Veronica Schmidt
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The X Factor winner Leona Lewis’s first release has entered the UK singles charts at number one.
The 22-year-old’s song Bleeding Love hit the top spot with the biggest first week sales of any single this year. Released last week, the track sold 218,000 copies – more than the rest of the top five put together.
The X Factor producer and judge Simon Cowell said: "The sales are incredible. I'm absolutely thrilled for Leona, she thoroughly deserves it."
Lewis won The X Factor a year ago and has since been hyped as the biggest discovery to be made by the ITV1 talent show. Cowell, who runs record label Syco, under the SonyBMG umbrella, resisted the temptation to make an album quickly and cash in on Lewis’s X Factor popularity. Instead, he gave the singer a year and an array of resources to make her first album.
Her quick ascent to number one has ended the Sugababes’ four-week run at the top with the hit About You Now. They now sit at number four, after Take That’s Rule The World slipped into second position and McFly’s The Heart Never Lies hit number three.
Lewis already counts Rod Stewart and American music mogul Clive Davis as fans, but detractors have predicted she will become another forgotten reality show contestant.
In an interview with The Sunday Times earlier this month Lewis defended her X Factor start and denied she was a puppet of Syco: “People criticise The X Factor and say it’s just reality TV, but it gives people like me a chance to be seen and heard.”
“At every moment I had a choice. I could say yes to this, or no to this. If there was a great song and I really felt it, then I’m definitely going to want to sing it. I want it to represent me and the journey I’ve had, not just from The X Factor but before it, trying to get into the music industry. People criticise The X Factor and say it’s just reality TV, but it gives people like me a chance to be seen and heard.”
Her album, Spirit, is released on November 5.

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What's incredible about her is not her songs but her voice. As long as she sings great songs who cares who writes them. I dont care who has written the great Frank Sinatra songs. They are great songs brilliantly sung which makes Sinatra great. I don't care that X Factor found Leona Lewis. She has tried and failed to find widespread success in the music industry for years (if you define success by the number of records you sell). She has the experience of those years which gives her a depth of character and also keeps her modest. She is genuinely interested in music and not just fame. She is a great singer. Whether she is successful in numeric terms is irrelevant, though it is all that matters to most people in the media industry, because they are primarily interested in making money.
declan, belfast,
Bev, Wendover, Bucks writes:
'Let's get behind her instead of criticising her, as we do our footballers, our cricketers etc etc'
Before we break out the flag and the brass band is it worth considering that Leona's latest contribution to British cultural history was written (nay - thrown together) by a couple of Americans, one of whom is younger than Leona? Let's not pretend that she represents a timely expression of homegrown British talent - she is the collaborative production of an international music 'industry' as coldly commercial and systematic in its production of songs as McDonalds is in its production of hamburgers. She is not a 'rival' to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, she is just a rebranding of them. I don't mind if people like the taste of a Big Mac, but don't try to tell me that it's prime British beef.
Gabriel Casey, Belfast,
Leona Lewis - she is the real deal and a class act (and voice)...
Adam, Southampton,
I dont like negative comments about artists with talent such as Leona Lewis has. She may have come to the music industry through a route that some do not value, however, she is incredibly talented and we should just wish her the best. Let's get behind her instead of criticising her, as we do our footballers, our cricketers etc etc. Well done Simon Cowell for believing, for taking his time and managing her well.
Bev, Wendover, Bucks
Connor...relax I just said the song was dreadful! and everyone is free to give their opinion that is what this space is for. So No, I will not be keeping my opinion in my head simply because it doesn't agree with yours.
I agree she is a very talented singer and seems to be a grounded person. However, I personally don't like the elongated notes and wailing. Someone compared her with Whitney Houston; great for her...I think???
