Alexandra Burke ft. Laza Morgan: 'Start Without You'

Alexandra's been clamouring to release a ballad since 'Bad Boys', but the powers that be at Cowell Towers have thus far resisted. You can kinda see their point - she pulls off the stompers with aplomb, keeping her uptempo helps to hinder comparisons with another big belty X Factor champ, and, well, they didn't fork out for studio time with RedOne for nothing.

'Start Without You', a brand new hook-up with You Know Who, isn't as full throttle as her last three chart-botherers, but it's still pretty damn danceable. Built around a sample from the immortal 'Iko Iko', it's a reggae-tinged pop booty-shaker that manages to be chunky and zesty at the same time, a bit like a jerk chicken and pineapple kebab. Oh, and when she hollers 'Get on the dancefloor!' 45 seconds before the end, it's enough to have K.Ro fearing for her 'Commander' title. At this rate, Burkey's big mobiles-in-the-air moment will just have to wait.