"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some estimates having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages.^[1]

In 1955, Alex North used the music as a theme for the prison film Unchained, hence the name. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack.^[2] Les Baxter (Capitol Records catalog number 3055), released an instrumental version which reached #2. Then song recordings were released by Al Hibbler (Decca Records #29441) reaching #3 on the Billboard charts, Jimmy Young which hit #1 in the United Kingdom, and Roy Hamilton (Epic Records no. 9102) reaching #1 on the R&B Best Sellers list and #6 on the pop chart.^[3] Hundreds of other recordings followed.

It was the July 1965 version by The Righteous Brothers that became a jukebox standard for the late 20th century, regaining massive popularity when used in the 1990 blockbuster film Ghost.

Origin of song[link]

In 1955, Alex North and lyricist Hy Zaret were contracted to write a song as a theme for the obscure prison film Unchained,^[4] and their song eventually became known as the "Unchained Melody". The song does not actually include the word "unchained", and songwriter Zaret chose instead to focus his lyrics on someone who pines for a lover he has not seen in a "long, lonely time".^[4] The 1955 film centers around a man who contemplates either escaping from prison to live life on the run, or completing his sentence and returning to his wife and family.^[4]

With Todd Duncan singing the vocals,^[2] the song was nominated for an Oscar in 1955, but the Best Song award went to the hit song "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing".

Early versions[link]

Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack. He performs an abbreviated version within the film, playing one of the prisoners. Lying on a bed, he sings it accompanied by another prisoner on guitar, while others listen sadly.^[2] Bandleader Les Baxter (Capitol Records catalog number 3055), released a version which reached #2 on the US charts and #10 in the UK. The words "unchain me" are sung repeatedly at the beginning, and the lyrics are sung by a choir. Al Hibbler followed close behind with a vocal version (Decca Records catalog number 29441) that reached #3 on the Billboard charts and #2 in the UK chart listings. He was followed soon after by Jimmy Young, whose version hit #1 on the British charts. Two weeks after Young's version entered the British charts in June 1955 Liberace could score a #20 hit (Philips PB 430). Roy Hamilton's version (Epic Records catalog number 9102) reached number one on the R&B Best Sellers list and #6 on the pop chart.^[3] June Valli recorded the song on March 15, 1955 and it was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-6078, with the flip side "Tomorrow",^[5] and took it to #29.^[6] Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps recorded it for their second album in 1956 — Vincent's version is played at mid-tempo and features a tremolo picking guitar part. It is also probably the most unusual cover version, as the bridge was omitted. Harry Belafonte sang it at the 1956 Academy Awards, where it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song of 1955. (Belafonte had also made a recording of the song for RCA Victor Records, which was released as catalog number 20-6784 in 1955, with the flip side "A-Roving".^[7]) In 1963, an uptempo, doo-wop version hit the regional charts (eastern U.S.) by Vito & the Salutations, eventually becoming part of the soundtrack for Goodfellas in 1990. Perry Como recorded the song in 1955, and English jazz musician Cliff Townshend of The Squadronaires also released a popular version in 1956.

The song regained popularity when another version was produced by Phil Spector in 1965, credited to The Righteous Brothers, but performed as a solo by Bobby Hatfield, who later recorded versions credited solely to him. This version climbed to #4 on the charts.

Chart performances[link]

Other versions[link]

In 1955, The Goons produced a comic version of the song, sung in an inappropriately upbeat manner (and with a few added "ying-tongs") by Peter Sellers, in character as "Bluebottle".

Line Renaud recorded different versions of the song in 1956, sung in both French and Spanish.

The song was released on a B-side by Merri Gail in 1957 for Cha Cha Records, accompanied by an accordion.

Another early version was by teen idol Ricky Nelson, issued in 1958 on the album Ricky Nelson.

Gisele Mackenzie covered the song on her 1958 solo album for RCA Victor, Gisele (LPM/LSP-1790).

The Fleetwoods released a version of the song on their 1959 album, Mr. Blue for Dolton Records.

John Gary's 3+ octave version, on his 1963 "Catch a Rising Star" album, became one of his signature songs.

Jimmy Young released a re-recorded version of his 1955 charttopper in early 1964 that only charted at #43 in the UK.

Dionne Warwick recorded a version of the song for her 1965 album The Sensitive Sound of Dionne Warwick.

The Supremes covered the song for their album I Hear A Symphony, released in 1966.

Roy Orbison recorded a version of it for his album Many Moods, released in May 1969.

Bobby Vinton covered the song on The Love Album, released June 1971. Recordings have also been made by Cliff Richard and Conway Twitty.

Elvis Presley performed "Unchained Melody" on April 24, 1977 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the recording of which was included on the Moody Blue album (the last released while he was alive). On June 21, just six weeks before his death, he performed "Unchained Melody" in Rapid City, S.D. for what would be his last television appearance, "Elvis In Concert"; ultimately, the song was not included on the October 3 broadcast and this version would be released the following year as a single. Both versions featured him on piano, as was invariably the case when Presley sang the song in concert.

In 1981, a live version performed by the band Heart peaked at #83 on the Billboard Top 100.^[17]

In 1986, Leo Sayer released a version of the song with a contemporary reworking of the "wall of sound" production technique that included an unusual electric guitar solo near the climax. The single charted in the UK only, making the Top 60.

U2 also covered the song as a B-side to their 1989 single, "All I Want Is You". They have played the track live several times, including one performance which was captured on their 1993 concert film Zoo TV: Live from Sydney.

In 1995, the song was performed by Robson Green and Jerome Flynn in the UK drama series Soldier Soldier. This version was subsequently released as a single, and quickly reached #1 in the UK, becoming one of the country's all time biggest selling records.

Also in 1995, Air Supply's album News from Nowhere contained a cover of the song.

Neil Diamond covered the song on his 1998 album, The Movie Album: As Time Goes By.

