| Diana Vickers | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Diana Mae Vickers |
| Born | 30 July 1991 Accrington, Lancashire, England |
| Genres | Indie pop, Acoustic, Synthpop, Folktronica, Pop rock |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, Trumpet[1], Guitar |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | RCA (2009-present) |
| Website | www.DianaVickersMusic.com |
Diana Mae Vickers (born 30 July 1991) is an English singer. Vickers initially rose to fame as a semi-finalist in the British television series The X Factor in 2008. From 8 October 2009 until 30 January 2010, Vickers starred in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice as the leading role of Little Voice, marking her West End stage debut.[2] Vickers' music career is to be officially launched in April 2010 in the United Kingdom when her debut single "Once" will be released with her debut album, "Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree" following in May 2010. Vickers' debut single and album will be released through RCA Records and will be promoted alongside a UK tour commencing 20 March 2010.[3]
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Vickers was born in Accrington, Lancashire, England and grew up in the village of Huncoat near Accrington.[4] She studied for A Levels in Theatre Studies, Classics, and Psychology at Westholme Private School in Blackburn.[5] Vickers had taken many singing lessons and participated in local competitions, but had never sung professionally.[6]
Vickers was a contestant in the 2008 series of The X Factor. Her performances were often unconventional, attracting both praise and criticism. Simon Cowell likened her to marmite, saying fans would either love or hate her singing, with Cowell stating that he "loved it".[7] She courted further controversy when she was unable to perform during week 5 of the contest due to illness and was given a Bye to the next round.[8] She gained a lot of press attention for her relationship with fellow finalist Eoghan Quigg, although they both denied they were in a relationship during the competition, but later had a short relationship after the competition ended, and after she had split up from her steady boyfriend. She was eliminated in the semi-final (week 9), much to the shock and upset of Quigg, who, during Vickers' final performance, ran on stage to comfort her, and also much to the shock of nation and the Bookies, who had had her down as the favourite to win from the very beginning. She achieved 4th place overall.[9]
| Week | Song choice | Original artist | Theme | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | "With or Without You" | U2 | Number one hits in UK and US | Safe |
| Week 2 | "Man in the Mirror" | Michael Jackson | Songs by Michael Jackson or The Jackson 5 | Safe |
| Week 3 | "Smile" | Charlie Chaplin | Big band | Safe |
| Week 4 | "Call Me" | Blondie | Disco | Safe |
| Week 5 | N/A (unable to perform) | N/A | Songs by Mariah Carey | Given bye |
| Week 6 | "Yellow" | Coldplay | Best of British | Safe |
| Week 7 | "Patience" | Take That | Songs by Take That | Safe |
| Week 8 | "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" | Britney Spears | Songs by Britney Spears | Safe |
| "Everybody Hurts" | R.E.M. | American classics | ||
| Semi-final | "Girlfriend" | Avril Lavigne | Mentor's choice | Fourth place |
| "White Flag" | Dido | Contestant's choice |
It was announced that Vickers would be signed up by Sony BMG under the Syco label but this plan was later dropped.[10] Vickers has since been signed RCA Records.[11] In an interview at the premiere of 17 Again, Vickers confirmed that she had begun work on her debut album. [12] Vickers commented that it wouldn't be rushed and that it would be "Diana style". Vickers has been working with Nerina Pallot, Ellie Goulding, Cass Lowe, Savan Kotecha, Starsmith, Alexis Strum,[13] Patrick Wolf and Dev Hynes aka Lightspeed Champion.[14] Guy Sigsworth and Chris Braide are set to produce the album. A song entitled "Jumping Into Rivers", written by Vickers, Ellie Goulding and Guy Sigsworth[15], was leaked in July 2009. Vickers' debut single and debut album are to be released in April 2010 with the debut single titled "Once" co-penned by Cathy Dennis and Eg White[16] and produced and mixed by Mike Spencer. RCA Records intend to market the album as, "one of the sparkiest and most unique pop records of recent years".[17] On 26 January 2010, it was confirmed that Vickers had also collaborated with Gary Lightbody, the frontman of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol on her debut album.[18]. On 12 February 2010, it was confirmed that Vickers' debut album will be titled "Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree".[19] On 17 February 2010, Vickers confirmed that the track listing for her debut album had been finalised.[20] On 19 February 2010, the track listing for Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree was announced on Vickers' official Facebook. Vickers' debut album features 13 tracks including her debut single "Once" and "Jumping Into Rivers" which leaked in July 2009.[21] On 3 March 2010, the album release date was moved back to 3 May for last minute tweaks.[22]
On 5 March 2010, Vickers' debut music video for "Once" premiered on the Play website encouraging users to pre-order "Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree".[23] The YouTube rip of Vickers' "Once" video generated 16,470 views in 24 hours.[24] On 10 March 2010, "Once" was playlisted on Radio 1 and the "Once" music video premiered on British television via Channel 4's Freshly Squeezed music programme.[25][26]
