Реферат: Nelly Furtado biography
«If I expect this all tobe there, like a next record, or whatever, then I'm pretty much screwed.»
-Nelly Furtado, on the hype surrounding her debut
biography
Born and raised in <st1:place w:st=«on»><st1:City w:st=«on»>Victoria</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st=«on»>British Columbia</st1:State></st1:place>, to parents ofPortuguese descent, Nelly Furtado has always beensurrounded by music. Her mother is a former church choir singer, while herfather — a fan of Portuguese music styles, known as "fado"-- sings as a pastime. Her grandfather played instruments, and even hergreat-uncle was a renowned Portuguese marching band score composer.
All of these family elements inspired Nelly's passion for music and abroad spectrum of musical genres at that. By the age of four, young Nelly wasplaying the ukulele and singing in Portuguese and English, and was the tromboneplayer of a jazz band, concert band and marching band, from nine to eighteen.Her vocal chords and dance skills were also useful with her involvement inmusical plays.
hip-hop's what she's got
She knew early on in her childhood that she wanted to be a performer,and her dreams were realized via several chance opportunities and eventsthroughout her life. Nelly received a tape recorder and microphone when she waseight years old, which served as a key part of her musical influences.
Exposed to the rush of new hip-hop acts spawning in the early '90s,Nelly became fascinated by the sounds of TLC, Bel Biv Devoe, Ice-T, Mariah Carey,and the new sampling methods used at the time. With the help of her taperecorder, Nelly would sample the sounds that impressed her, similar to thoseused by popular '90s acts. She sang into her microphone and recorded originalsounds with the «scratch effect» of her keyboard.
A self-proclaimed R&B and hip-hop lover, Nelly was later exposed tothe British rock sounds of the mid '90s, after a trip to her ancestral <st1:country-region w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Portugal</st1:place></st1:country-region>.Teenage Nelly's eyes were now open to groups such as U2, Radiohead,Oasis, while she discovered Portishead thanks to amix tape that a friend of hers made. The tribal beats and bossanova sounds evident in her music come from the music she was exposed to lateron, such as a Brazilian compilation album that combined African and Portuguesestyles.
whoa, nelly,wow!
The album is the product of her participation in a <st1:City w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Toronto</st1:place></st1:City> young performer's talent show at theage of 18. The manager of the Philosopher Kings, a popular funk/pop group, whowas also present at the show, was impressed by Nelly's talent.
The only real recording experience she had up to this point was singingback-up vocals for her friend's Toronto-based hip-hop group. But that wasenough to cut a demo tape with the recording team of Gerald Eaton and BrianWest (of the Philosopher Kings). After much convincing on the part of Eaton andWest, Nelly returned to <st1:City w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Toronto</st1:place></st1:City>to record more tracks.
The fruit of this work is what led to Nelly's record-contract withDreamWorks Records. Her album, entitled Whoa Nelly!, which has already spawnedthe hit singles «I'm Like A Bird,» «Turn Off The Light» and"...On The Radio," was released in the Fall of 2000.
No stranger to touring, Nelly was part of the LilithFair tour, with a bill consisting of female performers such as Beth Orton,Chrissie Hynde, and of course, Sarah McLachlan (who is one of Nelly's idols). Thesinger-songwriter also contributed a track to the soundtrack for the film, <st1:place w:st=«on»><st1:PlaceName w:st=«on»>Brokedown</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=«on»>Palace</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
a soaring bird
And she has her share of fans. Elton John praised Nelly's work andtalent «on the record»; she was invited to pay tribute to ArethaFranklin at a tribute concert for the queen of soul; she released a duet withrap producer and singer Missy Elliot, «Get UR Freak On,» appearing onthe Lara Croft: Tomb Raider soundtrack; and she was invited to perform at theArea: One tour, and was named one of the most talented and beautiful women in theworld by the tour organizer, Moby.
Her critically-acclaimmed debut album not onlyshowcases the mix of musical backgrounds — African beats, hip-hop, folk, urbanstyle, bossa nova, and the Portuguese "fado" — it also highlights a new talent that willdefinitely soar like a bird.
overall rating
With so many musical acts today sounding like the same homogenouscontrived and formulated «noise,» when something original and freshcomes along, it's easily noticeable. That's what happens when you listen toNelly Furtado's debut album Whoa! Nelly. Her firstsingle «I'm Like A Bird» has etched its way up the charts, andappearances on Jay Leno only cemented her place as a rising star.
