Natasha Bedingfield
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Natasha Bedingfield | ||
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 Bedingfield performing in 2006.
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Natasha Anne Bedingfield | |
| Born | November 26, 1981 (age 25) | |
| Origin |  Sussex, England |
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| Genre(s) | Pop | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter | |
| Years active | 2004–present | |
| Label(s) | Sony BMG | |
| Website | natashabedingfield.com | |
Natasha Bedingfield (born November 26, 1981) is a Grammy Award-nominated British pop singer-songwriter. Bedingfield grew up in London, England and came to fame in 2004, after the release of her debut album Unwritten. In the United Kingdom, Bedingfield has achieved three top ten singles, including the number one, "These Words", in 2004. Her debut album has sold over 2.3 million copies worldwide and in 2006 she received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for "Unwritten".[1] She is currently signed to Sony BMG and her sophomore album, N.B., is scheduled for release on April 30, 2007.[2]
Bedingfield is the sister of pop-singers Daniel Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle. She has promoted humanitarian causes throughout the world, and is noted for her work with children in the "Stop the Traffik" campaign through her mother's charity, Global Angels.
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[edit] Childhood and beginning
Bedingfield was born in Sussex, England to New Zealand-born Molly and John Bedingfield (former Christian missionaries).[3] She has three siblings; an older brother Daniel and a younger sister Nikola, who are both pop singers, and a younger brother, Joshua. Bedingfield grew up in the south-east London district of Lewisham, moving there as a child.[3] As a teenager, Bedingfield and her siblings, Daniel and Nikola, formed the Christian rock group, The DNA Algorithm.[4] Her interest in music was encouraged by her parents and growing up she also took guitar and piano lessons.[5]
Bedingfield attended a year at the University of Greenwich, where she studied psychology.[3] Commenting on her choice of study, Bedingfield said: "I was interested in psychology because I knew that'd make me a better songwriter. It'd give me a deeper insight into people."[5] After a year of studying psychology, Bedingfield left university to concentrate on singing and songwriting. She began to record demos in the garages of friends who had recording studios, which she eventually took to record companies.[6]
In 2004, Bedingfield wrote and recorded songs for the Hillsong London Church live album Shout God's Fame.[7] Her recordings have also appeared on Hillsong's children's album Jesus Is My Superhero (2004).
[edit] Recording and performing career
[edit] 2004-2006: Unwritten
Bedingfield signed a recording contract with Sony BMG in 2003.[8] Her first album, Unwritten, was released in September 2004 and reached number one on the UK albums chart. By early 2005, it was certified triple platinum.[9] The album contained uptempo pop rock tracks and influences from R&B music and was described as a "well-made pop album for the new millennium" by All Music Guide.[10] It received positive reviews from critics, although the BBC noted that ballads such as "Wild Horses" would have benefited from a "more delicate vocal approach".[11]
Bedingfield's debut single release, "Single", which HMV described as a "crisp R&B production" with "sensuous vocals", peaked at number three on the UK singles chart.[12] The album's second single, "These Words", debuted at number one in the UK. At the 2005 BRIT Awards, the song was nominated for "Best British Single". Subsequent single releases, "Unwritten" and "I Bruise Easily", were also substantial successes on the UK singles chart.
In July 2005, Unwritten was released in the United States and reached number twenty-six on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The album featured a re-worked track listing and new songs. Bedingfield's debut U.S. single, "These Words", reached number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The song "Unwritten", her second U.S. single release, reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum.[13] In 2006, the song peaked at number one on the Pop 100 singles chart and became the first song by a solo British female artist since 1987 to do so.[14] At the 2007 Grammy Awards, "Unwritten" was nominated for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance".
Bedingfield appeared in the James Bond video game From Russia with Love in November 2005. In the game she portrays Elizabeth Stark, the British Prime Minister's daughter who is kidnapped in the opening sequence. Bedingfield has said that she is interested in acting, but stated that "music really is [her] big focus."[15]
In November 2006, Bedingfield released the DVD Live in New York City. The DVD contained a live concert performance as well as music videos and a behind-the-scenes documentary. Also that month, Bedingfield recorded the Diane Warren-penned song, "Still Here", for the film Rocky Balboa.[16] The song, however, did not appear on the soundtrack.
[edit] 2007: N.B.
