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Biography

Birdy
At the SWR3 New Pop Festival in Baden-Baden, 2013
At the SWR3 New Pop Festival in Baden-Baden, 2013
Background information
Birth nameJasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde
Born (1996-05-15) 15 May 1996 (age 27)
Lymington, Hampshire, England[1]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
Years active2008–present
Labels
Websiteofficialbirdy.com

Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde[5] (born 15 May 1996), better known by her stage name Birdy (/ˈbɜːdi/ BUR-dee), is a British singer. She won the music competition Open Mic UK in 2008, at the age of 12.

Her debut single, a cover version of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love", was her breakthrough, charting all across Europe and earning platinum certification six times in Australia. Her self-titled debut album, Birdy, was released on 7 November 2011 to similar success, peaking at number one in Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Her second studio album, Fire Within, was released on 23 September 2013 in the UK. At the 2014 Brit Awards, she was nominated for Best British Female Solo Artist. Her third studio album, Beautiful Lies, was released on 25 March 2016. Her fourth studio album Young Heart was released on 30 April 2021. Her fifth studio album, Portraits, was released on 18 August 2023, which includes the singles "Raincatchers", "Heartbreaker", "Your Arms" and "Paradise Calling".

Early life

Birdy was born on 15 May 1996, in Lymington, England.[6] Her father is Rupert Oliver Benjamin van den Bogaerde, a writer; her mother is Sophie Patricia (née Roper-Curzon). She stated that listening to classical music and the songs her mother played has been a big influence on her sound.[7] Her parents were married in 1995 and have two other children: Jake, born in 1997, and Caitlin in 1999. She also has two elder half-brothers, Moses and Sam, from her father's first marriage.[8]

Birdy studied at Durlston Court Prep School in Barton on Sea,[9] at Priestlands School, and at Brockenhurst College, a sixth form college in the New Forest. Her maternal grandfather was Captain John Christopher Ingram Roper-Curzon, the 20th Baron Teynham. She grew up at Pylewell Park, the family estate near Lymington, Hampshire.[10] Her great-uncle was the actor Sir Dirk Bogarde. She has English, Belgian (Flemish), Dutch, and Scottish ancestry.[11]

Birdy's second given name, Lucilla, was the name of her father's stepmother.[12]

Birdy's stage name comes from the nickname her parents gave her as a baby because she opened her mouth like a little bird when being fed.[13]

Career

2008–2012: Early career

Birdy at the 2012 Champs-Élysées Film Festival

In 2008, while still a 12-year-old pupil at Durlston Court Preparatory School,[14] Birdy won the UK talent contest Open Mic UK, a spinoff of the Live and Unsigned competition. She won both the under-18s category and the Grand Prize, against 10,000 other competitors.[15][16] She performed her own song, called "So Be Free", at the competition in front of 2,000 people.[17]

In 2009, Birdy performed live on piano for BBC Radio 3's Pianothon in London.[18] In January 2011, at the age of 14, Birdy released a cover version of Bon Iver's song "Skinny Love".[19] The song became her first hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at 17. The single was chosen as "Record of the Week"[20] by UK radio DJ Fearne Cotton,[17] resulting in it being added to BBC Radio 1's B‑list playlist[3] as soon as it was released in March 2011.[4] The official music video for the song was directed by Sophie Muller.[21] The song was also featured on The Vampire Diaries episode "The Sun Also Rises", which aired on 5 May 2011. "Skinny Love" peaked at number 1 in the Netherlands.

Since then, Birdy has covered a number of songs, including "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran and the xx's "Shelter". On 19 July 2011, she performed in BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. In the session, she performed both "Shelter" and "The A Team". Her cover of "Shelter" was also featured on The Vampire Diaries episode "The End of the Affair", which aired on 29 September 2011.[22]

Birdy's eponymous debut album of cover versions (plus one original song written by her) was released on 7 November 2011; the album peaked at No. 13 in the UK, No. 40 in Ireland and number 1 in Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia. In August 2012 her début album peaked at number one in Australia, while the singles "Skinny Love" and "People Help the People" peaked at numbers 2 and 10 respectively.[23][24]

In June 2012, Birdy contributed the song "Learn Me Right" with Mumford & Sons to the Pixar film Brave for which she received her first Grammy Award nomination.[25]

On 7 August 2012, Birdy released her "Live in London" EP, which contained eight songs. This included her cover of Ed Sheeran's "The A Team" and her song from The Hunger Games soundtrack, "Just a Game". On 29 August 2012, Birdy performed the Anohni and the Johnsons's song "Bird Gerhl" (from the album I Am a Bird Now) during the opening ceremony of the London Paralympic Games. In October 2012, Birdy sang live on the French TV music program Taratata, performing "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.

