"Forgive Me"
The image features a black-haired woman sitting in front of a black background. She is wearing a short dress and bracelets on her right wrist. In front of her, the words "Forgive Me" in cursive letters appear while below those words, "Leona Lewis" is written in capital letters.
Single by Leona Lewis
from the album Spirit
B-side"Myself"
Released26 July 2008 (2008-07-26)[1]
Recorded2008
Studio
Genre
Length3:39 (album version)
3:24 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Akon
Leona Lewis singles chronology
"Better in Time" / "Footprints in the Sand"
(2008)		 "Forgive Me"
(2008)		 "Run"
(2008)
Music video
"Forgive Me" on YouTube

"Forgive Me" is a song by British singer Leona Lewis featured on the North American version, the Australian reissue,[2][3] and on the deluxe edition of her debut album Spirit (2008). Musically, "Forgive Me" is a pop and R&B track with dance influences, written in A minor. The lyrics tell the story of a girl who has found a new love and asks her old one for forgiveness. The song was written by Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, Claude Kelly and Giorgio Tuinfort, and produced by the former. "Forgive Me" was released as the fourth single of the album in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2008. The single includes the B-side "Myself", written by and featuring vocals of American musician Novel.

In "Forgive Me", music critics compared Lewis's vocals with that of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. The music video was directed by Wayne Isham, and it was inspired by multiple Broadway musicals, including Carousel and West Side Story. "Forgive Me" reached number five on the British and Irish charts, thus becoming Lewis's fourth single to peak within the top ten in the UK. Additionally, it peaked atop the Slovakian Singles Chart and reached the top ten in Italy and Sweden.

Lewis promoted "Forgive Me" on some television shows, such as GMTV and The National Lottery Live, in the United Kingdom, as well as on the Italian television show Carràmba! Che sorpresa and on the Swedish talent show Idol. Also, the song was added to the setlists of her tours The Labyrinth (2010) and Glassheart (2013).

Background and composition

"Forgive Me" was written by Claude Kelly, Giorgio Tuinfort and Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, and produced by the latter.[6] The single was published with one B-side, "Myself",[7] written by Justin E. Boykin, Graham N. Marsh, Lewis and Alonzo "Novel" Stevenson.[8]

"Forgive Me" is described as a "funky pop song" and R&B song,[4] written in A minor.[9][10] According to the sheet music published by Sony BMG, it moves at 120 beats per minute and is set in common time.[9][10] On it, Lewis performs her highest pitch (G5) in falsetto during the final chorus, and her lowest pitch (A3) during each verse.[9][10]

"Forgive Me" describes a female protagonist in a one-sided relationship who leaves her boyfriend and eventually finds someone to reciprocate her love. Though she has found love from someone else, she defends herself and asks her ex-boyfriend for forgiveness.[4] In an interview with Digital Spy, Lewis explained why she decided to change her musical genre from her previous singles to a more upbeat one. She said: "I wanted to do something a bit different and the chance to work with Akon came about. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out and it's great that it's different, rather than what I always do."[11] There are two versions of the song, the "album version" (3:40)[8][12] and the "single mix" (3:24).[13]

Release and promotion

Leona Lewis, a woman with blond hair, is smiling. She wears a dress and holds a microphone. Behind her a man dances and a woman sings.
Lewis performing "Forgive Me" during the tour The Labyrinth

On 26 July 2008, the single mix was released to the Mexican iTunes Store as a stand-alone digital single.[1] For the UK release, the single cover was revealed on 17 September 2008,[14] whilst the song was released in the UK on 3 November 2008 as the fourth single.[15] Originally, the song was featured only in the North American version of the album Spirit, launched in April 2008.[16] Later, "Forgive Me" was included on the Australian reissue of Spirit,[17][18] and also appeared on the deluxe edition of the album, which was released in November 2008.[19]

Lewis performed the song on the television programmes The National Lottery Live on 29 October 2008,[20] and GMTV on 31 October 2008.[21] Outside of the UK, she also performed the song on the Italian television show Carràmba! Che sorpresa and on the Swedish talent show Idol.[22][23] In May 2010, the song was added to the setlist of her tour The Labyrinth, performed as the eighth song of the show.[24] A live performance from The O2 Arena was included on the live album's DVD The Labyrinth Tour Live from The O2.[24][25] In 2013, Lewis added "Forgive Me" to the setlist of her Glassheart Tour.[26]

