| Coordinates | 50°8′36″N20°56′47″N |
|---|---|
| Name | Neil Hannon |
| Background | solo_singer |
| Born | November 07, 1970 |
| Instrument | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Associated acts | The Divine Comedy, The Duckworth Lewis Method |
Neil Hannon (born 7 November 1970) is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator (in 1989) and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy will always be my band because... I thought of it first!"
In 2000, he and Joby Talbot contributed 4 tracks for Ute Lemper's collaboration album, Punishing Kiss. Also involved in this album was Scott Walker, a singer whom Hannon has often acknowledged as an influence.
In 2004, he played alongside the Ulster Orchestra for the opening event of the Belfast Festival at Queen's. In 2005 he contributed vocals to his long-time collaborator Joby Talbot's soundtrack for the movie version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
In 2006, it was announced that Hannon was to lend his vocal ability to the Doctor Who soundtrack , recording two songs — "Love Don't Roam" for the 2006 Christmas special, "The Runaway Bride", and a new version of "Song For Ten", originally used in 2005's "The Christmas Invasion". On 12 January 2007, The Guardian website's "Media Monkey" diary column reported that Doctor Who fans from the discussion forum on the fan website Outpost Gallifrey were attempting to organise mass downloads of the Hannon-sung "Love Don't Roam", which was available as a single release on the UK iTunes store. This was in order to attempt to exploit the new UK singles chart download rules, and get the song featured in the Top 40 releases.
The same year, Hannon added his writing and vocal talents to the Air album Pocket Symphony, released in the United States on 6 March 2007. He is featured on the track Somewhere Between Waking and Sleeping, for which he wrote the lyrics. This song had been originally written for and sung by Charlotte Gainsbourg on her album, . Though it was not included in its 2006 European release, it was added as a bonus track for its American release on 24 April 2007. Consequently, two versions of the same song on two different albums were released within two months.
Hannon won the 2007 Choice music award for his 2006 album, 'Victory for the Comic Muse'. It was announced the next day that he left EMI by 'mutual consent'.
When the band Keane played at the O2 Arena in London in July, A Bad Dream was introduced by Hannon. He introduced it by reading the poem by W.B. Yeats upon which the song is based.
He is credited with composing the theme music for the comedy shows The IT Crowd, and Father Ted, the latter being a tune specially written for the show that was later reworked into The Divine Comedy's "Songs Of Love" from their breakthrough album Casanova. Both shows were created or co-created by Graham Linehan. For the Father Ted episode A Song For Europe, Hannon co-wrote and sang My Lovely Horse, a deliberately bad song that Fathers Ted and Dougal enter into Eurosong (a parody of the Eurovision Song Contest). In the same episode, Hannon wrote the 'typical' eurovision ballad that is sung by Father Ted's nemesis, and Hannon appears on stage with him as one of the backing singers. A dream sequence in the episode shows Ted and Dougal in My Lovely Horse's pop video, with Hannon singing. As well as this, 'Eoin McLove' sings "My Lovely Mayo Mammy", but his voice and the song were both contributed by Hannon. When a raffle is being held in order to raise funds to repair the roof of the parochial house, the Kraftwerk-esque quadrio of priests enlisted to perform play an electronic piece of music composed and performed by him. Both of the advertisements for telephone numbers; in The IT Crowd (the new emergency number) and Father Ted (Priest Chatback) have jingles composed by Hannon. In the episode "A Chistmassy Ted", his name is one of the guesses given by Mrs. Doyle, in finding out the name of the mysterious guest. He's considered one of the last crooners in pop landscape.
A new Divine Comedy album was originally due for release towards the end of 2009. The release of "Bang Goes the Knighthood" was delayed till May 2010. In a BBC Radio 2 promotion interview before the release of the album, Hannon mentioned he is dating musician Cathy Davey.
Hannon has also collaborated with Thomas Walsh, from the Irish band Pugwash, to create a cricket themed pop album under the name The Duckworth Lewis Method. The first single, "The Age of Revolution", was released in June 2009, and a full length album released the week after.
