Nicki French

Nicki French is a female singer and dancer who was born in Carlisle, Cumbria, England, but raised from the age of four in Tenterden, Kent, England. She is best known for her 1995 dance cover version of Total Eclipse of the Heart.

Career

French had been a session singer for many years before she covered "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", a song made famous by Bonnie Tyler. Her single was first released in 1994 in the United Kingdom and charted at no. 54. When it was re-released in 1995 the song reached no. 5 during an extended chart run, selling over 200,000 copies in the process and earning a silver sales award, as well as being her record label's biggest chart success to date.

This achievement was eclipsed by an even more successful chart run in the United States, where the track reached no. 2 and spent 26 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 music charts. Nicki made her name across the globe when 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' followed on from the success in the UK and USA, by gaining Top 10 chart positions in Australia, The Netherlands, Japan, Canada and Ireland.

French's second single "For All We Know", a cover version of the Carpenters' hit, was due for a top 20 chart position but stalled at no. 42 in the UK singles chart due to distribution problems, and a barcode error. But her debut album, Secrets, charted in Japan (50,000 copies sold), USA, Canada and Australia. The record received generally excellent reviews from critics. Further singles from the album included "Is There Anybody Out There?", "Did You Ever Really Love Me" (both of which charted in the UK) and "Never In A Million Years" (which was released in Denmark and Sweden only).

Various other songs were added to formats around the world, including renditions of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" and "Stop In The Name Of Love". Despite this success Nicki's UK label, 'Love This Records', called it a day, after failing to achieve commercial success with its other artists - Jan Monroe, Sally Ann Marsh, BND, Club Risque and Suzann Rye - all of whom failed to reach the UK chart. She was then signed by Logic Records UK (part of the Sony/BMG group).

In 1998 Nicki French released her second album to rave reviews, and success in Japan and Taiwan. The single "Te Amo" was successful worldwide charting in Canada, Brazil(No.1 airplay charts), UK and Mexico and even gained the interest of Jim Steinman, the writer of "Total Eclipse Of The Heart". Nicki worked with his record label, Ravenous Records, for some time but did not release any new material.

In 2000 she entered the Eurovision Song Contest with "Don't Play That Song Again". The song was chosen by members of the British public and was the runaway winner with over 55,000 votes. Nicki was signed up by RCA records and returned to the UK Top 40 with the track. Although her 16th place at the Contest was the UK's worst ever result at the time, she insists even now that she still looks back on this time with extremely fond memories and would love to enter the contest again.

Nicki continues to tour the UK and Europe, performing her hits as well as new material. She more recently released two singles, "I Surrender" in 2004 and "Calling Out My Name" in 2005. Nicki's latest release Nicki French Vs Diva DJs 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart 2006' reached Number.1 on Amazon's Hot 100 Chart and IndieStore's download chart - You can listen to and download Nicki's new single by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

The up-dated version of 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' is now due for release in Germany and Austria via the Dance Street/ZYX Lable, It is also going down a storm once again in America where the track reached #1 on import sales alone!

BUY OR LISTEN TO DIVA DJs Vs NICKI FRENCH 'TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART 2006' BY CLICKING HERE!!

Discography

UK singles

"Total Eclipse Of The Heart" (Bags Of Fun Records) (1994) - Number 54
"Total Eclipse Of The Heart" (Love This Records) (1995) - Number 5
"For All We Know" (Love This Records) (1995) - Number 42
"Did You Ever Really Love Me" (Love This Records) (1995) - Number 55
"Is There Anybody Out There?" (Love This Records)
"Stop In The Name Of Love" (Shock/Central Station Records)
"Te Amo" (Logic Records)
"Don't Play That Song Again" (RCA/Ravenous Records) (2000) - Number 34
"I Surrender" (Triad Records)
"Calling Out My Name" (Energise)
"Total Eclipse Of The Heart 2006" (Energise) - *CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE TRACK

Albums

1995 Secrets (Love This Records)
1995 Total Eclipse Of The Heart (Japanese version of Secrets)
1998 French Revolution (Cutting Edge/Avex)

Other releases

Whiskey and Sofa

Dirty Den

(Nicki's first ever release - Available on 7" only!)

The French Connection

You'll Be Sorry

(Limited edition 12" release on the 'Solar System' record label)

Nicki recorded the following songs under the alias of 'Paris' on Dominion Records:-

When You Walk In The Room
The One And Only
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

Also she recorded in 2005:-

Private Dancer for Gayfest Album.

Trivia

The promotional 12" record of "Te Amo" was released under the alias of 'Kinki'.

Nicki provided backing vocals on the 2006 release of New Emotion's '9 to 5' (Energise).

External links

English female singers | Rhythmic Top 40 acts | Eurovision contestants