Kat DeLuna
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Emperatriz "Kat" DeLuna (born November 17, 1987) is an American pop
singer of Dominican
heritage. DeLuna has a soprano
vocal range. Her debut single, "Whine Up
", reached the top ten in Belgium and France, peaked inside the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100
and topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her debut album, 9 Lives
, was released in 2007. It peaked at number fifty-eight on the Billboard 200
and charted within the top twenty of Belgium and Poland. In 2008, DeLuna began work on her second studio album, Inside Out. It was released in Belgium in 2010, peaking at number sixteen.
In 2007, DeLuna won "Best New Artist" at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007
awards. In 2008, she won "Best New Artist" and "Best Urban Artist" at the TMF Awards. DeLuna's single, "Whine Up", won the award for "Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year" at the 2008 Latin Billboard Music Awards
. She also won a Casandra Award
in 2008 for "Best International Artist".
, New York
. At a young age, DeLuna and her family moved to the Dominican Republic
. When she was 12, DeLuna performed onstage and was heard by Milly Quezada
who commended her vocals. Friends and family recognized her talent at an early age, but it was not until she moved back to the United States at age 14, to Newark, New Jersey
, that DeLuna realized her potential as a singer. She attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary in Newark, and was taught by Nicholas Straus. DeLuna then attended the Newark Arts High School
, which was the only school she applied to. While there, DeLuna and her friends formed a R&B group called Coquette. DeLuna had a tough upbringing, and was raised in poverty. She spent her time listening to Aretha Franklin
and Billie Holiday
records, which she imitated daily on her karaoke machine.
At age 15, DeLuna entered a Coca-Cola sponsored karaoke competition. Her version of "I Will Always Love You
" took first place. It was through this competition that she met Cuban salsa singer Rey Ruiz
. Ruiz gave DeLuna this advice: "Nobody knows you better than you do, and nobody can help you if you can't help yourself." DeLuna began writing her own music and has continued to do so. In 2004, while DeLuna was 17, Coquette opened for a Cassidy concert in New Jersey. In 2006, DeLuna chose to pursue a solo career and was signed by Epic Records
.
, DeLuna began working with producers such as RedOne
and Jane't Sewell-Ulepic, among others. The two worked together to produce the majority of the songs on DeLuna's debut album. On May 15, 2007, DeLuna released her debut single, "Whine Up
". The title comes from the Caribbean English
(West Indian) pronunciation of Wind up, meaning to move one's hips on the dance floor. The single received mixed reviews from critics. A reviewer from TodaysMusic gave the song a mixed review: "The song itself is great musically. It has all the ingredients of a hot dance song. I love the driving Latin sound of the chorus. But Kat, you’re 19 as of this writing. You’re writing about very sensual things. Is this what you want to tell the young girls from your neighborhood? Is this what you give your parents after all their encouragement and support as you studied music diligently all your life? Reminds me of Rihanna- wanting to be a good example to young girls, but really not being one at all." AssociatedContent had a more positive review of the song, stating "On the song Kat goes back forth between singing in English and Spanish. The song is catchy and fills a void currently in the marketplace. Elephant Man adds his traditional high energy approach and the song is a surefire hit." Billboard also spoke highly of the song, claiming "Talk about a summertime sure thing. Nineteen-year-old Dominican Kat Deluna is prepped to combust with a platinum-plated debut so certain you can practically smell the smoke emanating from its juicy one-spin hook and manic tempo. Accompanied by reggaeton queen Ivy Queen and dancehall staple Elephant Man, aka the Energy God, the bilingual crossover beauty -- who grew up in poverty in the Dominican Republic and the Bronx before studying music at the New Jersey School of Performing Arts -- combines Caribbean cadence with a novel mesh of hip-hip, R&B and merengue. Deluna's launch single offers ultimate seasonal sizzle -- over the airwaves, on the beach, down the highway and across dance floors. A "Whine" to be heard loud and proud the world over." The single experienced commercial success. In the US, the single debuted at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart. In the following weeks, the song would continue climbing the charts until it reached a peak of number 29, becoming her only US Top 40 hit. The single also topped the Billboard
Hot Dance Club Play
chart, which monitors plays songs in night clubs. The single peaked at number 43 on the Hot Latin Songs
chart. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
, the single peaked at number 12. It reached the Top 20 of the Pop 100
, peaking at number 14. The single charted well internationally; it reached the Top 20 of the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number 15, as well as reaching a peak of number 7 in Belgium
and France
. The single peaked at number 18 on the Australian ARIA Charts
, and at number 13 on the Romanian Singles Chart.
