[
]
2000s–present: Hiatus, other ventures, and return to music
Following the 2000 release of ''Endangered Species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...
'', a collection of B-sides
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or ...
and live tracks, Des'ree contributed vocals to the charity single "Wake Up the Morning", which was released in November 2001 to mark the first anniversary of the killing of Damilola Taylor. Next, she performed a sung sonnet
A sonnet is a fixed poetic form with a structure traditionally consisting of fourteen lines adhering to a set Rhyme scheme, rhyming scheme. The term derives from the Italian word ''sonetto'' (, from the Latin word ''sonus'', ). Originating in ...
from Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
's ''The Merchant of Venice
''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...
'' on the compilation album ''When Love Speaks
''When Love Speaks'' is a compilation album that features interpretations of William Shakespeare's sonnets – some spoken, some set to music – and excerpts from his plays by famous actors and musicians, released under EMI Classics in April ...
''. Her fourth album, ''Dream Soldier
''Dream Soldier'' is the fourth album by British soul singer-songwriter Des'ree. It was released on 31 March 2003 on the Sony Soho Square record label, and features the UK top 75 single "It's Okay". For sixteen years, it was the last studio al ...
'', was released in March 2003, with lead single " It's Okay" reaching #69 in the UK. ''Dream Soldier'' was not a commercial or critical success, which led to her parting ways with Sony,[ instead exploring her interest in ]naturopathy
Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a form of alternative medicine. A wide array of practices branded as "natural", "non-invasive", or promoting "self-healing" are employed by its practitioners, who are known as naturopaths. Difficult ...
and training as a nutritionist.[
In 2008, Des'ree performed at the ]O2 Arena O2 Arena may refer to:
*The O2 Arena, London
* O2 Arena, Prague
*The 3Arena, Dublin, formerly known as The O2
*The Uber Arena, Berlin, formerly known as O2 World
*The Barclays Arena
Barclays Arena (originally known as the Color Line Arena an ...
for Young Voices' "Big Sing" charity concert, where she helped break the world record
A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizatio ...
for "most people simultaneously singing the same song" by leading 600,000 schoolchildren across the UK in singing her hit, "You Gotta Be". In 2011, she sang a lullaby on the sleep therapy
Deep sleep therapy (DST), also called prolonged sleep treatment or continuous narcosis, is a discredited form of ostensibly psychiatric treatment in which drugs are used to keep patients unconscious for a period of days or weeks. The controversia ...
CD, ''Sleep Talk Lullaby''.
Des'ree's first album in sixteen years, ''A Love Story
Love Story or A Love Story may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Genres
* Romance (love)
** Romance film
** Romance novel
Films
* ''Love Story'' (1925 film), German silent film
* ''Love Story'' (1942 film), Italian drama film
* ''Love ...
'', was released by her own label, Stargazer Records, on 11 October 2019. She had begun work on the album in 2014, but took an extended break to care for her mother. ''MusicOMH
''MusicOMH'' (stylized as ''musicOMH'') is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.
History
''MusicOMH'' was founded an ...
''s Nick Smith awarded it four stars out of five, noting the "subtle beauty and emotional power" of Des'ree's voice, and calling the album "a solid and engaging return".
Other work
"Silent Hero", written by Des'ree and Prince Sampson, featured in Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and author. His work has continually explored race relations, issues within the black community, the role of media in contemporary ...
's 1995 film '' Clockers''; "Feel So High
"Feel So High" is a song by British singer-songwriter Des'ree, released in August 1991 by Sony Soho Square and Epic as the first single from her debut album, '' Mind Adventures'' (1992). The song was co-written by Des'ree with Michael Graves, an ...
" (Des'ree, Michael Graves) featured in the 1996 film '' Set It Off''; "Crazy Maze" (Des'ree, Peter Lord Moreland, Vernon Jeffrey Smith) featured in the 1997 film '' Nothing to Lose''; and "You Gotta Be
"You Gotta Be" is an R&B/ soul song by British singer and songwriter Des'ree, written by her with Ashley Ingram, who produced the song. It is the third track on the singer's second album, '' I Ain't Movin (1994), and the opening track on ...
