It’s been a year since her debut album and single, but the Leona juggernaut shows no sign of slowing. And really, who doesn’t love Leona? It’s like saying you hate Thumper, Bambi or the newly reinstated Wispas - plain wrong. It seems that Leona is the attractive, likeable face of pop who can do no wrong, hitting the high notes on so many levels. She doesn’t drink or smoke, has said this week that she’d like to ‘do a Jolie’ and adopt kids from Africa and she still lives nextdoor to her mum and dad in Hackney, proving just how unstarry she is. If there was a pop star saint award, Leona would surely be a shoe-in…
Not only can the girl sing, perform and look dashing at all times, she also has some other mighty impressive stats. Bleeding Love has sold 2.9 million and pole-vaulted to No.1 in a gazillion countries. Spirit has cleared 4.5 million till receipts worldwide. So can the written-and-produced-by-Akon Forgive Me do similar business and make Simon Cowell even richer in the process?
This video is different from the start, with Leona shunning designer sparkly numbers & sliding down radiators for a day-glo pink vest, Persil-white headband and dancing in the street with da kidz. It’s so like a scene from Fame, RealMusic Blog expected Bruno to appear from yellow taxi cab with his new Casio remix, but alas it never happened. There’s a bit in the middle where our girl dresses up in black and a top hat, but this is definitely the video where she’s gone casual, reflecting the more upbeat nature of the song.
So what’s with the change of pace? RealMusic Blog reckons it all points to one thing: that Leona’s in training to be the next Whitney. This is her I Wanna Dance With Somebody, proving that she isn’t just a one-trick warbling pony - she can do street too. Forgive Me is a definite grower, but with Beyonce, Britney and Christina all releasing their new singles too - see Here Come The Girls for more - Leona’s in for a battle royale. May the best woman win…
Forgive Me is out now;a repackaged Spirit including Forgive Me is out on November 17th.
Listen to Leona Lewis Radio on RealMusic
(Clare Lydon)
