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Desirée Annette Weekes (born 30 November 1968), known by her stage name Des'ree (/ˈdɛz(ə)reɪ/), is an English pop and soul recording artist and songwriter, who rose to prominence during the 1990s. Known for her distinctive contralto voice and uplifting lyrics, Des'ree's biggest hits include the singles "Feel So High", "You Gotta Be", and "Life", as well as the ballad "Kissing You", which featured on the soundtrack of the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. She was named Best British Female at the 1999 Brit Awards. Her other accolades include an Ivor Novello Award, a World Music Award, and four BMI Awards.

Early life

Des'ree was born in Croydon, South East London, on 30 November 1968. Her mother is from British Guiana (now Guyana), and her father is from Barbados. She was introduced to reggae, calypso, and jazz music by her parents. The family lived in Barbados for three years before returning to the UK when Des'ree was a teenager. Prior to entering the music business, her parents had hoped she would study law at university.

Career

1990s: Career beginnings and international success

In 1991, at the age of 22 and with no connections in the music industry, Des'ree was signed to Sony 550, having been encouraged by her then-boyfriend to send a demo tape to the label. Her debut single, "Feel So High", was released in August 1991, just twelve weeks after her signing with Sony. The song did not initially reach the UK top 40, but hit number 13 when it was re-released in January the following year. Her debut album, Mind Adventures, was released in February 1992, peaking at number 26 in the UK. She toured the country with Simply Red in July that same year, featuring as their opening act. In 1993, Des'ree collaborated with Terence Trent D'Arby on the song "Delicate", which hit the UK top 20. Next, she performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican City's inaugural concert of secular music, which aired on Italian television in December 1993; the event, Concerto di Natale, has been held with different artists every Christmas in the years since.

In 1994, Des'ree's single "You Gotta Be" entered the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 5. It became the most-played music video on VH1 that year, and remained on the Billboard Recurrent Airplay Chart for nineteen months. Released a total of three times in the UK, it finally reached the top 10 in 1999 after a Ford Focus advertising campaign renewed its popularity. Her many live performances of the song include a 1995 episode of Saturday Night Live and the closing ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Des'ree's second album, I Ain't Movin', was released in May 1994, selling in excess of 2.5 million copies worldwide and earning positive reviews, with the Chicago Tribune commending its lyrical content and Des'ree's "beautiful, dusky voice". The record's success led to a tour with Seal, which took place across North America between November 1994 and July 1995. Next, she was approached by Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann to write a song for the soundtrack of his 1996 romance, Romeo + Juliet. She appeared in a cameo role as "Diva" during one of the film's most iconic sequences, performing said track, "Kissing You", as Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes' characters meet for the first time. "Kissing You" was roundly praised by critics, and went on to receive a Satellite Award nomination for Best Original Song.

In 1997, Des'ree provided vocals for the Steve Winwood track "Plenty Lovin'". The following year, her single "Life" became a hit in Europe, reaching number 1 in many countries, as well as in Japan. In 2007, a BBC Radio 6 listeners' poll declared the song as featuring the "worst lyric in pop", its offending lines being, "I don't want to see a ghost / it's the sight that I fear most / I'd rather have a piece of toast / watch the evening news". The album from which the single was taken, Supernatural, was released in June 1998 to positive reviews, with American music critic J. D. Considine calling it "exquisitely listenable". Supernatural was successful across Europe, hitting the top 5 in Italy and the Netherlands, and peaking at number 16 in the UK. It was less successful in the United States, reaching #185 on the Billboard 200.

On 16 February 1999, Des'ree was named Best British Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards. Later that year, she performed The Beatles' song "Blackbird" at Concert for Linda, a charity event in tribute to Linda McCartney, and collaborated with Ladysmith Black Mambazo on their cover of "Ain't No Sunshine", which peaked at number 42 in the UK. She subsequently put her music career on hold to focus on her private life.

2000s–present: Hiatus, other ventures, and return to music

Following the 2000 release of Endangered Species, a collection of B-sides and live tracks, Des'ree contributed vocals to the charity single "Wake Up the Morning", which was released in November 2001 to mark the first anniversary of the killing of Damilola Taylor. Next, she performed a sung sonnet from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice on the compilation album When Love Speaks. Her fourth album, Dream Soldier, was released in March 2003, with lead single "It's Okay" reaching #69 in the UK. Dream Soldier was not a commercial or critical success, which led to her parting ways with Sony, instead exploring her interest in naturopathy and training as a nutritionist.

In 2008, Des'ree performed at the O2 Arena for Young Voices' "Big Sing" charity concert, where she helped break the world record for "most people simultaneously singing the same song" by leading 600,000 schoolchildren across the UK in singing her hit, "You Gotta Be". In 2011, she sang a lullaby on the sleep therapy CD, Sleep Talk Lullaby.

