Leona Lewis

W

W0ll

PopCrushed said:
Who is she as an artist though? All I've gathered from her in this era is that she's still hasn't shown any personality and her songs are boring. Like I said before, it was dumb for her to make an album centered around empowerment because most of the songs have the same lyrical content. It's like listening to the same song with different beats. She can write, but she's not the strongest and would have benefited from a stronger writing partner.

Toby Gad's most recent hit was John Legend's "All of Me" (cheesy AF, btw), but if you look at his discography.. he has worked the most with teeny boppers. Not sure if that's a strong selling point. Leona would have been better off with Ryan Tedder, but I'm sure she thought that working with him would go against her new found freedom.

She can deceive herself into thinking that this album is her strongest work to date, but I'm sure the lack of interest (and sales) will give her a massive wake up call. Do better, Leona!
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I find this weird though, 'album centered around empowerment'. You mean she should have recorded another studio album full of love songs? Spirit, Echo are full of love and break up songs. People were tired of that, "Oh there she is again with another love song (no pun intended)", now she recorded an album full of happy, upbeat songs and yet she can't win again.

It's all personal opinion what you gather from her. Taylor Swift can write, but she's boring as hell to me. Britney can ... well, she's boring too. Atleast for the last couple of years (I know she has proven lots but still), Mariah too.

Toby Gad is good friends with Leona so when Leona was independent she decided to work with Toby just for fun with no intention to record an album. I know Ryan Tedder is the obvious choice, but I think he doesn't write for people at the moment. And to be honest I'm not here for 10 songs that all sound a like, in fact I'm not here for an album fully produced by one producer. I'd rather wanted her to write with different writers and producers for this album, but as previously been mentioned Leona did this on her own. Don't think she was planning on spending lots of money in her spare time.

I don't think neither Leona and the label are expecting huge sales, it's more proving a point and finally record a record completely on her own. Both Island and DJ are completely behind her, it's been mentioned lots in the showcases and listening parties. They know what they can expect from this album.

We'll see how it goes though, she didn't release this album on the back of Spirit so the only way is up, especially in the US then.
 
R

r1ver

W0ll said:
Toby Gad has co-written almost every song. Are you saying the If I Were a Boy/ All of Me writer should stop writing too? Or Linda Prevens, the Listen (Beyonce) songwriter? There are very good lyrics in the songs.

This album is all about her leaving a situation where she wasn't happy about, where she had no opportunity to be the artist she wants. How hypocrite would it have been if DJ/Island sent her songs and producers for her first album? She picked the lead single Fire Under My Feet to make a statement. It describes perfectly why she recorded this album. Another Love Song doesn't, Ladders doesn't ...

And to be honest, you need to give her credit. This is her first album where she had the chance to develop herself as an artist, she's learning. I Am has more single worthy singles than Echo and Glassheart combined. On top of that she co wrote it herself.
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Toby Gad has some great credits, but there is no 'If I Were a Boy' or 'All of Me' here is there? Something is definitely missing from this formula- and I don't mean to equate quality with success but if you have a popstar who looks like Leona, sings like Leona and has the profile she had, and it's not selling, it's got to be the songs. No I don't think there's anything that's really single worthy here compared to her previous albums. Like I said, You Knew Me When and I Am are really good in my opinion, but neither are hits waiting to happen.
 
S

shitshoveller

W0ll said:
And to be honest, you need to give her credit.
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You see, that's the thing; I don't. I don't give a shite who writes what as long as the songs are enjoyable. As a consumer I don't have to credit her for releasing for what I feel is a mediocre, inoffensive, boring album just because she has some writing credits. She's not my kid, I'm not giving her a sticker for effort.

There are some popstars like Taylor and Gaga who lead their own career and there are others like Britney and to a lesser extent Rihanna who are merely a vessel for record company execs. Leona is a vessel, and that's fine. There's nothing wrong with being an amazing singer but an average songwriter since the latter is a talent all on its own. However, recognising that is another matter and hopefully Leona will when this album doesn't do particularly well. If she chooses not to, and insists on giving us another album of shitty motivational songs, then I'm over her.
 
munro

munro

They've dropped £2 off the price of the Deluxe version on iTunes, Obviously they're trying to entice more people to pre-order before next week!
 
