Nikki Webster
Encyclopedia
Nikki Webster is an Australia
n pop
performer. She is best known for her starring role in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics
Opening Ceremony
and her single "Strawberry Kisses
".
" reached #2 on the Australian singles charts in 2001 holding the position for 7 weeks. Her debut album Follow Your Heart also went platinum with second single "Depend on Me
" going top 20 and third single "The Best Days
"/"Over the Rainbow" reaching #21. She also starred as Dorothy in an Australian stage performance of The Wizard of Oz
which Ran between 2001-2002. Webster was nominated for an ARIA Award
for Best Selling album and she won a John O'Keefe
Encouragement Award at the 2001 Mo Awards
.
Webster's 2002 BLISS album also went gold with first single "Something More Beautiful
" reaching #13 and going gold, while second single "24/7 (Crazy 'bout Your Smile)
" also reached the top 20.
Later, Webster released a cover version of "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas
which reached the top twenty while her 2004 single "Let's Dance
" reached the top 40 in Australia. A greatest hits album was released soon afterwards.
as a cast member.
In May 2007, Webster played the lead role of Sheila in a Perth production of the rock musical Hair
along with Rob Mills
and Cosima De Vito
.
In September 2007, Webster raised eyebrows by performing as a wind-up doll at the Sydney gay and lesbian dance party Sleaze Ball. This and her October 2006 photoshoot appearance in men's magazine FHM
was seen as an attempt to mature her image.
Webster regularly appears on the show 20 to 1
.
In January 2008, Webster announced she would be opening a performing arts school in February with brother Scott in a bid to help young people get into the industry.
Webster made a guest appearance on the 15 July 2009 episode of The Chaser's War on Everything
, in a music video parody of the Barack Obama
viral video
"Yes We Can
", the parody based on Kevin Rudd
's speeches.
In March 2011, Nikki landed her first lead film role shooting independent feature "Short Beach". Webster's been cast as V, a schoolgirl, in the "teen beach movie" also starring Johnny Boxer and Matt Zeremes.
, Tennessee
writing with well-known writers working on her new album. It was also revealed she headed to Los Angeles
to develop a new style of music heading for a more mature pop sound.
It was announced in May 2009 that Nikki is set to release her first new single in five years, "Devilicious
", on 12 June. She performed "Devilicious" on The Morning Show
in August 2009 in order to promote the single.
She announced she is signed to American independent label Piller Records which will become her new label home. Her fourth studio album is rumoured to be released sometime in the near future. Webster also revealed that the album will be edgy and uplifting. She has confirmed that it will not include her bubblegum pop
kind of music and will have a mature dance-pop
feel to the album. As of May 2010, the album is yet to have an official release date or a confirmed second single.
dance partner, in 2005. In June 2009, she commented about the relationship between the pair stating "Sasha and I are still very close friends but there was no time to see each other, and I was too young to get locked down".
Nikki and her partner, Matthew McMah, were engaged in January 2011. In a recent interview, Webster was quoted as saying "I can't wait for the rest of our lives together." as of March 2011 no wedding date has been set.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n pop
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...
performer. She is best known for her starring role in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
Opening Ceremony
2000 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics was described by IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch as the most beautiful ceremony the world has ever seen. Held on the evening of Friday 15 September 2000, the Opening Ceremony represented everything Australian, from sea creatures and flora/fauna...
and her single "Strawberry Kisses
Strawberry Kisses
"Strawberry Kisses" is a pop song written by Jeff Franzel, Andy Marveil and Marjorie Maye, produced by Chong Lim for Nikki Webster's first album Follow Your Heart . It was released as the album's first single on 11 June 2001 in Australia and 27 May 2002 in the UK as a CD single. Webster states the...
".
Recording career
Webster signed a contract with BMG after her success in the Olympics and her first single "Strawberry KissesStrawberry Kisses
"Strawberry Kisses" is a pop song written by Jeff Franzel, Andy Marveil and Marjorie Maye, produced by Chong Lim for Nikki Webster's first album Follow Your Heart . It was released as the album's first single on 11 June 2001 in Australia and 27 May 2002 in the UK as a CD single. Webster states the...
" reached #2 on the Australian singles charts in 2001 holding the position for 7 weeks. Her debut album Follow Your Heart also went platinum with second single "Depend on Me
Depend on Me
"Depend on Me" is the second song released by Nikki Webster from her debut album Follow Your Heart. It peaked at #16 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart in September 2001.-Track listing:#"Depend on Me"#"Depend on Me"...
" going top 20 and third single "The Best Days
The Best Days
"The Best Days" is the third song released by Nikki Webster from her debut album Follow Your Heart. It peaked at #21 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart in December 2001. The second track on the CD single includes a cover of "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz.-Track listing:-Charts:...
