Leona Lewis has The X Factor
November 19, 2006 by Kath Skerry
If you haven’t yet heard of Leona Lewis…just wait, because you will. Leona Lewis is a contestant on The X Factor, an American Idol-esque British talent competition. It is so much like American Idol that Simon Cowell is even a judge. But you have NEVER seen Simon Cowell react like this to any AI contestant…not even the really hot ones. Leona Lewis is so talented that it has Mr. Crankypants himself clapping and giving standing ovations after nearly every performance.
I had heard the buzz about Leona a few weeks back but I really haven’t had the time to check her out for myself. And now that I have, I’m so excited to hear more from this amazing singer. I’ve spent a good amount of time hanging out on YouTube.com today looking for my favorite Leona Lewis performances to share with all of you. So I hope you enjoy.
Let me know what you think? Are Simon Cowell and I way off here, or is there girl going to be dominating the charts in the near future?
Ladies and gentleman….LEONA LEWIS!!
“Summertime”
[gv data=”uB5HyNH2mc8″][/gv]
“Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word”
[gv data=”8AgFVvqvyJg”][/gv]
“Bridge Over Troubled Waters”
[gv data=”8Cwv_H16Sns”][/gv]
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Wow, she’s terrific! Her voice is amazing!! Simon must have a thing for her since he keeps giving her a standing ovation. He’s like the Paula Abdul of that show. LOL I won’t be suprised if he hooks up with Leona someday.
Is that Sharon Osbourne?
Yep, that’s Sharon! 🙂 The format of the X Factor is slightly different to American Idol. Each of the three judges (Simon, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh) is in charge of mentoring one of the 3 categories of acts. Simon is in charge of the 16-24 year olds, Sharon the 25 and overs and Louis the groups. Then the two acts in the bottom two have to sing again at the end of the show, and the *judges* have to decide who gets to stay and who goes home. So Leona is in Simon’s category, which is one of the reasons he keeps giving her standing ovations! 🙂 Not that she’s not good anyway, but he’s definitely more excited about how good she is because she’s in his category and if she wins the show then he basically wins!
She seems like a nice girl, but I do find her singing a bit too choreographed. I don’t get much emotion from her. Obviously she’s got a great voice, but I just find it all a bit overdone. I’m not sure I could listen to a whole album of her when she starts doing all the vocal gymnastics. She’s also not the most exciting of the contestants. Very nice girl, but lacking a bit in personality, I think. My guess is it’ll be her and Ben (a rocker) in the final. I think he’s her only real competition. It seems to be pretty obvious that she’ll win – it would take something shocking (or Ben, lol) to stop her.
Just have to say thanks to GMMR. As a UK fan of the US version of The Office, we don’t get any coverage of the show over here (even though it is on over here and just got nominated for a British Comedy Award!) so it’s nice to find a site that likes the show so much so I can find all the news. 🙂
I agree with Laura. She’s a good singer but her personality doesn’t stir me. Maybe that will come with time.
all i’m saying is i never thought i’d see the day that simon cowell wore a tie…yikes! Thanks for posting this…i’m a bit of an American Idol whore (see my blog – idolreview.net) so i love to see idol-like competitions from all over (i’m gushing about australian idol at the moment)
Perez has been buzzing about this girl for a while too.
She does have an amazing voice, but I agree with everyone above she acts like there might be a few cobwebs in her head. I don’t see much there after the music stops.
To the origianl poster X factor started in the u.k with pop idol so its not American Idol-esque. Pop idol started in the u.k and was then exported to the u.s as american idol. So the format was developed in the u.k. So your version was u.k pop idol-esque. The current X factor format is the same as the original pop idol format. Americans don’t invent everything you know :p On topic she is a fantastic talent, I wish her happiness with what ever she chooses to do.
Geesh…didn’t mean to imply that we did invent everything. But for the sake of explaining The x Factor to American audiences I was going for brevity.
First things first, I just read the other comments and it’s so true about Simon Cowell! The first thing I thought on Saturday night was “why is he wearing a tie and what has he done with the real Simon?!”
I think GMMR had it spot on to call X Factor “Idol-esque.” – Best way to describe it really. It’s Idol, with a twist. As I mentioned in my last comment, the format of X Factor is *not* the same as Pop Idol (or its spin-offs around the world). The X Factor has the judges mentoring the categories.
Interestingly, though, X Factor this year has become more like Idol (American, British, whatever) in that there are “themed” weeks with the contestants meeting famous recording artists (Rod Stewart, Westlife, Tony Bennett etc). That was taken straight from Idol – it wasn’t present in the last 2 seasons of X Factor.
I wouldn’t be surprised if X Factor got sold around the world though, in the same way as Idol did. The judges having to compete against each other means the show has “got a little bit of a zing to it” as Michael Scott would say. Half the fun of the show is waiting patiently for one of the judges to throw a glass of water over the others! lol!
Anyway good luck to Leona. She’ll be successful whatever happens. I just get a bit bored of her. lol
PS – hmm…I’m pretty bad at brevity, unfortunately! Sorry! 🙂
What do you mean- no personality, because she loves her parents and don’t take drugs?
I really worry for her if she goes to the states, they will try to surgically enhance her and make her do moronic dance routines like Beyonce.
The format of these shows doesn’t allow a lot of space for contestants to show their personality, so it would be a mistake to judge her on that. As for her voice – the best to ever compete in a UK talent contest, for what that’s worth, and it will only get better. She has developed very fast over the last few weeks. Check out some tracks of her singing more contemporary stuff on theschizofrenik website.
I’ve been watching this show since the start of the season and this girl is just really hot stuff! On the show Simon Cowell picks her songs and has her doing a bunch of boring old ballads mostly, but she sounds fantastic, she’s gorgeous, and she’s humble. If that weren’t enough, when you comb the internet you can find clips of radio worthy tracks that SHE wrote herself and sings to perfection. Her thing is uptempo Top 40 type songs like “Promiscuous” or “Hips Don’t Lie”. This kid is amazing. For those who don’t know her, don’t judge to quickly. She most certainly will NOT win X factor (due to the screaming little girls that are voting for no-talent cute little boys), but she doesn’t need to win. What she needs is to come straight to the USA so Clive Davis can sign her to RCA records asap. The girl is just “Hot” personified.
Leona is absolutely sensational for me. Her voice is as good if not better than Mariah Carey and over top performers out there. What people must realise is Leona is singing her songs live and is hitting home with an unbelievable vocal range. I have heared some of Mariah Carey’s live performances and think at times she can be critical of screaming and shouting without tune. Leona will be 100% successful in a singing career and if she signs up with the right record company she will without question sell more number 1 records than any other English female singer in history. The X factor has discovered a world class talent for me and with experience and correct guidance Leona could simply be the best. Her version of Elton John’s classic ‘The hardest word’ is by far the best version I have ever heard. That song she sang live sent shivers down my spine and that is no exaggeration. For people judging her on her personality is pathetic. She may be shy, timid and quiet but on the stage she is mesmerizing and that surely is what counts. I’ll be buying her album that’s for sure!
American Idol is a UK franchise of the original Pop Idol show run by a guy named Simon Fuller.
X-factor was started by Simon Cowell so he could get complete control to the signing rights of the artists.
It effectively killed the Idol format in the UK and is now exporting to several other countries.
It will probably come to the states soon as its format has a much more competitive edge than the Idol one.
Do me a favour everyone and just make sure Leona wins the X Factor, do as much and whatever you can to make 100% Leona will win.
I want Leona to win she is the most special and most talented person ever and she is the best X factor contestant anywhere and anytime in the lifetime of the planet so get her won. She is my idol and my favourite girl, singer, celebrity and my favourite x factor contestant.
Love to Leona
John Ledward
VOTE FOR LEONA AND HELP HER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN..THE MORE THE BETTER…IF YOU CAN DO THAT IT WILL BE SUPER.
SHE HAS THE X FACTOR AND WE WILL MAKE HER WIN.
VOTE AND KEEP VOTING AND KEEP LOVING, SUPPORTING AND PRAYING LEONA WILL WIN THE X FACTOR.