R. Kelly sampled the song in 1998 in his song, "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" from the album R.

Sarah McLachlan's haunting version of the song opened Pine Ridge: An Open Letter to Allan Rock - Songs for Leonard Peltier, a benefit CD published by What Magazine on 1 November 1996; the recording was reissued in 2008 on her album Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff Volume 2.^[18] She also performed the song at the Leonard Peltier Defense Fund Benefit Concert on 12 February 1997.^[19]

Joni Mitchell incorporated the chorus and parts of the melody in "Chinese Cafe/Unchained Melody" on her 2002 Travelogue album.

Cyndi Lauper was nominated for a 2005 Grammy award for "Best Instrumental Composition Accompanying a Vocal" for her interpretation of the song, which appears on the At Last album. In 2006, singer Barry Manilow covered the song on his album Greatest Songs of the Fifties, and it reached #20. David Phelps recorded the song on his 2008 album The Voice.

The Smashing Pumpkins also released a cover of the song in their Live Smashing Pumpkins album series.

Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox recorded a version in 2007 as Atlas Sound, and gave it away on his blog, along with a Jay Reatard cover.^[20]

Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge performed the song in concert as a tribute to Bobby Hatfield, and it appeared on their 2008 Greatest Hits Live CD.

Gareth Gates recorded a cover version of the song as his first release following his appearance on Pop Idol in the United Kingdom. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on its first week of release.

Clay Aiken recorded the song on his 2010 album Tried and True.

The Pop Opera group, Amici Forever, recorded the song in Italian, under the title, "Senza Catene" (Without Chains).

Constantine Maroulis released his version of the song as a single, which he debuted during a guest performance on American Idol on April 7, 2011.^[21]

Micheal Castaldo recorded an Italian version of the song on his 2010 album, Aceto.

Donald Braswell II recorded this song on his 2011 album, Unchained.

It will also be featured as a musical number in the upcoming GHOST The Musical.^[22]

Country music versions[link]

Five different versions of the song have made the Hot Country Songs charts: Joe Stampley (#41, 1975),^[23] Elvis Presley (#6, 1978),^[24] Ronnie McDowell (#26, 1991),^[25] Willie Nelson recorded a version of it for his 1978 album, Stardust, and LeAnn Rimes (#3, 1997).^[26] Rimes's version of the song was only available as a bonus single to copies of her album Blue that were sold at Target stores during the 1996 Christmas season.^[26][27] It was released as a single on December 24, 1996. Rimes' version was later released on her compilation album Unchained Melody: The Early Years.

Television shows[link]

The song has become a favorite among auditioners for TV singing contests. It has often been said by Simon Cowell to be his favorite song, leading it to be a favourite among those hoping to impress him in auditions for Pop Idol, American Idol, and The X Factor. It was performed on the original series of Pop Idol by runner-up Gareth Gates, who later released it as a single. It was also sung on Australian Idol by finalist Dan England and 2006's winner Damien Leith, and on American Idol by George Trice in Season 2, Kellie Pickler on Season 5 Top 6 Love Songs Week, for which she was eliminated, Clay Aiken during the Season 2 Top 3 finals, after which he advanced to the Top 2 (finals), and Lauren Alaina on American Idol (season 10). On Series 8 of UK X Factor, Johnny Robinson performed the song on November 6, 2011 to stay in the competition.

Popularity[link]

The song has been #1 on lists of love songs featured on the United Kingdom's Channel 4 and Five.

In 2004, Rolling Stone placed the song at #365 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

It placed first in Magic 1278, 500 greatest songs of all time.

Uses in media[link]

The enduring popularity of the song has led to it being used on a number of different forms of media.

"Unchained Melody" reappeared on the Billboard charts in 1990 after The Righteous Brothers' recording was used in the box office blockbuster film Ghost. Two versions charted in the US that year. There was the reissue of the 1965 original Righteous Brothers single which received a lot of airplay, but sales were minimal since it was only available as a 45 RPM single. This version peaked at #13. There was also a 1990 re-recording of the song which was available only as a cassette single. The re-recorded version saw minimal airplay, but excellent sales. It peaked at #19. For eight weeks, both versions were on the Hot 100 simultaneously. This re-release of the song topped the U.S. adult contemporary chart for two weeks in 1990. It reached #1 for the fifth time in the UK, becoming the UK's top selling single of 1990; it also later reached #1 in Australia, staying at number-one for seven weeks through November 1990 and into January 1991. The song would also appear in the comedy film The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear in 1991, in which the pottery wheel scene from Ghost was parodied.

The song later appeared in a Ford Fiesta commercial featuring two German engineers moulding a car together, in a parody of Ghost.

The song is included on the karaoke games Karaoke Revolution Volume 3 and the US version of SingStar Legends. It features in the animated film "Happy Feet", released in 2006.

This song is also used by Bubbles in Trailer Park Boys when Julian is about to shoot Conky, in reference to his obsession with Patrick Swayze.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Last.FM Unchained Melody search page.
• Behind the song, MPL Communications
• 'Unchained Melody' Lyricist Dies at 99, All Things Considered, 2007-07-03, National Public Radio (U.S.). The audio linked from that page includes snippets of various artists performing the song.
• Cashbox charts 1955 Cash Box Top Singles of 1955

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. It may contain wording that merely promotes the subject without imparting verifiable information. Tagged since March 2009. Its neutrality is disputed. Tagged since May 2012.

Gareth Paul Gates (born 12 July 1984, Bradford, England) is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK.^[1] He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly. Gates used the McGuire Programme to manage the problem and is now a speech coach with the programme.^[2]

In 2009, Gates moved into musical theatre, playing the title role in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre. He has recently completed an eighteen month stint as Marius, initially in the touring production and then in the West End production of Les Misérables.^[3][4] and takes up the role of Eddie in the new musical Loserville at the west Yorkshire Playhouse in June 2012

Early life[link]

Gates was born in West Bowling, Bradford to father Paul and mother Wendy Broadbent (née Farry). He has three sisters, Nicola (born 1985), Charlotte (born 1991), and Jessica (born 1993) and grew up with his cousin James (born 1986) who was fostered by the family. His parents regularly foster other children.^[5]

Gates and his sisters attended Dixons City Technology College in West Bowling, Bradford where Gates studied art and music at GCSE level.

