Ciara

This article is about the musician. For information on the saint, see Saint Ciara and for information on the name itself, see Ciara (given name). For the Irish naval vessel, see LÉ Ciara (P42).

Ciara

Ciara Princess Harris (born October 25, 1985), who performs under the mononym Ciara (Template:Pron-en), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, fashion model, and actress. Born in Austin, Texas, Ciara made her debut in the summer of 2004 with the Billboard number-one single "Goodies". The album Goodies was released in the United States on September 28, 2004, and in the UK on January 24, 2005. It produced three top two singles on the Billboard Hot 100, selling three million in U.S and over five million worldwide.

Ciara's second album, Ciara: The Evolution, was released in December 2006. It has spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit "Get Up", and the R&B/Hip-Hop Charts top ten hits "Promise", "Like a Boy", and "Can't Leave 'em Alone". To date, the album, which went platinum only five weeks after its release, has sold more than one million copies in the U.S. and three million worldwide.

Ciara's third studio album, Fantasy Ride, was released in the United States on May 5, 2009. The first official single, the R&B top ten hit "Never Ever", features rapper Young Jeezy and was released in January 2009. The second single, the worldwide hit "Love Sex Magic" featuring Justin Timberlake, was released in March 2009. Since its release, the single became a hit on numerous charts, including the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at #10. Ciara cites Janet Jackson as her inspiration.

Life and music career

Early life

Ciara was born in Austin, Texas; She is the only child of Jackie (née Smith) and Carlton Clay Harris. She grew up on Army bases in Germany, New York, Utah, California, Arizona, and Nevada, since her father was in the United States Army. During her teens, Ciara and her family settled in Atlanta. Ciara said that watching Destiny's Child perform on a television program while staying home from school inspired her to pursue a career in music. Then, Ciara joined a girl group called Hearsay and worked on her songwriting. The group recorded demos, but began to have differences. Eventually, she left the group, got a publishing deal, and found a "musical soulmate" when she met producer Jazze Pha. Ciara graduated from Riverdale High School in Riverdale, Georgia in 2003 and was signed by LaFace Records executive L.A. Reid with the help of Jazze Pha. She began production on her debut album. Ciara co-wrote a demo with songwriter Sean Garrett, who was co-writer of Usher’s international hit "Yeah!".

Goodies (2004-2005)

See also: Goodies (album)

Goodies became a commercial success in the U.S., selling 2.63 million copies. The following year, Goodies received an international release, but success was limited, although the singles were worldwide hits. Ciara’s debut single, "Goodies" reached number one in United States and United Kingdom. The second and third single "1, 2 Step" featuring Missy Elliott and "Oh" featuring Ludacris were top five singles, both peaking at the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, in both countries. "And I", the fourth single, did poorly compared to the first three releases. The song peaked at ninety-six on the Billboard Hot 100.

In the summer 2005, Ciara released her DVD of music videos, documentaries, and commentaries entitled Goodies: The Videos & More and contributed to hip-hop artists' singles during Goodies success. She appeared on Missy Elliott's "Lose Control" from her album The Cookbook and Bow Wow’s "Like You" from his album Wanted, which both peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

In December 2005, Ciara went on tour with Gwen Stefani on her Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005 and Bow Wow and Chris Brown for the "Holladay Jam" tour, which stopped at big cities such as New York, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. She received Grammy nominations for "Best New Artist", "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" for "1, 2 Step", "Best Rap Song" and "Best Short Form Music Video" for “Lose Control”.

Ciara: The Evolution (2006-2007)

See also: Ciara: The Evolution

On February 8, 2006, Ciara won her first Grammy Award for "Best Short Form Music Video" with Missy Elliott's "Lose Control". In April 2006, Ciara was featured on Field Mob’s Billboard top ten single "So What". The following month, she made her acting debut in the MTV Films production All You've Got, also starring Adrienne Bailon and Efren Ramirez. The summer of 2006, Ciara completed her second album, after the release of the Step Up soundtrack single "Get Up" featuring Chamillionaire. It became the second European single in the summer 2007, apart from the UK, where the song was released twice as a download-only single, once in 2006 and again in 2007.

