"Happy" • First Single

January 26, 201015 yr

I've just found this on Digital Spy... :rolleyes: Any comments?

Ryan Tedder has blamed Leona Lewis's absence from the US for the disappointing Stateside performance of her last single.

The X Factor star topped the American charts with her debut offering 'Bleeding Love' in March 2008, but 'Happy', the lead single from her new album Echo, could only make number 32 when it was released in September.

Tedder, who co-wrote and produced both songs, insisted that the more recent track became the victim of an ill-advised release strategy.

"In the US, unless you're Justin Timberlake or Beyoncé, you cannot put out a song and not be in the country when it comes out," he told Digital Spy.

"Leona was gone for six weeks when 'Happy' came out because she was promoting the record in other countries - it wasn't her fault; she couldn't be two places in once.

"I had radio stations telling me that they thought 'Happy' was the single biggest ballad they'd come across in ten years, but that if Leona didn't come over here and promote it, it was going to fall."

However, Tedder also admitted that the impact of Lady GaGa - who has notched up five US top ten hits in the last 12 months - might have adversely affected the single's chances.

"On top of that, America's consumed with Lady GaGa and dance music right now, so it's not the best time for ballads anyway", he said. "When everything on the radio is blasting out at 120 bpm, a song like 'Happy' almost sounds out-of-place

I think he is pretty spot on really. At least Happy got to No.1 in Spain and has had some success elsewhere in Europe and in Japan. All they can do in America and Australia is get back up and try again.

Edited January 26, 201015 yr by DanielMiles17

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January 26, 201015 yr

Spot on?

Not really tbh. Leona did have excellent promo - she launched Happy with performances on AGT and Divas.

If the record label had had a clue what they were doing she would have immediately done a radio tour following this.

I love Happy, think it's one of my favourite songs ever, but by god Tedder is really trying to pass the blame here.

And I'm sorry but as if a radio station which thought Happy was so amazing would not play it because Leona wasn't in the country.

January 26, 201015 yr

Tedder is full of crap in this instance. Bleeding Love took off just fine without Leona being in the country. She only did promo once radio had caught onto BL.

He should have given Happy a radio edit. Cut down the first verse so it got to the beat faster and have the second verse come in immediately after the first chorus so it was less stop/start. I think that would have helped more.

January 26, 201015 yr

Spot on?

Not really tbh. Leona did have excellent promo - she launched Happy with performances on AGT and Divas.

If the record label had had a clue what they were doing she would have immediately done a radio tour following this.

I love Happy, think it's one of my favourite songs ever, but by god Tedder is really trying to pass the blame here.

And I'm sorry but as if a radio station which thought Happy was so amazing would not play it because Leona wasn't in the country.

Less to do with what he is said about the promo, which I don't agree with (I should have thought twice about the spot on comment) but the fact that the US seems to be lapping up more dance/pop songs and loving artists like GaGa and Ke$ha rather than ballads at the moment. And he is clearly trying to justify himself, so he is going to be biased, but I think that was a valid point.

Edited January 26, 201015 yr by DanielMiles17

January 26, 201015 yr

He did say it wasn't Leona's fault though, she goes where she's sent. I think people are being too harsh on Ryan. He was asked his opinion on why Happy under-performed and he gave it.