Leona Lewis: Spirit
The X Factor winner releases her debut album.
Also In The News
|
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, out November 9th in cinemas, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Salman Khan, Rani, running time 131 minutes. |  |
Sunday, 11, Nov 2007 04:44
SYCO Music/Sony BMG, out November 12th.
In a nutshell...
Power ballads. American. Diva. Syrupy.
What's it all about?
Lewis' diva voice soars faultlessly through 14 songs, leaving any listener without a doubt of her vocal talents. Her number one hits Bleeding Love and A Moment Like This are the punctuation marks of the usual high-quality pop production one expects from Cowell and co.
Following the perilous path of other talent show winners who have failed before her, Lewis surely has the staying power of Will Young rather than the misfortune of Michelle McManus.
Who's it by?
Leona Lewis is the quiet girl with a big voice who conquered the X Factor 2006, singing her way to glory with a spectacular set of lungs and endearing herself to the voting public with her sweet personality. She stormed to number one last Christmas with the winning X Factor single handed to her by the show's producers.
As an example...
"I promise you/I'm always there/When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair/I'll carry you/When you need a friend/You'll find my footprints in the sand." - Footprints in the Sand
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Almost a dead cert, the Americans will surely go mad for this Mariah Carey-inspired ballad fest. All Lewis needs to do is smile sweetly while she rakes in the dollars.
What the others say
"Instead of taking the opportunity to craft it [Lewis' voice] into new and exciting shapes, it has been stuck in a big spotlit display case, revolving slowly and rather boringly on a velvet cushion of overstuffed balladry." - Times.
So is it any good?
Lewis sings her heart out through stories of loves lost and conquered, with allusions to already established female divas - Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera - audible in every warble.
However, each sentimental piano intro sounds remarkably similar to the last with funky beats and an edgy production sadly lacking. The songstress could well apply for US citizenship as any trace of a her British nationality has all but disappeared under a blanket of backing singers and triumphant key changes. Footprints in the Sand couldn't have been better written for middle America. A musical version of one of the most famous Christian fables, the religious tone is glaring - it's one note short of a hymn and a US marketing dream.
Bleeding Love is the highlight of the album, a superb single that could almost be a sequel to Houston's 1987 classic I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me). Leona's success is assured and her talent plain to see, but her musical credibility is still hanging in the balance. Hopefully her second and third albums, which will surely follow, will not be an imitation of former success stories but an example of 21st century pop finery.
6/10
Rosie Park
Check out Leona's new album for yourself here.
"I haven't heard the whole album yet, so am not yet in a position to comment on that. I agree, though about Leona's talent and likelihood that she will become a huge star, particularly in America. One thing I have to say, though, is that across the board reviewers appear to have been remarkably kind to Leona as a singer. Not one of them has pointed out that she is not a singer/songwriter or criticised her voice in any way or ridiculed her instant rise to fame (not that they should have done, she is a talent, and is being recognised as such). I wish the same courtesy had been shown to Will Young when he released his first album." - Ed Brown
"I think Leona Lewis songs are all very cool." - Emma Hall