Nicki French
Nicki French | |
|---|---|
 French performing at the Oxford Gay Pride Festival in 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nicola Sharon French |
| Born | 26 September 1964 Carlisle, England |
| Genres | Dance, pop, Eurodance |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Bags of Fun Records/Love This (1992–1996) Klone Records (2005) Energise Records (2006–2015) MPG Ltd (2015) Energise Records (2017-Present) |
Nicola Sharon French (born 26 September 1964[1][2]) is an English singer. She is best known for her 1995 dance cover version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", which reached the US and UK top 5, and for representing the United Kingdom in the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm.[3]
Life and career
1964–1993
French was born in Carlisle, Cumberland, England.[4]
French's first "gig" came at the age of seven, when she was chosen to sing the first verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" at her infants' school Christmas concert.[5]
From the age of 16, French studied music and drama at West Kent College in Tonbridge, Kent. She played the lead role of Laurey in Oklahoma! before moving to London and started auditioning for bands and theatre shows.[5]
1980s-1993: Musical beginnings
In the mid-1980s, French was part of the duo Whisky and Sofa. They released "Dirty Den" in 1986.[5]
In 1991, French was booked as the leading lady in a series of revue shows on a cruise ship, touring Europe and beyond and covering songs from stage and screen.[5]
In 1992, French provided backing vocals on Rose-Marie's 1992 album, Emotional Exposure. Generally, French had been a session singer for many years before she covered "Total Eclipse of the Heart".[1]
1994–1999: Career peak, Secrets and French Connection
In 1994, French covered "Total Eclipse of the Heart", a song originally made famous by Bonnie Tyler. The song reached number 5 during a three-month chart run on the UK Singles Chart,[6] selling over 250,000 (UK) copies in the process and earning a silver sales award.[7] In the United States, the song reached number 2, spending six months on the Billboard Hot 100 chart[8] and gaining gold certification from the RIAA.[9] The single also reached number 1 in a number of countries – Japan, Canada, Spain and Brazil – as well as charting in Australia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. French sold in excess of 5 million copies.[10]
Her second single, "For All We Know", a cover version of the Carpenters' song, peaked at number 42[11] on the UK Singles Chart. French's debut album, Secrets, was released in 1995 and further singles from the album included "Is There Anybody Out There?", "Did You Ever Really Love Me?" and "Never in a Million Years". French was Mike Stock's Love This Records's biggest artist before it went into liquidation.[12] Secrets sold over 50,000 copies in its first week of sale in the US.[5]
In 1997, French released French Revolution. The single "Te Amo" peaked at number 4 in Brazil.[citation needed] French Revolution achieved success in Japan and Taiwan but French was then dropped by her record label after management reconstructing.[citation needed]
2000–present: Eurovision Song Contest and diversification
At the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest, French represented the United Kingdom with "Don't Play That Song Again".[1] The song was selected by the British public ahead of seven other finalists on radio and TV. French finished the contest in 16th place. The track entered at number 34 in the UK chart.[13]
French signed to Jim Steinman's Ravenous Records label for a short period in 2000, during which time she recorded "Lovers Again" and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad", neither of which was ever commercially released.[citation needed]
In 2003, French was one of nine contestants on a special Eurovision edition of BBC Television's The Weakest Link. Joining Sonia, Lyn Paul, James Fox, Katie Boyle, Bobby Gee, Jessica Garlick, Katrina Leskanich and Jemini on the show hosted by Anne Robinson, French won the event and was declared 'The Strongest Link' raising £13,000 for cancer research, having lost her father to cancer in 1997.[citation needed]
In 2004, French released "I Surrender" and in 2005, "Calling Out My Name". "I Surrender" charted on the UK Indie Chart at #37 and EuroNRG Top 40 chart[14]
In 2007, French was cast as understudy for the original London cast of Menopause the Musical, starring Su Pollard. She was subsequently part of all the UK and Irish productions, and has played three out of the four roles throughout her connection with the show, elevating to being cast in the main roles.[citation needed]
In 2008, French took part in her first pantomime, playing Queen Genevieve in Sleeping Beauty at Chipping Norton Theatre. The pantomime gained great reviews, making it into the top 10 pantomimes in the UK in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.[15] In 2009, French played Fairy Godmother in Cinderella for New Pantomime Productions.[citation needed]
In 2009, a special edition of French's second album, French Revolution, became available. The re-release contained seventeen tracks and included all three of her most recent singles along with a previously unreleased version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
In August 2010, French toured the UK in the musical Annie,[1] performing eight different roles every night in the show's long run, and was understudy for the role of Miss Hannigan, played by Su Pollard.[citation needed]
In November 2012, French played the role of Helga Ten Dorp in Ira Levin's Deathtrap at the Brookside Theatre in Romford.
