Fefe Dobson

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Biography

Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson (born February 28, 1985) is a Canadian singer-songwriter . Her Fefe Dobson (album)|self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love , was not released and she was terminated from her record label|recording company . During production of Dobson's subsequent studio album Joy (Fefe Dobson album)|Joy , with her manager's recording company (21 Music), she was re-signed to her original major record label|major recording company ( Island Records ). Both companies continued working on Joy , and after experiencing numerous delays, it was released on November 22, 2010 in Canada (Archived by WebCite at on 2010-10-21) and November 30, 2010 in the United States .(Archived by WebCite at on 2010-09-08) Her music has been Fefe Dobson discography#Covers|covered by other artists and featured in Fefe Dobson discography#Songs in other media|cinema, television, and more .

Early life

Dobson was born on February 28, 1985, in Scarborough, Ontario , a suburb of Toronto . Dobson's mother is of English people|English , First Nations|Aboriginal , and French people|French ancestry and her father is of Jamaican heritage. She went to high school at Wexford Collegiate Institute . During her childhood, she took singing lessons at the New Conservatory of Music in Agincourt, Scarborough to improve her singing. To this day, her teacher, Aaron, still teaches there and has a magazine clipping of her successful student posted on her window. Dobson was soon found to be pregnant but later aborted the child since she was still in favor of pursuing her music career.

Dobson began sending demo tape s – recorded on a home karaoke machine – to many recording companies in North America when she was 11 years old. Then at the age of 13 years, she started playing the piano. Dobson has said that John Lennon and Judy Garland are her primary musical influences, and that her biggest musical inspiration growing up was Michael Jackson: "I swore I was Michael Jackson. Then I found out I wasn't Michael Jackson and it broke my heart." At the same time, she went to "every 'N Sync concert there was."

Before Dobson was signed, she claimed she had been stereotyped as a contemporary R& B or popular music singer instead of a rock musician due to her race, often being compared to Brandy Norwood and Britney Spears .

Dobson started writing music at the age of 13 years, and the company Jive Records attempted to develop her as a popular musician, which she eventually refused. After that experience, Dobson met Jay Levine and contracted with Nelly Furtado ’s manager Chris Smith. Smith arranged Audition|showcases with several recording companies. Universal Music Canada president Randy Lennox showed interest in her, and coaxed Island Def Jam CEO Lyor Cohen and his manager of A& R, Jeff Fenster, to fly to Toronto for another showcase. Dobson played a showcase for Island/Def Jam; about 30 seconds into the first song —a punk thrash track about longing, titled "Stupid Little Love Song"—the executives contracted her.

Music career

2003–06: Fefe Dobson and Sunday Love

When in recording studio s, Dobson hung up inspirational pictures of Kurt Cobain , Judy Garland , Coldplay , Jeff Buckley , and the Vines to help motivate her and to commemorate the artists who she believed influenced her. Dobson was also heavily influenced by Jay Levine and James Bryan McCollum of the Canadian band Prozzäk , who co-wrote and helped produce her debut album.

Dobson's Fefe Dobson (album)|self-titled debut album was released December 9, 2003 by Island Records , and sold 307,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan as quoted by Billboard . The album debuted at number 1 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers|Heatseekers Albums Chart ., Billboard , December 27, 2003. Four singles were released from the album: " Bye Bye Boyfriend ", " Take Me Away (Fefe Dobson song)|Take Me Away ", " Everything (Fefe Dobson song)|Everything ", and " Don't Go (Girls and Boys) ". There is an official music video for each of the singles. Two of the album's tracks, "Everything" and "Unforgiven", were used in the film The Perfect Score ., Internet Movie Database|IMDb . The New York Times reviewer wrote: "The album's assiduous, ungrammatical crux is in 'Kiss Me Fool': 'Tell me whom I should be to make you love me.

During much of 2004, Dobson promoted her debut album, performing live on the program Total Request Live and for numerous magazine covers and articles. Dobson made an appearance on NBC 's TV series American Dreams , in which she played the role of Tina Turner , covering the song " River Deep, Mountain High ". She was also the opening act of Justin Timberlake 's European tour. That July, she released a new single, "Don't Go (Girls and Boys)", which was also featured in a Tommy Hilfiger commercial featuring the singer. The album was later reissued with that single added. Dobson also had a new song, "If You Walk Away", on the soundtrack of Raising Helen ., Internet Movie Database|IMDb .

Dobson was an endorser for the Got Milk? organization.

Dobson released the record "Truth Anthem" on the Much Dance 2005 CD compilation, a benefit for the Canadian branch of War Child (charity)|War Child . In April 2005, Dobson was nominated for two Juno Award s, Pop Album of the Year and New Artist of the Year; both categories were won by Avril Lavigne . During the summer of 2005, Dobson was in a Public service announcement|public service ad : " Make Poverty History ", which brings awareness to child poverty worldwide.

