As I just said in my post just above yours, Carrie's sales in the US are huge but comparatively very small outside of the US.
But then again - noone knows what would have happened if Carrie had been marketed outside the US. Im not posting this as a Carrie fan btw - Im a huge fan of both.
As I don't follow talent shows outside of the UK closely, I'll stay mostly out of this discussion (I don't know who most of the people being mentioned on here are ) but I don't think Leona is even the best contestant to come out of a UK talent show so I doubt she's the best in the world. There were at least two better than her in the first series of Pop Idol alone.
But then again - noone knows what would have happened if Carrie had been marketed outside the US. Im not posting this as a Carrie fan btw - Im a huge fan of both.
She has been to some extent. She does have some sales outside of the US and more than can be accounted for by merely being AI viewers. However, artists (including reality TV contestants) will only be marketed outside of their home turf if the reaction to "feelers" suggests there is the interest or if, for example, sales of their album on import suggest that there is a market there to be tapped. That wasn't the case with Carrie unfortunately (I do speak as someone who prefers Carrie to Kelly .................... not that there is any other reason to compare them as they are completely different types of artists).
Beverly Knight isn't a great vocalist or singer? Are you being serious?
She is widely regarded as one of Britains greatest soul singers and has an MBE for her contribution to music.
Yes I am being very serious, she has no range whatsoever and not as half as good as she seems to think she is. Widely regarded as one of UK's great soul singers? 75% of the population don't even know who she is.
I think that Jennifer Hudson has been a far more significant find. She has a far better voice, and has far more versatility in that she can sing equally well in slow and uptempto. Lewis is ok with the slow stuff, but as proved on her recent record she cannot do anything uptempo. She is a very one trick pony IMO.
I also think that Kelly Clarkson has managed a far better career success. Lewis has not done much since Bleeding Love and her 2nd LP didnt do much in the US, where Kelly has had equal and continuing success over both sides of the pond.
Leona can sing the phone book, uptempo, mid tempo, ballads, go and listen to the diversity on 'Echo'.
Kelly Clarkson's career isn't any more successful than Leona's, who's had a much more internationally successful career and a much, much greater voice IMHO.
I do like Kelly though.
But her career is stagnating somewhat. ONE tour in all that time is absolutely ridiculous for someone of her undoubted talent. For me, she is yet to achieve the longevity of the talent show originals Kelly and Will who have both released their fifth studio albums this year, which in this day and age is an achievement in itself, how many popstars make it to five albums? People gave Will a maximum of 6 months for example, almost ten years since they won, they are both still here, both releasing music. Will we be able to say the same about Leona?
Not knocking her at all, her talent speaks for itself I just feel she needs to do more, more tours, more live shows because that helps to maintain a fanbase, her Labyrinth tour WAS amazing she needs to do much more live stuff (preferably in this country not abroad) because she is in danger of people simply losing interest, the album pushback didn't help in this respect and I know her fans have gripes with the way her career has been handled.
IMO her career so far has not matched her unbelievable talent, she set off like a steam train but things have slowed down considerably since then.
Will and Kelly debuted in 2001/2002, Leona released her first album 5 years later, give her a chance, in 5 years time she will have outsold Kelly and Will combined, if she hasn't already.
Alexandra Burke
Rhydian Roberts
Kelly Clarkson
Carrie Underwood
Adam Lambert
Bo Bice
Fantasio Barrino
Jennifer Hudson
Carly Smithson
Pia Toscano
Melinda Doolittle
Brenda Edwards
Some equal, most better. That's just 12. I could name more.
I wouldn't even put Leona as the best in her year. Just the one that was hyped to victory because she'd got what Cowell wanted - attention from a couple of producers in America who were looking for the "new Whitney". Sadly, sales of her second album (though substantial on the back of her first) showed that most people who bought the first either bought into the hype or into the superior quality of the material of the first and not into the artist herself.
That's why she had outsold every one of these contestants mentioned combined. I rest my case.
Yes I am being very serious, she has no range whatsoever and not as half as good as she seems to think she is. Widely regarded as one of UK's great soul singers? 75% of the population don't even know who she is.
Though I'd say far more than 25% of the music buying/listening population know who Beverley Knight is, I'll repeat what I said before, success and talent/quality are not the same thing.
Just 2 of these contestants (Kelly and Carrie) mentioned have sold more ON THEIR OWN in the US alone than Leona has worldwide, so you can't say she has outsold "each of these contestants mentioned combined"
Anyway, its obvious the OP won't listen to anyone elses comments so Im off to do something more worthwhile this afternoon...
