Rachel Stevens Gossip

Rachel Stevens Profile

Full Name:Rachel Stevens - Contact Rachel Stevens
Birth Name:Rachel Lauren Stevens
Famous As: Singer, actress, composer
Date of Birth: April 09, 1978
Place of Birth: Southgate, London, UK
Height: 5' 3
Nationality: British
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Relationships: Jeremy Edwards (engaged)
Father: Michael Stevens
Mother: Linda Stevens
Brother(s): Jason Stevens, Lee Stevens
Education: Graduated from London School of Fashion, where she studied the fashion business.
Claim to Fame: Member of S Club 7

Rachel Stevens News and Gossip

Rachel Stevens
Video Gallery

Next

Clip Rachel Stevens campaigns for mens health Video
Filename: Everyman Rachel Stevens
Clip The music video to Rachels single
Filename: Rachel Stevens - I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)
Clip A HILARIOUS interview with Rachel Stevens.
Filename: Rachel Stevens (The Big Ones Interview)
Clip this song really saved her career, after funky dory went to 26 on the singles charts...it was written and produced by richard x and hannah robinson Video
Filename: Rachel Stevens - Some Girls
Clip this was her first single Video
Filename: Rachel Stevens - Sweet Dreams My L.A. ex
Clip Rachel Stevens - More More More Music Video Video
Filename: Rachel Stevens - More More More
Clip rachel stevens cleavage Video
Filename: rachel stevens cleavage
Clip Rachel Stevens - Some Girls Music Video Video
Filename: Rachel Stevens - Some Girls

Rachel Stevens
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

Rachel Stevens

Background information
Birth name Rachel Lauren Stevens
Born April 9, 1978 (1978-04-09) (age 30)
Southgate, London, England
Genre(s) Pop, Dance, Adult Contemporary
Instrument(s) Singing
Years active 1999–present
Label(s) Polydor (1999-2003 group), (2003-2005; 2008-present solo)
Associated acts S Club
Website Official site

Rachel Lauren Stevens (born April 9, 1978) is an British singer, actress and occasional model. She is a former member of the successful pop group S Club (7), and launched a solo recording career in 2003 with having released seven singles and two albums in the UK until 2005.

Contents

Early life

Born in Southgate, London, Stevens attended Ashmole School in London.[1] At the age of fifteen, Stevens beat out 5000 competitors in a modeling competition she won sponsored by Just 17 magazine.[2] Following her first modeling jobs, she decided to study at the London School of Fashion and ended up working in public relations.[2]

Singing career

S Club

Main article: S Club

At the age of nineteen, Stevens accompanied her brother to an audition in London for a new pop group, which was being put together by Simon Fuller, the one-time manager of the Spice Girls.[3]

After a successful audition, Stevens became a member of the British pop group S Club 7, which were a BRIT Award-winning English pop group created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller. The group rose to fame via their own BBC television programme and by selling 16 million records worldwide[1] and launching four number one hit singles in the United Kingdom. S Club disbanded in 2003.[4]

Solo

Funky Dory

After S Club broke up, Stevens signed a £1.5 million ($2.3 million) solo four-album deal with Polydor Records and re-signed with S Club manager, Simon Fuller.[5] Breaking out on her own after success with S Club was hard for Stevens, "I think we ended up conforming to what people's perceptions was," she said about the group. "This one was the ditzy one, this one was the singer, this one was the dancer. And to come out of that and be a whole person has been a real challenge for me. I didn't have my say, really, in the group. None of us did."[2]

Her first solo single, written by Cathy Dennis (who has also written for Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue) and produced by Bloodshy & Avant, was "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex", released in September 2003.[6]

Stevens in the music video for her hit single More More More (2004)
Stevens in the music video for her hit single More More More (2004)

Taking inspiration from R&B music most reminiscent of TLC and Sugababes, and adult-style pop music by Madonna, Stevens' debut solo album, Funky Dory was released later that month. The album was a minor hit, reaching number nine on the UK albums chart.[7] Although the album was not a huge commercial success, it did gain praise from pop critics. Jamie Gill, in a review for Yahoo! Launch, said that Stevens "eschews the cheap and cheerful approach of her old band for a slinky adult confidence and musical eclecticism."[8]

