the relationship remains silent about their difficulties instead of talking about them.

The song garnered positive reviews from

Beyoncé Knowles and Leona Lewis. Upon the release of Overcome, the song debuted at number 95 on the UK Singles Chart on the strength of digital download sales. A year later when released as a single, it peaked at number 16 on the chart. It peaked inside the top thirty on the singles charts in Hungary, Ireland and Scotland, and peaked at number 66 in Switzerland. An accompanying music video was directed by Nzingha Stewart and shot in black and white. It features Burke in a variety of different stylized sets in different outfits and dresses. The singer has performed the song on The Paul O'Grady Show and The X Factor. It was included on the set list of her All Night Long Tour
(2011).

Background and release

After the release and success of the lead single "

promotional single for the re-release of Overcome and for Christmas.[4] During an interview talking about the song for Virgin Media in December 2010, Burke stated that "The Silence" is a "very special song" and that despite it being a "very emotional song to sing", it is one of her most favourite songs on Overcome.[5]

Composition and lyrics

"The Silence" is a

beats per minute.[8] Burke's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of F3 to the high note of F5.[8] In an interview with Peter Andre on The Paul O'Grady Show on 3 November 2009, Burke explained the meaning of the song's lyrics, saying "I'm sure everyone has been in that situation where you are in a relationship, it might not be going so well and you kinda want your other half to speak out and say what is on their mind, and I've had relationships like that."[10] Burke continued to explain that when she was in the recording studio with RedOne, her Aunt was experiencing problems in her relationship which related to the lyrics in "The Silence," and that she felt that her Aunt's partner should not "let the silence do the talking? Why doesn't he let you know how he feels?," and that "The Silence" was written as a result.[10] The song begins with the lyrics "Oh, you lift me up."[8]

Response

Critical reception

Woman with blonde curly hair wearing a yellow outfit
A woman with blonde hair singing
A woman at an awards ceremony
"The Silence" received comparisons to the music of Beyoncé (left), Bonnie Tyler (centre) and Leona Lewis (right).[6][11]

"The Silence" garnered positive reviews from

X Factor winner Leona Lewis, with regard to "The Silence" and the title track "Overcome."[11]

Chart performance

Upon the release of Overcome, "The Silence" debuted on the

Swiss Singles Chart at number 66 on 12 December 2010, and fell to number 69 the following week.[21] A month later, the song re-entered the chart at number 72 on 23 January 2011 for one week.[21] In Hungary, the song peaked at number 26.[22]

Music video

The

note
, Burke has her back to the camera and is nude from the waist up. During the final verse, Burke's anger and desperation is shown to be heightened, as she sings to her herself in the mirror and places more emphasis on her movement. The video ends with the singer nude from the waist up and facing the camera, covering herself with her arms crossed over her chest.

Live performances

Burke performed the song for the first time on MTV Push upon the release of Overcome.[23] Burke then performed the song on 3 November 2009 on The Paul O'Grady show, where she gave an interview about her experience on The X Factor and how the lyrics for "The Silence" were conceptualised.[10] Upon the announcement that the song and music video were going to be released, Burke included the song on her set list of the Jingle Bell Ball concerts around the country, where other artists including Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs and The Wanted also performed.[24] During the performance at The O2 Arena in London, Burke was moved to tears and apologised to the audience, saying "I'm sorry for getting emotional, but that song means way too much to me."[24] Burke performed the song on the semi-final of the seventh series of The X Factor on 5 December 2010.[citation needed] The song was also included on the set list of Burke's All Night Long Tour (2011).[citation needed]

Track listings

  • 2009 standard edition[25]
  1. "The Silence" – 4:01
  • 2010 deluxe edition[26]
  1. "The Silence" (New Single Mix) – 3:35
Digital EP
  1. "The Silence" (Almighty Radio Edit) - 3:44
  2. "The Silence" (Almighty 12" Mix) - 6:50
  3. "The Silence" (Almighty 12" Dub) - 6:57
  4. "The Silence" (Almighty 12" Instrumental) - 6:48

Credits and personnel

"The Silence" (2009) credits adapted from the liner notes of Overcome,[27] and "The Silence" (New Single Mix) (2010) credits adapted from the deluxe edition of Overcome.[28]

Charts

Chart (2009–11) Peak
position
CIS (TopHit)[29] 269
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[30] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[31] 30
Scotland (OCC)[32] 16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 66
UK Singles (OCC)[34] 16

References

  1. ^ Balls, David (19 February 2010). "Alexandra Burke plots 'sexy' music video". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  2. ^ Copsey, Robert (22 April 2010). "Alexandra Burke reveals video details". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b Love, Ryan (25 October 2010). "Burke announces new single details". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  4. ^
    Sky News Sunrise". 1:00 minutes in. Smallworld Cable. Sky News. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help
    )
  5. ^ a b "Alexandra Burke interview – The Silence" (video). Virgin TV. Virgin Media. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d Fox, Al (19 October 2009). "Alexandra Burke Overcome Review". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Overcome (Deluxe Edition) – Alexandra Burke". iTunes Store (Great Britain). Apple. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  8. ^
    Peer International Music Publishing
    . 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  9. ^ McAlpine, Fraser (12 December 2010). "Alexandra Burke – 'The Silence'". Radio 1. BBC. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  10. ^ a b c Peter Andre (3 November 2009). "The Paul O'Grady Show". 8. 5 minutes in. Channel 4. Channel 4.
  11. ^ a b Levine, Nick (21 October 2009). "Alexandra Burke: 'Overcome'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  12. ^ "UK Singles Chart: CLUK Update (31.10.2009 – Week 43)". Zobbel.de. Official Charts Company. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  13. ^ a b "2010 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive – 18th December 2010". Official Charts Company. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  14. ^ "2010 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive – 25th December 2010". Official Charts Company. 25 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  15. ^ "2010 Top 40 UK Single Downloads Archive – 18th December 2010". Official Charts Company. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  16. ^ "2010 Top 40 UK Single Downloads Archive – 25th December 2010". Official Charts Company. 25 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  17. ^ "2010 Top 40 Scottish Singles Archive – 218th December 2010". Official Charts Company. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  18. ^ "2010 Top 40 Scottish Single Downloads Archive – 25th December 2010". Official Charts Company. 25 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  19. Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original
    on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  20. ^ "Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 16 December 2010". Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association. 16 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Alexandra Burke – The Silence". hiparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  22. ^ "Top 50 Singles". Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  23. Viacom
    . Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Alexandra Burke gets emotional at the Ball". capital FM. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  25. Rovi Corporation
    . Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  26. Amazon.co.uk
    . 3 December 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  27. ^ Overcome (liner notes). Alexandra Burke. Syco Music. 2009. B001NIIUS2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Overcome (Re-release, 2010) (liner notes). Alexandra Burke. Syco Music. 2010. B001NIIUS2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Alexandra Burke — The Silence. TopHit. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  30. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  31. ^ "Chart Track: Week 49, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
  32. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  33. ^ "Alexandra Burke – The Silence". Swiss Singles Chart.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-12-18.