Precious (band)
Encyclopedia
Precious were a British
girl group
, comprising Louise Rose, Anya Lahiri
, Sophie McDonnell
, Kalli Clark-Sternberg and Jenny Frost
. They first achieved fame as the UK's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest
and went on to become a moderately popular act until they decided it was time to go their own ways.
The following year saw things take off rapidly for the girls. In May 1999, Precious were voted in to represent the UK
at the Eurovision Song Contest
taking place that year in Jerusalem, Israel
. Their song, "Say It Again" proved popular and the group were able to sign with EMI
to release Say It Again
as a single on the 17 May. It debuted at No.6 in the UK singles chart
. In the Eurovision Song Contest, Precious did not carry off the grand prix with "Say It Again", sharing 12th position, but this was not to stop them from continuing a greater pop career.
Precious went on to put together their debut album self-titled Precious. It featured a number of tracks including "Say It Again" with songwriters and producers such as the Danish, Cutfather & Joe and Chris Porter. The debut album was released 20 November 2000. As the group went public, promoting widely through 1999 and into 2000, the next single was due. Called "Rewind", this single was released 20 March 2000 and also enjoyed success in the UK singles chart. The 26 June 2000 saw Precious go on to release their third single "It's Gonna Be My Way". Their last single was quite appropriately called "New Beginning" with a video clip set in an industrial warehouse with the girlband acting like tough girls.
By the end of 2000, Precious as a group came under scrutiny. The group's success diminished and it was decided that the individual members should pursue separate careers. It would not be the last that the public would hear from members of the group, with Sophie McDonnell
presenting for BBC TV and Radio including their CBBC
brand, Jenny Frost
replacing Kerry Katona
in the band Atomic Kitten
, and Anya Lahiri
returning to her modelling activities. She has been one of the FHM
Pit Girls in 2003, and she started a new career as an actress, playing with Jacqueline Bisset
and Daniel Bernhardt. Lead singer, Louise Rose has also become an actress, her credits include the 2008 mini-series "Diamonds". Kalli Clark-Sternberg has since become a session singer.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
, comprising Louise Rose, Anya Lahiri
Anya Lahiri
Anya Lahiri is a British actress, model and singer of Indian and Finnish origin.-Biography:...
, Sophie McDonnell
Sophie McDonnell
Sophie McDonnell was a presenter for CBBC until 2006. She was in Precious, the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999.-Biography:...
, Kalli Clark-Sternberg and Jenny Frost
Jenny Frost
Jennifer "Jenny" Frost is an English singer, dancer, television presenter and model. She was a member of girl group Precious before replacing Kerry Katona in chart topping band Atomic Kitten from 2001 until they split in 2008. Frost presented makeunder show Snog Marry Avoid? from 2008 to 2011...
. They first achieved fame as the UK's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
and went on to become a moderately popular act until they decided it was time to go their own ways.
Biography
Precious was established in late 1998 by friends Sophie McDonnell and Jenny Frost. A set of auditions saw the remaining members join, these were: Anya Lahiri, Kalli Clark-Sternberg and Louise Rose. It was Rose who would take up the lead vocals.The following year saw things take off rapidly for the girls. In May 1999, Precious were voted in to represent the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
taking place that year in Jerusalem, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Their song, "Say It Again" proved popular and the group were able to sign with EMI
EMI
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...
to release Say It Again
Say It Again (Precious song)
"Say It Again" was the United Kingdom entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, written by Paul Varney and performed by girl band Precious.The song was performed 5th on the night of the contest, following Croatia's Doris Dragović with "Marija Magdalena" and preceding Slovenia's Darja Švajger with...
as a single on the 17 May. It debuted at No.6 in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. In the Eurovision Song Contest, Precious did not carry off the grand prix with "Say It Again", sharing 12th position, but this was not to stop them from continuing a greater pop career.
Precious went on to put together their debut album self-titled Precious. It featured a number of tracks including "Say It Again" with songwriters and producers such as the Danish, Cutfather & Joe and Chris Porter. The debut album was released 20 November 2000. As the group went public, promoting widely through 1999 and into 2000, the next single was due. Called "Rewind", this single was released 20 March 2000 and also enjoyed success in the UK singles chart. The 26 June 2000 saw Precious go on to release their third single "It's Gonna Be My Way". Their last single was quite appropriately called "New Beginning" with a video clip set in an industrial warehouse with the girlband acting like tough girls.
By the end of 2000, Precious as a group came under scrutiny. The group's success diminished and it was decided that the individual members should pursue separate careers. It would not be the last that the public would hear from members of the group, with Sophie McDonnell
Sophie McDonnell
Sophie McDonnell was a presenter for CBBC until 2006. She was in Precious, the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999.-Biography:...
presenting for BBC TV and Radio including their CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
brand, Jenny Frost
Jenny Frost
Jennifer "Jenny" Frost is an English singer, dancer, television presenter and model. She was a member of girl group Precious before replacing Kerry Katona in chart topping band Atomic Kitten from 2001 until they split in 2008. Frost presented makeunder show Snog Marry Avoid? from 2008 to 2011...
replacing Kerry Katona
Kerry Katona
Kerry Jayne Elizabeth Katona is an English media personality and singer best known for her television work, predominantly in light entertainment and reality shows. She has also been a pop singer with girl group Atomic Kitten, a magazine columnist, an actress, and the author of ghostwritten books...
in the band Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost...
, and Anya Lahiri
Anya Lahiri
Anya Lahiri is a British actress, model and singer of Indian and Finnish origin.-Biography:...
returning to her modelling activities. She has been one of the 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...
Pit Girls in 2003, and she started a new career as an actress, playing with Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset is an English actress. She has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. She is known for her roles in the films Bullitt , Airport , The Deep , Class , and the TV series Nip/Tuck in 2006...
and Daniel Bernhardt. Lead singer, Louise Rose has also become an actress, her credits include the 2008 mini-series "Diamonds". Kalli Clark-Sternberg has since become a session singer.
Discography
| Date | Title | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums | ||||
| 20 November 2000 | Precious Precious (Precious album) Precious is the self-titled debut by UK Girl group Precious , it spawned four singles "Say It Again", Rewind, "It's Gonna Be My Way", and "New Beginning"... |
— | ||
| Singles | ||||
| 17 May 1999 | "Say It Again Say It Again (Precious song) "Say It Again" was the United Kingdom entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, written by Paul Varney and performed by girl band Precious.The song was performed 5th on the night of the contest, following Croatia's Doris Dragović with "Marija Magdalena" and preceding Slovenia's Darja Švajger with... " |
6 | Silver | |
| 20 March 2000 | "Rewind" | 11 | ||
| 26 June 2000 | "Its Gonna Be My Way" | 27 | ||
| 13 November 2000 | "New Beginning" | 50 | ||