That December, the album's title track, "Funky Dory" was released as the second single. The song was hailed as being sophisticated and sexy, like its predecessor, and featured a sample of the David Bowie song "Andy Warhol" from his album Hunky Dory. Hopes were high that the single would be able to match the success of "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex", but like her album, the single made a low showing on the charts, peaking at number twenty four.[9] The song was given mixed reviews by pop-critics with some calling it "musically better than "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" with a hybrid of pop, Latin and even a hint of jazz infusion" but not a good choice as a single as it lacked anything special and different, as it did not live up to Stevens' previous single.[3]

Stevens on the single cover of Some Girls
Stevens on the single cover of Some Girls

In July 2004, Stevens released a brand new single, "Some Girls" which was produced by Richard X. After the commercial failure of both her album and previous single hopes were high for "Some Girls" to perform well on the charts, with critics calling the single her career make or break release. The single became a hit across Europe, and reached number two in the UK. All profits from the single went to the BBC Sport Relief charity. On its release HMV.co.uk called the single Stevens' "finest song to date",[4] and Yahoo! Launch commented "she came to save her career. She ended up saving pop."[5]

Due to the success of "Some Girls", Funky Dory was re-released to include "Some Girls" and another new track, a cover of Andrea True Connection's "More More More". "More More More" peaked at number three in the UK, giving Stevens her third top ten solo single in the UK.[10]At this point, Stevens stepped up promotion, inadvertently earning herself a Guinness World Record for “Most Public Appearances by a Pop Star in 24 Hours in Different Cities” (Seven on September 8-September 9, 2004).[11]

Come and Get It

Stevens and dancers in the music video for her top ten hit single "So Good" (2005)
Stevens and dancers in the music video for her top ten hit single "So Good" (2005)

In late 2004, Stevens began working on her second solo album with producers and songwriters Richard X, Alexis Strum, and Xenomania.[12] The following March she released the first single from her upcoming album, "Negotiate With Love". The song was a minor hit in the UK, reaching the top ten.[13]

"Negotiate with Love" was followed-up by the song "So Good", which was released in July and was another success when it peaked at number ten in the UK.[14] It was hailed as a good pop song that was "tastily produced and sassily delivered."[15]

In the summer of 2005, Channel 4 broadcasted a documentary which followed Stevens through the summer as she promoted "So Good". After the singles and the documentary appeared, Stevens released Come And Get It in October 2005. The album was, like her previous effort, a minor success peaking at number twenty eight in the UK.[14] The album was also released as a special 'Limited Edition' CD and DVD. Two years after the album's release, The Guardian placed it in their article "1000 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" list.[16]

The last single released from the album was "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)", released in October 2005 the song peaked at number twelve in the UK.[14] The single received some of the best reviews of Stevens' career with it being hailed by HMV.co.uk for its "astonishingly flawless vocal performance" and as Stevens' "most commercially accessible and quirky single since "Some Girls"."[6]

Acting career

While Stevens was a member of S Club 7, she appeared in four series of S Club shows Miami 7, L.A. 7, Hollywood 7, and Viva S Club. The group also starred in the feature film, Seeing Double. In 2004, Stevens appeared in Suzie Gold, followed by a role in Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005).[17]

In 2005, Stevens played a character called "Jane-Mary" in a Spider Man charity spoof called Spider-Plant Man for the BBC appearing opposite Rowan Atkinson. Rachel Stevens also appeared in an episode of Tricky TV some time ago.

In December 2007 it was announced that Stevens will be transformed into a nine-inch high plasticine character for Glendogie Bogey, a new animated comedy for BBC Scotland.[18]

In August 2008, it was announced that Stevens is set to take part in the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing, which starts on 20 September. She will be partnered by professional dancer Vincent Simone.[19][20]

Personal life

On Valentine's Day in 2002, Stevens became engaged to her longtime boyfriend, actor Jeremy Edwards.[21] The couple broke up in early 2004 after they had been dating for over three years.[22]

After the breakup, she dated Gavin Dein, son of former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein.[23] The relationship did not last long, with the couple splitting up in August 2005.[24]

Stevens has also been linked to actor Stephen Dorff[25]and American-based British singer Oli Trevena (Oli T).[26]

In June 2008, Stevens got engaged to school friend Alex Bourne. The former Mayfair Hotel masseur met Stevens when they were both a school in Southgate. Like Stevens, Bourne who has changed his surname from Leigh, is trying to develop a career in acting.[27]

