Michelle Leonard
Encyclopedia
Michelle Leonard is a British singer and songwriter
, now based in Berlin
. Since 2006, Leonard has co-written multiple songs for singles and albums that charted in Europe, chiefly Germany. As a songwriter she is signed to Universal Music Publishing
.
Music Publishing signed her when she was 17. As an artist, Leonard's songs included "Feel So Perfect". The song was used for a pan-European C&A
advertising campaign that went on for three years, with different films around the song. "Feel So Perfect" was released by Cape featuring Michelle Leonard and became a radio hit. She was the headliner in Munich
at the new year's celebrations in 2000. Axe also used one of her songs in their advertising as well as RMS (Radio marketing services).
Leonard's voice can be heard with the German band Such a Surge on the song "Instant Replay," and on several dance tracks such as The Mob's song "Falling," a dance hit which she recorded when she was 17. (The song, sans vocals, became the theme to the show Twin Peaks
.) Between 2001 and 2004, Leonard was involved in a number of experimental projects and performed at several art happenings and underground events around the world. Leonard is also a lecturer at the Popakademie for Songwriting. She was the Performance and music director for the German theater abroad project in New York / Public Theater. She directed the musical "Electric Society", which was staged on 12 November 2005 in Cologne, Germany. Leonard has written songs for several advertisement campaigns, films, TV-productions and many artists world wide. She was a judge in 2009 in a German casting television show named Popstars
and released her Album Fragile in December 2009 (Universal music Germany).
's "Save My Life Tonight" (on 2004's album When I Become Me, Finnish #1, Platinum), Hanna Pakarinen's "Out Of Tears" (on Gold album Stronger), Nu Pagadi
's "Virus" (on the album Your Dark Side, which made #6 in Switzerland and #1 in Germany) and Nico Weidemann's "Sag Mir Wann" (Perfekte Welle Compilation). She did translation work for the Busted single "Hurra Hurra Die Schule Brennt
".
Co-written songs released in 2008 include:
Co-written songs released in 2009 include:
Co-written songs released in 2010 include:
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...
, now based in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Since 2006, Leonard has co-written multiple songs for singles and albums that charted in Europe, chiefly Germany. As a songwriter she is signed to Universal Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Universal Music Publishing Group is a music publishing company and is part of the Universal Music Group.UMPG owns or administers more than 1 million copyrights. They are one of the largest music publishing businesses in the world with more than 47 offices in 41 countries...
.
Biography
Leonard grew up in Germany and attended the British schools there. EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Music Publishing signed her when she was 17. As an artist, Leonard's songs included "Feel So Perfect". The song was used for a pan-European C&A
C&A
C&A is an international chain of fashion retail clothing stores, with its European head offices in Vilvoorde , Belgium and Düsseldorf, Germany...
advertising campaign that went on for three years, with different films around the song. "Feel So Perfect" was released by Cape featuring Michelle Leonard and became a radio hit. She was the headliner in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
at the new year's celebrations in 2000. Axe also used one of her songs in their advertising as well as RMS (Radio marketing services).
Leonard's voice can be heard with the German band Such a Surge on the song "Instant Replay," and on several dance tracks such as The Mob's song "Falling," a dance hit which she recorded when she was 17. (The song, sans vocals, became the theme to the show Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
.) Between 2001 and 2004, Leonard was involved in a number of experimental projects and performed at several art happenings and underground events around the world. Leonard is also a lecturer at the Popakademie for Songwriting. She was the Performance and music director for the German theater abroad project in New York / Public Theater. She directed the musical "Electric Society", which was staged on 12 November 2005 in Cologne, Germany. Leonard has written songs for several advertisement campaigns, films, TV-productions and many artists world wide. She was a judge in 2009 in a German casting television show named Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
and released her Album Fragile in December 2009 (Universal music Germany).
Discography
Her co-writes include: Hanna PakarinenHanna Pakarinen
Hanna Helena Pakarinen is a Finnish pop and pop-rock singer who rose to fame as the winner of the first series of the Finnish singing competition Idols in 2004...
