Belouis Some (born Neville Keighley;[1] 12 December 1959)[2] is a British singer, songwriter and musician. He had UK and worldwide hits in the 1980s with "Some People", "Imagination" and "Round, Round", the latter being featured on the soundtrack for the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink. "Some People" and "Imagination" charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1985.[3]
Neville Keighley grew up in Forest Hill, south London. He started playing guitar and writing songs while at school (Dulwich Prep London and Royal Russell School).[4] After leaving school in 1978, Keighley spent several years developing his songwriting, recording demos and playing small gigs.
In 1982, Keighley formed his first band and started performing live gigs in and around London under the new name Belouis Some. The lineup included guitarist Scott Taylor who later became a founding member of Then Jerico[6] and on keyboards Phil Harrison from the Korgis. Belouis Some played numerous gigs the following year with his band developing his songs and musical style and after a gig at The Embassy Club, Old Bond Street in the summer of 1983, Belouis Some signed to Tritec Music owned by Paul and Michael Berrow, who at the time managed Duran Duran.[4]
In October 1983, Some was signed to Parlophone by EMI's David Ambrose. The single "Target Practice" was released in spring 1984, his first single on a major label.[7] To promote the release, Some supported Nik Kershaw on Kershaw's Human Racing UK tour in 1984.[8]
In 1985, a new version of "Target Practice" was recorded and produced by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero; this new track was included on Some's first album and also later released as a single.[9]
Some People was produced by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero in New York City in late 1984 to early 1985, recorded at Mediasound. Belouis Some had been introduced to Thompson and Barbiero in New York in spring 1984, when they had been asked to do a dance mix of the original version of "Target Practice"; at this stage Some was not satisfied with the London recording sessions and asked if they would produce and re-record the tracks "Imagination" and "Walk Away". Some was introduced to guitarist and arranger Carlos Alomar who asked Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson from Chic to play. Other musicians were Jack Waldman on keyboards, Jimmy Maelen on percussion and Rick Bell on sax. Robin Clark, Frank Simms and Diva Grey sang backing vocals. Thompson and Barbiero were then asked to re-record "Target Practice" and "Aware of You", with overdubs and remixes of "Some People", "Jerusalem" and "Stand Down". Carmine Rojas, Alan Childs, Dave Lebolt and Kurt Yahjian were added to the recording line up with Earl Slick playing lead guitar on "Target Practice".[12]
The video for the first single release from the album, "Imagination", was directed by Storm Thorgerson and caused controversy as it contained full frontal nudity. Using the 12" version, it was a big success in bars and clubs, and the worldwide premier of the "Imagination" video was held at Studio 54. An alternative version without the nudity used the 7" edit of the track, suitable for MTV and mainstream TV. The video for the second single, "Some People", also directed by Thorgerson, was used as a Swatch television advertisement in the US.[13][4]
In spring 1985, Belouis Some supported Frankie Goes to Hollywood on their North American tour with band members Chester Kamen, Gary Twigg, Larry Tolfree, Bias Boshell, Robin Clark and Sandy Bar.[15] Some was sponsored by Swatch on the tour.[16]
Some's contribution to the Pretty in Pink soundtrack,[17] "Round, Round" (released February 1986) was written especially for the film and was produced by Bernard Edwards and recorded in Los Angeles in August 1985. The album was listed in Rolling Stone's list of "The 25 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time".[18]
"Round, Round" propelled Belouis Some towards audiences outside of the clubs and college radio in the US and so, after worldwide chart success and extensive touring,[4] the single "Imagination" was re-issued in the UK[19] and became a hit in the United Kingdom in the spring of 1986. Both "Some People" and "Imagination" were remixed and re-issued several times.[20][21]
In the spring of 1988, Some toured the US with band members Carmine Rojas (musical director/bass), Alan Childs (drums), Doug Worthington (guitar), Chuck Kentis (keys), Frank Elmo (sax), Kati Mac and Kim Lesley (backing vocals).
