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Sophie Ellis-Bextor

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Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor (born 10 April 1979) is a multi-platinum selling English singer, songwriter and model. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s, as the lead singer of the indie rock band theaudience. After the group disbanded, Sophie went solo, achieving widespread success especially in the early 2000s. Her music is a mixture of mainstream Pop, Disco, Nu-Disco, and 1980s electronic influences. She is also noted for displaying a strong British accent even while singing.

So far, Sophie has released 3 solo albums, "Read My Lips", "Shoot From The Hip", and "Trip The Light Fantastic". She is due to release her fourth solo album, "Another Love", in April, 2010.

Personal life

Sophie Ellis-Bextor in 2005.

She attended school at St. Stephen's School and later Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith. Among her earliest public performances were with the W11 Opera children's opera from the age of thirteen, and she is now a patron of the organisation.[1]

In 2005, Ellis-Bextor married guitarist Richard Jones in Italy. Ellis-Bextor's second son, Kit Valentine, was born on 7 February 2009 weighing 2 lb 10oz. This was her second complicated birth; Sonny was born nine weeks prematurely by emergency cesarean section after Sophie developed pre-eclampsia.[2]

Music career

Theaudience

Ellis-Bextor began her musical career in 1997, with an indie band called theaudience. She sang the lead vocal in the band. While she was a band member, readers of Melody Maker elected her to the Number 1 position among the 'most sexy people in rock'. She recorded a duet with Manic Street Preachers—Black Holes for the Young—as a B-side for their 1998 single The Everlasting. Several songs released by theaudience are I Got the Wherewithal, If You Can't Do It When You're Young; When Can You Do It?, I Know Enough (I Don't Get Enough), and A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed (perhaps their best-known single). The band split in December 1998. In 1999 Ellis-Bextor made an appearance on the Departure Lounge album Out Of Here.

Early solo career and Read My Lips

After theaudience split, Ellis-Bextor took a year off from singing. In 2000, Ellis-Bextor collaborated with Italian DJ Spiller on adding vocals to his then-instrumental club track "Groovejet", her first recorded work since that with theaudience. "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" entered the U.K. charts at No. 1, just beating former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham on her first solo outing to the top spot. Since then, the two have been described as rivals. Both women deny, however, that there is any rivalry between the two of them. "Groovejet" won several awards: No. 1, Pop Top 20; No. 1, ILR; No. 1, Radio 1; No. 8, top dance track of 2000 and single of the year in Melody Maker. In the Metro Newspaper, it received ninth place in the contest for the Greatest No. 1 of all time, beating even Madonna.[3] In 2000, it was a finalist in The Record of the Year. In that same year, it won the awards for Best Single and Best Ibiza Tune at the Ericsson Muzik Awards.[4]

In 2001, Ellis-Bextor released her debut album, Read My Lips. It reached No. 2 on the UK charts and spawned four top-twenty hit singles. Her rework of Cher's "Take Me Home" reached No. 2, as did "Murder on the Dancefloor", which became Ellis-Bextor's biggest single to date and was on charts for twenty-three weeks.[5] "Murder on the Dancefloor" became Europe's most played song of 2002. In 2002, Read My Lips was re-released with two new songs (and a live version of "Groovejet") and Ellis-Bextor won the Recording Artist Award at that year's Showbusiness Awards.[6] Her third single, "Get Over You" / "Move This Mountain" was released in June 2002 and reached No. 3. The fourth single, "Music Gets the Best of Me", rose to No. 14 in December. At the beginning of 2002, Ellis-Bextor was nominated for the "British Female Solo Artist" BRIT Award, going on to be nominated for a further two consecutive years.[7][8][9]

2003-2008:Shoot from the Hip and Trip the Light Fantastic

Her second album, Shoot from the Hip, was released in October 2003. Although it was not as commercially successful as her previous material, it held two further top-ten singles. The album reached no higher than No. 19 on the UK charts; its two singles were "Mixed Up World", which reached No. 7, and "I Won't Change You", reaching No. 9. Around this time, rivalry against Victoria Beckham was suggested again; Victoria's single "This Groove" / "Let Your Head Go" reached No. 3, a higher position in the charts than "I Won't Change You". During this time Ellis-Bextor became pregnant and plans for a third and fourth single as well as the Shoot From The Hip Tour were scrapped. After that, Ellis-Bextor paused her musical career to take care of her first child.

Her third album, entitled Trip the Light Fantastic, was released on 21 May 2007. Fred Schneider of The B-52s, Richard Barone (formerly of The Bongos), Shelly Poole (formerly of Alisha's Attic), Cathy Dennis and Kerin Smith (formerly of theaudience) contributed to produce an album of disco-pop music.[10]

Before the album two singles were released, Catch You, which charted in the UK through downloads alone at No. 18 and peaked at No. 8 after a physical release and Me and My Imagination which was released on 14 May and charted at No. 23. Her album Trip the Light Fantastic debuted at No. 7 on the UK albums chart and just missed the top twenty the following week, falling to No. 21. The album was certified Gold in July 2008, for selling over 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom[11].

