Will Young
Encyclopedia
William Robert "Will" Young (born 20 January 1979) is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominence
after winning the 2002 inaugural series
of the British music contest Pop Idol
, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols
-format franchise. His debut single, "Anything is Possible", was released two weeks after the show's finale and became the fastest-selling debut single in the United Kingdom.
As a teenager, Young studied politics at the University of Exeter
before moving to London, where he pursued a musical theatre
degree at the Arts Educational School. Although enrolled in a three-year program, Young put his studies on hold in late 2001 to become a contestant on Pop Idol. After winning the competition the following year, he released his debut album From Now On (2002) which went to straight to number one. Friday's Child
(2003) followed one year later and enjoyed greater popularity, eventually going platinum five times in the UK and spawning three top five singles. Achieving similar success, the album's successors include the multi-platinum Keep On
(2005) and platinum Let It Go
(2008) with his most recent release Echoes
(2011) becoming his third UK number-one album.
In addition to his string of platinum-selling albums, Young has embarked on numerous tours, acted on film, stage and television, participated in philanthropy and authored the two books Anything is Possible (2002) and On Camera, Off Duty (2004). Established in the music industry, his albums have spawned many songs that have accomplished top ten positions in the UK: four of which went to the number one spot. His success as a singer has been proved by his accumulation of multiple awards, including 2 BRIT Awards
from 12 nominations, and the estimated worldwide sale of over eight million albums.
, Berkshire
, with a fraternal twin, Rupert Maxwell Young. He also has an elder sister Emma.
He had a pleasant childhood and has often spoken about his happy memories of this time. Young was educated at three independent schools: Horris Hill School
near the village of Newtown in Berkshire
and from the age of thirteen, at Wellington College in Crowthorne
, also in Berkshire, and at D'Overbroeck's College
in Oxford
. He then studied at the University of Exeter
in Exeter
, Devon, where he read Politics and graduated with a 2:2 honours degree. In September 2001, he became a student at the Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick
, London
, starting a three-year course in musical theatre with a scholarship.
television programme contest Pop Idol
. Contrary to press claims of being the underdog
, after having beaten the widely accepted front-runner
Gareth Gates
in the final show, it emerged that Young had in fact gained the most votes in six out of the nine rounds of public voting. This was published in the Pop Idol book, which was released shortly after the programme.
In early 2002, Young joined his fellow Pop Idol contestants in a nationwide arena tour. The final concert at Wembley was in aid of The Prince's Trust
, of which Young is an ambassador, together with Gareth Gates and Darius Danesh
, the runner-up and third-placed contestant in Pop Idol. In June 2002, Young performed at the Queen's Jubilee Concert in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
, singing "We Are the Champions
" with Queen
members Brian May
and Roger Taylor
.
During July 2002, Young sang at two concerts with the renowned songwriter Burt Bacharach
at Hammersmith Apollo and at the Liverpool Summerpops event. In August 2002, he performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games
, singing "I Get the Sweetest Feeling
" in the pouring rain. He was praised by the announcer, Grandmaster Flash
, who said that it was not easy entering a talent show. November 2002 brought an appearance at the Royal Command Performance
. In November 2003, Young performed the wartime song "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
", accompanied by The Squadronaires
, at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall
in London.
The songs Young sang on the show were:
's song "Evergreen
" and "Anything Is Possible", a new song written for the winner of the show by Chris Braide
and Cathy Dennis
. In March 2002, this became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, selling 403 027 copies on its day of release (1 108 659 copies in its first week). It went on to sell over 1.7 million copies, and on the official list of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK issued later that year, it was ranked eleventh. In 2008, Official Charts Company released the Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles
of the 21st Century (so far) in which Will's version of Evergreen topped the chart. On 31 December 2009, Radio 1 confirmed that "Anything Is Possible"/"Evergreen" was the biggest selling single of the 2000s decade in the United Kingdom. "Anything is possible" won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyric
ally.
