Louisa Johnson | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Louisa Johnson |
Born | Thurrock, Essex, England | 11 January 1998
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 2015–present |
Labels |
|
Website | www |
Louisa Johnson (born 11 January 1998), also known mononymously as Louisa, is an English singer. In 2015, she won the twelfth series of The X Factor . [1] She subsequently released her winner's single "Forever Young", which peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, and it was indeed #1 for 5 weeks in a row on UK Official Physical Single Charts between Winter holiday 2015 to early 2016. In 2016, she featured on Clean Bandit's UK top five single "Tears".
Louisa Johnson was born on 11 January 1998 in Thurrock, Essex [2] to David Johnson [3] and Lisa Hawkyard. [4] Her father is a construction worker from Essex and her mother is a driving instructor from Chafford Hundred. [5] She was raised in Thurrock. [6] Johnson attended St. Thomas of Canterbury primary school in Grays, Essex and The Harris Academy secondary school in Chafford Hundred. [7]
In 2015, Johnson auditioned for the twelfth series of The X Factor , singing American pop music family group The Jackson 5's "Who's Lovin' You". She picked this record because "it is a really really hard song to sing, but I wanted to make a good impression". [8] She received a standing ovation from all four judges and the audience afterwards and progressed through to "bootcamp". At the first challenge at "bootcamp", she sang "Proud Mary" with 4th Impact (formerly known as 4th Power), Sherilyn Hamilton-Shaw, Neneth Lyons, Jasmine Leigh Morris and Andre Batchelor, and was sent through to the next challenge. [9] She sang "Lay Me Down" in the second challenge and made it through to the six-chair challenge. [10]
Johnson competed in the "girls" category at "bootcamp" and was mentored, at the decision of the public, by Rita Ora. [8] She successfully made it past the six-chair challenge to "judges' houses", singing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Hudson; when Johnson arrived, all six chairs had been filled, and Ora described the atmosphere as "like a zoo". [8] At judges' houses, she sang "Respect" by Aretha Franklin in front of Ora and American musician Meghan Trainor in Los Angeles; [8] this performance gained media attention, as Johnson wore two separate pairs of shoes, with some viewers inferring some sort of faking. [11] Two weeks after that performance was recorded, [8] she was chosen by Ora for the live shows, along with Lauren Murray and Kiera Weathers; that category's Monica Michael later returned as a wildcard entry. [12]
Following the eliminations of Weathers in the second week, Michael in the third week and Murray in the semi-final, Johnson advanced to the final along with Reggie 'n' Bollie and Ché Chesterman singing a cover version of "I Believe I Can Fly" by R Kelly; additionally becoming the final female in the competition. On 12 December, she duetted with her mentor, Ora. The following night, she sang her winner's single, a cover of "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan. [13] On 13 December 2015, she won The X Factor, becoming the first winner in the Girls category since Alexandra Burke in 2008, and also the youngest winner ever, overtaking Joe McElderry, who was 18 years old when he won in 2009. [14]
The X Factor performances and results (2015) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Show | Song choice | Theme | Result |
Auditions | "Who's Lovin' You" [10] | — | Through to bootcamp |
Bootcamp – challenge 1 | "Proud Mary" [9] (with 4th Power, Sherilyn Hamilton-Shaw, Neneth Lyons, Jasmine Leigh Morris and Andre Batchelor) | Through to challenge 2 | |
Bootcamp – challenge 2 | "Lay Me Down" [10] | Through to six-chair challenge | |
Six-chair challenge | "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" [10] | Through to judges' houses | |
Judges' houses | "Respect" [10] | Through to live shows | |
Live show 1 | "God Only Knows" [15] | This Is Me | Safe |
Live show 2 | "Billie Jean" [16] | Reinvention | Safe |
Live show 3 | "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" [17] | Movie week | Safe |
Live show 4 | "Let It Go" [18] | Love & Heartbreak | Safe |
Quarter-Final | "Love Yourself" [19] | Jukebox | Safe |
"Jealous" | Judges' choice | ||
Semi-Final | "The Power of Love" [20] | Songs to get me to the final | Safe |
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" | |||
Final | "I Believe I Can Fly" | New song | Safe |
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (with Rita Ora) | Celebrity duet | ||
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" [13] | Favourite performance | Winner | |