Awareness campaigns

In 2005, Stevens fronted the Everyman Testicular Cancer Awareness campaign. Stevens' role was notable as she was the first woman to represent this campaign. Her television commercial raised eyebrows with its suggestive content that included her telling men to "put one hand down their trousers and give their testicles a good feel". On the commercial, Stevens commented, "Sometimes men need a little encouragement to think about their health. This is a funny way of raising awareness about a serious subject."[7]

In 2005, Stevens also took part in the Make Poverty History campaign, which aims to eliminate poverty in developing countries by cancelling old debts, improving the way aid is given and removing barriers, so these countries can trade more effectively with the rest of the world. Stevens donated an undisclosed amount of money to the campaign, and also starred in television and magazine advertisements supporting the cause. Her official Web site also displayed the campaign's official online banner.[8]

Endorsement deals

While in S Club 7, Stevens fronted the World Wide Fund for Nature. More recently, she has been the front woman for Pretty Polly[28], Sky Sports, Marks & Spencer[29], Focus Dailies[30] amongst others.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Single Chart positions[14] Album
UK IRL DEN NOR SE BEL SUI GER EU WW
2003 "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" 2 2 2 5 24 25 63 64 7 — Funky Dory
"Funky Dory" 26 24 — — — — — — 82 —
2004 "Some Girls" 2 13 — — — — — — 10 53 Funky Dory
(re-release)
"More, More, More" 3 5 — — — — — — 8 60
2005 "Negotiate with Love" 10 27 — — — — — — 53 53 Come And Get It
"So Good" 10 27 — — — — — — 51 69
"I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)" 12 34 — — — — — — 65 91

Filmography

Films

Year Title Character
2003 Seeing Double Rachel Stevens (herself)
2004 Suzie Gold Girl from M5
2005 Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo Louisa, the Dirty Girl

Television

Year Title Character
1999 Miami 7 Herself
2000 L.A. 7 Herself
S Club 7 Go Wild! Herself
2001 Hollywood 7 Herself
2002 Don't Stop Movin' Herself
Viva S Club Herself
2005 Spider-Plant Man (for Comic Relief 2005) Jane-Mary
2008 Glendogie Bogey Patricia
2008 Strictly Come Dancing Herself

Awards

Year Group Award Result
2003 Smash Hits Poll Winners Party Best Dressed Star Won
2004 Smash Hits Poll Winners Party Best Dressed Star Won
2004 Smash Hits Poll Winners Party Most Fanciable Female Won
2005 Smash Hits Poll Winners Party Most Fanciable Female Won
2003 National Music Awards Favourite UK Female Singer Won
2004 Celebrity Awards Sexiest Female Celebrity Won
2004 NME Awards Best Female Artist Won
2004 Disney Channel Kid's Choice Awards Best Female Artist Won
2004 52nd Annual Showbusiness Awards Recording Artist Of The Year Won
2005 Glamour Awards Woman Of The Year Won
2006 Jammy Awards Most Outstanding Female Singer Won

Notes

  1. ^  Dan Cairns. "She's Movin' On Up". Sunday Times Culture. Feb. 13, 2005.
  2. ^  Dan Cairns. "She's Movin' On Up". Sunday Times Culture. Feb. 13, 2005.
  3. ^  Jamie Gill. Rachel Stevens 3. Rachel Stevens Online - originally from Yahoo! Launch. Oct. 7, 2003. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2006.
  4. ^  Azeem Ahmad. Rachel Stevens 5. MusicOMH. Dec. 8, 2003. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2006.
  5. ^  Rachel Stevens 6. Rachel Stevens Online - originally from HMV.co.uk. June 2004. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2006.
  6. ^  Rachel Stevens 7. Rachel Stevens Online - originally from Yahoo! Launch. July 2004. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2006.
  7. ^  Rachel Stevens 8. Rachel Stevens Online - originally from London News Review. Sept. 23, 2004. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2006.
  8. ^  Rachel Stevens 9. Virgin.net. 2005. Retrieved Feb. 6, 2006.
  9. ^  Rachel Stevens 10. HMV.co.uk. Aug. 2005. Retrieved Feb. 6, 2006.
  10. ^  Rachel Stevens 12. Rachel Stevens Online. 2006. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2006.
  11. Rachel Stevens 16. The Daily Record. 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2006.
  12. ^  Rachel Stevens 17. Everyman. 2005. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2006.
  13. ^  Rachel Stevens 18. RSO: Make Poverty History. 2005. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2006.
  14. ^  [9]. The Daily Mirror. 2006. Retrieved November 11, 2006.
  15. ^  [10]. The Daily Mirror. 2006. Retrieved November 11, 2006.

