It’s a long way from being a contestant on a Simon Cowell produced reality show to becoming a number one artist on the US Billboard charts, but that is exactly what Leona Lewis has achieved, and oh, how she deserves her success.
Lewis, from Hackney, in East London, entered The X-Factor competition in 2006, and instantly blew the judges away with her beautiful voice, and subtle way of changing classic songs and making them her own.
She went on to beat Ray Quinn in the final, and what a good result that has turned out to be.
Bleeding Love has already topped the British charts, spending seven weeks there at the end of 2007, and becoming the best selling single of the year with 1 million copies sold.
It has also topped charts around the world, but it’s taken North America a little time to catch on to the phenomenal talent Lewis possesses.
The song had been at the top of the US iTunes chart for two weeks, and finally made it to the top of the big one this week.
The 22 year old becomes the first solo British female artist to have a number one hit in the US charts for 21 years, when Kim Wilde did it with a cover version of You Keep Me Hangin’ On by The Supremes.
To do it with her début release is another huge achievement, and one which hasn’t been seen since Sheena Easton made it big Stateside in 1981 with Morning Train (Nine To Five).
Leona has responded to the success on her own website in her usual self-effacing way:
“Well I really don’t know what to say, I’m so overwhelmed right now. I’m getting to share my music with people around the world and it’s beyond my wildest dreams.
“From the bottom of my heart thank u all so much, it’s because of you that I am able to do this. Once again I can’t thank everyone enough for this incredible support.”
Well done Leona, I admit I had my doubts over whether you could do it, but I’ll happily eat my words now, and hope the success continues.
That’s the big challenge now, as reality television show winners normally find their careers have a relatively short lifespan.
[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]
I am waiting patiently for her CD to hit US stores. Was looking all over for it this past Easter weekend but to no avail. Hubby went to search it for me from another record store the other day, turns out it’s not here until the first week of April. DO’H. LOL
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[...] week saw Leona Lewis hit number one on the US Billboard charts with Bleeding Love, becoming the first solo British female music artist [...]
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