Leona Lewis "Hurt"

Following the fall release of "Collide," Leona Lewis's first dance pop single, fans were expecting a November release of her third album, Glassheart. Perhaps because of the underwhelming response to "Collide" (it debuted at #4, but suffered a swift descent out of the top 40 a month later), retooling was in order.

So fans have to settle instead for a three-song EP of covers. But really, they're hardly settling, for "Hurt" is quite amazing. This is as mesmerizing a cover as her take on Snow Patrol's, "Run," perhaps better even.

"Hurt" was originally released in the spring of 1995 to promote Nine Inch Nails' first full-length album, The Downward Spiral. It was the album's second-biggest hit after "Closer." "Hurt" was famously covered in 2002 by Johnny Cash, his last single released before his death in 2003.

Lewis's version nicely references both the original as well as the Cash remake. The backing arrangement is spot-on, a building storm of guitar and piano that is more in keeping with the Cash version but also nicely references the dissonant melody of the Nine Inch Nails original that Cash's remake didn't. Oh, and she sounds really great on it too, nicely resisting the urge to oversing what is both a fragile and very angry song. She holds herself in and cuts loose appropriately at the second chorus and bridge.

Her performance on X Factor looks to have ensured this a top 5 placement on the UK singles chart this weekend. She's apparently also set to perform this on the US X Factor finale later this month.

Leona Lewis - I See You (from "Avatar")

With Leona Lewis's sophomore album a flop in the US, I'm surprised there hasn't been a bigger attempt to push her Avatar theme song, "I See You." It's not a bad song, the video nicely mixes footage of her with the film, and everything Avatar touches is turning to gold--it is poised to become the highest grossing film of all time in the US this week, having already achieved that feat worldwide. Perhaps if it gets an Oscar nomination tomorrow, we'll start seeing it more.

November New Releases

The usual autumn glut of big-name releases continues. In particular, I'm quite excited about Robbie Williams' new album, which I hope will be excellent. I'm also hopeful that Leona Lewis, like Kelly Clarkson, will really shine on her second outing. Rihanna's promised a racy fourth album. And then there's Glee...swoon. What a month!

Highlights

Robbie Williams - Reality Killed the Video Star (Nov. 9). Robbie Williams returns after a 3-year absence with his 8th studio album. It's produced by Trevor Horn, formerly of the Bubbles (from whom the title comes, a reference to their MTV classic "Video Killed the Radio Star"), who also produced the last Pet Shop Boys album (and the Pet Shop Boys in turn appeared on Robbie's last album Rudebox--see the connections?). Back in the mix this time as songwriter is Guy Chambers, the longtime Williams collaborator who did not appear on Rudebox or Intensive Care. First single "Bodies" is already an international smash.

Rihanna - Rated R (Nov. 23). Rihanna returns with her fourth studio album, following up the massively successful Good Girl Gone Bad that produced three US #1 hits and four other top 40 singles. Dark first single "Russian Roulette" is co-written with Ne-Yo, whose said the album overall is edgier than her previous work. Justin Timberlake, The Dream, and Tricky Stewart also collaborated with the Barbadian singer.

Leona Lewis - Echo (Nov. 16). The 2006 X Factor winner, who became the first British reality-TV-launched artist to crack the US (as well as the rest of the world) with massive hit "Bleeding Love," returns with her second album. Expect more finely crafted pop from all the industry's biggest craftsmen--Simon Cowell, Clive Davis, Ryan Tedder, Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Xenomania, Etc. First single "Happy" was released in the US weeks ago.

Glee: The Music Volume (Nov. 3). Anybody who loves pop music, musicals, high school romance, teacher feuds, and is gay (or has plenty of gay friends) should be watching Glee. It's fall's best new show. I'm absolutely infatuated with this show (and the hot teacher, played by Matthew Morrison). The hit mash-ups are missing, but all the show's other major musical moments are here, such as the pilot's "Don't Stop Believin," and memorable fall moments like "Somebody to Love," "No Air," "Gold Digger," "Keep Holding On" and "Bust a Move."

Norah Jones - The Fall (Nov. 17). For her fourth album, Norah Jones has reportedly taken a new direction. How far she'll stray from her winning formula of jazz-influenced pop/folk is anybody's guess. First single "Chasing Pirates" has a bit of an '80s feel to it I think. However she swings it, Grammy nominations will undoubtedly follow next year.

John Mayer - Battle Studies (Nov. 17). Yet another Grammy favorite releases his fourth album. Mayer's last album, Continuum, was a contender for Album of the Year, so expectations are high for Battle Studies, which the singer has said will take a new direction (see a trend?). The album's first single, "Who Says" is off to a good start at iTunes.

Carrie Underwood - Play On (Nov. 2/3). The former American Idol turned major country star releases her third album featuring first single "Cowboy Casanova." Most of the album is produced by Mark Bright, with one track from Swedish pop producer extraordinaire Max Martin. Pop songwriters Kara DioGuardi and Chantal Kreviazuk also lend a hand.

Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment (Nov. 24). Last season's American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert is expected to release his debut this month. Lambert's latest single, "Time for Miracles," will reportedly not appear on the album (its from the dreadful looking film 2012). Given the relative mystery and lack of first single, I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pushed back to next year (despite certain record company pressure to get this in stores for the holidays).

Other releases

Nov. 2/3

Amerie - In Love & War. The R&B singer puts out her fourth album.

Weezer - Raditude. Weezer's not very hot at the moment, but they have a new album.

Nov. 9/10

JLS - JLS. The X Factor contestants release their debut album featuring #1 hit "Beat Again" and new single "Everybody in Love."

Britney Spears - The Singles Collection. Britney Spears releases a career-spanning greatest hits collection, featuring all her major hits plus new single "3," which recently topped the US singles chart.

Snow Patrol - Up to Now. Snow Patrol releases its greatest hits, featuring new single "Just Say Yes" plus hits like "Chasing Cars," "Run," and "Take Back the City."

Bon Jovi - The Circle. The famous '80s "hair" band releases its 11th album.

Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions. Scottish band releases its fifth album.


Nov. 16/17

Janet Jackson - Number Ones/The Best. Janet Jackson releases a 2-CD career-spanning greatest collection, uniting her singles under A&M, Virgin and Island Records. Includes 33 hits plus new single "Make Me."

Will Young - The Hits. Will Young collects his 12 biggest hits plus two new songs including current single "Hopes and Fears."

Kris Allen - Kris Allen. This year's American Idol winner releases his debut album featuring first single "Live Like We're Dying," not to be confused with Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying."

Stereophonics - Keep Calm and Carry On. British rock band known for hits like "Dakota" and "Handbags and Gladrags" releases their 7th studio album. First single is "Innocent."

Nov. 23/24

Timbaland - Shock Value 2. This was slated for release months ago, then it vanished, and now it's back on the docket. Expect a similar slate of high-profile guests such as Justin Timberlake (of course), Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, Keri Hilson, Chris Brown, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Missy Elliott, Drake, and Brandy.

Sugababes - Sweet 7. The decade's ruling girlgroup (well, tied with Girls Aloud in any case) releases their 7th album. Not bad for a pop act whose first album scored only one top 10 hit. The hits don't seem to be coming as easily these days--their last two albums scored only one top 10 hit each. This album was rush re-recorded to replace departing member Keisha Buchanan's vocals with those of new member Jade Ewen (except for "Get Sexy," which had already been released).

Jay Sean - All or Nothing. British R&B artists releases his third album, which is also his American debut, featuring US #1 hit "Down."

Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster. Lady GaGa re-releases her mega-successful album with new material.

Mary J. Blige - Stronger. R&B singer releases her ninth album.

50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct. It really will be a miracle of this gets releases before his career implodes. Talk about self-fulfilling prophecy (note: When I started drafting this article a couple of weeks ago, the release date was Nov. 2, note the 3 week slip...already.)

