Daniel Bedingfield

There are two types of pop star. The first, sadly, is the one we know all to well, the mindless puppets at the beck and call of their corporate masters, their creativity the slave of supply and demand. The second is the rarer breed. Blessed with a singular vision, the courage of their convictions and the power to grab your soul and then hold it with an electric zeal, they understand that pop is not simply a product but the gateway to a better place.

Daniel Bedingfield is the personification of the latter, and what's more he always has been. 'What made me want to write songs? I can't even remember,' he explains. 'It's like breathing, my world has always been music, it's all about having a creative expression.'

It may have taken the world a bit of time to catch up with this pop pioneer, but as the buzz accompanies Bedingfield's debut single Gotta Get Thru This proves, the delay is over. Straightforward yet irresistible, Bedingfield's pure vocals are reminiscent of Michael Jackson, as Gotta Get Thru This blasts along with an urgency that is compelling and also boasts a deep emotional edge. Played by long-term supporter UK Garage supremo EZ, Gotta Get Thru This effortlessly became the undisputed anthem of Ayia Napa this year, while its place on club and radio station playlists the length and breath of the land is already cemented.

With this overwhelming grassroots' reaction, a record company bidding war was inevitable. 'It basically blew up on the streets and then I found myself called straight in to all the MDs offices,' explains Bedingfield. 'It was really exciting. I've been planning for something like this to happen since birth, so it's nice to finally be almost achieving your goals, I'm on the verge of something really exciting.'

Born in New Zealand 21 years ago - 'That gave me my pioneering spirit. I love the otherness, it adds an extra dimension' - Bedingfield grew up in South East London, educated at home by his parents, taking his first musical steps aged nine with sisters Natasha and Nicola in progressive R&B group The DNA Algorithm before graduating on to garage. 'I took a break from the band and thought I'd mess around with garage,' he explains. Since then Bedingfield has not looked back, an exceptional rise considering his cottage industry ethics.

'It's all done in my bedroom,' reveals Bedingfield. 'I made Gotta Get Thru This with one computer and a mike, that's all I had, but if you've got a good idea you shouldn't swamp it. If you turn it up loud in the club this track really punches you hard.'

However don't be deceived by the humble surroundings. Despite his youthful years Bedingfield is determined and has filled that bedroom with some interesting influences. Sting, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson all crop up, as does that of a great songwriter not usually cited by garage practitioners. 'Lyrically Bob Dylan moves your soul,' explains Bedingfield, 'with a few words he can express extraordinary concepts.' However for Bedingfield an influence is not simply about sonic syndication, rather inspiration is drawn on a philosophical level. 'The Chinese have a saying,' Bedingfield begins, 'rather than emulate the masters you should pursue the same goals they pursue. That's what I'm trying to do, find out what they were going for then go for the same things.'

With work on an album about to start and a live band to be assembled, don't expect Bedingfield to be blown off course by cartoon pop distractions for his aim is true.

'I want to do something totally new that will fit straight in the pop bracket but will make a real musical statement as well,' he explains. 'I just want to produce a classic album that's going to be around for years.' No small order, but at least Bedingfield has the convictions and belief to deliver.

'I create music from any kind of extreme emotion, that's where my creativity is done. The music I make has to have a really powerful conviction, I can't sing anything I don't feel strongly about,' he says. 'Music is often the only way you can get your feelings down, I really enjoy doing that. I feel Gotta Get Thru This says exactly what I wanted it to say with a few words and I'd love to do that again.'

For now however, Gotta Get Thru This trumpets the arrival of a new talent and from club credibility to a million teenage walls the possibilities for Daniel Bedingfield appear unlimited.

'It really seems the world is my oyster at the moment,' he confirms. 'I feel tremendously blessed.'


source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Daniel-Bedingfield-Biography/034677F399A4056348256C1B000A320C

Daddy Yankee

Raymond Ayala (born on February 3, 1976 in R?o Piedras, Puerto Rico), known publicly as Daddy Yankee and sometimes El Cangri (Puerto Rican slang for a handsome, in-charge, and/or strong man), is a reggaeton singer.

Ayala's current fame comes from the hit song "Gasolina", from his 2004 album, "Barrio Fino". The album has sold over 1,000,000 copies in Puerto Rico alone and has also sold well in the United States and Europe. He has appeared on over 50 albums other than his own, including "M?s Flow" and "Blin Blin Vol. 1".

Ayala is famous for recording songs in both English and Spanish, although the latter is more prominently used.

Ayala was first involved in music in the early 1990s alongside Playero DJ, a pioneer of reggaeton music. Ayala has performed with Nicky Jam, Luny Tunes, DJ Blass, DJ Eric, Eliel and with Nas at Madison Square Garden. He has also recorded with DJ Tony Touch and many others.

