Fame Academy is a British television programme that ran for two series, in 2002 and 2004. The show was produced for the BBC in a reality television format. The winners of the show, David Sneddon [1] [2] and Alex Parks, [3] were awarded music recording contracts to allow them to release music and live like top recording artists for a year. Sneddon had a run of three top-20 hits, including his debut single "Stop Living the Lie", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart in January 2003. [4] David Sneddon signed to major music publisher Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2009 as a songwriter. Parks' debut single "Maybe That's What It Takes" charted at number three in November 2003. [5]
In addition to Sneddon and Parks, several other contestants have gone on to have successful music careers, while others were given record deals and released several songs before leaving the music industry. The runner-up from the first series, Sinéad Quinn, signed a record deal with Mercury Records, [6] the same company as Sneddon, and released her debut single "I Can't Break Down" in February 2003. The song charted at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Her second single, "What You Need Is..." peaked in top 20 in June 2003. Ainslie Henderson's debut, and thus far only single "Keep Me a Secret" ranked number five in February 2003. Malachi [6] and Alistair Griffin released self-penned songs in 2003 but were subsequently dropped from their record labels. [7] James Fox was chosen as the United Kingdom's representative for the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest; he sang "Hold Onto Our Love", which charted at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in April 2003, and received 29 points for his performance. [8] [9]
Lemar, who finished in third place in the first series, has been the most successful contestant from the show. He released his first single, "Dance (With U)", which charted at number-two on the UK Singles Chart, in August 2003; he has since recorded nine further top 40 hit singles, including six that charted in the top 10. [10] He has released four studio albums; The Truth About Love is the most successful, charting at number three on the UK Albums Chart in 2006.
As of March 2014, Fame Academy contestants have released 28 charting singles and 10 charting albums. Of the 20 singles that reached the top twenty, 13 were top-ten hits. Eight of the twelve releases peaked inside the top 20. Lemar is the only artist who is still releasing music.
Artist | Series | Position in show | Song title | Release date | UK peak chart position | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Sneddon | 1 | Winner | "Stop Living the Lie" | 13 January 2003 | 1 | [11] |
Sinéad Quinn | 1 | Runner-up | "I Can't Break Down" | 10 February 2003 | 2 | [12] |
Ainslie Henderson | 1 | 4th | "Keep Me a Secret" | 24 February 2003 | 5 | [13] |
Malachi Cush | 1 | 5th | "Just Say You Love Me" | 14 April 2003 | 49 | [14] |
David Sneddon | 1 | Winner | "Don't Let Go" | 21 April 2003 | 3 | [15] |
Sinéad Quinn | 1 | Runner-up | "What You Need Is..." | 30 June 2003 | 19 | [16] |
David Sneddon | 1 | Winner | "Best of Order" | 11 August 2003 | 18 | [17] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "Dance (With U)" | 18 August 2003 | 2 | [18] |
David Sneddon | 1 | Winner | "Baby Get Higher" | 27 October 2003 | 38 | [19] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "50/50" / "Lullaby" | 17 November 2003 | 5 | [20] |
Alex Parks | 2 | Winner | "Maybe That's What It Takes" | 17 November 2003 | 3 | [21] |
Alistair Griffin | 2 | Runner-up | "Bring It On" / "My Lover's Prayer" B | 29 December 2003 | 5 | [22] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "Another Day" | 23 February 2004 | 9 | [23] |
Alex Parks | 2 | Winner | "Cry" | 16 February 2004 | 13 | [24] |
Alistair Griffin | 2 | Runner-up | "You and Me (Tonight)" | 15 March 2004 | 18 | [25] |
James Fox | 2 | 5th | "Hold Onto Our Love" | 19 April 2004 | 13 | [26] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "If There's Any Justice" | 15 November 2004 | 3 | [27] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "Time to Grow" | 28 March 2005 | 9 | [28] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "Don't Give It Up" | 1 August 2005 | 21 | [29] |
Alex Parks | 2 | Winner | "Honesty" | 23 January 2006 | 56 | [30] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "It's Not That Easy" | 4 September 2006 | 7 | [31] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "Someone Should Tell You" | 20 November 2006 | 21 | [32] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "Tick Tock" | 19 March 2007 | 45 | [33] |
James Fox | 1 | 5th | "Bluebirds Flying High" A | 11 May 2008 | 15 | [34] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "If She Knew" | 10 November 2008 | 14 | [35] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "Weight of the World" | 2 March 2009 | 31 | [36] |
Alistair Griffin | 2 | Runner-up | "Just Drive" | 27 November 2010 | 38 | [37] |
Lemar | 1 | 3rd | "The Way Love Goes" | 14 February 2010 | 8 | [35] |
Only albums that charted in the Top 100 of the UK albums chart are included in this list.
