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Vanessa Amorosi

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Vanessa Amorosi

Vanessa Amorosi is an Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist. To date she has sold over 2 million albums.

Life and career

Early life

Amorosi was born [when?] in Emerald[citation needed] , Melbourne, Australia, near Belgrave.When Amorosi was 4, along with her younger sisters, she would go to tap, jazz and classical ballet classes, which were being run by her uncle. She attended Emerald Primary and Emerald Secondary School.[1] At the age of 12 Amorosi started to perform in shopping centers and local council concerts under the supervision of her family. Amorosi was discovered performing at Matrioshka,[2] a Russian restaurant in Carnegie, by Jack Strom and signed a recording contract in 1997. After being signed to MarJac Productions (co-owned by managers Mark Holden and Jack Strom) and recording a promo CD titled "Get Here", she secured a deal with Transistor Music Australia. Amorosi also spent a short period training with the army. She was also a judge on the Channel 9 TV series, StarStruck.

Voice and vocal range

Amorosi is known for her versatile vocal ability. She is able to vocally cover many genres of music including, pop, rock, blues, jazz, and gospel. Amorosi is also known for her vocal range which reaches Soprano C6 in what is perceived to be full chest voice. Amorosi's ability to connect chest voice and head voice is one of her trademark talents. Amorosi's effortless approach to singing in her upper registry is what helped her become well known in both Australia and Germany. She is also noted for her ability to sing in the whistle registry as well, achieving notes above E6. Amorosi's most powerful vocals can be heard in her song "Start It" from her 2008 album Somewhere in the Real World, in which she can be heard singing two A5's and two B5's in mixed/chest voice and an E6 in the whistle registry. Also in "I Am Woman", performed at the ARIA Hall of Fame tribute for Helen Reddy in 2006, Amorosi can be heard singing a sustained C6. Amorosi is also noted for her very strong low register, sounding like a contralto or even a tenor, such as in the song "Off on My Kiss" from her album Hazardous, in which she sings many B2's.

Rise to fame: The Power (1999–2003)

In 1999, Amorosi released her debut single "Have a Look" which became a Top 20 hit and went gold in Australia. This was followed by her successful second single "Absolutely Everybody", an anthemic dance song, reached the Top 10 and became the longest charting Australian single by an Australian female artist.[3] It remained in the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart for over six months after its release[4]. "Absolutely Everybody" was released internationally and reached the Top 10 in many European countries including the United Kingdom and Germany where it received a gold certification. Amorosi performed at many large events such as the NRL Grand Final, the opening of the Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island and the new millennium on "New Year's Eve" at Darling Harbour.

Following the success of the first two singles Amorosi released two more singles in 2000 "Shine" and "The Power" became major Australian hits. Both were accredited gold by the ARIA Australian music industry.

Her album The Power reached number one on the Australian album charts. Amorosi received six ARIA nominations[5] in the year 2000 awards and The Power was nominated[6] for "Best Female Artist" and "Best Pop Release" in the ARIA Music Awards of 2001. Her largest audience came in September 2000 with performances at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics and at the Paralympic Games. At the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics she sang the Olympic song titled "Heroes Live Forever". Amorosi won the APRA Award[7] in 2001 for "Most Played Song" on Australian Radio with "Shine" and received international acclaim in Germany where she won "Best International Newcomer"[8] at the 2001 VIVA Comet Awards. Later that year she also made a special appearance at the Goodwill Games Opening and Closing ceremonies in Brisbane. In 2001 she performed at the AFL Grand Final.

In August 2002 Amorosi traveled to Manchester where she was one of the stars of the Commonwealth Games Hand-Over Ceremony, performing her hit "Shine" and a new song written especially for the event, "I'll always be a Melbourne girl".

In February 2003, Amorosi performed her blues set[9] for the first time at the Melbourne International Music and Blues Festival and traveled to Germany to perform her latest European single "True to Yourself" on Top of the Pops and the hugely successful long-running show Wetten, dass..? which screens throughout Europe.[10]

Hiatus and return to fame with Somewhere in the Real World (2003–2009)

On 25 January 2006, it was revealed that Amorosi signed with Manager Ralph Carr, having completed her seven year management with MarJac Productions. She is quoted on the website as saying, "I have been with my previous management for seven years and thought both parties had gone as far as we could together... Moving over to Ralph Carr Management seemed like a natural progression, given the acts he has successfully managed. I am excited and enthused." On November 22, 2006 it was announced that Amorosi had signed to Universal Music Australia. Amorosi's charity work predates her fame, and her involvement with Kids Help Line and the Variety Club led to a number of honours, including a 2003 nomination for Australian of the Year. She still has the farm where endangered animals can find refuge, although she doesn’t get to visit much; her friends run it for her. She supported Kiss on their 2008 tour of Australia. In 2008 Amorosi released the album Somewhere in the Real World, through Universal Music Australia, on 24 May 2008.[11][12] The album tracks "Perfect" and "Start It" have both been used in promotions for the Seven Network. "Start It" is Channel 7's AFL song for 2008 and will be used again in 2009. Released digitally and in stores on 24 May 2008, Somewhere in the Real World was already sitting at Number 3 on the national iTunes chart within hours of its release and climbing to number 2 within the first 24 hours and finally hitting the number 1 spot on the charts after just 4 days of release. Somewhere in the Real World reached Gold sales in Australia.

The single "Kiss Your Mama!" was serviced to radio on 3 August and released 8 September 2007.[13] On a special edition of Australian Idol she sang her hit song "Kiss Your Mama!".[14] This marked Amorosi's returned to the ARIA charts the First Single in many years to be released, the song peaked at #15.

Amorosi released her second single "Perfect" digitally on 5 April and physically on 26 April 2008.[15] The single made it to number 1 on the digital iTunes charts on the 7th of June 2008 and a then equal highest charting singles of her career at #4. "Perfect" reached Platinum sales in Australia and was the most played Australian song on Australian radio for 2008. "Perfect" was nominated for the 2009 APRA awards for 'Most Played Australian Work'.

Following the excellent success of her first two singles a third single was released from the album, the song "The Simple Things (Something Emotional)" was released as the third single on 20 September 2008. The Song received a video and achieved a top 40 peak. In December 2008 a video for the song "My House" was released onto her website, but never released as a single.

On 20 April 2009, a Vanessa fan website revealed details of a collaboration with U.S. band Hoobastank on a single titled "The Letter". The website, VanessaAmorosi.net, also provided the duet to be streamed in full.[16] Amorosi also appears in the video which was shot in Los Angeles at Lacy Street Studio with director Paul Brown (Alicia Keys, Jack White). The video and single was serviced to Australian media on May 4. The single was released in Australia on June 19, 2009.[17]

Hazardous and international releases (2009–present)

Vanessa Amorosi's album Hazardous, became her third ARIA Top 10 album debuting at #7, It was also the week's highest album debut by an Australian artist and has been accredited Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The album has produced the singles "This Is Who I Am" (Amorosi's first #1), top 30 hit "Hazardous" and third single "Mr. Mysterious" featuring Seany B. Amorosi released the album to the German market in early June 2010.[18]

On 28 August 2009 Amorosi's new song "This Is Who I Am" was serviced to Australian radio. On 31 August 2009 Universal Music Australia released a press release for Amorosi's new single with details of new single and album.

The first single to spawn from her forthcoming album is the fierce pop-rock song "This Is Who I Am". The undoubtable hit single was produced by MachoPsycho (Pink) and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day) and was serviced to Australian radio this week. The video for "This Is Who I Am" was recently shot in Los Angeles and directed by Christopher R Watson. The video was predominately shot on green screen and will launch on September 14.

— Universal Music Australia

"This Is Who I Am" debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Charts for the week beginning October 18, 2009. This is Amorosi's first number 1 single. The single holds the top spot for the second week in a row - becoming the first Australian artist to debut at #1 and hold #1 single since Silverchair's "Straight Lines" in 2007. "This Is Who I Am" has achieved 2× platinum sales in Australia.

With the success of her album and first single "This Is Who I Am", Amorosi released her second single and title track from the album Hazardous. Amorosi flew to Los Angeles to film the video for "Hazardous" with director Paul Brown (Prince, Alicia Keys), which was serviced Thursday, 17 December 2009. The single peaked at #29 on the ARIA Charts a solid follow-up single to her first number 1.