By 2006, Dobson returned to the studio to finish her second album, Sunday Love . Musicians and songwriters she collaborated with during the recording process include Nina Gordon , Kay Hanley , John 5 (guitarist)|John 5 , Billy Steinberg , Matthew Wilder , Cyndi Lauper , Courtney Love , Joan Jett , and Rancid (band)|Rancid 's Tim Armstrong .

In February 2006 Dobson sang " O Canada " at All-Star Saturday Night, part of the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston, Texas . During spring 2006, she performed several shows around the United States, and began promoting the record Sunday Love in anticipation of its release. The first single, " Don't Let It Go to Your Head ", was released in 2005 but did not chart. There is an official music video for the song. A second single, "This Is My Life" was released in 2006. No video was made for it, and it also did not chart.

Sunday Love was never released because Dobson was terminated by Island Records just days before the album was scheduled for release. The album was reviewed favorably in both Spin (magazine)|Spin and Vibe (magazine)|Vibe magazine. "My real good fans, my hardcore fans, have it, so that's most important," Dobson says. "At least it got out there to a few hands, and now it's time to make a record on my own terms." "It was sad," says Dobson. "But instead of sitting there and being depressed and begging people for the record, I went back to the studio, got people that I knew, friends that I knew, and I started again."

One song from the unreleased album, "Be Strong", featured on the soundtrack for the film '' It's a Boy Girl Thing ''., Internet Movie Database|IMDb .

Dobson's song "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" is cover version|covered by Lilyjets , a Norwegian girl group, as a single on their 2006 debut album 3rd Floor . They also produced an official music video.

The music of "This Is My Life" is used by the Taiwanese girl-group S.H.E in their song: "I Love Trouble" (????) on their 2008 album FM S.H.E .

2007–08: Songwriting and independent period

" Start All Over ", a song co-written by Dobson and featuring her for backing vocals|background vocals , was recorded by Miley Cyrus for her 2007 album Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus and was released as a single, reaching number 57 on the Billboard Pop 100 . During a 2009 interview Dobson said, "I wrote a song, she dug it, and she sang it. But I didn't want it for my record. It just wasn't right for me, and I just felt like it was better for someone else, and she does a great job on it. I was really impressed. She sounded great. I'm actually happier she did it than I did it."

After quitting Island Records due to creative differences, Dobson decided to create a new album herself.

"Don't Let It Go to Your Head" is also covered by for their 2008 album Kiss and Tell Queen DLIGTYH"> and Jordin Sparks on her 2009 second album Battlefield (album)|Battlefield . Shortly after Jordin's album was released Dobson said, "Jordin Sparks just did , which was on Sunday Love , which was very cool. She did kind of, like, a more R& B version of it, which I think is really nice, actually. It was really cool that she didn't try and do a rock version of it, and she did what she's more comfortable with, which I thought was awesome." It was later revealed that Sparks' version is to be released as a single in the UK on January 4, 2010.(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-12-07)

The unreleased track "As a Blonde" is covered on Selena Gomez & the Scene 's 2009 debut album Kiss & Tell (Selena Gomez & the Scene album)|Kiss & Tell .(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-10-02)

2009–present: Joy

On August 11, 2009, Dobson presented a showcase performance at the Mercury Lounge in New York City.(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-08-18)Shanteé. Fefe Dobson Performs At The Mercury Lounge. fashionista101. 2009-08-13. URL: http://fashionista101.com/home/2009/08/12/fefe-dobson-performs-at-the-mercury-lounge/. Accessed: 2009-08-13. (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5j0SK0ztT) In an interview at the showcase Dobson mused, "It's almost like when an animal is in a small cage, but when you let it out it's running around like crazy. That's how I feel when I'm onstage."Murphy, Keith. Fefe Dobson Returns With a New Album and Attitude. popeater.com. 2009-08-14. URL: http://www.popeater.com/2009/08/13/fefe-dobson-i-want-you-joy-interview/. Accessed: 2009-08-14. (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5j2MT6jik)

In mid-August Dobson indicated that she would like to work with Jack White (musician)|Jack White , the White Stripes / Raconteurs frontman, because she admires him for his ability to make his ragged rock music become radio-style. She also said that she would love to write a song for the Jonas Brothers .

Dobson performed during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards weekend at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza on Friday night, September 11,(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-09-04)MTV Brings the Music to the Masses for VMA Weekend 2009. Reuters (SOURCE MTV). 2009-09-03 4:21pm EDT. URL: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS245955+03-Sep-2009+PRN20090903. Accessed: 2009-09-04. (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5jWtYmn9m) at "A Concert with Fefe Dobson and Cobra Starship ." She was also one of the judges for a competition for MTV's " Best Breakout New York City Artist Award|VMA Best Breakout New York City Artist Award " that occurred at the same event.The Battle for the Best Breakout NYC Artist presented by Time Warner and Road Runner The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards|2009 Video Music Awards and Taco Bell Present: A Concert with Fefe Dobson and Cobra Starship Tickets. Live Nation|LiveNation.com . URL: http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/412693. Accessed: 2009-09-05. (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5jZnApyMK) Dobson attended the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards held on September 13 in New York City at Radio City Music Hall .