He joined Bradford Cathedral choir at age nine. He was head chorister by the age of eleven, singing solo for the Queen when she visited in 1997.^[6] Gates achieved Grade 8 in piano, classical guitar and singing. He had gained a place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester before the finals of Pop Idol.^[7]

Career[link]

[edit] 2002-2003: Pop Idol, What My Heart Wants to Say and Go Your Own Way

Gates was the runner-up to Will Young on the first series of Pop Idol in February 2002. Gates auditioned with Flying Without Wings and was put through to the next round of the show. Despite not winning the competition, he was soon signed up by Simon Cowell to the BMG label.

Gates' first single, a cover of "Unchained Melody", entered the UK Singles Chart at number one. The single went double-platinum in the UK, and was voted 2002's The Record of the Year by ITV viewers. This was followed by another number-one single, "Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)". His third single, a double A-side "Suspicious Minds/"The Long and Winding Road", a duet with Pop Idol winner Will Young, also reached number one. His fourth, "What My Heart Wants to Say", reached number five. Gates's debut album What My Heart Wants to Say achieved first week sales of 100,000 copies, peaking at number two in the UK Albums Chart, and eventually earned double platinum status in the UK.

The now-defunct Smash Hits magazine dedicated 7 October 2002 as International Gareth Gates Day. In 2003, Gates sang the 2003 Comic Relief charity single, "Spirit in the Sky", with The Kumars. The single was a UK number-one for two weeks. He also appeared in Comic Relief's Celebrity Driving School. Through Comic Relief, he became involved with Body and Soul, a charity that helps people affected by HIV and AIDS.

His next single, "Sunshine", reached number three and was taken from his second album Go Your Own Way, which was released in October 2003. However, the album was far less successful than his debut album. It peaked at number eleven in the UK before dropping to #32 the following week, and only spent four weeks on the album chart altogether. The album enjoyed slightly more success in a number of Asian countries however, and Gates won MTV Asia's award for Best International Male in 2003/04. He was awarded the same title by MTV China and MTV Taiwan.

His next single, "Say it Isn't So", reached number four in late 2003, but proved to be Gates' last single release in the UK until April 2007. At the start of 2004 he did an arena tour of the UK, then continued to promote his album throughout Europe and Asia, before taking a break and training as a speech coach and course instructor with the McGuire Programme.

By this point, Gates had sold just over three million music singles in the UK, including the second and sixth best selling singles in 2002 ("Unchained Melody", which sold 1.4 million, and "Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)", which sold 581,000) and the second best selling single in 2003 ("Spirit in the Sky", 561,000 copies). All three of these singles were listed in the Top 100 singles of the decade (2000–2009) as announced on Radio 1 with Spirit in the Sky at no. 62, Anyone of Us (no. 56), and Unchained Melody (no. 2). The biggest selling single of the decade was "Anything is Possible"/"Evergreen" by Will Young, whom Gates had lost the Pop Idol contest to.

In the 2003 film, Seeing Double, alongside pop group S Club, Gates played a clone version of himself. He also promoted AIDS awareness through a charity concert to 50,000 people with MTV in Indonesia.

[edit] 2004-2009: Pictures of the Other Side

In 2003 and 2004, it was reported that Gates was being dropped by his record company BMG. The reports, which also cited low sales of his second album and low concert ticket sales as reasons,^[8][9][10] were denied by both Gates and the record company at the time. Gates was later dropped from the label in April 2006 before the release of any new material.^[11]

In 2006, Gates appeared in a television documentary for ITV1 called Whatever Happened To Gareth Gates?, which dealt with his experiences in the music industry and his life outside it. The documentary was screened in December 2006, and confirmed a new record deal with UMTV (part of Universal) and a new album as well as showcasing snippets of the new material. An early preview of his new album was given at a secret gig on 29 November 2006.^[12] Gates had been working with writers such as Sacha Skarbek (who has worked with James Blunt), Ricky Ross (of Deacon Blue), Gary Clark and Pete Gordeno, and new the album was produced by Martin Terefe, Jon Hall and Nick Whitecross.^[13]

Since 2004 Gates had also been working with singer-songwriter Judie Tzuke. Initial contact was apparently made through Lucie Silvas. Gates' regular acoustic guitarist, Graham Kearns, also worked with Tzuke and has writing credits with Gates on both albums. Appearing at the Limelight venue in Crewe during Tzuke's October 2004 tour, Gates sang backing vocals to a surprised audience on Tzuke's track "Bully" (from her album Secret Agent). A song Gates co-wrote with Tzuke, "Dark Days", appeared on Tzuke's 2007 album Songs 1.

On 30 March 2007, Gates appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, the first time he had participated in an interview for a mainstream television chat-show since his speech improvement.

The first single from Gates' third album was "Changes" which was released on 9 April 2007. The single peaked at Number 14. A second single, "Angel on My Shoulder", was released on 18 June 2007, peaking at Number 22. Both singles remained in the UK Top 40 for only one week. Gates' third album, Pictures of the Other Side, was released on 25 June 2007. It proved to be Gates' lowest selling album to date and spent only two weeks on the UK album chart, entering at Number 23 before falling to Number 66 the following week, then dropping out of the chart altogether.

During his time working with Judie Tzuke, Gates also co-wrote the song "Christmas and I'm Home" with her. It was first premiered live by Gates in 2004 in Bradford, and Tzuke recorded the song with pianist Haim Cotton. Tzuke's version was released commercially in November 2008, as a charity single download and as a physical CD single sold exclusively through the CD Baby website.