"Forever Young" | Winner's single |
After winning The X Factor, Johnson released "Forever Young". The day after her victory, she plugged the single on The X Factor judge Nick Grimshaw's radio show, Good Morning Britain , Lorraine and This Morning , consecutively. [8] Her version of the song entered the UK Singles Chart on 18 December 2015 at number 9, and became the lowest ever position on entry for a debut single from an X Factor winner. This can be attributed, in part, to the movement of the chart day from Sunday, when she was announced as the winner, to Friday, resulting in her single only receiving four days' sales. [21] The single dropped to number twelve the following week becoming the lowest ranking X Factor winner's song ever on the Christmas Day chart. [22] Overall, the single is the lowest charting X Factor winner's single to date as all other winner's singles managed to top the chart or at least reach the top five. On 18 December 2015, Johnson performed "Forever Young" on the 2015 Text Santa broadcast. [23]
There were indications that her debut studio album would be released as quickly as possible, maybe as early as February 2016, [24] and would include her debut single "Forever Young". However, the singer later declared: "If I don't like it, no way is it going out. People are going to know me through that album – so it needs to be perfect." [24]
In May 2016, Johnson released a single with British band Clean Bandit called "Tears". The song was a commercial success, reaching the top five in Scotland and the UK, and charting in many other European countries. It was also certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). [25] In June, she performed "Tears" with Clean Bandit and a new version of the song "Over and Over Again" with Nathan Sykes at the Summertime Ball. [26] [27] She co-headlined the concert the following year, and appeared as a guest performer in 2018. [28] [29]
Johnson released her second solo single, "So Good", in November 2016. [30] The single peaked at number 13 in the UK, and received a gold certification from BPI. [31] [25] The following month, Johnson co-headlined both nights of the annual Jingle Bell Ball at London's O2 Arena; she co-headlined the concert for second consecutive year in 2017. [32] [33] Her third single, "Best Behaviour" was released in March 2017. [34] It charted at number 48 in the UK, and was certified silver by BPI. [31] [25] In 2017, she also featured on Olly Murs' single "Unpredictable", [35] which reached number 32 on the official UK singles chart and received a silver certification from BPI. [31] [25] In March 2018, Johnson released her fourth single, "Yes", a collaboration with the American rapper 2 Chainz, which peaked at number 65 in the UK. [36] [31]
On 13 July 2018, Johnson announced via social media that she had left Syco. [37] She also announced the release of her new single for early August with Ministry of Sound. [37] The single "Between You & Me", recorded in collaboration with One Bit, was released on 10 August 2018. [38] Later that month, she was featured on Mars Moniz's single "999". [39] In 2019, she collaborated with Sigma on the single "Here We Go Again" which charted in the UK at number 98. [31] She also featured on Kream and Eden Prince's single "Ain't Thinkin Bout You", and released "Ain't Got You" with Steve Void in 2019. [40]
In January 2020, Johnson announced a collaboration with fitness clothing brand USA Pro. [41] Following the announcement, she released "Like I Love Me" to promote the collaboration. [42] For the artwork of the single, Johnson posed completely nude, being photographed sitting down in front of a plain backdrop, with one leg raised towards her and the other one spread out. [43]
In September 2022, she released a collaboration with Jonas Blue titled "Always Be There". [44]
In 2017, Johnson spoke about her friendship with former X Factor mentor Rita Ora, stating that she was "still in touch with Rita". [45]
In 2018, Johnson faced backlash for multiple homophobic tweets she had made as a schoolgirl in 2013, which included the repeated use of the homophobic slur "faggot". She apologised for the tweets, saying, "I was young and foolish, and hanging around with the wrong crowd & didn’t know any better." [46] [47]
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [31] | IRE [48] | SCO [49] | ||||
"Forever Young" | 2015 | 9 | 5 | 2 | Non-album singles | |
"So Good" | 2016 | 13 | 37 | 8 | ||
"Best Behaviour" | 2017 | 48 | 71 | 22 |
| |
"Unpredictable" (with Olly Murs) | 32 | 65 | 20 |
| 24 Hrs | |
"Yes" (featuring 2 Chainz) | 2018 | 65 | 72 | 27 | Non-album singles | |
"Between You & Me" (with One Bit) | — | — | — | |||
"Ain't Got You" (with Steve Void) | 2019 | — | — | — | ||
