Leona Lewis - 'A Moment Like This'
Time to unveil my guiltiest secret. The one thing that I have kept to myself these past few years. The terrible hidden shame which, if they ever found out, would see me expelled from the Guild of Snarky Pop Writers for ALL TIME, and then thrown in a ditch, to eke out a living teaching worms how to play darts.
Living with a secret is like living with an exploding pig, you're on your guard all the time in case anything evil were to leak out, and you never really know when it's all just going to blow up in your face. So...(deep breath)...I'm going to go for broke here, and reveal my dark side (easy! It's not THAT kind of website)...ready? Here goes...
I don't watch The X Factor...THERE, I SAID IT! DON'T HATE ME! OH MY GOD! (etc).
Now, this isn't because I'm the rocksnob type that wants to ban all forms of talent competition and believes that reality TV pop shows are killing pop music. Clearly this isn't true, as the brilliance of 2006's best records proves amply, and in any case, that line of argument always withers with just two words...Girls Aloud.
No, there are three reasons I don't watch it. The first is because it's not about the singers and the songs they are singing. It's about the judges and the very many ways they can find to be nasty or supportive about the singers and the songs they are singing. This, to me, is a bit back-to-front.
It's like staging an amazing theatrical production of one of Shakespeare's best plays - like maybe that one about the mad king, the girl dressed as a boy and the star-crossed lovers who believe each other to be dead. What? They can't ALL be about that can they? Oh.
OK, so it's like staging a production of EastEnders, but instead of all the actors getting on with what they've got to do, the cameraman repeatedly takes a different actor back through the pretend walls and into a side room where three senior 91Èȱ¬ executives tut and preen about how much better their acting could be if they only learned to LIVE their lines, and has anyone thought of bringing back Dirty Den again to give lessons? Can you imagine the look on Pauline 'Scowler' Fowler's face if that kept happening in the middle of one of her scowliest scenes? Exactly.
The second reason is that actually, despite how hiliarious it's supposed to be, watching the auditions at the beginning with the poor unfortunates who really can't sing is deeply horrible. Yes they know what they're letting themselves in for, yes their friends and family should have locked them up before they let them come out and audition, but come on, they're not sub-human. Lots of people can't sing, and they get by just fine. Look at Take That, barely a singer amongst them, and they do alright, don't they? Have a heart.
And the third reason is simply that seeing as the winner of the X Factor never lasts more than a few months in the harsh realities of the music business proper - despite what Louis Walsh may have to say on the subject - I would rather come to the winner of the show's debut single with fresh ears. I don't want to think about the many weeks of cover versions they'll have done before they get the X Factor Winner's specially re-touched version of Michelle McManus's old song (anyone remember what it was originally called? I do). That's right, the slightly gospelly, slow groove number with the lyrics about overcoming adversity and finally ACHIEVING SOMETHING IN THIS LIFE. That one.
If the poor winner has to breathe life into that exact same lame duck every year, I don't want to already be tired of their voice before they start, cos that's the only fresh thing going into the pot. As it turns out, Leona has quite some voice on her, don't you think? Like a Mariah without the raggedy edges and wobbly note-control. Given the right handling and some decent songs, she could go either the Nelly Furtado or Corinne Bailey Rae routes and things could be marvellous for her.
She won't GET the right handling or decent songs, of course. But that's because the X Factor is about the judges, not the singers. Judges who don't really do pop music any more, and in the case of Sharon, never did. So, despite all the hogwash about 'most downloads' and 'biggest selling', all this song represents is the start of a countdown. Leona's got her three months or so in the spotlight, during which time Celebrity Big Brother is on again, and then she's out the back door with Steve Brookstein and Shayne Ward, and then what?
Sounds bleak? Too cynical? I told you, I don't watch the X Factor. Y'see, I like singers and the songs they sing, and that show is WAY too cruel to both for my liking.
Released: December 20th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
i think leona was really good am glad that she won she should have won any way she was my favourite she is really pretty and she deserves to be were she is at the moment . leona was is my fav
I have watched the X Factor now since it started three years ago.
It is the only reality show that i watch.
This young lady Leona Lewis stood out from the very moment she auditioned.
He voice is pure magic and having her compared to Mariah or Whitney is a huge compliment to her.
I really really hope Simon Cowell does not screw up this girl career.
Heres to you Leona and a hopefully brillaint career ahead of you.
I don't get why she had to cover Kelly Clarkson's A Moment Like This. Couldn't they at least given her her own song... Kelly Clarkson's rendition is better imo. Leona should do a Mariah *slash* Whitney-esque song.
And Fraser M, you're right about not watching X-Factor. It is all about the judges (and btw: Sharon Osborne an expert on music??? The only things she knows anything about is plastic surgery and not having talent) and the ratings. I don't get why people are stupid enough to text to those programmes.
wen Leona won xfactor i was jumpin up nd down in my livin rm she deserved 2 win she has an amazin voice but i fink a "moment like this" doesnt give her voice any credit yea its great nd she sings it brilliantly but she could sing sumfin like maria carey as JK said.