DeLuna's debut album, 9 Lives
, was released on August 7, 2007. The album peaked at number fifty-eight on the Billboard 200
, selling 11,000 copies in its first week. The album has since sold near 200,000 copies in the United States. The album was well received commercially in the international market. In Belgium, the album debuted inside the Top 20, peaking at number 16. The album reached the Top 20 in Finland
, where it peaked at number 15 on the official album chart. In France
, the album debuted at number 24. On the Ö3 Austria Top 40
chart, the album peaked at number 64. The album was successful in Poland
, where it peaked at number 12 on the official albums chart. DeLuna chose to release "Am I Dreaming
" as the second single. It began receiving airplay on Latin radio stations, leading to its peak of 26 on the U.S. Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay chart. Despite its early success in the Latin music industry, further plans for the single were immediately scrapped for unknown reasons, and a new single has yet to be chosen.
At the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007
awards show, DeLuna won the Best New Artist award. In late 2007, DeLuna collaborated with Omarion
on the single "Cut Off Time", which was the lead single from the Feel the Noise
soundtrack. The song peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
and at number 123 on the Hot 100. In December 2007 DeLuna announced that "Run the Show
" would be the second single. It was released on January 15, 2008, for radio airplay. The US version of the song features rapper Busta Rhymes
, while the international release of the single features Don Omar
. The version on the album is different again, with guest vocals from Shaka Dee
. The single has become one of DeLuna's biggest hits to date. "Run the Show" reached the Top 10 in several countries, including Finland, where it peaked at number 2; Belgium, where it reached number 5; and Romania, where it peaked at number 8. In the US, the failed to chart on the Hot 100. It did, however, peak at number 17 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart. Despite its failure on the Hot 100, the single managed to rise to number 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play
chart, only one spot lower than "Whine Up". After the release of "Run the Show", the album was re-released on Akon's
record label. Due to the poor performance of the single in the US, plans for the album's re-release in America were scrapped.
In September 2008 DeLuna's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner
" at a Dallas Cowboys
Monday Night Football
game against the Philadelphia Eagles
was roundly booed. The crowd felt that DeLuna's vocals were "scathing" and overwrought. The event garnered much media attention, and landed the number one-spot on Billboard Magazine's "10 Worst National Anthem Performances Ever" in 2010.
At the 2008 TMF Awards in Belgium
, DeLuna won awards for Best New Arist and Best Urban Artist. At the Latin Billboard Music Awards 2008
, DeLuna won the "Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year" Award for her single "Whine Up". Shortly after the award shows, it was announced that "In the End
" would be released as the third international single. The single was her first to receive no release whatsoever in the US. Due to a lack of promotion, the single failed to make an impact on music charts. In Belgium, it peaked at number 31 on the official singles chart. In October 2008, "Breathing Your Love
", a collaboration with Swedish singer Darin Zanyar, was released and went on to reach number 2 in Sweden and number 13 in Finland. DeLuna was dropped from Epic Records
in 2008, and signed a record deal with Universal Motown. She began work on her second album, and premiered a new song, "Calling You", on her MySpace
page and her official website in 2008.
", featuring Lil Wayne
, as a single from the Confessions of a Shopaholic
soundtrack. The song was originally due to be the lead single from her second album but its release was cancelled. The music video for "Unstoppable" premiered on Kat DeLuna's MySpace profile on January 23, 2009. The song was released for radio airplay on February 24, 2009. In Canada, "Unstoppable" peaked at number 80 on the Canadian Hot 100.
In April 2009, DeLuna announced the album's title, Inside Out. In May 2009 DeLuna released "Dance Bailalo
" as a digital-only promotional single. The song had a generally positve reception. Letssingit said of the song, "[Bailalo] demonstrates DeLuna's innovative new sound by blending tropical samba rhythms with new school dance melodies. This infectious combination paired with her seductive lyrics lure listeners to let loose and hit the dance floor hard." Internet blogger Perez Hilton
commented on the song as well, saying "('Dance Bailalo' is) one of the most scorching dance singles we've heard all year!" Hilton called the song the next "Summer Jam". The single failed to chart on the Hot 100, but reached number 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play
chart. It entered the top 20 on Latin charts, where it peaked at number 12.