"Like I Love Me" [42] | 2020 | — | — | — | ||
"Always Be There" (with Jonas Blue) | 2022 | — | — | — | Together | |
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [31] | BEL (FL) Tip [50] | GER [51] | IRE [48] | NLD [52] | NZ Heat. [53] | SCO [49] | SWE [54] | US Dance [55] | ||||
"Tears" (Clean Bandit featuring Louisa Johnson) | 2016 | 5 | 24 | 95 | 21 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 45 | 17 | What Is Love? | |
"Weak (Stay Strong Mix)" (AJR featuring Louisa Johnson) | 2017 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Bridge over Troubled Water" (as part of Artists for Grenfell) | 1 | 26 | — | 25 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — |
| ||
"With a Little Help from My Friends" (as part of NHS Voices) | 2018 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | — | ||
"999" (Mars Moniz featuring Wusu and Louisa) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Here We Go Again" (Sigma featuring Louisa) | 2019 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hope | |
"Ain't Thinkin Bout You" (Kream and Eden Prince featuring Louisa) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. |
Co-headliner
Supporting
"A Moment Like This" is the debut single by American singer Kelly Clarkson. The song was written by Jörgen Elofsson and John Reid from British house music project Nightcrawlers and produced by Stephen Ferrera and Steve Mac. It was released as a double A-side with "Before Your Love" as her coronation single after winning the first season of American Idol. The song was later included on her debut studio album, Thankful (2003). "A Moment Like This" was a huge hit in North America, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian Singles Chart.
Steve McCutcheon, known professionally as Steve Mac, is a British record producer, songwriter and musician. A multi-award-winning producer, he is one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers in modern British music, with contributions to 30 number one singles in the UK Singles Chart.
"Forever Young" is a song by Bob Dylan, recorded in California in November 1973. The song first appeared, in two different versions, a slow-pace and a fast-pace, on Dylan's fourteenth studio album Planet Waves.
The X Factor is a British television singing talent series. It was broadcast from 2004 to 2018. The winners, runners-up and other contestants of the show have seen varied levels of success, but have gone on to produce a total of 42 number ones and numerous UK chart hits. Sales figures show that artists from the show have sold around 30 million singles and over 18 million albums. One Direction have sold more than 65 million records worldwide, making them the most successful act to have ever appeared on any country's version of The X Factor and one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.
Rita Sahatçiu Ora is a British singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence in February 2012 when she featured on DJ Fresh's single, "Hot Right Now", which reached number one in the UK. Her debut studio album, Ora, released in August 2012, debuted at number one in the United Kingdom. The album contained the UK number-one singles, "R.I.P." and "How We Do (Party)". Ora was the artist with the most number-one singles on the UK Singles Chart in 2012, with three singles reaching the top position.
Jessica Louise Nelson is an English singer. She rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Little Mix, who took part on the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011. As part of Little Mix, Nelson achieved nineteen top-ten singles and five number-ones on the UK Singles Chart.
Camille Angelina Purcell, known professionally as Kamille, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer from London, England.
Clean Bandit are an English electronic music group, formed in Cambridge in 2008. They have had four number 1 hits and ten top 10 hits on the UK Singles Chart. They direct and produce their own music videos, many of which have been nominated for Brit Awards and VMAs, while two of them, "Symphony" and "Rockabye", each have over 1 billion views on YouTube, with Rockabye having reached over 2.7 billion views. The group currently consists of founder Grace Chatto and brothers Jack and Luke Patterson. Jack Patterson is the principal songwriter and has been awarded two Ivor Novellos for the writing of "Rather Be". Many of their projects are known for blending elements of both classical and dance music, and featuring guest vocalists. Notable collaborators include Marina, Demi Lovato, Jess Glynne, Anne-Marie, Sean Paul, Zara Larsson, Julia Michaels, Luis Fonsi, Ellie Goulding, Iann Dior and Mabel.