Birdy paid a visit to Australia in August 2012, during which Dolly magazine took her on a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney.[26] She also made appearances on shows such as Sunrise and The X Factor singing "Skinny Love" and "People Help the People".

2013–2015: Fire Within and touring

Birdy at the SWR3 New Pop Festival in Baden-Baden 2013

On 16 February 2013, Birdy sang at Sanremo Music Festival 2013. She then announced the release of her second studio album, entitled Fire Within, via a YouTube video on 10 July 2013. The video included footage of Birdy in the studio along with a preview of two songs, "Wings" and "No Angel", which are both featured on the album. The first official single, "Wings", was released on 22 July 2013 and a second song, "All You Never Say", was sent to subscribers of Birdy's mailing list and posted on YouTube on 15 August 2013. The song "Wings" was also featured on The Vampire Diaries episode "Home", which aired on 15 May 2014 (her eighteenth birthday).[27] The album was released in the UK and other surrounding countries on 23 September 2013 and received mostly positive reviews.[28] In North America, the album was released on 3 June 2014. A subsequent EP entitled Breathe was released on 24 September.[29]

Birdy did tours of America and Australia in 2013. After her concert in the Palais Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, a reviewer described her as a sensational pianist who appears to be shy and timid, but whose voice "rings throughout the theatre." The only criticism was that what was "severely lacking" was any sense of crowd interaction.[30] The tour also included appearances on TV shows like Sunrise, on which she sang "Wings."[31] While in Melbourne, Birdy also sang "Skinny Love" at the Logie Awards in April 2013.

In September 2013, Birdy covered a song entitled "Let Her Go" by Passenger, live on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.[32] This track features on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge 2013 album. In December 2013, Birdy performed "Mandela Day" with James Blunt, originally by Simple Minds, at the NRJ Music Awards as a tribute to Nelson Mandela.[33] Also in December 2013, she performed "L'Idole Des Jeunes" with Johnny Hallyday on Le Grand Show.[citation needed]

Birdy won the Best International Rock/Pop Artist award at the Echo Award 2014, held at Messe Berlin on 17 March 2014, beating out Agnetha Faltskog, Lorde, Katy Perry and Christina Sturmer. She performed "Words As Weapons" during the presentation.[34][35]

In October 2014, Birdy covered "Lucky Star" by Madonna, appearing on BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the 80s album. In the same year, Birdy was featured on four of the tracks on the Shadows album by Native Roses, in which her elder brother, Moses, is a drummer.[citation needed]

Birdy contributed three songs to the soundtrack for the movie The Fault in Our Stars: "Tee Shirt", "Best Shot" (with Jaymes Young), and "Not About Angels".[36] Videos for both were released.[37] Birdy appears on the 2014 David Guetta album Listen, featured on the song "I'll Keep Loving You".

Birdy's song "Wings," from her second album, was used as the soundtrack to the Lloyds Bank 250-year anniversary Horse Story advertisements in June 2015.[38]

In August 2015, Birdy co-wrote "Let It All Go" with Rhodes.[39] The single was released on 11 September 2015 via digital download in the UK.[40] In October 2015, Birdy performed a cover of Firestone, originally by Kygo ft. Conrad Sewell on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.[41] This track featured on the BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge 2015 album.[42]

2016–2021: Beautiful Lies and Young Heart

Birdy performing at Frequency Festival 2017

In January 2016, Birdy released "Keeping Your Head Up",[43] the first single from her third album, Beautiful Lies, which she had started writing material for in 2014 while touring in America. "Beautiful Lies", the second single from the album was released in February.[44] "Wild Horses", the third single from the album was released in March.[45] The album itself was released on 25 March 2016. On 20 April 2016, the Japanese Edition of Beautiful Lies was released, containing a bonus track entitled "Lights".

Speaking about Beautiful Lies, Birdy later said this album was what she was most proud of. She added: "The album is about growing up and not accepting change. It's about not really wanting to grow up; it's about lying to yourself. I'd missed a lot of growing up with my family so it's about that. It's also inspired by 'Memories of a Geisha' so it has an Asian feel to it and it's about feeling a much stronger person."[46]

On 1 April 2016, Birdy performed a cover of 'Adventure of a Lifetime' originally by Coldplay for 3FM.[47] On 16 April 2016, Birdy released a limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day of the songs 'Lost It All' and 'Take You Everywhere I Go'.[48] On 25 April 2016, Birdy performed a cover of "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman for BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, and on 27 April she performed a cover of "Sorry" by Justin Bieber at SiriusXM Studios.[49]

On 8 May 2016, Birdy performed 'Wild Horses' at the opening ceremony of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards night, at the Royal Festival Hall in London.[50] She was also the face of the REDValentino spring/summer campaign for 2016 and 2017.[51]

On 23 September 2016, "Beautiful Birds" was released by Passenger, featuring Birdy.[52] On 4 November 2016, "Find Me" was released by Sigma, featuring Birdy.[53] The song peaked at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in its 20 May 2017 issue.[54]

Birdy undertook extensive touring after the release of Beautiful Lies, including a tour of the United States and an Asian tour from Japan to Singapore. By this time, her band had grown from four to five, with an almost completely new lineup. The band members were: Charlotte Hatherley (guitar), Joel Grainger (violin), Richard Evans (bass), Jay Sikora (drums), and Hazel Mills (keyboards). She has said she found Asia like another planet, "such a different world." The audiences were very reserved and quiet, there would be a huge gap after each song, then they would start clapping; it made her wonder if they liked her. She said they don't really clap that much, then after the show they were going crazy and screaming. She found it "really strange."[46]

In an interview with Interview magazine, on 22 March 2016, Birdy explained how she had always had ideas but was never confident enough to assert them. With 'Beautiful Lies', she felt that she was a lot stronger and everything felt better. Birdy stated that where she had gone wrong with her second album had been that she had compromised too much, allowing others to influence her too much. In contrast, with 'Beautiful Lies' she had been 'really bossy'. In conclusion, she added that she loves writing for film and would love to do more; it was a 'really natural' progression for her work.[51]

Birdy was featured on the cover of Wonderland magazine in the Autumn 2016 issue, with an accompanying shoot and interview. Speaking to the magazine, Birdy explained that her mother was a concert pianist and a lot of her family were very musical. Her mother would play classical music and her father would play "poppier records" like Tracy Chapman and The Beatles. It was a real mix of genres, she told the magazine.[55]

Birdy performed two songs at the BFI Luminous fundraising gala on 3 October 2017. Interviewed at the function, she said she was writing material for her new album, but it was still in the early stages.[56]

In December 2017, Variety.com reported that Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group, had signed Birdy to a global publishing deal. Mike Smith, Warner/Chappell UK managing director, said that Birdy was an incredible talent, there was a lot more to come from her and he looked forward to working with her in the years ahead.[57][58]

After taking a break from music, Birdy released a new single, "Open Your Heart" on 4 September 2020. This was soon after accompanied with the announcement of a new EP, Piano Sketches, to be released on 6 November 2020.[59] It features four tracks, primarily piano-based.

On 22 January 2021, Birdy announced her fourth album, Young Heart, via her social media.[60] It was released on 30 April and features 16 tracks. On the same day as the announcement, "Surrender", the first single from Young Heart was released. Her second single, "Loneliness" was released on 12 February. She cites Etta James, Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, and Nina Simone as influences on the album's sound and wrote most of the project in Los Angeles and Nashville.[7] Her favorite songs on the album are "Evergreen," "Little Blue," "Nobody Knows Me Like You Do," and "Young Heart."[7]

2023–present: Portraits

On 24 February 2023, Birdy announced she would be releasing the lead single "Raincatchers" on 3 March from her fifth studio album Portraits, released on August 18. Three more singles followed: "Heartbreaker" in April, "Your Arms" in June, and "Paradise Calling" in July 2023.

Films

Birdy's music has appeared in the films and on the soundtracks of The Hunger Games (2012),[61] Brave (2012),[62] The Fault in Our Stars (2014),[63] Beyond the Lights (2014)[64] and The Edge of Seventeen (2016).[65]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result
2012 Satellite Awards Best Original Song ("Learn Me Right" with Mumford & Sons)[66] Nominated
2013 Houston Film Critics Society Best Original Song ("Learn Me Right" with Mumford & Sons)[67] Nominated
2013 Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Song ("Learn Me Right" with Mumford & Sons)[68] Nominated
2014 Brit Awards British Female Solo Artist[69] Nominated
2014 Echo Music Prize Best International Rock/Pop Female Artist[70] Won
2014 LOS40 Music Awards Best International New Artist[71] Won
2014 LOS40 Music Awards Best International Album (Fire Within)[71] Nominated
2022 Pop Awards Female Artist of the Year[72] Won

Discography

Main article: Birdy discography

Studio albums

Bibliography

References

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  2. ^ Murphy, Casey. "Review: Passenger's latest Album Delivers Powerful Lyricism". The Ithican. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b Radio 1 playlist shows 14th Floor as Birdy's record label. BBC.co.uk (24 February 2007). Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b Birdy makes Radio 1 sing. Musicweek.com (9 March 2011). Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  5. ^ Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, Kelly's Directories, 2000 pg. 1629
  6. ^ Daybreak Into Darkness, Rupert Bogarde (Pan) 2002, pp.385-387 ISBN 0-330-48789-2
  7. ^ a b c King, Danielle (24 May 2021). "TExclusive Interview: Birdy, Wordly & Wonderful Shares Her Secrets". The Honey POP. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  8. ^ Gannon, Louise (20 March 2016). "Birdy: The most famous singer you've never heard of". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Famous music stars from Hampshire - how many do you recognise?". 3 October 2020.
  10. ^ Smyth, David (13 September 2013). "Birdy takes flight: 'It feels like the beginning again'". London Evening Standard.
  11. ^ "The Dirk Bogarde Estate". Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  12. ^ Daybreak Into Darkness, Rupert Bogarde (Pan) 2002, pp. 77,102 ISBN 0-330-48789-2
  13. ^ Shahesta Shaitly (13 November 2011). "Rising star: Birdy | Culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  14. ^ Hilary, Porter (21 October 2016). "Hampshire's Birdy talks exclusively to the Daily Echo ahead of Southampton date". Daily Echo. dailyecho.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  15. ^ Hewitt, Phil (29 November 2009). "Review: Open Mic UK national grand final, Guildhall, Portsmouth". Chichester Observer. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  16. ^ "News | Birdy set to fly high, and take on the UK top 40, after winning singing competition in 2008!". Openmicuk.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
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  18. ^ BBC Radio 3's Pianothon. BBC 3 Classical Music. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  19. ^ Mamona, Sheilla (15 April 2021). "Remember Skinny Love's Birdy? We caught up with her to talk about the reason behind her 5 year hiatus and her big comeback". Glamour. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
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  27. ^ "The top ten best Birdy songs". AXS. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  28. ^ "Fire Within by Birdy Review". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013.
  29. ^ "Birdy-'Breathe' EP - TheCelebrityCafe.com". Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
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  31. ^ birdy videotheek (26 November 2013). "Birdy performs Sunrise Wings and a little interview" – via YouTube.
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  39. ^ "Birdy on Twitter: "I wrote this song with Rhodes.."Let it All Go" Here's the acoustic session. Hope you like it ... More news soon xx "". Twitter. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  40. ^ "Let it all go single". iTunes NZ. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  41. ^ "Firestone (Radio 1 Live Lounge, 23 Jul 2015)". BBC Music.
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  45. ^ "BIRDY RELEASES 'WILD HORSES' VIDEO AHEAD OF THIRD ALBUM | WATCH". Hit The Floor Magazine. 14 March 2016.
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  48. ^ "Birdy". Record Store Day. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  49. ^ "Birdy turns Justin Bieber's 'Sorry' into a haunting, piano-driven ballad, performs single 'Keepin Your Head Up'". SiriusXM Official Blog. 27 April 2016.
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  51. ^ a b "Birdy Takes Flight - Interview Magazine". 22 March 2016.
  52. ^ "Young As The Morning Old As The Sea". 23 September 2016 – via Amazon.
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  54. ^ "Dance Club Songs – May 20, 2017". Billboard. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  55. ^ "The Antidote To Civilisation - Wonderland Magazine". 27 September 2016.
  56. ^ "Birdy interview on new album and supporting young talent at BFI Luminous fundraising gala". The Upcoming. 3 October 2017 – via Youtube.
  57. ^ Variety Staff (15 December 2017). "British Singer Birdy Signs Publishing Deal With Warner/Chappell".
  58. ^ warnerchappell.com
  59. ^ "Birdy Announces New EP "Piano Sketches", Releases New Song "Open Your Heart"". pm studio world wide music news. 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020.
  60. ^ "Birdy Announces Album 'Young Heart', Releases Single 'Surrender'". UMusicians. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  61. ^ "The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  62. ^ "Brave [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  63. ^ "The Fault in Our Stars [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  64. ^ "Beyond the Lights [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  65. ^ "The Edge of Seventeen [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  66. ^ "2012 | Categories | International Press Academy". Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  67. ^ Adam, Ryan (15 December 2012). "Lincoln leads Houston Film Critic Society Awards with eight nominations". AwardsDaily.com. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  68. ^ "18th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards (2013) – Best Picture: Argo | Critics Choice Awards". Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  69. ^ "BRIT Awards 2014: The full list of winners and nominees". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  70. ^ Roxborough, Scott (27 March 2014). "German Echo Music Awards: Avicii, Eminem, Depeche Mode Big Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  71. ^ a b "Premios 40 Principales". los40.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  72. ^ Hourtane, Camille (13 March 2022). "Here are the Winners of the POP AWARDS 2022, the fifth annual Pop Awards!". Pop Magazine. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdy_(singer)

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