In October 2002, Young released his debut album, From Now On, which included "Evergreen" nominated in the Best single category in 2003 at the BRIT Awards and "Anything Is Possible". It produced three singles: "Light My Fire", "The Long and Winding Road
" (a duet with Gareth Gates, released as a double A-side with Gates's song "Suspicious Minds
") and "Don't Let Me Down"/"You and I
" (released in aid of Children in Need
). He won his first BRIT Award in February 2003 as Best Breakthrough Artist.
, was released in December 2003. It features the singles "Leave Right Now
", nominated in the Best British single category of the past 25 years at the 2005 BRIT Awards and winner of the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2004, "Your Game
" (which won Young his second BRIT Award in 2005) and "Friday's Child" In November 2005, Young released his third album, Keep On
, which included the single "All Time Love
", nominated in the Best British Single category at the 2007 BRIT Awards
. Other singles from the album were "Switch It On
" and "Who Am I".
In May 2006, he sang at The Prince's Trust
30th Birthday, which took place at the Tower of London
. From 12 September until 2 October 2006, Young toured the UK with his Keep On Live tour, which included the songs taken from his album Keep On and a selection of past songs. The official merchandise range for the tour, highlighted by the press, included a "tip and strip" pen which, when turned over, reveals Young in his underpants. In October 2006, Young sang at Nitin Sawhney
's concert in the BBC Electric Proms
series of concerts. He followed this by performing in South Africa for Nelson Mandela
's Unite of the Stars charity concerts.
In July 2007, he appeared at the Concert for Diana
at the new Wembley Stadium. Young was the headline act at the Proms in the Park, which took place in Hyde Park
in September 2007 as part of the Last Night of the Proms. In September 2007, Young performed at Ronnie Scott
's Jazz Club with the Vanguard Big Band. Young took part in the Little Noise Sessions
, a series of intimate, acoustic gigs for the learning disability charity, Mencap
. He performed in November 2007 with special guests at Islington's Union Chapel.
, was released. It peaked at Nº2 in the album charts, having been preceded by the single "Changes
", which was released on 15 September and peaked at Nº10 in the UK Singles Chart
. His next single "Grace" was released on 1 December 2008, and peaked at Nº33 on the UK Singles Chart
. The third single taken from the album, "Let It Go
", was released on 2 March 2009 in the UK, and peaked at Nº58 on the UK Singles Chart
. The fourth and final single, "Tell Me the Worst", was released in the UK
only, on 5 July 2009. It served as a club promo, and featured some Fred Falke
remixes.
In April 2008, Young again appeared at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club with the Vanguard Big Band. Young is to perform at various festivals during mid 2008, including Glastonbury
, T In the Park
in Scotland and Bestival
on the Isle of Wight
.
On 24 August 2008 Young appeared at the Olympic Party which took place in The Mall, London. He performed his latest single Changes
and I Can See Clearly Now
, which was originally sung by Johnny Nash
.
On an interview with Digital Spy
, Will Young revealed that he was working on a Dance-Pop album, which might be released in late 2009. He also confirmed that he was working with British duo Groove Armada
, Superbass, who remixed his UK Top 10 single "Changes", and Gregg Alexander
, who has previously worked with British pop singers Sophie Ellis-Bextor
and Geri Halliwell
. He also confirmed that he is working on an album covering songs by Noel Coward
, which is as yet in its very early stages and he "doesn't know if it will end up". Young performed in a sell-out theatre tour, commencing on 16 November 2008 and continuing until 13 December 2008 with two dates at The Roundhouse in Camden, London.
Young was the featured singer on the X-Factor
programme on ITV1 on Saturday 1 November 2008. He also mentored the remaining contestants. On 31 December 2008 Young was featured as a guest on Elton John
's Live New Year show at the O2 Arena in London. He joined Sir Elton in the song Daniel
. Young was one of the performers at the BBC's "Live at Blackpool" programme on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday 5 September 2009.
Young's greatest hits collection was released on 16 November 2009. It included two brand new songs, one of them the single "Hopes & Fears". The album was a success on the charts, being certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry
. In 2010 Will Young collaborated with Groove Armada
on their album Black Light
, singing vocals on the track 'History'. As part of his 2010 outdoor summer tour, it was announced that he would be a special guest and play on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor was his supporting act for his 2010 tour.