That's why she had outsold every one of these contestants mentioned combined. I rest my case.
What is wrong with you....It seems you opened this thread to cause an argument.
Leona is gorgeous and talented yes. And vocally she is one of the best to come out of the show. But she isn't THE best. There are other winners and contestants who wipe the floor with her in terms of performance and stage presence.
Alexandra, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia...all of these artists are comparable to Leona and in some respects they actually beat her.
Leona could never pull off choreography like Alexandra, nor could she replicate the soul style of Jennifer Hudson. Imo there is no such thing as THE best contestant ever, as everyone will have their faults and for that reason this whole argument about Leona is flawed.
Yup. Melinda Doolittle was ridiculous. Her looks held her back in terms of winning or achieving stardom, but for me, there's no question that she's the greatest singer that's ever been on one of these shows.
As for winners, I'd go along with Beverely Knight's assertion that Alexandra Burke is the most talented artist to win one of these reality singing shows.
Funnily enough, Mischa B reminds me of Melinda lookswise. She has nowhere near Melinda's vocal ability though. Maybe Melinda should have worn ridiculous clothes and a hedge on her head and she may have been thought of as "edgy"!
I agree with you and Beverley Knight about Alexandra.
Ah yes Bev Knight, compared to Justin Timberlake, Paul McCartney and even X Factor's own Gary Barlow that proclaims like me and the majority that Leona is absolutely the best contestant ever seen on a talent show.
All those said that either during the final (Barlow) or just after Leona's win (McCartney) or when Leona first performed in the US (Timberlake) ........ evidence that they have said it since, please.........
I agree that Leona is probably the best ever. I wish I had been able to watch her that season. I didn't even know about her until she appeared on American Idol for a performance.
But I've watched her on Youtube and she's amazing.
There were better contestants in her year - Ben Mills and Dion Mitchell to name two - but as soon as the interest from Clive Davis materialised, Simon set about hanging any contestant that may have been a threat to Leona. Whilst the other judges were complimenting Dion’s tone, diction, and delivery, Simon’s comments to her were shamefully personal, including describing her as having all the grace on stage of a heavyweight boxer. The icing on the cake was when the final was changed back to two contestants only following Ray’s surge in the polls after doing You’ll Never Walk Alone and the original X Factor campaign to diminish a contestant's chances began with the trashing of Ben in the media in the week leading up to the semi-final.
I remember at Judge's Houses and the buzz started about Leona. Then even before the live shows began she was clear favourite with the bookies.
Each week she got the highest praise imaginable, Simon Cowell even stated 3 weeks in to the live shows she was the best contestant ever seen on any of these shows. She never turned in a single bad performance or a single bum note, never was in the bottom 2. We will be very fortunate if we ever see a contestant like this again.
She is the benchmark to which every other contestant is measured.
At the start of the live shows, she was an also-ran. Ben and Ashley were the favourites.
Simon has said that he didn't notice her potential until three weeks in ................ hmmmmmm.............. when the interest from Clive Davis came in ............ hmmmmmm........... funny that!
I do like Kelly Clarkson and I am glad Will Young has came back, I love 'Jealousy' and I bought his new album. But Leona for me is head and shoulders above them vocally.
Will has an instantly recognisable and extremely versatile tone and a well above average. I'm no fan of Kelly but vocally, in terms of range and technique, she kicks Leona across the floor.
I don't think he had an off week at all but even his weakest week was better than most others' strongest. Giving some very good vocalists and some very good performers on these shows over the years their due (or should I say "props"? ), Adam is the best contestant in talent show history by leagues IMO.
This ....... the only contestant who when performing in the duets has made me think he looked and sounded every bit the part up there with stars. Head and shoulders above anyone else ....... and not just because of his height and platform boots.
Leona is a great singer technically (sings in tune, good pitching, notes in right order...etc), but she's always left me a bit cold. I have an aversion to warblers, so perhaps that's one reason why. I also feel that she lacks that certain undefinable something that makes a singer truly great.
