Jacquie O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Jacquie O'Sullivan is a singer and songwriter
.
/punk
/rockabilly
group Shillelagh Sisters
. In 1978 she was one of three backing vocalists on Status Quo's album "If You Can't Stand the Heat
". In 1982 O'Sullivan appeared in the videoclip of Visage
's "Night Train". She performed "additional backing vocals" on the single and dance mix of the song (the refrain "journey on the night train!") but not the original whispered backing vocals on the album version.
In 1983 she appeared in the videoclip of Eurythmics
"Who's That Girl?
", along with the members of Bananarama, the group that she would later join.
In 1986 she played an extra in a café scene in the British film Absolute Beginners
. O'Sullivan was a backing vocalist in lip-synched TV
performances for Living in a Box
for a short time in 1987.
and Keren Woodward
(who had known O'Sullivan since they were eighteen) to become a member of Bananarama
, as a replacement for outgoing member Siobhan Fahey
, who also approved of the choice. Bananarama's hit streak continued with the addition of O'Sullivan. They re-recorded
the vocals
for the song
s "I Want You Back
" and "Nathan Jones
" with O'Sullivan to replace versions previously recorded by Fahey. The group scored eight consecutive Top 40 hits in the UK
with O'Sullivan.
She appeared on Bananarama's fund-raising cover
of The Beatles
' "Help!
", which went to number three on the UK Singles Chart
in 1989. She also participated in Band Aid II
's 1989 re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?
"
The only O'Sullivan's songwriting credits with Bananarama would appear on the song "Love, Truth and Honesty
" from the compilation album
, Greatest Hits Collection
and on the song Only your Love.
In 1991, Bananarama recorded the album
Pop Life, the only full-length album on which O'Sullivan would appear. She later stated in an interview that her role in Bananarama was that of a paid employee. O'Sullivan was given no say in the creative, musical or visual direction of the group. The constant emphasis by the music press
that she was the "new girl" and her lack of a voice in group decisions prompted her to exit Bananarama, a split which was amicable with remaining members Dallin and Woodward.
act Slippry Feet from 1992 to 1996. They recorded songs for a record titled Freak Time Viewing and then disbanded.
In 2001, Jacquie O’Sullivan signed a three album deal with AlmaFame Records, featuring unreleased songs from throughout her music career. The first release in late 2001 was the Slippery Feet album Freak Time Viewing. In early 2002 the Shillelagh Sisters album Sham'Rock & Roll was released and a third album, tentatively titled The Jacquie O Collection, featuring new songs and re-recordings of her hits with Bananarama, was announced but the record label
folded and nothing was released.
In 2005 she appeared briefly on the second videoclip (also called 'whitey version') of Siobhan Fahey
's song "Pulsatron".
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Early years
O'Sullivan was originally a member of the countryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
/punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
/rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
group Shillelagh Sisters
Shillelagh Sisters
The Shillelagh Sisters were a UK female group composed of Jacquie O'Sullivan , Lynder Halpin , Patricia “Trisha” O’Flynn and Maria “Mitzi” Ryan...
. In 1978 she was one of three backing vocalists on Status Quo's album "If You Can't Stand the Heat
If You Can't Stand The Heat
If You Can't Stand the Heat... is the eleventh studio album by English rock band Status Quo. Recordedat Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Holland, and produced by Pip Williams, it was released in October 1978 and reached #3 in the UK album chart...
". In 1982 O'Sullivan appeared in the videoclip of Visage
Visage
Visage are a British New Wave rock band. Formed in 1978, the band became closely linked to the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s, and are best known for their 1980 hit "Fade to Grey".-New Wave years :...
's "Night Train". She performed "additional backing vocals" on the single and dance mix of the song (the refrain "journey on the night train!") but not the original whispered backing vocals on the album version.
In 1983 she appeared in the videoclip of Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
"Who's That Girl?
Who's That Girl? (Eurythmics song)
"Who's That Girl?" is a song recorded by British pop duo Eurythmics. It was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart...
", along with the members of Bananarama, the group that she would later join.