Artist | Album title | Release date | UK peak chart position | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Malachi Cush | Malachi | 24 March 2003 | 17 | [38] |
David Sneddon | Seven Years – Ten Weeks | 28 April 2003 | 5 | [39] |
Sinéad Quinn | Ready to Run | 14 July 2003 | 48 | [40] |
Lemar | Dedicated | 24 November 2003 | 16 | [41] |
Alistair Griffin | Bring It On | 12 January 2004 | 12 | [42] |
Alex Parks | Introduction | 24 November 2003 | 5 | [43] |
Lemar | Time to Grow | 29 November 2004 | 8 | [44] |
Alex Parks | Honesty | 24 October 2005 | 24 | [45] |
Lemar | The Truth About Love | 11 September 2006 | 3 | [46] |
Lemar | The Reason | 24 November 2008 | 41 | [47] |
Lemar | The Hits | 8 March 2010 | 18 | [46] |
Lemar | Invincible | 8 October 2012 | 49 | [46] |
Lemar | The Letter | 9 October 2015 | 31 | [46] |
At the end of both series, a compilation album was released featuring cover versions from the contestants. The first album reached number two on the UK Compilation Chart. A third album, Bee Gees Special, was released during the show's broadcast and featured cover versions of Bee Gees songs.
Album title | Record label | Series | Release date | UK peak chart position |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fame Academy | Mercury Records | 1 | December 2002 | 2 |
Fame Academy Bee Gees Special | Polydor Records | 2 | August 2003 | — |
Fame Academy - The Finalists | Polydor Records | 2 | October 2003 | — |
A Bluebirds Flying High was recorded by James Fox with Cardiff City F.C. as the club's official song for the 2008 FA Cup Final. [50]
B Alistair Griffin recorded "My Lover's Prayer" with Robin Gibb, who had appeared as a guest judge on Fame Academy. [51]
Lemar Obika, known as Lemar, is an English singer, songwriter and record producer. Initially rising to fame after finishing third on the first series of British talent show Fame Academy, he was later signed to Sony BMG, where he has gone on to release five studio albums, three of which are certified platinum or double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Dedicated is the debut album by English singer Lemar. It was released on 24 November 2003 by RCA Records. The now defunct girl group The 411 provided backing vocals for a number of tracks.
David Sneddon is a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician and music producer of contemporary pop music. He began his career performing on stage and television, singing lead roles in stage musicals in Glasgow. In 2002, he won the first series of BBC One music competition Fame Academy. He released his first single "Stop Living the Lie" in 2003 which was a UK number one hit single selling over 250,000 copies, making it Britain's twelfth-highest selling single of 2003. Sneddon's debut album Seven Years – Ten Weeks was released in April 2003 and reached number 5 in the UK Albums Chart. He achieved three more UK Singles Chart singles – "Don't Let Go", "Best of Order", and "Baby Get Higher". His song "Baby Get Higher" was a hit on the dance floor for Almighty Records and a chart hit for VanVelzen in 2006, and also for Emin Agalarov.
David Beresford Grant is an English singer, comedian and vocal coach.
Sinéad Quinn is a Northern Irish singer, best known as a contestant in the first series of the UK BBC TV series Fame Academy in 2002. She later went on to sign a recording contract, released an album, and had a #2 UK single with "I Can't Break Down" in February 2003.
The discography of the British girl group Sugababes consists of eight studio albums, four compilation album, four extended plays, thirty one singles, two video albums, eight promotional singles and six assorted members. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 and, at various times, featured three vocalists from Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah, and Jade Ewen.
The first series of Fame Academy, a BBC reality talent search, was first broadcast in the United Kingdom over ten weeks in October - December 2002. It was won by David Sneddon. The live shows were presented by Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty.