In June 2009, DeLuna performed alongside Shontelle
at New York City's Fashion Industries High School prom as the star of My Prom Style's official website feature, the "Ultimate Prom" fashion reality series. Three aspiring teen designers competed to design a dress to wear to the prom, and a pattern of the winning dress was then produced and sold nationwide by Simplicity Pattern
s. In February 2010, DeLuna participated in a Spanish remake of "We Are the World
" called "Somos El Mundo
", alongside other Dominican singers such as Juan Luis Guerra
, Milly Quezada
, Eddy Herrera
, Romeo (Aventura), Fernando Villalona
and Latin artists such as Paulina Rubio
, Thalia
, Belinda
, Luis Fonsi
, and Chayanne
, among others. The piece was a fundraiser for victims of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake
. Also in 2009, DeLuna recorded a track titled "Shake It Up" with Big Ali
for his album Louder. The single was a commercial failure, failing to chart on any charts worldwide.
In April 2010 DeLuna released "Push Push" featuring Akon
, the lead single from her second album. During her mini promotional tour in Belgium and France in September, DeLuna signed a new contract with Universal Music Belgium. When asked of how the song with Akon came about, DeLuna said it was an accident. When they ran into each other at the studio one day, "He said, 'I have something I wanna show you,'" DeLuna said. "He played the beat and I went crazy." The single was a critical success. The New York Daily News wrote, "The [song] is a simple, fun and insanely catchy song with a multilayered oh-oh-oh refrain by DeLuna, a solid contribution from Akon on the bridge and a thumping beat that's sure to bring the house down at the club." MTV compared the song to recent releases by Lady Gaga
, saying, "Push Push," the first single from DeLuna's Inside Out album starts out with some "oh-oh-oh's" that wouldn't sound out of place on a Gaga record. "Push Push" was produced by Radio, but it still contains some of RedOne's signature sounds." The single achieved some commercial success internationally. It debuted and peaked at number 84 on the Canadian Hot 100, mainly due to digital downloads. The single achieved greater success in Europe, where it peaked at number 37. In Belgium, "Push" became her third Top 20 hit on the singles chart, when it peaked at number 15. The single became her first Top 10 hit in France since "Run the Show", peaking at number 9.
DeLuna announced on Twitter that the second single off the album would be "Party O' Clock". On October 22 the single was released on iTunes
. On November 2, DeLuna released a video premiering her release of Inside Out in Belgium and confirmed the tracklisting for the album. Inside Out was released on November 5, 2010, in Belgium. It was commercially successful in the country, debuting and peaking at number 16 on the official album's chart. The video for "Party O'Clock" was released on December 15, 2010. "Dancing Tonight" was be the next single off of the album, and she shot video in New York City on December 21–23, 2010. "Dancing Tonight" debuted as the #1 Breakout on the Billboard Dance Chart. The video for the song premiered on March 23.
On July 29 the video for her new single Drop It Low premiered on her YouTube channel.
Shortly after Jennifer Lopez
released her single "On the Floor" on February 22, 2011, many of DeLuna's fans, as well as critics, claimed that "On the Floor" plagiarised DeLuna's 2010 single "Party O'Clock". In a statement issued to the New York Daily News, DeLuna said "It's cool that artists like J.Lo are inspired by my musical sound and style. ... Jennifer helped pave the way for Latinas like myself. I love her", and insisted that there was not an issue. Following previews of the music video for "On the Floor," DeLuna changed her mind about how she felt with the claims of copying. In another interview with the New York Daily News, several days after the first, she said "I've seen this before, where the more established artist tries to take the vision and artistic ideas away from an emerging artist, and assumes no one will notice because of their bigger shadow,... Luckily, my loyal fans and the power of the Internet have let the 'Kat' out of the bag". DeLuna had previously said she was inspired by Lopez, and saw her as someone who opened doors for people like her to sing. When Lopez was asked about the issue on the Latin-American entertainment program Despierta America, she replied, "What? Really? I'm not aware of that...," and when asked a second time, she insisted she had not heard about the comparisons. It was alleged that "J.Lo's camp specifically requested that nothing about the Deluna debacle be brought up during the interview."
Nominations
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer of Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
heritage. DeLuna has a soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
vocal range. Her debut single, "Whine Up
Whine Up
"Whine Up" is a song by Dominican-American pop/R&B singer Kat DeLuna, released as her debut single from her album 9 Lives. The song features Elephant Man. It was believed that Ivy Queen was featured, but Kat herself provided the rap, rapping at a lower register...
