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Allen made an appearance as a [[lady-in-waiting]] in the 1998 film ''[[Elizabeth (film)|Elizabeth]]'', co-produced by her mother, [[Alison Owen]].<ref>[http://imdb.com/title/tt0127536/fullcredits "Elizabeth (1998) - Full cast and crew"]. [[Internet Movie Database]]. Retrieved [[June 25]], [[2007]].</ref> She dropped out of school at age fifteen, not wanting to "spend a third of her life preparing to work for the next third of her life, to set herself up with a [[pension]] for the next third of her life."<ref name="observer"/> After her family went to [[Ibiza]] on vacation, Allen told her mother that she was staying with friends but remained in [[Sant Antoni de Portmany]] instead. She earned money by working at a [[Plastic Fantastic]] record store and dealing in [[methylenedioxymethamphetamine|ecstasy]].<ref name="observer">Sawyer, Miranda. [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1776732,00.html "Pictures of lily"]. ''[[The Observer]]''. [[May 21]], [[2006]]. Retrieved from ''[[Guardian Unlimited]]'' [[June 23]], [[2007]].</ref>
Allen made an appearance as a [[lady-in-waiting]] in the 1998 film ''[[Elizabeth (film)|Elizabeth]]'', co-produced by her mother, [[Alison Owen]].<ref>[http://imdb.com/title/tt0127536/fullcredits "Elizabeth (1998) - Full cast and crew"]. [[Internet Movie Database]]. Retrieved [[June 25]], [[2007]].</ref> She dropped out of school at age fifteen, not wanting to "spend a third of her life preparing to work for the next third of her life, to set herself up with a [[pension]] for the next third of her life."<ref name="observer"/> After her family went to [[Ibiza]] on vacation, Allen told her mother that she was staying with friends but remained in [[Sant Antoni de Portmany]] instead. She earned money by working at a [[Plastic Fantastic]] record store and dealing in [[methylenedioxymethamphetamine|ecstasy]].<ref name="observer">Sawyer, Miranda. [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1776732,00.html "Pictures of lily"]. ''[[The Observer]]''. [[May 21]], [[2006]]. Retrieved from ''[[Guardian Unlimited]]'' [[June 23]], [[2007]].</ref>

Lily Allen, perhaps influenced by her father, Keith Allen is regarded as one of the media figures who continues to cultivate and popularise the public image of the "mockney."


==Music career==
==Music career==

Revision as of 14:32, 16 September 2008

Lily Allen

Lily Rose Beatrice Allen (born 2 May 1985) is a Mockney English singer-songwriter and television presenter. Best-known for her songs "Smile" and "LDN", Allen is the daughter of actor/musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. Allen also hosts her own BBC Three talk show Lily Allen and Friends.[2].

Her single "Smile" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in July 2006. In December 2006, her debut album Alright, Still was voted the third best album of the year by Mixmag.[3] In 2007, it was nominated for the award of Best British Album at the BRIT Awards and for Best New Artist at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. The album was nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award in the category of "Best Alternative Music Album".[4]

A second album entitled Stuck on the Naughty Step will be be released 9 February,2009.

The year 2008 has seen Allen becoming an activist for several causes. She has lobbied for legislation that subsidizes environmentally friendly housing, and is working on a benefit concert to deal with London's knife crime issue. Additionally, a song called Guess Who Batman? which will be released on her new album, condemns homophobia and hatred.

Allen's non career activities have been the subject of extensive press coverage in both in the tabloid and mainstream media. In 2006 and 2007 Allen made comments critical of other musicians. 2008 have seen public incidents that were described as rude, embarrassing or alcohol fueled. Allen used her MySpace blog to criticize press coverage and defend and criticize her own behavior.

Childhood and discovery

Allen was born in Hammersmith, west London, daughter of Welsh-born comedian Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen.[5] She and her family eventually settled in the North London borough of Islington. She has an older sister, Sarah; a younger brother, Alfie Owen-Allen (who was the subject of her song "Alfie"); and a younger sister Rebecca. She also has a number of half-siblings. Lily Allen lived for a while with comedian Harry Enfield while her mother dated him. She is the god-daughter of Wild Colonials vocalist Angela McCluskey and is also the god-daughter of late Clash singer and guitarist, Joe Strummer. Allen had had been to 13 different schools from the age of 8-15 since Allen never could have long lasting friendships instead she wrote music and listened to jazz and hip-hop.[citation needed]

In 1988, Allen appeared on The Comic Strip Presents... episode "The Yob", which her father had co-written.[6] When Allen was four years old, her father left the family.[7] Allen claims to have grown up with her mother in a working class environment, living in a council house environment for most of her childhood.[8] This seems at odds with the fact that she attended some of England's costliest public schools; Allen attended 13 schools in all, including Prince Charles's junior alma mater, Hill House School, Millfield and Bedales School,[7] and was expelled from several of them for drinking, and smoking.[9]