's "Save My Life Tonight" (on 2004's album When I Become Me, Finnish #1, Platinum), Hanna Pakarinen's "Out Of Tears" (on Gold album Stronger), Nu Pagadi
Nu Pagadi
Nu Pagadi was a German pop band, formed in December 2004 on the fourth season of international reality television program Popstars. Originally a quartet, from May 2005 a trio, the group describes their own musical style as "glam rock"; in fact the attribute "pop with rockmusic elements" fits better...
's "Virus" (on the album Your Dark Side, which made #6 in Switzerland and #1 in Germany) and Nico Weidemann's "Sag Mir Wann" (Perfekte Welle Compilation). She did translation work for the Busted single "Hurra Hurra Die Schule Brennt
Hurra Hurra Die Schule Brennt
"Hurra Hurra Die Schule Brennt" is a song originally recorded by German band Extrabreit. In 2003, the song was covered by English boyband Busted, who released it as a single in Europe as an alternative to the British-only release You Said No. It was included on the European edition of their debut...
".
2006
Co-written songs released in 2006 include:- Tracks on Mike Leon GroschMike Leon GroschMike Leon Grosch is a German singer, who came to fame as the runner-up of the third season of the television show Deutschland sucht den SuperStar, the German version of Pop Idol.-Biography:...
's Absolute album, released 26 May: "This Ride" & "Don't Let It Get You Down": #2 in Germany - Single Mike Leon GroschMike Leon GroschMike Leon Grosch is a German singer, who came to fame as the runner-up of the third season of the television show Deutschland sucht den SuperStar, the German version of Pop Idol.-Biography:...
"Don't Let It Get You Down" #1 in Germany, #2 in Switzerland and #6 in Austria. - Tracks on Vanilla NinjaVanilla NinjaVanilla Ninja is a three-piece Estonian girl band which has enjoyed chart success in a number of countries across Europe, especially in Estonia, Germany and Austria....
: Love is WarLove is WarLove is War is Vanilla Ninja's fourth studio album, released by EMI Music Germany in May 2006. This is the first album by girls as a three-piece band. The process of recording took about 6 months. Most of the songs are co-written by the band members - Lenna and Piret, what makes this album the most...
(# 16 in Germany, #1 in Estonia), released 19 May: "Kingdom Burning Down", "Dangerzone", "The Band That Never Existed", "Rockstarz", "Battlefield", "Insane in Vain", "Silence", "Love is Just a War" (int. album track), "My Name" (int. album track). Leonard also did vocal coaching for the band. - Single "Dangerzone" by Vanilla NinjaVanilla NinjaVanilla Ninja is a three-piece Estonian girl band which has enjoyed chart success in a number of countries across Europe, especially in Estonia, Germany and Austria....
": #17 in Germany and was released 21 April) - "Der Turm" on Joachim WittJoachim WittJoachim Witt is a German musician and actor.- Life and work :Joachim Witt became a major star of the German pop scene during the eighties with huge hits such as "Der Goldene Reiter"...
's Bayreuth 3 (limited edition), US release, 27 January. - Tracks on ValentineValentineValentine may refer to:* Valentine's Day, a holiday, or a card or gift given on that day-People:* Valentine , the pseudonym of Archibald Thomas Pechey* Saint Valentine, the name of several martyred saints of ancient Rome* Pope Valentine...
´s album Blue Merry-Go-Round (on EMI Germany): "You and Me" (single released in August 2006), "Cruel to Myself", "Hell Yeah". - "Celebrity Queen" on Alexander KlawsAlexander KlawsAlexander Klaws is a German pop singer, who came to fame as the winner of the first season of the television show Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the German version of Pop Idol.- Early life :...