File:Ciaraconcert.png

Ciara at Screamfest '07

Ciara's second studio album, Ciara: The Evolution was released December 5, 2006. Production included hit makers such as, Jazze Pha, Rodney Jerkins, Pharrell, Bryan Michael Cox, Will.i.am and many others. The album is about Ciara's personal growth after two years in the public eye. She co-wrote and co-produced most of the songs. The official first single "Promise", produced by Atlanta producer Polow da Don, which reached eleven on the Billboard Hot 100. In October 2006, Ciara went on a seventeen city club tour until December, which she previewed new music from the album. Ciara: The Evolution debuted at number one selling over 338,000 copies, which is 213,000 more than Ciara’s debut album Goodies. The album received generally positive reviews and was certified platinum by the RIAA within only five weeks of its release. The second single from Ciara: The Evolution, the first single in Europe, "Like a Boy", was released on February 13, 2007 in the U.S. The single was the second to be released in the UK with an April 9, 2007 release date. The single was a moderate success peaking at nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100, six on the Hot Hip-Hop/R&B Singles chart, and sixteen in the UK.

In early May, Ciara teamed with Glamour Magazine to direct her first music video for emerging female artists Tiffany Evans, Paula Campbell, or Samantha Jade in the Nissan Reel Music Contest. She signed on to her second film role Mama, I Want to Sing! which filmed the summer 2007 and is due in theaters October 2008 and she became the face of Jay-Z's Rocawear clothing line and spokesperson for the women campaign entitled "I Will Not Lose", which debuted in the summer. The official third single "Can't Leave 'Em Alone",which features 50 Cent was released on June 12, 2007 and peaked at forty on the Billboard Hot 100. Ciara headlined with Lloyd, T-Pain, T.I. and Yung Joc on the Screamfest '07. The tour was scheduled to begin July 24, 2007. but it was changed to August 3, 2007. During this period, Ciara was featured on teen singer Tiffany Evans's debut single, "Promise Ring". Ciara supported fellow pop singer Rihanna on the UK leg of the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour. Ciara performed "Can't Leave 'Em Alone" at the World Music Awards with 50 Cent. She won the award for "World's Best Selling Female R&B Artist" at the 2007 World Music Awards.

Fantasy Ride (2008–present)

Ciara attending Maxim magazine's 10th Annual Hot 100 Celebration in Santa Monica, California, on May 13, 2009

In early January, Ciara released a promo single titled "Ahh", which featured J-Hood, though no radio stations picked up on it cause it wasn't an official single. At this time Ciara was originally getting ready for the release of her theatrical debut in the film Mama, I Want To Sing!. But shortly after it was announced the film would go straight to DVD in early 2009.

In February, Ciara announced she is recording her third studio album and searching for unsigned dancers via national dance auditions. Ciara also stated that the album would be released before the end of the year. But the release date changed many times due to Ciara & her label pushing back the release date many times after that. On the album she worked with Tricky Stewart, Danja, The-Dream, Polow da Don among many others. The album is currently titled "Fantasy Ride". The album features appearances from Justin Timberlake, Ludacris, Chris Brown, The-Dream, and Missy Elliott. There will be more information about Ciara's comic book character, "Super C", on the new album.

The first album single might have been High Price, with Ludacris. But the song leaked in early 2008 before the single's release date. Ciara released a promo song called "Go Girl", which features T-Pain. The single is also produced by the featured act. The single was released on September 30, 2008. It was later announced that the single's performance wasn't enough to ignite the album's release so the album was eventually pushed back once again to Spring 2009 and a new lead single would be chosen.

The album was released in the United States on May 5, 2009. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart, with 81,000 copies sold, the album has currently sold almost 200,000 copies. The album is currently Ciara's most successful album overseas. A new lead single was released shortly in preparation for the album's release. The lead single is called "Never Ever", which features Young Jeezy, and was produced by Polow da Don and co-written by Ciara and Elvis “BlacElvis” Williams. The single has already made a big impact on the radio, even before the music video was released. The single is more successful so far than "Go Girl". The single reached number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second single, also worldwide hit "Love Sex Magic", which features Justin Timberlake, was co-written and produced by its featured act. The single was impacted radio stations in March 2009. The single reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single reached the top 10 in other countries including the UK. The third single "Work" which features Missy Elliott and fourth single "Like a Surgeon" are expected to be released very soon.

The album's artwork featured cover art and a comic book superhero theme, similar to the superhero she portrayed in the "Go Girl" video. She is working with DC Comics artist Bernard Chang to make the cover artwork.

In 2008, Ciara was featured on many albums including rapper Nelly's album Brass Knuckles and Enrique Iglesias's greatest hits album in a upcoming single titled "Takin' Back My Love"; she will continue to be on many more upcoming albums.

In October 2008, Billboard announced that Ciara would be honored as a "Woman Of The Year" for her success in the music industry. Ciara did interviews in many magazines including "Right On", Maxim Magazine, and Vibe Magazine, which she was promoting the new album Fantasy Ride. This followed to the Vibe Magazine controversy. On the October issue, Ciara was appearing to be naked but she has stated that Vibe airbrushed her clothes off to make it appear she was completely nude. She later confirmed to MTV News that she was in fact clothed. Ciara was quoted as saying:

I think, at this point, I'd rather just be quiet about things such as that but I definitely want to make it clear that I was going in to do something artistic, and I was upset that when I saw the photos, everything was gone.

In February 2009, Ciara announced in a SayNow Message, that she will be going on a promo tour in support of her upcoming third studio album, "Fantasy Ride". The tour is expected to have dates in North America and Europe. She is currently thinking of ideas for the tour, and will soon share those ideas with her fans.

In March 2009, it was also announced that Ciara will be the supporting act for Britney Spears world tour, "The Circus Starring: Britney Spears". She will serve as the opening act of her European Leg in June. In May 2009, Ciara announced that she will also be going on a 10-city summer tour with fellow rapper Jay-Z.

Personal life

In 2005, Ciara began dating rapper Bow Wow. They ended their relationship in April 2006.

Other ventures

Modeling for Wilhelmina

She recently signed a deal with the modeling agency Wilhelmina Models. The deal will allow Wilhelmina to focus on casting Ciara in various photo shoots and commercials. In addition to that, she also has her eyes set on beginning a new clothing line. In June 2008 she was in talks with the department store Steve & Barry's, who are home to a clothing line for Sarah Jessica Parker's "Bitten" line as well as New York Knicks' star Stephon Marbury's "Starbury" collection, to create a reasonably priced clothing line that would combine her style with affordable prices; these talks presumably ended when Steve & Barry's filed for bankruptcy protection and then liquidated.

The first picture Ciara took with Wilhelmina Models from a photo shoot was released on the Internet. The picture shows Ciara wrapped up in a microphone cord. Ciara confirmed on a radio station that her fashion line is in early talks. Ciara is also currently featured on a six page spread in the January 2009, issue of Elle Magazine. It shows Ciara in different styles of clothes and hairstyles. She promotes the upcoming album "Fantasy Ride".

Acting career

In May 2005, Ciara made her acting debut in the MTV Films coming-of-age film All You've Got, as Becca Watley, the queen bee of a high school volleyball team; the Little Madonnas. The film was released on DVD May 23, 2006.

Ciara is starring with Patti LaBelle in the upcoming film Mama, I Want to Sing!, which is based on the worldwide hit off-Broadway musical. Ciara is playing a preacher's daughter in the church choir who becomes a pop star. Mama, I Want to Sing is completed. The film is set for a release in April 2009.

Charity

In September, Ciara, along with Mariah Carey, Beyoncé Knowles, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes, and Carrie Underwood, will team up for the song "Just Stand Up!". The charity tune for cancer was conceived by Antonio "L.A." Reid, who produced it with longtime creative colleague Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. 15 singers shared the stage to perform the song live on September 5, during the "Stand Up to Cancer" television special, which aired simultaneously on ABC, NBC and CBS. The proceeds from the single were given to the fundraiser. The television special helped raise $100 million dollars for cancer research. The single is now available via digital download.

In November, Ciara teamed up with "Make A Wish Foundation". There, she helped grant the wish of a mentally challenged girl who wanted to learn the choreography to "1, 2 Step."

Discography

Main article: Ciara discography

• Goodies (2004)
• Ciara: The Evolution (2006)
• Fantasy Ride (2009)

Filmography

Template:Filmography table head !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2006 |All You've Got |Becca Watley |Television film |- |2009 |Mama, I Want To Sing! |Amara |Awaiting release |- |}

Tours

Headlining

• 2006: The Evolution Tour
• 2007: Screamfest '07 (with T.I.)
• 2009: Untitled (with Jay-Z)

Supporting act

• 2005: Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005
• 2007: Good Girl Gone Bad Tour
• 2009: The Circus Starring: Britney Spears

See also

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of awards and nominations received by Ciara
• List of honorific titles in popular music

External links

• Official Site
• Ciara at IMDb