Thursday, March 27, 2008

Leona Lewis breaks America

Have just read in the Times that Leona Lewis, the winner of X Factor, is expected today to reach the Number One spot on the American billboard with her debut single, Bleeding Love. I don't care what people might think of that record, or that sort of R&B feel it has, I've said it before and I'll say it again, that girl has talent. Pure unadulterated singing ability.

She is the next Whitney and Mariah and she was a receptionist in Hackney with a dream that came true. No doubt she will make far less money than Cowell and her US promoters, but if it wasn't for the good old fashioned TV talent show the star may never has been born, so you have to praise Simon Cowell for creating a revival in the format. Breaking America is one hell of an achievement for the girl and her lungs.

5 comments:

Liam Murray said...

Undoubted talent yes, and good luck to her - she deserves success. A couple of observations though.

This can't be taken as blanket vindication of the talent show format though. Since her first appearance in audition shows people tagged her as the winner and you can bet your house that with looks and ability like that Cowell simply wouldn't let her lose. If that looked like a prospect he'd have found an excuse to oust her quite early and then sign her up anyway. Most music pundits accept she has ability way beyond any other winners - she's simply in a different league from Brookstein, McManus, Leon et al and that was clear from day one (only other performer from that stable who merits attention is Will Young).

Also, for all her talent and technical ability she isn't quite in the genuis mould in terms of being an artist - Whitney or Mariah don't even deserve that label so this isn't a slight. If we're lucky those types come along once in a generation and as a lifelong fan of Billy H & Ella F I'd happily concede that our very own Miss Winehouse deserves that label - even if she hasn't topped the billboard 100....

Andy said...

I really like Leona, but she wasn't just plucked from obscurity. She did attend the Sylvia Young Theatre School, the Italia Conti Academy and the BRIT School.

Anonymous said...

"I'd happily concede that our very own Miss Winehouse deserves that label - even if she hasn't topped the billboard 100...."

Or topped herself. Ms Winehouse really needs to sort herself out otherwise she'll be joining Janis, Jimmi and Jim. Probably sell more records if she did.

Anonymous said...

She may be able to sing well(to some peoples' ears) but she has absolutely NO Charisma.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry, what is a Leona Lewis? Is it a harpy I occasionally see on MTV, forcing me to hurriedly change to something more edifying, like the Tree Channel?

Comparisons to the equally odious Whiney Houston and the highly strung and even more highly overrated Mariah Carey seem apt. I'm just surprised you left Lard Arse Lopez out of your bizarre encominium.