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, London 2012 Party


Ellis-Bextor supported George Michael on his UK tour leg in June 2007. Her own UK tour was due to start on 14 August 2007, entitled "Trip The Light Fantastic Tour", but, on 8 September 2007, on her official website, Ellis-Bextor said that she had postponed it because she was invited to be the "special guest" on the forthcoming Take That European Tour, which commenced on 11 October 2007 in Belfast, Northern Ireland[12]. Ellis-Bextor stated that her tour would be re-scheduled for March 2008, with all tickets purchased being valid for the rescheduled concerts. However, the tour was never rescheduled, and Ellis-Bextor subsequently refused to discuss the issue in interviews.[13]

The third single off Trip The Light Fantastic was Today the Sun's on Us, which was released on 13 August 2007. The track received good reviews, and the accompanying video, directed by Sophie Muller and shot in Reykjavik, Iceland has achieved strong airplay on music channels; this did not help sales of the single, however, which debuted on the UK Singles Chart at No. 64. The single, however, was responsible for the album's re-entry into the top 100, where it spent another two weeks.

On the first of September 2007, Ellis-Bextor took part in Sopot Festival 2007 in Poland, representing the UK.

She performed "If I Can't Dance" on DanceX, BBC One on 28 July 2007 and confirmed that it would be the fourth single in an interview with Digital Spy on 2 August 2007, a position that was later retracted in an interview on her website dated 12 August 2007.[12][14] "Love Is Here" was confirmed on her website as the fourth single, however, that release was also scrapped as she was supposed to release a brand new single in late November which was to be included on the following "Greatest Hits" compilation. The release date of the Greatest Hits was pushed back to March 2008, and subsequently cancelled. However, "If I Can't Dance" was released in Spain as the fourth single taken from the album, second released there after "Me and My Imagination". The single has been a hit on Catalonian music station Flaix FM, and the song has appeared on several compilations such as Supermodelo 2008 CD and Disco Estrella 2008.[15][16][17]

2009-2010:Another Love

Ellis-Bextor announced that her fourth studio album was due out in late summer 2009 on 11 April 2008.[18] Recording sessions for new songs to be included on her "Greatest Hits" collection proved fruitful, so Ellis-Bextor decided to release a fourth studio album before releasing her hits compilation. She further indicated that she was considering a change in musical direction after the release of her fourth album and Greatest Hits collection.

File:Cd de Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer -The UK Maxi Single-.jpg
Sophie's 2009 single, collaborating with Freemasons.

Calvin Harris contributed two songs, "Calling It Love" and "Off And On", an outtake from Róisín Murphy's album Overpowered written with Cathy Dennis; he also remixed "Off and On" for club play. Freemasons worked with Ellis-Bextor on "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)". Her collaboration with Richard X resulted in a song titled "Magic" and "Starlight". She also worked with Groove Armada, The Hoosiers, Dimitri Tikovoi, Hannah Robinson, Metronomy[19], Matt Prime and Liam Howe from the Sneaker Pimps.

In November 2008 Ellis-Bextor herself went onto her forums to confirm her next single would be "Sophia Loren", however this release never materalized. "Sophia Loren" can be currently heard in the new Rimmel London ad campaign in which Ellis-Bextor also stars. The song was co-written by Ellis-Bextor, frequent collaborator Cathy Dennis, and Christopher Rojas. The latter produced the record which was mixed by London based mix engineer Jeremy Wheatley.

On 3 August 2009 Sophie released an exclusive 5-track EP, including past hits, as well her Top 20 hit "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)" with the Freemasons. The EP didn't include the new song she performed on the iTunes Festival called "Starlight".

On January 5, 2010, Sophie announced through her Twitter[20] that the first single is called "Bittersweet" (co-written by Freemasons and Hannah Robinson[21]), saying it is "about when you can't resist something that you know is bad for you. a guilty pleasure. like watching celebrity big brother."[22] She proceeded to say that would be sent to radio in early February and released as a single in April. [23]. She's also been quoted as saying she's working with Armin Van Buuren on a track called "Not Giving Up On Love". [24]

Additional recordings

In early 2005, she performed on a track by the duo Busface, entitled "Circles (Just My Good Time)"; she was credited as "Mademoiselle E.B." in order to not have this be mistaken for a single from her next album.

In 2006, her track "Dear Jimmy" was released on the Popjustice compilation. It is believed to have been recorded in the same sessions as those for her third studio album, Trip The Light Fantastic, and was originally intended for use as the B-side to her single Catch You.

In October 2008, Ellis-Bextor covered the Dolly Parton song "Jolene"; the track was released on the soundtrack to the BBC2 sitcom Beautiful People.

In early November 2008, Ellis-Bextor recorded a track with the French DJ Junior Caldera, and the song's title is "Just Can't Fight This Feeling". The song will be released as the first commercial single from Junior's upcoming first studio album "Début", which will be released in mid-2009. The single is expected to be released in February 2009. However, the release of he single has been put on "jeopardy", as Junior Caldera is releasing as the third single from the album, the song "The Way" [25]. A fan made video with the radio edit of the song was released on Youtube in 24 February 2009, and reached #78 Top Favorited in France the same day [26]. The single will be released in 2010 in France.