' Attention!Attention!Attention! was the third studio album from pop music singer Alexander Klaws, and was released in 2006. From this album, two singles were released; "All " & "Not like You".- Track listing :...
album (released on Sony BMG). The album reached #20 in Germany. - Tracks on Frame of MindFrame of Mind (album)Frame of Mind is the second solo album by German singer-songwriter Sandy, released by Starwatch and Warner Music on May 25, 2006 . It includes fourteen songs, five co-written by Sandy. The album's debuted at number 53 on the German Albums Chart.-Track listing:-Album:...
from No AngelsNo AngelsThe No Angels are an all-female pop trio from Germany, consisting of band members Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, and Jessica Wahls. Critically acclaimed, the band has won dozen of awards and prizes since their establishment in the early 2000s, including three ECHOs, a World Music Awards, a NRJ...
member, Sandy MöllingSandy MöllingSandy Mölling , known professionally as Sandy, is a German singer-songwriter, dancer, television presenter and occasional actress, who rose to fame as one of the founding members of the successful all-female pop band No Angels, the "biggest-selling German girlband to date," according to the German...
. The album made the top 20 in Germany: "It's Over", "Venom", "Occupied", "Tattooed On Me""Living Without You".
2007
Co-written songs released in 2007 include:- Single: "Lovesongs (They Kill Me)Lovesongs (They Kill Me)"Lovesongs " is a glam rock song by German band Cinema Bizarre, from their debut album Final Attraction. The song hit #9 on the German Hot 100, making it their highest charting single to date.-Track listing:...
" by Cinema BizarreCinema BizarreCinema Bizarre is a band from Berlin. They released their debut album in 2007. Their manager is Lacrimosa singer and songwriter Tilo Wolff. In January 2010, the band announced that they were taking a break and have since said that they will not reform....
: #9 Germany - Album:"Final AttractionFinal AttractionFinal Attraction is the debut studio album by German band Cinema Bizarre. The album features a blend of synth pop, dark electro and rock, and glam rock. The album peaked at #14 on the German Billboards but failed to chart in most other countries. This was the only album to feature Luminor, who was...
" by Cinema BizarreCinema BizarreCinema Bizarre is a band from Berlin. They released their debut album in 2007. Their manager is Lacrimosa singer and songwriter Tilo Wolff. In January 2010, the band announced that they were taking a break and have since said that they will not reform....
: Lovesongs (They Kill Me)Lovesongs (They Kill Me)"Lovesongs " is a glam rock song by German band Cinema Bizarre, from their debut album Final Attraction. The song hit #9 on the German Hot 100, making it their highest charting single to date.-Track listing:...
, "Get Off" and "Heaven Sent": #9 Germany - Several tracks on the My Winter StormMy Winter StormMy Winter Storm is the second solo album by Finnish singer Tarja Turunen, and the first to consist mainly of new and original songs specifically written by or for Turunen...
album from Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
("Lost Northern Star", "Ciárans Well" and "Calling Grace"): #1 in Finland, #3 in Germany, #11 Austria, #15 Switzerland, #37 Norway, #41 Sweden. It reached Platinum in Finland and 2x Platinum in Russia as well as gold in the Czech Republic - "Superstar" and "I Am Not Afraid" for Orange Blue's album Superstar
- "Atomic Love" and "Another Day" for Swedish band Nouveau Riche
- "Grossstadtkinder" and "Jenny" for Peilomat
- Several songs for the debut album by German girl group "sistanova", released September 2007
- "If I Lose You" on Lisa Bund's 2007 album Born Again (Sony BMG); the album made #66 in Austria and #88 in Switzerland.
- No AngelsNo AngelsThe No Angels are an all-female pop trio from Germany, consisting of band members Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, and Jessica Wahls. Critically acclaimed, the band has won dozen of awards and prizes since their establishment in the early 2000s, including three ECHOs, a World Music Awards, a NRJ...
theme song "Life is a miracle" for the Warner Bros. animated feature Kleiner Dodo
2008
- Michelle Leonard was in the Jury for the "Landeswettbewerb" Jugend musiziertJugend musiziertthumb|German stamp: 25 years of "Jugend musiziert"Jugend musiziert is a music competition for children and adolescents in Germany on regional, federal and national level.-Jugend musiziert in Germany:...
in Pop vocals - Cinema Bizarre's album "Final Attraction" is released in 17 different countries
Co-written songs released in 2008 include:
- Single: "Love is You" by the "DSDS" winner Thomas GodojThomas GodojThomas Godoj is a Polish-German rock-pop singer and songwriter. He is known most notably for winning the fifth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the German version of Pop Idol....
