Jodie Melanie Connor (born 8 May 1981)[1][2] is an English singer, songwriter and Goodwill ambassador.[6][7]
Jodie Connor | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jodie Connor[1] |
| Born | 8 May 1981[2] Oldham, England |
| Genres | R&B, soul, neo soul, dance, hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, lyricist, dancer, Goodwill ambassador |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Polydor Records (UK) (2010–present)[3] Takeover Entertainment (Worldwide) (2010–present)[4] All Around the World (Europe) (2012–present)[5] |
Connor's first number-one charted song was as a guest vocalist on Roll Deep's number-one single "Good Times".[8] She was later signed by Polydor Records and Takeover Entertainment and released her debut solo single "Now or Never" on 16 January 2011, which peaked at number 14.[9] A second single, "Bring It" featuring Tinchy Stryder was released on 20 February 2011 following its first play on BBC Radio 1 and debuted at number 11 on the UK R&B Chart.[10][11] Connor's latest release was in 2018 on Solo Suspex's single “Back To You”.
Music career
editEarly career
editEarly in Connor's career, she attended Saddleworth School for her high school education before attending Oldham College where she studied performing arts and graduated.[12] Connor worked as receptionist in a sports club by day[13] and gigged and performed in the evenings and on weekends. In 2003, Connor appeared as a contestant on the second series of the hit British television talent show Pop Idol. She was an early favourite of the judges, and made it to the final fifty of the competition,[14] earning her the chance to perform live to the nation, but was eliminated after failing to finish in the top two in her group, instead placing fourth of ten.[15] Connor was given a second chance by the judges, and was invited back for the Wildcard round,[16] but again was unsuccessful in making it through to the next round, and was eliminated for good.[17]
2010–present: Breakthrough and first studio album
editConnor returned to spotlight in 2010, when she featured on grime collective Roll Deep's comeback single "Good Times"; which she helped to co-write.[18] On 2 May 2010, the single debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 1,[8] where it remained for three consecutive weeks.[12] The single not only marked Connor's first chart performance, but also Roll Deep's first top 10 hit. Connor then continued her breakthrough, appearing on videos "Electric Boogaloo (Find a Way)" and "Higher State" by Wiley and Bailey respectively. Following the success of Connor's breakthrough, she was signed to Polydor Records and Takeover Entertainment,[3][19] spending the remainder of 2010 recording material for her debut album. On 16 January 2011, Connor released her debut single, "Now or Never" featuring Wiley, in the UK, which debuted at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart[9] and number 6 on the UK R&B Chart.[10] On 20 February 2011, Connor released her second single, "Bring It" featuring Tinchy Stryder, also in the UK, which debuted at number 11 on the UK R&B Chart,[10][20] following its first play on BBC Radio 1.[11]
In December 2010, Connor announced that she is to be spending time between Los Angeles and New York City working in the studio with Roc Nation-Songwriter's Makeba Riddick and James Fauntleroy II on her debut album, and that the album would be scheduled for release in the fourth-quarter of 2012.[4] The third single from the album entitled "Take You There" and featuring American rapper Busta Rhymes was released on 29 July 2012.[4]
Other ventures
editIn February 2011, Connor was announced as the new face of Tinchy Stryder's Star in the Hood female clothing line.[6] In March 2011, Connor was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for Prince Charles' The Prince's Trust.[6]
Personal life
editConnor's family are of Afro-Barbadian/White Barbadian descent.[21] Her mother is named Kathleen.[7] Connor lived in Shaw and Crompton.[13]
She has two sons, one born in 2014 and one born in November 2016.[22]
Discography
editSingles
editAs lead artist
edit| Year | Single | Chart positions |
Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [9] |
UK R&B [10] |
SCO [23] | |||||
| 2011 | "Now or Never" (featuring Wiley) |
14 | 6 | 18 | — | ||
| "Bring It" (featuring Tinchy Stryder) |
37 | 11 | 32 | ||||
| 2012 | "Take You There" (featuring Busta Rhymes) |
— | — | — | |||
| "Talk" (featuring Stylo G) |
— | — | — | ||||
| 2016 | "Good Lovin" | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
As featured artist
edit| Year | Single | Chart positions |
Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [9] |
SCO [23] | ||||||
| 2010 | "Good Times" (Roll Deep featuring Jodie Connor) |
1 | 1 | Winner Stays On | |||
| 2018 | "Back To You" (Solo Suspex featuring Jodie Connor) |
— | — | Single only release | |||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Guest appearances
edit| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Love of My Life" (Dawood and Knight featuring Jodie Connor) |
Single only release |
| 2010 | "Electric Boogaloo (Find a Way)" (Wiley featuring J2K and Jodie Connor) |
Single only release |
| "Higher State" (Bailey featuring Jodie Connor) |
Higher State |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Director | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Electric Boogaloo (Find a Way)" (with Wiley and J2K) | Charles Henrie Belleville | [24][25] |
| "Good Times" (with Roll Deep) | Rock Jacobs | [26] | |
| 2011 | "Now or Never" (with Wiley) | Johny Mourgue | [27] |
| "Bring It" (with Tinchy Stryder) | Luke Biggins & Yasha Malekzad | [28] | |
| 2012 | "Take You There" (with Busta Rhymes) | Rock Jacobs | [29] |
| 2013 | "Redlights" (with DaWood) | Morgan Keyz | [30][31][32] |
Cameo appearances
edit| Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "In My System" (Tinchy Stryder) |
Kwasi Danquah III & Emil Nava | [33] |
| "Gangsta?" (Tinchy Stryder featuring Tinie Tempah) |
Kwasi Danquah III & Adam Powell | [34] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "england & wales births 1837-2006 search results (Jodie Melanie B Connor)". Findmypast.com.
