Leona's first press conference

mary · *Fan forum* Data inscrierii: 13/Apr/2008 Mesaje: 673

Leona's first press conference Just moments after Saturday's phenomenal show, Leona was whisked off with proud mentor Simon Cowell for a press conference to discuss exactly how it feels to be the winner of X-Factor 2006. You've been an X-Factor winner for an hour now, how are you feeling? Leona - Just shocked, it's unbelievable. I feel like my dream has come true. The dream that I've been dreaming since I was a little girl has come true. It’s just amazing. What do you plan to do over the next day or two? Leona - I'm not exactly sure. I'm going to try and sleep a bit because it's been so hectic. I can't wait to soak it all in and I can't wait for everything that's to come. And a Number One in the charts next week? Leona - Hopefully! That would be amazing. Simon, Gary Barlow practically threatened you tonight saying that Leona's career is in your hands, so what are you going to do to make sure it doesn't get mucked up? Simon - A lot has been happening over the last few weeks and I had a phone call from Clive Davis who looks after, amongst other people, Alicia Keys and Whitney Houston and he's one of our affiliates in America. He called me on Thursday and he said "Simon, I've been watching Leona Lewis and win or lose, we're in". So she has a commitment from Clive in America. I take Gary's words very seriously, which is why we have an opportunity and Leona has an opportunity, to become a major, major, worldwide star. We're not going to make an album quickly, we're going to make the best possible album. Obviously with Leona's input we'll make an album she's comfortable with and try and make everyone who voted proud that we've found a British girl who's up there with the Mariah's and the Whitney's. We take this very, very seriously. Obviously you were very nervous tonight but was there a moment when you thought you'd won before the announcement? Leona - No, because all the way through, every time I've gotten through I've been so shocked to get through. Tonight Ray was amazing and I was honoured to be sharing a stage with him. The only time I thought I'd won was when they told me I'd won. You've really come out your shell on the show and I wondered what your top tips are for overcoming shyness? Leona - I gained confidence coming here every week and seeing the audience and that has made me come more out myself. Through performing, that's how I've gained confidence. Simon has already had calls from the US and Louis has already called you a worldwide star, what does it feel like to have these kind of expectations on you already after having just won the X-Factor? Leona - It's incredible, a dream come true. The comments have been so lovely and so positive and it really spurs me on to keep on going and to work hard. Did you ever nearly give up hope of getting a record deal? Leona - I try to do as many gigs as possible to perform. There were points when I thought, 'I don’t know whether this is going to happen'. But with the help of my parents and my family, who keep on telling me to believe in myself and keep on going and I did, and now I'm here so thank you so much to them. Is Leona one of the best artists you have ever worked with and if so, whose voice would you compare her to? Simon - I said this earlier on Radio 2, on the day Leona came into the audition room I phoned Sony who runs our label and I said "a girl has walked in called Leona Lewis and I think this girl is special". At the point I think she sang Summertime, which I think was the third live show, I honestly believed at that point that this girl is better than I thought and can we keep her confidence up for the next seven or eight weeks. I genuinely believe that Leona is up there with the Mariah's and the Whitney's. I don't think this country has produced anyone like this in years and it's just incredible that it's happened through a competition like the X-Factor. It's like being given a jewel, you have to protect the jewel. Like I said on the show tonight, I wanted to be public about this, she has been an absolute sweetheart throughout – trusting, kind to everyone, has always got time for the fans and hasn't been a prima donna. I have to tell you that that is rare. There's big potential here. Where would you like to see yourself in one year's time from now? Leona - I'd just love to do music for the rest of my life. I'd love to be successful and for people to...I don't know, I haven't thought about it. I just want to do music. I don't want to take anything away from Leona’s win but the single seems more suited to Leona than it did to Ray. How did that decision get made as to that being the song? Simon - We get submitted a ton of songs from the point we go on air. The new songs that were submitted just weren't up to scratch and we had never released the Kelly Clarkson song in the UK. We made a decision that that should be the song, I think it's the best winning song. It seemed a shame to waste it. We approached I think the final four or five contestants. The only one who had a problem recording it was Ben. Ray was as happy as Leona to sing that song. I think it's always difficult but I think the public had already made their minds up at that point anyway who was going to win and I think that sealed it. We've just had some news in now by the way. This is a world record, we've had in thirty minutes 30,000 downloads. So it was a good song. What happens to Ray now? Will you sign him? Simon - I'm going to have a quiet word with Ray on my own in a moment but I think he'll be quite happy. We're not going to let Ray down. Let's put it this way, I think he'll be smiling. You've had three series now of X-Factor. Is there pressure on you now to aggressively change things to keep the show fresh? Simon - You know, I always make a conscious effort at the end of every season to try where we can to make the show better than the season before. First and foremost it depends on who turns up. If no one decent turns up it doesn't matter what money you spend on the show you haven’t got a decent series. We got a great set of contestants this year and this was undoubtedly the best final I've ever been to. I thought it was two and a half hours of incredible TV. ITV have been unbelievably supportive. They gave us another £1 million this year to create this set, I'd like to get a few more people in the studio next year so I think we might be looking at bigger premises. Whatever we think will make the show better, we'll do. I don't want to do change for the sake of change but the most important thing on this show is actually who wins. It's a years amount of work and you always pray at the end 'Please let someone decent win'. This has been just a fairytale ending this year. It seems like you two get on really well as a working team. How long do you see yourselves working together for? Simon - I hope for a very long time. Westlife who were on stage tonight, we've been with them for 8 albums. When you get on well with people and you understand each other – everyone said Westlife would last for two albums – I've got a good feeling about Leona and think we'll be working together for a very long time. I really hope so. You seem to be taking all this in your stride. Are you nervous about the future or feeling the pressure? Leona - Whatever is to come, I'm going to grab it with both hands. I've been given this amazing opportunity now and I'm just going to run with it and just work hard and keep in going. What does it feel like to be the first woman to win the X-Factor? Simon – I was told before that Number 1, a girl would never win and, Number 2, maybe personality would win over vocal abilities. On both things, people who said that were proved wrong. Nobody can say that the best singer didn't win on the X-Factor this year. I think this has set a precedent and this is terrific. Leona – I just feel honoured and I know I've had a lot of female and male support, so it's been brilliant and thank you to everyone who put me here by voting. What are you both going to do with your Saturday nights now? Simon - I don't know what to do with them! I genuinely don't. I always say that your first Saturday off after this series finishes is just a weird experience. The work starts tomorrow morning with this young lady. As Gary said to me, I've got to do the job now. Leona - I'm just going to spend time with my family. Simon - Quite right! Do you know just how close the votes were? Simon - I'll let you know as soon as I know (PR interrupts and informs everyone the split was 60/40) Simon - Yeah, clear winner. How did you feel when both your contestants came into the finals? Did you feel divided loyalties at any point? Simon - I said to someone earlier on that the best thing we could do was to give both artists the best showcase possible. We wanted both of them to play to their strengths, both to walk away and say that no matter what happens that I was given the best material possible and just to treat it in that way. I wanted it to be the best night of their lives. They earned that right and Leona and Ray were very happy with their songs and had the opportunity to change them. That was the only thing I could do. I don't know how much money you have got now Leona but is there one thing you are going to buy? And Simon, what present are you going to give Leona? Simon – Ha! I'll have to think about that one. Leona – I would love to take my family on holiday. Just as much as I have been feeling the pressure, they have been with me throughout all of this. After every result, I've seen their faces and they've been going through it as much as me. So I'd like to treat them. Simon – I think I know now