On Sunday, September 27, 2009, she performed "I Want You" at the finale of the second season of the Canadian Cable TV show The Next Star .

Dobson's song, "I Want You" is in at least three versions of TV advertising|TV Spot ads for the movie Whip It (film)|Whip It . The 2009 film is the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore .. Internet Movie Database|IMDb . Retrieved 2009-09-30. The song was also used for television advertisements in 2010 for programs on the Style network.

She performed in Perth, Western Australia|Perth , Australia, at the One Movement Showcase Music Festival on October 17, 2009.

Dobson was the headline performer for one of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month events,(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-10-13) a benefit concert held at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood , CA on October 22, 2009.(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-10-13)(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-10-13)

She performed at a 100 Day Countdown event to the Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada, 2010 Winter Olympics at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., USA on November 4, 2009.(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-11-02)(Archived by WebCite at on 2009-10-31) Six songs were heard but her energetic performance resulted in a clothing mishap. Dobson even incorporated the happening into her performance by ad-libbing, "I-I-I just split my pants and I don't care".

Dobson performed on February 20, 2010 at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Canada as part of CTV Television Network|CTV 's national celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympics.(Archived by WebCite at on 2010-01-17) She was one of the opening acts for The Barenaked Ladies in the all Canadian show.

She participated in the Canadian All-Star Benefit Single For Haiti released under the collaboration name of Young Artists for Haiti . The song is a reworked version of K'naan 's single " Wavin' Flag " and was released on March 12, 2010. Dobson is seen and heard in the official video at the recording studio as she lent her vocals.

Dobson's involvement with the Olympics continued on March 12, 2010 as she performed "I Want You" and "Watch Me Move" at the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Paralympics|2010 Paralympic Winter Games .(Archived by WebCite at on 2010-03-16)

She covered " River Deep – Mountain High " for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 's 25th annual induction ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on March 15, 2010.(Archived by WebCite at on 2010-03-04) It inspired a reviewer to state that it, "...was an eye-opening version of Ellie Greenwich|Greenwich & Jeff Barry|Barry 's "River Deep, Mountain High" by Canadian belter Fefe Dobson that was so good it makes you want to go out and buy all her music."

Dobson performed on a twenty city tour across Canada in March and April 2010 on Hedley (band)|Hedley 's The Show Must Go...On The Road Tour. Hedley announced the tour in support of their new album The Show Must Go which was released November 17, 2009. "Fefe Dobson and Stereos will be along for the whole trek, while Faber Drive and Boys Like Girls will support on select dates."

She performed at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2010.

Dobson also has a role in Selena Gomez 's music career. On their debut CD, Kiss & Tell (Selena Gomez & the Scene album)|Kiss & Tell , Dobson allowed Selena Gomez & the Scene|Gomez and her band to re-record "As a Blonde" from her unreleased album, Sunday Love . Dobson also sang backup vocals. Then, she helped write the lead single, " Round & Round (Selena Gomez & the Scene song)|Round & Round ", from the band's second studio album, A Year Without Rain , alongside Kevin Rudolf and others.

The singer performed her single " Stuttering (song)|Stuttering " on the November 10, 2010 broadcast of The CW Television Network series, Hellcats . Currently Dobson performs live shows with Fatlabs session musician Colin Robinson.

In 2010, the singer released a remix of her single "Stuttering", featuring GOOD Music|G.O.O.D Music artist, Pusha T of Clipse . She released her third single, " Can't Breathe " which features guitarist Orianthi , in March 2011. It peaked at number 19 on the Canadian Hot 100 .

Discography

Fefe Dobson (album)|Fefe Dobson (2003)

Sunday Love (2006, unreleased)

Joy (Fefe Dobson album)|Joy (2010)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
2003	CASBY Award for Favourite New Single Chart Attack . November 18, 2003.	" Bye Bye Boyfriend "	nom
2004	CHR (Top 40)	Take Me Away "	nom
		"Take Me Away"	won
	Muchmusic Video Awards for People's Choice Favourite Canadian Artist	"Take Me Away"	won
2005	Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year	Fefe Dobson	nom
2005	Juno Award for New Artist of the Year	Herself	nom
2011	Much Music Video Awards for of the Year	Ghost	nom
	Much Music Video Awards for Pop Video of the Year	Ghost	nom
	Much Music Video Awards for International Video by a Canadian	Stuttering	nom
	Much Music Video Awards for "Ur Fave Video"	Stuttering	won

Copyright Citations

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1. JoJo 2. Nina Gordon 3. Howie Day 4. Boys Like Girls 5. Orianthi

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