The Last Temptation

"The Last Temptation" is a song by British recording artist Alesha. It was released as the final single from her second greatest hits collection and seventh studio album Last Judgment (2010). The song was released with the intention of being Alesha’s “swansong” upon her retirement from the industry, but Alesha ultimately released an eighth studio album in 2011. A dance–pop song, “The Last Temptation” was written and produced by Alesha in March 2010. Incorporating electronic and house influences, the song parallels Alesha’s career as a controversial pop icon and the life of Christ.

Contemporary critics praised “The Last Temptation,” who suggested it was Alesha’s best dance track to date and have compared it favorably to other Alesha tracks in the same genre. The single spent two weeks at number one, becoming Alesha’s thirteenth number one single. It sold 118,000 copies in its first week. The single quickly became the best-selling single of Alesha’s career and ultimately received a double platinum certification for sales of over 500,000 copies. It was the second best-selling single of 2010. “The Last Temptation” was awarded Best Single and Best Single/Album Art at the 19th Urapopstar Awards.

The song’s corresponding music video was directed by Australian film director Baz Luhrmann. In addition to echoing the lyrical allusions to Christ, the music video also depicts Alesha as a troubled monarch in the vein of Mario Antoinette. The video was heavily nominated at the 2010 Video Music Awards and received a Best Video nomination at the 19th Urapopstar Awards. Released amidst a huge promotional campaign intended to mark Alesha’s bow from the industry, “The Last Temptation” was performed at Judgment Day, Alesha’s sold-out gig at Wembley Stadium, and at the 18th Urapopstar Awards, where Alesha was named Artist of the Decade.

Background
In 2010, Alesha released her second greatest hits collection and seventh studio album Last Judgment. The new material highlighted on disc two of the album featured a largely baroque pop sound, fusing industrial and electronic influences with chamber pop. Intending to retire from the music industry, Alesha toyed with the idea of releasing "Raise This Flag" as her final single. However, she decided that she needed a stronger song as her musical finale. Alesha began writing and recording a more dance-oriented track, which ultimately turned into "The Last Temptation". It was written and recorded a mere number of weeks before its release on May 31, 2010.

Promotion and release
"The Last Temptation" was released on May 31, 2010.

"Burning Desire (Theology)" was written to emulate the sound of Alesha's 2008 album The Second Coming, while "Requiem" kept more in line with 2009's Bigger Than God.

“The Last Temptation” was performed at Judgment Day, Alesha’s sold-out gig at Wembley Stadium, and at the 18th Urapopstar Awards, where Alesha was named Artist of the Decade. It was also performed at the 19th Urapopstar Awards, where it won Best Single, as part of a medley with Putanovska and Shell Ruin. Alesha performed the tour on her worldwide stadium tour, the Heathen Tour, in 2011.

Development
The music video for "The Last Temptation" was helmed by Australian film director Baz Luhrmann, most famous for his 1996 adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and the 2001 musical Moulin Rouge!. Alesha was supposed to work with Luhrmann on the video for her 2007 duet with Neyssa, "Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train", but plans ultimately fell through. The world premiere of the music video occurred on May 29, 2010, on Alesha's official website and her official YouTube VEVO account. It received primetime television premieres on ABC in the U.S. and BBC in the UK the same night.

The video served as an allegory for Alesha's life and career. Alesha and Luhrmann created a highly-stylized music video which drew influence from Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (2005) and Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), as well as Alesha's own ideas. The video guest stars Neyssa and Putanovska. It represents Alesha's career and growth as an artist, as well as the adoraton and backlash she has received from the public, depicting her as both royalty (Alesha Is the Queen) and a Messianic figure (The Second Coming). "The Last Temptation" is one of Alesha's most expensive videos, costing $5 million (£3.5 million) and one of the most expensive videos of all time. A total of $750,000 (£530,000) was spent on Alesha's wardrobe alone.

Synopsis
The video begins with the text "In loving memory of Alesha. 2003-2010." As the screen fades from black, tens of thousands of people are gathered at a gorgeous cathedral with a large clock tower. The center of attention is Alesha, buried in a large glass coffin with her face covered by a black veil. People bless themselves and pray, while some touch the coffin to give their blessing. Everybody attempts to touch the coffin, which incites chaos and the glass shatters. The hands on the face of the clock tower reverse; the sky goes through a number of days and nights. A crowd of adoring fans have gathered in the city square beneath the balcony of a large manor. Alesha walks onto the balcony to address an adoring crowd. Held in high esteem, Alesha is carried in a royal carriage as part of a procession, symbolizing her "coronation" in a reference to 2007's Alesha Is the Queen. Alesha arrives at the Westminster Abbey and exits the carriage in a Givenchy couture gown. She takes the oath and is then anointed with oil and crowned.