" (Des'ree, Ashley Ingram) featured in both ''The Next Karate Kid
''The Next Karate Kid'' is a 1994 American martial arts drama film directed by Christopher Cain, produced by Jerry Weintraub, and written by Mark Lee. It serves as the fourth installment in the ''Karate Kid'' franchise and serves as a standalon ...
'' (1994) and ''The Object of My Affection
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'' (1998).
Lawsuits
In 1997, Des'ree's hit "Feel So High
"Feel So High" is a song by British singer-songwriter Des'ree, released in August 1991 by Sony Soho Square and Epic as the first single from her debut album, '' Mind Adventures'' (1992). The song was co-written by Des'ree with Michael Graves, an ...
" was interpolated into the Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...
song "Got 'til It's Gone
"Got 'til It's Gone" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, featuring American rapper Q-Tip (musician), Q-Tip and Canadian singer Joni Mitchell, from her sixth studio album, ''The Velvet Rope'' (1997). It was written by Jackson, Jimmy Jam ...
" (from Jackson's album ''The Velvet Rope
''The Velvet Rope'' is the sixth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. It was released on October 7, 1997, through Virgin Records. Prior to its release, she renegotiated her contract with Virgin for US$80 million, marking this as the la ...
''), without due credit being given to Des'ree as a contributor. Subsequent releases containing the track would list Des'ree as one of its writers, following a successful lawsuit against Jackson.[Ian Hyland]
"Des'ree wins pounds 2m in Janet Jackson song copying war."
''Sunday Mirror'', 31 May 1998
In 2007, Des'ree filed a lawsuit against Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
, claiming that the singer's cover of her song " Kissing You"—retitled "Still in Love (Kissing You)" and featured on the album ''B'Day
''B'Day'' is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on August 31, 2006, by Columbia Records, Music World Entertainment and Sony Urban Music.
Originally set to be released in 2004, ''B'Day'' was plan ...
''—was released without permission. The case was later dismissed, but not before editions of the album featuring the song were pulled from sale.[
]
Personal life
Des'ree is a vegetarian
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
. In 2002, she took courses in photography and ceramics at the Camberwell College of Arts
Camberwell College of Arts is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, a public art and design university in London, England. The college offers further and higher education programmes, including postgraduate and PhD awards. ...
.
Accolades
Billboard Music Awards
The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by '' Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of ...
BMI London Awards
BMI Pop Awards
Brit Awards
Cash Box Year-End Awards
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Welsh entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and Musical composition, composing. They have been presented annually in London by the The Ivors Academy, Ivors Academy, formerly called the Britis ...
MTV Video Music Awards
The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category ...
Satellite Awards
The Satellite Awards are annual awards given by the International Press Academy that are commonly noted in entertainment industry journals and blogs. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The award ceremonies take place ...
World Music Awards
The World Music Awards was an international award show founded in 1989 under the patronage of Albert II, Prince of Monaco and co-founder/executive producer John Martinotti. The event was based in Monte Carlo. Awards were presented to the worl ...
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Notes
* 1 "Feel So High" originally peaked at number 51 on the UK singles chart in 1991. It was re-released in 1992 and peaked at number 13. In the US, the single featured on ''I Ain't Movin and did not chart until 1995.
* 3 "Fire" was included on the 1998 edition of ''Supernatural'' as track 11.[ "You Gotta Be" replaced it when a new edition of the album was released in 1999.
]
As a featured artist
Promotional singles
References
External links
Official web site
* Des'ree
Desirée Annette Weekes (born 30 November 1968), known by her stage name Des'ree (), is an English pop and soul recording artist and songwriter, who rose to prominence during the 1990s. Known for her distinctive contralto voice and uplifting l ...
at AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
*
{{Authority control
1968 births
Living people
English women singer-songwriters
English singer-songwriters
English soul musicians
English contraltos
Neo soul singers
Brit Award winners
Alumni of Camberwell College of Arts
English soul singers
English people of Barbadian descent
English people of Guyanese descent
20th-century Black British women singers
20th-century English women singers
Singers from the London Borough of Croydon
People from Croydon
550 Music artists
S2 Records artists
21st-century Black British women singers
21st-century English women singers
World Music Awards winners
English contemporary R&B singers