In 2014, 20 years after the success of "Total Eclipse of the Heart'", Mike Stock and French started working together again, recording new tracks for his label Modal Production Group (MPG Ltd). The first release from the studio session was the dance number "This Love". According to Stock, "the song's message is a celebration of love and commitment".[citation needed]
In April 2023, French released a Eurovision covers album, titled Eurovision, featuring edits from her three previous EPs and two new songs.[16]
Personal life
French was born in Carlisle to Joseph and Eileen. She has two sisters, Allison and Carolyn, and a brother, Timothy, who is a songwriter. The French family moved when Nicki was four and settled in Tenterden, Kent.[1] She attended Homewood School and West Kent College in Tonbridge.
French married Gavin Mallett, a professional musician, in July 1993 at St. Mildred's Church, Tenterden. The couple resided in Middlesex. They are now divorced.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [17] |
USA [18] | ||
| Secrets |
|
95 | 151 |
| French Revolution |
|
— | — |
| One Step Further |
|
— | — |
| A Very Nicki Christmas |
|
— | — |
| Glitter to the Neon Lights |
|
— | — |
| Who, What, Where |
|
— | — |
Mini albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Rare and Unreleased |
|
| Eurovision E.P |
|
| This Love |
|
| Let's Play That Song Again |
|
| A Touch More Glitter |
|
| Let's Play That Song Again Vol. 2 |
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Te Amo – Best Of |
|
| The Essentials |
|
| The Singles 1997–2014 |
|
| Eurovision |
|
Extended Plays
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Christmas at the Disco |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [6] |
AUS [17] |
BEL [21] |
CAN [10] |
GER [22] |
IRE [23] |
JPN |
NL [24] |
NZ [25] |
US [8] | ||||
| "Dirty Den" (as Whisky and Sofa) |
1986 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "You'll Be Sorry" (as The French Connection) |
1993 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart" | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (re-release) | 1994 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 65 | 15 | 39 | 10 | 13 | 2 |
|
Secrets |
| "For All We Know" | 1995 | 42 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Did You Ever Really Love Me" | 55 | 150 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Is There Anybody Out There?" | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Never in a Million Years" (Sweden and Denmark only) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Stop in the Name of Love"/ "Is There Anybody Out There?" (Australia only) |
1996 | — | 227 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" | 1997 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | French Revolution | |
| "Te Amo" | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Give It Up Now" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Don't Play That Song Again" | 2000 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "I Surrender" | 2004 | 110 [27] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Calling Out My Name" | 2005 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart 2006" (as Diva DJs vs. Nicki French) |
2006 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Ain't No Smoke (Without Fire)" | 2011 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Red Light (Spells Danger)"/"Leave a Light On" | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | One Step Further | |
| "The Boss" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "This Love" | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | This Love (EP) | |
| "Teardrops (On the Disco Floor)" | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Glitter to the Neon Lights | |
| "Steal the Crown" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "On Your Marks, Get Set, Go Away" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "It's Gonna Be a Cold Cold Christmas" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | A Very Nicki Christmas | ||
| "Raise Your Voice" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Glitter to the Neon Lights | |
| "Haunted Heart" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Who, What, Where | |
| "Last Dance" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | A Very Nicki Christmas | |
| "Nothing Is Impossible"[28] | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Who, What, Where? | |
| "High Hopes & Heartaches"[29] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "S.O.S. (Same Old Story)” | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
Other releases
- 1995: "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" (available on vinyl and dance compilations) (Avex Records)
- 2000: "When You Walk in the Room" (on Euro2000 album as Paris) (Dominion Records)
- 2000: "The One and Only" (on Euro2000 album as Paris) (Dominion Records)
