90-529: Turn It Up is the debut studio album by English singer Pixie Lott , released on 11 September 2009 by Mercury Records . The album's first two singles, " Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) " and " Boys and Girls ", both topped the UK Singles Chart , while subsequent singles " Cry Me Out ", " Gravity " and " Turn It Up " all reached the top 20. Turn It Up peaked at number six on the UK Albums Chart and
180-574: A West End production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium and as Louisa von Trapp in BBC One 's Celebrate the Sound of Music in 2005, aged 14. Despite missing school time because she was recording her album, Lott says she received top marks in her GCSEs . In 2006, at the age of 15, Lott sang for L. A. Reid after he heard a few of her demos. He then signed her to
270-506: A Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop Vocal Album for Rockferry . Earlier she had been nominated for awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her single "Mercy". Duffy equalled Coldplay with four 2009 Brit Awards nominations. She eventually won three awards, including Best Album for Rockferry , one behind the record held by Blur for the most won in one night. "I cannot tell you what this means after five years of hard work," Duffy said. At
360-528: A delay due to COVID-19 . In June 2023, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child. They were spotted with their child in October. The next month, Lott confirmed they had a son, Albert Charles. On FHM 's 100 Sexiest Women list, Lott was voted No. 45 in 2010, No. 31 in 2011, No. 12 in 2012, and No. 7 in 2013. Lott is a patron of the Penny for London charity and
450-703: A fire in her rented penthouse apartment in Abbots House in Kensington , London. She was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Bangor University on 10 July 2011. In July 2011, Duffy was sued by Angela Becker, the manager she had hired in 2010 to replace her former manager Jeanette Lee. Becker said that she was hired in March 2010 and was dismissed in December 2010, but was supposed to remain Duffy's manager until
540-612: A meeting between Duffy and Suede 's ex-guitar player Bernard Butler . Lee, with Rough Trade, would eventually manage Duffy. After Butler had given Duffy a soul music "education" by downloading tracks on to her iPod that she could listen to while around London or travelling back to Wales, the pair co-wrote with her and helped create a new retro sound. The music included tracks by Al Green , Bettye Swann , Ann Peebles , Doris Duke , Scott Walker , Phil Spector and Burt Bacharach . Duffy described Bettye Swann as one of her biggest inspirations, particularly her song "Cover Me". Duffy
630-463: A new range of Nivea products. Duffy has also appeared in various European television commercials endorsing the beverage Diet Coke . The campaign, showing Duffy cycling through a supermarket singing "I Gotta Be Me", was launched on British television station ITV , following the 2009 BRIT Awards , which saw Duffy take home three awards for her work. Duffy was named as the "face" of the brand, alongside other famous women, though her initial advert for
720-696: A number of other musicians, formed the backbone of Duffy's band for her debut album, Rockferry , which was released on A&M Records on 3 March 2008. The black-and-white album art and video for the title track were shot by directors Luke Seomore and Joseph Bull, on and around the Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog , which was renamed 'Rockferry' for the occasion. According to Duffy, "The album took nearly four years to make. We had to hire cheap, tiny studios and sometimes there would be three-week periods between writing and recording." Bernard Butler, who
810-525: A performance that's real in a video." By May, "Mercy" was a staple on VH1 and a hot Adult Contemporary radio hit and had been featured in the season finale of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy as well as being on the soundtrack album for Sex and the City: The Movie . A remix of "Mercy", featuring rap artist The Game , was released on 10 May. On 13 May, Rockferry
900-546: A rowing boat. After finishing her GCSEs in Pembrokeshire, Duffy returned to Nefyn, to live with her father, when she was fifteen, and started singing in various local bands. Duffy then spent six weeks in Switzerland (before she started college), collaborating with the writer-producer Soren Mounir, under the name Soulego. She was advised by a lecturer at Chester University to "Go on the dole , love, and become
990-568: A singer". She also built up a following at Alexander's , a local jazz and blues club in Chester , where she performed with guitarist David Burton from the band The Invisible Wires , and met songwriter Lucia Cordaro, going on to perform and record one of her songs (I Melt). Duffy returned to Wales in 2003 and was invited to appear on Wawffactor , a Welsh television talent show. She was expected to win but came second to winner Lisa Pedrick. In 2004, following success on Wawffactor , Duffy recorded