- ^ a b "Jodie Connor — Magical urban popstress". FHM. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ a b Artists – Jodie Connor. Polydor Records.
- ^ a b c Jodie Connor (No 925). The Guardian. Thursday, 7 December 2010. Retrieved Thursday, 14 September 2011.
- ^ "3beat Artists – Jodie Connor". 3 Beat Records. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "Jodie Connor interview: The good times roll". Daily Mirror. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Pop dreams hang in the balance". Manchester Evening News. 19 June 2005.
- ^ a b Roll Deep claim first ever UK number one. Digital Spy, 2 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
- For all except where noted: "The Official Charts Company - Jodie Connor". The Official Charts Company. 5 May 2013.
- For "Good Times": "Chart Archive > 8 May 2010 >". Official Charts Company.
- ^ a b c d Peak positions for singles on the UK R&B Chart:
- For "Now or Never": "Chart Archive > 29 January 2011 >". Official Charts Company.
- For "Bring It": "Chart Archive > 23 April 2011 >". Official Charts Company.
- ^ a b Corner, Lewis (30 March 2011). "Bring It Interview - Jodie Connor". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ a b Ex-Pop Idol contestant Jodie Connor set for chart success eight years on. Oldham Advertiser, 5 January 2011.
- ^ a b Richardson, Anne (17 September 2003). "My pop bubble's not burst!'". Oldham Advertiser. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012.
- ^ Jodie’s hit the Good Times. Chronicle Online, 11 May 2010.
- ^ Wilkes, Neil (20 September 2003). "Another two through to Idol's top twelve". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ Second time lucky for Pop Idol Jodie?. Manchester Evening News, 14 October 2003.
- ^ Sam, Susanne complete Idol's final lineup. Digital Spy, 18 October 2003.
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (14 January 2011). "Jodie Connor: 'No.1 raises the bar'". Digital Spy.
- ^ 1stBlog Archived 6 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. jodieconnormusic.com , 2 December 2010.
- ^ Official Charts Company. 16 April 2011. Retrieved Thursday, 22 September 2011.
- ^ kritikalsworld (15 January 2011). "Jodie Connor Interview With Mitch and Suave". YouTube. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Connor, Jodie [@JodieConnor] (10 December 2016). "The last few weeks have been so difficult but I'm lay here in bed tonight with my 2yr old boy and my 2wk old boy feeling super blessed!!! 💙💙" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Peak positions for singles on the Scottish Singles Chart:
- For "Good Times": "Chart Archive > 8 May 2010 >". Official Charts Company.
- For "Now or Never": "Chart Archive > 29 January 2011 >". Official Charts Company.
- For "Bring It": "Chart Archive > 16 April 2011 >". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Wiley feat. Jodie Connor and J2K – Electric Boogaloo (Find A Way)[permanent dead link]. MUZU TV. Retrieved Tuesday, 20 September 2011.
- ^ Wiley feat. Jodie Connor and J2K – Electric Boogaloo (Find A Way)[permanent dead link]. www.elitestyles.co.uk. 26 May 2010. Retrieved Tuesday, 20 September 2011.
- ^ Roll Deep’s Good Times by Rock Jacobs Archived 30 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. www.promonews.tv. Wednesday, 17 March 2010. Retrieved Tuesday, 20 September 2011.
- ^ Jodie Connor’s Now Or Never featuring Wiley by Johny Mourgue Archived 24 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. www.promonews.tv. Monday, 22 November 2010. Retrieved Tuesday, 20 September 2011.
- ^ Jodie Connor Bring It feat Tinchy Stryder over 1mln views already! Archived 13 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine. www.jacuzzifilms.com. 25 February 2011. Retrieved Tuesday, 20 September 2011.
- ^ Tom Howard (15 July 2012). "Jodie Connor feat Busta Rhymes - 'Take You There' - Music Video review". nme.com. NME.
- ^ "Health, Food, Wellness, Beauty Tips". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "DaWood ft. Jodie Connor | Redlights [Music Video]: SBTV". 24 August 2013 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Jodie Connor on Facebook". Facebook.
- ^ Tinchy Stryder’s In My System by Emil Nava Archived 28 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. www.promonews.tv. Wednesday, 7 July 2010. Retrieved Tuesday, 20 September 2011.
- ^ Tinchy Stryder - Gangsta? (Game Over feat. Tinie Tempah). tinchystrydertv/YouTube. Video uploaded on 26 May 2010. Retrieved Monday, 10 October 2011.