Nov. 30

Westlife - Where We Are. The Irish boyband has been together 10 years now. Unlike other boybands, they've never needed a comeback, because they've never gone away. This year Westlife releases its 10th album. First single is the Daughtry remake "What About Now."

The Bravery - Stir the Blood. New York band releases its third album.

Leona Lewis Echo

Leona Lewis' new album Echo is coming out November 16 in the UK and the next day in the US. It has slightly different tracklists in both places:

Tracks that appear on both versions:

1. Happy
2. I Got You
3. Love Letter
4. Can't Breathe
5. Brave
6. Outta My Head
7. My Hands
8. Broken
9. Don't Let Me Down
10. Alive
11. Lost Then Found (feat. OneRepublic)

UK (and other countries) only:

1. Naked (available in the US as an iTunes pre-order bonus)
2. Stop Crying Your Heart Out

US and Canada only:

1. You Don't Care
2. Fly Here Now (available in the UK as an iTunes pre-order bonus)

Leona Lewis "Happy"

Leona Lewis's upcoming single "Happy," the first release from her second album, Echo, is getting its Radio 1 premiere today during The Chart Show. It's already leaked on the Web though, so check it out. It's quite lovely. Sounds like another Ryan Tedder effort.

Ladies Ladies Ladies

Many of our beloved big female pop stars have new projects coming the second half of the year. Here's the current skinny on we can look forward to:

Christina Aguilera's planning a new album for September called Light & Darkness. After the throwback styles of 2006's Back to Basics, word is that her new album will be thoroughly modern and electronic, with collaborators like Goldfrapp, Ladytron, and Sia in tow (plus good ol' Linda Perry of course). "Keeps Gettin' Better," the single from her recent greatest hits set, certainly pointed in this direction. No word on the first single, but it's rumored to have a July release.

Mariah Carey's last album came out just over a year ago, but she's already got its follow-up ready. Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is due in September, with first single "Obsessed" due to hit radio on Tuesday. Behind-the-scenes work comes from the usual mix of producers, including The Dream, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, and Timbaland, as well the return of longtime collaborator Walter Anasieff, the man behind many of Carey's early hits, including "Love Takes Time," "Hero," and "One Sweet Day." Also rumored is a cover of Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is."

Whitney Houston hasn't released a popular album since 1998 (2002's Just Whitney was a flop). Having dealt with drugs, divorce, and reality TV since then, the singer has been reportedly working to rebuilding her career the last few years. And while rumors have surfaced periodically about her return, this time it looks like it will happen. The album is currently slated for release in September. Although no word on its title, the first single is said to be "I Didn't Know My Own Strength," written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster--a powerhouse team for a pop ballad comeback.

Leona Lewis, who became the first star from a British reality show music contest to break into the US, is due to release her second album in November. Ryan Tedder will be returning to the mix, along with Timbaland, Ne-Yo, Xenomania, and Jay-Z. Lewis is reportedly interested in having Coldplay's Chris Martin contribute as well.

Madonna, wrapping up her 27-year relationship with Warner Brothers Records, will release a career-capping greatest hits collection this fall. No word on the format yet, but I'm hoping for something like we got from Celine Dion last year--multiple releases, depending on your interest, such as a one-disc version for casual fans, and a three-disc version with remixes and b-sides for the devoted. Paul Oakenfold worked with Madonna to record some new material for the release, which he told Attitude magazine are called "Broken," "I'm Sorry," and "Celebrate." We'll see if they make the cut.

Shania Twain is rumored to be releasing her new album this fall, her first since Up! in 2002. I can't find any details about it though, so among these potential new releases, this would seem to be the most tentative.

Leona Lewis "Run" video

Here's the "Run" video. Anyone doubting this will be the UK #1 single next week?