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#17327984167231080-632: A song for Girls Can't Catch titled "Happy Alone". She also wrote two tracks on Lisa Lois 's (the Dutch X Factor winner) debut album Smoke (2009), titled "No Good For Me" and "Promises, Promises". She also wrote 'We Own the Night' with Toby Gad for Selena Gomez and ended up featuring on the track too for Gomez' album When the Sun Goes Down . Lott played her first festival concert in the Big Top at
1170-680: A three-song Welsh extended play , titled Aimée Duffy , while working part-time in two jobs as waitress and in a fishmongers. It later achieved Welsh chart success in 2008, charting at number one on the "Siart C2 " music chart. Duffy, now in high demand, appeared on Mint Royale 's See You in the Morning as a back-up singer. Duffy was introduced to Jeanette Lee of Rough Trade Records in August 2004, after singing Richard Parfitt 's "Oh Boy". Lee moved Duffy to Crouch End in London, orchestrating
1260-406: A track originally performed by British band, Take That . The track was produced by Gary Barlow and recorded at Sarm Studios in London. The track also featured past footballers such as Gary Lineker , Michael Owen , Geoff Hurst , David Seaman , Peter Shilton , Glenn Hoddle and Dion Dublin on backing vocals. " Nasty " (produced by Jack Splash ) was released on 7 March 2014 and debuted on
1350-593: Is "a Welsh student who livens up the holiday of a young Argentinian man on a trip to Wales". The film is about Welsh Argentines living in Y Wladfa , Patagonia , Argentina. Patagonia premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival on 10 June 2010, and was released in October 2010. Duffy dated Cheshire -born Mark Durston for over five years until November 2006. They lived in Abersoch . In September 2008, Duffy said that she
1440-411: Is a supporter of West Ham United F.C. . As headline act As opening act Duffy (singer) Aimée Anne Duffy (born 23 June 1984), known mononymously as Duffy , is a Welsh singer, songwriter and actress. Her music style has been described as a mixture of soul , blue-eyed soul , pop rock , neo soul and pop music . Duffy released her debut album, Rockferry , in 2008, which topped
1530-514: Is currently signed to Polydor Records , which operates under Universal Music Group . Duffy was born on 23 June 1984 in Bangor, Gwynedd , and was brought up by her parents; John Duffy and Joyce Smith (née Williams) in Nefyn , near Pwllheli . She has a twin sister, Kate, and an older sister, Kelly Ann, who was born in 1980. Duffy's parents divorced when she was 10 and she moved to Letterston , near
1620-430: Is never dull—Lott has too much natural exuberance for that—but it's a little safe and lacking in surprises", citing "Gravity", "Turn It Up" and "Here We Go Again" as highlights. Dan Cairns of The Sunday Times opined that "[b]ar two missteps ('My Love' and 'Nothing Compares'), Turn It Up is superior, infectious, expertly tailored pop that, had it been recorded 30 or so years ago, would very likely now be being praised to
1710-538: The NME . Duffy describes living in the safe house as a dog-eat-dog, claustrophobic and isolating experience. Aged 15, she ran away back to her father's home in Nefyn. Duffy said in retrospect, "It was a horrendous thing to do." Her mother and her sisters did not speak to her for about a year afterwards. In reaction to her parents' break-up, her next three years were a rebellious period that included binge drinking and stealing
1800-752: The Australian Hitseekers Albums Chart and at number 30 in New Zealand. Credits adapted from the liner notes of Turn It Up . Musicians Technical Artwork Credits adapted from the liner notes of Turn It Up Louder . Musicians Technical Artwork Pixie Lott Victoria Louise Lott (born 12 January 1991), known professionally as Pixie Lott , is an English singer, songwriter, actress, and former ballet dancer. Her debut album, Turn It Up , released in September 2009, reached number six on
1890-884: The Irish Albums Chart for the week ending 17 September 2009. The album saw modest success across continental Europe, reaching number 16 in Denmark, number 24 on the European Top 100 Albums chart, number 49 in Switzerland, number 60 in France, number 70 in Austria and Belgium's Wallonia, number 81 in Germany, number 92 in the Netherlands and number 99 in Belgium's Flanders. In Oceania, it peaked at number eight on
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#17327984167231980-610: The Island Def Jam Music Group . After a change of managers, a bidding war ensued and Lott parted ways with the Island Def Jam Music Group , to sign with Mercury Records in the UK and to Interscope Records in the U.S. Lott signed a publishing deal, as a songwriter, with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in December 2007, while writing and recording tracks for Turn It Up . Lott wrote a song for Alexandra Burke 's debut album, Overcome (2009), titled "You Broke My Heart" and
2070-521: The Isle of Wight Festival 2009 , during her first full British tour, where she supported The Saturdays on The Work Tour . Lott's debut single, " Mama Do ", was released on 8 June 2009. It spent one week at number one, 11 weeks within the top 40 and 18 weeks within the top 75. The single also had considerable success outside the UK, reaching the top 40 in 11 other countries, including top ten peaks of number eight in Denmark and number 10 in France. The single
