| "The Silence" | ||||
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| Single by Alexandra Burke | ||||
| from the album Overcome | ||||
| Recorded | 2009–10 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | Syco | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | RedOne | |||
| Alexandra Burke singles chronology | ||||
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"The Silence" is a song by British singer Alexandra Burke from her debut studio album Overcome (2009). The song was written by Bilal Hajji and Savan Kotecha, along with the song's producer Nadir "RedOne" Khayat. The song was released as the sixth and final single off the album. Burke stated that the song was written when her aunt told the singer about how she and her partner were experiencing troubles in their relationship, and that they were not telling each other how they felt. In response, Burke asked her aunt why he was letting the silence in their relationship do the talking instead of them discussing it. "The Silence" is an R&B and pop-influenced power ballad and instrumentation consists of a piano, a guitar and 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 music critics, who praised Burke's vocal performance. It also received comparisons to songs by Bonnie Tyler, 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).