Nelly's eclectic sound can be traced back to her assorted cultural background.Though she was born and raised in <st1:country-region w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>, her Portuguese roots helpedintroduce her to <st1:country-region w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Portugal</st1:place></st1:country-region>and <st1:country-region w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Brazil</st1:place></st1:country-region>'stop performers, giving a well-rounded international feel to her music oftenlacking in her counterparts. Like her music or not, you'll appreciate therefreshing break from Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
personality & talent
Nelly Furtado is one of those people thatprobably walks around carrying a smiley face stamp so that she can markeveryone who is down in the dumps and make them as content as she is. Herupbeat and tempo-filled album translates to her performances on stage, whereshe performs like she's having a party in her bedroom with her walkman on(except there are no New Kids On The Block posters, and thousands of people arewatching).
She writes her own songs, which always scores big points with us, andshe's able to sing in English, Portuguese and Hindi. She was inspired by Beck,which isn't a bad thing because Beck always delivers original material. Herother major influence, Portishead, is obviouslyinherent in her music (sometimes you think you have the wrong album on). Othertimes you'd think you were listening to Erykah Badu or Macy Gray, two women no one would mind beingcompared to (at least musically, what's up with Macy Gray's Welcome Back Kotter afro anyway?).
sexiness
Nelly is a beautiful girl, itdoesn't take much of a genius to realize that. Why else would she have donemagazine spreads before having released only one song? Her skillful naughtinessplays right into the hands of men everywhere who say they want a nice girl, butreally want a woman who will whip them into submission (or is it the other wayaround?).
accomplishments& fame
She was asked to appear for 4tour dates with Lilith Fair in 1999, which helpedcatch the album a studio label. Though it took a while for her talent to berecognized in the <st1:country-region w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>US</st1:place></st1:country-region>,she has had much success in her two home countries of <st1:country-region w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Portugal</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
The good news for her though, is that she has Dreamworksbacking her, and they hate to lose money on their investment, so look for themto cross-promote across their huge distribution network.
natural beauty
Her easy smile and contagiouslaugh only add to her natural beauty. If she was always seemingly depressed likeFiona Apple, her appeal ratio would drop faster than Charlie Sheen's pants.Keep that sorriso (smile) going Nelly.
personal style
Nelly's personal style crossestwo fields. Sometimes she looks like an extra in a hip-hop music video, andother times she looks like a back-up singer for the Indigo Girls or Sarah McLachlan. She has the hip-hop, urban, lost hippie lookgoing. Let's call it the «Nelly» style; "<st1:place w:st=«on»>Cher</st1:place>" style it isn't.
We like her. We wish she remains a big star and hope she alwaysremembers the little people (yes, that's us).
« ME ON ME»
I am impressed when music matters, when genres are broken, when spiritsare lifted, when people make a difference, and when people are true tothemselves. I am impressed by: Leonard Cohen, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Nusrat FatehAli Khan, Woodstock, Free Tibet, free shows for tens of thousands, Marvin Gaye,Bob Marley, De La Soul, good films, visual art, Andy Warhol, jazz,improvisational anything, artists who I watch perform and they bring me totears, Jeff Buckley, going to a rave, writing poetry about the city, trippingout on a good book, traveling to a foreign city and not knowing anybody...thelist goes on and on.
I have always been in awe of nature and all things innovative. AlthoughI grew up in <st1:State w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Victoria</st1:place></st1:State>,B.C, a mere suburb of a city, I know what independence is, I know what soul isand I know what God is. I know what it feels like to sing on the top of amountain as if God is pumping Abraham straight into me from heaven. I wasperforming in both Portuguese and English by age four, and playing ukulele andtrombone through ages nine to eighteen. I played the trombone in a jazz band,concert band and marching band, and sang and danced in musicals.