"/"Over the Rainbow" reaching #21. She also starred as Dorothy in an Australian stage performance of The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1902 stage play)
The Wizard of Oz was a 1902 musical extravaganza based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, which was originally published in 1900...
which Ran between 2001-2002. Webster was nominated for an ARIA Award
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
for Best Selling album and she won a John O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe
John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
Encouragement Award at the 2001 Mo Awards
Mo Awards
The Mo Awards are long running annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia....
.
Webster's 2002 BLISS album also went gold with first single "Something More Beautiful
Something More Beautiful
"Something More Beautiful" is the first single from Nikki Websters second album Bliss released in 2002. It peaked at #13 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart in August 2002.-Track listing:-Charts:...
" reaching #13 and going gold, while second single "24/7 (Crazy 'bout Your Smile)
24/7 (Crazy 'Bout Your Smile)
"24/7 " is a song by Nikki Webster, released as a single in 2002.The song was released as the second single from the album Bliss...
" also reached the top 20.
Later, Webster released a cover version of "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
which reached the top twenty while her 2004 single "Let's Dance
Let's Dance (Nikki Webster song)
"Let's Dance" is a song by Nikki Webster, released as the second single from her third album Let's Dance, released in 2004. It was written by the famous Delta Goodrem and Mark Holden. It peaked at #37 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart June 2004....
" reached the top 40 in Australia. A greatest hits album was released soon afterwards.
Recent career
Webster also appeared in one episode of Australian TV series Thank God You're HereThank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here is an Australian television improvised comedy program created by Working Dog Productions, which premiered on Network Ten on 5 April 2006, and aired for the first three seasons with Seven for the fourth season...
as a cast member.
In May 2007, Webster played the lead role of Sheila in a Perth production of the rock musical Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
along with Rob Mills
Rob Mills
Rob Mills is an Australian singer best known as one of the finalists from Australian Idol 2003. He was a co-host on the late-night quiz show The Mint as well as a regular singer on the game show The Singing Bee both on the Nine Network...
and Cosima De Vito
Cosima De Vito
Cosima De Vito , also known simply as Cosima, is an Australian singer-songwriter. She rose to fame as a contestant of the original Australian Idol series in 2003...
.
In September 2007, Webster raised eyebrows by performing as a wind-up doll at the Sydney gay and lesbian dance party Sleaze Ball. This and her October 2006 photoshoot appearance in men's magazine FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
was seen as an attempt to mature her image.
Webster regularly appears on the show 20 to 1
20 to 1
20 to 1 is an Australian television series, currently hosted by Bert Newton that counts down an undefined "top 20" of elements or events of popular culture, such as films, songs, sporting scandals. Previously the show was hosted by Charles "Bud" Tingwell and narrated by David Reyne...
.
In January 2008, Webster announced she would be opening a performing arts school in February with brother Scott in a bid to help young people get into the industry.
Webster made a guest appearance on the 15 July 2009 episode of The Chaser's War on Everything
The Chaser's War on Everything
The Chaser's War on Everything is an Australian television satirical comedy series broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television station ABC1. It has won an AFI Award. The cast perform sketches mocking social and political issues, and often feature comedic publicity stunts...
, in a music video parody of the Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
viral video
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
"Yes We Can
Yes We Can
"Yes We Can" is the first single from Change Is Now: Renewing America's Promise, a compilation album organised and produced by Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am...
", the parody based on Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
's speeches.
In March 2011, Nikki landed her first lead film role shooting independent feature "Short Beach". Webster's been cast as V, a schoolgirl, in the "teen beach movie" also starring Johnny Boxer and Matt Zeremes.
Fourth studio album (2006-2010)
In 2006, Webster stated in interviews that she was living and working in NashvilleNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
writing with well-known writers working on her new album. It was also revealed she headed to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to develop a new style of music heading for a more mature pop sound.
It was announced in May 2009 that Nikki is set to release her first new single in five years, "Devilicious
Devilicious
"Devilicious" is the first single from Nikki Webster's fourth studio album. The track was released digitally and physically on June 12, 2009. The single failed to crack the Australian Top 50, and has to date only managed to peak at #12 on the ARIA dance charts....
", on 12 June. She performed "Devilicious" on The Morning Show
The Morning Show (TV program)
The Morning Show is an Australian morning talk show that premiered on the Seven Network on 18 June 2007. The show airs between 9am and 11:30am weekdays and follows Seven's breakfast news program Sunrise, with both programs closely interlinked....
in August 2009 in order to promote the single.
She announced she is signed to American independent label Piller Records which will become her new label home. Her fourth studio album is rumoured to be released sometime in the near future. Webster also revealed that the album will be edgy and uplifting. She has confirmed that it will not include her bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop is a genre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers.Bubblegum's classic period ran from 1967 to 1972...
kind of music and will have a mature dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
feel to the album. As of May 2010, the album is yet to have an official release date or a confirmed second single.
