Xmas > Christmas News

Hallelujah Set To Become Christmas No1

Tue, 16 Dec 2008

The first single from X factor winner Alexandra Burke, a version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, has become Europe’s fastest-selling download ever.

The Xmas song has taken the internet charts by storm, selling more than 105,000 copies in just 24 hours since its release and less than 48 hours since Burke was crowned champion of the fifth series of the ITV1 reality show on Saturday night.

Hallelujah sales have eclipsed the previous one-day record of 82,000 downloads set by previous X Factor winner Leona Lewis with her debut release, A Moment Like This.

The CD version of the single is not out until Wednesday, but music retailer HMV is already predicting that it will be this year’s Christmas Number 1.

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "We're seeing a phenomenal rush to download the Hallelujah single from our website. It's both our fastest and biggest-ever selling download, and Alexandra already has the Christmas No 1 all wrapped up."

He added: "The physical CD single, which comes out on Wednesday, will give the release another huge boost, and it's now about how many copies Alexandra may go on to sell. HMV is ordering massive extra stock to keep up with the unprecedented demand."