Corporate line:
UK singer and songwriter Leona Lewis will release her debut album, Spirit, in America on April 8, 2008. For the first time, Clive Davis and Simon Cowell teamed up to sign Lewis to J Records/SyCo Music (Cowell’s joint venture with Sony BMG), and are both actively involved in the recording process for Spirit. Lewis, a 22-year-old London native and winner of the hit TV show the X Factor, a British talent show, has broken all-time sales records there with Spirit entering the album chart at Number One and becoming Britain’s fastest-selling debut ever. Spirit has scanned more than two million copies worldwide since its release in November. In addition, Spirit’s lead-off single “Bleeding Love” — co-written and produced by OneRepublic frontman Ryan “Alias” Tedder — was the U.K.’s best-selling single of 2007, claiming the Number One spot for seven weeks. Ushering in 2008, Leona received four prestigious Brit Award nominations, the UK equivalent of the Grammy Awards. Leona is currently in the studio recording two brand new tracks for the U.S. release of Spirit – “Forgive Me” by singer/songwriter superstar Akon and “Misses Glass” from the cutting edge producer/writers Madd Scientist and Rock City. Spirit is a mix of fresh pop and R&B, filled with “songs with a contemporary edge,” as Lewis puts it, ranging from soulful up-tempo numbers (“I’m You,” “The Best You Never Had,” and “Whatever It Takes,” which Lewis co-wrote) to ballads (“Better in Time,” “I Will Be,” and “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” — a song that Roberta Flack made famous). Tracks were written and produced by an array of top-notch hit-makers, including Tedder, singer/songwriters Akon and Ne-Yo, songwriters Josh Alexander and Billy Steinberg, and songwriter/producers Dallas Austin, Stargate, J.R. Rotem, and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald — all of whom have worked with some of the biggest names in pop. In addition to gracing the covers of UK fashion publications like Harper’s Bazaar, US media are touting Leona as the artist to watch in 2008: People Magazine labels her “the UK’s hottest star in an “Introducing” piece,” Vogue presents her in their “People Are Talking About – The Vogue 25 Cultural Highlights of 2008” and Entertainment Weekly declares her one of “8 To Watch in 2008.”
Best Cuts:
“Bleeding Love” – The first single is lovely. This certainly a lot better than the usual monotonous pop love songs.
“Better In Time” – Lewis has a taste of Mariah but the depth of Alicia.
“I Will Be” – Lewis strives to make this an epic song ala Celine Dion–it’s not that fantastic but it sure beats most lame epic-pop songs released today.
“Take A Bow” – Energetic even while Lewis sings with pain in her voice. A lovely track that sounds stolen from the Alicia Keys playbook.
“Footprints in the Sand” – Another epic sound brought to brilliant fruition by Lewis.
The rest:
“I’m You” – A nice song that ends up being average at best.
“Angel” – Singing about an angel should be far more heavenly.
“The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” – Lewis’ version pales in comparison to the original Roberta Flack masterpiece. Flack’s version had a soul that Lewis isn’t able to muster. Lewis has a beautiful voice but it never feels like she gets the song.
Finally:
Just because Leona Lewis won a reality show don’t figure her for a made-woman. Lewis proves she is the real deal more so than most American Idol winners. “Spirit” has a lot of soul and Lewis might bring her star power from England to America. It’d be a shame if this fantastic album were overlooked.
Watch the “Bleeding Heart” video:
Watch the “Better In Time” video:
Watch “Footprints in the Sand” video:
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