Leona v. PJ

OK, here are two women who have been nominated for Best Female Artist at the Brit Awards – PJ Harvey and Leona Lewis.

There couldn’t be more of a contrast. PJ is pop queen of creative experimentation, every album sculpted with a particular sound in mind, from bone-crunching fuzz to the disconcerting lullabies of her latest recordings. She is one of the few rock artists (perhaps the only one) to have received plaudits from Captain Beefheart in recent years. Leona Lewis is winner of the X-Factor 2006, a terrific voice without a doubt, and very much in the Mariah Carey / Whitney Houston mould. Her single, Bleeding Love, went to number one, and her debut album was the fastest-selling UK album in history. There's a song by each of them in the two posts below this one.

I thought I’d conduct my own popular vote. Vote in the comments box for either Leona or PJ Harvey. Do so anonymously if you wish. After a week, I’ll add them up and I’ll delete the video of the second-placed artist.

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OK, not exactly great enthusiasm over this contest, but PJH got the most votes. So Leona is gone. I suspect this result may not repeat itself at the Brit Awards, but I am a PJ Harvey fan and live in hope.