In 1986 she played an extra in a café scene in the British film Absolute Beginners
Absolute Beginners (film)
Absolute Beginners is a 1986 British rock musical film adapted from the Colin MacInnes book of the same name about life in late 1950s London. The film was directed by Julien Temple, featured David Bowie and Sade, and a breakout role by Patsy Kensit...
. O'Sullivan was a backing vocalist in lip-synched TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
performances for Living in a Box
Living in a Box
Living in a Box were a British band from the 1980s and early 1990s. They are best known for their eponymous debut single, produced by Richard James Burgess.-Formation and split up:...
for a short time in 1987.
Bananarama era
In March 1988, she was chosen by Sara DallinSara Dallin
Sara Elizabeth Dallin is an English musician mostly noted for her membership of the group Bananarama, which she co-founded with her childhood friend Keren Woodward.Dallin was born in Bristol, England...
and Keren Woodward
Keren Woodward
Keren Woodward is an English pop singer and songwriter of British girl group Bananarama, co-founded by her long time school friend Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey....
(who had known O'Sullivan since they were eighteen) to become a member of Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
, as a replacement for outgoing member Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
, who also approved of the choice. Bananarama's hit streak continued with the addition of O'Sullivan. They re-recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
the vocals
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
for the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s "I Want You Back
I Want You Back (Bananarama song)
"I Want You Back" is a song written and recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It is included on their fourth studio album Wow! and was released as its fourth and final single. with the 1988 compilation album Greatest Hits Collection...
" and "Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones (song)
"Nathan Jones" is a hit single recorded by The Supremes, released in spring 1971 on the Motown label. Produced by Frank Wilson and written by Leonard Caston - aka Leonard Caston, Jr...
" with O'Sullivan to replace versions previously recorded by Fahey. The group scored eight consecutive Top 40 hits in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with O'Sullivan.
She appeared on Bananarama's fund-raising cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Help!
Help! (song)
"Help!" is a song by The Beatles that served as the title song for both the 1965 film and its soundtrack album. It was also released as a single, and was number one for three weeks in both the United States and the United Kingdom....
", which went to number three on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1989. She also participated in Band Aid II
Band Aid (band)
Band Aid was a charity supergroup featuring British and Irish musicians and recording artists. It was founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the Christmas market that year. The single...
's 1989 re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?
Do They Know It's Christmas?
"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 to raise money for relief of the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was produced by Midge Ure and released by Band Aid on 29 November 1984....
"
The only O'Sullivan's songwriting credits with Bananarama would appear on the song "Love, Truth and Honesty
Love, Truth and Honesty
"Love, Truth and Honesty" is a song written and recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It was the first single released to promote the group's Greatest Hits Collection in 1988. The song was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman trio.It is the only Bananarama track which gives...
" from the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Greatest Hits Collection
Greatest Hits Collection (Bananarama album)
The Greatest Hits Collection is a compilation album released by Bananarama which features their single releases and greatest hits. It was issued by London Records in 1988, shortly after the departure of group member Siobhan Fahey...
and on the song Only your Love.
In 1991, Bananarama recorded the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Pop Life, the only full-length album on which O'Sullivan would appear. She later stated in an interview that her role in Bananarama was that of a paid employee. O'Sullivan was given no say in the creative, musical or visual direction of the group. The constant emphasis by the music press
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
that she was the "new girl" and her lack of a voice in group decisions prompted her to exit Bananarama, a split which was amicable with remaining members Dallin and Woodward.
After Bananarama
When she left Bananarama, O'Sullivan formed the discoDisco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
act Slippry Feet from 1992 to 1996. They recorded songs for a record titled Freak Time Viewing and then disbanded.
In 2001, Jacquie O’Sullivan signed a three album deal with AlmaFame Records, featuring unreleased songs from throughout her music career. The first release in late 2001 was the Slippery Feet album Freak Time Viewing. In early 2002 the Shillelagh Sisters album Sham'Rock & Roll was released and a third album, tentatively titled The Jacquie O Collection, featuring new songs and re-recordings of her hits with Bananarama, was announced but the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
folded and nothing was released.
In 2005 she appeared briefly on the second videoclip (also called 'whitey version') of Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
's song "Pulsatron".