Category:1970 births Category:Atheists from Northern Ireland Category:Living people Category:Male singers from Northern Ireland Category:Songwriters from Northern Ireland Category:Old Portorans Category:People from Derry Hannon, Neill Category:Pop singers from Northern Ireland Category:RTÉ 2fm presenters
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| Coordinates | 50°8′36″N20°56′47″N |
|---|---|
| Name | Duke Special |
| Background | solo_singer |
| Birth name | Peter Wilson |
| Born | 4th January 1971 |
| Origin | Lisburn, Northern Ireland |
| Instrument | VocalsPianoAccordion |
| Genre | AlternativeFolkSoul |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2002 - present |
| Associated acts | David Ford |
| Label | Medieval Haircut RecordsHag RecordsIzumi RecordsV2 (2007) Universal Music Ireland (2008-present) |
| Influences | Elliott SmithThe Magnetic FieldsThe Dresden DollsVan MorrisonVaudeville TheatreAndy KaufmannTom WaitsRufus WainwrightAimee MannThe Divine ComedyBen FoldsBruce CockburnJoe Jackson |
| Url | Official site |
Duke Special, real name Peter Wilson, is a songwriter and performer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A piano-based songwriter with a romantic style and a warm, distinctly-accented voice, he has a distinctive look, with his long dreadlocks, eyeliner and outfits he describes as "hobo chic". His live performances have a theatrical style inspired by Vaudeville and music hall, and often incorporate 78s played on an old-fashioned gramophone, or sound effects from a transistor radio. He is most often accompanied by percussionist "Temperance Society" Chip Bailey, who plays cheese graters and egg whisks, a Stumpf fiddle and a Shirdi drone box, as well as the more typical drums and cymbals. Other musicians who perform with Wilson from time to time include Paul "Pilot" Wilkinson (guitar), Réa Curran (trumpet, backing vocals, accordion), Ben Castle (clarinet, saxophone), Ben Hales (bass guitar), Gareth Williams, "Professor" Ger Eaton (keyboards), Dan Donnelly (mandoline, backing vocals) and Serge Archibald III (saxophone, "ethereal background sounds", vibes).
He has released six albums, Adventures in Gramophone (2005), Songs from the Deep Forest (2006), both of which were nominated for the Choice Music Prize, I Never Thought This Day Would Come (2008), Little Revolutions (2009), The Silent World of Hector Mann (2010) and Mother Courage and Her Children (2010).
After leaving school and a brief stint with a community arts project in Swindon, England he returned home and played piano for Brian Houston (a Belfast songwriter influenced by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and Elvis) under whom Wilson apprenticed, picking up a hunger for performing and a knack of winning over an audience in the process. Several band mutations on the musical journey followed and saw Wilson front other acts composed of Belfast musicians but he was yet to hit his stride.
He has supported acts such as Crowded House, Van Morrison and Snow Patrol, and in 2006 toured Ireland with the Beautiful South and Europe with the Divine Comedy. In 2007 he headlined a concert with the Ulster Orchestra at Belfast's Waterfront Hall, "Orchestral Manoevres". The concert was supported by Julie Feeney and Foy Vance, who sang on one of Duke Special's songs, "This Could Be My Last Day". 2007 also saw him perform at Greenbelt festival, Glastonbury, Guilfest, Summer Sundae, Haldern Festival and the Electric Picnic among others and support Bell X1 on 2 dates; in Malahide Castle, Dublin and also as part of the Live at the Marquee series of concerts in Cork. In 2007 he performed as part of the BBC Electric Proms, supporting former Kinks lead singer Ray Davies. In 2008 he won the Meteor Music Award for Best Irish Male.
He has also appeared in the Northern Ireland children's television show, "Sesame Tree" with his band, having also written the theme music for the show.
He played Oxegen on The O2 stage in 2009.
Between September and December 2009 Duke Special and his band appeared on stage at the Royal National Theatre in London as part of a new production of Bertolt Brecht's play Mother Courage and Her Children, for which he wrote music for a number of songs. The production was directed by Deborah Warner and starred Fiona Shaw in the title role.
In January 2010 Duke launched a campaign on Pledge Music (see Fan-funded_music) whereby fans pledged for items to help fund the promotion and touring of his triple CD, The Stage, A Book & The Silver Screen (comprising Mother Courage and Her Children, The Silent World of Hector Mann and Huckleberry Finn).
Played at the last night of the proms for the BBC at Hillsborough castle.