Musical theatre[link]

On 6 July 2008, Gates starred in the line-up for "A Spoonful of Stiles & Drewe", a charity fundraiser to celebrate 25 years of musical theatre composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.^[14][15] Gates played the part of Robbie in a preview of a new musical "Soho Cinders"^[16] and features on the album.

In January 2009, Gates confirmed in an interview with the Daily Mail that he has no plans to go back to the pop music scene in the near future, planning instead to concentrate on musical theatre,^[17] as he had just been cast in the lead role in Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre, London. Taking over the role from Lee Mead, Gates began the role on 7 February 2009 and continued to play the part until the final performance on 30 May 2009.

Gates performed at the charity event "Broadway To West End by Special Arrangement" on 4 October 2009 at the Drury Lane Theatre, singing "Why God, Why?" as a solo and "The Last Night of the World" as a duet with Ima Castro. Both songs come from the musical Miss Saigon. The event was to honour the work of orchestrator William David Brohm and raised funds for CLIC Sargent Cancer care.

In June 2009, it was announced that Gates was joining the cast of the International 25th Anniversary World Tour production of Les Misérables in the role of Marius.^[3][4] Gates had been offered the choice of playing Marius in London's West End or in the anniversary tour, but opted for the tour as it was a new production and there was the opportunity to make the part his own.^[18]

In January 2010 Cameron Mackintosh BBC Manchester that there was to be a live cast recording of the production, recorded in Manchester,.^[19] This double album was released in the UK on 13 September 2010, Les Misérables Live on the label First Night Records.

Following the final performance of the anniversary tour at The Barbican, London, in October 2010, Gates joined the West End production of Les Misérables at Queen's Theatre where he continued to play the part of Marius until June 2011.

Gates is currently taking a break from musical theatre to work on other projects, including writing a new album,^[20] but planned to return in March 2012, taking the part of Claude in the UK touring production of Hair It was later announced that the musical would not proceed as efforts to rescue the tour following the bankruptcy of the original production company had failed.

In January 2012 Gates featured in a one night only charity production of Children of Eden^[21] in aid of Crohn's disease.

From June 18 to July 14, 2012 Gates will play Eddie in the new musical Loserville at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. The musical is written by Busted's James Bourne and Elliot Davis. Along with Gareth the cast also includes EastEnders Aaron Sidwell and Lil' Chris.^[22]

Personal life, charitable work and other activities[link]

Gates lives in Chiswick, West London, with wife Suzanne Gates (née Mole), a dancer he met at the Record of the Year awards in 2002, which he won for "Unchained Melody". In October 2006, The People newspaper incorrectly reported that they had secretly married.^[23] Gates and Mole got engaged on New Years Eve 2007 and were married on 18 July 2008 in a private ceremony for family and friends. The couple had their first child together on 6 April 2009, a girl they named Missy.^[24]

Gates qualified as a speech coach and latterly as a course instructor with the McGuire Programme where he helps those with stammers similar to his own. He co-led his first full course in February 2005 and in August 2006 he instructed his first course single-handedly in Galway, Ireland.^[25] He led his second at Bournemouth in November 2006, and continues to lead courses in the UK and Ireland, the most recent of which was in November 2010, with further courses scheduled in October in Birmingham^[26] and in Galway in November 2011.^[27]

"Gareth Gates' Stammer House" is to form part of the new documentary season for BBC Three recently announced by Zai Bennett at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August 2011, due to air later this year.^[28] In the documentary made by IWC Media, Gates will take five young men and women who've stammered since childhood and in four intense days transform their lives. Over the four days the group will confront their stuttering demons on an intensive and testing course. Speaking of the documentary, he said "Hopefully this documentary will give people an insight into something that most take for granted - speaking!"^[29][30][31]

The documentary, remnamed "Stop my Sutter" will air on BBC3 on 27 February 2012 on BBC Three ^[32] and Gareth will discuss stammering on The Surgery on BBC Radio 1, 26 February 2012.^[33]

Gates spoke to MPs including David Amess MP, Robert Buckland MP, and Steve Brine MP at the Palace of Westminster as part of a briefing on communication disability hosted by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Centre for Social Justice. Gates said “By speaking today I hope to shed light on the issues that surround speech and language difficulties. In particular, through my own experiences, I want to explain how the inability to converse and communicate drastically shapes and moulds people’s lives. It determines the sort of people they become and the paths they follow.^[34][35] On 18 October 2011 his work as an ambassador, raising awareness of the issues surrounding speech difficulties was recognised at the Giving Voice Awards Ceremony.^[36]

Gates is a patron of the HIV/AIDS charity Body and Soul and of the Bobby Moore Fund,^[37] which supports research into bowel cancer. He took part in the 2009 Cosmo Everyman campaign to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.

In 2008, Gates appeared on ITV1's Dancing on Ice with skating partner Maria Filippov, finishing fourth, losing a place in the final to Zaraah Abrahams and dancing partner Fred Palascak.

On 7 September 2008, Gates played for England against The Rest of the World in Soccer Aid 2008 at Wembley in aid of UNICEF. He was substituted for Tom Felton. England won 4-3.