Des'ree's first album in sixteen years, A Love Story, was released by her own label, Stargazer Records, on 11 October 2019. She had begun work on the album in 2014, but took an extended break to care for her mother. MusicOMH's Nick Smith awarded it four stars out of five, noting the "subtle beauty and emotional power" of Des'ree's voice, and calling the album "a solid and engaging return".

Other work

"Silent Hero", written by Des'ree and Prince Sampson, featured in Spike Lee's 1995 film Clockers; "Feel So High" (Des'ree, Michael Graves) featured in the 1996 film Set It Off; "Crazy Maze" (Des'ree, Peter Lord Moreland, Vernon Jeffrey Smith) featured in the 1997 film Nothing to Lose; and "You Gotta Be" (Des'ree, Ashley Ingram) featured in both The Next Karate Kid (1994) and The Object of My Affection (1998).

Lawsuits

In 1997, Des'ree's hit "Feel So High" was interpolated into the Janet Jackson song "Got 'til It's Gone" (from Jackson's album The Velvet Rope), without due credit being given to Des'ree as a contributor. Subsequent releases containing the track would list Des'ree as one of its writers, following a successful lawsuit against Jackson.

In 2007, Des'ree filed a lawsuit against Beyoncé, claiming that the singer's cover of her song "Kissing You"—retitled "Still in Love (Kissing You)" and featured on the album B'Day—was released without permission. The case was later dismissed, but not before editions of the album featuring the song were pulled from sale.

Personal life

Des'ree is a vegetarian. In 2002, she took courses in photography and ceramics at the Camberwell College of Arts.

Accolades

Billboard Music Awards

BMI London Awards

BMI Pop Awards

Brit Awards

Cash Box Year-End Awards

Ivor Novello Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

RSH-Gold Awards [de]

Satellite Awards

World Music Awards

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Notes

• "Feel So High" originally peaked at number 51 on the UK singles chart in 1991. It was re-released in 1992 and peaked at number 13. In the US, the single featured on I Ain't Movin' and did not chart until 1995.
• "Fire" was included on the 1998 edition of Supernatural as track 11. "You Gotta Be" replaced it when a new edition of the album was released in 1999.