Category:Musicians from Northern Ireland Category:Songwriters from Northern Ireland Category:Irish singer-songwriters Category:People from Lisburn Category:Alumni of Sullivan Upper School Category:Living people
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| Coordinates | 50°8′36″N20°56′47″N |
|---|---|
| Name | Tim Wheeler |
| Img size | 350px |
| Background | solo_singer |
| Birth name | Timothy James Arthur Wheeler |
| Born | January 04, 1977Downpatrick, Northern Ireland |
| Instrument | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Genre | Alternative rock, punk rock, Britpop |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, musician, guitarist |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Label | Infectious Records, Warner Bros. Records, Atomic Heart Records |
| Associated acts | Ash |
| Url | www.ash-official.com |
Tim Wheeler (born Timothy James Arthur Wheeler, 4 January 1977, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland) is the Irish guitarist,songwriter and vocalist for the rock band, Ash. He formed the band with Mark Hamilton and they were originally called Vietnam. Wheeler can be seen playing a Korina Gibson Flying V in almost all of Ash's music videos. He has written nearly all of their notable pieces such as Oh Yeah, Shining Light, Kung Fu and Goldfinger.
Wheeler was contributed to The Rentals second album, Seven More Minutes, released in April 1999. He also made an appearance on Bob Geldof's Band Aid 20 2004 single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", as a backing vocalist.
In 2006, his vocals are featured on the Arthur Baker song, "Glow".
Wheeler is related to the teacher Dr. Brian Wheeler, formally Head of Science and later Vice Principal of Methodist College Belfast.
Tim is also a supporter of renewable energy and in the past has provided patronage to Embrace the Revolution, a wind power advocacy group.
Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:People from Downpatrick Category:Male singers from Northern Ireland Category:Ivor Novello Award winners Category:Ash members Category:Rock musicians from Northern Ireland Category:Guitarists from Northern Ireland
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| Coordinates | 50°8′36″N20°56′47″N |
|---|---|
| Name | Dave Couse |
| Background | solo_singer |
| Instrument | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Born | Tallaght (Dublin), Ireland |
| Genre | Alternative rock |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, musician. |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Label | Solo: Beep-Beep, 1969 RecordsWith A House: Blanco y Negro Records, Setanta Records |
| Associated acts | Last ChanceA HouseLokomotivCouse and the Impossible |
Dave Couse is a musician, producer, and radio DJ. He was the lead singer and main song writer with Irish band A House and has released three albums as a solo artist. He is recognized for the honesty and cleverness of his lyrics, as well as an often caustic irony, and a tendency sometimes to write songs in the form of lists.
The disintegration of Last Chance gave birth to A House which consisted of Couse on vocals and guitar, Martin Healy on bass, Dermot Wylie on drums, and Fergal Bunbury on guitar. A House's earliest appearance on record appears to be from the record Live at the Underground (UK, 1986) alongside other up and coming bands such as Something Happens and The Stars of Heaven, while their first single release was "Kick Me Again Jesus" in 1987. These were the beginnings of a band that would endure more than a decade, during all of which time Couse, Healy, and Bunbury would remain as its constant core members. Bunbury, in particular, still frequently collaborates with Couse.
For the entirety of its career, A House maintained a loyal fan base, primarily in Ireland and the UK, while its releases, with Couse always as the main writer, were generally well received by critics. A House had a reputation as a hard-working band with a great deal of stamina, touring regularly and releasing 5 albums, as well as singles and EPs. After their second album (I Want Too Much, released in 1990) the band were dropped by their label, Blanco y Negro Records, only to be picked up by Setanta Records. As well as enabling A House to continue, this signing led to Couse developing a strong collaborative and personal bond with Edwyn Collins, and to an enduring relationship also with The Frank and Walters, all of whom were with Setanta at that time.
Unfortunately, however, A House never experienced more than sporadic commercial success and eventually decided to call it quits in 1997, bowing out with a farewell concert at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin in February.
Genes did not sell very well and Couse was dispirited, as his live gigging had not been particularly successful either. He had thought that as a solo artist he would pick up something of an instant audience from the body of A House fans, but this didn't work out because of the apparently fallow period before 2003, although he had received a fillip through the 2002 releases of The Way We Were and Here Come the Good Times. Then Genes was a record defined by Couse's personal need to deal with depression stemming from career uncertainty and his father's death, as well as more optimistic but overwhelming events, like the birth of his daughter. The record went on to a get full UK release and spawned a number of singles. The line up of Couse and The Impossible was Couse on vocals and guitar with Simon Quigley (keyboards), Mike O'Dowd (drums), Pete Meighan (guitar), and Dave Flynn (Bass Guitar); the group had broken up by 2007. Musically it is based in a palette of piano and cello, Couse being again helped out by Bunbury and Soeller. There is also a guest contribution from Cathal Coughlan of The Fatima Mansions, who sings "Good Friday". Alonewalk was mastered by Bob Ludwig.