", reached the top ten in Belgium and France, peaked inside the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her debut album, 9 Lives
9 Lives (Kat DeLuna album)
9 Lives is the debut studio album by pop singer Kat DeLuna. It was released in the United States on August 7, 2007. The album is a mix of pop and dance songs with latin and reggae-dancehall influences. The album is mainly produced by RedOne, who at the time was unknown. Many of the songs on the...
, was released in 2007. It peaked at number fifty-eight on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and charted within the top twenty of Belgium and Poland. In 2008, DeLuna began work on her second studio album, Inside Out. It was released in Belgium in 2010, peaking at number sixteen.
In 2007, DeLuna won "Best New Artist" at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007
The annual Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007 took place on the 18th October 2007 in Mexico City at the Palacio de los Deportes for the second time in a row....
awards. In 2008, she won "Best New Artist" and "Best Urban Artist" at the TMF Awards. DeLuna's single, "Whine Up", won the award for "Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year" at the 2008 Latin Billboard Music Awards
2008 Latin Billboard Music Awards
The 2008 Billboard Latin Music Awards, produced and broadcast live on Telemundo, was held on Thursday, April 10, 2008. The award show aired on Telemundo at 7pm EST....
. She also won a Casandra Award
Casandra Award
The Casandra Awards are awarded annually by the Asociación de Cronistas de Arte of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo, since 1985....
in 2008 for "Best International Artist".
Early life
Deluna was born on November 17, 1987, in The BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. At a young age, DeLuna and her family moved to the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. When she was 12, DeLuna performed onstage and was heard by Milly Quezada
Milly Quezada
Milagros Quezada Borbón, known simply as Milly Quezada, is a Latin Grammy-winning Dominican Merengue music singer. She is a singer in Latin America; especially in those Latin American countries bordered by the Caribbean Sea, and in the eastern seaboard region of the United States...
who commended her vocals. Friends and family recognized her talent at an early age, but it was not until she moved back to the United States at age 14, to Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, that DeLuna realized her potential as a singer. She attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary in Newark, and was taught by Nicholas Straus. DeLuna then attended the Newark Arts High School
Newark Arts High School
Newark Arts High School is a four-year magnet public high school, serving students in grades 9 through 12 in Newark, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Newark Public Schools. In 2010, the 6th graders of William Brown Academy is housed there as its venue is currently being built...
, which was the only school she applied to. While there, DeLuna and her friends formed a R&B group called Coquette. DeLuna had a tough upbringing, and was raised in poverty. She spent her time listening to Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
records, which she imitated daily on her karaoke machine.
At age 15, DeLuna entered a Coca-Cola sponsored karaoke competition. Her version of "I Will Always Love You
I Will Always Love You
"I Will Always Love You" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton in 1973, who first released the song as a single in 1974.-Dolly Parton version:...
" took first place. It was through this competition that she met Cuban salsa singer Rey Ruiz
Rey Ruiz
Rey Ruiz is a salsa singer from Cuba. Ruiz reached international fame across Latin America, Europe and among Hispanic music fans in the United States.-Biography:...
. Ruiz gave DeLuna this advice: "Nobody knows you better than you do, and nobody can help you if you can't help yourself." DeLuna began writing her own music and has continued to do so. In 2004, while DeLuna was 17, Coquette opened for a Cassidy concert in New Jersey. In 2006, DeLuna chose to pursue a solo career and was signed by Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
.
2006–08: 9 Lives and National Anthem Controversy
After being signed to Epic RecordsEpic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, DeLuna began working with producers such as RedOne
RedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
and Jane't Sewell-Ulepic, among others. The two worked together to produce the majority of the songs on DeLuna's debut album. On May 15, 2007, DeLuna released her debut single, "Whine Up
Whine Up
"Whine Up" is a song by Dominican-American pop/R&B singer Kat DeLuna, released as her debut single from her album 9 Lives. The song features Elephant Man. It was believed that Ivy Queen was featured, but Kat herself provided the rap, rapping at a lower register...
". The title comes from the Caribbean English
Caribbean English
Caribbean English is a broad term for the dialects of the English language spoken in the Caribbean, most countries on the Caribbean coast of Central America, and Guyana. Caribbean English is influenced by the English-based Creole varieties spoken in the region, but they are not the same. In the...
