Leona Lewis Brings "Memory" To DWTS

Even though she's wrapped up her time in Cats, Leona Lewis has basically become the current face of the Broadway musical.

Representing the show at Dancing with the Stars, Leona performed one of its most iconic songs, Memory. And what an ambassador she was, providing an impressive and faithful rendition for dancers Calvin and Lindsay to Waltz to. Admittedly not the biggest fan of the timbre of Lewis' mid-range, of which there was plenty, I still found myself "here" for this.

[Q&A] What happened to Leona Lewis' career

Everyone has an email address, me included. And since it's out there for all to hit me up on (heeeeey!), it's inevitable that I get questions sent to me regarding Divas. I'll be posting my answers to some of these questions under the new heading of Q&A.

Sometimes they'll be in-depth. Sometimes they'll be flippant. But one thing they'll always be is posted with the mailer's consent.

If you want to ask me a question for this segment, you can do so @Divadevotee on Twitter, or via email [divadevotee@gmail.com].

Question:

Leona Lewis is undoubtedly very talented yet very underrated. At one point (during her debut) she was the next big thing (she was compared to Whitney, Mariah and Celine) and many people speculated that she would eventually be legendary; now that seems quite unlikely. What went wrong in her career and please do you think she can get back to reigning on the charts? Thank you!

Leona Lewis Soars On Broadway With Cats' "Memory"

It seems to be the case that when a singer's career is derailed, they head over to the West End/Broadway to get a role in a musical. Realistically this wouldn't be an option for someone like, say, Katy Perry, but X-Factor winner Leona Lewis, is a different calibre of singer.

[Album Discussion] Lana Del Rey- "Honeymoon" / Leona Lewis- "I Am"

Two of our Divas have released new albums in quick succession. When it rains it pours!

First we had Leona Lewis' I Am, which was released on the 11th of September. It didn't exactly make a big splash, charting not so great in the UK(#12) or the US (#38)- though she smartly remains pragmatic about this. Now this week sees Lana Del Rey's Honeymoon drop, with predicted sales of 100k and a Billboard album chart position of #2. Not bad!

[Vocal Profile] Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis

Vocal Type: Light-Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: C3 - A5 - Gb6 (3 octaves and a diminished fifth)
Whistle Register: Yes
Vocal Pluses:A light, dexterous and versatile voice, Leona Lewis is capable of fluid and effortless register transitions, holding notes for extensive amounts of time and utilising complicated melisma. As Leona has grown, her voice has increased in musicality, ultimately becoming more distinguishable. Although a thinness is present in the voice, this is balanced by a (signature) heavy, slow and hefty vibrato [Bleeding Love].

Leona has a quiet, feminine lower range that is surprisingly confident. It carries a striking, sombre tone and is often used as the lead register [Hurt], implying an easiness here. Although the voice lacks projection and support at its lowest, it has become easier for the Diva to traverse as she has aged. [The Best and The Worst].

The middle voice is significantly brighter, fulsome and cleaner in colour than the lower range, possessing a lyrical edge that she aptly uses to emphasize emotion [Fireflies]. It has become more rounded in sound over time, and with its solid connection to the rest of the voice, Leona often uses it during multi-octave runs and vocal slides. Ultimately, the mid-range is well developed and a solid part of the voice, known for its power and vulnerability [Better In Time].

Leona Lewis Performs "Bleeding Love" for Radio 2's Live In Hyde Park 2015

Leona Lewis' new album I Am was released on the 11th of this month. So, it's no surprise that the Islington Diva is back out in the wild, promoting.

[Wailing wall] C5 Showdown!

I know some of y'all are impatient, but please give the page about 10 seconds to load. Lot of audio files- Fank you!

Leona Lewis Continues Musical Ascent with ‘I Am’

Leona Lewis has released the title track from new album, I Am.

Much like the LP's first release Fire Under My Feet, I Am finds the Diva in a defiant mood. Lyrically this could simply be another tale of love gone wrong. However, if we follow the thread from single number one, this is most likely another masked jab at ex-manager Simon Cowell. Fighting talk or not, it's giving me Unfinished Sympathy teas and striking vocals- so you know I'm loving it.

[Duelling Divas] "Lady Marmalade"

Lady Marmalade was a smash hit for LaBelle in 1975 and featured the scandalously suggestive chorus of "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?". At the time of release, Patti Labelle -who handled the lead- claimed she never really understood the français, saying: "I didn't know what it was about. Nobody, I swear this is God's truth, nobody told me what I'd just sung a song about."

Leona Lewis Brings "Fire Under My Feet" To The Palladium

Leona Lewis' emancipating anthem, Fire Under My Feet, got a pretty decent reaction when it was released on YouTube last month. However, though fans and critics have made their approval known, support from radio hasn't been so forthcoming. But that's not stopping Leona, who is out promoting the single- which is released this week.

Was it another offering of iffy vocals (like she's been guilty of delivering over the last few year[1/2]), or was the Diva's voice finally back in fighting-fit form? Take a listen to her first big performance of the song at Sunday Night At The Palladium and decide for yourself.

[New Music] Leona Lewis Declares Emancipation With "Fire Under My Feet"

Speaking of American Idol getting cancelled, (perhaps) Britain's own biggest talent show export, Leona Lewis, has returned with new music! It feels like it's been too long, lady!

Fire Under My Feet is immediately different from anything we've heard from the Diva, being earthy and less processed than her other lead singles. Pushed on by a driving drum beat, the track documents the singer's newly found drive which has grown from the split with mentor and discoverer Simon Cowell.

