Gourt Home::Gourt :: Louise (singer)
Louise Elizabeth Redknapp (née Nurding; born November 4, 1974) is a British pop singer, usually referred to by her first name alone.
Biography
Louise was born in Lewisham, London, but grew up in Eltham, London.
A graduate of the Italia Conti Academy stage school, she first came to prominence as a member of the all girl group Eternal. After a string of hits in 1993-4 from debut album Always & Forever (which became the first by an all girl group to sell over one million copies in the UK), she left the group in 1995 to pursue a solo career.
So far, Louise has registered twelve Top 20 hits, and earned herself several Brit Award nominations. Her debut solo album 'Naked' sold over a million copies world wide as did the follow up 1997's 'Woman In Me'. Both albums went Platinum in the UK. 1997 also saw Louise set off on her first UK tour. playing at over 20 sell out venues across the country including Wembley Arena.
She married now-retired Liverpool and England football player Jamie Redknapp in the Caribbean on June 29, 1998. They have a son named Charley.
In 2001, after trying out a more grown up sound on her third LP Elbow Beach (named after the place where she got married), Louise left her record label and a "best of" album, Changing Faces, was released. This was followed by another "best of" collection from EMI (but with a slightly different tracklisting), Finest Moments, in 2002.
She has since completed a 2002 UK-wide tour, tried her hand at TV presenting (on CD:UK) and hit the UK Top 5 again with "Pandora's Kiss" in 2003.
In the July 2004 edition of FHM, she was named Sexiest Woman of the Decade.
Louise has said she is nervous about releasing new material as the music industry has changed so much to when she was at her peak. She has just signed to a new management company Merlin Elite. Five clips of new songs have been placed on the internet - 'Bounce Back', 'Slam', 'Lil' Lou', 'Don't Ever Change' and 'Make It Fit' (co-written by Jamelia). The songs which were originally recorded for Louise's never released 2004 album, have received a huge amount of praise and interest - many classing it as a fresh new sound for Louise.
It is now rumoured that 'Bounce Back' will be Louise's comeback single in early 2007 - although there still is a wild debate raging between fans, some of whom think 'Slam' should be the comeback single.
While Louise has been quiet on the music scene for the last 2 years she has still remained in the public eye. Louise is currently sponsored by Boots to front their 'Safe And White' campaign, Flora to front their 'Omega 3' products and the new cosmetics company 'Think Happy: Organics'. She was voted the best footballer's wife of all time and presented ITV's soccer aid extra time on ITV 2.
Eternal
Louise shot to fame when she was just 16, as one quarter of the UK R&B girl band 'Eternal'. 'Eternal', at the time of their release, were different from other girl bands on the UK market. Their music was not mainstream pop but a mixture heavy R&B, soul and dance. Their image was not 'pretty' but rather 'street chic'.
There debut single 'Stay' shot straight into the UK charts at number 4, and their album, 'Always and Forever' sold over 1.5 million units in the UK alone (the first by an all girl group to do so in UK). Eternal were an instant success and the girls were touring and promoting all around the globe.
So it came as surprise to both fans and critics when in June 1995 Louise decided to leave the band (the same day Robbie Williams left Take That). Many saw Louise's decision as madness - she was part of the biggest girl band in Europe who were selling shed loads of CDs, breaking records and about to try and crack America. However Louise was not happy within the band; she felt alone and homesick on the increasingly longer world tours, missing her friends and family. Most importantly though she felt creatively and artistically restricted - not surprising considering Easther Bennett sang lead on virtually every Eternal song leaving Kéllé, Vernie and Louise with few solo vocal opportunities.
While Louise did not make it public she wanted to become a solo artist when she left the band she knew that was the direction she wanted to head.
Going Solo - 'Naked'
After leaving 'Eternal' Louise did not get back in the studio straight away. She took some time out of the public eye - she spent quality time with friends and family and got to know herself. It was in early 1995 that Louise's musical itch could be ignored any longer and she signed a solo record deal with First Avenue management and EMI records.
By October 1995 Louise was ready to release her debut solo single, the big orchestral ballad 'Light of My Life'. The single was generally critically praised and many saw it as a wise choice for Louise's debut single; as it was a different sound to that she made when in 'Eternal', it showed she could actually sing rather well and that she was dedicated to her music. Many, including at one point Louise herself, thought her debut single would be a cheap, up-tempo, 'manufactured' pop song - but by working hard on an orchestral ballad where her vocal abilities were raw and exposed (instead of manufactured and covered) this gained her critical respect.
