Kate Ryan

Last updated

Kate Ryan
KateRyan.jpg
Background information
Birth nameKatrien Verbeeck
Also known asKate Ryan
Born (1980-07-22) 22 July 1980 (age 44)
Tessenderlo, Belgium
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
Years active2001–present
Labels EMI (2002–06)
ARS Entertainment (2007–12)
Nextar Entertainment [1] (2013–present)
CNR Music (2015-present)
Website www.kateryan.be

Kate Ryan (born Katrien Verbeeck, 22 July 1980 [2] ) is a Belgian singer and songwriter, and the winner of a World Music Award. She began her singing career in 2001 and later found fame with a string of dance hits. These included covers, mostly of Mylène Farmer and France Gall, such as "Désenchantée", "Libertine", and "Ella, elle l'a", and Desireless' "Voyage Voyage", as well as new material. Ryan represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with "Je t'adore" coming in 12th place in the semi-final.

Contents

Biography

2001–2004: Different

Ryan was born in the small village of Tessenderlo, Belgium, and grew up in a musical family. At eight years old she learned to play piano and guitar. She received singing and piano lessons from her aunt who teaches at a conservatory. She studied at an art school, specialising in jewellery design. Ryan played frequently in bars and cafés as a teenager, and one night she was offered a recording deal. She became a member of a pop group called Melt at the age of 16. [3] The group was active for two years, but they did not release any material commercially. When she met producer Andy Janssens, she left Melt and the pair began to write music together. Their debut single "Scream for More" was released in 2001, and it became a chart success. Later that year Ryan's second single, "UR (My Love)", cemented her position in Belgian charts.[ citation needed ]

She gained international prominence with a cover of Mylène Farmer's "Désenchantée", which was a hit in various European pop music charts. She signed in with Belgian department of EMI and released her first album Different in 2002 exclusively in Europe.[ citation needed ] The album went Gold and Platinum in a number of countries, selling more than 250.000 copies throughout Europe. Two final singles off Different, "Mon cœur résiste encore" and "Libertine" (the first one being a French version of "Scream for More", the latter a second cover of Farmer's number) also turned out a chart success. Ryan's records were released in the United States under Robbins Entertainment label.[ citation needed ]

2004–2007: Stronger and Alive

In 2004, Ryan released a second album in Europe, titled Stronger , that also contained her remarkable dance-pop style. The album's lead single, "Only If I", met with a modest success across Europe. A cover of Cock Robin's "The Promise You Made" became the second single, earning even greater success. It was also recorded in French as "La Promesse". Pop ballad "Goodbye" was released as the third single, meeting with considerable success. In 2005 Kate Ryan's music appeared in North America on Water Music Records.

In 2006, the singer participated in Eurosong '06, the national final to select the entrant for Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. She was selected as the entrant after placing first in the Eurosong final on 9 March 2006. Ryan represented Belgium at the Eurovision semi-final held on 18 May 2006 in Athens singing "Je t'adore". However, she did not qualify for the final, finishing two places outside the advancing Top 10 (12th) with 69 points. She was later voted best dressed performer by Eurovision's independent website esctoday.com for her €14,000 outfit, later sold to raise charity funds. [4] The following single was "Alive", taken from the album of the same name, which also featured French versions of several tracks including "Je t'adore", "Alive", and the third single, "All for You". The album, although critically acclaimed, did not repeat the success of the two previous ones.[ citation needed ]

Kate Ryan performing at the Eurogames 2007 Eurogames flutlied (805954790).jpg
Kate Ryan performing at the Eurogames 2007

2007–2008: Free and Essential

In 2007, Ryan had some success with the double-sided single "Voyage, voyage"/"We All Belong". The track "Voyage, voyage" was a cover of the 1986 European smash hit by Desireless, and "We All Belong" was selected as the official anthem for the EuroGames 2007 in Antwerp. In 2008, Ryan released two singles: "L.I.L.Y. (Like I Love You)" and then "Ella, elle l'a", a cover of France Gall's song.[ citation needed ]

Both tracks (as well as "Voyage Voyage" and "We All Belong") were included on her album Free , which was released in the middle of the year. The album included a duet with Spanish singer Soraya Arnelas. Ryan's first best-of album, Essential , was released in July. It included songs recorded throughout her EMI period. In August she took part in Polish Sopot Hit Festival. During the show she received a Gold award for the Free album in Poland. On 9 November 2008 in Monaco, she won the World Music Award for Best Selling Benelux Artist. Two more singles promoted Free, including "I Surrender".[ citation needed ]