References

  1. ^ "Jewish princess gone bad". ajn.com.au (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  2. ^ a b Rachel Stevens biography
  3. ^ Simon Fuller: Guiding pop culture
  4. ^ "S Club to split up", BBC.co.uk (2003-04-21). Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  5. ^ "S Club's Rachel signs £1m deal", BBC.co.uk (2003-06-26). Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  6. ^ "Rachel Stevens: Biography". billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  7. ^ Sexton, Paul (2004-10-06). "Peas, Dido Top U.K. Charts". billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  8. ^ Gill, Jamie (2003-10-07). "Rachel Stevens - 'Funkydory'". uk.launch.yahoo.com.
  9. ^ "Rachel Stevens - Music Charts". acharts.us. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  10. ^ Sexton, Paul (2004-10-11). "Robbie, R.E.M. Overtake U.K. Charts". billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  11. ^ "Club class". arts.guardian.co.uk (2005-06-10). Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  12. ^ Petridis, Alexis (2005-10-15). "Rachel Stevens, Come And Get It". arts.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  13. ^ Sexton, Paul (2005-04-04). "Christie Rules U.K. Charts Again". billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  14. ^ a b c d "Rachel Stevens - Music Chart". acharts.us. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  15. ^ "Rachel Stevens - So Good". virginmedia.com.
  16. ^ "1,000 Albums To Hear Before You Die: Artists beginning with S (part 2)". guardian.co.uk (2007-11-22). Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  17. ^ Rachel Stevens at the Internet Movie Database
  18. ^ Trio of talent get animated in Glendogie Bogey
  19. ^ Irvine, Chris (2008-08-29). "Rachel Stevens: Strictly Come Dancing is 'scary'". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-08-31.
  20. ^ Doyle, Damien (2008-08-28). "Rachel Stevens For Strictly Come Dancing". mtv.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-08-31.
  21. ^ "S Club's Rachel to wed Holby City star", BBC.co.uk (2002-02-18). Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  22. ^ "Rachel Stevens splits with fiance", BBC.co.uk (2004-01-10). Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  23. ^ Stoneman, Justin. "Rachel Stevens Interview", Virginmedia.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  24. ^ "Sun, Sea and Man For Rachel", Digital Spy (2006-05-01). Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  25. ^ Heartbreaker Rachel Stevens can't keep her hands off her new man, Themailonsunday.co.uk
  26. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (2006-10-01). "Rachel Stevens dates Van Outen's ex", Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 
  27. ^ "Rachel Stevens & Alex Bourne". New Magazine (2008-06-25). Retrieved on 2008-08-30.
  28. ^ "Why the bottom has fallen out of stocking sales", thisislondon.co.uk (07-07-18). Retrieved on 2008-05-19. 
  29. ^ Julia, Pearlman (2005-10-11). "Marks & Spencer's sales increase fuelled by Twiggy ad campaign". brandrepublic.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  30. ^ Clark, Nicola (2007-08-29). "Media: Focus Dailies in ITV dating shows deal". brandrepublic.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.

External links

v • d • e
Rachel Stevens
Studio albums
Singles
Related topics
v • d • e
S Club
Tina Barrett · Paul Cattermole · Jon Lee · Bradley McIntosh · Jo O'Meara · Hannah Spearritt · Rachel Stevens
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Movies
Back to the 50s (TV) · Boyfriends & Birthdays (TV) · Christmas Special (TV) · Artistic Differences (TV) · Seeing Double
Television
Miami 7 · L.A. 7 · Don't Stop Movin' · Hollywood 7 · Viva S Club · S Club 7 Go Wild!
Tours
S Club Party 2001 · S Club 7 Carnival 2002 · S Club United
Related articles
Persondata
NAME Stevens, Rachel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Stevens, Rachel Lauren
SHORT DESCRIPTION English singer, actress
DATE OF BIRTH April 9, 1978
PLACE OF BIRTH Southgate, London, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH