Leona Lewis

Before I begin this review, let it be remembered that I love Leona Lewis. And, for the record, I love her new single I Got You. In fact, it was the stand-out track on Leona's Echo album for me.

I'd hoped that I Got You would get released as a single, and it gets its release on the 22 February. What's so special about the track? Well, it's a step away from the boring ballads Leona constantly gets given. It's got a distinctive chorus that stands out from 80% of the other material on Echo, and while it isn't as uptempo as Forgive Me (another personal favourite), it's a sign that Leona's capable of more than the standard warbling.

Still, it's a good sign that this came out as a single instead of the turgid Stop Crying Your Heart Out. I may have waxed lyrical about this originality fail in the wake of her cover of Snow Patrol's Run - clearly her management team were looking to repeat the trick with an Oasis tune. Yawn.

Leading off her second album with a Ryan Tedder-penned track, Happy, the lovely Leona Lewis is clearly sticking to the formula with this one.

Now, we're obviously fans of Leona here on Unreality Shout - I've read brilliant reviews penned by RandomEnigma and Jay-D lately. Unfortunately, Happy gives me mixed feelings. With Leona, the voice is a given. It will always be flawlessly crystaline and beautiful, even on the high notes. But the song is a wrist-slashingly plodding tedderballad.

She's still the X Factor's finest hour, and with her second album Echo set to wow fans, Leona Lewis is embarking on a summer arena tour in 2010.

The 10-date tour comes on the back of an intimite fan-only gig Leona held at the Hackney Empire. She was well received by fans and press alike, and now plans to start off on her first ever solo tour of the UK, starting in May 2010.

Speaking about the tour, Leona says:

I can’t wait to get out on tour and see everyone, I’m really looking forward to putting on a great show.  I had such a fun night at my recent show at the Hackney Empire and it’s given me a real taste for it.  Over the last few years I’ve had some amazing experiences and sung in some really interesting places but it’s going to be great to be able to perform all my own material on my very own tour.  It’s a dream come true.