2009–2011: French Connection

2009 saw the release of the concept album French Connection . It was a compilation consisting of only French-language material, including Ryan's previous hits, and adding some new recordings. "Évidemment" and "Babacar", both from France Gall's repertoire, were released as singles, but met with limited success, as did the album. The singer announced that French Connection was the end of an era, and from now on she will only release material written by her. She received a Multi-Platinum award from Spain for selling more than 300.000 digital songs.[ citation needed ]

2011–2012: Electroshock

Ryan announced via Facebook that her next album, Electroshock , would be released in 2011, preceded by a single "LoveLife". [5]

Another single, "Broken", was released on 7 October 2011. On 9 December 2011, she appeared as musical guest on The Voice of Romania . [6]

The album, which was delayed, was released on 25 June 2012. [7] The album is entirely containing songs in English and has no cover version included. On 12 May 2012, another single, entitled "Robots", was released. [8]

2013–present: non-album singles

After Electroshock was released, Ryan expressed via Facebook her intention to only release non-album singles, as she feels that the music industry is changing, by the fact that almost nobody buys full albums anymore, with iTunes. She started this purpose releasing the non-album singles "Light in the Dark", released via iTunes on 24 May 2013, and "Heart Flow", released on 13 August 2013. "Heart Flow" was also the anthem of the World Outgames 2013. [9] In December 2013, she recorded "Sé que tu lluitaràs", a Catalan-language cover of Bob Sinclar's song "World, Hold On (Children of the Sky)". It was included on the various artists compilation El disc de la Marató 2013 (TV3).

On 1 September 2014, Ryan released a new song via iTunes, "Not Alone", which is a Franco-English song. [10]

In August 2015, Ryan released a new single via iTunes, "Runaway (Smalltown Boy)", which is a cover of British band Bronski Beat's song "Smalltown Boy". The song is also included on the various artists compilation MNM Summertime 2015.

In January 2016, Ryan released another single via iTunes, this time a cover of British singer Black's song "Wonderful Life". In June 2016, she released a new single via iTunes, "Comment te dire adieu", a cover of the song by French singer Françoise Hardy, which is also a French-language cover of the song "It Hurts to Say Goodbye", originally performed by American singer Margaret Whiting.

Discography

Studio albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Désenchantée</span> 1991 single by Mylène Farmer

"Désenchantée" is a song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The first single from her third studio album L'autre..., it was released on 18 March 1991 and achieved great success in France, topping the charts for more than two months. It is Farmer's most successful song and is generally considered her signature song. In 2002, the song was covered by Belgian singer Kate Ryan, whose version reached number one in Belgium and became a top-20 hit across Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soraya Arnelas</span> Spanish singer

Soraya Arnelas Rubiales, better known mononymously as Soraya, is a Spanish singer. Soraya represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow with the song "La noche es para mí", finishing 23rd with 23 points.

Belgium participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Je t'adore" written by Kate Ryan, Niklas Bergwall, Niclas Kings and Lisa Greene. The song was performed by Kate Ryan. The Belgian entry for the 2006 contest in Athens, Greece was selected through the national final Eurosong '06, organised by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). The competition featured twenty-eight competing entries and consisted of seven shows. In the final on 19 February 2006, "Je t'adore" performed by Kate Ryan was selected as the winner via the votes of seven jury groups and a public televote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desireless</span> French singer

Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop, known by her stage name Desireless, is a French singer. Between 1986 and 1988, her hit single "Voyage, voyage" made it to number one on many European and Asian single charts. The music video was directed by Bettina Rheims and showed the artist in a cold, androgynous style similar to a wave of other contemporary female singers such as Annie Lennox and Grace Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katerine Avgoustakis</span> Greek-Belgian singer

Katerine Avgoustakis is a Greek-Belgian singer. She was the winner of the 2005 Star Academy show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Je t'adore</span> 2006 single by Kate Ryan

"Je t'adore" is a song by Belgian singer Kate Ryan. It was the Belgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in English. It was the seventh song to be performed in this contest and the 999th by counting all songs which had ever performed on Eurovision Song Contest. "Je t'adore" was released in 2006 as the lead single from Ryan's third studio album Alive (2006).

<i>Alive</i> (Kate Ryan album) 2006 studio album by Kate Ryan

Alive is the third studio album by Beligan singer Kate Ryan. It was released by EMI on 15 September 2006, followed by a release in the United States in April 2008. Primarily produced by Philip Dirix, Yves Gaillard, and duo Niclas Kings and Niklas Bergwall, the album includes the singles, "Je t'adore", "Alive" and "All for You".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voyage, voyage</span> 1986 song by Desireless

"Voyage, voyage" is a song by French singer Desireless, released as the first single from her debut studio album, François (1989). It was written by Jean-Michel Rivat and Dominique Dubois, and produced by the former. Sung entirely in French, the song transcended the language barrier on the music charts and became a huge international success between 1986 and 1988, reaching the top position in more than ten countries across Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libertine (song)</span> 1986 single by Mylène Farmer

"Libertine" is a 1986 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her first studio album Cendres de lune and was released on 1 April 1986 and met success on the French chart, becoming Farmer's first big hit. The long form music video, produced as a short film, contains explicitly sexual and violent scenes. In 2002, the song was successfully covered by Belgian singer Kate Ryan, who reached the top 20 in several European countries.