Gates played Prince Charming in the pantomime Cinderella at New Wimbledon Theatre, from December 2008 to January 2009 alongside Joanna Page and Alistair McGowan. Further pantomimes followed - the Prince in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Woking in 2010-11 and Aladdin in Milton Keynes in 2011-12

In December 2009, Gates took part in ITV's All Star Family Fortunes, along with wife Suzanne, mum Wendy, sister Nicola and best friend Matt, and won £30,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund for bowel cancer. Other TV and sporting activities for charity have included an appearance on Sky's Don't Forget the Lyrics! and ITV's Mr and Mrs again for the Bobby Moore Fund and various events for the Rhys Daniels Trust.^[38]

In August 2011, he was Jersey's Mr Battle in the Battle of the Flowers.^[39]

Working with Jonathan Wilkes, his wife Suzanne and Wilkes' wife Nikki, Gates set up the Gates and Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts for young people from 5-18, in London and his home town of Bradford.^[40] In October 2011, Gates announced that he and Wilkes were opening a further academy in Milton Keynes.^[41]

It was reported that Gates lost his virginity to glamour model Katie Price during the 2002 Pop Idol. Gates initially denied the rumours but finally admitted the relationship in 2003.^[42][43]

In 2009, it was reported that Gates has made an estimated £6.5 million during his career to date.^[44] The Irish Independent newspaper reported that Gates was one of a number of celebrities with investments in the company Ingenious Media, which backed a number of films,^[45] including Avatar and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

On 19 November 2011, Gates performed and headlined Derby's Christmas Lights turn on.

Discography[link]

Tours and concerts[link]

Pop Tours

• Pop Idol Arena Tour 2002
• Will and Gareth Arena Tour 2002
• Go Your Own Way Arena Tour - UK and Asia 2004

West End and other theatre

• Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Joseph. West End 2009
• Les Misérables international Tour. Marius 2009/10
• Les Misérables. Marius. West End 2010/11
• Hair. Claude. UK and Europe Tour 2012

Other notable events and charity concerts

• A Spoonful of Stiles and Drew 2008
• Broadway To West End by Special Arrangement 2009
• Children of Eden 2012
• Private concert for the Prince of Brunei, January 2005
• MTV Asia AIDS Awareness Concert, Indonesia, December 2004
• Concert to open Louis Vuitton's first store in Shanghai, China, October 2004
• Dancing On Ice Tour 2008

Records and awards[link]

Awards[link]

UK

• The Record of the Year 2002: "Unchained Melody"
• Smash Hits Awards 2002: best male, best hair, best newcomer, most fanciable male
• Smash Hits Awards 2003: best male, best single ("Sunshine")
• Young Achievers Yorkshire 2002
• Special award for service to Yorkshire 2002
• Giving Voice Celebrity Ambassador award. October 2011 ^[46]

Overseas

• MTV Asia: Best International Male 2003/2004
• MTV China: Best International Male 2003/2004
• MTV Taiwan: Best International Male 2003/2004
• TMF Belgium: Best International Pop
• MTV Taiwan: Inspiration to Youth
• G-Music (Taiwan): Best International Artist 2003
• Hit FM: Best single of 2003 (AOU)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Gareth Gates on Myspace

Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle in November 2009
Background information
Birth name	Susan Magdalane Boyle[1][2][3]
Born	(1961-04-01) 1 April 1961 (age 51)[1]
Origin	Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom
Genres	Pop[4]
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Sony Music, Syco, Columbia
Associated acts	Elaine Paige, Geraldine McQueen, Emeli Sandé
Website	susanboylemusic.com

Susan Magdalane Boyle (born 1 April 1961^[1][5]) is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on the TV programme Britain's Got Talent on 11 April 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. Her first album was released in November 2009 and debuted as the number one best-selling album on charts around the globe.

Global interest in Boyle was triggered by the contrast between her powerful mezzo-soprano voice and her plain appearance on stage.^[6] The juxtaposition of the audience's first impression of her, with the standing ovation she received during and after her performance, led to an international media and Internet response. Within nine days of the audition, videos of Boyle—from the show, various interviews and her 1999 rendition of "Cry Me a River"—had been watched over 100 million times.^[7] Her audition video has been viewed on the internet several hundred million times.^[8] Despite the sustained media interest she later finished in second place in the final of the show behind dance troupe Diversity.

Boyle's debut album, I Dreamed a Dream (2009) remains as the UK best-selling debut album of all time, beating previous record holder, Spirit by Leona Lewis.^[9] I Dreamed a Dream is ranked fourth in its first week sales according to the Official Chart Company in the United Kingdom.^[9] In her first year of fame, Boyle made a fortune of £5 million with the release of I Dreamed a Dream and its lead off singles, "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Wild Horses".^[10] The success was continued with her second album, The Gift (2010), and was followed by Boyle's third album, Someone to Watch Over Me, released on 31 October 2011.^[11] On 12 May 2012, Susan returned to Britain's Got Talent to perform as a guest in the final singing "You'll See".^[12] The following day, she performed at Windsor Castle for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant singing "Mull of Kintyre".^[13] Boyle's net worth was estimated at £22 million in April 2012.^[14]

Life and career[link]

Early life and childhood[link]

Boyle was raised in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland,^[15] by her parents Patrick Boyle, a miner, World War II veteran and singer at the Bishop's Blaize, and Bridget, a shorthand typist,^[16] whose family comes from County Donegal, Ireland.^[17] She was the youngest of four brothers and five sisters.^[15] Boyle was briefly deprived of oxygen during a difficult birth resulting in a learning disability.^[18] Boyle says she was bullied as a child^[15][19] and was nicknamed "Susie Simple" at school.^[20]

After leaving school with few qualifications,^[15] she was employed for the only time in her life as a trainee cook in the kitchen of West Lothian College for six months,^[20] took part in government training programmes,^[16] and performed at a number of local venues.^[18]

Early musical training and career[link]

Boyle took singing lessons from voice coach Fred O'Neil.^[15] She attended Edinburgh Acting School and took part in the Edinburgh Fringe.^[18] Prior to Britain's Got Talent, her main experience had come from singing in her local Catholic church, Our Lady of Lourdes; in local choirs; and in karaoke performances at pubs in and around her village. She had also auditioned several times for My Kind of People.^[21] She has also long participated in her parish church's pilgrimages to the Knock Shrine, County Mayo, Ireland, and has sung there at the Marian basilica.^[22]

Her repertoire through the years has included songs such as "The Way We Were" and "I Don't Know How to Love Him." British tabloids claimed "exclusives" of video clips of some early performances.^[23][24] In 1995, her audition for Michael Barrymore's My Kind of People^[18] at the Olympia Shopping Centre in East Kilbride was filmed – the amateur video shows Barrymore was more interested in mocking her than in her ability to sing.^[25]

