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{{short description|American singer}} | |||
{{Infobox Musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians --> | |||
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{{Infobox musical artist | |||
| Img = BriaValentepromo.jpg | |||
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| name = Bria Valente | ||
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| image = Bria Valente, 2006.jpg | ||
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| Background = solo_singer | |||
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| caption = Bria Valente in December 2006 | ||
| birth_name = Brenda Fuentes | |||
| Born = <!-- {{Birth date and age|1972|MM|DD}} -->], ], ] | |||
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| Died = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) --> | |||
| birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already WIDELY published, as per ] --> | |||
| Origin = | |||
| birth_place = ], ], U.S. | |||
| Instrument = | |||
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| genre = ] | ||
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| occupation = Singer, model | ||
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| instrument = Vocals | ||
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| years_active = 2001–present | ||
| label = {{ubl|]|]}} | |||
| Associated_acts = ] | |||
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| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | ||
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Born Brenda M. Fuentes, Bria Valente, is an American music ]. A ] of ], Valente released her debut album, '']'', as part of a three-album set with Prince's '']'' and ''MPLSOUND'' on ] ].<ref name="Allmusic"> at ].</ref> | |||
'''Brenda Fuentes''', better known by her stage name '''Bria Valente''',<ref name="Allmusic">. ].</ref> is an American ] and ]. A ] of ], Valente released her debut album, '']'', as part of a three-album set with Prince's '']'' and '']'' on March 29, 2009.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The collection debuted at number two on the ] albums chart.<ref>"". April 8, 2009. '']''. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.</ref> | |||
Bria is not credited but rumored to be the background vocalist on Prince's Golden Globe winning "Song of the Heart" from the Happy Feet movie soundtrack. Valente's voice is credited on Prince's "Planet Earth" album, and "LotusFlow3r".{{Fact|date=May 2009}} "Mr. Goodnight" , "4Ever" and "Colonized Mind" are the tracks she is rumored to be featured. (This cannot be confirmed as there are no specifics in the the aforementioned album tracklisting.) | |||
Valente was born and raised in ]. She stated in an interview with ] that she first met Prince at the age of 17 at ] while working with keyboardist Morris Hayes.<ref name="Smiley"> interview. '']''. April 28, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2009.</ref> She later moved to ], and worked as a ] and background dancer for ].<ref name="Allmusic"/> She is credited with backing vocals on Usher's 2001 album '']''.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}} | |||
Bria started her career modeling and starring in two ] videos. "Real Love"<ref></ref> and "Be Easy"<ref></ref>. She also provided background vocals on ]'s album ] with ]'s ].{{Fact|date=May 2009}} Which is rumored to have been removed and re-recorded with another vocalist. | |||
Valente returned to Minneapolis, where she began her association with Prince, contributing vocals to his 2007 album, '']''.<ref name="Allmusic"/> Valente recorded ''Elixer'' in 2009; she sang lead vocals, with Prince on guitar, and Morris Hayes providing beats.<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref>Michaels, Sean (January 2, 2009) "". '']''. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.</ref> Prince described it as a ]-style album.<ref>Edwards, Gavin (April 6, 2009). "{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}". '']''. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.</ref> The music review website ] rated the album 49 out of 100, labeling it as having "mixed or average" reception, based on 12 reviews.<ref>"". ]. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.</ref> The album was released through the website lotusflow3r.com, as well as exclusively through U.S. retailer ].<ref>du Lac, J. Freedom (April 3, 2009). "". '']''. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.</ref> | |||
Born and raised in Minneapolis MN,<ref name="Smiley"> interview. '']''. ] ]. Retrieved ] ].</ref> her ethnic background includes Bolivian heritage.{{Fact|date=May 2009}} She was allegedly introduced to Prince at the age of 17 yrs by Morris Hayes, his then keyboard player in the NPG band. They were later re-introduced in Los Angeles and began working on the Elixer Project in 2005 & 2006. According to Ms. Valente, her vocals have been compared to those of ] and ].<ref name="Smiley"/> The '']'' called her sound ''"chill, with Valente’s buttery voice melding with beats by Morris Hayes and Prince’s guitar lines."''<ref> ''LA Late''. ] ]. Retrieved ] ].</ref> However, this was before official media reviews and later the '']'' gave the album 2 out of 4 stars and stated that, '''''"the problem is that not enough of "Elixer" sounds strong or fresh"'''''. <ref></ref> | |||
{{As of|2010}}, Valente was Prince's girlfriend. She also became a ] during this period.<ref>Willis, Peter (July 5, 2010). "". '']''. Retrieved on July 6, 2010.</ref> Purple Music, a Swiss-based record label released Bria Valente CD single "2 Nite" on February 23, 2012, as part of a Prince club remixes package including the single "Dance 4 Me" by Prince, which was released February 23, 2012.<ref>Jamie Lewis, Purple Music Label (Feb 23rd, 2012)."".</ref> | |||