Other projects

In 2007, Ellis-Bextor appeared at Christmas in the Robbie the Reindeer episode, "Close Encounters of the Herd Kind". Ellis-Bextor was depicted as a female alien at the closure of the story, singing the song 'Supersonic', the last track on her third solo studio album Trip The Light Fantastic. In November of this year she also launched the npower Greener Schools Programme, which aims to give schools in the UK a 'green makeover' by providing free energy audits, implementing tailor-made energy efficiency measures to reduce their carbon footprint, and educating children on how to be greener[27] She also launched Capital Radio's Capital 95.8 'Lights Out London' campaign, which asks Londoners to switch off their lights for one hour in a bid to save 750 MWh and send a message to the world on the importance of climate change.[28]

In 2008 she features in the short musical film The Town that Boars Me by photographer Ben Charles Edwards. The film also features Jodie Harsh, Kelly Osbourne and Zandra Rhodes amongst others. The film is set to debut in late summer at the Portobello Film Festival and is produced by Glass Loves and Shoot to Kill Productions.[29][30]

An advocate for animal rights, she posed for PETA's anti–fur clothing advertisement.[31] She is also currently fronting a campaign for The Children's Society encouraging people to log onto the Hundreds and Thousands of Childhood Memories Website to donate their favourite childhood memory.[32]

In 2002 it was rumoured she was the frontrunner to land the role of Bond girl in the James Bond movie Die Another Day.[33] This was just a rumour: Ellis-Bextor never got the part, nor did she confirm to have auditioned for the part. She did, however, audition for the 2001 movie Moulin Rouge! for the part of Satine, which eventually went to Nicole Kidman.[34]

Ellis-Bextor is appearing as an advocate for Verdi on BBC World News classical music programme Visionaries [1]in August 2008.

Ellis-Bextor performed live at Manchester's Gay Pride, on 23 August 2008, having just arrived back from Moscow.

On 24 August 2008, Ellis-Bextor performed a live cover version of Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better" outside Buckingham Palace as part of the Visa London 2012 Handover Party in the Mall.

Ellis-Bextor and her husband Richard Jones will be launching a DJ club project, called "Modern Love" in London.[35]

Modeling

In May 2008 it was reported that Ellis-Bextor was hired by cosmetics brand Rimmel as one of their new faces. Contrary to early reports however, Ellis-Bextor will not replace Kate Moss as the main face of the cosmetics giant. A new song performed by Ellis-Bextor is featured in one of the Rimmel London' spot for the line "Sexy Curves".

Tours

Discography

Further information: Sophie Ellis-Bextor discography

Albums

Singles

Other Notable Collaborations

Extended Plays

DVD

Production

References

  1. ^ W11 Opera, Patrons
  2. ^ Sophie Ellis-Bextor Welcomes Kit Valentine Celebrity Baby Blog, 10 February 2009
  3. ^ Melody Maker 2000
  4. ^ Spiller and Jaxx take Muzik honours
  5. ^ Murder On The Dancefloor, World Charts
  6. ^ Varierty Club Website
  7. ^ BRIT Awards 2004
  8. ^ The Brits 2003, The Nominees
  9. ^ Brits Awards: The Nominees
  10. ^ Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Official Forum
  11. ^ Sophie Ellis-Bextor Gold status in the UK
  12. ^ a b Sophie Ellis-Bextor's official website
  13. ^ "Isn't she lovely", Noozhumurry, J, The London Paper, 18 September 2008
  14. ^ "Video: Sophie Ellis-Bextor speaks". Digital Spy. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
  15. ^ Flaix FM CD 2008
  16. ^ Disco Estrella 2008
  17. ^ Supermodelo 2008 CD Valemusic/Universal Music Spain
  18. ^ news entry dated 11 April 2008
  19. ^ http://www.ohhcrapp.net/2008/09/interview-metronomy_13.html
  20. ^ http://twitter.com/SophieEB
  21. ^ http://twitter.com/SophieEB/status/7418257581
  22. ^ http://twitter.com/SophieEB/status/7419463847
  23. ^ http://twitter.com/SophieEB/status/7418299082
  24. ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/12/09/bex-in-the-groove-115875-21883623/
  25. ^ Junior Caldera - New single "The Way" Official MySpace
  26. ^ Fan made video Can't Fight This Feeling[dead link]
  27. ^ Sophie Ellis-Bextor Greener Schools Programme
  28. ^ Sophie Ellis Bextor Launches ‘Lights Out London’ | popdirt.com
  29. ^ Portobello Spy: Portobello Film Festival
  30. ^ YouTube - The Town That Boars Me coming soon
  31. ^ 'Read My Lips' Sensation Says, 'Don't Wear Fur!'
  32. ^ Plea For Happy Childhood Memories
  33. ^ Sophie Ellis-Bextor Next Bond Girl?
  34. ^ Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Bextor'S Moulin Rouge! Misery
  35. ^ Sophie Ellis Bextor to put Modern Love before more children

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