(West Indian) pronunciation of Wind up, meaning to move one's hips on the dance floor. The single received mixed reviews from critics. A reviewer from TodaysMusic gave the song a mixed review: "The song itself is great musically. It has all the ingredients of a hot dance song. I love the driving Latin sound of the chorus. But Kat, you’re 19 as of this writing. You’re writing about very sensual things. Is this what you want to tell the young girls from your neighborhood? Is this what you give your parents after all their encouragement and support as you studied music diligently all your life? Reminds me of Rihanna- wanting to be a good example to young girls, but really not being one at all." AssociatedContent had a more positive review of the song, stating "On the song Kat goes back forth between singing in English and Spanish. The song is catchy and fills a void currently in the marketplace. Elephant Man adds his traditional high energy approach and the song is a surefire hit." Billboard also spoke highly of the song, claiming "Talk about a summertime sure thing. Nineteen-year-old Dominican Kat Deluna is prepped to combust with a platinum-plated debut so certain you can practically smell the smoke emanating from its juicy one-spin hook and manic tempo. Accompanied by reggaeton queen Ivy Queen and dancehall staple Elephant Man, aka the Energy God, the bilingual crossover beauty -- who grew up in poverty in the Dominican Republic and the Bronx before studying music at the New Jersey School of Performing Arts -- combines Caribbean cadence with a novel mesh of hip-hip, R&B and merengue. Deluna's launch single offers ultimate seasonal sizzle -- over the airwaves, on the beach, down the highway and across dance floors. A "Whine" to be heard loud and proud the world over." The single experienced commercial success. In the US, the single debuted at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart. In the following weeks, the song would continue climbing the charts until it reached a peak of number 29, becoming her only US Top 40 hit. The single also topped the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, which monitors plays songs in night clubs. The single peaked at number 43 on the Hot Latin Songs
Hot Latin Songs
Hot Latin Songs is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. It is often recognized as the most important music chart for Spanish language Latin music in the American music market. It was established by the magazine on September 6, 1986 with La Guirnalda by Rocío Dúrcal being the first song...
chart. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, the single peaked at number 12. It reached the Top 20 of the Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
, peaking at number 14. The single charted well internationally; it reached the Top 20 of the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number 15, as well as reaching a peak of number 7 in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The single peaked at number 18 on the Australian ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, and at number 13 on the Romanian Singles Chart.
DeLuna's debut album, 9 Lives
9 Lives (Kat DeLuna album)
9 Lives is the debut studio album by pop singer Kat DeLuna. It was released in the United States on August 7, 2007. The album is a mix of pop and dance songs with latin and reggae-dancehall influences. The album is mainly produced by RedOne, who at the time was unknown. Many of the songs on the...
, was released on August 7, 2007. The album peaked at number fifty-eight on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling 11,000 copies in its first week. The album has since sold near 200,000 copies in the United States. The album was well received commercially in the international market. In Belgium, the album debuted inside the Top 20, peaking at number 16. The album reached the Top 20 in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, where it peaked at number 15 on the official album chart. In France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the album debuted at number 24. On the Ö3 Austria Top 40
Ö3 Austria Top 40
Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann...
chart, the album peaked at number 64. The album was successful in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, where it peaked at number 12 on the official albums chart. DeLuna chose to release "Am I Dreaming
Am I Dreaming
"Am I Dreaming" was a song from American pop/R&B singer Kat DeLuna's debut studio album 9 Lives. It was slated to be released as the second US single off the album, but was shelved in favor of "Run the Show."...
" as the second single. It began receiving airplay on Latin radio stations, leading to its peak of 26 on the U.S. Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay chart. Despite its early success in the Latin music industry, further plans for the single were immediately scrapped for unknown reasons, and a new single has yet to be chosen.
At the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007
The annual Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007 took place on the 18th October 2007 in Mexico City at the Palacio de los Deportes for the second time in a row....
awards show, DeLuna won the Best New Artist award. In late 2007, DeLuna collaborated with Omarion
Omarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry better known as Omarion, is an American R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of the R&B group, B2K. Omarion was spotted at a young age by a manager, Christopher B. Stokes, who took a liking to his vocal abilities...
on the single "Cut Off Time", which was the lead single from the Feel the Noise
Feel the Noise
Feel the Noise is a drama film written by Albert Leon, directed by Alejandro Chomski and produced by Jennifer Lopez. It was released on October 5, 2007 and stars Omarion, Giancarlo Esposito, Victor Rasuk and James McCaffrey.-Plot:...
soundtrack. The song peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
and at number 123 on the Hot 100. In December 2007 DeLuna announced that "Run the Show
Run the Show
"Run The Show" is a song released from American R&B singer Kat DeLuna's debut studio album 9 Lives. It was released as the second worldwide single off her debut album. While the album version features vocals from Shaka Dee, the single version features a new rap from Busta Rhymes. It was officially...
