Spirit
Leona Lewis
Heralded as having the biggest debut of any winner/con- testant from a musical talent game show, Leona Lewis has been turning heads and setting records ever since the world took notice of her on Britain’s American Idol predecessor, X Factor. Leona set a world record when her debut single “A Moment Like This” was downloaded over 50,000 times in the first 30 minutes after she was announced the winner of the show’s third season. Then BBC News reported that she had set another record when the first single from her debut album Spirit, “Bleeding Love,” was downloaded 1.7 million times in one week.
Spirit employs the combined efforts of many of today’s hit-making producers and songwriters, including ballads by Avril Lavigne, longtime Mariah Carey collaborator Walter Afanaseiff and Simon Cowell himself. Unlike many involved in these career-making game shows, Leona’s debut isn’t a misfire attempt at creating a career via image for the artist. Instead Lewis’ debut album cover looks not unlike Mariah Carey’s—not overly sexy, not overly styled, just a beautiful face set against a black background and timeless type framing her. This woman has a voice and if you purchase this disc, you’re going to hear it. Simple and honest. Expect even more big things from this one for years to come.
