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Spirit (Leona Lewis album)

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Spirit is the debut album by English singer and winner of the third series of The X Factor, Leona Lewis.[1][2] On 25 April 2007, a press release was sent out revealing that Simon Cowell and Clive Davis would work together in a first-of-its-kind partnership on both the song and producer selection for the album.[3] The album was said to have a September 2007 deadline,[4] however, the UK release date was 12 November 2007 (see release history). It will be released in other European countries[5] and in the United States in early 2008. The release of the album marks Lewis as the first winner of a major television talent show in both the UK and USA to be given a major global launch with a debut album.[3]

The title of the album was announced on 3 October 2007. Lewis says she named the album Spirit because "it is my heart and soul and the voice within that says everything is possible."[2]

Production and songs

The album took six months to complete and was finished in mid-August 2007.[6] The album was delayed due to Lewis suffering from tonsilitis[4] and waiting for producers to become available.[6] Simon Cowell has commented that the album is as good as early Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston.[7] On the time it has taken to release the album, Cowell said:

We could have gone into the studio for a month, made the record quick, thrown it out. It would have been the wrong thing to do. We made a very public commitment to Leona.[8]

On the same subject, Lewis said:

I know some people are asking, 'Where has she gone?' But I wanted everyone who has supported and worked with me to have an album they're proud of, one that is credible and one with songs that people can connect to. I'm working hard to make sure that I'm around for a long time to come. It's going to surprise people.[9]

Lewis confirmed in a radio interview that the album contains thirteen songs, plus one bonus track.[10] It was also said that, apart from one song — a cover of the Ewan McColl song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — the album is made up of entirely new material.[11] However, "Homeless" and "I Will Be" are both cover versions. Lewis's debut single, a cover of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment like This", was confirmed as the bonus track, to be only featured on the UK release.

Lewis recorded and wrote the album in several locations, the first being London, England, where she worked with Steve Mac,[9] who produced the songs "Homeless" and "Footprints in the Sand".[12] "Footprints in the Sand", a "massive power ballad",[13] was played on an episode of the fourth series of The X Factor and was written by Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Richard Page[14] and Simon Cowell.[12] "Homeless" is a song written by Jörgen Elofsson, previously recorded by Swedish singer Darin,[15] and has been described as "a moody piano-heavy trembler"[16] and a "haunting, blues-style ballad".[13]

Most of the songs were recorded in Los Angeles, California. There, Lewis teamed up with OneRepublic singer Ryan Tedder, with whom she recorded two songs, "Bleeding Love" and "Take a Bow". "Bleeding Love" was written by Tedder and Jesse McCartney and produced by Tedder.[17] It was the first song confirmed to be appearing on the album, and was released as the album's lead single, which went straight to number one in both the UK and Irish Singles Charts.[18] "Take a Bow" was written and produced by Tedder, Louis Biancaniello, Wayne Wilkins, Sam Watters[19] and The Runaways.[12] It has been described as starting with an "ice-cool synth riff" and having "big, crunchy beats and powerhouse chorus".[13] Watters, Biancaniello and The Runaways also wrote "Yesterday", with Jordan Omley, Michael Mani, The Jam, and Nina Woodford.[12] Yesterday has been described as "a smoochy R&B slow jam".[16] "Better in Time" was also recorded in Los Angeles with producer J. R. Rotem, who wrote the song along with Andrea Martin.[12] Lewis also co-wrote "Here I Am" with Walter Afanasieff and Brett James in LA.[12][20] "I Will Be" is a cover of an Avril Lavigne song, written by Lavigne, Dr. Luke and Max Martin,[12] that was released as an iTunes bonus track and on the special edition of her album The Best Damn Thing.[15] "The Best You Never Had", which was written and produced by Billy Steinberg and Josh Alexander,[21] was also recorded in LA.

In Atlanta, Georgia, Lewis worked with producers Alonzo "Novel" Stevenson and Dallas Austin[9][20] on the song "Whatever It Takes", which Lewis co-wrote together with Novel and Tony Reyes.[12] The song has been described as a "chipper slice of soul-pop, anchored by a surprisingly bone-shaking beat".[16] "I'm You" was recorded in Atlanta with Ne-Yo,[22] who provided backing vocals.[23] The song features "delicate harps, echoey vocals and skittering beats".[13] "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was recorded in both Atlanta and Los Angeles. It was produced by Wayne Wilkins, Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello and The Runaways.[12]

In Miami, Florida, Lewis worked with Salaam Remi,[9][20] and "Forgiveness" was recorded. It was written by Lewis, Remi and Kara DioGuardi, but was chosen as the B-side to "Bleeding Love" rather than an album track on the UK edition. However, it will feature on the international version of the album.[citation needed]