" would be the second single. It was released on January 15, 2008, for radio airplay. The US version of the song features rapper Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, while the international release of the single features Don Omar
Don Omar
Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey Don Omar, also known as El Rey (born William Omar Landrón Rivera; February 10, 1978, is a Puerto Rican Reggaetón singer and actor.-Early life:...
. The version on the album is different again, with guest vocals from Shaka Dee
Shaka Dee
Shaka Dee hails from the country of Trinidad & Tobago. Prior to starting his music career, he played soccer in his native country. In 2002, his music career started when he opened for Petey Pablo in North Carolina. Then in 2005, Shaka Dee, Kat DeLuna and Jay Millz collaborated on the single "Dale...
. The single has become one of DeLuna's biggest hits to date. "Run the Show" reached the Top 10 in several countries, including Finland, where it peaked at number 2; Belgium, where it reached number 5; and Romania, where it peaked at number 8. In the US, the failed to chart on the Hot 100. It did, however, peak at number 17 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart. Despite its failure on the Hot 100, the single managed to rise to number 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, only one spot lower than "Whine Up". After the release of "Run the Show", the album was re-released on Akon's
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
record label. Due to the poor performance of the single in the US, plans for the album's re-release in America were scrapped.
In September 2008 DeLuna's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
" at a Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
was roundly booed. The crowd felt that DeLuna's vocals were "scathing" and overwrought. The event garnered much media attention, and landed the number one-spot on Billboard Magazine's "10 Worst National Anthem Performances Ever" in 2010.
At the 2008 TMF Awards in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, DeLuna won awards for Best New Arist and Best Urban Artist. At the Latin Billboard Music Awards 2008
2008 Latin Billboard Music Awards
The 2008 Billboard Latin Music Awards, produced and broadcast live on Telemundo, was held on Thursday, April 10, 2008. The award show aired on Telemundo at 7pm EST....
, DeLuna won the "Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year" Award for her single "Whine Up". Shortly after the award shows, it was announced that "In the End
In the End (Kat Deluna song)
"In the End" was released as the third single from Kat DeLuna's debut album 9 Lives.-Music video:The music video was shot in mid 2008 and was released on her official YouTube page on October 31, 2008. It shows DeLuna singing and dancing in front of a white and stripped background, wearing various...
" would be released as the third international single. The single was her first to receive no release whatsoever in the US. Due to a lack of promotion, the single failed to make an impact on music charts. In Belgium, it peaked at number 31 on the official singles chart. In October 2008, "Breathing Your Love
Breathing Your Love
"Breathing Your Love" is a song by the Swedish singer Darin featuring vocals by singer Kat DeLuna and the first single from Flashback. The song was released to radio stations and as a digital download in Sweden on October 8, 2008. The single was released in Finland and is also the first single from...
", a collaboration with Swedish singer Darin Zanyar, was released and went on to reach number 2 in Sweden and number 13 in Finland. DeLuna was dropped from Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
in 2008, and signed a record deal with Universal Motown. She began work on her second album, and premiered a new song, "Calling You", on her MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page and her official website in 2008.
2009–present: Inside Out and Viva
In January 2009 DeLuna released "UnstoppableUnstoppable (Kat DeLuna song)
"Unstoppable" is a single by Dominican-American pop singer Kat DeLuna from the soundtrack to the 2009 film, Confessions of a Shopaholic. It was released on January 22, 2009 through Universal/Motown and Konvict Muzik, and was released to American radio stations on February 24, 2009. The single/video...
", featuring Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, as a single from the Confessions of a Shopaholic
Confessions of a Shopaholic (film)
Confessions of a Shopaholic is a 2009 American romantic comedy film based on the Shopaholic series of novels by Sophie Kinsella. Directed by P. J. Hogan, the film stars Isla Fisher as the shopaholic journalist and Hugh Dancy as her boss.-Plot:...
soundtrack. The song was originally due to be the lead single from her second album but its release was cancelled. The music video for "Unstoppable" premiered on Kat DeLuna's MySpace profile on January 23, 2009. The song was released for radio airplay on February 24, 2009. In Canada, "Unstoppable" peaked at number 80 on the Canadian Hot 100.