Recently his 2003 song "Leave Right Now" has been featured on American Idol
as the "departing song". He also performed live on the programme on 25 May 2010. Young gave his first U.S. concert on May 26 at West Hollywood's Ultra Suede nightclub. He was also featured on the cover of the U.S. magazine Instinct
.
', which was subsequently released on August 22, 2011 and entered the UK Album charts at #1 on August 29th 2011 making it Youngs first number one album since "Fridays Child" in 2003. The first single is called 'Jealousy
', and premiered on BBC Radio 2, between 9am-12pm, Monday 11 July 2011, as confirmed on Will's Facebook
page. The single was released on August 21, 2011, preceding the album by 1 day with the single peaking at #5. "A Night With...Will Young" was aired two days before the release of Echoes on ITV1
presented by Kate Thornton
charting all of Youngs greatest hits plus performing a few new tracks from the album. Young appeared on the third episode of The Jonathan Ross Show
performing a track from Echoes to further promote the album. Will has announced a brand new 23 date UK tour including 2 nights at London's Shepherds Bush Empire.
film Mrs. Henderson Presents
, starring Judi Dench
and Bob Hoskins
, in which he played Bertie. The film was released in the UK in November 2005 to excellent reviews—not least for Young's performance as both actor and singer in the film. The scene, in which Young appears naked, postdated his "absolutely thrilled" acceptance of the British male Rear of the Year Award 2005, an accolade to add to the Most Stylish Male Music Star, Best Bod, Sexiest Star, Best Dressed and Best Hair awards he had already won.
Young trod the boards in the Royal Exchange Theatre's production of The Vortex
by Noel Coward
. This production ran from January to March 2007 and Young played the leading role of Nicky Lancaster. Critics, including Nicholas de Jongh
, were very positive.
In October 2007 Young narrated an audio version of the Roald Dahl
novel Danny, the Champion of the World
.
Young also appeared in the Marple
drama The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side and guest starred in an episode of Skins
in 2010.
In 2011, he starred in a new drama series on Sky Living called Bedlam
, about supernatural happenings taking place at a disused asylum being converted into loft-style apartments. The £3 million six-part series began airing on 7 February 2011. It was distributed by BBC Worldwide
.
In November 2004, Young presented a documentary entitled Runaways as part of the Children in Need
campaign, highlighting the problems facing distressed teens who run away from home, and the plight they were in being picked up off the streets and railway stations by pimps who offered them work and drugs. The children did not know where to go for immediate help unless they were picked up by the police and sent to a refuge centre.
During June 2007 a series of documentaries entitled Saving Planet Earth
was shown on BBC Television
. Young filmed an episode about saving the gorillas of West Africa during his visit to Africa earlier in the year.
In March 2009, ITV1
arts programme The South Bank Show
presented an hour long fly on the wall documentary about Young that they had been filming over the course of the year as he returned to promote the Let It Go album. It showed him in Iceland
filming the video for the Let It Go single, backstage before his performance on The X Factor
and on his UK theatre tour from November 2008 amongst other segments.
Young has been made a "Companion" of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Young was a guest on Top Gear during season 12 episode 2 and was the fastest wet lap around the track in the Chevrolet Lacetti.
Young is making a documentary about Ralph Fiennes
production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus
which is being filmed in Serbia. He also has a small role in the film as well as being Executive Producer.
In August 2011, ITV
based an hour-long programme on Young, entitled "A Night with Will Young". This was to promote the release of his most recent album, Echoes
.
October 31st 2011, Will was the guest host of Never Mind The Buzzcocks
.
, where he showed an interest in forming a band named 'Will Young and the Credit Crunchers'. he was invited to appear on Question Time
after he revealed he was a fan of the show. He participated in the edition from Dunstable
, Bedfordshire
, in February 2009.
Young supports the charity Women's Aid
, about which he wrote: "I am proud to put my name beside this cause, and hope that I might be able to help more people affected by the terrors of domestic violence, as well as help to create a wider awareness within our society."