When Louise's second single 'In Walked Love' didn't chart as well as 'Light of My Life' there were doubts as to whether or not Louise would actually be successful as a solo artist. Her third single, the lyrically provocative 'Naked' would place all those doubts to rest. 'Naked' was a huge hit, arguably the biggest of her career, charting at number 5 in the UK (it remained in the top 20 for many weeks) and topping many charts in the rest of Europe. The video for 'Naked' would also have a huge effect on Louise's career. While the videos for 'Light of My Life' and 'In Walked Love' portrayed Louise as the pretty girl next door, 'Naked' showed us a more sexy and raunchy side to Louise - soon she would be voted 'The Sexiest Woman In The World'. 'Naked' established Louise as a solo artist in her own right.
Louise's debut solo album, also entitled 'Naked', was released shortly after the single. The album received mild reviews, many feeling they were not seeing the Louise who left Eternal for her artist freedom, rather a Louise who was playing it safe. Never the less, the album peaked at number 7 in the UK album charts, quickly received platinum certification and sold over a million copies (including sales for Europe). To push the album two further singles were released; 'Undivided Love' - a fun, up tempo track and the standout track of the album the sultry, R&B track 'One Kiss From Heaven'.
'Woman In Me'
After the success of 'Naked' there was no doubt Louise would return with new material. In 1997 Louise returned with the single 'Arms Around The World'. 'Arms Around The World' offered a slightly different sound from Louise - still pop, yet not typically conventional, incorporating 'worldly' sounds. The single was a huge hit and until 2000's '2 Faced' was Louise's highest charting track reaching number 4.
Louise's second solo album, fittingly entitled 'Woman In Me', was more successful than her first. The album reached number 5 in the UK charts and also went on to chart in other European territories. The reviews from the album were generally very good, many classing it as a mature and diverse pop album. Louise, who was creatively heavily involved in the making of the album, herself said 'Woman In Me' was a true reflection of her development as an artist, whereas on 'Naked' she was trying to find her feet.
'Lets Go Round Again' (a cover of the original The Average White Band track) was the second single released on the album. While the song only reached number 10 in the charts it became Louise's biggest selling single, selling over 200,000 copies.
At the start of 1998 Louise seemed to do no wrong; she was the reigning UK pop queen. Her album 'Woman In Me' had gone platinum and sold over a million copies, she was on the cover of every magazine from 'Smash Hits' to 'GQ' and had been voted 'The Sexiest Woman In The World' by the readers of FHM magazine. What better than to top all that off with a UK wide tour. The 'Louise 'Soft and Gentle' No Sweat Tour' (sponsored by Soft and Gentle) was a sell out tour that saw Louise performing to thousands of fans night after night across the UK. Another testament to Louise's solo success is that 'Woman In Me' was selling more copies than Eternal's album 'Before The Rain', which was also released in 1997.
While Louise was on tour the final single was released from 'Woman In Me', 'All That Matters'. The single's choice was the source of much controversy with fans and critics. Fans wanted the title track 'Woman In Me' or the pop anthem 'Shut Up And Kiss Me' to be released as they felt they were the best tracks on the album. Critics saw 'All That Matters' as a step backwards for Louise as the track was a lack less pop number that would have fitted in better on the 'Naked' album. The single charted at number 11.
Discography
Singles
- As a member of Eternal
- 1993 Stay (#4)
- 1994 Save Our Love (#8)
- 1994 Just A Step From Heaven (#8)
- 1994 So Good (#13)
- 1994 Oh Baby I... (#4)
- 1994 Crazy (#15)
- Solo
- 1995 Light Of My Life (#8)
- 1996 In Walked Love (#17)
- 1996 Naked (#5)
- 1996 Undivided Love (#5)
- 1996 One Kiss From Heaven (#9)
- 1997 Arms Around The World (#4)
- 1997 Let's Go Round Again (#10)
- 1998 All That Matters (#11)
- 2000 2 Faced (#3)
- 2000 Beautiful Inside (#13)
- 2001 Stuck In The Middle (#4)
- 2003 Pandora's Kiss/Don't Give Up (#5)
B-Sides & other tracks
- As a member of Eternal
- 1993 Don't Say Goodbye (Stay B-Side/Always & Forever album track)
- 1994 If You Need Me Tonight (Save Our Love B-Side/Always & Forever album track)
- 1994 I've Got To Be With You (Just A Step From Heaven B-Side)
- 1994 Fantasy (Just A Step From Heaven B-Side)
- 1994 Ain't No How I'm Steppin (So Good B-Side)
- 1994 Loving You (So Good B-Side)
- 1994 Decisions (Oh Baby I... B-Side)
- 1994 Something Inside (So Strong) (Crazy B-Side)
- 1994 His Eye Is on The Sparrow (Crazy B-Side)
- 1994 Amazing Grace (Crazy B-Side)
- Solo
- 1995 Real Love (Light Of My Life B-Side)
- 1996 All Of You (In Walked Love B-Side)
- 1996 Do Me Right (Naked B-Side)
- 1996 Keep The Lovin' In (Naked B-Side)
- 1996 How in the World (Undivided Love B-Side)
- 1996 Better Next Time (Undivided Love B-Side)
- 1997 Don't Be Shy (Arms Around The World B-Side/Woman In Me album track)
- 1997 Intimate (Arms Around The World B-Side)
- 1997 Just When I Thought (Let's Go Round Again B-Side)
- 1997 How You Make Me Feel (Let's Go Round Again B-Side)
- 1998 Woman In Me (All That Matters B-Side)
- 1998 When Will I See You Again (All That Matters B-Side)
- 1998 If I Can't Have You (A Tribute To The Bee Gees album track)
- 2000 Say Yes (2 Faced B-Side)
- 2000 Lost (2 Faced B-Side)
- 2000 Clear Water (Beautiful Inside B-Side)
- 2001 Better Back Off (Beautiful Inside B-Side)
Albums
As a member of Eternal
Always & Forever 1993 (#2) 5 x Platinum
- 1. Stay
- 2. Crazy
- 3. Save Our Love
- 4. Oh Baby I...