On 9 March 2010, Vickers' debut album track "Jumping Into Rivers" was featured on the episode "Oriole" of the American revival of Melrose Place on The CW. On 12 March 2010, the album artwork was announced via Vickers' official website.[27]
"Once" was added to the Radio 1 C-List on March 10 2010, and was Record of the Week for DJ Scott Mills from 15 March 2010. The tracklisting for Once was revealed on 15 March 2010. It has "Once", a studio version of "Sunlight", a song sang by her in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, written by Take That's Mark Owen, an acoustic version of album track 4, "Four Leaf Clover" and a remix of "Jumping Into Rivers", also on the album. Additionally, on 15 March 2010, "Once" was 4Music's VIP Track of the Week.[28] It subsequently reached number 2 in the 4Music Top 20 chart for that week. Vickers' "Once" along with Joshua Radin's "I’d Rather Be With You" and Corinne Bailey Rae's "Paris Nights" were exclusively selected as the first three songs for Bauer Media's Big City Network new music list specifically from new or returning artists for Big City radio stations to playlist.[29]
On 17 March 2010, Vickers was featured in NME magazine taken as part of a feature named: "Can Diana Vickers prove she's indie in 24 hours?"[30] NME tracked Vickers throughout an average day including browsing vinyls in East London's Rough Trade East store.[31] In addition, Vickers' debut single "Once" was promoted to the B-List on Radio 1, a month ahead of its release.[32]
Vickers went on tour with the Final 8 of the 2008 series of The X Factor spanning from February to March 2009. Vickers sang Take That's "Patience" and Blondie's "Call Me" from her X Factor performances on the tour. Vickers additionally performed a duet of Mariah Carey's "Anytime You Need A Friend" with fellow X Factor finalist Eoghan Quigg.[33] Due to a high demand for the tour, the tour organisers added a host of extra dates.[34] In March 2009, one of Vickers' live tour tour performances of "Call Me" originally by Blondie was interrupted for a competition winner in the Birmingham LG Arena's audience by Ant and Dec for Saturday Night Takeaway on ITV1.[35]
On 21 December 2009, Vickers announced via her official website that she would be appearing in her first official UK tour commencing 20 March 2010.[3] Vickers, who releases her lead single, "Once", on 19 April 2010[36], will be showcasing material from her anticipated debut album penned for release on 3 May 2010. The tour includes a performance in Blackburn, Lancashire at King George's Hall.[37] On 8 February 2010, it was confirmed that she will be accompanied by a live band and dancers on her first headline tour where Vickers will be running auditions on who will be gigging with her.[38]
Diana Vickers' March 2010 UK tour dates in full:
On 1 March 2010, Vickers announced via her official newsletter that she would be embarking on a second UK tour commencing 8 May 2010.[40] On 2 March 2010, Vickers' pre-sale tickets were available to purchase.[41] On 5 March 2010, Vickers' general sales tickets are available to purchase. Vickers will continue to showcase material from her debut album, "Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree".
Diana Vickers' May 2010 UK tour dates in full:
| “ | This young girl is a natural actress. The moment she read the part, it was magic. A frisson ran through the room. Diana Vickers is the real deal. She is Little Voice.[42] | ” |
|
— Jim Cartwright on Vickers |
||
Vickers made her professional acting debut in the title role of a new revived West End production of Jim Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice on 8 October 2009 at the Vaudeville Theatre, on The Strand, London.[43][44] Vickers played Little Voice, who hides a talent as an impersonator of singers such as Shirley Bassey, Edith Piaf and Judy Garland.[45][42] Take That's Mark Owen wrote the play's final song, titled "Sunlight", specifically for Vickers to sing.[46][47][48][49]
She took a break from recording her debut album to star in the production.[50] Vickers won the Award for "London Newcomer of the Year" in the Theatregoers' Choice Awards which was held in London on 14 February 2010 for her leading role in the West End revival of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice with 34.5% of the vote triumphing over West End newcomers including Patina Miller, Lenny Henry and Skins star Nicholas Hoult.[51][52][53] Vickers mentioned in her acceptance speech for the award that she was "really nervous and had not won anything before" concluding that "it is tough in the theatre world".[54]
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRE | EU | ||
| 2010 | Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree
|
— | — | — |
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRE | EU | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | "Once" | — | — | — | Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree | |||||||||||||||||
| As featured artist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | "Hero" (with The X Factor finalists) |
1 | 1 | 8 | Charity Single | |||||||||||||||||
| Year | Song | Writers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Jumping Into Rivers" | Vickers, Goulding, Sigsworth | Offered as free promotional download from Vickers' website in July 2009 after the subsequent leak of the track. |
| Year | Title | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Hero" | Unknown |
| 2010 | "Once" | Harvey[55] |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Hero" (with The X Factor finalists) | BRIT Award for Best British Single | Nominated |
| 2010 | "Little Voice" (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice) | Theatregoers' Choice Award for The London Newcomer of the Year | Won |
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