Gabriella Michelle "Ella" Henderson is an English singer and songwriter. She competed in the ninth series of The X Factor UK in 2012, being the eighth contestant eliminated despite being a strong favourite to win. She signed with Syco Music shortly after, and released her debut studio album, Chapter One (2014), which reached number one in the UK. The album spawned the chart-topping single "Ghost", as well as the top 20 singles "Glow" and "Yours". Henderson went on a four-year hiatus in 2015. Her second studio album, Everything I Didn't Say, was released in 2022.
Grace Chatto is an English musician and singer who is the cellist, backing vocalist and occasional main vocalist, for the electronic music band Clean Bandit.
Fleur East is an English singer-songwriter, rapper and presenter. East competed on the second series of The X Factor in 2005 as part of the girl group Addictiv Ladies but was unsuccessful. In 2012, she signed with Strictly Rhythm and released songs with dance musicians including Drumsound & Bassline Smith and released One in a Million" (2013), which peaked at number fifty three on the UK Singles Chart. As a solo act she returned to The X Factor for its eleventh series, and finished in second place.
I Cry When I Laugh is the debut studio album by English singer Jess Glynne. It was released on 21 August 2015 in the United Kingdom and 11 September 2015 in the United States by Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group. I Cry When I Laugh was recorded over three years, with Glynne working with several record producers on it.
Reggie 'n' Bollie are a Ghanaian music duo consisting of Reggie Zippy and Bollie Babeface. They formed in 2012 and are best known for finishing as runners-up on the twelfth series of The X Factor UK in 2015.
"Tears" is a song by English electronic group Clean Bandit, featuring English singer Louisa Johnson. It was released on 27 May 2016. It is the last single to feature Neil Amin-Smith as violinist after his departure. Clean Bandit and Johnson performed the song with 5 After Midnight during the finals of The X Factor on 10 December 2016. It was included on the deluxe edition of the band's second studio album, What Is Love?
Anne-Marie Rose Nicholson is an English singer-songwriter. She has attained various charting singles on the UK Singles Chart, including Clean Bandit's "Rockabye", which peaked at number one, as well as "Alarm", "Ciao Adios", "Friends", "2002", "Don't Play" and "Kiss My (Uh-Oh)". Her debut studio album, Speak Your Mind, was released in 2018 and peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart. In 2021, she released her second studio album, Therapy followed by her third studio album, Unhealthy, in 2023. Both albums peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart.
5 After Midnight, also known as 5AM, are a British boy band formed in 2016 during the thirteenth series of The X Factor, were the last contestant eliminated. Their debut single, "Up in Here" peaked at 51 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Unpredictable" is a song recorded by English singer Olly Murs for his fifth studio album, 24 Hrs (2016). It was written and produced by Cutfather, Daniel Davidsen and Peter Wallevik, with an additional writing from Kara DioGuardi and Iain James. Originally recorded as a solo version, it was edited by Matt Rad with additional vocals from English singer Louisa Johnson and was digitally released on 2 June 2017 in the United Kingdom. "Unpredictable" peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting sales of over 200,000 units in that country. The accompanying music video for the single takes place in 1978 and features both artists playing tennis against each other.
"Anywhere" is a song by British singer Rita Ora from her second studio album, Phoenix (2018). The song was written by Ora, Ali Tamposi, Brian Lee, Nick Gale and its producers Alesso, Watt and Sir Nolan. It was released as a single on 20 October 2017 through Atlantic Records UK. A wistful, dance-pop and electropop love song about escapism, it features a breakdown of stuttering vocal loops. The song has received positive reviews from music critics, and it was chosen as The Guardian's track of the week.
What Is Love? is the second studio album by British electronic music group Clean Bandit. It was released on 30 November 2018 by Atlantic Records. It includes the singles "Tears", "Rockabye", "Symphony", "I Miss You", "Solo", "Baby" and "Mama". In addition, the album also features collaborations with Rita Ora, Charli XCX, Bhad Bhabie and Tove Styrke. It is the band's first album as a trio, following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Neil Amin-Smith in 2016.