Young also supports Mencap
—about which he wrote, "I'm very much in this for the long term, and I'd like to help continue to break down peoples' misconceptions and prejudices"—, The Children's Society
Safe and Sound Campaign, and Positive Action Southwest (PASW), for which he performed at his first solo concert, in July 2003, at Killerton House
, Exeter
.
Young has been an ambassador for The Prince's Trust
since 2002, and performed at the 30th anniversary concert in the grounds of the Tower of London
.
Together with Dame Helen Mirren
, Helena Bonham Carter
and Martin Freeman
, Young appeared in a series of advertisements during the Christmas period 2007 for Oxfam
; "Oxfam Unwrapped".
Young is the ambassador for Mood Foundation, a charity which aims to build a database of private therapists and alternative therapies to treat various types of depressive conditions. It was set up by Young's twin brother Rupert Young.
Young is an ambassador for Catch22
, a UK young people's charity, which supports young people in tough situations. The young people may come from tough upbringings or neighbourhoods, where poverty, crime and unemployment are common features. They may be leaving care, truanting, or have been excluded from school. Some of them have started getting into trouble with the police or may have got as far as custody.. In April 2011 Young ran the London Marathon
for Catch22
.
, pre-empting a tabloid newspaper that was preparing to out
him. He also stated that he had never hidden and was comfortable with his sexuality.
after winning the 2002 inaugural series
Pop Idol (series 1)
The first series of British reality television show Pop Idol was broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom during the winter months of 2001 and 2002. The show was a singing competition open to people aged between 16 and 26 years old, with the winner receiving a £1million recording contract to release...
of the British music contest Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols
Idol series
The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned spin-offs in 42 territories, in what is now referred to as the "Idols" format, as described by FremantleMedia...
-format franchise. His debut single, "Anything is Possible", was released two weeks after the show's finale and became the fastest-selling debut single in the United Kingdom.
As a teenager, Young studied politics at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
before moving to London, where he pursued a musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
degree at the Arts Educational School. Although enrolled in a three-year program, Young put his studies on hold in late 2001 to become a contestant on Pop Idol. After winning the competition the following year, he released his debut album From Now On (2002) which went to straight to number one. Friday's Child
Friday's Child (album)
Friday's Child is the second album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 1 December 2003 and reached #1 in the UK Album Chart...
(2003) followed one year later and enjoyed greater popularity, eventually going platinum five times in the UK and spawning three top five singles. Achieving similar success, the album's successors include the multi-platinum Keep On
Keep On
Keep On is the third album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on November 21, 2005, debuting at #2 on the albums chart in the United Kingdom, as the album sold 107,318 copies in its first week. However, its biggest sales are 132,109, in its fifth week when the album...
(2005) and platinum Let It Go
Let It Go (Will Young album)
Let It Go is the fourth album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 29 September 2008. It is Will Young's first album in 3 years, since the release of "Keep On" in late 2005....
(2008) with his most recent release Echoes
Echoes (Will Young album)
-Singles:The first single to be released from the album was "Jealousy" on 19 August 2011. The artwork for the single was revealed on Young's Facebook page on 8 July 2011....
(2011) becoming his third UK number-one album.
In addition to his string of platinum-selling albums, Young has embarked on numerous tours, acted on film, stage and television, participated in philanthropy and authored the two books Anything is Possible (2002) and On Camera, Off Duty (2004). Established in the music industry, his albums have spawned many songs that have accomplished top ten positions in the UK: four of which went to the number one spot. His success as a singer has been proved by his accumulation of multiple awards, including 2 BRIT Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
from 12 nominations, and the estimated worldwide sale of over eight million albums.
Early life
Young was born in WokinghamWokingham
Wokingham is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England about west of central London. It is about east-southeast of Reading and west of Bracknell. It spans an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 30,403...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, with a fraternal twin, Rupert Maxwell Young. He also has an elder sister Emma.