LEONA HAS THE X FACTOR…HELP HER TO WIN
VOTE
VOTE
VOTE
VOTE
VOTE
VOTE FOR LEONA
EVERYONE IN THE UK LEARN THIS AND HELP HER TO WIN IF YOU LEARN THIS THEN DO IT AND MAKE HER THIS YEARS WINNER OF THE X FACTOR.
Hello,
Being from the UK I am an avid watcher (and reviewer) of The X Factor. The difference between X factor and AI is the competition is open to all ages, both soloists and groups. Leona is super talented and by far the best contstant ever to grace one of these talent shows (though my personal fav is still Fantasia, AI 3).
Whilst Leona has by far the superior vocal in the competition I’m afraid the British voting public generally dont care about that. They’re pretty pathetic I’m afraid. It tends to be more of a flag flying affair with Scots voting for Scots, Welsh voting for Welsh etc, or middle aged women voting for the nice little chappie they want to mother.
Its a shame because we have seen many acts with talent get voted out, leaving dismal, pre-pubescent drama school bores in their place.
Though Leona should win on talent by a mile, I wouldn’t bet any money on that outcome. Its nice to hear that she is making a stir across the pond so whatever the result I’m sure she will have the singing career she so rightly deserves.
Fantastic to see the response from across the pond. I think she is a credit to the UK and fast becoming a. A shy, humble creature that transforms into a stunningly versatile, emotionally charged diva, surely therin lies the real attraction of Leona. I actually think the British public may even get this vote right and make her the winner. I really don’t think it will make any difference though, she is already a star. The Americans sometimes get criticised for their taste and yet it is strange how they seem to be able to recognise true talent.
Leone absolutely nailed ‘I will always love you’ which was as good as Whitney Houston’s classic for me. This girl performed this live on that level and all I ask people to do is wait for Leona to become a huge star. When she makes her own records and sing cover tracks as good as ‘The hardest word’ and ‘I will always love you’ and compile them on her first finest Album, I predict she will smash record sales in history.
This innocent, pretty young girl from London will become the biggest female star in British history and will equal a musical career as large as Madonna, Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey who are America’s finest. Not only will Leona be a musical phenomena in years to come but she will represent British talent and place her mark amongst the very best.
Leona, if you by chance read this message I have one further message just for you….
“Leona, Go on Girl, Let em Ave It!”
[…] The X Factor’s Leona Lewis continues to blow me away with her voice. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen someone new emerge with a talent like hers. Since we obviously can’t get The X Factor here in the U.S., I thought I would share a few more of Leona’s amazing performances. […]
I can’t believe you are judging this girl on her personality based on a few seconds after the song.
She’s a lovely and humble girl which I think is refreshing. She’s not another talent less bigheaded idiot like Cassie.
Leona does suffer from shyness but why does this affect her stage presence and how on earth would that ruin her chances of success?
Michael Jackson was painfully shy offstage yet that didn’t stop him becoming one of the most dynamic stage presences in the history of music. And it sure as hell didn’t hold him back in terms of record sales.
Leona’s personality is my favorite part about her. Many shy people can relate to her because it gives them inspiration to achieve things in life and not feel held back because of their shyness.
There’s a another show that airs during the week called Xtra factor and Leona is the one who stands out above everyone. She has a great personality. Love her!
First, who is Cassie?
Second, comparing someone to Michael Jackson will never win an argument with me. ha ha ha ha
LOL I just meant that shyness has nothing to do with how well an artist can do. Michael Jackson has sold over 600 million records in hios life time and his shy personality never held him back in terms of success
and Cassie is that chick who “sang”(more like spoke) “me and U” and “got a long way 2 go”
in both her vids she comes across as a stuck up cow who loves herself too much. and she cant even sing.
Leona is truly amazing and is creating a massive buzz over here in the UK. It’s really good to see that word is spreading on how talanted she is over in the US. She has the most amazing voice I have ever heard, but she simply has no idea how good she really is. I seriously hopes she gets managed correctly so that she can become a massive success like Mariah as she really does have the voice to match. I think the fact she is so modest and humble makes her even more likable and I’m keeping my fingers crossed she wins. Kelly Clarkson is now one of my favourite artists and she started from AI so keep your ears pinned back.