Allen told Loveline that at age 11 she was singing an Oasis tune in the schoolyard when a teacher overheard her and told her she had talent and suggested she do something with it. She took singing lessons with the teacher. She sang at a school play and claimed that the audience was brought to tears at the sight of a troubled young girl doing something good. At that point Allen said she knew that music was something she needed to do either as a lifelong vocation or to get it out of her system. She became a member of the Groucho Club at the age of 17 and in her free time, she listened to artists such as The Specials, T.Rex, and Happy Mondays.[10][11]

Allen made an appearance as a lady-in-waiting in the 1998 film Elizabeth, co-produced by her mother, Alison Owen.[12] She dropped out of school at age fifteen, not wanting to "spend a third of her life preparing to work for the next third of her life, to set herself up with a pension for the next third of her life."[13] After her family went to Ibiza on vacation, Allen told her mother that she was staying with friends but remained in Sant Antoni de Portmany instead. She earned money by working at a Plastic Fantastic record store and dealing in ecstasy.[13]

Lily Allen, perhaps influenced by her father, Keith Allen is regarded as one of the media figures who continues to cultivate and popularise the public image of the "mockney."

Music career

Record label interest

Allen met her first manager, George Lamb, in Ibiza when he saved her from several assailants and sent her home.[13][14] Allen was rejected by several labels, which she attributed to her drinking and being the daughter of Keith Allen.[14] Lily eventually used her father's connections to get signed to Warner Music in 2002.[15] When the executive who had signed her left, the label lost interest and she left without releasing the folk songs they had presented her.[15][16]

Allen studied horticulture with the intent of becoming a florist, but changed her mind and returned to music. She began writing songs, and her manager introduced her to production duo Future Cut in 2004. They worked in a small studio in the basement of an office building.[16] In 2005 Allen was signed to Regal Records; they gave her £25,000 to produce an album, though they were unable to provide much support for it due to their preoccupation with other releases such as Coldplay's X&Y and Gorillaz' Demon Days.[17]

Popularity on MySpace

Allen created an account on MySpace and began posting demos in November 2005.[17] The demos attracted thousands of listeners, and 500 limited edition 7" vinyl singles of "LDN" were rush-released, reselling for as much as £40.[13][17] Allen also produced two mixtapes — My First Mixtape and My Second Mixtape — to promote her work: they included tracks by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Dizzee Rascal, and Ludacris. As she accumulated tens of thousands of MySpace friends, The Observer Music Monthly (OMM), a magazine published in The Observer, took interest.[13] Few people outside of her label's A&R department knew who she was, so the label was slow in responding to publications wanting to report about her.[17]

In March 2006, OMM included an article about Allen's success through MySpace, and she received her first major mainstream coverage appearing in the magazine's cover story two months later. The success of her songs convinced her label to allow her more creative control over the album and to use some of the songs that she had written instead of attempts to work with mainstream producers. Allen decided to work with producers Greg Kurstin and Mark Ronson, finishing the rest of the album in two weeks.[17]

The social networking site was the primary hub for messages of support and condolence following her January 2008 miscarriage.[18][19] Allen received a 2008 NME Award nomination for the category of "Best Band Blog"[20] As of 25 April, 2008 Allen's songs have been downloaded from her MySpace page 19 million times.[21] She currently has 474863 friends on her MySpace page.

Alright, Still

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end

Allen's debut album, Alright, Still, was released as a limited-edition 12" vinyl in the UK on July 3, 2006; the full CD release followed in the UK and the rest of Europe on July 17, 2006. The album features between 11 and 14 tracks (depending on the copy of the CD), most of which were previewed on her MySpace page,[22] including the single "Smile" (the first song she ever wrote with Future Cut), "LDN", "Knock 'Em Out", and "Alfie". "Friday Night", co-written with Jonny Bull, is also included, alongside "Littlest Things", produced by Mark Ronson which among other works earned Ronson a "Producer of the Year - Non Classical" 2008 Grammy Award[23]. The album was released on January 30, 2007 in the United States, selling 34,000 copies to land #20 on the Billboard Album Charts.[24]

In September 2006, "Smile" was made available on the United States version of Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store. As of December 2006, her music video for "Smile" has been played on various music channels as well as the song getting a little airplay. She has also done several promotional ads for MTV as their Discover and Download artist of the month for January.

On the week ending on January 28, 2007, British artists made chart history taking all Top 10 places in the Official UK Albums chart for the first time since the chart was established in 1956, according to British record labels trade association the BPI, the album Alright, Still was number nine that week.[25]

Entertainment Weekly named Alright, Still as one of the top 10 albums of 2006 despite the fact that it had not yet been released in the U.S. The album was released in the United States on 30 January 2007, with "Smile" serviced to radio in January as the first single. The U.S. version contains three additional tracks: "Nan, You're A Window Shopper", "Blank Expression" (on the iTunes version) and a new remix of "Smile" by Mark Ronson.

In 2007, she played the newly launched Park Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, replacing M.I.A who had cancelled. Saying "it's big shoes to fill, and we're doing it acoustically so it might sound a bit funny" she ended her set singing a cover of Blondie's "Heart of Glass."[26] In concert, Allen performed a parody of 50 Cent's "Window Shopper", called "Nan, You're a Window Shopper", which was commercially released as a B-side to "LDN", because approval was not given in time for the Alright, Still release. Nonetheless, the song appears on the U.S. version of Alright, Still.