2160-541: The London Palladium in March 2024. Lott has cited Celine Dion , Christina Aguilera , Mariah Carey , Whitney Houston and Beyoncé as major influences on her style of singing. For her second album, Lott told Digital Spy that the sound was "a little more soulful. That's the kind of thing that I'm into. That influence is stronger on this album." Lott began a relationship with fashion model Oliver Cheshire in 2010. They were engaged on 13 November 2016. They were married at Ely Cathedral on 6 June 2022, following
2250-610: The MTV "Titanic Sounds" festival in Belfast . In June 2012, Lott stated she had started recording her third album citing Motown as inspiration for the album: "I'm going to be heading to New York to work with the guys who did the original Motown records in the '60s to make a new album soon." In June 2013, Lott tweeted that she was recording the first single from her third album with Jack Splash in Miami. In September, Splash confirmed that
2340-608: The MTV Europe Music Awards 2009 ceremony, Best UK & Ireland Act and Best Push Artist (best break through artist). Lott was nominated for British Breakthrough Act, British Female Solo Artist and British Single at the 2010 BRIT Awards . Lott also served as the opening act of Rihanna 's Last Girl on Earth Tour in the UK 7–26 May 2010. In April 2010, Lipsy launched a fashion range co-designed by Lott. The first Pixie Collection comprised two ranges: Pixie Festival and Pixie Party. Lott's second collection for Lipsy
2430-712: The Pembrokeshire town of Fishguard , with her mother and sisters. She attended Ysgol Nefyn (Nefyn School), Gwynedd on the Llŷn Peninsula and Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest , Pembrokeshire as a child. At the age of 17, she attended the Pwllheli campus of Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor to study for A-levels. She subsequently went to the University of Chester and studied Commercial Music Production on
2520-504: The Turn It Up Louder reissue. The music video was directed by Gregg Masuak, and premiered on 16 September 2010. The single reached number 12 on the UK chart, giving Lott her sixth consecutive top-20 single. Although it was initially suggested that "Coming Home", a collaboration with American R&B singer Jason Derulo , was originally going to serve as the second single from Turn It Up Louder after it debuted at number 51 on
2610-521: The UK Albums Chart and sold over 1.5 million copies. It also spawned six consecutive top twenty singles on the UK Singles Chart , including two number-one singles, " Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) " and " Boys and Girls ". Her second album, Young Foolish Happy (2011), spawned the number-one hit " All About Tonight ", as well as the top ten singles " What Do You Take Me For? " and " Kiss the Stars ". Lott's self-titled third studio album, released in 2014, had
2700-499: The UK Albums Chart , selling 18,503 copies in its opening week. The following week, it dropped twenty-four places to number forty-two. On 10 February 2012, it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments in excess of 100,000 within the UK. The album also entered the Irish Albums Chart at number thirty-three. " All About Tonight " was released on 2 September 2011 as
2790-427: The UK Albums Chart , selling 25,652 copies in its first week. Following the album's re-release Turn It Up Louder on 18 October 2010, it rose from number 29 to number nine on 24 October with 15,114 copies sold. On 19 November 2021, the album was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting sales of 900,000 units across the UK. In Ireland, Turn It Up debuted and peaked at number 18 on
Turn It Up (Pixie Lott album) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2880-416: The UK Albums Chart . In August 2014, Lott was confirmed as one of the fifteen contestants, participating on the twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing . On the launch show, it was announced that she will be partnered up with Australian professional dancer Trent Whiddon . Despite topping the leaderboard four times and having the highest average of the series, Lott & Whiddon were eliminated during
2970-581: The Warrington campus. From 2004, she studied Performing Arts at the Parkgate campus. In September 1998, at the age of 14, Duffy was briefly put in a police safe house when authorities uncovered a plot by her stepfather's ex-wife to pay a hitman £3,000 to kill her stepfather, Philip Smith. Smith's ex-wife, Dawn Watson, was sentenced to a 3½-year jail term for soliciting to murder. "I was so terrified. I felt so ill", Duffy recounted in 2008, as reported by
3060-627: The "recent" category. During her Best New Artist acceptance speech at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards , Adele said that she loves Duffy and thinks she is "amazing". Duffy lists Marvin Gaye , Phil Spector , and Arcade Fire as her musical influences. Duffy's " Distant Dreamer " is used as the ending theme in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean . Duffy has endorsed several products. In August 2008, Duffy appeared in Fashion Rocks , supporting