In 1999, she submitted a track for a charity CD to commemorate the Millennium^[15][26] produced at a West Lothian school. Only 1,000 copies of the CD, Music for a Millennium Celebration, Sounds of West Lothian, were pressed.^[27] An early review in the West Lothian Herald & Post said Boyle's rendition of "Cry Me a River" was "heartbreaking" and "had been on repeat in my CD player ever since I got this CD..."^[28][29] The recording found its way onto the internet following her first televised appearance and the New York Post said it showed that Boyle was "not a one trick pony."^[30] Hello! said the recording "cement[ed] her status" as a singing star.^[31]

In 1998, Boyle recorded three tracks "Cry Me A River", "Killing Me Softly" & "Don't Cry For Me Argentina"at Heartbeat Studio, Midlothian.^[32] She used all her savings to pay for a professionally cut demo, copies of which she later sent to record companies, radio talent competitions, local and national TV. The demo consisted of her versions of "Cry Me a River" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song"; the songs were uploaded to the Internet after her BGT audition.^[33]

After Boyle won several local singing competitions, her mother urged her to enter Britain's Got Talent and take the risk of singing in front of an audience larger than her parish church. Former coach O'Neil said Boyle abandoned an audition for The X Factor because she believed people were being chosen for their looks. She almost abandoned her plan to enter Britain's Got Talent believing she was too old, but O'Neil persuaded her to audition nevertheless.^[34] Boyle said that she was motivated to seek a musical career to pay tribute to her mother.^[15] Her performance on the show was the first time she had sung in public since her mother died.^[35][36]

[edit] Britain's Got Talent (2008–2009)

In August 2008, Boyle applied for an audition for the third series of Britain's Got Talent (as contestant number 43212) and was accepted after a preliminary audition in Glasgow. When Boyle first appeared on Britain's Got Talent at the city's Clyde Auditorium, she said that she aspired to become a professional singer "as successful as Elaine Paige".^[37] Boyle sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables in the first round of the third series of Britain's Got Talent, which was watched by over 10 million viewers when it aired on 11 April 2009.^[38] Programme judge Amanda Holden remarked upon the audience's initially cynical attitude, and the subsequent "biggest wake-up call ever" upon hearing her performance.^[39]

This performance was widely reported and tens of millions of people viewed the video on YouTube.^[38] Boyle was "absolutely gobsmacked" by the strength of this reaction.^[40] Since the appearance, Paige has expressed interest in singing a duet with Boyle,^[37] and has called her "a role model for everyone who has a dream".^[41] Boyle's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" has been credited with causing a surge in ticket sales in the Vancouver production of Les Misérables.^[42][43] Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of the Les Misérables musical, also praised the performance, as "heart-touching, thrilling and uplifting".^[38]

She was one of 40 acts that were put through to the semi-finals.^[44] She appeared last on the first semi-final on 24 May 2009, performing "Memory" from the musical Cats.^[45] In the public vote she was the act to receive the highest number of votes and go through to the final.^[46][47] She was the clear favourite to win the final,^[48] but ended up in second place to Diversity; the UK TV audience was a record of 17.3 million viewers.^[49]

The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) became concerned by press reports about Boyle's erratic behaviour and speculation about her mental condition and wrote to remind editors about clause 3 (privacy) of their code of press conduct.^[48] The day after the final, Boyle was admitted to The Priory, a private psychiatric clinic in London,^[49] TalkbackThames explained "Following Saturday night's show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained." Her stay in hospital attracted widespread attention, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown wishing her well.^[51] Cowell offered to waive Boyle's contractual obligation to take part in the BGT tour. Her family said "she's been battered non-stop for the last seven weeks and it has taken its toll [...but...] her dream is very much alive," as she had been invited to the Independence Day celebrations at the White House.^[49]

Boyle left the clinic five days after her admission^[52] and said she would participate in the BGT tour. Despite health worries, she appeared in 20 of the 24 dates of the tour,^[53] and was well received in cities such as Aberdeen,^[54] Edinburgh,^[55] Dublin,^[56] Sheffield,^[57] Coventry,^[58] Birmingham^[59] and London.^[60] The Belfast Telegraph said "Despite reports of crumbling under the pressure..., she exuded a confidence resembling that of a veteran who has been performing for years".^[61]

[edit] I Dreamed a Dream and tour (2009–2010)

Boyle's first album, I Dreamed a Dream, was released on 23 November 2009.^[62] The album includes covers of "Wild Horses" and "You'll See" as well as "I Dreamed a Dream", and "Cry Me a River".^[63] I Dreamed a Dream became Amazon.com's best-selling album in pre-sales on 4 September 2009, three months before the scheduled release.^[64] In Britain, Boyle's debut album was recognised as the fastest selling UK debut album of all time selling 411,820 copies, beating the previous fastest selling debut of all time, Spirit by Leona Lewis.^[65] I Dreamed a Dream also outsold the rest of the top 5 albums combined in its first week.^[66]

In the U.S., the album sold 701,000 copies in its first week, the best opening week for a debut artist in over a decade.^[67] It topped the Billboard chart for six straight weeks and although it narrowly failed to become the best-selling album of 2009, with sales of 3,104,000 compared to 3,217,000 for Taylor Swift's Fearless, it was one of only two albums to sell over 3 million copies in the U.S., and was also the top selling "physical" album of 2009, with only 86,000 of its sales coming from digital downloads.^[68] This has in turn garnered more media attention, as mentioned by People magazine.^[69]

In Italy, it was the first album of the month in the Italian No. 1 Account by a non-Italian artist ever. In only a week, it sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, becoming the fastest selling global female debut album.^[66]

Boyle gave a U.S. concert tour in November as a lead-up to the album release.^[70] On 13 December 2009 she appeared in her own television special "I Dreamed a Dream: the Susan Boyle Story", featuring a duet with Elaine Paige.^[71] It got ratings of 10 million viewers in the United Kingdom^[72] and in America was the TV Guide Network's highest rated television special in its history.^[73]

In November 2009 it was reported^[74] that Boyle's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" would be the theme song of the anime movie Eagle Talon The Movie 3 which was later released in Japan on 16 January 2010.^[75] Boyle performed for Pope Benedict XVI on his tour of Britain in 2010.^[76] In May 2010, Susan Boyle was voted by Time magazine as the seventh most influential person in the world.^[77][78]

[edit] The Gift (2010–2011)

On 9 July 2010, Boyle announced that her second album would be a Christmas album entitled The Gift.^[79] As part of the lead-up to the album, she held a competition called Susan's Search, the winner of which sang a duet with her on her new CD.^[80] The album was released on 8 November 2010.^[81]

The album was produced by Steve Mac, who said that "Now Susan's used to the studio and the recording process, this time round we might go even further down a traditional route of recording by getting a band together and rehearsing songs before we go into the studio to see what works, how she reacts with certain parts, and so we can change the arrangements that way. I think that’s going to work much better....With Susan it’s very important she connects with the public and the public connect with her. She doesn’t want to sing anything that hasn’t happened to her or she can’t relate to."^[82] Boyle has suggested the album will include some jazz numbers now she's "a bit more content" within herself. "My next album has to have an element of surprise in it again. I'm hoping to make it better and a bit extra special."^[83]

In November 2010, Boyle became one of only three acts ever to top both the UK and US album charts twice in the same year.^[84] On 30 November 2010, in the United States, Boyle performed on ABC's The View singing "O Holy Night" and then on NBC's Christmas at Rockefeller Center program performing "Perfect Day" and "Away in a Manger". During her appearance on The View she was unable to finish her song, stating that she had a "frog in her throat"; she wanted to start the song over but was not allowed to. The audience applauded her anyway and she later performed an unaired version of the song which was uploaded to The View's YouTube account.

[edit] Someone to Watch Over Me (2011–present)

Emeli Sande was reported to have helped Boyle to write songs for her third studio album, which was released on 31 October 2011.^[85] Boyle performed on the second semi-final results show of the sixth season of America's Got Talent, which aired on 31 August 2011.^[86]

Boyle made her first appearance in Australia, on X Factor Australia, on 8 November 2011 and sang "Autumm Leaves".

Media impact[link]

Websites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have been crucial in facilitating Boyle's rapid rise to fame:^[87] The most popular YouTube video submission of her audition garnered nearly 2.5 million views in the first 72 hours.^[88] On the day following the performance, the YouTube video was the most popular article on Digg^[89] and made the front page of Reddit.^[90] Within a week, the audition performance had been viewed more than 66 million times, setting an online record, while on Wikipedia her biographical article attracted nearly half a million page views. A total of 103 million video views on 20 different Web sites was reached within nine days.^[7] The Los Angeles Times wrote that her popularity on YouTube may in part be due to the broad range of emotion packed into a short clip which was "perfect for the Internet".^[91] In December 2009 her audition was named the most watched YouTube video of the year with over 120 million viewings, more than three times higher than the second most popular video.^[92]

Additionally, Boyle’s first on camera interview with Scots journalist Richard Mooney for her local newspaper the West Lothian Courier, was named as YouTube’s Most Memorable Video of 2009.^[93] The video went viral after being uploaded to YouTube on 14 April 2009.^[94]

Many newspapers around the world^[95][96] (including China,^[97] Brazil^[98] and the Middle East^[99][100]) carried articles on Boyle's performance. British tabloid The Sun gave her the nickname "Paula Potts" in reference to the first series' winner Paul Potts.^[101] Later, the British press took to referring to her by a short-form of her name, 'SuBo'.^[102] In the U.S., several commentators also drew parallels between Boyle's performance and that of Potts.^[103] ABC News hailed "Britain's newest pop sensation", and its Entertainment section headlined Boyle as "The Woman Who Shut Up Simon Cowell".^[104]

Within the week following her performance on Britain's Got Talent, Boyle was a guest on STV's The Five Thirty Show.^[105] She was interviewed via satellite on CBS's Early Show,^[26] Good Morning America,^[106] NBC's Today, FOX's America's Newsroom.^[106][107] and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Via satellite on Larry King Live,^[108] Boyle performed an a cappella verse of "My Heart Will Go On".^[109] She was also portrayed in drag by Jay Leno, who joked that they were related through his mother's Scottish heritage.^[110]

At the invitation of NHK, a major Japanese broadcaster, Boyle appeared as a guest singer for the 2009 edition of Kōhaku Uta Gassen, annual songfest on 31 December in Tokyo.^[111][112] She was introduced as the ouen kashu (応援歌手, lit. "cheering singer"^?) by the MCs and appeared on the stage escorted by Takuya Kimura, and sang "I Dreamed a Dream".^[113]

Although Boyle was not eligible for the 2010 Grammy Awards,^[114] its host Stephen Colbert paid tribute to Boyle at the ceremony, telling its audience "you may be the coolest people in the world, but this year your industry was saved by a 48-year-old Scottish cat lady in sensible shoes."^[115] There was also earlier controversy, when Boyle was not nominated in any of the categories for the 2010 Brit Awards.^[116]

Stage musical[link]

A stage musical of Boyle's life was originally planned with Boyle appearing as herself. She said she hated "having to sit watching people up there" who are actors.^[117] However it was later decided that actress Elaine C Smith would portray her ^[118] and Boyle would join the cast of I Dreamed a Dream for a cameo appearance.