: #1 single in Germany, #1 Austria, #1 Switzerland - Album "Plan A'" by the "DSDS" winner Thomas GodojThomas GodojThomas Godoj is a Polish-German rock-pop singer and songwriter. He is known most notably for winning the fifth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the German version of Pop Idol....
: "Love is you", "Too young to grow old", "Summer breeze", "Brand new start": #1 in Germany (Platinum status), #1 Austria, #3 Switzerland - Single: "Jesus on Extasy" with the track "Stay with me": #1 alternative charts / Germany
- Single release in France "Lovesongs (They Kill Me)" by Cinema BizarreCinema BizarreCinema Bizarre is a band from Berlin. They released their debut album in 2007. Their manager is Lacrimosa singer and songwriter Tilo Wolff. In January 2010, the band announced that they were taking a break and have since said that they will not reform....
: #24
2009
- Cinema BizarreCinema BizarreCinema Bizarre is a band from Berlin. They released their debut album in 2007. Their manager is Lacrimosa singer and songwriter Tilo Wolff. In January 2010, the band announced that they were taking a break and have since said that they will not reform....
: release "Lovesongs (They Kill Me)" in the US and join Lady GagaLady GaGaStefani 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...
on her US tour as supporting act. The album Final Attraction received gold status in Russia. - Co-written: Sarah BrightmanSarah BrightmanSarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
performs the "Little riding hood rap" song on her "Symphony" world tour. - Leonard is one of the PopstarsPopstarsPopstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
judges in Germany. A TV-Show on Pro7. - Leonard sings the German advert song for Ford KaFord KaThe Ford Ka is a city car from the Ford Motor Company marketed in Europe and elsewhere.The current European version is produced by Fiat Auto in Tychy, Poland, while the model sold in Latin America is built in Brazil and Argentina....
"Schau mal genauer hin"
Co-written songs released in 2009 include:
- Album: My Winter Storm [Limited Fan Edition] by Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
: bonus track "Enough" - Single: "Love in a million shades" by Hanna PakarinenHanna PakarinenHanna Helena Pakarinen is a Finnish pop and pop-rock singer who rose to fame as the winner of the first series of the Finnish singing competition Idols in 2004...
(Album Love in a million shades, #7 in Finland and reached gold status) - Single: "Blown Away" by the "StarmaniaStarmania (TV series)Starmania is an Austrian casting show, a talent show for would-be pop stars. It is broadcast on the Austrian TV channel "ORF 1".Despite striking similarities, Starmania is not a licensed version of the Idols format distributed by FremantleMedia. Attempts to export the format to Germany failed due...
" winner Oliver Wimmer (#1 single in Austria and #1 Airplay charts) - Single: "No More Days To Waste" by Aloha from HellAloha from HellAloha from Hell was a German rock band. They won a competition in the German magazine Bravo. After the win they released "Don't Gimme That." Their first album, No More Days to Waste, sold more than 200,000 copies.- History :...
(Single #8 international airplay charts in Japan & #1 international video charts in Japan) Album No more days to waste, #21 Album charts in Germany, Gold status, #10 in Japan, platinum status ). They win an echo award for best newcomer in Germany. - Album Toyz Cinema BizarreCinema BizarreCinema Bizarre is a band from Berlin. They released their debut album in 2007. Their manager is Lacrimosa singer and songwriter Tilo Wolff. In January 2010, the band announced that they were taking a break and have since said that they will not reform....
: "Touching and kissing", "My Obsession", "Je Ne Regrette Rien", "In your Cage", „Heaven is wrapped in Chains", "I Don't Wanna Know (If U Got Laid)", "Out of Love", "Sad day (For Happiness)", "Tears in Vegas": # 44 AT, # 24 in Germany (released in the US under the album name: "BANG") - Film music for the German film ZweiohrkükenZweiohrkükenZweiohrküken is a 2009 German romantic comedy film, written, produced and directed by Til Schweiger...
(Gold status) and album track Tired again by StanfourStanfourStanfour are a German rock band who formed in 2004. The band was founded on the German island of Föhr where the four core members live. Already prior to the band's formation, brothers Alexander and Konstantin Rethwisch spent years in Los Angeles working closely together with a producer of film music...
# 6 in Germany - Film music for the German film ZweiohrkükenZweiohrkükenZweiohrküken is a 2009 German romantic comedy film, written, produced and directed by Til Schweiger...
(Gold status) and album track Where did we go wrong by Michelle Leonard # 6 in Germany - Album "Fragile" by Michelle Leonard: "Where did we go wrong", "All I am", "Merry-go-round", "Fragile", "Out of ammunition", "The truth lies", "Did you feel me", "Golden rider", " Love is you"
2010
- Leonard is pop act of the year in the VW-Soundfoundation
- Leonard was in the Jury for the "Bundesswettbewerb": Jugend musiziertJugend musiziertthumb|German stamp: 25 years of "Jugend musiziert"Jugend musiziert is a music competition for children and adolescents in Germany on regional, federal and national level.-Jugend musiziert in Germany:...
" in Pop vocals
Co-written songs released in 2010 include:
- Album: "What lies beneath" by Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
(former Nightwish singer): "Anteroom of death" (It charted in 18 countries including: FI #7, AT #11, # 13 EU and #4 in Germany) - Single: "I can´t dance alone" by Giovanni Zarella feat. Ross Anthony (#26 in Germany)
- Album: Jesus on ExtasyJesus on ExtasyJesus on Extasy is an electronic rock band from Essen, Germany, formed in 2005.-History:The band was formed in 2005 by the cousins Dorian Deveraux and Chai Deveraux. After their first show big show at one of the biggest festivals in europe Bochum-Total Festival the band signed to Drakkar...
"Beloved Enemy" (US-Release): Stay with me - Album: Gary Cheng releases a Cantonese version of "I´m a big girl now": "An Le Chang Zan"
- Album: "The dark side of chant" by the group GregorianGregorianGregorian might refer to:* The thought or ideology of Pope Gregory I or Pope Gregory VII *Things named for Pope Gregory I:**Gregorian chant** Gregorian mass**Brotherhood of Saint Gregory...
: "Born to feel alive" (#22 AT, #27 CH, #7 in Germany) which is the first English version of the song "Geboren um zu Leben" by The German artist UnheiligUnheiligUnheilig is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band with various pop and electronic influences. The band founded in 2000 and now consists of principally Der Graf , with his live musicians Licky, Henning Verlage and Potti.-Early years 1999–2009:In 1999, together with Grant Stevens Unheilig (German for... - Album: "Real Love" by Sarah Conner: Carry me home (#15 AT, #22 CH, #8 in Germany)
- EP: "Until my last breath" by Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
: Crying moon - EP: "I feel immortal" by Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
: Crying moon
2011
Co-written songs released in 2011 include:- Album:" Juwel" by Frida Gold: "Undercover" (# 18 in Germany: reached gold status)
- Album: "Humanology" by Marla GlenMarla GlenMarla Glen is an American jazz and blues singer.- Life :Marla grew up on the South Side of Chicago, the daughter of Dell Glen and Cortez Glen . Glen's father was a blues guitarist, her grandmother a gospel singer, and her mother was friends with the legendary blues guitarist BB King...
: "Daddy" - Earbook "Insight Outside" by Bertil Mark: "Down the hole and back 3D"
- Single: "Carry me home" by Grant SmillieGrant SmillieGrant Smillie is a prominent Melbourne based house music DJ who plays sets in clubs around Australia. He was raised on the North/East Side of Melbourne and attended Xavier College in Kew, Victoria. Along with his Onelove residency Grant tours constantly around Australia at both clubs and festivals...
featuring Zoë BadwiZoe BadwiZoë Badwi is an Australian dance singer-songwriter, model and actress.-Early life:Before her career in music began, Badwi spent time modelling and featured in a series of television commercials including advertisements for Telstra and Mars Bars...
. - ZDF TV Film "Das grosse Comeback" title track "ich sehe dich" by Uwe OchsenknechtUwe OchsenknechtUwe Adam Ochsenknecht is a German actor and singer.-Work:Films Uwe Ochsenknecht has starred in include Schtonk!, Das Boot and the TV miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune.-Personal life:...