Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis (2008)

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[2005-2009 Best Songs]
Billboard Top 100, 2008: #2                                                          
 

 
In the 1990s, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston conspired to kill the female-lead love ballad. Between I Will Always Love You and My Heart Will Go On, I never wanted to hear another one (EXCESSIVE radio air play didn't help either).

Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love hits just the right spot. She sings big high notes without hurting the ears of your pets. The chorus soars, but doesn't launch into orbit. The lyrics (written by Jesse McCartney? really?) are sweet but not saccharin, intense, but still accessible. Most of us can relate to the feelings on some level.

Bleeding Love is a beautiful song, sung beautifully. That's all it needs to be.