- 2000: "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" (on Euro2000 album as Paris) (Dominion Records)
- 2005: "Private Dancer" (for Gayfest album 2005) (Klone Records)
Industry Awards
DMA (magazine) HI-NRG Music Awards[30]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Herself | Best Female Vocal Performance | Won |
| 1995 | Total Eclipse of the Heart | Single of the Year | Won |
| 1995 | Herself | Most Promising Newcomer | Won |
International Dance Music Awards[31]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Total Eclipse of the Heart | Best Hi-NRG 12-inch of the Year | Won |
References
- ^ a b c d e Artist Biography by Matt Collar (26 September 1964). "Nicki French | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "Famous Birthdays – September 26th". 12 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010.
- ^ "50 years of Eurovision". BBC News. 20 May 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ "Nicki French : Homepage". Nickifrench.com. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "About Nicki French". Nicki French. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ a b UK chart peaks:
- Top 100 peaks: "Official Charts > Nicki French". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 1 June 2017. N.B. This site displays 'compressed' chart peaks (exclusion rules applied) for positions 76–100.
- Top 200 peaks to December 2010: "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > Adam F – FYA". zobbel.de. Retrieved 1 June 2017. N.B. This site displays 'uncompressed' chart peaks (no exclusion rules applied) for positions 76–200 between November 1994 and May 2001.
- ^ "British Phonographic Industry searchable certification database". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Billboard > Artists / Nicki French > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ "Recording Industry Association of America's searchable certification database". RIAA. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Nicki French : Homepage". Nickifrench.com. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "Mike Stock, Matt Aitken & Love This: Discography". Stockaitkenwaterman.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2004. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ "Love This Records faces UK closure". Music Week. 2 August 1997. Archived from the original on 6 November 2004. Retrieved 10 December 2024 – via Stockaitkenwaterman.com.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "Euro Dance Hits : Homepage". Eurodancehits.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "Culture, Arts and Entertainment". Telegraph. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Nicki French surprise-releases new Eurovision album, cover of Belle and the Devotions' Love Games". Retro Pop. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ a b Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
- Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > Nicki French in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- "For All We Know": "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 16 Jul 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 1 June 2017 – via Imgur.com.
- All ARIA peaks: "Nicki French chart history, received from ARIA on 19 December 2023". Imgur.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
- ^ "Billboard > Artists / Nicki French > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ Matt Collar (26 September 1964). "Nicki French | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "New music from Eurovision artists: Christmas 2023 Part 2". Wiwibloggs. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop Vlaanderen > Nicki French in Ultratop Vlaanderen" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ "Nicki French – Total Eclipse of the Heart (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for Nicki French (from irishcharts.ie)". Imgur.com (original source published by Fireball Media). Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl > Nicki French in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ "charts.nz > Nicki French in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 20 June 2024. N.B. The triangular symbol besides a title represents ARIA Platinum certification.
- ^ "Chart Log UK : Homepage".
- ^ "Nicki French drops latest single Nothing Is Impossible". Retropop Magazine. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Nicki French is back with her spellbinding new single High Hopes & Heartaches". Retropop Magazine. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Flick, Larry (17 June 1995). "Morales Works His Magic on Londonbeat's Latest" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 24. p. 28. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Euro-focused Miami Gets Thumbs Up" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 30 March 1996. p. 1. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
