(originally posted on my old blog — “Quarters for the Jukebox” — in April 2008)
Leona Lewis was unknown to the American market, but everything changed with one song. If you haven’t heard her first American single “Bleeding Love” yet, don’t worry, you will. It’s arguably the best R&B-pop song so far this year, and projects Leona in discussion with Alicia and Mariah (too early to say Jordin?) for 2008 female pop radio dominance. What makes this even odder for me to say, is the fact Leona is essentially an American Idol winner from Britain (winning the reality talent show “The X-Factor,” which was begat by the British “Pop Idol,” which begat “American Idol”). Prior to auditioning for the show, she was a receptionist and pizza waitress. Now she stands at the forefront of being an international superstar.
As for the music, “Bleeding Love” is already the most downloaded song in America, and the album provides more of the same–with a couple of early duds and more ballads (might want to just download “Bleeding Love” and sample the rest–the album picks back up from the middle to the end). Check for yourself.
Quarters for the songs: Bleeding Love; Better in Time; Yesterday; Whatever it Takes; Take a Bow; The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
Worth listening, if you like: Alicia Keys; Kelly Clarkson; Mary J. Blige; Mariah Carey; Nelly Furtado; Whitney Houston; Toni Braxton.