3150-454: The BBC Two television programme The Culture Show on 23 February 2008, performing "Mercy". In January 2008, Duffy came second to Adele in the annual BBC News Online poll of industry experts Sound of 2008 , for acts to emerge in the coming year. In Wales, following Duffy's recent promotion of her music, Aimée Duffy reached number-one on the "Siart C2 " music chart. By 2007, Duffy
3240-521: The CDs and will buy them when they get older. Duffy recorded a cover of Paul McCartney and Wings ' song " Live and Let Die ". It was used on the War Child charity album titled War Child Heroes, Volume I . Acclaim came from Paul McCartney, saying that Duffy's version "is great –I was really impressed". Duffy and Bernard Butler wrote the song "Smoke Without Fire", which appeared on the soundtrack for
3330-524: The UK Singles Chart at number nine, selling 30,812 copies in its first week. It became Lott's sixth Top 10 single and tenth consecutive Top 20 single. On 19 June 2014, Lott appeared on BBC Radio 1's Innuendo Bingo. Her self-titled third studio album was released on 1 August 2014 and was preceded by its second single, " Lay Me Down " released on 27 July 2014. Promotional single, "Heart Cry" has been also released. Pixie Lott peaked at number 15 on
3420-453: The UK Singles Chart before climbing to number one the following week, earning Lott her second consecutive chart-topper and breaking the record of the biggest leap to the top position in the UK chart history. " Cry Me Out ", released as the third single on 30 November 2009, peaked at number 12 on the UK chart, Lott's first single to miss the top 10. " Gravity " was released as the album's fourth single on 8 March 2010. It charted at number 20 in
3510-529: The UK Singles Chart, Lott later confirmed on her official Twitter page that she was filming a video for "Can't Make This Over". The video premiered on 25 November 2010, but the single release was ultimately cancelled. Turn It Up received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic , which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 51, based on eight reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". Paul Lester of BBC Music described
3600-580: The UK charts at number 41 on 21 November. Called "Well, Well, Well", the single features a rhythm section by United States hip hop group The Roots . In 2011, producers David Banner and Albert Hammond announced that Duffy was in the studio for her third album, but nothing happened for the next few years. In August 2011, Duffy was scheduled to perform in Monaco for the Sporting Summer Festival, but cancelled. In October 2012, Duffy
3690-468: The UK, making it her fourth consecutive top-20 single. " Turn It Up " was released as the fifth single on 7 June 2010, for which a music video, directed by Nick Frew, was shot in Los Angeles on 17 April 2010. The single became her fifth consecutive top-20 entry when it peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. " Broken Arrow " was released on 10 October 2010 as the only single (sixth overall) from
Turn It Up (Pixie Lott album) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3780-563: The United Kingdom and Ireland during November and December 2008. To promote Rockferry , Duffy made many visits to American television, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien , and Saturday Night Live . Duffy played a fourteen-city North American tour. Plans had called for her to open for Coldplay on six of the dates. During a concert in Cleveland, Duffy accidentally set the left side of her hair on fire. In New York, Duffy
3870-405: The album as a "classy, if not classic, debut from potential-rich pop newcomer" and stated that the songs on the album "do indeed sound as though they could be farmed out to other RnB starlets. That's a compliment as much as it is a criticism: from the 1960s soul stomp of her number one hit 'Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)' to new single 'Boys & Girls' with its brassy Mark Ronson -esque production, some of
3960-433: The album hasn't delivered, a sort sultry self-confidence with a pinch of the wreckless [sic] that would do Lady Gaga proud", adding that "corny power ballads such as 'Cry Me Out' and too much half-baked R&B mistakenly attempt to give Pixie depth when she—or rather her writers—should be gunning for surface only." The Daily Telegraph ' s Helen Brown referred to Lott as "[f]un and feisty but hard to distinguish from
4050-518: The album's lead single. Lott premiered the song on BBC Radio 1 's The Chris Moyles Show on 11 July 2011. It debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 88,893 copies (the highest of Lott's career), giving Lott her third UK number one. It also reached number nine on the Irish Singles Chart , her second top ten hit in that country. The second single " What Do You Take Me For? ", featuring rapper Pusha T ,
4140-579: The album. The song occurred when Duffy, then 19 years old, was familiarising herself with the London Underground and accidentally found herself at the Warwick Avenue station. The following day the song "just sort of came out". At first the video for the song was meant to be an elaborate production, but ended up a tearful head shot in a taxi cab with Duffy's mascara smudging. Duffy has said "That's as close as I'm ever going to get to doing
4230-508: The artwork for the album, titled Pixie Lott . Lott was recently spotted filming the accompanying music video for "Nasty", which was originally recorded by Christina Aguilera as a duet with Cee Lo Green for the 2010 film Burlesque but was never released. In March 2014, Lott took part in recording England's 2014 World Cup song. She collaborated with the likes of fellow pop stars Melanie C , Eliza Doolittle , Emma Bunton , Conor Maynard , Kimberley Walsh and Katy B , on "Greatest Day",
4320-449: The attack took place. In a longer statement published that April, Duffy wrote that she had been drugged at a restaurant on her birthday, taken to a foreign country on a plane, and was then held captive in a hotel room and raped. Since the ordeal, Duffy said that she spent "almost 10 years completely alone" and, thanking her psychologist, said that she now felt she could "leave this decade behind", but added: "I very much doubt I will ever be
4410-539: The awards ceremony she performed "Warwick Avenue". Record producers & songwriters Steve Booker & Bernard Butler gained awards for their work on the Rockferry album. She shared a 2009 Ivor Novello Award in the category "Most Performed Work" with Steve Booker for their work on Mercy . Songwriter Eg White won the award for "Songwriter of the Year" in part for Warwick Avenue , which he co-wrote with Duffy. "Mercy"
4500-443: The brand was widely deemed as a career misstep. In addition, the advert went on to spark unexpected complaints about the health of children when it showed Duffy riding without protective gear, to the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority . However, these claims were ultimately rejected. Duffy made her film debut playing the character of Sissy in the 2010 drama film Patagonia , directed by Marc Evans . Sissy's character
4590-748: The categories of Album of the Year , Most Addictive Track , and New Act . She performed at the EMA show. Duffy has performed at concerts and festival gigs around the world. Her first American performances took place at the SXSW conference, and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was her first festival gig. To coincide with the release of Rockferry , Duffy performed at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Duffy received
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#17327984167234680-518: The charts in several music markets and led to worldwide attention. It followed the lead single " Mercy ", which reached number one in several countries and the top ten in twelve others. In 2009, Duffy received the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album for Rockferry , one of three nominations, and won three out of four Brit Awards nominations, for British Breakthrough, Best British Female and Best British Album. In 2010, she made her acting debut in
4770-445: The end of the promotion of Endlessly or alternatively four months after its initial release. On 25 February 2020, on her official website, Duffy wrote that she had been "raped and drugged and held hostage over some weeks ". She said she had disappeared from the spotlight so she could recover, adding that she was now doing well, but it had taken her time to recover. She did not disclose the identity of her attacker(s) or when or where
4860-567: The exception of " What Do You Take Me For? " and " Lay Me Down ". Lott then starred in "Puttin’ On The Ritz" UK Tour, for the dates in Wimbledon and Newcastle. She was joined on stage by her dance partner, Trent Whiddon, in 2015. From 30 June to 17 September 2016, Lott starred as Holly Golightly in a limited 12-week season of Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London's West End. On 15 November 2016, it
4950-643: The film An Education . For the 2009 movie called "The Boat That Rocked" in the UK and "Pirate Radio" in North America, Duffy sang Lorraine Ellison's "Stay With Me Baby". Duffy said that she needed to slow the pace of her career in order to write her second album. In January 2010, Rough Trade Management, who with Jeanette Lee had managed Duffy, announced that they and the singer had parted amicably. Duffy's new management stated that "the professional relationship between Duffy and Rough Trade management has run its course." On 16 September 2010, Duffy announced
5040-552: The film Fred: The Movie , starring alongside Lucas Cruikshank . The comedy was released on America's Nickelodeon channel on 18 September 2010. Turn It Up was to be released in the US in 2011, but this never materialised. It was, however, rereleased in the UK. "The Way The World Works", from Lott's debut record was used in the U.S.-produced medical drama Private Practice . For the new repackaged version of Turn It Up , Lott recorded duets with Jason Derulo and Joe Jonas , though