It was announced that Amorosi would collaborate with Mary J. Blige, so Amorosi flew to Los Angeles on February 1 to film the music video for her duet with Mary J. Blige for the upcoming single "Each Tear". The new version of the track will feature on an international re-release of Blige's latest record Stronger with Each Tear.[19]

Amorosi has recorded a version of "Devil Inside" for an upcoming INXS album to be released later this year.[20]

On the 4th of March 2010 Amorosi announced "Mr. Mysterious" as the third single from the Hazardous album via newsletter.[21] During March 2010 Vanessa Amorosi supported Rob Thomas on his Australian leg of the Cradlesong Tour, as well as performing headline shows for her fans separately.

"Holiday" was released as the fourth single off Hazardous and charted in the top 50 on the ARIA charts.

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Category Nominated for Result
2000 ARIA Awards Highest Selling Single[22] "Absolutely Everybody" Nominated
ARIA Awards Best Female Artist[22] Nominated
ARIA Awards Best Pop Release[22] Nominated
ARIA Awards Breakthrough Artist Single[22] "Have a Look" Nominated
ARIA Awards Highest Selling Album[22] The Power Nominated
ARIA Awards Breakthrough Artist Album[22] Nominated
2001 ARIA Awards Best Female Artist[23] Nominated
ARIA Awards Best Pop Release[23] Nominated
APRA Awards Most Performed Australian Work[24] "Shine" Won
2009 APRA Awards Most Played Australian Work[25] "Perfect" Nominated
2010 ARIA No.1 Chart Awards Song reaching number-one.[26] "This Is Who I Am" Won
Nickelodeon Australian Kids Choice Awards 2010 Fave Aussie Musos[27] Herself Pending
ARIA Awards Most Popular Australian Album[28] Hazardous Pending
ARIA Awards Most Popular Australian Single[28] "This Is Who I Am" Pending
ARIA Awards "Mr. Mysterious" Pending

Discography

Main article: Vanessa Amorosi discography

Management

References

  1. ^ Emerald Primary School - History - Past Students
  2. ^ News.com.au: Making tracks
  3. ^ Australian Music Online :: Artists :: Vanessa Amorosi
  4. ^ australian-charts.com - Vanessa Amorosi - Absolutely Everybody
  5. ^ ARIA Awards 2007 : History: Winners by Year
  6. ^ SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT :: Australia :: CD Releases
  7. ^ APRA Music Awards - Winners 2001
  8. ^ Viva.tv - Events - COMET 2007: History - Die Gewinner
  9. ^ VanessaAmorosi.de: Melbourne Blues Festival (February 2003)
  10. ^ "Berlin, Germany - 22 February 2003 - Vanessa Amorosi performs on the Thomas Gottschalk show "Wetten, dass..?"". AOL.com.au. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |authorlink= (help)
  11. ^ SOMEWHERE IN THE REAL WORLD 2007 ALBUM (AMOROSI, VANESSA): Music: Herald Sun HiT
  12. ^ News.com.au: Delta circus keeps Vanessa on hold
  13. ^ Access All Areas.net.au: Vanessa Amorosi hits the road!
  14. ^ "Doin' It For The Kids". Australian Idol. Network Ten. 20 October 2007. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |authorlink= (help)
  15. ^ AccessAllAreas.net.au: Vanessa Amorosi's Perfect new single!
  16. ^ VanessaAmorosi.net - Vanessa’s new duet with Hoobastank!
  17. ^ Vanessa Amorosi features in new Hoobastank single
  18. ^ SCHATTENBLICK - LABEL/2462: Universal International Newsletter vom 31.03.10
  19. ^ The Daily Telegraph: Aussie duo Vanessa Amorosi and Orianthi oblige soul queen Mary J Blige
  20. ^ http://www.vanessaamorosi.net/?p=1744
  21. ^ A Message from Vanessa
  22. ^ a b c d e f ARIA Awards 2008 : History: Winners by Year
  23. ^ a b ARIA Awards 2008 : History: Winners by Year
  24. ^ APRA|AMCOS: 2001 Winners
  25. ^ APRA|AMCOS: Most Played Australian Work 2009
  26. ^ The Music Network: ARIA #1 Chart Awards honour Aussie chart-toppers
  27. ^ Knox, David (August 16, 2010).Kids’ Choice Awards: 2010 Nominees. tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved August 16, 2010
  28. ^ a b The Music Network: ARIA nominations announced 28 September 2010

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vanessa Amorosi.
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