Simon cowell i hope u do do a gd job 4 her sake she is amazin nd u dont deserve 2 hav her so fink urself honered 2 work wiv her
luv ya babe well done
xxxmwahxxx
frm watchin a few of the xfactors, i fink that leona was a gd and wise choice made by the public, i fink she has the luk nt onli that but the voice.
She will attract all audiences frm young to the older generation, she has a voice that attracts young people and older and is soo gd 2 listen 2 and is a mix of mariah n whitney, as well as a look that isnt tooo pop and child style.
She seems 2 b a rle dwn 2 earth persn n is frm londn nt the us we need sum mre good londn singers that will lst in the charts and frm leona i cn see happenin unlyk wer has shane ward gt 2 i dnt nw??? sum 1 plz tell me .....!
well dun 2 leona n gd luk in the future!!!!
yes, thats not my real name, or my real address, but then i thought id join all the other people who commented, and be someone fake. i dont think anyone actually understood what your article about, contrary to being an analysis of leona lewis (who may have a lovely voice - but that isnt the point), its about how everything is cheapened and anything succesful is sold down the river to make as much money as they can fit though the door of thebank managers office. maybe im just being cynical, but nothing on tv is real any more, hyped up, sexed up, played done, its all play acting for the cameras, adn everyone laps it up, in this terraced houses, with their 2.4 children and tv dinners in their laps they look for purpose, for a hero, for a battle, as their lives are so empty and unfullfilling. maybe these shows have more of a role in our culture than entertainment, maybe they keep us sane.
this is not a good song-why an't these people write a NEW song for the winner instead of doing another cover?
anyways, however good people might think she is now, this time next year we'll be in the same place with another winner. And, like the last two years, by this time next year, we'll all be saying 'Leona Who?'
It's just a cheap publicity stunt for the x factor judges. they don't care, why should we?
We think Leona is fab - she is realy talented & a pleasure to watch. her voice is the best voice we have heard since Whitney Huston. So look out Whitney if she decides to make a come back, it not going to be easy with the lovely Leona Lewis around. Good luck Leona (not that you need it with that voice) we wish you all the happyness in the world. Please dont fade out like the rest of the X Factor/Pop Idol winners. keep singing for us girl. x x x x x x x x x x
Lots of love
Cherie & David
well i thought it was a bit fixed a girly song as the end song? there was no way for any one else to win it!
i thought the most talented person on that show was ben, it was a fix from the beginning to make a women win, a moment like this is on of my favourite songs but wasnt right for the male contestants any one else agree?
I'm turely angry that these shows are around. I mean people must be complete idiots to vote! I am mainly against the fact each year their first song comes out christmas week. X FACTOR KILLED THE CHRISTMAS CHART. I here even the bookies are stopping betting on the christmas number 1 each year. I truely think the chrristmas number 1 should go to an artist who has worked hard all year or at least bothered to create a extremely good christmas song. Not someone covering a song and getting number 1 when if they didn't get famous by a talent show, would not have usually sold so many cds. I bet she wont last long, too.
RE: Nadzzz
For God's sake open a dictionary and a grammar book and stop writing in that stupid "text" way! It's not fast, it's not funny, it's not clever, and it's very annoying to read.
She's just great! :D... And if you don't agree then your crazy!! TeeHee!!!! xxxxxxxx
i think leona is cool and the press want to stop getting pictures of leonas face and putting them in the paper on top off a top less body !!!!!!!!!!
are rite then pete and kaite are dead funny like i like them thet look lovley together and i am sooooooooo happy that kaite is having anouther baby she is a good mam and pete is good dad . i would love to be related to kaite coz she would be a lovley sister,cuison
I thought TV shows were made to entertain the public and since a large number of the public enjoy the X Factor, even with the lousy singers and nasty comments by the judges, I would have thought the show valid entertainment. Still, if it's only purpose is to find long term employment for actors, singers etc., then I'm obviously wrong. However, in my opinion, once the X factor is over, it is up to the artist to ensure they remain popular: it has been done before by Will Young, Girls Aloud and Liberty X so it's up to Leona to put some effort into ensuring she still has a career after her initial X factor success.
brilliant! fantastic! dunno wot 2 say! u go girl!
u deserved to win!
Leona Is Truley The Best.
I've always wanted to meet her and the closest i got was a concert. I know when everyone heard her they fell in love with her voice no doubt. She's everything. She's pretty, kind (as i noticed on television) brilliant at singing, dancing and acting. She's the one and only. Nobody not even Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey could sing live like Leona. I am glad she one The X Factor as she definitely should have. I am a 13 year old girl that never knew the meaning of music, but now i do because i heard Leona Lewis. Tear's fell down my cheek listening to her.
Good luck in the future Leona
Because everyone is behind you.
I love you forever and always xxxxxxxxx
hi i love leonas musc
lol
your new song is good