Stuck on the Naughty Step

In April 2008 Allen said she was heading in a "new direction". She posted two new song demos on her MySpace page and plans to release a mixtape shortly to give her fans an idea of what the new direction is.[27] [28][29][30][31][21]

Allen has posted on her MySpace page a partial clip of a new song entitled Guess Who Batman? which is expected to be on her new album. Allen said that the song "is not a direct attack at anyone, it was originally written about the BNP in the UK but then I felt this issue has become relevant pretty much everywhere." [32] In addition she wrote that she was inspired to try and write a song about the last few hours of late American comedian John Belushi's life by her overnight stay at the hotel where he died.[33]

A single entitled "Everyone's at It" will be released in the United Kingdom.[34]

As of 19 August there has been between 250,000 and one million downloads for each song from the album that she has made publicly available on her MySpace page.[35]

On 15 September, 2008 Allen on her MySpace blog announced that her second album will be released on 9 February, 2009. She wrote that there will be "bits and blobs floating around before then". A viral video was also in the works. She wrote that "I am trying really hard to do this album with integrity and I want you all to know that it has been thought about by me, not just some thrown together last minute industry bullshizz". On an earlier blog she wrote The name of the album is Stuck on the Naughty Step named for an English method of punishing misbehaving children. Allen said she found similarities in that situation to her own life. [36] Earlier in her My Space blog that she wrote she was in Los Angeles to record songs for the album which is produced by Greg Kurstin.[35]. Allen co-wrote the songs for the album with Kurstin at who played piano on it. This is a change from her earlier work in which she just wrote lyrics for for finished tracks.[37]

The sound is described as moving in a more electronic direction from her last album and lyrically confident.[35]

Songs on the album include "He Wasn't There", a letter to her father; "CCR", in which Allen suggests that God was in the world prior to 9/11 and that "his favorite band is Creedence Clearwater Revival"; "Not Fair", a humorous song about guy who is performing poorly sexually despite Allen's having "spent ages giving [him] head"; "Everyone's at It", which includes the lyrics "When will we tire of putting shit up our noses? / It's meant to be fun but it just doesn't feel right"; and "I Don't Know", her ambivalent take on celebrity.[37]

Collaborations

Allen performing in Warsaw (Poland) - June 2007.

Allen provided backing vocals on the Basement Jaxx song "Lights Go Down" (from Crazy Itch Radio) and appears on tracks on Robbie Williams's latest album, Rudebox on the Manu Chao-cover "Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus" (produced by Mark Ronson) and also on "Keep On". She also provides vocals on "Rawhide" by Jamie T and "Wanna Be" by Dizzee Rascal. She was also featured on the Kanye West-produced "Drivin' Me Wild" by Common from his Finding Forever album[citation needed].

She had a duet with rapper Dizzee Rascal on the song "Wanna Be" that appeared on Rascal's May 2007 Maths + English album. [38]

On 30 June, 2008 Allen and Klaxons singer Jamie Reynolds announced they were working on a new song and had completed a cover of Joe Jackson's "Steppin Out".[39]

Allen and New Young Pony Club will provide backing vocals to the song "Never Miss a Beat" that will appear on the Kaiser Chiefs' album Off With Their Heads. The song will be released as a single on the 6 October[40] the album's release following on 13 October. Allen will also provide vocals for the track "Always Happens like That". [41]

Recent activity

On 5 March 2007 "Alfie" was released. It reached #15 in the UK Singles-Chart. Upon hearing this song, her brother Alfie threw her laptop out of a window in revenge. She sang on the Mark Ronson-produced Kaiser Chiefs song "Oh My God".[42]

Allen performed to positive reviews[43][44] when Irving Plaza was rechristened as The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza on April 11, 2007.[45] Her style of cocktail dresses and athletic shoes gained popularity, resulting in the May 2007 premiere of Lily Loves, a line of dresses, shoes, and accessories sold through New Look.[46] Fashion gurus Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine were quick to praise her New Look range for being designed more for the "curvy" women, rather than the clothing lines of Kate Moss and Madonna which they argue are only limited to the women with the slimmest figures.[47]

In June 2007, she hosted The Friday Night Project, in which she showed her co-hosts and the audience her third nipple.[48]

On 5 August 2007 Allen was detained at Los Angeles international airport for five hours and questioned over an alleged assault on a photographer in London in March of that year.[49]

Allen turned down an offer to launch her own range of maternity wear because she felt her early pregnancy is a bad example that would send the wrong message to young girls.[50]

Allen canceled a scheduled appearance at this years Isle of Wight Festival telling festival promoter John Giddings the reason for the cancellation is because her album is behind schedule. Giddings said that the reason given is not acceptable and possibly a lie. Giddings has decided not to sue her.[51]

