20 November 2008
As happened in 2007, the last three Irish number one singles of 2008 are all associated with The X Factor, at that time a UK show not broadcast by any of the Irish TV channels. Reminder: there have only ever been five Irish number ones from Irish TV talent show winners ever, and all this time there were prime-time Irish talent shows in parallel to UK ones. Yes, size plays a part, but let’s look at it another way: is it because Irish TV has willing and competent decision-making but just doesn’t have at its disposal the resources, creativity, interest, talent pool or market? I guess we’ll never know.
‘Run’ is Leona Lewis’s third Irish number one in three years, but maybe The X Factor can’t claim all the credit there: she was so patently a real-deal pop star that she could have been appearing on Garda Patrol and still become a smash hit. However, if I may borrow an X Factor-ism, on this occasion you have to question the song choice. ‘Run’ is by provenance a Snow Patrol landfill indie dirge and she’s a singer, not a miracle-worker! Sure enough, Lewis does her best to nudge some angles into the track’s native limpness, but in the end someone saw need to hoosh things up with Westlife-level plaintive piano, swelling strings and gospel choir.
On the positive side, Lewis herself holds back from the full power-ballad fusillade, so we can continue to luxuriate in that remarkable voice; Leona Lewis doing a Snow Patrol song is at least preferable to Snow Patrol doing a Snow Patrol song. Also, whoever put in all that Westlife sonic paraphernalia left out the dreaded key change, which shows that even the worst among us can find it in their hearts to change. Still, you hear Leona Lewis reduced to a Snow Patrol track through a Westlife filter and wonder if the UK was no better at treating its artistic talent than Ireland.