In 2006, Bedingfield began recording her second album in Los Angeles, California.[17] The album, N.B., is scheduled for release in Europe on April 30, 2007,[2] and will feature collaborations with artists Rich Harrison, Mike Elizondo, Steve Kipner and Andrew Frampton.[17] The album's first single, "I Wanna Have Your Babies", will be released on April 16, 2007.[18]
[edit] Personal life
In 2006, the media incorrectly reported that Bedingfield was dating Nick Lachey and Maroon 5 lead singer, Adam Levine. Referring to the media reports, Bedingfield commented that "Adam is lovely but I didn't date him or Nick. As soon as you talk to a famous guy, you're immediately linked."[19] Bedingfield has admitted that she is currently dating someone, but will not reveal who he is because it is something she would like to keep private.[19]
Bedingfield is an ambassador for Global Angels, an international children's charity founded by her mother, Molly.[20] In November 2006, Bedingfield visited India for three weeks in support of the charity, where she visited orphanages and interacted with children. Video diaries filmed during her trip were posted on her official website in early 2007.[21] She is also an advocate for Stop the Traffik, a global coalition which works to end human trafficking.[20]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio Albums
| Album | Album Information |
|---|---|
 |
Unwritten
|
 |
N.B. |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions[22][23] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRL | GER | NOR | SE | SW | AUS | NZ | U.S. | ||
| 2004 | "Single" | 3 | 7 | - | 16 | 17 | - | 78 | - | 57 |
| "These Words" | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 17 | |
| "Unwritten" | 6 | 9 | 22 | - | 32 | 26 | 26 | 15 | 5 | |
| 2005 | "I Bruise Easily" | 12 | 17 | 46 | - | - | 53 | 28 | - | - |
| 2007 | "I Wanna Have Your Babies"1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Stuart Clarke. Staggered Plan for Bedingfield Return. Music Week. June 10, 2006. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
- ^ a b Natasha Bedingfield: First listen. AOL Music. February 20, 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
- ^ a b c John Harlow. Bill Gates Puts Bedingfield in His Xbox. The Sunday Times. March 26, 2006. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
- ^ Rob Patterson. Natasha Bedingfield. BMI. February 22, 2006. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
- ^ a b Artist Profile: Natasha Bedingfield. EMI Music Publishing. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
- ^ Simon Cage. Sister Doing It For Herself. The Scotsman. December 19, 2004. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
- ^ Tony Cummings. Hillsong London: Shouting God's Fame and Proclaiming Jesus Is. Cross Rhythms. November 12, 2006. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
- ^ Biography. VH1. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ Certified Awards. The BPI. February 18, 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ Johnny Loftus. Review of Unwritten. All Music Guide. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ David Hooper. Album Reviews: Unwritten. BBC. 2004. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ Reviews: Unwritten. HMV. August 2004. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ RIAA. RIAA Certifications. Billboard. November 13, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ Kimberly Reyes. British Singer Sneaks Up Chart. Yahoo!. March 13, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ Patrick Garratt. Natasha Bedingfield: EA's Latest Bond Girl. Eurogamer. November 8, 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ Keith Caulfield. Charting As Easily As 'Bruising?'. Billboard. November 10, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ a b Hattie Collins. Natasha Bedingfield: The Secret of Her Success. RWD Magazine. December 18, 2006. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
- ^ Latest News: New Single & Album. natashabedingfield.com. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
- ^ a b Woman We Love. Cosmopolitan UK. February 2007.
- ^ a b Natasha Bedingfield Becomes An Ambassador for 'Global Angels'. Sony BMG UK. April 5, 2006. Retrieved March 13, 2007.
- ^ Oh Baby! Natasha Bedingfield Comes Back With Super-Cute New Single + Album. Sony BMG Australia. February 20, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2007.
- ^ Natasha Bedingfield Charts. Music Square. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
- ^ Charts. Top40-charts.com. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
[edit] External links
- natashabedingfield.com — official website
- natashabedingfieldusa.com — official U.S. website
- natashabedingfield.de — official German website
- thesewords.net — news site
Studio albums: Unwritten · N.B.
Singles: "Single" ♦· "These Words (I Love You, I Love You)" ♦· "Unwritten" ♦ "Do They Know It's Christmas?" ♦ "I Bruise Easily" ♦ "I Wanna Have Your Babies"
DVDs: "Live in New York City"
Related articles: Achievements and awards
Natasha Bedingfield - Geoff Bullock - Michael Guy Chislett - Russell Fragar - Nigel Hendroff - Joel Houston - Steve McPherson - Reuben Morgan - Marty Sampson - Mark Stevens - Miriam Webster - Darlene Zschech