"Angel", a Stargate production, was written by Stargate and Johnta Austin, and recorded in New York.[12]

Lewis says she was allowed to be herself when working on the album, and not made to follow a set formula.[9] She has described the album's style as "classic songs with a contemporary edge," containing both ballads and up-tempo songs[9] and having an American sound.[5] There are some 1980s sounds, however, the songs are not beat-driven or following the latest trends, but are songs that can be performed acoustically.[9]

Syco managing director, Sonny Takhar, states that they have at least five singles from the record, and that "every track is a potential single — we really are spoiled for choice."[11]

Track listing

  1. "Bleeding Love" (Ryan Tedder, Jesse McCartney) – 4:23
  2. "Whatever It Takes" (Alonzo "Novel" Stevenson, Tony Reyes, Leona Lewis) – 3:28
  3. "Homeless" (Jörgen Elofsson) – 3:50
  4. "Better in Time" (Jonathan Rotem, Andrea Martin) – 3:55
  5. "Yesterday" (Jordan Omley, Michael Mani, The Jam, Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, The Runaways, Nina Woodford) – 3:54
  6. "Take a Bow" (The Runaways, Watters, Wayne Wilkins, Biancaniello, Tedder) – 3:54
  7. "I Will Be" (Avril Lavigne, Max Martin, Lukasz Gottwald) – 4:00
  8. "Angel" (Johnta Austin, Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Hermansen) – 4:14
  9. "Here I Am" (Walter Afanasieff, Brett James, Lewis) – 4:53
  10. "I'm You" (Eric Hudson, Shaffer Smith) – 3:48
  11. "The Best You Never Had" (Josh Alexander, Billy Steinberg) – 3:43
  12. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Ewan MacColl) – 4:26
  13. "Footprints in the Sand" (Richard Page, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Simon Cowell) – 4:09
UK bonus track
  2. "A Moment like This" (Elofsson, John Reid) – 4:17
International bonus track
  2. "Forgiveness" (Kara DioGuardi, Lewis, Salaam Remi) – 4:21

Personnel

  • Leona Lewis – vocals, backing vocals
  • Ryan Tedder – keyboard, all instruments on "Bleeding Love"
  • J. R. Rotem – all instruments on "Better in Time"
  • Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen, all intruments on "Angel" (except guitar)
  • Eric Hudson – all instruments on "I'm You"
  • Tony Reyes – guitar
  • Espen Lind – guitar
  • Fridrik "Frissy" Karsson
  • Dr. Luke – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
  • Steve Pearce – bass
  • Jack Daley – bass
  • Philip Lowman – drums
  • Stephen Ferrera – drums
  • Ian Thomas – drums
  • Chris Laws – drums
  • Neal Wilkinson – drums
  • Stephen Woolf – drums, percussion
  • Novel – keyboard
  • Steve Mac – keyboard, synthesiser
  • Wayne Wilkins – keyboard
  • Louis Biancaniello – keyboard
  • Josh Alexander – keyboard, guitar
  • Dave Arch – piano, organ
  • Max Martin – piano
  • Kenn Wagner – violin
  • Olga Shpitko – violin
  • Amy Chang – violin
  • William Pu – violin
  • Karen Freer – cello
  • Daniel Laufer – cello
  • Tawatha Agee – choir
  • Vaneese Thomas – choir
  • Cindy Mizelle – choir
  • Michelle Cobbs – choir
  • Robin Clark – choir
  • 'Biti' Straughn – choir
  • Tammy Lucas – choir
  • Billy Porter – choir
  • Bennie Diggs – choir
  • Fonzi Thornton – choir
  • The Tuff Session Singers – choir
  • Carmen Reese – backing vocals
  • Ravaughn Brown – backing vocals
  • Mone't – backing vocals
  • Tavia Ivey – backing vocals

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalogue
Republic of Ireland 9 November 2007 Syco Music CD
United Kingdom 12 November 2007 Syco CD 88697185262

Promotion

On 24 September 2007, Lewis performed a special album launch party at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge, London. She performed "Bleeding Love", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Homeless" and "Whatever It Takes".[16][24][25]

Lewis went on a two-day regional radio tour to promote the album and single "Bleeding Love" on 11 and 12 October.[26] This was followed by an appearance on This Morning on 15 October. Lewis performed "Bleeding Love" live on the fourth series of The X Factor on 20 October 2007,[27] and made appearances on T4, GMTV and several other TV and radio shows, including the 2007 event of BBC's Children in Need on 16 November.[28]

From 29 October 2007, Spirit was BBC Radio 2's Album of the Week.

