Leona Lewis’ cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run” nearly made my Top 100 Tunes of 2008, but since it wasn’t released until mid-December, I set it aside for possible 2009 contention.

Lewis originally performed “Run” for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge on October 31, 2007. Her take proved so popular with listeners that it was added to regular rotation, though nearly a year would pass before a studio version was recorded for the UK Deluxe Edition of her debut album, Spirit. (Don’t get me started the topic of Deluxe Editions, especially as I purchased the original UK issue of Spirit, which didn’t include two tracks on the eventual U.S. release.)

“Run’ was released as Lewis’ fifth single on November 30 in the UK, where it became the fastest selling download ever and spent two weeks at #1. Her record label has disabled embedding of the official video (a moody forest adventure), so instead here’s Lewis’ live performance of “Run” from The X Factor, the Simon Cowell-produced talent competition that introduced the London-born singer to the world’s stage:

Entertainment Weekly recently said her remake of a “mediocre song by Snow Patrol [was] causing us to remake our feelings about Leona Lewis.” Kudos for a well-written blurb, but I take issue with snark itself. Her “Run” is intimate and touching, remaining so even as it builds into something quite epic (the choir is a nice touch). As someone who loves both the original tune and Lewis, the two together are a fantastic match.

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody also has sung Lewis’ praises re: “Run.” He told Scottish newspaper The Daily Record: “She obviously studied the song and thought long and hard about how to interpret it. She’s stripped it to its bare core. I think she sounds absolutely phenomenal.”

“Run” was made available as a digital download here in the States (entering the Billboard Hot 100 at #81), but Lewis’ official third single from Spirit is “I Will Be,” written by Avril Lavigne, Max Martin and Dr. Luke.

Purchase Leona Lewis’ “Run” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.