In April 2009, DeLuna announced the album's title, Inside Out. In May 2009 DeLuna released "Dance Bailalo
Dance Bailalo
"Dance Bailalo" is a promo single by Kat DeLuna. The song samples "Magalenha" from Sérgio Mendes. The Spanish version of the song is solely called "Bailalo"...
" as a digital-only promotional single. The song had a generally positve reception. Letssingit said of the song, "[Bailalo] demonstrates DeLuna's innovative new sound by blending tropical samba rhythms with new school dance melodies. This infectious combination paired with her seductive lyrics lure listeners to let loose and hit the dance floor hard." Internet blogger Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton
Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. , better known as Perez Hilton , is an American blogger and television personality. His blog, Perezhilton.com , is known for posts covering gossip items about celebrities...
commented on the song as well, saying "('Dance Bailalo' is) one of the most scorching dance singles we've heard all year!" Hilton called the song the next "Summer Jam". The single failed to chart on the Hot 100, but reached number 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart. It entered the top 20 on Latin charts, where it peaked at number 12.
In June 2009, DeLuna performed alongside Shontelle
Shontelle
Shontelle Layne , known professionally as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer, and songwriter. She released her debut album Shontelligence in November 2008. Her sophomore album, No Gravity, was released in September 2010...
at New York City's Fashion Industries High School prom as the star of My Prom Style's official website feature, the "Ultimate Prom" fashion reality series. Three aspiring teen designers competed to design a dress to wear to the prom, and a pattern of the winning dress was then produced and sold nationwide by Simplicity Pattern
Simplicity Pattern
The Simplicity Pattern Company is a manufacturer of sewing pattern guides, under the "Simplicity Pattern," "It's So Easy" and "New Look" brands. The company, now owned by Wrights, began in 1927 in New York City. During the Great Depression, Simplicity allowed home seamstresses to create...
s. In February 2010, DeLuna participated in a Spanish remake of "We Are the World
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
" called "Somos El Mundo
Somos El Mundo
"Somos El Mundo 25 Por Haiti" is a 2010 song and charity single recorded by the latin supergroup Artists for Haiti and written by Emilio Estefan and his wife Gloria Estefan...
", alongside other Dominican singers such as Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra is a singer, songwriter and producer from the Dominican Republic who has sold over 30 million records, and won numerous awards including 12 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards...
, Milly Quezada
Milly Quezada
Milagros Quezada Borbón, known simply as Milly Quezada, is a Latin Grammy-winning Dominican Merengue music singer. She is a singer in Latin America; especially in those Latin American countries bordered by the Caribbean Sea, and in the eastern seaboard region of the United States...
, Eddy Herrera
Eddy Herrera
Eddy Jose Herrera de los Rios, also known as Eddy Herrera, is a merengue singer and winner of more than seven Casandra Awards. Born on 30 April 1964 in the Dominican Republic, in the city of Santiago de Los Caballeros.-History :...
, Romeo (Aventura), Fernando Villalona
Fernando Villalona
Fernando Villalona, the first artist named "El Mayimbe" , is a Dominican merengue singer whose popularity started to grow in the late 70s and has not declined ever since....
and Latin artists such as Paulina Rubio
Paulina Rubio
Paulina Susana Rubio Rue is a Mexican singer and actress. Rubio achieved international stardom with her fifth studio album, Paulina...
, Thalia
Thalía
Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda , known simply by the mononym Thalía , is a Mexican singer and actress. She has sold over 40 million albums worldwide...
, Belinda
Belinda
The name Belinda is a common female first name of unknown etymology. It may have been coined from Italian bella "beautiful". Some scholars have speculated that Belinda derives from the Germanic given name Betlindis, or possibly a contracted form of Old High German Betlinde, meaning "bright serpent"...
, Luis Fonsi
Luis Fonsi
Luis Alfonso Rodríguez López-Cepero, more commonly known by his stage name Luis Fonsi, is a Latin Grammy winning Puerto Rican singer and composer.- Early life :...
, and Chayanne
Chayanne
Elmer Figueroa Arce , best known under the stage name Chayanne, is a Puerto Rican Latin pop singer and actor. As a solo artist, Chayanne has released 21 solo-albums and sold over 20 million albums worldwide.-Early life:...
, among others. The piece was a fundraiser for victims of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
. Also in 2009, DeLuna recorded a track titled "Shake It Up" with Big Ali
Big Ali
Big Ali is an American singer-songwriter, DJ, and rapper born in Queens, New York and based in Paris, France since 2001. He is signed to Up Music, a Warner Music label, and has released his debut album Louder in May 2009 on the record label. The album featuring numerous French and international...
for his album Louder. The single was a commercial failure, failing to chart on any charts worldwide.
