Who is Leona Lewis?

Leona Lewis is a British multi platinum selling artist and three times Grammy award nominee. Leona rose to fame in 2006 when she won the British TV show X-Fator and quickly became a tremendous musical success. Her debut single was not only crowned Christmas Number One in 2006 but also became the fastest selling UK single when it was downloaded 50,000 within 30 seconds of being released.

Her Albums

Up to date Leona has only released one album, which is titled Spirit but she is set to release her second in November 2009. Spirit was released in 2007 and debuted in the top spot in nine countries including the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia. The album became the biggest album seller of 2007 in the UK and Ireland. And the 6th biggest selling album of 2008 in the world.

Spirit – Album Inlay

Album inlay’s aren’t exactly something that really interest me, although I do prefer ones that contain the lyrics for the album’s song, and because of this I can in no way be seen as an inlay connoisseur. The opinion of Spirit’s inlay that you will therefore receive will probably we a somewhat basic one. For me the Spirit album inlay is a decent one as it contains one of the two things that I look for in these small booklets. That one thing is the lyrics to all of the albums songs. The lyrics in the booklet where also printed in black on white or pale blue backgrounds which made them easy to read – not always the case. The booklet also contained (next to the lyrics) some tasteful pictures of Leona as well as the usual musical dedications and a thank you message. Unfortunately however the inlay contains no information about the artist herself, which would have been nice.

The Album in Short

If you’re one of those people that aren’t particularly looking for a track-by-track breakdown of the album in question then this section is for you and you can simply gloss over the track analysis if you wish. Spirit is in my opinion an outstanding album and it is easy for me listening to it to see exactly why Leona has become to success and the star that she is. This album showcases her immense vocal talent and holds within some really powerful and emotive songs. I can say with conviction that none of the songs on the album are unpopular with me and each one offers the listening something more. ‘Bleeding’ Love is powerful and emotive as is ‘A Moment Like This’ whilst ‘Better in Time’ is delicate, ‘Footprints in the Sand’ simply beautiful and ‘Homeless’ an outstanding piece of musical and lyrical work.

Track Breakdown

ONE – Bleeding Love

This track is one of Leona’s most well-known and popular tracks. It is in my opinion a lovely album opener and a very distinctive track in many ways. The backing track has some lovely chords and a strong steady yet somehow unique beat and the sublime lyrics are delivered in that true Leona Lewis style. Behind the vocals is a tower of strength and this emanates throughout.
‘Closed off from love
I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain’
**********9/10**********

TWO – Whatever it Takes

This next track has a different sound to the previous one from the very start as it is the backing vocalists that we hear first before the soft and delicate voice of Leona filters through. The lyrics are beautiful to listen to and the downshift in pace and tempo for this song really works and gives variety to the listener.
‘People say love
Comes and goes, but
They don’t understand
What they don’t know’
*********9/10*********

THREE – Homeless

This is one of my favourite tracks from the album and has been since I very heard those opening piano notes and the near unaccompanied yet sublime vocals. The lyrics are faultless on all accounts, the musical backing flawless and the vocals emotive, delicate and powerful all at the same time.
‘But you don't love me anymore
You don't want me anymore
There's a sign on your door
No vacancy, just emptiness'
***********10/10**********

FOUR – Better in Time

I love the violin introduction to this song followed by a solid and steady, which in many ways compartmentalises the lyrics and gives them presence and power. The lyrics themselves are again brilliant and the song has a real feel good sense despite it being rather delicate and dainty in terms of vocals.
‘Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too
It'll all get better in time’
********9/10********

FIVE - Yesterday

This track is another rather delicate one and the backing track backs up this feeling with small tickles on the piano. The lyrics are again lovely to listen to and the vocals are again extremely strong from the start. There are a couple of moments however were the vocals seem to warble a little and that’s a shame as the track is otherwise a beautiful one.
‘They can take the music that we never play
All the broken dreams, take everything,
Just take it away
They can never have yesterday’
********8/10********

SIX – Take a Bow

This track has a very electronic sound to begin with and the stunted style of vocalising the lyrics at the start made me think that this track was not going to be one I would enjoy. As it continued however I found myself being drawn into it and the track is now one of my favourites on the album. The varying vocal styles are interesting to listen to and the chorus beautifully sung and extremely catchy.
_‘So take a bow
_Cause you've taken everything else_
_You played the part_
_Like a star you played it so well’_
**********10/10**********

SEVEN – I Will Be

This track sees a return to the more sombre in pace tracks from earlier in the album. I Will Be is a beautiful track on every level and really contrasts and compliments the previous track very well. Leona’s vocals are strong and powerful in terms of emotion yet delicate enough to let this emotion come through naturally and in a heartfelt way.
_‘All the pain, the tears I cried_
_Still you never said goodbye and now I know_
_How far you'd go’_
*********9/10*********

EIGHT – Angel

In many ways this track can be seen as a sublime blend of the previous two tracks. It has the strong and steady beat of Take a Bow but the delicate yet emotive vocals of I Will Be. In my opinion Angel is a superb track and one that I will remain eternally fond of because of the mixing of vocal and musical styles.
_‘Like Romeo and Juliet_
_Family came to fight us_
_Like the tallest mountain on the widest sea_
_Nothing big enough to hide us’_
**********10/10**********

NINE – Here I Am

Here I Am is much slower than any of the other tracks on the album and I can’t say that I’m certain that this pace particularly suits Leona’s general style. I must say however that the song is more than pleasant to listen to and certainly does showcase a spectacular vocal talent, as she sings for the most part with very little accompaniment. Something however just tells me that this sort of track is something she should only do once in a while. For a once in a while track though this isn’t half bad.
_‘If you have broken dreams_
_Just lay them all on me_
_I'll be the one who understands_
_So take my hand’_
********8/10********

TEN – I’m You

This track has a somewhat oriental feel when it comes to the opening music and the vocals at times help to uphold this feeling. In general however the song resorts back to Leona’s natural flare and musical style and this is something I’m pleased with. In no way though is this song samey as it brings something different to the album through the brilliantly and uniquely sung lyrics.
_‘Oh you're not crazy_
_If only you'd realise_
_That you and I_
_Have all the help we need’_
*********9/10*********

ELEVEN – The Best You Never Had

The beginning of this track has a steady beat and some uniquely sung lyrics and this feeling continues throughout the track as a whole. The chorus of this song is one that really makes you feel good and I can certainly imagine this song being blasted out in the rooms of all those girls with idiotic boyfriends. The lyrics are fantastic to listen to and as we have come to expect from the album flawlessly sung.
_‘Because I told you you'd live to regret it,_
_Now I don't wanna make you feel bad,_
_But when it comes to me just forget it,_
_I'll be the best you never had’_
*********9/10*********

TWELVE – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

I must admit that this is my least favourite track on the album but I must also admit that I have never really liked this song no matter who it’s sung by. Unfortunately for me this track sees Leona move back to the slowly paced tracks, which I think she shouldn’t do too often. Again there is nothing particularly wrong with this track as the vocals are both powerful and emotive and the lyrics rather pretty. Maybe it is just the fact that I don’t like the pace of the song but it just isn’t for me.
_‘The first time ever I saw your face_
_I thought the sun rose in your eyes_
_And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave_
_To the dark and the endless skies my love’_
*******7/10*******

THIRTEEN – Footprints in the Sand

Footprints in the sand is a massive power ballad and a truly beautiful song based on the poem ‘Footprints’. The song is very much string-fuelled and extremely emotional as the ideas of the Christian poem are filtered through Leona’s outstandingly sense tingling vocals.
_‘You walked with me,_
_Footprints in the sand,_
_And helped me understand,_
_Where I'm going’_
**********10/10**********

FOURTEEN – A Moment Like This

A Moment Like This is a song that most of us seem to know and one that I am particularly fond of. Coupled with the previous track this one brings the album to a fantastic end. The backing track is powerful and heady but beautifully done at the same time. The lyrics are clever and extremely fitting when you think that this was the track Leona sung to win the competition. The vocals as usual are powerful and extremely emotive making for a tremendous album closure.
_‘A moment like this_
_Some people wait a lifetime_
_For a moment like this_
_Some people search forever’_
**********10/10**********

CLOSING COMMENT

This album really is one that I am extremely fond of. I must say that I was never certain this was going to be the case when I picked it up but upon first listen I found myself falling in love with the soulfully delicate ballads, the powerful lyrics and the emotion filled vocals. In my opinion this album proves to everyone that talent competitions do sometimes earth up some genuinely brilliant talent and that Leona Lewis is more than standing proof that if you have a dream you should go for it with all your heart.