Personal life
Webster was in a relationship with Sasha Farber, her Dancing With The StarsDancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
dance partner, in 2005. In June 2009, she commented about the relationship between the pair stating "Sasha and I are still very close friends but there was no time to see each other, and I was too young to get locked down".
Nikki and her partner, Matthew McMah, were engaged in January 2011. In a recent interview, Webster was quoted as saying "I can't wait for the rest of our lives together." as of March 2011 no wedding date has been set.
Discography
- Follow Your Heart (2001)
- Bliss (2002)
- Let's DanceLet's Dance (Nikki Webster album)Let's Dance is the third album by Australian pop singer Nikki Webster, released in Australia on 21 June 2004 by BMG/Gotham Records. It is an album which found Webster working with a different style of music, a range of dance music was added...
(2004)
Notable performances
- 2012 Short Beach, as "V"
- 2010 Sydney 2000 Olympics 10th Anniversary concert
- 2010 Dooley's Lidcombe Catholic Club
- 2009 Ready Steady Cook
- 2009 Talkin' 'bout your GenerationTalkin' 'bout your GenerationTalkin' 'Bout Your Generation is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. It is hosted by Shaun Micallef....
, Single episode - 2009 The Chaser's War on EverythingThe Chaser's War on EverythingThe Chaser's War on Everything is an Australian television satirical comedy series broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation television station ABC1. It has won an AFI Award. The cast perform sketches mocking social and political issues, and often feature comedic publicity stunts...
, In Due Season - 2008 The Merrick & Rosso ShowThe Merrick & Rosso ShowThe Merrick & Rosso Show is an Australian comedy television series which airs on The Comedy Channel, which premiered on 2 October 2008. It is hosted by Tim Ross and Merrick Watts, who are better known as comedy duo Merrick and Rosso...
, Episode 3 and 9 - 2007 Rent the Musical
- 2007 Sleaze Ball, Sydney
- 2004 Australia DayAustralia DayAustralia Day is the official national day of Australia...
Eve Concert, CanberraCanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne... - 2003 MusicOz Awards
- 2003 Warner Bros. Movie WorldWarner Bros. Movie WorldWarner Bros. Movie World is a popular movie related theme park on the Gold Coast in Australia. It is owned and operated by Village Roadshow since the take over from Time Warner and is the only movie related park in Australia...
performances, Gold CoastGold Coast, QueenslandGold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous... - 2002 SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Memorial Service for the Bali bombings2002 Bali bombingThe 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was claimed as the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia according to the current police general, killing 202 people,...
, singing "Over the Rainbow" - 2001 Carols by CandlelightCarols by CandlelightCarols by Candlelight is an Australian Christmas tradition that originated in southeastern Australia in the 19th century and was popularised in Melbourne in the 1930s. The tradition has since spread around the world. It involves people gathering, usually outdoors in a park, to sing carols by...
, Sydney - 2001 Warner Bros. Movie World performances
- 2000 Carols by Candlelight, Sidney Myer Music BowlSidney Myer Music BowlThe Sidney Myer Music Bowl is an outdoor performance venue in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located in the lawns and gardens of Kings Domain, close to the Arts Centre and the Southbank entertainment precinct...
, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... - 2000 Carols by Candlelight, Sydney
- 2000 Indian Pacific Train Tour
- 2000 Melbourne CupMelbourne CupThe Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
- 2000 Sydney 2000 Olympics, Closing Ceremony, "We'll Be One" with the Sing 2001 Choir
- 2000 Sydney 2000 Olympics, Opening Ceremony, "Under Southern Skies" with the Sing 2001 Choir
- 1999 Carols by Candlelight, Sydney with The Sound of MusicThe Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
cast including Lisa McCuneLisa McCuneLisa McCune , is a four-time Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her role as Senior Constable Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers, and as Lt... - 1999 Australia DayAustralia DayAustralia Day is the official national day of Australia...
Concert, Soloist - 1999 Variety Club Heart Awards
- 1998 Royal Easter ShowSydney Royal Easter ShowThe Sydney Royal Easter Show, also known as the Royal Easter Show or simply The Show, is an annual show held in Sydney, Australia over two weeks around Easter.It is run by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales and was first held in 1823...
, soloist - 1997 Carols by Candlelight, Sydney, with Toni PearenToni PearenToni Pearen is an Australian actress, singer, songwriter and TV presenter born in Cronulla, Sydney on 5 June 1972. She initially became recognisable through her role on soap opera E Street from 1989 until 1992. She had a pop music career in the early 1990s which included the release of an album and...
- 1996 Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's HIStory Tour, Sydney Football Stadium
Awards
- ARIA Music AwardsARIA Music AwardsThe Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
Nomination for Best Selling Album (2002) - The 26th Annual Australian Entertainment 'Mo' Awards, The John O'KeefeJohnny O'KeefeJohn Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
Encouragement Award (2001) - Variety Heart Awards Young Entertainer of the Year (2001)
- John O'Keefe Encouragement Award at the Sydney Town Hall (2001)