Hyp-no-tize

Hyp-no-tize

For an album about breaking free from her evil record company (the bastards who made her a star), it all sounds a bit flat. She's always been dull but you would think she would be able to put some emotion into a subject she claims is so important to her.
 
Envoirment

Envoirment

munro said:
They've dropped £2 off the price of the Deluxe version on iTunes, Obviously they're trying to entice more people to pre-order before next week!
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Really? It's still £11.99 for me. Would be great if they put it to £9.99 and the standard to £7.99 as I think the current prices are quite expensive.
 
munro

munro

Envoirment said:
Really? It's still £11.99 for me. Would be great if they put it to £9.99 and the standard to £7.99 as I think the current prices are quite expensive.
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It was £12.99 yesterday in Scotland but its only £10.99 now? She would be better off lowering the price because £12.99 is far too much considering how little interest there is in the album already
 
Envoirment

Envoirment

munro said:
It was £12.99 yesterday in Scotland but its only £10.99 now? She would be better off lowering the price because £12.99 is far too much considering how little interest there is in the album already
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Ah ok, I'm in England and it's £11.99 for me. The pricing was very expensive from the get go, regardless of interest. Most albums go for around £7.99 standard and £9.99/£10.99 for deluxe version on iTunes. Don't understand why the album costs so much.
 
DMDR

DMDR

I'm sorry but those ballad snippets are killing me, I need them in full.

I have only liked one ballad from Leona since Echo and that was Your Hallelujah, every other one has been poor imo, which was terrible as that is what made me a fan of Leona, but You Knew Me When, Thank You, Thick Skin and The Best and The Worst all sound brilliant and I think those will be my favourite tracks from the album.

If I were to pick the next 3 singles, I'd go with,

1. I Got You (With lots of TV promo, ideally X Factor)
2. You Knew Me When (Chat shows, morning shows, perfect for the Xmas market)
3. Another Love Song (Kick things back into gear in the new year)

And if we are lucky enough, wrap things up with Thank You as the final single, though that would be a lot of singles, so I imagine it's doubtful.
 
Hyp-no-tize

Hyp-no-tize

DMDR said:
I'm sorry but those ballad snippets are killing me, I need them in full.

I have only liked one ballad from Leona since Echo and that was Your Hallelujah, every other one has been poor imo, which was terrible as that is what made me a fan of Leona, but You Knew Me When, Thank You, Thick Skin and The Best and The Worst all sound brilliant and I think those will be my favourite tracks from the album.

If I were to pick the next 3 singles, I'd go with,

1. I Got You (With lots of TV promo, ideally X Factor)
2. You Knew Me When (Chat shows, morning shows, perfect for the Xmas market)
3. Another Love Song (Kick things back into gear in the new year)

And if we are lucky enough, wrap things up with Thank You as the final single, though that would be a lot of singles, so I imagine it's doubtful.
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Why would they release 7 singles from an album that will be lucky to go silver? Any Leona fans thinking I Am is this generation's Thriller may want to lower their expectations.
 
DMDR

DMDR

Hyp-no-tize said:
Why would they release 7 singles from an album that will be lucky to go silver? Any Leona fans thinking I Am is this generation's Thriller may want to lower their expectations.
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Well I would hope most people would be able to determine that I am obviously talking about in an ideal world, where you know things turn around and the opportunity arises for such a case where it might be worthwhile releasing that amount of singles.

Anyway so far there has been two UK singles. Looking at other Island acts, Jessie and Will, who are both around the silver mark, they both got 4 singles, Will confirmed he'll release a fourth.

Thunder is a US single funded by Def Jam, so ignore that. I also said Thank You was unlikely, so if you take the other three singles I suggested, that would be 5 UK singles which isn't a stretch in my mind, one because of looking at Will and Jessie and two because Island and Def Jam will be splitting the cost, saving them both money on videos etc. I imagine now they will probably sync up singles so its the same in both countries.

And finally add to the fact that they are only really spending money to promote this, they never had the expense of paying for it to be recorded, Leona did most of the album independently. So costs for both labels have been relatively low compared to an album fully funded by the label.
 
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dietcokeaddict

dietcokeaddict

Didn't know Christmas With Love had sold 110k but i guess thats not even enough for Cowell.

I reckon the new album won't even do half of that sadly. I do think she is well known enough to debut in the top 10 but then it'll drop.
 
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