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Amy Macdonald

 
Artist: Amy MacDonald
 
Amy MacDonald

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  • Born: August 25, 1987, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Active: 2000s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background), Performer Representative Album: "This Is the Life"

Biography

Amy MacDonald is a Scottish singer/songwriter from Glasgow. Born on August 25, 1987, she studied social sciences while attending university and, like many teenagers, spent her days dreaming of pilgrimages to music festivals such as T in the Park. Inspired by the songwriting skills of Francis Healy, the 12-year-old MacDonald picked up a guitar that had been left lying around the house from her father's pop group days. She taught herself the instrument by following "how to play guitar" advice on the Internet rather than taking structured lessons. With the desire to write songs as good as Travis' best work, she began playing with a community music group before graduating to solo shows in the local area. The gigs featured MacDonald, her acoustic guitar, and a set of cover songs including "Everybody Hurts" and a slow version of "Mad World." Before long, her slew of performances in local coffeehouses turned into a mini-tour of Scotland, where she performed with Travis and fellow Scot Paolo Nutini. Festival appearances followed, including stints at Glastonbury, T in the Park, and V. She secured a recording deal with Vertigo Records (part of the Universal Music Group umbrella, and home to the Killers and Razorlight) before issuing two singles: "Poison Prince," a song about the tortured life of Pete Doherty offered as a limited online-only release, and "Mr. Rock & Roll," which finally launched MacDonald into the Top 20. Her debut album, This Is the Life, was released at the end of July 2007, where it climbed to number two during its first week on the charts (and, later, reached number one in several countries). ~ Sharon Mawer, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Amy Macdonald (singer)
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Amy Macdonald
Amy Macdonald at the Amadeus Austrian Music Awards.
Amy Macdonald at the Amadeus Austrian Music Awards.
Background information
Born 25 August 1987 (1987-08-25) (age 21)[1]
Origin Bishopbriggs, Scotland
Instrument(s) Guitar, drums, piano, vocals
Voice type(s) Contralto
Years active 2007–present
Label(s) Vertigo
Website Amy Macdonald official website

Amy Macdonald (born 25 August 1987 in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire[1]) is a Scottish singer and songwriter.

Her debut album, This Is The Life, was released on 30 July 2007 and has sold more than 2.5 million copies. Her first single, "Poison Prince", was released on 7 May 2007. She played shows at music festivals such as Glastonbury, Hyde Park, T in the Park, and V festival. Amy is signed to record company Vertigo. Amy's vocal range is contralto.[2]

Macdonald started playing on stage acoustic gigs at 15.[1] Her influences include Travis, Pete Doherty, and The Libertines. After several shows in mainland Europe, Macdonald played at festivals such as V Fest during the summer of 2008.

In 2008, Macdonald was engaged to Falkirk striker Steve Lovell.[3]

Contents

Early life

Macdonald attended Bishopbriggs High School.[4] She is a self-taught musician, playing her father's guitar after being inspired by Travis at the T in the Park Festival in 2000, where she heard Travis' song "Turn" and wanted to play it herself.[5]

Macdonald started playing in pubs and coffee houses around Glasgow at 15,[6] including the Brunswick Cellars on Sauchiehall Street.[7] She sent a demo CD to an advertisement in NME and was signed to production company.[6]

Career

Amy Macdonald at Pinkpop 2008
Amy Macdonald, 2008

Reviewers have described Macdonald as softly spoken but with a booming singing voice.[8] Despite her Scottish origins, her singing voice is described as partly Irish and similar to Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries.[9] She has called herself a slight tomboy. On her MySpace blog, she mentions cars, such as Audis, and video games as her interests. Macdonald expressed how fast her life is moving when she mentions her admiration when meeting other singers from the UK such as Travis's Fran Healy and Elton John.

Macdonald got press coverage when she questioned whether the 2007 winner of The X Factor, Leon Jackson, was suffering from tonsillitis, referring to it as "lazyitis". This was because Amy had tonsillitis at the same time but still performed at Glasgow and at the BBC's Hogmanay Live show the same night.[10]

Macdonald is the first artist to have a single featured on Bebo/iTunes' "Free Single of the Week" program.[11] The free single, "Youth of Today", was written when she was 15.

She appeared as a musical performing guest on British and foreign shows such as The Album Chart Show, Loose Women, Friday Night Project, Taratata (France), and This Morning. She has also won the best newcomer award at the Silver Clef awards.[12]

This Is The Life (2007)

In 2007 Macdonald released her debut album titled This is The Life. The album became the UK's #1 album for 1 week. The album debuted at #2 in the UK in its first week but then fell to 4 and then to 6 in its third week. The first single from the album "Poison Prince" was only a limited release. The second single "Mr. Rock and Roll" became Macdonald's first top 40 song charting at #12 in the United Kingdom. However the third single L.A. missed the top 40 at #48, but however managed #5 in the Scottish singles chart. The fourth and most successful single "This Is the Life" charted at #28 in the UK, but was #1 in five other European countries. The single was awarded Platinum in Germany and Belgium and Gold in Spain and Switzerland. The fifth single "Run" gave Macdonald her second lowest chart position in the UK at #75. However Run charted at #36 in Germany. The sixth and final single was the re-release of "Poison Prince", but charted at #148 in the UK, Macdonald's lowest chart position.

The album has sold over 2.5 million records worldwide.[13]

Second Studio Album

Macdonald stated she will start working on a new album in 2009.[14]

Awards and Nominations

In December 2008 Macdonald was voted "Scottish person of the year" by the Daily Record.[15]

Macdonald was set to perform, along with U2, at the German Echo awards, where she was nominated in the category "Best International Female".[16][17]

Amy Macdonald won the "Best International Newcomer" Award, and played "This Is The Life" at the award show.

Macdonald won Best Newcomer at the Tartan Clef Awards.[citation needed]

Macdonald won Best New Comer at the Silver Clef Awards[18]

Macdonald won Best International Album and Best International Song at the Swiss Music Awards.[citation needed]

Year Award Category Result
2009 Echo Awards (2009) Best International Female Won
2007 Silver Clef Award Best Newcomer Won[19]
Daily Record Scottish Person of the Year (2008) Won[20]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • 2007: Amy Macdonald
  • 2007: Live from Glasgow
  • 2008: This Is The Life: Deluxe Edition

References

  1. ^ a b c MSN Entertainment UK: Amy MacDonald
  2. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-12967085.html Reviews
  3. ^ "Pop Star Amy MacDonald Falls For SPL Star". Sunday Mail. 17 February 2008. http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/tv-showbiz-news/entertainment-news/2008/02/17/pop-star-amy-macdonald-falls-for-spl-star-78057-20321658/. Retrieved on 26 November 2008. 
  4. ^ "Video week - Former Bishopbriggs High School pupil Amy Macdonald performs for Bishopbriggs Academy pupils at The Garage nightclub in Glasgow". The Herald. Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. http://www.theherald.co.uk/videoweek/Amy. Retrieved on 2008-08-04. 
  5. ^ Macdonald, Amy. Interview with Scott Simon. Studio Sessions - Amy MacDonald: A Self-Taught Scot. National Public Radio. KGNU Boulder, Colorado. 16 August 2008. Retrieved on 2008-09-06.
  6. ^ a b "Pick up an autographed Amy Macdonald album and guitar pick now!". MTV Asia. 2009-02-06. http://www.mtvasia.com/Funstuff/Contests/AmyMacdonaldAlbum/. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  7. ^ Carroll, Peter (2008-12-18). "Double date for Amy McDonald". The Glaswegian. http://www.theglaswegian.co.uk/entertainment-lifestyle/entertainment/2008/12/18/double-date-for-amy-mcdonald-102692-20979074/. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  8. ^ Simpson, Dave (4 July 2007) "Amy Macdonald: The Lamp, Hull" Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 30 September 2007. "Although her speaking voice seems almost shy, her vocals fire singing bullets against the rear wall.".
  9. ^ isScotland's review of Macdonald's gig at King Tut’s, Glasgow, 13 March 2007
  10. ^ Tonsillitis? More like lazy-itis – star Macdonald attacks X Factor's Leon over cancelled concert, 2 January 2008
  11. ^ "Bebo agrees deal with iTunes for music file sharing". brandrepublic.com/. 13 June 2007. http://www.brandrepublic.com/Digital/News/664073/Bebo-agrees-deal-iTunes-music-file-sharing/. Retrieved on 26 November 2008. 
  12. ^ "Top Silver Clef award for Oasis". BBC.co.uk. 4 July 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7489251.stm. Retrieved on 26 November 2008. 
  13. ^ http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/story.php?newsID=203
  14. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (March 25 2009). "MacDonald ready to work on new album". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a150626/macdonald-ready-to-work-on-new-album.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-21. 
  15. ^ "HOT 100: The women to watch in 2009". DailyRecord.co.uk. 17 December 2008. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/showbiz-news/the-hot-100/page.cfm?headline=10-&method=full&objectid=20976837&siteid=86908. Retrieved on 13 February 2009. 
  16. ^ "Amy Macdonald snubbed by British awards but up for a gong in Germany". Daily Record. 27 January 2009. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/2009/01/27/amy-macdonald-snubbed-by-british-awards-but-up-for-a-gong-in-germany-86908-21074059/. Retrieved on 21 April 2009. 
  17. ^ http://popdirt.com/amy-macdonald-reacts-to-echo-awards-nomination/71406
  18. ^ http://www.t5m.com/silver-clef-awards/amy-macdonald-wins-newcomer.html
  19. ^ Cotton, Fearne. [1] Cosmopolitan. 6 November 2007. Accessed 24 July 2008.
  20. ^ [2] theivors.org. 24 May 2007. Accessed December 2008.

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