5130-464: The film Patagonia and released her second studio album Endlessly to moderate success. In February 2011, she announced an indefinite hiatus from music. She briefly returned in 2015, appearing in the film Legend and later contributed three songs to its soundtrack. In 2020, Duffy explained her long-term absence from the music industry, saying that she had been recovering after being abducted and raped . According to Duffy's official website, she
5220-422: The heavens in reissue sections." Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music noted that "[t]he sass, swagger, killer hooks and big production have been focused on the obvious chart contenders and the rest of the album is, true to tradition, a lot of middle of the road balladry and overly earnest swaying, also known as filler ." Daily Express reviewer Robert Spellman felt that the single "Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)" "promised what
5310-664: The honour of performing at the Royal Variety Performance 2008 . In 2008, Duffy played many festivals in Europe. This included visits to French, Swedish and Irish summer festivals, amongst others. In the United Kingdom, Duffy played venues such as Glastonbury and the Evolution Festival . She also toured the American summer festivals in 2008, including a visit to Lollapalooza in Chicago. She toured
5400-477: The latter failed to make the final track listing for the album. This edition included her single, " Broken Arrow ". In July 2011, Lott signed a deal with Select Model Management . The company is also responsible for signing Cher Lloyd , Agyness Deyn and David Gandy . Lott's second album, Young Foolish Happy was released on 14 November 2011, it includes collaborations with Stevie Wonder and John Legend . Young Foolish Happy debuted at number eighteen on
5490-478: The lead single " Nasty ", which peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, making it her sixth Top 10 single in the United Kingdom. Lott has also occasionally acted in film, television and stage, including starring in the UK production of the Richard Greenberg play Breakfast at Tiffany's in 2016. She made her acting debut in the 2010 Nickelodeon film Fred: The Movie . From 2017 to 2023, she
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#17327984167235580-446: The material here lacks character." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote, "Despite this fondness for swinging girl group sounds and Pixie's predilection for belting out the songs, Turn It Up doesn't play as a retro-soul throwback, the way Winehouse or Duffy do. Lott never attempts to seem wiser than her years, [...] and the production is wisely, slyly modern." Digital Spy music editor Nick Levine commented that " Turn It Up
5670-770: The nickname Pixie because she was "such a tiny, cute baby who looked like a fairy". She started singing in her church school, and attended the Italia Conti Associates Saturday school in Chislehurst when she was five years old. At the age of 11, she was awarded a scholarship and went on to attend its main school, the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts . At the age of 13, Lott moved with her family to Brentwood in Essex where she attended Brentwood County High School . She appeared in
5760-479: The quarter-finals on Week 11, after losing the dance-off to Blue singer Simon Webbe and his partner, Kristina Rihanoff . It was announced that Lott would release her first greatest hits album on 24 November 2014, called Platinum Pixie: Hits . The album was preceded by the single " Caravan of Love ", a cover of the Isley-Jasper-Isley 's 1985 hit. The compilation also includes all her singles, with
5850-484: The release of her second album, Endlessly . The album was recorded in New York, London and Spain in the year prior to the announcement. Duffy formed a song writing partnership with Albert Hammond for the record. Endlessly was released in the United Kingdom on 29 November 2010 and placed at number 9 in the album charts of 5 December. The album's first single failed to achieve the success of previous singles, entering
5940-412: The rest of this year's girl pop pack." In a review for musicOMH , Michael Cragg dismissed the album as "a fairly average pop album being strangled by a talented vocalist who equates loudness with emotion." Imogen Carter of The Observer compared the album to a " Disney teen-movie soundtrack", calling it "cloying and cliche-ridden, particularly the slow numbers." Turn It Up debuted at number six on
6030-508: The single had been mixed. On 17 July 2013, Lott tweeted that she was on her way to a photo shoot for her new single and her third studio album. On 1 November 2013, Lott trended on Twitter after announcing that her new music was "coming soon", and posting a cover of Avicii 's "Wake Me Up" on YouTube . Michael Einziger , one of the writers of "Wake Me Up", later took to Twitter to praise Lott's interpretation. On 8 November, Lott's cover of "Royals" by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde
6120-654: The soundtrack, her first recordings since 2010. After years of avoiding the media and public events, as well as not releasing new musical material, Duffy said in an interview in 2020 that she was "raped and drugged and held hostage" years ago and that was the reason for her hiatus. In 2020, she posted two of her unreleased songs, "Something Beautiful" and "River in the Sky". On 1 February 2009, The Times Encyclopedia of modern music named Rockferry an "Essential" Blue-eyed soul recording. Albums by Amy Winehouse and Adele were also named as essential Blue Eyed Soul recordings in
6210-493: The title song " Turn It Up ", was released on 7 June 2010. Lott recorded a song for the film Street Dance 3D , "Live For The Moment". Lott released " Boys and Girls " as her debut US single on 24 August 2010. The release coincided with the TV premiere of her film debut, Fred: The Movie . In January 2010, Lott was named one of 2010's "Faces to Watch" by US magazine, Billboard . Lott was cast as Judy, Fred Figglehorn 's crush, in
6300-713: Was "on the borderline of a nervous breakdown" because of the pressure that fame had brought her. She said that she had considered becoming a recluse, but eventually decided against the idea for the sake of her fans. Although acknowledging that most people do mean well, she spoke of finding it "scary" when people recognised her in the street, and was fearful of her image possibly changing the person she is. In 2009, Duffy's estimated fortune of £4 million placed her in 16th place in that year's Sunday Times listing of Great Britain's wealthiest young musicians. She dated Welsh international rugby player Mike Phillips from September 2009 to May 2011. On 3 October 2012, Duffy escaped from
6390-418: Was announced Lott will be a coach on The Voice Kids UK alongside will.i.am & Danny Jones . The show began in June 2017 on ITV . On 31 March 2017 Lott collaborated with British DJ Anton Powers on their single " Baby ". Lott released her new single "Won't Forget You" featuring Stylo G on 29 September 2017. Lott is set to perform at the 10th-anniversary concert of the Made in Dagenham musical at
6480-607: Was announced as a performer for the Atelier Festival in Dubai but also cancelled. In September 2013, Duffy gave her first live performance in three years during a tribute to Edith Piaf in New York City. At the 2014 Cannes Film Festival , it was announced that Duffy would starring role in a film project called Secret Love which was never released. In 2015, she appeared the crime thriller film Legend , playing American singer Timi Yuro and also contributed three songs to
6570-417: Was certified Double-Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry . Lott's third single from the album, " Cry Me Out " was released on 23 November 2009. It was during this time that Lott was chosen as the face of Nokia 's "Illuvial Pink Collection" mobile phone rang and Casio 's range of Baby G watches. The fourth single, " Gravity ", was released in the UK on 8 March 2010. Lott won two MTV EMA Awards at
6660-473: Was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry on 28 August 2009 after selling over 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom. On 15 August 2009, Lott was featured alongside Hoobastank , The All-American Rejects , Kasabian , Boys Like Girls , Estranged and Raygun as one of the live acts at Asia's very first MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia concert. Lott's second lead single " Boys and Girls "
6750-545: Was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry , with sales in excess of 900,000 copies. The album was re-released as Turn It Up Louder on 18 October 2010. It was preceded by the release of " Broken Arrow " as its lead single, and includes nine other bonus songs. In 2010, it was reported that Interscope Records was planning to release Turn It Up in the United States with new songs in early 2011, which never materialised. " Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) "
6840-435: Was contracted to A&M Records (UK) on 23 November 2007. She performed on the BBC Two television show Later with Jools Holland , which resulted in a second appearance on the related broadcast Hootenanny , where Duffy performed with Eddie Floyd . On 22 February 2008, she appeared on Later with Jools Holland for a third time and performed " Rockferry ", " Mercy ", and " Stepping Stone ". Duffy also made appearances on
6930-517: Was featured as a coach on the children's singing competition The Voice Kids UK . Victoria Louise Lott was born in the Bromley area of London on 12 January 1991, the third child of Beverley (née Martin) and stockbroker Stephen Lott. The family moved around the London suburbs, initially living in Petts Wood and then Bickley . Lott was born several weeks premature, and her mother gave her
7020-442: Was finalising her debut album effort, to be titled Rockferry , after Rock Ferry , where her grandmother lives. She subsequently struck a US label deal with Mercury Records , a newly re-activated imprint of Island Def Jam Music Group . The first single from the album, also titled "Rockferry" was critically well-received with Allmusic calling it a "grand, sweeping ballad". Butler and his musical partner David McAlmont , along with