Leona Lewis studio version of "Run"

It was just over a year ago I posted Leona Lewis's Radio 1 Live Lounge version of Snow Patrol's "Run." FizzyPop! has posted the new studio version that will appear on the UK special edition of Spirit released next week, along with the tracks recorded for the US release, "Forgive Me" and "Misses Glass." It's really quite stunning--definitely worthy of being a future single.

Billboard Hot 100, 5/10/2008

1. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis continues to set chart records this week, returning to #1 for her third non-consecutive week at the top with her third run at #1. Having an interrupted run and returning to #1 isn't that uncommon. It happened twice last year--Maroon 5 spent 2 weeks at #1 with "Makes Me Wonder," yielded 1 week for T-Pain's "Buy U a Drank" and then returned to #1 for a third week. Soulja Boy gave way to Kanye West's "Stronger" after two weeks at #1 with "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" and then returned to #1 for 5 more weeks. But having a run at #1 interrupted twice is very rare. The last time it happened was 1978-79 when Chic's "Le Freak" hit #1 in December 1978, gave way to Barbra Streisand's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" for 1 week, returned to #1 for 2 more weeks before giving way again for the Bee Gee's "Too Much Heaven" for 2 weeks, followed by 3 more weeks at #1 for Chic.

2. Lollipop - Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major

So Lil Wayne slips back a notch, but keeps his bullet, and is, in fact, this week's airplay gainer (Leona is the sales gainer).

4. 4 Minutes - Madonna and Justin Timberlake

Madonna further rebounds this week, up two more spots to #4, just one place shy of the single's original peak from a few weeks ago. Numerologists will note with glee that for the first time the single, who's title includes the numeral "4," is actually at #4.

9. Forever - Chris Brown

Chris Brown makes the rather remarkable H0t 100 debut at #9 with "Forever." Counting guest appearances, this is Brown's 9th top 10 hit. Pulling a T-Pain, this week Brown has three singles in the top 10. He guests on Jordin Spark's "No Air" at #3, this new single, and his previous single still holds on to the top 10, falling a notch to #10.

14. Leavin' - Jesse McCartney

Another strong Hot 100 debut at #14 for Jesse McCartney. This is McCartney's third top 40 hit, and already his biggest, beating the #16 peak of "Beautiful Soul." One wonders what he is enjoying more--this debut, or his songwriting credit on this week's #1 hit, "Bleeding Love."

Spirit - U.S. Version

Leona Lewis' debut album, Spirit, gets its U.S. release next week, hot on the heels of her recent #1 hit, "Bleeding Love." The U.S. version is a little different than the original: there are only 13 tracks instead of 14. Gone are Leona's first #1 hit, the remake of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Llike This." This is an expected omission. Also missing are "The Best You Never Had" (relegated to an iTunes exclusive) and "Homeless," (just gone) the latter of which is particularly a surprise, since it's a good song. Instead there's the more upbeat and swinging "Forgive Me," which isn't bad, and "Misses Glass," which is also more uptempo than what it replaces, but not as good.

Album Review: Leona Lewis - Spirit (4 / 5)

It's not too often a new artist gets a launch as spectacular as this. After winning last year's third season of The X Factor, the British answer to American Idol, Leona Lewis put out the obligatory first single that became Christmas #1, an unremarkable remake of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This." The single sold over half a million copies in one week, quickly becoming the second-best selling single of the year. Leona then went dormant for the better part of this year, crafting her debut album.

Calculating is more like it. Having caught the eye of Clive Davis, America's most prominent music mogul, Davis and Simon Cowell of X Factor and American Idol fame, teamed up to assemble an army of pop music's latest and greatest to ensure Leona's debut would be a success. For success is no guarantee, as Pop Idol, American Idol and X Factor winners have learned. Sure you have Will Young, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood. But then you also have Michelle McManus, Steve Brookstein, and Taylor Hicks. Winning a reality show and getting a quick #1 are a nice boost, but you need to follow it with a proper launch to became a sensation.