She’s through to the final!
with these two songs:
I have Nothing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bme1-faevFM
Over the Rainbow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLr1sBQ5gpE
People, when it comes to talent this Lady is absolutely brimming with it. She is in a completely different class to ANYONE in ANY show that I have seen in either AI or XF. I have seen Whitney live and I can honestly say, Leona can sing MUCH better live. She is 21 approx and although has years of experience in singing, she doesnt have the years of confidence training that Whitney etc have had. Leona will be a superstar, make no mistakes. I have heard he older material before I knew she was on XF, and loved it. After having seen her performances on XF, all I can say is…. Get ready WORLD there is a new voice in town and its LEONA.
[…] “Summertime”, Leona Lewis […]
leona is good yeh but there is no way she is as good as mariah carey she has the best voice i have ever heard, her vocal ability is superb especially hen she hits that whistle range, and that reali soft whisper. leona is just trying to be like her but is far off, im sorry but for me mariah carey is unbeatable
Wow, guess I was wrong and right (see above Nov 24th). She DID win! I under estimated the people who have great taste in music and know a star when they see one! yayyy! 🙂
But, I guess I was right… Clive Davis is going to sign her to a record contract for here in the USA. Apparently, different record companies were fighting over her here! I love it. Ah, it’s a Merry Christmas now. lol
The only reason she’s getting signed in America is because Sinmon Cowell is so impressed with her. US record companies never sign UK acts anymore, ie: Will Young, Gareth Gates, Michelle McManus?? And by the way X Factor isn’t an American Idol Rip Off. American Idol is a Popstars rip off. Sinmon Cowell hosts both these shows becuase they are both his format and both are english shows.
Oh and as if she’s gonna hook up with him. He’s old.
Ok ok ok…NO ONE SAID “THE X FACTOR WAS AN AMERICAN IDOL RIP OFF”!!! Read the post and read the comments before posting something like that please. I hate to keep repeating myself.
Tricia – congrats on your predictions (well the Clive Davis one anyway).
I’ve been following Leona’s progress and I really hope she makes it in the US.
She comes across as a sweet girl, a little shy but hey the modern world is full of brashness anyway, surely there’s room for something different?
I say good luck to her !!!
X-Factor isnt a english version of american idol… american idol was a american version of the gnlish tv show POP IDOL, from wich X-Factor was created. The show started in england, not america, simon cowell took it from england to america, not from america to england.
X-Factor isnt a english version of american idol… american idol was a american version of the English tv show POP IDOL, from wich X-Factor was created. The show started in england, not america, simon cowell took it from england to america, not from america to england.
I’m just going to start deleting these type of comments.
Oh i’m sure the Anglo-American relationship can stand it lol!
Now if you said it originated in Texas then that’d be a different matter -hehehe. Leona is fantastic and I’m sure she’ll toughen up once she starts performing the big shows. Somehow though I don’t think she’ll be as extroverted as Britney any time soon. Now that’s a Leona pic I’d like to see.
hey ppl omg leona has sucha wiked voice!!! shes gonna go so far! i felt really sorry for ray though coz hes just so cute lol n a rite entatainer!! i soo want leonas single n cnt wait till she gets an album out tis gnna b wiked!!! Luv Lil XxXx
i think leona lewis is great she is cleary one of the best singers
out there, and has the looks to match her vocal talent. but im
geting fed up of people saying that she is representing “black” britsh people,she is representing mixedrace people,im mixedrace myself and feel that one shouldnt feel the need to chose to be black or white and just be who thay are and thats mixedrace,feel black people just wanna latch on to her stardom by saying shes black, yet when thay ready thay dont call you black!!give people a few months thay will be hateing on her like thay do to beyonce because shes lighter skinded than kelly.
