To celebrate the upcoming release, Leona Lewis has turned all hip hop with an exclusive live performance video, a stripped back solo version for her comeback track, "Trouble," which features US rapper Childish Gambino, and serves as the second single for the 27-year-old British singer's third LP, "Glassheart," which will be released in the UK on October 15, and a day later in the US.Having won the UK version of the X Factor back in 2006, Lewis' new song is a typically emotional song about a failing relationship, and the subject matter suits her voice well. Taking musical inspiration from British trip hop pioneers Massive Attack, "Trouble" is a mid-tempo piano and strings-driven ballad speaking of Lewis' break-up with childhood sweetheart Lou Al-Chamaa. It's an anguished epic journey that reveals ethereal, haunting tones and chilling falsetto added with a modern twist of rap that simultaneously showcase the sheer power and intimacy of Lewis' incredible talent. The song was powerful, it's heartfelt and it confirms Lewis as one of the most remarkable vocalists of the day.
Lewis explained the aim and meaning behind "Trouble:" "it tells the story of love going bad and becoming destructive, aspects of which we can all relate to. It's a deeply emotional and poignant song that I have a real connection to." The song has a convincing, compelling and dramatic vocal performance which works brilliantly against its opulent but bleak mid-tempo production. "Trouble" is a return to the "safer" templates of her first two albums, but the song's production is a vaguely trip-hop beat buffeted by soaring strings and a troubled lyric in the chorus.
The smooth acoustic performance was recorded live in a studio in just one take, and was filmed in black and white. The moody video features a stripped vocal performance set against a minimal cello and piano production accompanied by a pianist and a violinist. It's really just a chance for Lewis to show off her impressive soprano over soaring strings without the distraction of a video. And it works well, giving the song a raw and emotional edge. While the original version just about added up to the sum of its individually brilliant parts, the acoustic perhaps even better than the original.
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