Critical reception

"Forgive Me" received generally positive reviews from music critics. CBBC's Newsround described "Forgive Me" as a danceable song.[4] Gavin Martin of The Mirror gave the song three-out-of-five points and said, "[the song] showcases her voice of fire and honey. No apologies necessary".[27] Nick Levine, Digital Spy music critic, gave the song a similar score, and compared it with Whitney Houston's song "I'm Your Baby Tonight". Levine added that after her previous three ballad singles, "it's a nice change". However, he also said the lyrics were implausible as "the adultery-theme [is a] poor match for the sweet, unassuming Hackney girl".[5] Chad Grischow noted that with the song Lewis "will not go down as a glorified one-hit wonder".[28] Stephen Thomas Erlewine described "Forgive Me" and another song from the album ("Misses Glass") as "just slightly glitzier than the rest of Spirit."[29] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called the song "bouncy and youthful".[30] Nate Chinen from The New York Times ironised with a "so what if she sound like a second-tier Mariah".[31]

Chart performance

"Forgive Me" debuted and peaked at number five in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2008,[32] becoming Lewis's third single in debut within the top ten, after "A Moment Like This" and "Bleeding Love".[33] In Ireland, before its official release as a single, it was the second highest debut of the week of the Irish Singles Chart, at number five.[34] In the Slovak Airplay Chart, it debuted at number seventy-six and in its tenth week the song peaked at number one.[35] In the Euro Digital Tracks the song reached the number 4.[36] In Italy, "Forgive Me" debuted at number nine, but fell off the chart next week.[37] Elsewhere in Europe, the song reached number seven in Sweden,[38] twelve in Switzerland,[39] and fifteen in both Austria[40] and Germany.[41] The song entered the Australian charts at number fifty on 19 October 2008,[42][43] and next week peaked at forty-nine.[44] Later, "Forgive Me" dropped out of the chart, but on 10 November 2009, it re-entered at number fifty.[45] In the 2008 UK year-end chart, compiling the best-selling singles of the year, "Forgive Me" was eighty-fifth.[46]

Music video

A faraway image of Lewis and multiple men. She wears a raincoat and leggings. The men wear black clothes and all carry an umbrella. They are in front of a theatre. On the marquee, it is written "Forgive Me" in capital letters. Also, it is raining.
Lewis performing in the Singin' in the Rain-inspired scene in the music video

The music video for "Forgive Me" was directed by Wayne Isham, and edited by Nabil Mechi and Valentina Ganeva.[47]

It starts out with Lewis receiving a text message from her boyfriend saying he is just a minute away from meeting up with her. The video then turns into a dream-like sequence with Lewis dancing in four set-ups inspired by the Hollywood musicals West Side Story, The Rocky Horror Show, Singin' in the Rain and Carousel.[48] The video ends with Lewis coming back to reality after a drop of rain lands on her hand as her boyfriend sends a message saying "Hurry! Looks like there could be rain".

Mark Savage from BBC News commented that Lewis does not dance in the video. Lewis replied, "I love dancing [...] but I am a singer and that is what I do".[48]

Tracklisting and formats

Credits and personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Forgive Me"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Mexico 26 July 2008 Digital download Sony BMG
Germany 31 October 2008 CD Ariola
Switzerland Maxi CD Sony Music
Australia 1 November 2008 CD
United Kingdom 3 November 2008
  • CD
  • digital download
 Syco

