#ThrowbackThursday: “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis

by Sean Smith

Leona Lewis is slated to release her fifth studio album I Am next Friday, September 11th. The album will  be her first release on her new label home Def Jam. Her four previous records were released on Simon Cowell’s Syco imprint under Sony Music Entertainment.

Lewis opened up about one of the main reasons she decided to part ways with Cowell and her previous label in a recent interview with Vibe.

“We had a bit of a creative difference. My label wanted me to do a covers-heavy album whereas I wanted to do something different really, so I stepped away from it. It was hard because I had great relationships there and so much love for Simon and everyone.”

Leona Lewis first made a name for herself in the industry by way of the UK music reality show “The X Factor.” She appeared on the third season of the program and fans ultimately crowned her the winner, granting her the winning prize of a £1 million recording contract with Sony BMG and Simon Cowell;s Syco Music. Her success on the show quickly translated into commercial success as her winner’s single rocketed to the top of the UK charts, reaching and staying at the number one spot for four consecutive weeks. The song that gave Lewis her first number one single was a rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This.”

Shortly after winning “The X Factor” in December of 2006, Lewis got to work on her debut album Spirit. Her debut LP was released in November 2007 and debuted in nine countries at number one, including in her native UK, Ireland, Germany, and the United States. Much of the album’s early commercial success can be attributed to Lewis’ lead international single for the album “Bleeding Love.”

“Bleeding Love” was a song that Leona Lewis recorded in Los Angeles while working on material for her debut album with Ryan Tedder. Tedder had co-written “Bleeding Love” with young pop star Jesse McCartney and the track was meant to be included on McCartney’s third solo album. McCartney’s label however, didn’t like the song and so Tedder rearranged and reworked the song to suit Lewis’ voice who at the time was looking for a lead single. Tedder and McCartney gave the song to Lewis and as the saying goes, “the rest is history.” Lewis’ version of “Bleeding Love” would top the charts in 35 countries, and was the best selling single worldwide in 2007.

So with Leona Lewis preparing to release her fifth studio album I Am September 11th, this week we remember the 2007 single “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis. Enjoy.

Leona Lewis 

“Bleeding Love” (US Version)

From Spirit 

Syco Music/J Records/RCA Music Group

Related Media 

Jesse McCartney 

“Bleeding Love” (Original Demo Version)

Hollywood Records

Leona Lewis 

“Fire Under My Feet”

From I Am 

Def Jam Recordings

Leona Lewis 

“Thunder”

From I Am 

Def Jam Recordings