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."
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Leona Lewis, Spirit Comment: What a fantastic voice! I loved, loved, loved the whole CD.
There was not one bad song on the whole CD. I am watching for her next one. Customer Rating: Summary: good, not great Comment: She sings very nice, although there are no changes at all througout the cd.... A couple of the songs are great, the rest of the disc, is just average. Customer Rating: Summary: leona Comment: its ok if you are in the mood for it. somewhat slow, a few upbeat songs. Customer Rating: Summary: bore Comment: I had to check Leona out because I had heard people say she is the greatest vocalist of our generation/decade. Luckily I didn't buy the CD to find out just how boring and dated this CD is.
It's almost as if Leona didn't even show up when the CD was recorded.
Leona is no Whitney, Mariah, Celine, Barbra or Kelly.
I would be surprised if any other tracks besides the first two make it on the radio. Customer Rating: Summary: Spirit CD Comment: The CD came in a timely manner but the packaging was open and the CD case was broken. The CD itself was OK.