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Forgive Me (Single Mix) – Single" (in Spanish). The iTunes Store (Mexico). Apple Inc. 26 July 2008. Archived from the original on 15 December 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  2. ↑ https://music.amazon.com.au/albums/B075GGDRM6
  3. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/1999941-Leona-Lewis-Spirit
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Single review: Leona Lewis – Forgive Me". CBBC. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  5. 1 2 Levine, Nick (31 October 2008). "Leona Lewis Forgive Me review". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  6. 1 2 Spirit (North American version) (Compact Disc). Leona Lewis. Los Angeles; Atlanta, Georgia: Sony BMG, J Records, Syco. 2008. p. 9. 8 86970 25542 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ "Forgive Me". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 3 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 Forgive Me (Compact Disc). Leona Lewis. Los Angeles; Atlanta, Georgia: Sony BMG, J Records, Syco. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. 1 2 3 Sheet music for "Forgive Me". Sony BMG Music Entertainment Publishing (2008).
  10. 1 2 3 Lewis 2008
  11. ↑ Fletcher, Alex (7 November 2008). "Music – Interview – Leona Lewis". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  12. ↑ Spirit (North American version) (Compact Disc). Leona Lewis. Los Angeles; Atlanta, Georgia: Sony BMG, J Records, Syco. 2008. p. 5. 8 86970 25542 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. 1 2 3 "Forgive Me/Basic" (in German). Amazon (Germany). Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  14. ↑ "Sneak Preview of 'Forgive Me' Single Cover". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 17 September 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  15. 1 2 "'Forgive Me out today!". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  16. ↑ "Spirit – Leona Lewis" (in Spanish). The iTunes Store (Mexico). Apple Inc. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  17. ↑ https://music.amazon.com.au/albums/B075GGDRM6
  18. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/1999941-Leona-Lewis-Spirit
  19. ↑ "Release dates". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  20. ↑ The National Lottery Draws. 29 October 2008. BBC. BBC One.
  21. ↑ "Leona performs". GMTV. ITV. 31 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 February 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  22. ↑ "Leona canta a Carramba Che Fortuna" (in Italian). R&B Junk. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  23. ↑ "Leona Lewis gästar Idol" (in Swedish). TV4. 4 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  24. 1 2 "The Labyrinth Live Tour DVD". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  25. ↑ O'Brien, Jon. "The Labyrinth Tour: Live from the O2". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  26. ↑ Corner, Lewis (17 April 2013). "Leona Lewis begins 'Glassheart' tour in Germany – pictures". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  27. ↑ Martin, Gavin. "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me review". The Mirror TV. The Mirror. Archived from the original on 6 February 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  28. ↑ Grischow, Chad (23 April 2008). "Leona Lewis – Spirit – Review". IGN Entertainment. IGN. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  29. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Spirit – Leona Lewis". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  30. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (1 April 2008). "Leona Lewis: Spirit". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  31. ↑ Chinen, Nate (7 April 2008). "New CDs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  32. 1 2 "Leona Lewis: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  33. ↑ "The Official Charts Company – Leona Lewis". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  34. ↑ "Ireland Singles Top 50 (23 October 2008)". αCharts. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  35. 1 2 "Radio Top 100 Oficiální Slovak Republic". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  36. 1 2 "Leona Lewis Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  37. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  38. 1 2 "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  39. 1 2 "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  40. 1 2 "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  41. 1 2 "Lewis, Leona – Forgive Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  42. ↑ "Australian Singles Chart". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  43. ↑ "Australia Singles Top 50". αCharts. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  44. 1 2 "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  45. ↑ "Australia Singles Top 50". αCharts. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  46. 1 2 "2008" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  47. ↑ "Leona Lewis - Forgive Me". Murex Edit. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  48. 1 2 "Leona rounds off an amazing year". BBC News. 7 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
  49. 1 2 "Forgive me – 2track" (in German). CeDe. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  50. ↑ "Forgive Me Traklisting". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  51. 1 2 "Forgive Me (Single)". Amazon UK. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  52. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  53. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  54. ↑ "Airplay Top 10 NMC Week44 (27.10.2008 - 02.11.2008)". Bulgarian Association of Music Producers (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  55. ↑ Leona Lewis — Forgive Me. TopHit. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  56. ↑ "Radio Top100 Oficiální – Leona Lewis – Forgive Me – Czech Republic". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  57. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me". Tracklisten. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  58. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  59. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Forgive Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  60. ↑ "Leona Lewis – Forgive Me". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  61. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 52,2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  62. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  63. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2008" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  64. ↑ "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2009" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  65. ↑ "Éves összesített listák – MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  66. ↑ "British single certifications – Leona Lewis – Forgive Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  67. ↑ "Forgive Me". Sony Music Australia. Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.

Bibliography

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