"Dance (With U)" is the second single released by British R&B singer Lemar and his first for Sony Music UK after coming third place in the BBC show Fame Academy. The single became a hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart in 2003. Elsewhere, the song reached number six in New Zealand and became a top-40 hit in Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands.
"50/50 & Lullaby" is a double A-side single from British R&B singer Lemar. It is his third single and the second single from his debut album, Dedicated (2003). "50/50" contained a sample of Jay-Z's "Can't Knock the Hustle" while "Lullaby" was a track co-written with fellow Fame Academy contestant Ainslie Henderson. The single became Lemar's second top-five hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number five there in November 2003. It also reached number 49 in Ireland the same month.
The discography of Jamelia, a British R&B singer, consists of three studio albums, one greatest hits album, and fourteen singles, fifteen music videos, and one live DVD of a concert performance. She has contributed to the albums of two other artists, and appeared on two soundtrack albums. Jamelia signed with Capitol Records in 1996, and her debut single, "So High", was released on 3 May 1999. It failed to chart and she left the record company before an album was released. Later that year, Jamelia released "I Do" with Parlophone, which was followed up in 2000 with her first top five single, titled "Money", and her debut album Drama.
"I Can't Break Down" is a song written by Sinéad Quinn, Pete Glenister, and Deni Lew for Quinn's debut album, Ready to Run (2003). Produced by Glenister and Lew, it was released as her debut single from the album in February 2003 and reached a peak position of number two in the UK Singles Chart and finished in 65th place for the best-selling UK singles of 2003.
Welsh singer and songwriter Duffy has released two studio albums, six extended plays and one extended play, seven singles and seven music videos. Her discography began with the release of one Welsh language extended play using her birth name, Aimée Duffy, and she has appeared on two soundtrack albums, as well as on a studio album by Mint Royale in 2004. Duffy's range of musical genres incorporates styles such as blue-eyed soul, pop and pop rock. Aimée Duffy, her debut extended play (EP), was released in 2004 by Welsh music label Recordiau Awen Records, following her success on the Welsh talent show WawFfactor in 2003. Following this release, a performance of Richard J. Parfitt's "Oh Boy" brought her to the attention of Duffy's former manager, Jeanette Lee of Rough Trade Records.
"Stop Living the Lie" is the debut single of Scottish singer-songwriter David Sneddon, taken from his album Seven Years – Ten Weeks. It was released through Mercury Records on 13 January 2003. During its first week of release, it charted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and reached number five in Ireland. Sneddon performed the song on the BBC's Fame Academy show, which he went on to win in December 2002.
"Don't Let Go" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter David Sneddon, released as a single on 21 April 2003. Written by Sneddon and Scott MacAlister, the song reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 36 in Ireland. It was the second single and follow up to Sneddon's debut number-one hit, "Stop Living the Lie".
"Keep Me a Secret" is the debut single by Scottish singer-songwriter Ainslie Henderson, who rose to fame on the first series of Fame Academy. The single was released on 24 February 2003 and charted at number 5 in the UK.
"Just Say You Love Me" is a song written by Fame Academy contestant Malachi Cush, Cliff Masterson and Nigel Lowis in 2003. The song was included on Malachi's eponymous debut album and was released as a single on 7 April 2003. The single charted at number 49 in the UK Singles Chart and spent only one week in the charts. It is one of the lowest charting official releases from Fame Academy contestants.
Pop Idol was a British television talent show that ran for two series, in 2001 and 2003. The show was produced for ITV in a reality television format and aimed to unearth a previously undiscovered singer who could become an international success. Will Young was the winner of the first series and was awarded with a £1 million music recording contract. Young became the most successful contestant with a series of top-five hits, including his debut single "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart in 2002 and broke chart sales figure records. During the next seven years he recorded two further number-one singles, while two of his four albums were number-one in the UK Albums Chart. In the second series, Michelle McManus emerged victorious. Her debut single "All This Time" charted at number one in January 2003. Her second single, "The Meaning of Love", charted at a peak of number 16 and an album of the same name reached number three in the UK Albums Chart.
Mike Patton is an American singer, best known for providing lead vocals for Faith No More along with Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, Peeping Tom, Tomahawk, Lovage and more. In addition to recording and working with these bands, he has also been involved in many side projects and collaborations. Patton is most frequently known as a vocalist, but has also produced, played various musical instruments, has composed soundtracks, done voice over work and has done some acting.