Anastacia Biography

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Pop singer who has sold 31 million records since the release of her first album Not That Kind in 2000. Anastacia became an icon in Europe and Oceania, but never made as big as an impact in the US. Anastacia’s music, with its often deep meanings, and poppy tunes appeal to a wide range of ages.

Anastacia was born in Chicago, Illinois into a showbiz family: her father was a singer and her mother an actress in Broadway musical theatre. Her family relocated to New York City when she was a teenager and she enrolled at the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan.

Anastacia soon became interested in dance despite being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. She first gained prominence stealing the show from D.L. Hughley while he was hosting BET’s Comic View, singing Oleta Adams’ Get Here in 1992. During the early 1990s, she appeared regularly on Club MTV and in a couple of videos for rappers Salt-N-Pepa.

In 1999, she attracted the interest of record labels after making the finals of MTV talent show The Cut. Anastacia signed a contract with Daylight Records, a custom label of Sony Music’s Epic Records in March 1999. The Cut was hosted by Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of R&B group TLC. A then-unknown Anastacia finished in third place, but impressed Lopes and the show’s three judges so much that she scored herself a record deal anyway.

Her debut album Not That Kind was released in 2000 and was a huge success reaching the top ten in eight countries in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. It went triple platinum in Australia spurred by the success of her debut smash I’m Outta Love which was the most popular single of the year in that country for 2000. While I’m Outta Love was a top ten song on the US dance charts, Not That Kind only reached the lower parts of the Billboard 200, since the single never managed to cross over to the American pop charts.

Her second album, 2001′s Freak of Nature achieved respectable sales although not matching the level of international success of Not That Kind. However, her sophomore effort did beat its predecessor in her home country. Its debut single, One Day In Your Life, though not a smash hit, just barely made the top 40 and was also a hit on the club charts and at rhythmic radio.

When Freak Of Nature was finally released in the United States in May of 2002, she dedicated the album to Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who had died in a car wreck the month before. Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was partly responsible for Anastacia’s success, since Lisa hosted MTV’s The Cut where Anastacia got her first break.

Anastacia also joined Shakira, Cher and Mary J. Blige for VH1′s Divas Live in 2002. Anastacia also contributed a song Love Is A Crime to the Chicago soundtrack. Anastacia was selected to sing the theme from 2002 FIFA World Cup: Boom. From this album, she released singles as Paid My Dues, One Day In Your Life and Why’d You Lie To Me.

In January 2003, Anastacia discovered she had breast cancer while preparing for breast reduction surgery due to orthopedic reasons. She immediately successfully completed a course of treatment. Anastacia subsequently established a fund through the “Breast Cancer Research Fund” to promote awareness of breast cancer amongst younger women. Anastacia entered record studios in September 2003 to begin recording her next album – the self-titled Anastacia – working with Glen Ballard, Dallas Austin, and Dave Stewart for release in 2004.

The first single, released in March, was Left Outside Alone, which saw a change in direction for Anastacia, embracing a rock element (she describes her sound as “sprock” – a combination of soul, pop and rock). On the album, Anastacia also collaborated with P.O.D. lead singer Sonny Sandoval on the socially-conscious track I Do.

Anastacia proved to be a smash hit reaching the top of the album charts in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, Greece, Germany, and Italy and number 2 in Spain. Left Outside Alone proved to be equally successfully reaching number 1 in Australia, Italy, Austria and Switzerland; number 2 in the Netherlands and the UK, and reaching the top 5 on the composite European chart. Strong airplay throughout Europe gave the song a Top 40 Charts world airplay ranking as one of the top five songs played on top 40 radio stations throughout the world in April 2004.

Unlike her first two albums, which were released in her homeland of America, Anastacia was not, despite being scheduled for release on three occassions. Left Outside Alone was released twice, but failed to pick up heavy airplay, resulting in the album being postponed and eventually cancelled. Anastacia released three further internationally successful singles; Sick And Tired (which gave her another UK top 5 single), Welcome To My Truth, and the ballad Heavy On My Heart proceeds from the sale of which went towards her ‘Anastacia Fund’ (Charitable organisation providing research funding for breast cancer).

In late 2005, she released her first greatest hits collection, entitled Pieces of a Dream: Best Of, named after a track of the same name, which she had written with former Evanescence star, Ben Moody. The album features all of the singles from her albums, including Everything Burns, which she recorded with Moody for the Fantastic Four film soundtrack, and two other new tracks, In Your Eyes, and a duet with Eros Ramazzotti, I Belong to You (Il Ritmo Della Passione).

A club megamix of some of the best remixes of her singles was also included, and the album was also released as a special limited edition, featuring deluxe packaging (it is presented in a hardback A5 book), and a second CD, containing remixes of her singles. The album entered the UK top ten album charts at #6, and is close to going platinum in the UK. It has also sold strongly in other territories. She is scheduled to release her first live DVD, Anastacia: Live At Last on 27th March 2006.

Her fourth studio album proved to be less successful than her previous ones; her singles didn’t reach top 40 in her most popular country (UK). Anastacia remained positive, stating that other artists have faced the same problems while changing a record label, also blaming the world economical crisis.

In June 2009, Anastacia started her second tour throughout Europe to promote her fourth studio album. The tour was well received by critics and fans alike. Anastacia was featured on the single “Stalemate” by the UK band Ben’s Brother released on October 26, 2009. In November and December 2009 Anastacia, Chaka Khan and Lulu were headlining the Here Come the Girls Tour a special Christmas concert that visited the United Kingdom only. On December 7, 2009 Anastacia opened the annual Royal Variety Performance with Lulu and Chaka Khan performing a rendition of “Relight My Fire”.

In March 2010, Anastacia headlined several shows at Art on Ice in Zürich at the Hallenstadion as well as in Lausanne. Her official website stated about the show: “In a unique, groundbreaking combination of Olympic-level figure skating and smash hit pop, the music of Anastacia will soundtrack and seamlessly inspire a performance from some of the world’s best figure skaters, perfectly choreographed to complement her hits.” In March Anastacia began recording her fifth studio album. A single Anastacia is doing is, “Safety”, a duet with Russian singer Dima Bilan, was recorded in Los Angeles on May 25, 2010. The song was performed live for the first time at the Muz-TV Music Awards Moscow in June 2010.

The single is listed for release in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2010. Anastacia was also one of the main judges on British talent series Don’t Stop Believing, a contest inspired by the musical comedy-drama Glee. On March 23 Anastacia announced she will join Natalia Druyts during Natalia Meets Anastacia concerts at the Sportpaleis Belgium in January of 2011 for a minimum of 4 arena shows , currently 4 shows and 60.000 tickets are on sale, with more shows expected to be added. In early July Anastacia and Natalia Druyts recorded a duet “Burning Star” that will be released on September 17th in Belgium to promote the upcoming Natalia Meets Anastacia concerts .[