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| Coordinates | 50°8′36″N20°56′47″N |
|---|---|
| Name | Charlotte Gainsbourg |
| Background | solo_singer |
| Birth name | Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg |
| Born | July 21, 1971London, UK |
| Origin | Paris, France |
| Genre | French pop |
| Occupation | actress, singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Label | Phonogram Records, Atlantic Records, Because Music, Vice Recordings |
| Parents | Serge Gainsbourg (father)Jane Birkin (mother) |
Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (born 21 July 1971) is an Anglo-French actress and singer-songwriter. She is most known in American cinema for her roles in The Science of Sleep, I'm Not There, 21 Grams, and Antichrist.
On 5 September 2007, Gainsbourg was rushed to a Paris hospital where she underwent surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage. She had been experiencing headaches since a minor water skiing accident in the United States several weeks prior.
In 1993, Gainsbourg made her English speaking debut in The Cement Garden, written and directed by her uncle, Andrew Birkin.
In 1994, Gainsbourg made her stage debut in David Mamet's Oleanna at the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse. Gainsbourg has sung the title song in three of her films.
In 1996, Gainsbourg starred as the title character in Jane Eyre, the acclaimed film adaption of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel.
In 2005 she gained critical praise for her role alongside Charlotte Rampling in the surreal thriller Lemming.
In 2007, Gainsbourg appeared alongside Gael García Bernal in Michel Gondry's La Science des rêves (The Science of Sleep) and as Claire in the Todd Haynes-directed Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, also contributing a cover of the Dylan song "Just Like a Woman" to the film soundtrack.
In 2008, she appeared alongside Anthony Hopkins and Laura Linney in the film The City of Your Final Destination. She later began filming for the Patrice Chereau film project Persécution.
In 2009, she won the award for Best Actress at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival for the film Antichrist.
Patrice Chereau's Persecution premiered in September 2009 at the 66th Venice International Film Festival in competition for the Golden Lion. The film is an intense study of a relationship, also starring Romain Duris and Jean-Hugues Anglade. Gainsbourg's mother Jane Birkin also had a film screening in competition in Venice that year, Jacques Rivette's 36 Views from the Pic Saint-Loup.
She has finished filming an French/Australian production, The Tree scheduled for a 2010 release. Her next project will be the Lars von Trier sci-fi-disaster film, Melancholia. In late december she will begin filming an adaptation of Alfred de Musset's La Confession d'un Enfant du Siècle. She will star alongside the British musician, Pete Doherty.
In 2000, Gainsbourg was featured on the Madonna album, Music on the track "What It Feels Like For A Girl". There is a lengthy spoken intro by Gainsbourg, taken from the film The Cement Garden, which inspired the title of the song. The track was further remixed for the single version of this song in 2001, with Gainsbourg's The Cement Garden speech repeated during the song.
In 2004, she sang a duet with French pop star Étienne Daho on his single "If".
In 2006, Gainsbourg released her second album to critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching the top spot on the French charts and achieving platinum status in the country. In the UK, the album was moderately successful, reaching #78 (The single "The Songs That We Sing" only made #129).
In late 2009, Gainsbourg released her third studio album, IRM, which was produced by Beck. One of the influential factors in the album's creative process was her time spent filming Antichrist. Gainsbourg's head injury in 2007 influenced the title of the album "IRM", which is the French translation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While receiving a brain scan, she began to think about music. "When I was inside that machine," she said, "it was an escape to think about music. It's rhythm. It was very chaotic."
Her song "Heaven Can Wait" was chosen as the Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week on March 2, 2010.
Her song, Trick Pony, appeared at the beginning of Grey's Anatomy episode "Perfect Little Accident" (Season 6, Episode 16 / airdate: February 25, 2010).
Category:1971 births Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:British female singers Category:César Award winners Category:English immigrants to France Category:English-language singers Category:English people of French descent Category:French actors Category:French female singers Category:French-language singers Category:French people of English descent Category:French people of Russian descent Category:Living people Category:Actors from London Category:People from Paris
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