Ayala started his first American and Latin America reggaeton music tour on August 27th, 2005.

Daddy Yankee also sang on the 2005 MTV Music awards show together with other reggaeton artists from Puerto Rico including Don Omar and Tego Calderon.

Also in 2005, Ayala signed a contract with the American company Paramount Pictures for his first movie, which will be called "Talento de Barrio" (Barrio talent). Ayala says that although the movie is not autobiographical, it does represent the difficult lives of himself and others living on the streets of Latin America. Also, he mentioned that it is a pioneering work since there isn't any other Spanish-language movie that accurately presents life in the barrio. According to Ayala, the movie is going to be "real good". The movie is expected to premi?re in theatres in February of 2006.

Thanks to Sohail Khan for submitting the biography.

source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Daddy-Yankee-Biography/A0C4348E55B60C3848256F64000569E4

Da Weasel

Da Weasel is a Portuguese hip-hop band from Almada. They are fronted by MCs Pacman and Virgul. Da Weasel is one of the oldest hip-hop projects in Portugal, having started in 1993. They are notorious for being a full session band, instead of relying on a DJ and samples. Their music uses elements from hard rock, pop and ska.

Da Weasel's first release the EP More Than 30 Motherfuckers, featured only six songs, all in English. The group featured Pacman as the MC, Pedro Quaresma, Jay Jay Neige and Guilherme Silva on live instruments, Yen Sung as backup vocalist and Armando Teixeira as DJ and producer. The following year, in 1994, the band rode the wave of the Rap?blica compilation, which presented Portuguese hip-hop to the mainstream audience, by releasing their first full album, Dou-lhe Com A Alma. This time, the band wrote all the songs in Portuguese, incorporating influences from Cypress Hill and Public Enemy.

Before production of their third release (3? Cap?tulo) in 1997, Yen Sung left the band to start a career as an acid jazz producer, as well as DJing. She was replaced by Virgul, a rapper/singer which introduced a few ragga and afro elements to the band's sound, as was seen in the singles "Todagente" and "Duia", with Virgul imposing his personality without outshining main MC Pacman. Da Weasel also went on tour for the first time.

In 1999, after taking part in Mario Caldato Jr.'s Tejo Beat compilation and the Xutos & Pontap?s tribute album XX Anos - XX Bandas, Da Weasel went back to the studio to record their fourth album, Inicia??o A Uma Vida Banal - O Manual. The critically acclaimed album was the band's first silver record, and helped pull increase their previous release sales enough to grant them a second silver. Da Weasel also served as a warm-up act to Red Hot Chili Peppers' concert at the Atlantic Pavillion in Lisbon.

Armando Teixeira then left the band to pursue a solo career, and experienced pop-rock producer M?rio Barreiros helming the recording of Podes Fugir Mas N?o Te Podes Esconder in 2001. Da Weasel's work now blended influences from hip-hop, heavy metal, reggae and African music to produce a unique melange that was still undeniably Portuguese. Paris-based Cuban hip-hop trio Orishas was featured on the album. Podes Fugir... soon rose up to gold and later platinum record sales.

In 2004, M?rio Barreiros was replaced by Jo?o Martins as producer, and DJ Glue joined the band as live DJ, filling a spot vacant for three years. They helped Da Weasel reinvent themselves on their latest album, Re-Defini??es, a deeply thought-out piece of work which refined the sound heard in the previous album. Music fans responded enthusiastically, with over 80,000 copies sold, making it Da Weasel's best selling album.

In 2005 the band reached its peak with a sold-out concert in the Olympia in Paris, its first ever big international performance.

In 2006 Da Weasel publishes a Track named "Play Up" inspired by the statement of Bob Marley: "Football is Music" which expresses their passion to football.The track is only found on the CD PlayUp – among 15 other football tracks written by various international artist.

On April 2nd, 2007, Da Weasel released their latest album intitled Amor, Esc?rnio e Maldizer. It reached platinum status on the same day, with over 20, 000 copies sold.

The band sang a song called Nigga on Gato Fedorento's last episode of the season Diz Que ? Uma Esp?cie de Magazine. They were before presented with a Gato Fedorento's audio sketch, "Nigga, Tu ?s Nigga, Nigga?" ("Nigga, Are You Nigga, Nigga?"), and they quoted part of the sketch.

Awards
After a nomination for Best Breakthrough Act in the "Blitz Music Awards" (organized by the Blitz music newspaper) with their first album in 1993, Da Weasel won the paper's "Band of the Year" award with Dou-lhe Com A Alma in 1994. From their third album, 3? Cap?tulo, the single "Todagente" yielded a "Best Song" award in 1997.

At the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards Da Weasel got the award for "Best Portuguese Act".

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Weasel