In 1989, Some formed The Big Broadcast. The band toured the UK throughout the summer playing small venues and clubs.[4]
1990–95: Living Your Life
In 1993, Belouis Some released the album Living Your Life on BMG Records. The album was recorded at Marcus Recording Studios in London and produced by Geoff Dugmore and Nigel Butler. Musicians included Karl Hyde, Steve Barnacle, Peter Oxendale and J.J. Belle.[29] "Sometimes" and "Something She Said" were released as singles in the UK and Europe.[30][31]
In 2019, Belouis Some performed at the '80s oriented Let's Rock summer festivals across the UK.[33]
In February 2023, producer Lee Rose with Belouis Some released a tech house version of "Imagination" on Deevu Records.
In January 2024, it was announced that Belouis Some will join the Alarm and Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel on the "Live Today Love Tomorrow" tour of North America in spring and summer 2024.[34] In April, the tour was postponed due to Mike Peters' (the Alarm) sudden diagnosis of high grade lymphoma.[35] Belouis Some announced in August that he will be touring the UK in November 2024, as a double bill with Gene Loves Jezebel.[36]
Personal life
In 1996, Keighley acquired the lease to the historic Wellington Club Knightsbridge, London. The bar, restaurant and nightclub were thoroughly restored and refurbished opening in 1997. Keighley closed the club in 1998 and later passed the lease on.
Barnklubb® Kids Club
In 2013, Keighley and Eva Linderholm founded Barnklubb®, a Scandinavian-style day nursery, in Chelsea London. Barnklubb is now licensed at 8 locations across Japan.[37]
Belouis Some lives in London and is married to Swedish model Eva Linderholm; they have two daughters.[citation needed]Ingrid Keighley is an actress appearing in the second season of the Apple TV series Invasion.[38][39]
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"Target Practice" is a song by British musician Belouis Some, released on 21 May 1984 as his first major label single after his 1981 debut "Lose It to You". The song was written by Some, and produced by Peter Schwier and Ian Little.
"Some People" is a song by British musician Belouis Some, released on 8 July 1985 as the third single from his 1985 debut album of the same name. A reissue of the song in 1986 reached the top 40 in the UK, peaking at No. 33 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1986. In the U.S., the song reached No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Imagination" is a song by British musician Belouis Some, from his 1985 debut album Some People. Upon its first release as a single in the UK in 1985, the song only managed to chart at No. 50, but a re-release proved more successful, hitting the top 20 and peaking at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1986. In the U.S., the song reached No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1985.
"Animal Magic" is a song by English new wave musician Belouis Some, from his 1987 self-titled second album. Released as the second single from the album, the song reached No. 6 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. A popular club remix appeared on the U.S. 12" release on Capitol Records, with remix and additional production by Justin Strauss and Murray Elias.
Michael J. Mullins is an English lead vocalist, backing singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer of salsa band Modern Romance (1982–85). Modern Romance achieved eight top 40 singles and two hit albums. After the band called it quits in 1985, Mullins continued working within the music industry, most notably as a backing singer for Cliff Richard. He can be seen singing with Cliff Richard live on Top of the Pops and on the Christmas number one single "Mistletoe and Wine" (1988). Mullins has since performed with Alan Parsons as part of The Alan Parsons Project.
Living Your Life is the third studio album from British new wave musician Belouis Some. It was released in Germany in 1993.
Belouis Some is the second studio album by the British new wave musician Belouis Some, which was released in 1987.
Some People is the debut studio album from British musician Belouis Some, released in August 1985.
"Jerusalem" is a song by British singer and songwriter Belouis Some, released in 1986 as the fourth and final single from his debut studio album Some People. It was written by Belouis Some, and produced by Pete Schwier, Steve Thompson, Michael Barbiero and Belouis Some. "Jerusalem" reached No. 98 in the UK and remained in the charts for one week.
"Some Girls" is a song by British singer and songwriter Belouis Some, released in 1988 as the third and final single from his second studio album Belouis Some. It was written by Belouis Some and Carlos Alomar, and produced by Gary Langan and Guy Fletcher. "Some Girls" reached No. 76 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. A music video, filmed in Milan, was produced to promote the video.
References
1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19thed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p.514. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
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