- 5. I'll Be There
- 6. Sweet Funky Thing
- 7. Just A Step From Heaven
- 8. Never Gonna Give You Up
- 9. Let's Stay Together
- 10. This Love Is For Real
- 11. So Good
- 12. If You Need Me Tonight
- 13. Don't Say Goodbye
- 14. Amazing Grace
Solo
Naked 1996 (#7) Platinum
- 1. Naked
- 2. In Walked Love
- 3. Light Of My Life
- 4. Best That You Bring
- 5. One Kiss From Heaven
- 6. Thinking About You
- 7. Discussions
- 8. Undivided Love
- 9. Back To Love
- 10. Never Too Late
- 11. Goodbye To Love
- 12. That's The Way I Like It
- 13. I'll Fly Away
- 14. I Gave You My Love
- 15. All Of You
- 16. Real Love
Woman In Me 1997 (#5) 2 x Platinum
- 1. Arms Around The World
- 2. All That Matters
- 3. I Pray
- 4. Let's Go Round Again
- 5. Woman In Me
- 6. Trust In You
- 7. Reminds Me Of You
- 8. Shut Up And Kiss Me
- 9. Healing Love
- 10. When Will My Heart Beat Again
- 11. New York Moon
- 12. Happy Love
- 13. Who Do You Love
- 14. Don't Be Shy
- 15. Running Back For More
- 16. Love Will Bring You Back To Me
Elbow Beach 2000 (#12) Silver
- 1. Beautiful Inside
- 2. First Kiss (The Wedding Song)
- 3. 2 Faced
- 4. For Your Eyes Only
- 5. Egyptian Queen
- 6. Best Thing
- 7. Bedtime
- 8. That's What Friends Are For
- 9. Take You There
- 10. City Boy Fix
- 11. In Our Room
- 12. Lost
- 13. Say Yes
- 14. Better Back Off
Changing Faces - The Best Of 2001 (#9) Gold
- 1. Naked
- 2. Just A Step From Heaven (Radio Mix) (Eternal)
- 3. Undivided Love (Single Mix)
- 4. Stuck In The Middle With You
- 5. Stay (7" Mix) (Eternal)
- 6. Lets Go Round Again
- 7. Light Of My Life
- 8. 2 Faced
- 9. The Slightest Touch (Almighty 7" Radio Mix)
- 10. One Kiss From Heaven (Remix)
- 11. In Walked Love
- 12. Beautiful Inside
- 13. Oh Baby I... (Eternal)
- 14. Arms Around The World (Radio Mix)
- 15. All That Matters
- 16. Come And Get It
- 17. First Kiss (The Wedding Song)
- 18. Egyptian Queen
Finest Moments 2002 (#6) (on budget album chart)
- 1. Naked (Naked)
- 2. That's The Way I Like It (Naked)
- 3. Never Too Late (Naked)
- 4. One Kiss From Heaven (Naked)
- 5. I'll Fly Away (Naked)
- 6. Arms Around The World (Woman In Me)
- 7. All That Matters (Woman In Me)
- 8. I Pray (Woman In Me)
- 9. Woman In Me (Woman In Me)
- 10. Who Do You Love (Woman In Me)
- 11. 2 Faced (Elbow Beach)
- 12. Beautiful Inside (Elbow Beach)
- 13. First Kiss (The Wedding Song) (Elbow Beach)
- 14. For Your Eyes Only (Elbow Beach)
- 15. In Our Room (Elbow Beach)
- 16. Medley
- 17. In Walked Love (Naked)
- 18. Let's Go Round Again (Woman In Me)
External links
- Louise Redknapp fansite
- Louise Redknapp Online - Official news
- Louise Redknapp Forum
- Eternal and Louise Forums
1974 births | Italia Conti graduates | Living people | English female singers | Members of girl groups
"Louise (singer)"