I'd say she was one of the top contestants in the X-Factor pile, but she wasn't the only good singer to come out of the show. I'd also add to the list:-
Alex Burke
Ruth Lorenzo
Jonathan Ansell (lead singer of G4, now solo artist)
Rhydian Roberts
Shayne Ward
Joe McElderry
Then there's American Idol, which has had Leona standard (and higher) singers for years:-
Kelly Clarkson
Fantasia Barrino
Latoya London
Jennifer Hudson
Carrie Underwood
Bo Bice
David Cook
Adam Lambert
Crystle Bowersox
Even though Pop Idol only ran for two series, we got Will Young out of it - probably my favourite of the UK 'pop' talent show contestants.
Not forgetting the BBC Casting Show contestants:-
Connie Fisher
Siobhan Dillon
Helena Blackman
Aoife Mulholland
Lee Mead
Daniel Boys
Keith Jack
Sarah Lark
Jessie Buckley
Jodie Prenger
Steph Fearon
Lauren Samuels
Danielle Hope
So whilst Leona is right up there, the TV talent shows have found some other very talented people.
This ................... and I'd add some other PI contestants as well as some Fame Academy contestants.
Though I'd say far more than 25% of the music buying/listening population know who Beverley Knight is, I'll repeat what I said before, success and talent/quality are not the same thing.
Shall I repeat it for you?
Success and talent aren't the same thing, but they are a barometer of what the public are willing to spend their hard earned cash on.
Leona is a far greater vocalist and who's career is light years ahead of Beverly Knight (who's voice is the definition of average and completely underwhelming).
So to summarise and to clarify, Leona is a greater singer than Beverly Knight and any other contestant across any talent show worldwide. Shall I repeat it for you?
Just 2 of these contestants (Kelly and Carrie) mentioned have sold more ON THEIR OWN in the US alone than Leona has worldwide, so you can't say she has outsold "each of these contestants mentioned combined"
Anyway, its obvious the OP won't listen to anyone elses comments so Im off to do something more worthwhile this afternoon...
With two albums she has outsold every contestant mentioned. If you can't handle the cold hard facts u can run on and do something more interesting. Once again I'll say it, Leona is the greatest contestant we will ever see across any of these shows and is the biggest selling artist on any reality show in the world ever.
That's why she had outsold every one of these contestants mentioned combined. I rest my case.
Have you actually checked that fact??? Just taking the worldwide sales of Kelly and Carrie undoes your statement!! We get that in your opinion Leona is the best, and you're entitled to that - but not everyone is going to agree with you, and making statements like the above that are blatantly untrue and stating them as fact really does nothing to support your position!!
With two albums she has outsold every contestant mentioned. If you can't handle the cold hard facts u can run on and do something more interesting. Once again I'll say it, Leona is the greatest contestant we will ever see across any of these shows and is the biggest selling artist on any reality show in the world ever.
Just before it is obvious you are after an argument as you have not read what I said (or chose to ignore it)
In what school do they teach that 9 million is higher than 10 or 12 million? "If you can't handle the cold hard facts u can run on and do something more interesting."
Obviously a troll who just wants to stir up arguments
Success and talent aren't the same thing, but they are a barometer of what the public are willing to spend their hard earned cash on.
Leona is a far greater vocalist and who's career is light years ahead of Beverly Knight (who's voice is the definition of average and completely underwhelming).
So to summarise and to clarify, Leona is a greater singer than Beverly Knight and any other contestant across any talent show worldwide. Shall I repeat it for you?
What the public are willing to spend their hard earned cash on is mostly a barometer of who has the most and better marketing.
The rest is your opinion and you have already demonstrated how seriously that is to be taken.
Funnily enough, Mischa B reminds me of Melinda lookswise. She has nowhere near Melinda's vocal ability though. Maybe Melinda should have worn ridiculous clothes and a hedge on her head and she may have been thought of as "edgy"!
I agree with you and Beverley Knight about Alexandra.
All those said that either during the final (Barlow) or just after Leona's win (McCartney) or when Leona first performed in the US (Timberlake) ........ evidence that they have said it since, please.........
What an intelligent, eloquent and convincing response!
:D:D:D:D
Way to go to lose all credibility for your opinions.
There were better contestants in her year - Ben Mills and Dion Mitchell to name two - but as soon as the interest from Clive Davis materialised, Simon set about hanging any contestant that may have been a threat to Leona. Whilst the other judges were complimenting Dion’s tone, diction, and delivery, Simon’s comments to her were shamefully personal, including describing her as having all the grace on stage of a heavyweight boxer. The icing on the cake was when the final was changed back to two contestants only following Ray’s surge in the polls after doing You’ll Never Walk Alone and the original X Factor campaign to diminish a contestant's chances began with the trashing of Ben in the media in the week leading up to the semi-final.