The video shows Alesha's life of luxury. The footage is shown alongside scenes which portray poverty. News reports concerning the global financial crisis are shown. Alesha is now shown in a black car, being escorted to a safe haven due to safety concerns. Alesha is leaning her head against the window of the vehicle, traveling down a narrow road in a forest, looking outside with tears in her eyes. As the sun sets, a storm begins, and the car stalls due to the heavy rain. Referencing one of Christ's miracles, Alesha gets out of the car and walks into the rain. She falls to her knees and bows her head in prayer. The storm ends, and the vehicle proceeds. Alesha hides out at a cottage in the middle of the forest. She is gathered at a table with friends and followers, recreating Leonardo da Vinci's famous interpretation of the Last Supper. Alesha serves wine to her friends using a Holy Chalice. Alesha stands on a patio, looking longingly outward. She is joined by Neyssa, who reaches for Alesha's hand. They share a kiss. They look towards the cottage as their daughters come running out and hug them.

A number of citizens have decided to gather and rebel. Some hold torches (flashlights), while others have guns slung over their shoulders. The palace in which Alesha lived is shown on fire. The rioters make their way through the forest, shown alongside Alesha and Neyssa making love. Alesha walks out of the bedroom, covering her body with white sheets. An advisor pulls her aside to tell her something. A look of horror comes over Alesha's face. Sitting in front of a vanity mirror, a teary-eyed Alesha puts on jewelry and applies make-up. In a regal, medieval design by the late Alexander McQueen, she walks to the table where she just ate, now empty. She sits and waits. The rioters arrive and storm the cottage. They forcefully take Alesha, who remains calm and stoic. Neyssa cries as she holds onto the children, who hug her leg. As Alesha is carried away, she looks back and cries upon seeing the cottage in flames. Alesha is jailed in a cell with a small, barred window, her dress replaced by a sheer, tattered white one.

A man walks up to the cell and spits on Alesha before letting her out. She looks to the ground as she is escorted by a group of men, who take her outside. As she looks up, she sees three wooden cross in the distance. Alesha is placed on a wooden cross to be crucified, her white dress stained with blood. Neyssa and Putanovska are on the two crosses behind her. Alesha's final word is "salvation" (from the chorus). In an even more gruesome act, the rebels set fire to the crosses. Black smoke fills the air. The camera focuses on Alesha's face, which is then covered by smoldering flames (referencing the video for 2009's "Apocalypse City"). Days have presumably passed, as the crosses are now out of sight. The fire is still going strong and a group of people are still gathered at the site. A silhouette is seen in the flames. Alesha walks out of the fire, free of any burns or blood. The people, clearly shocked, realise their mistake. Alesha is then seen being paraded through the city of London, healing the sick and feeding the hungry. As the song comes to an end, Alesha closes her eyes and passes away. She is placed at rest in the glass coffin from before. The screen fades to white.

Reception
Religious groups worldwide protested against the video, which they deemed contained blasphemous use of Christian imagery. Alesha had already been condemned by the Vatican for her 2008 album The Second Coming, which took religious themes or stories and fashioned them into lighthearted, sacrilegious pop songs. Pope Benedict XVI involved himself in the matter and encouraged fans to boycott her Italian performances. Bill Lamb of About.com labeled the video "self-involved [...] Alesha takes it a step too far with this narcissistic, indulgent work of 'art'."

Lina Das from the Daily Mail complimented the clip, saying that Alesha still had the ability to grab the headlines with her shock tactics. Ben Wener of The Orange County Register reported that "No one – but no one – stages elaborate eye-candy productions like Alesha." David Rosenthal from The Spokesman-Review found the video "visually stunning". The music video was nominated for Best Video at the 19th Urapopstar Awards but lost. At the 2010 Video Music Awards, it was nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Female Video and Best Pop/Dance Video. It ultimately won Best Pop/Dance Video.

Track listing

 * CD1
 * 1) "The Last Temptation"
 * 2) "Burning Desire (Theology)"
 * 3) "The Last Temptation" (Moroccan Blue Waffle Leakage MetroMix)
 * 4) "The Last Temptation" (music video
 * CD2
 * 1) "The Last Temptation"
 * 2) "Requiem"
 * 3) "Greatest Hits Megamix" (by Sinden)
 * 4) "The Last Temptation" (music video)
 * Digital EP
 * 1) "The Last Temptation"
 * 2) "Burning Desire (Theology)"
 * 3) "Requiem"
 * 4) "Dreams of Rape"
 * 5) "Tsunami of the Soul" (live in Buenos Aires)


 * Digital remix EP
 * 1) "The Last Temptation"
 * 2) "The Last Temptation" (Crookers Vocal Remix)
 * 3) "The Last Temptation" (Fake Blood Remix)
 * 4) "The Last Temptation" (Tara Busch Remix)
 * 5) "The Last Temptation" (Moroccan Blue Waffle Leakage MetroMix)
 * 6) "Greatest Hits Megamix" (by Sinden)
 * 7" picture disc
 * 1) "The Last Temptation"
 * 2) "Greatest Hits Megamix" (by Sinden)