Allen was appointed to be a judge for the prestigious Orange Prize for Fiction but had to be quietly removed from her position. According to Kirsty Lang the chairperson for the 2008 awards Allen had missed many meetings but contributed to the longlist by phone. Lang explained that the Allen's loss of her baby, boyfriend and launching of her new television show in addition to “the pressure of judging a major book prize” was “too much”. Lang insisted that Allen had been a good choice for the position and said that critics of the awarding of Allen for the judgeship were “being snobby and elitist”.[52]

Allen wrote a song for the 2008 Shockwaves Awards entitled "From Barry to Billericay" about comedian James Corden.[53]

On 29 June, 2008 Allen performed at the Glastonbury Festival alongside producer Mark Ronson. An emotional Allen dedicated her performance of "Littlest Things" to her grandmother who died the night before.[54] On 3 July in a surprise appearance with Ronson at the Wireless Festival Allen again appeared with Ronson to perform "Littlest Things" and "Oh My God". She forgot some song lyrics.[55]

In July 2008 Allen released a "sunny" new song "Who'd of Known" that will not appear on Stuck on the Naughty Step because according to her MySpace blog she ripped off the chorus from Take That and does not want to deal with the paperwork.[56]

Allen has contributed the song "She's So Lovely and Naive" for the soundtrack of the 2008 British comedy film Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.[57]

On her 15 September, 2008 MySpace blog Allen bemoned the practice of websites demanding excluse material ahead of an album release. She wrote "I always thought an album was a body of work in itself. you take it or leave it"

Future plans

Allen says that if people do not like her next album, she plans to quit the scene, and would like to do A&R at a record company because she likes going to concerts.[36]. In a later interview she said that if the new record pans she would like to go back to school and possibly study architecture.[37]

Current and possible future film / TV roles

The singer has been cast as Lydia Bennett in a spoof film version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The singer said "I really want to explore the acting route more, but nothing which involves me taking my clothes off. I don't want to go down that route like a lot of aspiring young actresses do. I just want to do proper cool stuff. I definitely feel the time is right to explore acting."[58]

In 2007 the singer signed a one series contract to present her own BBC Three TV show entitled Lily Allen and Friends based on the social networking phenomenon that helped to launch her music career. According to Allen the show will feature "good celebrity guests, not rubbish ones, and brilliant bands playing brilliant music". The singer asked her MySpace friends to suggest the name for the show. Her MySpace friends will also have the chance to suggest questions for her guests, be part of the audience, and perform live music.[59][60][61]. The guests on the first show were Cuba Gooding Junior and David Mitchell, and later guests included Mark Ronson, Joanna Page, James Corden, Lauren Laverne, Roisin Murphy, Louis Walsh, and Danny Dyer. [62][63]. The show received a 2% share of the total multi-channel audience share despite a high-profile nationwide marketing campaign.[64] Her third show received a 2.7% share.[65]

On 1 April citing Allen's rapid development as a TV host and her popularity among its target audience BBC Three announced it was renewing Lily Allen and Friends for a second season.[66]

The BBC was criticized by several teacher unions for a video shown on “Lily Allen and Friends” that apparently showed a student running up from behind and pulling down his teachers trousers. The unions said airing this clip was irresponsible and greatly added to the teacher's embarrassment. While introducing the clip Allen called it kegging and said “It's very childish, but very funny”.[67]

Allen is collaborating with The Levellers on an animated film project that is part of a campaign to encourage British Workers to upgrade their skills.[68]

Personal life

At age 15, Allen spent four weeks at The Priory clinic under 24 hour watch after the singer, distraught over a breakup with a boyfriend, took an overdose and tried to cut her wrists. Allen told The Sunday Times that "In my teens I did experiment with drugs” and “I don’t know anyone now who isn’t a drug-taker, in recovery from drugs, or on prescription drugs".[69]

In November 2007, the singer revealed that she has been diagnosed with a heart murmur. The singer sparked concern when she shed 19lbs (8.6kg) and dropped from a UK size 12 to a size eight in just six weeks. Allen explained the weight loss on cutting back on the "crap" she eats and going to the gym three times a week to do a "hardcore routine" as a reaction to the diagnosis.[70]

Allen suffered a miscarriage on 16 January 2008 after returning from holiday with Ed Simons of The Chemical Brothers. The child would have been the first for both parties. The couple met in September 2007. The pregnancy was said to have changed Allen’s entire outlook on life.[71][72][73] Allen returned to work on six days after her miscarriage because she did not want to let her fans down. [74][75] Allen attended therapy sessions to deal with her miscarriage. Part of her therapy involved having to sit in her room on her hands doing nothing to combat what her therapist diagnosed as Allen's coping mechanism of always thinking her way out.[37] According to Allen's father, her relationship with Ed Simons has ended.[76]

Allen was a smoker before she gave up the habit during her pregnancy.[77]

In an interview for Glamour magazine, Allen said she stopped drinking during her failed pregnancy and has been staying at home during the evenings to avoid temptation making her "sad and lonely". Allen revealed she took ecstasy at age 14.[78]

In her blog, Allen blamed the paparazzi for smashing the windows of her car. She wrote that her friend was cut when she sat in the car and that she was angered and upset by what she called a scary situation.

Allen's bedroom is decorated with paintings by Damien Hirst and Paul Simonon who was a member of the iconic punk rock group The Clash.[79]

On 23 May in her MySpace blog Allen responded to press reporting about her personal life. She denied specific reports about her relationships and behaviour as well as negative characterizations of her personality. She confirmed she likes to swim topless and drink saying this is not embarrassing behaviour for a 23 year old. She said the reporting was sexist and that sometimes she wonders if the journalists are still living in the 1950s.[80]

In August 2008 Allen said "I'm not gonna say I'm never gonna do drugs again. I just know I'm not a good person on drugs".[37]

A male friend of Allen's and another male were allegedly kidnapped for extortion and held for a week before being rescued by Metropolitan Police. Five men have been charged in the incident. Allen thanked the police and gave details of the plot at the 2008 GQ Awards. Former Scotland Yard chief John O'Connor called Allen's releasing the details of the alleged plot "outrageous" saying it may jeopardize the case. The friend involved is also alleged to be upset with Allen's revelations [81][82]

Public persona

Allen has been the subject of many controversies mainly because of her expressed opinions of other musicians and public behavior. She went to private school with Luke Pritchard of The Kooks, made some disparaging comments about them, and then covered their song "Naïve" on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge to show there were "no hard feelings". She has also called Bob Geldof a "cunt"[83] and a "sanctimonious prat",[84] and has claimed that Kylie Minogue performing at the Glastonbury Festival would be the ultimate insult to the event.[85] Her 2007 performance on the pyramid stage included negative lyrics directed towards Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole.[86]

She also said that everyone who bought Paris Hilton's debut album should be killed off.[87]

When asked by the NME how she would celebrate if her début single, "Smile", got to Number 1 in the UK charts, she responded "gak" (a slang term for cocaine). She immediately said that she was joking, but the remark was widely quoted in the tabloid press. Allen has since apologized for the remark.[88][89] She admitted in an NME interview that she worked as an ecstasy drug dealer at the age of 15 whilst living in Sant Antoni de Portmany, though she wasn't very good at it.[90]

During her August 2007 V Festival appearances she called President Bush "a fucking cunt" and made fun of the well publicized troubles of fellow British singer Amy Winehouse saying "It's the end of the weekend, you have got to have a drink. Here's to Amy Winehouse... ha!". She also took digs at Winehouse's heroin addiction and eating disorders.[91]

Allen criticized Radiohead's decision to market their new album In Rainbows for free claiming that it will make it more difficult for bands to break into the industry. "It's arrogant for them to give their music away for free—they've got millions of pounds. It sends a weird message to younger bands who haven't done as well.”[92]

The singer accused the British Tabloids of being sexist and having a double standard in the way they treat male and female musicians. She was quoted as saying "I don't think they like young women doing well, or having fun. I mean, James Blunt goes out and gets on it and no one cares. We do that and it's all over the papers. It's sad. Those people who write for those gossip magazines, they're not even writers. They can't even punctuate."[93] She expressed that she was "really irritated" at British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision to clamp down on celebrities' public drunkenness and said a better solution would be to restrict the paparazzi.[94]

Also in that month the singer has said that her earlier comments making fun of other pop stars were a result of lack of confidence saying "I felt like 'Oh God, I'm short, fat, ugly and I hate all these people who flaunt their beauty'." She also proclaimed "I feel great at the moment. I actually don't have one bad thing to say about anything."[95]

On her television show she accused models who were appearing on her show of smelling of vomit and said she saw that the skin on the models backs was discolored and was pushing up against their spines. She said "It's really sick. It's horrible.". Several veterans of fashion shows including F!D luxe editor Tracy Achor Hayes in reaction to her remarks claimed they had never smelled vomit while sitting at fashion shows[96].

2008 has seen Allen changing her hair colour from its original brunette to blond to pink and back to brunette.[97][98] Allen said the change back to brunette in July was done in respect to her recently deceased grandmother who would have disapproved of her showing up at her funeral with pink hair.[99]

Allen has been nominated for a Highstreet Fashion Award in the category of "Best Dressed Celebrity".[100]

Allen's behaviour and appearance at the 2008 Glamour Awards of the Year overshadowed her winning The Editors Special Prize for her multidimensional career. She wore a dress with what appeared to be Bambi figures that had been decapitated with blood rushing out.[101] It was then reported she later became intoxicated. In a blog in her MySpace page she expressed remorse over her public drunkenness and published a photo of herself being carried out remarking “Kids, drink responsibly or you'll end up looking like this - not pretty".[102] On 2 September, 2008 Allen while co-hosting an awards ceremony with Elton John started slurring her words and got into expletive filled exchange of words with her co host. After John noted that award winner Tony Bennett was 82 years old Allen remarked "I'd still fuck him" and announced that her brother was engaged.[103] On her MySpace blog she defended her drunkeness while criticizing the press for misinterpreting a friendly exchange as rudeness and wrote that the remark about her brother was a joke. John was quoted as saying "I was thinking about asking her to tour with me and maybe even do a duet. Obviously that won’t be happening now."[104]

On 11 June, 2008 celebrity blogger Perez Hilton wrote that Allen's career is slipping because she is known for being a trainwreck more than a musician, and is jealous of singer Katy Perry due to Katy Perry's recent widespread fame. Katy Perry is signed to Capitol Records and Capitol also distributes Allen's albums in America. He concluded that only a great second album will save her career but has heard that it is anything but great. A series of personal attacks and accusations of lying between the two followed. Allen did agree with Hilton's assertion that it hurts her to know that she is currently known for being a trainwreck more than as a musician.[105][106] In that regard Allen was listed as the number three trainwreck of the summer of 2008 by Us Weekly.[107]

On 8 August in her MySpace blog Allen remarked that while she enjoys public praise and attention for her music false tabloid accusations sometimes "gets to me".

Social activism

Environmental activism

Allen was credited with helping inspire one of the biggest parliamentary rebellions against Prime Minister Gordon Brown when she wrote to all members of Parliament asking them to back an amendment to an energy bill that would copy a system in Germany that pays homeowners, farmers, small businesses and owners of public buildings a fixed amount for every unit of renewable energy they generate (a 'Feed-in Tariff'). The government was forced to call back energy bill supporters from their campaigns and the move was defeated by a vote of 250 to 210.[108] She records at Studio A which is the only solar powered studio in Europe.[109]

Allen has been nominated with nine others for the title of Greenest Star in Playhouse for Disney Playhouse's inaugural Playing for the Planet Awards. The winner will be decided by a vote of UK preschoolers and their families.[110]

Proposed Knife Aid concert

Template:Future Allen spokesperson has confirmed that she is working with London Mayor Boris Johnson in efforts to stage a Live Aid style concert in reaction to the sharp rise in knife crime in that city. Johnson is reported to working to obtain a venue and Allen is reportedly is engaged in recruitment efforts. The proposed concert is slated to raise cash to help the families of stab victims and to provide schemes to take blades off the streets. On 17 July Allen had a 45 minute discussion with Johnson at London's City Hall about the knife-crime issue.[111]

Allen proposed the idea in her MySpace blog. The Daily Star reported that after Allen approached the tabloid for help they got her in touch with Johnson.[112]

The event will reportedly take place in September at Finsbury Park. Along with Allen it has also been reported that Oasis, Madness and Kelly Rowland have been named as performers by concert organizers although no confirmation has been received from these acts.[113]

Reception

Allen feels she has "got away with something" because she feels she is "not a genius songwriter".[36]

Allen was included on the NME Cool List for 2006. The editor of NME, Conor McNicholas, said of the five women on the "Cool List": "This year's Cool List is a testament to the raft of hugely talented women who have taken hold of the music scene in 2006...From Beth to Lily to Karen, they've brought new energy to a scene dominated by men. They're also living proof that you can still rock a crowd when you're wearing stilettos".

She was voted the third coolest person of the year in NME Magazine.[114] She ranked "Number One Reason to Love '07"[115] and "Hottest Woman of Pop/R&B."[116] in Blender magazine. On the other hand, she was also rated number 10 on BBC Three's list of Most Annoying People of 2006. In a readers poll done for the weekly British style magazine Look Allen was named the ninth best style role model. [117]

Rapper Example has recorded a new version of "Smile" called "Vile", which is an answer song written from the perspective of the ex-boyfriend (although he was never actually Allen's boyfriend[118]). Both songs were then parodied by Chris Moyles on his Radio 1 breakfast show in a song called "Piles". "LDN" has spawned an answer song by rapper Sway DaSafo and a remix by UK grime artist JME.

According to a report by the Children's Society in Great Britain the "antics" of Allen and other British pop stars are causing bad behaviour and promoting materialism thus eroding moral values for this generation of British Children.[119]

Discography

Main article: Lily Allen discography

References

  1. ^ "Guest List: Lily Allen". Pitchfork Media. April 25, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2007.
  2. ^ BBC - Lily Allen and Friends
  3. ^ Mixmag, December 2006
  4. ^ The Envelope Please Los Angeles Times 6 December 2007
  5. ^ Barratt, Nick. "Family detective". The Daily Telegraph. May 19, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  6. ^ "'The Comic Strip Presents...' The Yob (1988)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  7. ^ a b Walker, Andrew. "Faces of the week". BBC News. July 21, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  8. ^ "Flowered up". The Guardian. June 23, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  9. ^ "Lily Allen Admits to getting Expelled for giving blow jobs. We Love Her!". Rolling Stone. May 24, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  10. ^ Phares, Heather. "Lily Allen > Biography". Allmusic. 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2007
  11. ^ Lily Allen on Loveline]
  12. ^ "Elizabeth (1998) - Full cast and crew". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  13. ^ a b c d e Sawyer, Miranda. "Pictures of lily". The Observer. May 21, 2006. Retrieved from Guardian Unlimited June 23, 2007.
  14. ^ a b Swift, Jacqui. "Lily: I'm a gobby bitch". The Sun. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  15. ^ a b Salmon, Chris. "Me, my dad and Dumbo". The Guardian. September 22, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  16. ^ a b Sisson, Patrick. "Lily Allen: Mighty Aphrodite". URB, issue 143. March 29, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
  17. ^ a b c d e Plagenhoef, Scott. "Interview: Lily Allen". Pitchfork Media. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  18. ^ Lily Allen fans offer condolences after miscarriage NME 18 January 2008
  19. ^ Web fans' love for brave Lil Nadine Linge Daily Star 19 January, 2008
  20. ^ Record seven NME nominations for Arctic Monkeys The Times 29 January, 2008
  21. ^ a b Click to download The Guardian Unlimited 25 April,2008
  22. ^ Lilymusic - Lily Allen MySpace page
  23. ^ Grammy Scorecard The Envelope Los Angeles Times
  24. ^ Norah Jones Breaks McPheever, Beats 'Idol' Runner-Up To #1 - Madonna, Lily Allen also generate impressive first-week sales.
  25. ^ BPI Official Website, UK talent celebrates first all-British Top 10 in UK chart history
  26. ^ "Lily Allen plays surprise set at Glastonbury". NME. June 22, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
  27. ^ Lily Allen MySpace Page blog Yagga Yo 17 April, 2008
  28. ^ http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/04/lily_allen_expresses_profound.html Lily Allen Expresses Profound Disappointment in Self New York Magazine]
  29. ^ Allen gets dark in new album Indo Asian News Service 19 April, 2008
  30. ^ New Lily Guardian Unlimited 18 April, 2008
  31. ^ Lily Allen Leaks Her Own Songs on the Internet People 18 April 2008
  32. ^ Lily Allen writes song about the BNP NME 23 June, 2008
  33. ^ Lily Allen Jets to America People 10 June, 2008
  34. ^ New UK Single Releases, New Music Releases, UK CD Single Releases
  35. ^ a b c Lily Allen Confused Over New Album Delay Billboard 19 August, 2008
  36. ^ a b c In the Studio Lily Allen makes "Naughty" followup Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Daily 1 July, 2008
  37. ^ a b c d e Grl Gone Wild Lily Allen, Reflects, Owns up and Moves On Papermag Magazine 20 August, 2008
  38. ^ New Recordings Philadelphia Inquirer 27 April, 2008
  39. ^ Lily Allen completes second album BBC Newsbeat 30 June, 2008
  40. ^ Kaiser Cheifs UK Tour 2008 ilikemusic.com
  41. ^ Kaiser Chiefs name Mark Ronson produced new album NME 5 August, 2008
  42. ^ Mark Is Kaiser's Chief Daily Record 1 May, 2008
  43. ^ Tom Breihan Village Voice
  44. ^ New York Post April 13 2007
  45. ^ Huhn, Mary (2007-03-30). "GET ON THE BANDWAGONER". New York Post. Retrieved 2007-04-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ Croft, Claudia. "Lily's new look". The Sunday Times. April 22, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  47. ^ Editors at Daily Express. "Lilly’s All Smiles". Daily Express. August 14, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
  48. ^ Cummins, Fiona. "LILY NIPPLE TUBE HIT", The Daily Mirror, published July 19, 2007, accessed August 7, 2007.
  49. ^ Times Online and agencies (2007-08-07). "US revoke Lily Allen's visa over London arrest". Times Online. Retrieved 2007-08-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ Lily Allen "I'm not the best example" New Musial Express 29 December, 2007
  51. ^ Allen snub angers festival boss BBC 5 March 2008
  52. ^ Orange judges come clean on Lily Allen The Times 15 April, 2008
  53. ^ Lily Allen writes song for BAFTA-winning Shockwaves NME Awards host NME 22 April, 2008
  54. ^ Lily Allen - Show goes on for grieving Allen contactmusic.com 30 June, 2008
  55. ^ Gigwise Lily Allen Makes Surprise Appearance With Mark Ronson At Wireless 4 July, 2008
  56. ^ Lily Allen Acts Civilized for Once New York Magazine 14 July, 2008
  57. ^ Albums Glasgow Daily Record 25 July, 2008
  58. ^ Lily Allen's strip vow monstersandcritics. Retrieved 26 October 2007