At the start of the live shows, she was an also-ran. Ben and Ashley were the favourites.
Simon has said that he didn't notice her potential until three weeks in ................ hmmmmmm.............. when the interest from Clive Davis came in ............ hmmmmmm........... funny that!
Will has an instantly recognisable and extremely versatile tone and a well above average. I'm no fan of Kelly but vocally, in terms of range and technique, she kicks Leona across the floor.
This ....... the only contestant who when performing in the duets has made me think he looked and sounded every bit the part up there with stars.
This ................... and I'd add some other PI contestants as well as some Fame Academy contestants.
Goodness me someone really hates when people have different opinions to themselves don't they?
Beverly Knight has released a whole myriad of albums, not one has made any impact, nobody is interested, if she was this 'great vocalist' and 'soul sista' then she would have achieved mainstream success, like Leona has, with one song she sold 9 million copies?:p
And get over your paranoid delusions that the entire UK population could vote Leona their winner just because 'Clive Davis' *(95% of the UK population don't even know who he is) was interested. Leona won, was the first female winner, is the figure head of the entire X Factor brand, is regarded by virtually everyone as the best contestant ever, has sold MILLIONS of albums all over the world, so deal with it.
With two albums she has outsold every contestant mentioned. If you can't handle the cold hard facts u can run on and do something more interesting. Once again I'll say it, Leona is the greatest contestant we will ever see across any of these shows and is the biggest selling artist on any reality show in the world ever.
In what school do they teach that 9 million is higher than 10 or 12 million? "If you can't handle the cold hard facts u can run on and do something more interesting."
Obviously a troll who just wants to stir up arguments
Go and recalculate who sold the most with 2 albums under their belts? I rest my case.
Comments
According to Wiki - In the US, Carrie is ahead of Kelly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_alumni_album_sales
Counting International sales though Kelly would have more I guess (but then Carrie isnt going to appeal to an international audience)
But the USA is just one country. You can't measure album sales by sales in just one country.
As I just said in my post just above yours, Carrie's sales in the US are huge but comparatively very small outside of the US.
and as you will see I edited my post just as you were posting that.
But then again - noone knows what would have happened if Carrie had been marketed outside the US. Im not posting this as a Carrie fan btw - Im a huge fan of both.
She has been to some extent. She does have some sales outside of the US and more than can be accounted for by merely being AI viewers. However, artists (including reality TV contestants) will only be marketed outside of their home turf if the reaction to "feelers" suggests there is the interest or if, for example, sales of their album on import suggest that there is a market there to be tapped. That wasn't the case with Carrie unfortunately (I do speak as someone who prefers Carrie to Kelly .................... not that there is any other reason to compare them as they are completely different types of artists).
Yes I am being very serious, she has no range whatsoever and not as half as good as she seems to think she is. Widely regarded as one of UK's great soul singers? 75% of the population don't even know who she is.
Leona can sing the phone book, uptempo, mid tempo, ballads, go and listen to the diversity on 'Echo'.
Kelly Clarkson's career isn't any more successful than Leona's, who's had a much more internationally successful career and a much, much greater voice IMHO.
I do like Kelly though.
Will and Kelly debuted in 2001/2002, Leona released her first album 5 years later, give her a chance, in 5 years time she will have outsold Kelly and Will combined, if she hasn't already.
Absolute rubbish, and her career is more stellar than any of them combined, plain and simple.
That's your opinion.
Considering how many people DO like Leona's version, I think it was a fair statement for me to male.
That's why she had outsold every one of these contestants mentioned combined. I rest my case.
Though I'd say far more than 25% of the music buying/listening population know who Beverley Knight is, I'll repeat what I said before, success and talent/quality are not the same thing.
Shall I repeat it for you?
Spirit - 7.2million worldwide
Echo - 2.6million worldwide
Total - 9.8million worldwide
Just 2 of these contestants (Kelly and Carrie) mentioned have sold more ON THEIR OWN in the US alone than Leona has worldwide, so you can't say she has outsold "each of these contestants mentioned combined"
Anyway, its obvious the OP won't listen to anyone elses comments so Im off to do something more worthwhile this afternoon...
What is wrong with you....It seems you opened this thread to cause an argument.
Leona is gorgeous and talented yes. And vocally she is one of the best to come out of the show. But she isn't THE best. There are other winners and contestants who wipe the floor with her in terms of performance and stage presence.