Unfortunately, most of the major media critics panned her debut album.<ref>http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/valentebria/elixer</ref> Cited below are the highlights of their reviews. | |||
'''NEW YORK TIMES''': <blockquote>'''“Elixer,” ... presents a palatable but undistinguished batch of slow- to medium-tempo R&B fare'''</blockquote><ref></ref> | |||
'''ROLLING STONE''': <blockquote>'''Valente has a pleasant, if thin, voice — she doesn’t have the chops to elevate this material into anything memorable.'''</blockquote><ref></ref> | |||
'''BILLBOARD''': <blockquote>'''"Elixer," features newcomer Bria Valente, and it's about average for albums from Prince''' </blockquote> <ref></ref> | |||
'''ASSOCIATED PRESS''': <blockquote>'''A third CD, entirely sung by new protege Bria Valente, is so lifeless and irrelevant as to hardly merit mention here. "Elixer" is a wholly forgettable trudge through generic R&B plodders that would drag down the most dynamic of singers; and Valente is not one. Her breathy whispers and naughty good looks, for that matter are more reminiscent of Ashley Alexandra Dupre than Apollonia.'''</blockquote> <ref></ref> | |||
'''ALL MUSIC GUIDE''':<blockquote>'''This attempt at old-fashioned star-making might have worked if Bria Valente had a smidgeon of star charisma'''</blockquote><ref></ref> | |||
'''VIBE''': <blockquote>'''Her ten tracks are disposable, and redeemed only by Prince’s extraordinary production ear.''' </blockquote> <ref> </ref> | |||
''' | |||
'''ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY''':<blockquote>'''...her 10 strenuously generic tracks are pure R&B Ambien, and the lady is no Sheila E. (or Vanity, or Apollonia...)'''</blockquote><ref></ref>''' | |||
''']''' | |||
==Discography== | |||
'''Albums''' | |||
* '']'' (2009, ]) | |||
'''Singles''' | |||
* "2nite" (2012, ]) – remixes by David Alexander and Jamie Lewis, produced by Prince | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ |
{{Reflist}} | ||
==External links== | |||
* | |||
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{{Authority control}} | |||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Valente, Bria}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Valente, Bria}} | ||
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{{lifetime|||Valente, Bria}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 05:30, 2 December 2024
American singerBria Valente | |
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Bria Valente in December 2006 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Brenda Fuentes |
Born | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
Genres | R&B |
Occupation(s) | Singer, model |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2001–present |
Labels |
Brenda Fuentes, better known by her stage name Bria Valente, is an American singer and model. A protégée of Prince, Valente released her debut album, Elixer, as part of a three-album set with Prince's Lotusflow3r and MPLSound on March 29, 2009. The collection debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Valente was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She stated in an interview with Tavis Smiley that she first met Prince at the age of 17 at Paisley Park Studios while working with keyboardist Morris Hayes. She later moved to Los Angeles, California, and worked as a model and background dancer for Usher. She is credited with backing vocals on Usher's 2001 album 8701.
Valente returned to Minneapolis, where she began her association with Prince, contributing vocals to his 2007 album, Planet Earth. Valente recorded Elixer in 2009; she sang lead vocals, with Prince on guitar, and Morris Hayes providing beats. Prince described it as a quiet storm-style album. The music review website Metacritic rated the album 49 out of 100, labeling it as having "mixed or average" reception, based on 12 reviews. The album was released through the website lotusflow3r.com, as well as exclusively through U.S. retailer Target.
As of 2010, Valente was Prince's girlfriend. She also became a Jehovah's Witness during this period. Purple Music, a Swiss-based record label released Bria Valente CD single "2 Nite" on February 23, 2012, as part of a Prince club remixes package including the single "Dance 4 Me" by Prince, which was released February 23, 2012.
Discography
Albums
- Elixer (2009, NPG Records)
Singles
- "2nite" (2012, Purple Music Switzerland) – remixes by David Alexander and Jamie Lewis, produced by Prince
References
- ^ Bria Valente. AllMusic.
- "Keith Urban Scores First No. 1 Album". April 8, 2009. Access Hollywood. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.
- Bria Valente interview. Tavis Smiley. April 28, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- Michaels, Sean (January 2, 2009) "Prince to release three albums in 2009". The Guardian. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.
- Edwards, Gavin (April 6, 2009). "Bria Valente: Elixer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.
- "Bria Valente: Elixer (2009)". Metacritic. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.
- du Lac, J. Freedom (April 3, 2009). "Prince's new three-album set includes some winners". The San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.
- Willis, Peter (July 5, 2010). "Prince - world exclusive interview: Peter Willis goes inside the star's secret world". Daily Mirror. Retrieved on July 6, 2010.
- Jamie Lewis, Purple Music Label (Feb 23rd, 2012)."".