Sonny Takhar states that Lewis will not be touring until "the tail end of 2008", so she can focus on the album.[11]

Critical reception

Reaction to Lewis's debut album has been mixed.

BBC Music summed up their reaction to the album by saying, "Spirit is just the sound of a generic diva", adding that "It's almost a shame all that effort went into crafting a bland pop album strong on mid-tempo balladry and spiralling vocal gyrations, but short on hooks, innovation and personality."[29] The Mirror found it to be quite average, their review also acknowledging that the songs, whilst good, are nothing special: "Who knows what Leona can do in the future. With the right people she could produce something really spectacular. The fact is that Britain is full of potential soul shakers."[30]

The Times and The Guardian each gave the album a two-star (out of five) rating. The Times review concluded by saying, "If Lewis is looking for the greatest love of all — public adoration — she will have to do better than this."[31] The Guardian was equally disappointed by saying Lewis "has clearly invested every scrap of energy into these songs"…"but being able to belt 'em out is only half the story, and if there's a personality here, it's well hidden."[32]

The Daily Star's review was more positive, saying, "Fans of her sweet, soaring vocals and power ballads won't be disappointed."[13] The Evening Standard review said that Spirit will be "a very successful album with some much-needed grit."[33] MSN Entertainment's review stated that the album was worth the wait and that Spirit was a "highly impressive debut".[34]

Popjustice's review was brief, summing up that "There are no totally chronic songs on Spirit apart from "A Moment like This."[35]

Sales and chart performance

In its first day of release in the UK, Spirit was reported to be outselling its nearest rival, the Spice Girls' Greatest Hits album, by four-to-one. It sold over 130,000 copies on 12 November 2007,[36] making it a contender for the fastest selling debut album in the UK, the current record holder being Arctic Monkeys' Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.[37]

Spirit entered the Irish Albums Chart at number one, breaking a record by being the fastest selling debut album ever, by a margin of 6,000 sales.[38]

Charts and certifications

Chart (2007) Providers Peak
position 		Certification
United Kingdom The Official UK Albums Chart BPI/The Official UK Charts Company 1
Republic of Ireland Irish Albums Chart IRMA 1
United States The Billboard 200 (U.S) RIAA -

References

  1. ^ "Album title revealed". leonalewismusic.co.uk. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Leona glams up for vid". The Mirror. 03 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Clive Davis and Simon Cowell work on X Factor's Leona Lewis release (25.04.07)". prnewswire.com. 25 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Sick Leona flies home from Los Angeles". Digital Spy. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Leona vows to stay in UK?". thisisnorthscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  6. ^ a b "No more Leonly nights". Sunday Mirror. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Cowell Defends Leona Lewis Chart Absence". Product-Reviews. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Cowell defends Lewis' chart absence". Digital Spy. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Leona Is Back!". RCA Label Group. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Leona Lewis interview". 96.6 Radio Aire. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
  11. ^ a b c "Leona Lewis Spirit (Syco)". 01 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Spirit (Media notes). Sony BMG. 2007. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |bandname= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)
  13. ^ a b c d e "LEONA LEWIS: SPIRIT". Daily Star. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Footprints in the Sand". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
  15. ^ a b "Snippets leaked". Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite web}}: External link in |Publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ a b c d "Long wait for Leonaarrrgghh!". The Sun. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "Leona Lewis: Basically a press release presented as "news"". Popjustice. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love". aCharts.us. Retrieved 2007-10-28.
  19. ^ "Take a Bow". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
  20. ^ a b c "The transformation of Leona Lewis". The Times. 14 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Lewis Gets The Best From Steinberg & Alexander". 11 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Greetings from Atlanta". 31 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "I'm back!". 4 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Leona blows us away". Closer.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  25. ^ "Leona launches new single". Virgin Media. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  26. ^ "Regional radio tour". RCA Label Group. 10 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Leona Lewis: Leona to perform on The X Factor". Unreality TV. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Children in Need". RCA Label Group. 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2007-11-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Leona Lewis, Spirit". BBC. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "New albums this week". The Mirror. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ "Leona Lewis: Spirit". The Times. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ "Leona Lewis, Spirit". The Guardian. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ "CDs of the week". Evening Standard. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ "Leona Lewis: "Spirit"". MSN. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Reviewing a watermarked copy of the Leona Lewis album because BBC News can't". Popjustice. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Leona Outperforms Expectations with Massive First Day Sales to Challenge Arctic's UK Record for Fastest-selling Debut Album". allmediaSCOTLAND.com. 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Leona Lewis Set To Steal Arctic Monkeys' Album Record". Gigwise. 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ "High Spirits". Chart Track. 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2007-11-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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