I've seen lots and grown lots in my short life span. I have been thebully, I have been bullied, been insecure, been precocious, been lost, beenfound again, been praised, been heralded, been shamed and been alone. I am notsheltered and I have never been, although family is very important to me. I amquite street smart and my pain often fuels my passion, but more often my spiritdoes. I aspire, like anyone, to do great things with my life. I want to be JackKerouac, Mona Lisa, Ghandi and Mother Theresa all atthe same time. I want to inspire people but not in a cheap way. There is anartist in me. I see art everywhere I walk. I believe I was born to sing and tocreate music that emotionally connects. I was born to document the way I seethe world and the experiences I've had in it.
Considering my musical heritage it seems inevitable that I would pursuethis musical dream. In S. Miguel, <st1:place w:st=«on»>Azores</st1:place>, mylate Portuguese grandfather played several instruments. His brother, mygreat-uncle, was a famed marching band score composer or 'maestro' in hisvillage who today remains somewhat of a legend to the towns people. To thisday, even after his death, hundreds of his musical scores remain under lock andkey in his basement despite several attempts to confiscate them by localmusic-lovers. My mother sings in the church choir and my father also enjoyscasual singing and has a deep interest in the Portuguese style of music 'fado', or 'fate'. These Portuguese elements and influencesare very much a part of what I like to call my 'musical hardrive'.
I received my first tape recorder at age eight — I sang into themicrophone and recorded songs myself. I received a keyboard with a built inscratch effect at age eleven. I was writing rhymes at age fourteen but that wasa phase which only lasted a couple of months because the hip-hop culture lookedso appealing to me then.
I've always been obsessed with new music. I'm nineteen years old so Ican't say that my influences are Pink Floyd and Kate Bush, because they aren't.I wasn't even born. I was listening to a haunting <st1:City w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Paris</st1:place></st1:City> sample or a PM Dawn song with a sampledSpandeau Ballet chorus hot off the radio. I was intoanything sensational and loud. It was somehow so refreshing to my young ears.Ice T, LL Cool J, Salt n Pepa, BelBiv Devoe, New Edition,High 5, Jackson 5, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Mary J.Blige, Pharcyde 'passin' me by', Del, Hieroglyphics Crew, TLC, Janet, WordUp Magazine, anything rap and R&B, DJ Quik, YoungMC, Diggable planets, Tribe Called Quest or anythingI could get my hands on be it a bootleg off the radio or a friend's mix tape.Prince stands vitally, somewhere in the middle.
Anything that was created using a drum machine or a sampler — at ages14-16 I was there with bells on. The culmination of these listening experiencesled to my first studio recording at age 16, belting out full-fledged R&Bvocals for a friends <st1:City w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Toronto</st1:place></st1:City>hip-hop group.
New influences came to me as I got older and started listening to myolder brother's CD player. I also went to <st1:country-region w:st=«on»><st1:place w:st=«on»>Portugal</st1:place></st1:country-region> for a summer vacation andopened up to rock influences like Radiohead, SmashingPumkins, U2, Pulp, Oasis, and Sarah Maclaughlin. Next came the discovery of Portoisehead,whose style had a significant impact on my writing and production experiencesfrom that point on. Especially intriguing was Beth Gibbons haunting vocalstyle, which I could mimic to a tee for a good year following. With this waveof influences came Madredeus, Sade,Pedro Abrunhosa, Cornershop,Amalia Rodrigues, Tricky,Prodigy, Bjork, anything Brazilian especially Bossa Nova, Hindu music, and techno in all musical forms,especially drum and bass. Throughout this period I also discovered the greatesthits collections of the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel.From this point on, the door had been opened up real wide, and it only getswider each day.
Flashy urban music of the early nineties gave me a love for sampling,technology and hip-hop. It taught me how to be a bold singer, and how to singwith attitude. The later wave of influences taught me passion and meaning. Theytaught me how to express emotion and melancholy, how to write songs from theheart, develop a personal style and edge to songs and how to develop asignature vocal style.
All of these influences and all of the life experiences I've had thatfuel my lyrical content come together to make me, as an artist, urban folkalternative, if that helps any. Through all of my recording experiences I haveheld good songs in a very high place. I believe in the power of words and themystery of a good melody. Whatismusic until you make itanyway?