<i>Free</i> (Kate Ryan album) 2008 studio album by Kate Ryan

Free is the fourth studio album by Belgian singer Kate Ryan. It was released on May 30, 2008 by ARS Entertainment and Universal Music. It produced the singles, "Voyage Voyage", "L.I.L.Y.", "Ella elle l'a", "I Surrender" and "Your Eyes". Free performed moderately well on the charts and was certified Gold in Poland for shipments of 10,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scream for More</span> 2001 single by Kate Ryan

"Scream for More" is the debut single by the female Belgian dance singer Kate Ryan from her debut album Different. It was written by Andy Janssens and Kate Ryan and produced by Janssens and Phil Wilde. It was released on February 19, 2001, in Belgium by Antler-Subway. It peaked at number nine on the charts in her homeland. It was also released in Spain shortly thereafter, where it failed to chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Düm Tek Tek</span> 2009 song by Hadise

"Düm Tek Tek" is a song by Belgian-Turkish singer Hadise with music composed by Sinan Akçıl and lyrics written by Akçıl, Hadise, and Stefan Fernande. It represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 held in Moscow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yohanna</span> Icelandic-Danish singer (born 1990)

Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir, known outside Iceland as Yohanna, is an Icelandic singer. Beginning her music career as a child singer, Yohanna received international recognition after representing Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "Is It True?", placing as the runner-up. This tied for the best result Iceland had ever achieved in the contest. Following the success at Eurovision, she released the studio album Butterflies and Elvis (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Ryan discography</span>

Belgian singer Kate Ryan has released five studio albums, two compilation albums and twenty-nine singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John (Desireless song)</span> 1988 single by Desireless

"John" is a synthpop song recorded by French singer Desireless. It was the second single from the album François on which it is the tenth track. Following the huge success of "Voyage Voyage", it was released in May 1988. Written and produced by Jean-Michel Rivat, the song was Desireless' last hit single in France.

<i>French Connection</i> (album) 2009 greatest hits album by Kate Ryan

French Connection is a French-language greatest hits album by Belgian singer Kate Ryan released under ARS Entertainment. The album was released in Canada on October 13, 2009, before being released in Ryan's native country of Belgium on October 23, 2009. The album's lead single, "Babacar", was released June 12, 2009 in Belgium.

<i>Electroshock</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Kate Ryan

Electroshock is the fifth studio album by Belgian singer Kate Ryan. It was released by ARS Entertainment and Universal Music on 25 June 2012 in Belgium. It marked Ryan's first album – after Alive – that does not include any cover version and, also, is entirely in English, except for the version of "Little Braveheart" featured on the album, which has French lyrics sung by Ryan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light in the Dark (Kate Ryan song)</span> 2013 single by Kate Ryan

"Light in the Dark" is a song by female dance Belgian singer Kate Ryan. It was released as a non-album single on 24 May 2013, following her last album Electroshock. Released under Nextar Entertainment, after Ryan's departure from ARS Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Tesoro</span> Belgian singer and actress (born 1996)

Laura Tesoro is a Belgian singer and actress. She represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "What's the Pressure". Tesoro is also known for portraying Charlotte on the Flemish soap opera Familie and placing second on season three of The Voice van Vlaanderen. The singer is also one of the four coaches on The Voice Kids, and a "Comeback Stage" coach on The Voice van Vlaanderen.

References

  1. ↑ "Nextar Entertainment". Nextar.be. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  2. ↑ "Kate Ryan". Last.fm . Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kate Ryan gwiazdą pierwszego dnia Sopot Hit Festiwalu 2008!" (in Polish). www.tvp.pl. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "Esctoday.com awards – the costumes and more results". www.esctoday.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  5. ↑ "Hi everybody, sorry..." Facebook. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "CE APARITIE! Kate Ryan ne-a purtat intr-o calatorie plina de VOIE BUNA si SEX APPEAL la Vocea Romaniei" [EC appearance! Kate Ryan took us on a journey full of good vibes and sex appeal on The Voice of Romania] (in Romanian). Pro TV. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Hi Everyone! From..." Facebook. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Kate Ryan – Robots". Discogs. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Heart Flow (World Outgames 2013 Anthem)", SoundCloud.com; accessed 14 July 2015.
  10. ↑ iTunes - Not Alone - Single by Kate Ryan, iTunes; accessed 14 July 2015.
Preceded by Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
2006		Succeeded by

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