As a featured artist

Promotional singles

References

1. ^ "Images for Des'ree - Supernatural". Discogs.
2. ^ Sloan, Ben. "Des'ree - 60 Seconds Extra!". Metro. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012.
3. "R.E.M win International Group presented by Des'ree | BRIT Awards 1995". YouTube. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
4. Hocter, Matthew (6 May 2024). "Des'ree's 'I Ain't Movin'' Turns 30". Albumism. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
5. Humphrey, Aaliyah. "My Contribution to the 'Pick a Letter' Song Challenge: "K-L"". Plethora of Pop. Medium. I love her rich contralto voice.
6. ^ Hocter, Matthew (7 August 1998). "The deification of Des'ree". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
7. Nina Myskow, "star challenge: Hanging on the telephone with... Des'ree.", Daily Mirror, 15 March 2003
8. Briton Hadden, Henry Robinson Luce (1995), Time, Volume 145, Issues 18–26, 1995.
9. Paul Sexton, "550 Music's Des'ree Gets 'Supernatural' On 3rd Set", Billboard, 13 June 1998.
10. ^ "Des'ree (b.1968)". NPG.org.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
11. Mann, Sam. "Living a Dream; British Soul Diva Des'ree Comes Back Fighting". Retrieved 6 August 2024.
12. ^ "Des'ree Concert History". ConcertArchives.org. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
13. "Ford - Crowd". YouTube. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
14. "February 11, 1995 – Bob Newhart / Des'ree (S20 E12)". The 'One SNL a Day' Project. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
15. "You Gotta Be Kidding Me: The Timelessness of Des'ree's Empowering Anthem". musicology.blog. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
16. "Des'ree I Ain't Movin' (Sony 550)". Chicago Tribune. 10 November 1994. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
17. "Romeo and Juliet Fish Tank Scene Makes Us Want to Dress Like an Angel". HuffPost. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
18. "Romeo + Juliet (1996) - Love at First Sight Scene". YouTube. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
19. Considine, J. D. (7 November 1996). "CD Reviews – William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet Music from the Motion Picture". The Baltimore Sun (Final ed.). p. 7. The tremulous intensity of Des'ree's 'Kissing You' has more emotional impact than many films
20. Lipper, Kate (13 December 1996). "'Romeo & Juliet' Soundtrack". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. F9. An excellent slow song that you can play nonstop.
21. ^ "Des'ree - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
22. "Des'ree takes bad lyric top spot". BBC. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
23. Lewis, Angela (20 June 1998). "Jazz: Album Reviews". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
24. Considine, J. D. (21 August 1998). "Music Review: 'Supernatural'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
25. ^ "BRIT Awards 1999". YouTube.
26. "Brit award winner Des'ree performs during "Here, There and Everywhere," a charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall, in memory of Sir Paul McCartneys' late wife Linda. The soul singer sang the Beatles classic "Blackbird" at the concert". Alamy. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
27. "Stars release Damilola tribute single". BBC News. 26 November 2001. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
28. ^ Bond, Nick (10 September 2019). "Whatever happened to Life and Kissing You singer Des'ree?". News.com.au. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
29. "Des'ree". Apple Music. Retrieved 8 August 2024. She managed six Top 40 hits—including two Top 10 singles—between 1992 and 2003, when she took a break from music to focus on naturopathy.
30. "Pembrokeshire-led Big Sing aims to smash its own record". Western Telegraph. 27 November 2008.
31. "Sleep Hypnotherapy - Sleep Talk Lullaby by Julie LangtonSmith and Des'ree". YouTube. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
32. ^ "You Gotta Be singer Des'ree returns with new album after career break". Melan Magazine. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
33. Smith, Nick (18 January 2022). "Des'ree – A Love Story". musicOMH. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
34. "Janet Jackson / Des'ree Comparison". YouTube. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
35. "Janet* Featuring Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell – Got 'til It's Gone". Discogs. Retrieved 7 August 2024. Subsequent releases containing the track would credit Des'ree as a co-writer.
36. Ian Hyland, "Des'ree wins pounds 2m in Janet Jackson song copying war.", Sunday Mirror, 31 May 1998
37. "Des'ree sues Beyonce over song". Metro. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
38. "3. Rock/pop music and vegetarianism". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
39. "Billboard: 1995 Year-End Chart-Toppers". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
40. "BMI London Awards". BMI. 24 October 2002. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
41. "2007 BMI London Awards: Song List". BMI. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
42. "Graham Gouldman and Top Songwriters Honored at 2015 BMI London Awards". BMI. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
43. "Billboard". June 1996.
44. "BRIT Awards 1995". YouTube.
45. "Cash Box - A Rear View of '95" (PDF). World Radio History. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
46. ^ "1995 MTV Music Video Awards". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
47. "RSH Gold 1999". 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
48. ^ "Des'ree". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
49. ^ Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
    • Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com > Des'ree in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
    • Top 100 peaks: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 79.
    • "I Ain't Movin'" (single): "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 06 Nov 1994". Australian Record Industry Association Ltd. Retrieved 25 February 2016 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
    • "Why Should I Love You", "Little Child" and "What's Your Sign?": "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 July 2016". Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
    • "It's Okay": "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 16 June 2003" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd. 7 July 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
50. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Suchen nach "Des'ree"" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 21 March 2020. N.B. Select the Album tab to display albums chart peaks.
51. ^ "dutchcharts.nl > Des'ree in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
52. "charts.nz > Des'ree in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
53. "Billboard > Des'ree Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
54. ^ "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Mind Adventures' (from bpi.co.uk)". BPI. Retrieved 19 November 2016 – via Imgur.com.
55. "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'I Ain't Movin' (from bpi.co.uk)". BPI. Retrieved 19 November 2016 – via Imgur.com.
56. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 79.
57. ^ Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Wellington: Dean Scapolo and Maurienne House. ISBN 978-1877443-00-8.
58. "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Supernatural' (from bpi.co.uk)". BPI. Retrieved 19 November 2016 – via Imgur.com.
59. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know > Search results for 'Des'ree'". Fireball Media. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
60. "Hit Parade Italia > Indice per Interprete: D" (in Italian). HitParadeItalia. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
61. "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 16 January 1999 – via Google Books.
62. "Billboard > Des'ree Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
63. "British single certifications – Des'ree – You Gotta Be". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
64. "British single certifications – Des'ree – I'm Kissing You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
65. "British single certifications – Des'ree – Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
66. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 152. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
67. UK chart peaks as featured artist:
    • "Delicate": "Official Charts > Terence Trent D'Arby". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
    • "Ain't No Sunshine": "Official Charts > Ladysmith Black Mambazo". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
    • "Wake Up the Morning": "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > DJ T – Tzant". zobbel.de. Retrieved 18 November 2016.

External links

• Official web site
• Des'ree at AllMusic
• Des'ree at IMDb

• 1968 births
• Living people
• English women singer-songwriters
• English singer-songwriters
• English soul musicians
• English contraltos
• Neo soul singers
• Brit Award winners
• Alumni of Camberwell College of Arts
• English soul singers
• English people of Barbadian descent
• English people of Guyanese descent
• 20th-century Black British women singers
• Singers from the London Borough of Croydon
• People from Croydon
• 550 Music artists
• S2 Records artists
• 21st-century Black British women singers
• World Music Awards winners
• English contemporary R&B singers