  59. ^ Lily Allen discovers heart murmur. BBC News. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
  60. ^ Lily Allen asks web fans to name her show The Guardian Unlimited 9 January, 2008
  61. ^ Lily Allen's TV show to feature Reverend And The Makers NME 30 January, 2008
  62. ^ Audience walks out in 'sick' Lily Allen BBC chat show debut Daily Mail 9 February, 2008
  63. ^ Lily Allen claims fans did not leave her show because of boredom NME 12 February, 2008
  64. ^ [1] Lily Allen's new show fails to grab big audience The Hollywood News 14 February 14, 2008
  65. ^ TV Ratings The Guardian Unlimited 26 February, 2008
  66. ^ Bianca barrells back on to EastEnders The Times 2 April, 2008
  67. ^ BBC criticised over Lily Allen 'kegging' clip
  68. ^ Allen film to boost workers' skills The Press Association 3 February, 2008
  69. ^ Lily Allen took an overdose at 15, says mum Showbizspy 11 December, 2007
  70. ^ Lily Allen discovers heart murmur BBC 27 November, 2007
  71. ^ Lily Allen has lost her baby The Sun 17 January, 2008
  72. ^ "Lily Allen suffers a miscarriage". BBC. 18 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  73. ^ Lily Allen suffers a miscarriage BBC News retrieved January 18, 2008
  74. ^ Lily Allen and web friends let loose on BBC3. The Times 20 January, 2008
  75. ^ Lily's Back To Work Sky Showbiz 21 January, 2008
  76. ^ Father hails 'fighter' Lily after 'very tough time Ireland Online 4 April, 2008
  77. ^ Pregnant Lily Allen Vows To Quit The Fags - Entertainment News, Movie Reviews, Competitions - Entertainmentwise
  78. ^ Lily Allen's miscarriage epiphany Boston Globe 4 March 2008
  79. ^ Lily Allen seeking solace in retail therapy Telegraph 17 April, 2008
  80. ^ Lily Allen My Space blog "boring post" 23 May, 2008
  81. ^ Lily Allen thanks police over friend's "kidnap" Reuters 3 September, 2008
  82. ^ Pal Furious At Allen's 'Irresponsible' Kidnap Comments 4 September, 2008
  83. ^ Allen, Lily. "Lily Allen MySpace Profile". Retrieved 2006-07-24.
  84. ^ Transmission with T-Mobile (TV-Show). 2006-06-17.
  85. ^ "Allen Slams Kylie Glastonbury Appearance". 2006-07-12.
  86. ^ "Lily Allen lashes out at Cheryl Cole". 2007-06-24.
  87. ^ Taylor, Chris (2006-12-30). "Lily Allen: Paris Hilton Fans Should Be Killed". Entertainmentwise. Retrieved 2007-04-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  88. ^ "Lily Allen: 'Cocaine Celebration Comment Was A Joke'". FemaleFirst.co.uk. 2006-07-19. Retrieved 2006-08-03.
  89. ^ Allen, Lily. "Hey Everyone". Retrieved 2006-08-03.
  90. ^ "Lily Allen admits to drug dealing". NME.com. 2006-12-06. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  91. ^ Lily Allen takes pop at Amy Winehouse, President Bush New Zealand Herald August 21, 2007
  92. ^ Lily Allen: 'Radiohead Are Arrogant Gigwise 14 November, 2007
  93. ^ Allen: Tabloids Hate Women PR Insider 12 December, 2007
  94. ^ Lily Allen wants Gordon Brown to ban the Paparazzi Holy Moly 14 January, 2008
  95. ^ Lily Allen calls herself 'short, fat and ugly' New Musical Express December 4, 2007
  96. ^ Lily Allen says models "smelled of vomit." Dallas Morning News 28 February, 2008
  97. ^ Lily Allen jokes about topless photos at the Cannes film festival 16 May, 2008
  98. ^ Lily Allen ditches pink hair and returns to her roots The Telegraph 7 July, 2008
  99. ^ Lily Allen ditches pink hair after grandmother's death Glasgow Daily Record 9 July, 2008
  100. ^ Alexa Chung and Lily Allen Battle for Top Celeb Fashion Award Female First 1 May, 2008
  101. ^ Oh, deer! Lily Allen's no Bambi fan New York Daily News 4 June, 2008
  102. ^ Lily Allen Calls Drunken Behavior 'Embarrassing' People Magazine
  103. ^ Elton John and Lily Allen in war of words at GQ awards The Times 3 September, 2008
  104. ^ Sir Elton John: Lily Allen won't be touring with me now Now Online 9 September, 2008
  105. ^ Lily Bites Back Perez Hilton Blog 12 June, 2008
  106. ^ Dear Lily Perez Hilton blog 12 June, 2008
  107. ^ Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen & Courtney Love Lead Summer Trainwrecks Poll National Ledger 13 July, 2008
  108. ^ Lily Allen inspires Labour energy rebellion Ross Lydall Political Editor The Scotsmen Evening News 2 May, 2008
  109. ^ Singer Lily Allen backs renewables campaign Green Building Magazine 29 April, 2008
  110. ^ Top ten green celebs up for awards UK Parents Lounge
  111. ^ When Boris met Lily.. ITN 17 July, 2008
  112. ^ Lily: We gotta have Knife Aid Daily Star 12 July, 2008
  113. ^ Oasis To Headline Knife Crime Concert In London? Gigwise 16 July, 2008
  114. ^ Mike Diver (2006-11-23). "Lily Allen: angry at "f*cking patronising" magazine".
  115. ^ "25 Reasons to Love '07". Blender Magazine Online. Jan/Feb 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  116. ^ "Hottest Women of...Pop/R&B!". Blender Magazine Online. Jan/Feb 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  117. ^ Coleen named style role model AFP 27 March, 2008
  118. ^ Allen, Lily. "Untitled Forum Post". Retrieved 2006-07-28.
  119. ^ Children's Society: Behavior of Pop Stars Erodes Children's Values The Daily Telegraph Reprinted by the New York Sun 7 July, 2008
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