know yourself…
Yo this is the big bad tiger bear from New York City, and I just wanna settle this debate once and for all. Leona is a quiet shy girl when she is not performing, but when she performs its like she’s possessed by all the greatest female singers, and the proof is in the pudding she is amazing, I really think we need to get behind this girl cos it is hard these days to find someone with such amazing talent but at the same time is so sweet and shy. Lets be honest Mariah is cool but she has lost touch with what got her to the top and that’s her fans, The music industry gobbled her up and stole that innocence she used to have, which everyone fell in love with. As for Whitney I think bobby destroyed the poor girl. I really believe Leona will be able to connect with people here in the States like she has in the UK. It’s been so long since we have had a megastar out there like your jackson,mariahs,whitney’s I think its time we stop praying they will come back with an amazing album and let someone else takeover. Leona is special and everyone who hears her on youtube knows it (your always gonna get a critic who just wants to argue), She is a role model cos of the way she is on and off stage, lets just hope Simon takes the time and effort with her cos at the end of the day and all those thousands of auditions he has sat through in the US and UK he has finally found what he has been searching for all these years, 100% Vocal talent and that’s what it is all about. PS I’m loving this closeness the US and UK have, they always embrace our artists I think it is now more than ever the time to do it for them, we don’t wanna miss out on this girl. Peace out x
Tiger..here’s the latest new on yahoo:
http://uk.mediaframe.yahoo.com/launch?lid=wmv-100-s.31575657,wmv-300-s.31575666,wmv-56-s.31575668&.small=1&.intl=uk&c=dualpane&bw=http://uk.news.yahoo.com&dw=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/reutersv/itn_videos_rightpane_news.html&f=&a=0,30
Whitney gave her a call =D
Weeks and weeks before Leona won, Simon was getting calls from Jive, Sony and Clive Davis all fighting with eachother to sign her. He was keeping it a secret till the night she won. I think Somon has agreed to Clive to help her out in the states. Clive offered her a 10 million dollar contract..that is 10 times more than anything he has offered anyone from AI for a contract.
Also Simon promises to take care of Leona and not give er crappy management and crapy songs..he’s taking his time with her..he’s got a £500,000 project going on to help launch her in the states along with Clive Davis. She’s going to appear on AI6, Jay Leno and Ellen. Possibly more.
Lots of care is being taken over Leona.they KNOW that she has the potential to be the worlds next super star and they wont screw it up I’m sure of it.
The new zealand started theses reality shows with a show called popstars ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popstars ) which creates a pop group/band, the series documents the progress of singers from early auditions to the final when the winning members of the group/band are announced. The the british version of popstars came to the UK, this then evolved into pop idol/american idol and then x-factor.
btw, leona lewis is amazing, I will be buying her album
Leona singing “A Moment Like This” live on Top of the pops:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lkbiUdjn_s
God save our Gracious Leona!
Long Live our noble Leona!
God Save Leona Lewis!
Send her Victorious!
Happy and Glorious!
Long to reign over us!
God Save Leona Lewis!
Leona is the next whitney, she outsold every other artist in britain at christmas with “a moment like this”, yes kelly clarksons winning song but leona done it better
Leona is simply amazing!!!! Her vocal range just blows me away…she really is one of the best singers in the world right now! I love her control and strength..she has true star quality…and is a genuine girl!
Leona is simply amazing
Leona’s version of sorry seems to be…is the best I’ve ever heard and I would love her to release it….I want her to do new material …..but if she realeased that it wud sell millions worldwide… in saying that know matter what she realeases it will sell millions ….beacuse her voice is that great!
Come on guys, Leona has possibly the best voice ever heard on any talent show, her range and control is far beyond anyone on any Idol show ever! She will be lighting up the chartsfor many a decade!
im not into leonna but i love her songs she hasnt got a great voice but its better than some people
yo asians tryin blaze and cozz dont try it coz ur nothing
Leona, has just spent 7 weeks at number one in the UK, almost a year after her first number one, with a song called “bleeding Love” If you like her voice, you may want to check it out.
Hey guys thanks 4 all the cool stuff you have written about me i love you all and i hope you like my new songs cya soon xxxxx
Leona lewis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love the single(bleeding love)and getting the album was a bit of a gamble but have to say i love it!!good luck in 2008 leona
Tyra banks naked.
Tyra banks panty party. Tyra banks. Tyra banks ass.