Alexandra, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia...all of these artists are comparable to Leona and in some respects they actually beat her.
Leona could never pull off choreography like Alexandra, nor could she replicate the soul style of Jennifer Hudson. Imo there is no such thing as THE best contestant ever, as everyone will have their faults and for that reason this whole argument about Leona is flawed.
Funnily enough, Mischa B reminds me of Melinda lookswise. She has nowhere near Melinda's vocal ability though. Maybe Melinda should have worn ridiculous clothes and a hedge on her head and she may have been thought of as "edgy"!
I agree with you and Beverley Knight about Alexandra.
All those said that either during the final (Barlow) or just after Leona's win (McCartney) or when Leona first performed in the US (Timberlake) ........ evidence that they have said it since, please.........
What an intelligent, eloquent and convincing response!
:D:D:D:D
Way to go to lose all credibility for your opinions.
There were better contestants in her year - Ben Mills and Dion Mitchell to name two - but as soon as the interest from Clive Davis materialised, Simon set about hanging any contestant that may have been a threat to Leona. Whilst the other judges were complimenting Dion’s tone, diction, and delivery, Simon’s comments to her were shamefully personal, including describing her as having all the grace on stage of a heavyweight boxer. The icing on the cake was when the final was changed back to two contestants only following Ray’s surge in the polls after doing You’ll Never Walk Alone and the original X Factor campaign to diminish a contestant's chances began with the trashing of Ben in the media in the week leading up to the semi-final.
At the start of the live shows, she was an also-ran. Ben and Ashley were the favourites.
Simon has said that he didn't notice her potential until three weeks in ................ hmmmmmm.............. when the interest from Clive Davis came in ............ hmmmmmm........... funny that!
Will has an instantly recognisable and extremely versatile tone and a well above average. I'm no fan of Kelly but vocally, in terms of range and technique, she kicks Leona across the floor.
This ....... the only contestant who when performing in the duets has made me think he looked and sounded every bit the part up there with stars. Head and shoulders above anyone else ....... and not just because of his height and platform boots.
This ................... and I'd add some other PI contestants as well as some Fame Academy contestants.
Success and talent aren't the same thing, but they are a barometer of what the public are willing to spend their hard earned cash on.
Leona is a far greater vocalist and who's career is light years ahead of Beverly Knight (who's voice is the definition of average and completely underwhelming).
So to summarise and to clarify, Leona is a greater singer than Beverly Knight and any other contestant across any talent show worldwide. Shall I repeat it for you?
With two albums she has outsold every contestant mentioned. If you can't handle the cold hard facts u can run on and do something more interesting. Once again I'll say it, Leona is the greatest contestant we will ever see across any of these shows and is the biggest selling artist on any reality show in the world ever.
Have you actually checked that fact??? Just taking the worldwide sales of Kelly and Carrie undoes your statement!! We get that in your opinion Leona is the best, and you're entitled to that - but not everyone is going to agree with you, and making statements like the above that are blatantly untrue and stating them as fact really does nothing to support your position!!
Just before it is obvious you are after an argument as you have not read what I said (or chose to ignore it)
Carrie - 12,393,000 (US ALONE)
Kelly - 10,866,000 (US ALONE)
Leona 9.8million (WORLDWIDE)
In what school do they teach that 9 million is higher than 10 or 12 million? "If you can't handle the cold hard facts u can run on and do something more interesting."
Obviously a troll who just wants to stir up arguments
What the public are willing to spend their hard earned cash on is mostly a barometer of who has the most and better marketing.
The rest is your opinion and you have already demonstrated how seriously that is to be taken.
Goodness me someone really hates when people have different opinions to themselves don't they?
Beverly Knight has released a whole myriad of albums, not one has made any impact, nobody is interested, if she was this 'great vocalist' and 'soul sista' then she would have achieved mainstream success, like Leona has, with one song she sold 9 million copies?:p
And get over your paranoid delusions that the entire UK population could vote Leona their winner just because 'Clive Davis' *(95% of the UK population don't even know who he is) was interested. Leona won, was the first female winner, is the figure head of the entire X Factor brand, is regarded by virtually everyone as the best contestant ever, has sold MILLIONS of albums all over the world, so deal with it.
Miss Susan Magdalane Boyle would beg to differ.
Clearly, but why are you writing about yourself?
Go and recalculate who sold the most with 2 albums under their belts? I rest my case.