[Watch] Leona Lewis Covers Naughty Boy's "La La La" @ World Music Awards 2014

Naughty Boy's La La La was practically the soundtrack to my summer last year.

The original featured site favorite (*sniggers*) male vocalist Sam Smith, but as he's infinitely more busy since his career has taken off, Naughty Boy enlisted Diva, Leona Lewis, to provide the lead vocals at the 2014 World Music Awards.

[Watch] Leona Lewis Takes Christmas To The 2013 Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony

Leona Lewis was hit and miss for me during her set for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Rockefeller center.

Singing three songs from her own Christmas album, Christmas, With Love, the Diva gave one great rendition and another not so great. I've yet to see the third performance, so don't know if it was another iffy showing from the singer- something that seems to be more common these days- or overall a good set, minus the one mishap.

One More Sleep was the track Leona handled well. The possible reason for this could have something to do with her having sung it live a few times already, thus being more confident with it. White Christmas was the mess. Either she was doing some crazy jazz interpretation or was just flat and off- I'm going with the latter. And even if it was the former, it still wasn't pleasant to my ears. I wish it could be Christmas Everyday, AKA the "decider", was the one performance I couldn't seem to track down. I will update if and when I find.

Christmas, With Love is out now!

[New Music] Leona Lewis Serves Up Operatic Vocals On "Ave Maria"

Fine, so it's not legitimately "operatic"- more a faux-classical sound- but it does allow us to hear some of the classical training Leona Lewis received as a youngster put to use. It's not a style of singing we hear often from the X-Factor winner, but it's certainly a direction she should consider venturing into if the pop career fails to reignite.

Sang over a simple piano accompaniment, the Diva's take on Ave Maria shows off Leona's effortless head-voice, beautifully. There is a little too much reverb on the vocal for my liking, however I can appreciate that it does add to the ethereal/Churchy feel of the Schubert classic.

Ave Maria is taken from the Diva's Christmas album, Christmas, With Love, which was released on the 29 November.

[Watch] Leona Lewis's Accoustic Set For British Airways

Leona Lewis is getting herself back out there to promote the fact that she hasn't retired, and is still making music- seriously, there are people who think she's quit the industry! Her latest outing was for British Airways, who were celebrating "...the launch of British Airways A380 to Hong Kong last week".

Now, if I didn't have a friend who was a plane nut, I wouldn't have thought this was anything to get excited about. But there are genuinely people out there rejoicing at this news- different strokes for different folks, I suppose. At least we can benefit from the event by getting to watch the lovely Leona perform two songs in an acoustic fashion.

It was odd that she chose not to perform any Christmas songs- despite having an album of that nature to plug-  however, I suspect it may have been to do with BA wanting to keep the event secular. The songs she did pick were biggest hit Bleeding Love and last album's Come Alive. They weren't the greatest of renditions, in fact they were probably some of her worst- with too much substituting of head for chest notes, and tuning problems throughout- but at least the arrangements were nice.

I suspect this was just a bad vocal day for the X-Factor winner, so no need to panic just yet. We'll know more when she gets to promoting Christmas, With Love- of which you can hear its lead single here.

[Listen] Mary J Blige, Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis Get Festive With New Releases

It's November, so you know what means! I can now listen to Christmas music without looking like a total nutter! With it being so close to the festive period, it's no shocker that some of our Divas have Yuletide albums out for us to stuff the stockings with. So let's take a listen and see what's on offer!

[New Music] Leona Lewis And Ricky Hil "Fix Me"

Leona Lewis is serving up something a little different with her guest spot on Ricky Hil's Fix Me. With it's melancholy backing, its dark, brooding atmosphere and lyrics full of sadness and longing, Fix Me isn't exactly what we've come to expect from the X-Factor winner. However it's a style that totally compliments her voice; successfully illustrating just how beautiful it can be away from the soaring belts it's synonymous with.

[Watch] Leona Lewis Brings "Lovebird" To Daybreak

The club sound didn't work for Leona Lewis, neither did the edgier, British inspired sound found on Trouble. So what direction does Leona turn in now for the third single from Glassheart? Back to (safer) pastures already traversed, of course !

New single Lovebird is ballad that has "classic" Leona written all over it. I'm not a fan of it, but it should resonate with those who haven't yet got their heads around her recent attempts at a new musical direction. It will also keep fans of her original sound appeased, and assure them she isn't leaving them behind. Besides, it's winter: what better season to release a ballad.

[Watch] Leona Lewis & The Big C Choir Perform "Run" @ Stand Up To Cancer Telethon

Why Leona Lewis chose to sing her cover of Snow Patrol's Run at the Stand Up To Cancer telethon, I have no idea. It's not like she has a new album out to promote with plenty of suitable material-read the review of Leona's new album Glassheart, here- or even a back catalogue of her own hits to pick from(!) [/sarcasm]

Still, it's what she decided to sing, and the addition of the Big C Choir was a really touching surprise. One especially so for those who saw the accompanying documentary that followed the cancer patients journey as they formed their choir .

[Album Review] Leona Lewis "Glassheart"

X-Factor winner Leona Lewis' third album, Glassheart, has been a long time coming. Originally scheduled for a 2011 release, already two years after her second album Echo, it was pushed back when its lead single Collide received a less than stellar reception from fans and music buyers alike.

To tide us over while Glassheart was being retooled there was the (pretty great) Hurt EP. But seeing as it consisted entirely of cover songs, it only added fuel to the "we want new music" fire.

Still, this week sees its release and I have my copy! But the question is: was Glassheart worth the wait? Well, if you love ballads, then yes. If you wanted something a little different from the Bleeding Love songstress, then not so much.

Below is my track by track review of the album.