In April 2010 DeLuna released "Push Push" featuring Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
, the lead single from her second album. During her mini promotional tour in Belgium and France in September, DeLuna signed a new contract with Universal Music Belgium. When asked of how the song with Akon came about, DeLuna said it was an accident. When they ran into each other at the studio one day, "He said, 'I have something I wanna show you,'" DeLuna said. "He played the beat and I went crazy." The single was a critical success. The New York Daily News wrote, "The [song] is a simple, fun and insanely catchy song with a multilayered oh-oh-oh refrain by DeLuna, a solid contribution from Akon on the bridge and a thumping beat that's sure to bring the house down at the club." MTV compared the song to recent releases by Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, saying, "Push Push," the first single from DeLuna's Inside Out album starts out with some "oh-oh-oh's" that wouldn't sound out of place on a Gaga record. "Push Push" was produced by Radio, but it still contains some of RedOne's signature sounds." The single achieved some commercial success internationally. It debuted and peaked at number 84 on the Canadian Hot 100, mainly due to digital downloads. The single achieved greater success in Europe, where it peaked at number 37. In Belgium, "Push" became her third Top 20 hit on the singles chart, when it peaked at number 15. The single became her first Top 10 hit in France since "Run the Show", peaking at number 9.
DeLuna announced on Twitter that the second single off the album would be "Party O' Clock". On October 22 the single was released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. On November 2, DeLuna released a video premiering her release of Inside Out in Belgium and confirmed the tracklisting for the album. Inside Out was released on November 5, 2010, in Belgium. It was commercially successful in the country, debuting and peaking at number 16 on the official album's chart. The video for "Party O'Clock" was released on December 15, 2010. "Dancing Tonight" was be the next single off of the album, and she shot video in New York City on December 21–23, 2010. "Dancing Tonight" debuted as the #1 Breakout on the Billboard Dance Chart. The video for the song premiered on March 23.
On July 29 the video for her new single Drop It Low premiered on her YouTube channel.
Shortly after Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
released her single "On the Floor" on February 22, 2011, many of DeLuna's fans, as well as critics, claimed that "On the Floor" plagiarised DeLuna's 2010 single "Party O'Clock". In a statement issued to the New York Daily News, DeLuna said "It's cool that artists like J.Lo are inspired by my musical sound and style. ... Jennifer helped pave the way for Latinas like myself. I love her", and insisted that there was not an issue. Following previews of the music video for "On the Floor," DeLuna changed her mind about how she felt with the claims of copying. In another interview with the New York Daily News, several days after the first, she said "I've seen this before, where the more established artist tries to take the vision and artistic ideas away from an emerging artist, and assumes no one will notice because of their bigger shadow,... Luckily, my loyal fans and the power of the Internet have let the 'Kat' out of the bag". DeLuna had previously said she was inspired by Lopez, and saw her as someone who opened doors for people like her to sing. When Lopez was asked about the issue on the Latin-American entertainment program Despierta America, she replied, "What? Really? I'm not aware of that...," and when asked a second time, she insisted she had not heard about the comparisons. It was alleged that "J.Lo's camp specifically requested that nothing about the Deluna debacle be brought up during the interview."
Discography
- 9 Lives9 Lives (Kat DeLuna album)9 Lives is the debut studio album by pop singer Kat DeLuna. It was released in the United States on August 7, 2007. The album is a mix of pop and dance songs with latin and reggae-dancehall influences. The album is mainly produced by RedOne, who at the time was unknown. Many of the songs on the...
(2007) - Inside Out (2010)
- ViVa (2012)
Awards and nominations
- Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007The annual Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007 took place on the 18th October 2007 in Mexico City at the Palacio de los Deportes for the second time in a row....
- MTV Tr3́s Viewer's Choice Award — Best New Artist
- TMF Awards (Belgium)
- Best Urban
- Best New Artist
- 2008 Latin Billboard Music Awards2008 Latin Billboard Music AwardsThe 2008 Billboard Latin Music Awards, produced and broadcast live on Telemundo, was held on Thursday, April 10, 2008. The award show aired on Telemundo at 7pm EST....
- Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year
- Casandra AwardCasandra AwardThe Casandra Awards are awarded annually by the Asociación de Cronistas de Arte of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo, since 1985....
- New International Artist
Nominations
- ALMA Music Awards 2009
- Female Rising Star
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart