Amy Macdonald

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Amy Macdonald
Macdonald at the New Pop Festival 2018.
Background information
Birth nameAmy Elizabeth Macdonald
Born (1987-08-25) 25 August 1987 (age 36)
OreiginBishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Genres
Thrift
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • guitarist
  • musician
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active2006–present
Labels
WabsteidOfficial website

Amy Elizabeth Macdonald (born 25 August 1987) is a Scots sangster-sangwriter, guitarist, an muisician. She has selt ower 12 mulyeon records warldwide.[1] Macdonald lowsed her debut album, This Is the Life, in 2007. The singles "Mr. Rock & Roll" an "This Is the Life" fae it wis chairt hits. The latter hit nummer ane in sax kintras, whiles gettin intae the tap 10 in 11 mair kintras, sellin three mulyeon copies warldwide. Moderate success in the American muisic mercat follaed in 2008. She wis a guest on programmes sic as The Ellen DeGeneres Show an The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, whaur she performed twa singles fae the album, an This Is the Life got tae nummer 92 on the Billboard 200.

Macdonald's seicont album, A Curious Thing, wis lowsed on 8 Mairch 2010.[2] Its lead single "Don't Tell Me That It's Over" wis lowsed in Mairch 2010; it peaked at nummer 45 on the UK Singles chairt, an did weel in ither European kintras as weel. Five singles hae sin been lowsed fae A Curious Thing. Macdonald is ane o the airtists that kythed wi Ray Davies on his 2010 album See My Friends; she sang wi him on a cover of the Kinks' 60s hit "Dead End Street". Her third album, Life in a Beautiful Light, wis pit oot on 11 Juin 2012.[3] It haed three singles: "Slow It Down", that became a nummer 45 hit on the UK Singles chairt; "Pride", an "4th of July".

On 17 Februar 2017, Macdonald pit oot her fowert studio album, Under Stars, that cam in at nummer twa on the Scots an UK Album chairts. It peaked wi-in the tap 10 of the album chairts in Germany an New Zealand an aw.

Early life[eedit | eedit soorce]

Amy Elizabeth Macdonald went tae Bishopbriggs Hie Schuil in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland.[4] Efter bein inspired bi Travis at the T in the Park fest in 2000, she heard Travis' sang "Turn" an wantit tae play it hersel. She bocht a Travis chord buik, an stairtit playin on her faither's guitar, lairnin hersel hou tae play at juist 12 yeir auld.[5] Suin efter, she began componin her awn sangs, the first bein cried "The Wall".[5][6] She stairtit playin in pubs an coffee hooses athoot Glesga at the age o 15,[7] includin the Brunswick Cellars on Sauchiehall Street.[8]

Career[eedit | eedit soorce]

Breakthrou[eedit | eedit soorce]

Macdonald on stage at T on the Fringe After Party at The Caves, Edinburgh in 2007

Macdonald sent aff a demo CD in repone tae an advert pit in the NME[7] bi a new production company set up bi sangwriters Pete Wilkinson ani Sarah Erasmus. Wilkinson said he wis "literally aghast" at her sangwritin abilities whan first he heard Macdonald play the sangs "This Is the Life" an "Mr Rock n Roll".[9] He then spent aroond aicht or nine month recordin demos wi Macdonald at his hame studio wi an aim tae siccar a record deal fur his new client. In 2007 she subscrieved a contract wi Vertigo.[citation needit]

2007–2009: This Is the Life[eedit | eedit soorce]

Macdonald performin in 2009

In 2007, Macdonald lowsed her debut album, titled This Is the Life. The album selt 3 mulyeon copies, an rexed No. 1 in the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland an Denmark.[10][11] This Is the Life raxed No. 92 on the US Billboard 200. The single, "This Is the Life" raxed No. 25 on the US Billboard Triple-A radio airplay chairts.

The first single fae the album, "Poison Prince", wis anerly a leemitit lowsin. The seicont single, "Mr. Rock an Roll", becam Macdonald's first tap 40 sang, chairtin at No. 12 in the Unitit Kinrick. Houaniver, the third single, "LA", missit the tap 40 at No. 48.

The fowert an maist successfu single, "This Is the Life", chairtit at No. 28 in the UK, an wis No. 1 in five ither European kintras. The single wis awardit Platinum in Germany an Belgium an Gold in Spain an Switzerland. It wis also the theme song of True Law (Prawo Agaty), a Polish legal drama TV series. The fift single, "Run", gied Macdonald her seicont lawest chairt position in the UK at No. 75. Hounaiver, "Run" chairtit at No. 36 in Germany. The saxt an final single wis the re-lowsin o "Poison Prince"; it chairtit at No. 148 in the UK, Macdonald's lawest chairt position.

The album's track "Youth of Today" wis waled as the first single featurt on Bebo/iTunes' "Free Single of the Week" programme.[12]

She kythed as a muisical performin guest on Breetish an furren programmes siclik The Album chairt Show, Loose Women, Friday Night Project, Taratata (France), an This Morning. She won the best newcomer awaird at the Silver Clef Awards.[13] She haes kythed on sindry US tauk programmes siclik The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2008), whaur she performed "Mr. Rock an Roll" an The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2008) an aw, whaur she performed her hit single, "This Is the Life".[14]

2010–2011: A Curious Thing[eedit | eedit soorce]

Macdonald stairtit wirkin on her seicont album in 2009.[15] She said "Some o the soonds are juist magic an we'v managed tae persuade ane o ma favourite airtists tae whack some stuff doun on thaim, bit ye'll hiv tae haud on an see."[16] The airtist in quaisten wis Paul Weller, that contreibutit electric guitar on the track "Love Love" an piano an bass guitar on the track "This Pretty Face".[17] Titled A Curious Thing, it wis lowsed on 8 Mairch 2010.[18]

"Don't Tell Me That It's Over" cam oot a week afore the album on 1 Mairch 2010. The single wis lowsed to UK radio on 11 Januar, an Macdonald performed it the same day on the Simon Mayo Show on BBC Radio 2.[19] "Don't Tell Me That It's Over" wis lowsed tae radio in kintras siclik UK, Switzerland, Germany an France an aw.[20] The album's seicont single "Spark" wis pit oot on 10 Mey 2010[21] on digital doonload format. Macdonald confirmt an aw, thit she wid tour the Unitit Kinrick an ither pairts o Europe in 2010.[22]

The album's third single "This Pretty Face" wis pit oot on 19 Julie 2010 efter Macdonald confirmt she wid be gangin on a tour entitled The Love Love Tour. Forbye that year, she wis ane o sindry airtists that recordit wi Ray Davies on his 2010 album See My Friends, in that she sang wi him on "Dead End Street".

2011–2015: Life in a Beautiful Light[eedit | eedit soorce]

Macdonald's third album, Life in a Beautiful Light, wis lowsed on 11 Juin 2012.[3] Macdonald began tae scrieve Life in a Beautiful Light efter haein a "lovely year off" efter tourin in support o A Curious Thing. Macdonald haed nae time tae scrieve sangs on her seicont album as she wis tourin wi This Is the Life. Houaniver, Macdonald said she felt thit the creation o Life in a Beautiful Light wis a mair naitural-lik process. Twa sangs fae Life in a Beautiful Light wis stairtit afore Macdonald's break. "In the End" wis scrievit wi Macdonald quaistenin gin bein a muisician wis a wirthy thrift.[23]

Macdonald scrieved "Human Spirit" inspirt bi the Chilean miners' rescue. The sang "Left That Body Long Ago" descrieved her grandmither's faw intil Alzheimer's disease whiles "Across the Nile" is a repone tae the conflict o the Arab Spring.[24]

Three sangs fae the album wis pit oot as singles: "Slow It Down", "Pride" an "4th of July".[3] She telt BBC News thit Pride wis scrieved tae descrieve her feelins anent performin Flouer o Scotland at Hampden Park afore Scotland international fitba matches.

Macdonald scrieved the last track on the album, In the End, at the end o her foregaun tour an Life in a Beautiful Light wis then recordit in Surrey. It wis produced bi Pete Wilkinson an mixed bi Bob Clearmountain, that haed warkit on her debut album aforehaun.[25] On 2 Juin 2012 she sang her sang "Slow It Down" wi the finalist o the seicont saison o the Pols version o The X Factor, a girl group the Chance.

2016–2018: Under Stars[eedit | eedit soorce]

Macdonald performin live at Deichbrand Festival, 2018

Macdonald stairtit scrievin sangs fur a new album in early 2014, 2 year efter the lowsin o her previous album, Life in a Beautiful Light. In May 2014, she performed 4 new sangs live.[26] She sang "Leap of Faith" durin the Scots independence referendum in September 2014 an aw.[27] In Mairch 2015, Macdonald annooncit via Twitter she wis finishin aff the sangwritin fur the album, bit hadnae yet stairtit recordin.[28] On 28 October 2015, she annoonced via Twitter she stairtit the recordin sessions fur the album.[29] Later on, she statit on 9 December 2015 via her Instagram accoont thit she haed finished the sangwritin for the album an that she hoped the album would be finished sometime in 2016.[30] On 9 August 2016, Macdonald annooncit via Instagram her fowert album wis finished an wad be pit oot early 2017.[31]

Macdonald sayed thit awtho it wis twa an a hauf yeir in the makin, that is the langest she haes e'er taen wi an album, she wis gled tae hae taen the time an she feels the album haes "the TLC that it deserves".[32]

Macdonald pit oot the new album entitled Under Stars on 17 Februar 2017. A video o an acoustic version o new album track "Down by the Water" wis lowsed an aw. She performit live on BBC Scotland's Hogmanay 2017 shaw whaur she debuted her upcoming single "Dream On".[citation needit]

2018–2019: Woman of the World (The Best of 2007–2018)[eedit | eedit soorce]

In September 2018, Macdonald annoonced her first greatest hits album, Woman of the World (The Best of 2007–2018), that includes aw o her successfu sangs, alang wi a aforehaun unlowsed sang, "Woman of the World". The album wis pit oot on 23 November 2018. Macdonald annoonced a European tour an aw, thit she went on durin Mairch an Apryle 2019.

2020–present: The Human Demands[eedit | eedit soorce]

Macdonald stairtit scrievin sangs atween 2018 an 2019 an started the recordin o her fift studio album in Februar 2020. Efter an disruption caused bi the COVID-19 pandemic in Mairch, she resumed recordin in Juin 2020.[33]

On 27 August 2020, she lowsed the album's lead single "The Hudson" an said the lowsin o album The Human Demands wid be on 30 October 2020.[34] Macdonald annoonced a European tour an aw, that she will embark on atween Apryl an Julie 2021.[35] Macdonald tawked anent the album, an performed an acoustic version o the track "We Could Be So Much More", on BBC Radio 4's Front Row in November 2020.

On 15 Mey 2021, she representit Scotland at the Free European Sang Contest 2021, hostit in Cologne, Germany. Her sang "Statues" finished in fowert place wi 77 pynts.

Muisical style[eedit | eedit soorce]

Reviewers hae descrieved Amy as saft spaken but wi a boomin singin vyce. Her vocal reeng is contralto.[36]

Macdonald cites Travis as her biggest influence.[37] Ither influences include the Killers[38] an Rammstein.[39]

Personal life[eedit | eedit soorce]

Macdonald wis engaged tae fitbawer Steve Lovell in 2008, but didna mairry.[2] She annoonced in Januar 2016 that she wis engaged tae fitbawer Richard Foster.[40] They mairret in 2018 in Las Vegas. Macdonald is a supporter o Rangers F.C.[41]

Macdonald haes vyced doots an scepticism anent Brexit at sindry times.[42][43][44] In 2017, she stated that she micht hae to flit tae Germany gin Brexit went aheid.[45]

Discography[eedit | eedit soorce]

  • This Is the Life (2007)
  • A Curious Thing (2010)
  • Life in a Beautiful Light (2012)
  • Under Stars (2017)
  • The Human Demands (2020)

Accolades[eedit | eedit soorce]

Awairds overview[eedit | eedit soorce]

Macdonald wan Best Newcomer at the 2008 Tartan Clef Awards[46] an Best Newcomer at the 2008 Silver Clef Awards.[47] In December 2008 she wis votit "Scottish person of the year" by The Daily Record.[48]

Macdonald performed, alang wi U2, at the German 2009 Echo Awards, whaur she wan an awaird in the category "Best International Newcomer".[49][50] She wan Best International Album an Best International Song at the 2009 Swiss Music Awards anaw.[51]

In 2010, Macdonald won "Best Album" for A Curious Thing, at the annual Tartan Clef awairds on 20 November in Glesga.[52] Macdonald won "Best International Album Rock/Pop" wi A Curious Thing at the Swiss Music Awards in Mairch 2011 as weel.[53] Forbye, Macdonald wan "Best International Rock/Pop Female" at the Echo Awards.[54]

On 23 August 2013, Macdonald performed at the 46th Sopot International Song Festival in Poland wi her sangs "This Is the Life" an "Slow It Down". She wis gien a speicial prize bi the Radio RMF FM.[55]

In 2013, Macdonald wis shortleetit fur the Scottish Fashion Awards "Scottish Fashion Icon 2013".[56] She wis shortleetit again in 2014, winnin the awaird.[57]

Awairds an nominations[eedit | eedit soorce]

Year Award Category Result
2020 Specsavers: Scottish Music Awards Women In Music Award Won
2018 Forth Radio Awards The Forth International Music Icon Award Won
2015 Scottish Music Awards King Tut's Songwriting Award Won
2014 Scottish Fashion Awards Scottish Fashion Icon Won
2013 Scottish Fashion Awards Scottish Fashion Icon Nominatit
2013 Echo Awards Best International Rock/Pop Female Nominatit
2011 Swiss Music Awards Best International Album Rock/Pop – 'A Curious Thing' Won
2011 Echo Awards Best International Rock/Pop Female Won
2010 Tartan Clef Award Best Album – 'A Curious Thing' Won
2009 Swiss Music Awards Best International Album – 'This Is The Life' Won
Best International Song – 'This Is The Life' Won
Echo Awards Best Newcomer International Won
Best International Female Nominatit
Single of the Year for "This Is the Life" Nominatit
NRJ Music Awards International Album of the Year for This Is the Life Nominatit
International Revolution of the Year Nominatit
2008 Daily Record Scottish Person of the Year Won
2007 Silver Clef Award Best Newcomer Won

References[eedit | eedit soorce]

  1. Kyle, Gregor (1 September 2017). "Go backstage with Amy MacDonald at her triumphant Glasgow homecoming show". glasgowlive.co.uk. Retrieved 23 Mairch 2018.
  2. a b "Amy Macdonald: I'm not thinking about marriage yet because it would mean taking break from my career". The Daily Record. Archived frae the original on 12 Februar 2010. Retrieved 4 Mairch 2010.
  3. a b c "Life in a Beautiful Light". 13 Apryle 2012. Archived frae the original on 19 Apryle 2012. Retrieved 14 Apryle 2012.
  4. "Video week – Former Bishopbriggs High School pupil Amy Macdonald performs for Bishopbriggs Academy pupils at The Garage nightclub in Glasgow". The Herald. Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. Archived frae the original on 14 Mey 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  5. a b "A BRIEF ENCOUNTER WITH . . .AMY MACDONALD SOUNDS | HighBeam Research". The Sunday Herald. Archived frae the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 13 Februar 2016. Archived 2016-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "The darling of airwaves; pop/classical Scottish singer-songwriter Amy MacDonald is at the Carling Academy Newcastle next week. Entertainment Editor GORDON BARR catches up with the teenager. – Free Online Library". thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 13 Februar 2016.
  7. a b "Pick up an autographed Amy Macdonald album and guitar pick now!". MTV Asia. 6 Februar 2009. Archived frae the original on 20 Apryle 2009. Retrieved 20 Juin 2009.
  8. Carroll, Peter (18 December 2008). "Double date for Amy McDonald". The Glaswegian. Retrieved 20 Juin 2009.
  9. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named hitquarters.com
  10. "Amy Macdonald – This Is the Life". acharts.us.
  11. Lyons, Beverley (20 Januar 2010). "Susan Boyle did not deserve a Brits nomination, insists Amy Macdonald". Daily Record. Scotland. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  12. "Bebo agrees deal with iTunes for music file sharing". brandrepublic.com/. 13 Juin 2007. Archived frae the original on 1 Apryle 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  13. "Top Silver Clef award for Oasis". BBC. 4 Julie 2008. Archived frae the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  14. "Amy Macdonald".
  15. Kilkelly, Daniel (25 Mairch 2009). "MacDonald ready to work on new album". Digital Spy. Archived frae the original on 28 Apryle 2009. Retrieved 21 Apryle 2009.
  16. "Amy Macdonald set to release new album next year". Daily Record. Scotland. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  17. Sutherland, Mark (6 Mairch 2010). "6 Questions with Amy Macdonald" (in Inglis): 31. Retrieved 28 Juin 2020. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. Dingwall, John (5 Februar 2010). "Amy Macdonald: I'm not thinking about marriage yet because it would mean taking break from my career". Daily Record. Scotland. Archived frae the original on 12 Februar 2010. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  19. "Amy Macdonald: Glasgow gig will showcase new songs and there's new single in pipeline too". Daily Record. Scotland. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  20. "Amy McDonald readies up new single "Don't Tell Me That It's Over"". Loft965. 15 Januar 2010. Archived frae the original on 6 Februar 2010. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  21. Bargiela, Sarah (13 Mey 2010). "Amy Macdonald – Spark". Entertainment Focus. Archived frae the original on 10 Julie 2011. Retrieved 26 Mey 2011.
  22. "Amy's touring the UK later this year!". Amymacdonald.co.uk. 8 Apryle 2010. Retrieved 26 Mey 2011.
  23. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named autogenerated3
  24. Sincair, David (9 Juin 2012). "Amy Macdonald: Songs in the key of life – from Glasgow". The Independent. Retrieved 17 Mey 2018.
  25. Sinclair, David (9 Juin 2012). "Songs in the key of life – from Glasgow – Music Amy Macdonald isn't your average pop star. She writes positive songs, refuses to relocate to London, and has a footballer boyfriend yet hasn't sold her privacy to the tabloids". The Independent. Retrieved 22 Januar 2019.
  26. "The 4th Album". Amy Macdonald Daily. Amy Macdonald Daily. Retrieved 17 Februar 2017.
  27. "Scottish independence: Musicians back independence". The Scotsman. Catriona Webster. Archived frae the original on 4 Julie 2018. Retrieved 18 Februar 2017.
  28. "Amy Macdonald on Twitter: "@alan_ferg pretty much finished the writing. Just need to record and plan now but no idea how long that will take"". Twitter. Amy Macdonald. Retrieved 17 Februar 2017.
  29. "Amy Macdonald on Twitter: "Album 4 recording session. Day 1!"". Twitter. Amy Macdonald. Retrieved 18 Februar 2017.
  30. "Amy Macdonald on Instagram: "Final writing session in the bunker. The album should be finished early next year. Exciting times..."". Instagram. Amy Macdonald. Retrieved 18 Februar 2017.
  31. "Amy Madonald on Instagram: "FINALLY!!! After many months of hard work yesterday my new album was officially finished. I'm so proud of it..."". Instagram. Amy Macdonald. Retrieved 18 Februar 2017.
  32. "Announcing 'Under Stars' – the new album!". Amy Macdonald official Facebook fanpage. Retrieved 18 Februar 2017 – via Facebook.
  33. "Scottish Singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald On The Human Demands". Wonderland. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  34. "Premier League predictions: Lawro v singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald". BBC. 5 November 2020.
  35. "𝗔𝗠𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗗 on Instagram: "⚡️LIVE NEWS!⚡️ Very excited to announce that I will be heading back out on the road, playing actual live concerts across the UK and Europe in…"". Instagram. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  36. Smith, Aidan (12 August 2007). "Chasing Amy". Scotland on Sunday. Archived frae the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  37. "Amy's first million". The Herald. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  38. "It's my passion". The Guardian. London. 10 Mey 2008. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  39. Johnson, Emma (7 September 2007). "Amy Macdonald is causing a stir in the music world". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  40. "Amy Macdonald reveals she's engaged to footballer boyfriend with 'honkin' selfie on Facebook". The Mirror. 2 Januar 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  41. "Premier League predictions: Lawro v singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald". BBC Sport. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 30 Januar 2021.
  42. "13 years and 12 million records sold later, interview with This Is The Life's star Amy Macdonald". The Shortlisted (in Inglis). 18 October 2020. Retrieved 22 Julie 2021.
  43. Dingwall, John. "Hard Brexit may force singer to quit Britain" (in Inglis). ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 22 Julie 2021.
  44. "Star-Podcast: Amy Macdonald". www.antenne1.de. Retrieved 22 Julie 2021.
  45. Crichton, Torcuil (2 September 2017). "Amy Macdonald claims if Brexit goes bad she'll ditch UK and leg it for Germany". Daily Record (in Inglis). Retrieved 22 Julie 2021.
  46. "Stars Will Shine For Charity's Big Night". Sunday Mail. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  47. "Amy MacDonald wins Newcomer | Silver Clef Awards". T5m.com. 28 Julie 2008. Archived frae the original on 26 Juin 2009. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  48. "HOT 100: The women to watch in 2009". Daily Record. Scotland. 17 December 2008. Archived frae the original on 1 Apryle 2009. Retrieved 13 Februar 2009.
  49. "Amy Macdonald snubbed by British awards but up for a gong in Germany". Daily Record. 27 Januar 2009. Retrieved 21 Apryle 2009.
  50. "Amy Macdonald Reacts To Echo Awards Nomination". popdirt.com. 26 Januar 2009. Archived frae the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  51. "Amy, Stefanie und Züri West räumen ab" (in German). persoenlich.com. 20 Februar 2009. Archived frae the original on 21 Februar 2009. Retrieved 16 Februar 2010.
  52. "A Parents View". Tartan Clef. Archived frae the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 26 Mey 2011.
  53. "Swiss Music Awards 2011". Swissmusicawards.ch. Archived frae the original on 7 Julie 2011. Retrieved 26 Mey 2011.
  54. "Die Gewinner 2011". Echopop.de. Archived frae the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 26 Mey 2011.
  55. "Sopot TOP of the TOP Festival: Bursztynowy Słowik dla Imany (wideo)" (in Polls). media2.pl. 24 August 2013.
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  57. "Winners". Scottish Fashion Awards. Hartmann Media Ltd. Archived frae the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2014.

 

Fremmit airtins[eedit | eedit soorce]