Forgive Me (Leona Lewis song)

"Forgive Me"

A 20-second sample of "Forgive Me", a song described as a "funky pop song"^[2] that contrasts with her previous ballad singles.^[3]

---

Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Forgive Me" was written by Claude Kelly, Giorgio Tuinfort and Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, with production handled by the latter.^[4] The single release included one B-side, "Myself",^[5] written by Justin E. Boykin, Graham N. Marsh, Lewis and Alonzo "Novel" Stevenson.^[6]

"Forgive Me" is described as a "funky pop song",^[2] written in A minor.^[7][8] According to the sheet music published by Sony BMG, it moves at 120 beats per minute and is set in common time.^[7][8] On it, Lewis performs her highest pitch (G₅) in falsetto during the final chorus, and her lowest pitch (A₃) during each verse.^[7][8]

"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.^[2] 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."^[9] There are two versions of the song, the "album version" (3:40)^[6][10] and the "single mix" (3:24).^[11]

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,^[12] whilst the song was released in the UK on 3 November 2008 as the fourth single.^[13] Originally, the song was featured only in the North American version of the album Spirit, launched in April 2008.^[14] Later, "Forgive Me" was included on the Australian reissue of Spirit,^[15] and also appeared on the deluxe edition of the album, which was released in November 2008.^[16]

Lewis performed the song on the television programmes The National Lottery Live on 29 October 2008,^[17] and GMTV on 31 October 2008.^[18] Outside of the UK, she also performed the song on the Italian television show Carràmba! Che sorpresa and on the Swedish talent show Idol.^[19][20] In May 2010, the song was added to the setlist of her tour The Labyrinth, performed as the eighth song of the show.^[21] A live performance from The O2 Arena was featured on the live album's DVD The Labyrinth Tour Live from The O2.^[21][22] In 2013, Lewis included "Forgive Me" to the setlist of her Glassheart Tour.^[23]

"Forgive Me" received generally positive reviews from music critics. CBBC's Newsround described "Forgive Me" as a danceable song.^[2] 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".^[24] 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".^[3]

Chad Grischow noted that with the song Lewis "will not go down as a glorified one-hit wonder".^[25] Stephen Thomas Erlewine described "Forgive Me" and another song from the album ("Misses Glass") as "just slightly glitzier than the rest of Spirit."^[26] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called the song "bouncy and youthful".^[27] Nate Chinen from The New York Times ironised with a "so what if she sounds like a second-tier Mariah".^[28]

Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph criticised Lewis's performance during The Labyrinth Tour, describing the dancing routing "as classy as something you'd see from local schoolgirls".^[29]

"Forgive Me" debuted and peaked at number five in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2008,^[30] becoming Lewis's third single in debut within the top ten, after "A Moment Like This" and "Bleeding Love".^[31] 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.^[32]

In the Slovak Airplay Chart, it debuted at number seventy-six and in its tenth week the song peaked at number one.^[33] In the Euro Digital Tracks the song reached the number 4.^[34] In Italy, "Forgive Me" debuted at number nine, but fell off the chart next week.^[35] Elsewhere in Europe, the song reached number seven in Sweden,^[36] twelve in Switzerland,^[37] and fifteen in both Austria^[38] and Germany.^[39] The song entered the Australian charts at number fifty on 19 October 2008,^[40][41] and next week peaked at forty-nine.^[42] Later, "Forgive Me" dropped out of the chart, but on 10 November 2009, it re-entered at number fifty.^[43]

In the 2008 UK year-end chart, compiling the best-selling singles of the year, "Forgive Me" was eighty-fifth.^[44] It was certified as silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 29 December 2023, denoting sales of 200,000 copies.^[45]

The music video for "Forgive Me" was directed by Wayne Isham.^[46] It starts out with Lewis receiving a text message from her boyfriend informing 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.^[47] 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".^[47]