Intriguingly, the list of producers and songwriters is heavier on Americans than Brits--an indication of where Sony BMG sees this project heading long term--and includes such names as Dallas Austin (Madonna, TLC, Michael Jackson, Sugababes, etc.), Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey, Celine Dion), J.R. Rotem (Rihanna, Sean Kingston), Stargate (Beyonce, Ne-Yo), Dr. Luke (Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne), Billy Steinberg (Whitney Houston, The Bangles, Heart, Celine Dion), and Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic, Jennifer Lopez, Natasha Bedingfield). Basically, you could trace the origin of a good number of the biggest hits of the last 20 years to the group responsible for Spirit. It's the most remarkable pop music production team I've ever seen assembled for one album, and interestingly doesn't include some of the British staples like Cathy Dennis, Guy Chambers, or Stephen Lipson.

The template chosen for Leona is appropriately Mariah Carey, the most successful female pop artist of the last 20 years, having scored 17 #1 hits in the US since her 1990 debut. The parallels are worth noting. Both scored their first hits fairly young--Leona at 21 last year and Carey at 20 with "Vision of Love." Both come from mixed race parentage (black fathers and white mothers) and grew up in their countries' largest urban areas, New York and London. Leona even looks a bit like Carey did 17 years ago, courting a youthful but sensible image, her hair in long blonde-kissed corkscrew curls. Lewis apparently won a talent show in her early teen years, performing Carey's "Always Be My Baby."

On Spirit she sounds like Carey too (particularly early '90s Carey), commanding an impressive vocal range over a varied but safe collection of slow to mid-tempo pop that leans ever so slightly adult, ever so slightly urban, without going too far in either those directions. First single "Bleeding Love" recalls "Vision of Love" for being dramatic and instantly striking, as it is different enough to stand out from the current pack of hits, but similar (and likable) enough to guarantee airplay (it is currently #1 on the UK radio chart). The melodic track pulses with strong bass drums, strings, and a great hook, despite its surgical lyrics ("you cut me open and I keep bleeding, keep keep bleeding love").

"Bleeding Love" is the album's best cut, but there other good ones, ensuring that Leona has a few more hits (possibly #1s) to look forward to next year. Second track "Whatever It Takes" is a winning upbeat track, scored with mostly strings and other acoustic instruments, recalling Des'ree's "You Gotta Be." The album's other good up-tempo track is "The Best You Never Had," marked by strong beats, guitar, and a strong chorus. It's written by Billy Steinberg, and is not too unlike the track he wrote for Jojo that was a hit last year, "Too Little, Too Late." Two other somewhat uptempo numbers, are fine, but not as good. "Angel," a Stargate production whose sound is instantly recognizable (they did Beyonce's "Irreplaceable") is inoffensive, but not distinctive. Same goes for urban sounding "I'm You."

The rest of the album is slower songs, many of which are quite good, but not all. "Homeless" opens with piano in a haunting minor key expanding with a full orchestra for the choruses, reminiscent of Christina Aguilera-type stuff like "Beautiful" or "Hurt." Leona is effectively restrained for most of the song, letting loose a tingling vocal assault for the middle section when the drums kick in. The song effectively showcases Lewis as a proficient singer, not just a studio-enhanced product.

"Take a Bow," like "Bleeding Love" is co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder, the lead singer of band OneRepublic currently enjoying a massive international hit, "Apologize," thanks to a re-work by Timbaland. Tim's influence on Tedder is apparent here. "Take a Bow" is a beat heavy ballad with a strong dramatic chorus, not unlike "Apologize."

The piano and string backed "Better in Time" is an obvious choice for a future single. So is "I Will Be," another piano and string backed ballad that kicks it up with drums and guitar at the first chorus and builds to a big rock climax and Carey-worth high note. "Yesterday" recalls the smooth urban groove of Carey's comeback hit "We Belong Together," but with a richer string-driven ending. Lovely "Footprints in the Sand" is worthwhile too, if you like a good dramatic ballad with lots of strings and a chord change power ending complete with choir. It's a cliche I know, but it works. Less interesting are ballads "Here I Am," which producer/songwriter Afanasieff makes sound too much like his 1993 Carey hit "Hero," and an unneeded remake of "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face." The album closes with a bonus cut of "A Moment Like This," which presumably will be omitted from any US release.

The extent to which I can easily compare these songs to big hits by others acts underscores how safe the production is here. These songs are designed to be hits, and in many cases they already have been in slightly altered form. By having them assembled by such en esteemed group of musical craftsmen, it's like the music industry is saying that newbie Lewis is good enough to stand with the likes of our most successful performers. It makes for a good, but not great album, similar to the debuts by Will Young and Kelly Clarkson. I am hopeful, that just as those two did, Leona will soon put out a better second album, the first in a possibly long pop career. Who knows? Perhaps ten years from now Leona will hand out popsicles on MTV Europe, the press will catalog her rise and fall, and then she'll surprise us all with a remarkable comeback, The Emancipation of Li-Li. Like the promo for Battlestar Galactica: Razor (Sci-Fi next Saturday night) says: "All this has happened before, and all this will happen again."

Best: Bleeding Love, Whatever It Takes, Take a Bow, Homeless, The Best You Never Had, I Will Be, Better in Time, Yesterday, Footprints in the Sand

Leona Lewis on Radio 1 Live Lounge

BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge has had some inspired performances lately, such as Robyn's acoustic version of "With Every Heartbeat" a couple of months ago or Arctic Monkey's take on Amy Winehouses's "You Know I'm No Good." Leona Lewis was on recently, and performed this lovely rendition of Snow Patrol's 2004 hit, "Run."

Also, clips from her new album Spirit can now be previewed on 7Digital here. The album is out Monday.

UK Chart Notes

Leona Lewis claimed #1 on the UK singles chart this week in magnificent style with her second single, "Bleeding Love," the first release from her forthcoming debut album, Spirit. Not since Will Young has a British reality TV act emerged with such potential to actually make it big.

While many X-Factor and other reality TV winning acts have been able to transform their TV fame into an initial #1 hit, prospects after that often fall quickly. Take Michelle McManus, winner of Pop Idol's second season, who hit #1 with her first single "All This Time," but was dropped by her record label after her second, "The Meaning of Love," failed to hit the top 10. Lewis, who last year won the third season of X-Factor, is in fact the show's first alum to score a second #1. I'm hopeful that her album, which attracted the assistance of Clive Davis as co-executive producer (with Simon Cowell).

Lewis didn't just top the chart though, she did it with by far the best sales figure of the year, moving over 218,000 copies of "Bleeding Love," more than double the year's previous best sales week for a single, the nearly 86,000 copies The Proclaimers featuring Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin moved of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" in its first week in March.

In any other week this year then, the single at #2 this week, Take That's "Rule the World," would have been the single with the biggest one-week sales total, for it moved almost 98,000 copies. Still, although it was kept from #1 by a monster hit, the single is a vast improvement over the #17 performance of their last single, "I'd Wait for Life," which ended their run of six consecutive #1 hits.

Another act kept from #1 that is likely accustomed to be there by now is McFly, who lands at #3 with their 13th single, "The Heart Never Lies." Seven of the band's singles have hit the top spot, including their last, "Baby's Coming Back," with 9000 sales fewer than their latest hit. I'll say it again: It was an amazing sales week for the UK singles chart.

Oasis debuts at #10 with their latest, "Lord Don't Slow Me Down," ending their run of 18 consecutive top 5 hits. Not since "Live Forever," their classic 1994 release, have they charted so low.

While next week can't possibly be as grand as this, it's shaping up to be pretty exciting too, as Westlife will go head-to-head with Leona with their latest, a remake of Michael Buble's "Home," which they are hoping will be their 15th #1 hit. Also out are new singles from Timbaland, Samim, Robyn, Keane, Avril Lavigne, Akon and Celine Dion.