I Dreamed a Dream opened on 27 March 2012 with fans from all over the world occupying the Theatre Royal, Newcastle for the opening week.^[119] The musical received rave reviews.^[120] David Cavendish wrote in his 5 star review “The overall shape of the show is hard to fault, and in matching the gutsy good humour of its heroine without stooping to hagiography, this is a delight that deserves to go far, and fast, as she has done.”^[121] John Dixon from his 5 star review on WhatsOnStage.com wrote "This production is a standalone show that should still play to audiences long after Elaine C Smith and Susan Boyle have left. In fact it deserves to become recognised as the Scottish equivalent to Blood Brothers, so strong are the production values. There is no doubting I Dreamed A Dream is one of the musical events of the year."^[122]

The musical will later tour the UK and Ireland.^[123]

Social analyses[link]

Judging by appearance[link]

The Huffington Post noted that the producers of the show would have anticipated the potential of this story arc, by deliberately presenting Boyle in a manner that would enhance this initial reaction.^[124] The Herald described Boyle's story as a modern parable and a rebuke to people's tendency to judge others based on their physical appearance.^[125] Similarly, Entertainment Weekly said that Boyle's performance was a victory for talent and artistry in a culture obsessed with physical attractiveness and presentation.^[126]

The Washington Post believed that her initial demeanour and homely appearance caused the judges and audience to be "waiting for her to squawk like a duck".^[128] New York's Daily News said that an underdog being ridiculed or humiliated but then enjoying an unexpected triumph is a common trope in literature, and the stark contrast between the audience's low expectations and the quality of her singing made Boyle's performance such an engaging piece of television.^[129]

Feminist view[link]

R.M. Campbell, music critic for The Gathering Note compared her to Ella Fitzgerald, in that "[... it is] really, really hard to make a career if a woman isn't attractive."^[130] In another Huffington Post article, Letty Cottin Pogrebin wrote that although people may "weep for the years of wasted talent", Boyle's performance was a triumph for "women of a certain age" over a youth culture that often dismisses middle-aged women.^[131] Tanya Gold wrote in The Guardian that the difference between Boyle's hostile reception and the more neutral response to Paul Potts in his first audition reflected society's expectation that women be both good-looking and talented, with no such expectation existing for men.^[132] Los Angeles vocal coach Eric Vetro stated, "She's an Everywoman as opposed to an untouchable fantasy goddess, so maybe that's why people react to her."^[133]

American Dream[link]

Several media sources have commented that Boyle's success seemed to have particular resonance in the United States. An American entertainment correspondent was quoted in The Scotsman comparing Boyle's story to the American Dream, as representing talent overcoming adversity and poverty.^[134] The Associated Press described this as Boyle's "hardscrabble story", dwelling on her modest lifestyle and what they characterised as urban deprivation in her home town.^[36] Similarly, The Independent's New York correspondent David Usborne wrote that the United States will always respond to "the fairy tale where the apparently unprepossessing suddenly becomes pretty, from Shrek to My Fair Lady".^[135]

Personal life[link]

Boyle still lives in the family home, a four-bedroom council house in Blackburn which she purchased from her earnings in 2010.^[15][136] Her father died in the 1990s, and her siblings had left home. Boyle never married, and she dedicated herself to care for her ageing mother until she died in 2007 at the age of 91. A neighbour reported that when Bridget Boyle died, her daughter "wouldn't come out for three or four days or answer the door or phone."^[137] Boyle is a practising Roman Catholic and sang in her church choir at her church in Blackburn.^[138] Boyle remains active as a volunteer at her church, visiting elderly members of the congregation in their homes.^[19] On a 2010 episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, Boyle summarised that her daily life was "mundane" and "routine" prior to stardom.

In August 2010, British tabloid, News of the World, reported that Boyle was experiencing financial woes as she was unable to access her fortune, which was being controlled by her management team – consisting of Andy Stephens, Ossie Killkenny and Boyle's lawyer and niece, Kirsty Foy. Boyle's brother Gerry said that his sister was fearful of losing her contract and of returning to her previous financial situation and also that she has been unable to move into her £300,000 five-bedroom house in Blackburn because she does not have the cash to furnish it. He said "[Her] millions are ring-fenced but Susan has no concept of money" and that she was "extremely distressed" at having to live off £300 a week after being banned from withdrawing money from the bank or owning a credit card.^[139] This story was contradicted the following day, however, by the news that she had bought two houses.^[136] It was also reported that Boyle had been on a spending spree in which she had bought a grand piano, an iPhone and five dresses made by Stewart Parvin, the Queen's dressmaker.^[140] The press had previously stated that Boyle was suing her brother Gerry for other stories he had sold to the newspapers.^[141]

Cultural references[link]

The American cartoon show South Park made a reference to the Susan Boyle craze in the episode "Fatbeard", which aired on 22 April 2009;^[142][143] the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show aired a comedy sketch showing the "feel good" effect that Susan Boyle's performance has had on people;^[144] The Simpsons aired a new commercial for its 20th-anniversary show "Springfield's Got Talent", in which Homer Simpson talks about his dreams "to be a great singer like Boyle".^[145][146] A European trailer for the video game The Sims 3 includes a character mocked up as Boyle.^[147] In June 2009, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a short story called "I Dreamed a Dream" that was based on a combination of Boyle's appearances on Britain's Got Talent and the political difficulties of Gordon Brown.^[148] The 5 November 2009 episode of the show 30 Rock showed recurring character Kathy Geiss (Marceline Hugot) – who has a dowdy appearance – singing in the style of Susan Boyle as Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy teared up.^[149] In a Season 35 sketch on Saturday Night Live, an accountant (Andy Samberg) doing Boyle's taxes, notes that her income for 2008 was $1, $900,000,000 for 2009, and projected to be $1 for 2010. Bobby Moynihan played Boyle in the sketch.

In the Futurama episode "Attack of the Killer App", Leela has a boil named Susan ("Susan Boil") that can sing show tunes.^[150]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• I Dreamed a Dream (2009)
• The Gift (2010)
• Someone to Watch Over Me (2011)

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]