7110-425: Was first released on download sales only on 10 November 2008, before being released physically on 17 November 2008. Duffy describes this as "a big, disco-y dance song". It entered the UK Singles Chart at number twenty-two before rising to a peak of fifteen the following week. The track was included on the deluxe edition of Rockferry . At the 2008 MOJO Awards , Duffy won the "Song of the Year" award for "Mercy" and
7200-458: Was launched in September 2010 and consisted of a new range, Pixie Rocks, and an updated Pixie Party collection. In July 2010, Lott appeared as a guest judge for the auditions for the seventh series of The X Factor in Cardiff , covering for Dannii Minogue , who was on maternity leave. Lott also performed on the main stage at the V Festival in August 2010. The fifth single from Lott's album,
7290-618: Was left apologising to an audience after briefly bursting into tears. She stated to the audience that this happens in one out of every 15 of her shows when she feels exposed for reasons she does not fully understand. Duffy also made a recording for British broadcaster BBC, performing at the LSO St. Luke's. The performance was televised in 2009 on the British television station BBC One. At the 51st Grammy Awards held in February 2009, Duffy won
7380-462: Was nominated also for "Album of the Year" and "Breakthrough Act". These three nominations were the largest number of nominations for any one act. She also received a 2008 Q Award in the category of Breakthrough Act , a nomination for the Q category of Best Track for "Mercy", a Music of Black Origin Award nomination for Best UK Female . At the MTV Europe Music Awards , she received nominations in
7470-502: Was not initially paid, produced four songs for the album, including the single "Rockferry". The singles "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone" were co-written and produced by Steve Booker, and the third single " Warwick Avenue ", by Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White . Duffy released the debut limited-edition single "Rockferry" in November 2007; it was followed by "Mercy", produced and co-written by Steve Booker, which went straight to number one. "Mercy"
7560-564: Was played on United States radio and television more than 3 million times earning Duffy a 2009 Broadcast Music Incorporated award. The album was nominated and shortlisted for the Album of 30 Years category at the 2010 Brit Awards . The album's success led to a period of confusion about her role in the music business that nearly led her to quit music. Duffy has said that she did not mind people illegally downloading her music because she believes most people who do are kids who cannot afford
7650-418: Was released in the United States to positive reviews. The album's low cost of production reaped Duffy substantial financial benefits. Despite her album's success in the United States, she was quoted as saying "I don't like how big American stars consider themselves an exception from humanity". In November 2008, the single " Rain on Your Parade ", produced and co-written by Steve Booker, was released. The song
7740-422: Was released on 3 June 2009 as the album's lead single. It debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart , making Lott the second British female solo artist to have a debut single enter atop the chart without previously appearing on a reality television show, after Billie Piper . Follow-up single " Boys and Girls " was released on 5 September 2009, a week before the album's release. The song debuted at number 73 on
7830-593: Was released on 4 November 2011, while the music video premiered on 6 October. It debuted at number ten on the UK Singles Chart, selling 34,335 copies. In July 2012 Lott performed "Kiss the Stars" and "Use Somebody" at the Men's Gymnastics Finals in the 2012 Summer Olympics . Lott also performed at V Festival (her second performance after appearing in 2010), the "Access All Eirias" festival in North Wales, She also performed 'Kiss The Stars' on Dancing on Ice in 2012 and
7920-523: Was released on 6 September 2009 and topped the UK Singles Chart on 13 September. On 14 September, Lott's debut album, Turn It Up was released. This followed an intensive promotional tour where Lott visited the Asia-Pacific region to promote the album and 'Mama Do'. The album debuted at number six on the UK Album Chart , and sold over 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom. In August 2010, it
8010-406: Was the last song written for the album. The single was physically released on 25 February 2008. She said that both "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone" are autobiographical; "Mercy" is about "sexual liberty" and "not doing something somebody else wants you to do", and "Stepping Stone" is about not expressing her feelings to a person she fell in love with. "Warwick Avenue" was the second single released from
8100-459: Was uploaded. "Royals" was chosen because Lorde had previously covered Lott's number one single, "Mama Do" . After watching the cover, Lorde likened Lott's voice to "baby angels and peanut butter chocolate". On 2 December 2013, Lott announced during a Google Hangout with Dan Wootton of The Sun that the lead single from her third album, "Nasty", would premiere in January. She also revealed
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