Reevyd, London, London
It is sad to see how many people cling to Lewis as some sort of answer to a crisis of quality in popular music. She is more of the same - a manufactured act whose only purpose is to make men like Simon Cowell a great deal of money for minimum artistic input. The idea that she is a 'natural' talent or a self-made artist is laughable. The song is appallingly bad - run-of-the-mill R&B music track + some of the most excruciating lyrics ever likely to be contrived by the most idea-starved hack in the entire commercial songwriting industry. Seriousy, read this - 'My heart melts into the ground, found something true, and everyone's looking around'. What a load of nonsense. To say nothing of the fact that this melted heart turns up a few lines later being 'crippled' by Leona Lewis' poorly informed decision to assume conscious control of her own circulatory system. Hearts, eh? Pain in the gulliver. Oh yes - she has no personality either.
Gabriel Casey, Belfast,
My partner and I knew right from the start this young woman would make it in the X Factor. The UK now has it's own Whitney Houston, and boy is she going to give her a run for her money! Her single is fabulous, and looking at the title list for the album this is going to be one spectacular hit. Good luck to her !
As for Reevyd, he obvoiusly doesn't know good music when he hears it.
T T Kent
TT, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
I love this song I think it's amazing. Leona is so gorgeous and her voice is amazing. Im really jealous of her and can't wait to buy this song later today. love it love it love it :D :D :D
Carly Jones, Caerhun, wales
Leona is beautiful, she gushes talented and is a downright fabulous vocalist. Poor man's Mariah she ain't! She is in a league of her own and will be a HUGE sucess and I don't just mean her single.
She deserved to win the X Factor because she really had the 'X Factor'. Her voice brings me out in goose pimples.
I can't wait for her album!
Anthony, Cambridge, United Kingdom
i think reevyd is a plum and he/she has no taste in music leona has what it takes. and what ever she wanted to do with her life she just made it 10 times better and good on her. and i knew she was going to win it day 1 as soon as i saw it i knew straight away. so reevyd say your opinions in your head will ya and let a young talented star do what she has to do.
connor , dagenham, uk
if you dont like this song you have to appreciate what an amzing voice she has and how talented she is.
i think bleeding love is a great song! many people can relate to it.
she is one of briatins best solo artists! i would say she is britains best solo artist!
and for Reevyd! she got to number one because she is better than anoyone in the charts right now!she has earned every bit of succes!anyone who can be compared with whitney houston's voice and comes up on top is incredible!
shar, manchester, uk
incredible girl
elliott , bath, Uk
Leona has a fabulous voice. She is a beautiful young woman who has everything going for her. What is the matter with people? Does it matter that she became known through the X-Factor? It has its faults, but it is a great way to get yourself known and heard. Many good stars came through shows like this one - remember Opportunity Knocks - there was nothing more cheesy than that show, yet some very good people began their careers through it. Good for Leona. You go for it girl you are fantastic!
JP, Sheffield, South Yorks
She is pure class..... A wonderful rare talent... good luck to you...df
David Fraser, Wokingham, Berks
her song is amazing... i think it deserves number one... and her voice is outstanding... go leona :P only an fool would hate this song
jordan wright, grimsby, united kingdom
Leona has an enviable range and i am not sure there are many who can strike the notes she is able to but i must say that her Single does little justice to her voice and talent and i was left feeling disappointed. Let's hope her producers really know what they are doing and not simply creating songs for the UK audience who in my opinion have bizarre taste in music -- if the UK number 1s are anything to go by.
Annie, Cambridge, UK
i think for this girl to make something of herself especially with it going to number 1 straight away proves to all you people especially Reevyd that she has got what it takes and good on her. it is a brilliant song and this girl should go very very far!!! well done to her there are some jealous people in this world that hates the thought of some one doing good for themselves. keep the songs coming as there are many people willing to buy her music....me included.
helen, liverpool,
i think the song's great and she has an amazing voice. she deserves it
siru, farnborough, uk
How rude is Reevyd?
This is a fabulous song from a young talented singer, who deserves every success she has earned.
It is certainly 100% better than most of the mindless rubbish in the charts at present.
Each to his own.
Michelle, Walsall,
Goodness knows how Leona Lewis got to number one with that dreadful song. Bleed ing Hell is a more apt title.
Reevyd, London, London