Y'all know I love stories like these. According to the Daily Star, Rihanna's global smash hit "We Found Love" was recorded by none other than Leona Lewis first, but Leona didn't fully commit to the track so Calvin Harris gave it to Rihanna after she expressed interest in the song!
Leona adds that she has a full, mastered copy of her version of the track, and that it's even better than Rihanna's.
“I worked with Calvin and we recorded 'We Found Love.' But he went touring with Rihanna and she ended up releasing it. I didn’t commit to it because I wanted 'Trouble' to be my first single so I think that was another reason they went with Rihanna. It was the same version and production but mine’s better. I still have the recording but I’d never leak it. That’s so unprofessional. There are so many songs I’ve recorded, only to hear other people singing them. It happens all the time.”
Calvin Harris always said that "We Found Love" was offered to two artists before Rihanna, Leona being one of those artists makes since considering her and Calvin had studio time together last year.
Now let's be real here, Rihanna is a global superstar with huge digital selling power and a massive fanbase. Even if Leona did record and release the track, it wouldn't have been the massive hit it was for Rihanna. Not to mention, the music video was so proactive and effortlessly added another dimension to the track. The odds of Leona creating a visual for the song as memorable as what Rihanna and Melina came up with is highly unlikely.
Another thing that frustrates me, Leona tossing aside all of these smash hits in favor of lead single "Trouble." Don't get me wrong, "Trouble" is a great track and would make a strong second single...but when you have major hit songs like "We Found Love" staring you in the face, you CAPITALIZE. Hell, when you have major hit songs on your OWN album, like the title track "Glassheart," you make sure the song gets the high profile exposure it deserves.
Oh well, you win some and you lose some.
Leona is so conceited. She makes self centered remarks like this all the time. Ok, so she recorded We Found Love first. If her version is 'so much better' but we're never going to hear it, why bother making such an eccentric remark like that to begin with?
ReplyDeleteRihanna killed it on that song, I doubt Lewis airy vocals would have been better.
The other artist that I know the track was offered to was Shakira. Pitbull confirmed that in an interview with billboard I believe he did a while back.
ReplyDeleteHmm, Yup. I think you're right!
DeleteLook what Calvin just tweeted:
ReplyDelete@CalvinHarris
now playing: Leona's version of we found love #np
What a tease. :(