He had a pleasant childhood and has often spoken about his happy memories of this time. Young was educated at three independent schools: Horris Hill School
Horris Hill School
Horris Hill, is a boarding and day preparatory school for boys, situated in the far north of Hampshire in England, south of Newbury in West Berkshire and near the village of Newtown. The school was founded on its present site in 1888 by A. H. Evans, a master at Winchester College...
near the village of Newtown in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and from the age of thirteen, at Wellington College in Crowthorne
Crowthorne
Crowthorne is also a suburb of Johannesburg, South AfricaCrowthorne is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest district of south-eastern Berkshire. It has a population of 6,711...
, also in Berkshire, and at D'Overbroeck's College
D'Overbroeck's College
d’Overbroeck’s College is a co-educational independent school in Oxford for pupils aged 11–18. It is described by The Good Schools Guide as 'a place of energy and laughter, of single-minded determination among students to do the best they can...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. He then studied at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon, where he read Politics and graduated with a 2:2 honours degree. In September 2001, he became a student at the Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, starting a three-year course in musical theatre with a scholarship.
Pop Idol and touring (2001–02)
In February 2002, Young came to national prominence by winning the ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
television programme contest Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
. Contrary to press claims of being the underdog
Underdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
, after having beaten the widely accepted front-runner
Front-runner
Front-runner is a term to describe the leader in a race, whether political or athletic. The term arose from the close symbolism between political campaigns and athletic running events. The term is used in the U.S...
Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
in the final show, it emerged that Young had in fact gained the most votes in six out of the nine rounds of public voting. This was published in the Pop Idol book, which was released shortly after the programme.
In early 2002, Young joined his fellow Pop Idol contestants in a nationwide arena tour. The final concert at Wembley was in aid of The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
, of which Young is an ambassador, together with Gareth Gates and Darius Danesh
Darius Danesh
Darius Campbell , also known as Darius Danesh or simply Darius, is a British Iranian platinum-selling singer-songwriter, a West End stage actor, operatic baritone, Sunday Times best-selling author, and an Ambassador for The Prince's Trust.He established himself as a popular West End leading...
, the runner-up and third-placed contestant in Pop Idol. In June 2002, Young performed at the Queen's Jubilee Concert in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, singing "We Are the Champions
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
" with Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
members Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
and Roger Taylor
Roger Meddows-Taylor
Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
.
During July 2002, Young sang at two concerts with the renowned songwriter Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
at Hammersmith Apollo and at the Liverpool Summerpops event. In August 2002, he performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, singing "I Get the Sweetest Feeling
I Get the Sweetest Feeling
"I Get the Sweetest Feeling" is the 1968 single by Jackie Wilson from the album with the same title.-Song information:The track is a Motown inspired song recorded during his Chicago period when he regained energy and started to record many singles and albums again. The track was written by Van...
" in the pouring rain. He was praised by the announcer, Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
, who said that it was not easy entering a talent show. November 2002 brought an appearance at the Royal Command Performance
Royal Command Performance
For the annual Royal Variety Performance performed in Britain for the benefit of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, see Royal Variety Performance...
. In November 2003, Young performed the wartime song "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (song)
"A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" is a romantic British popular song written in 1939 with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and music by Manning Sherwin.-Setting:...
", accompanied by The Squadronaires
The Squadronaires
The Squadronaires is a Royal Air Force band which began and performed in England during and after World War II. The official title of the band was 'The Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra', but it was always known by the more popular title "The Squadronaires"....
, at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in London.
The songs Young sang on the show were:
| Week | Theme | Song performed | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | Idol's Choice | "Blame It on the Boogie Blame It on the Boogie "Blame It on the Boogie" is a disco song, originally released in 1978 both by English singer-songwriter Mick Jackson as well as by The Jacksons , and was later also covered by numerous other artists.-Background:... " |
The Jacksons |
| London Rounds | Day 1 - Part 1 | "Up on the Roof Up on the Roof (song) "Up on the Roof" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded in 1962 by The Drifters. Released at the tail end of that year, the song became a big hit in early 1963, reaching number five on the U.S. pop singles chart and number 4 on the U.S... " |
The Drifters The Drifters The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953... |
| London Rounds | Day 1 - Part 2 | "All or Nothing" | O-Town |
| London Rounds | Day 2 | "Fastlove Fastlove "Fastlove" is a song by George Michael, released by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and Dreamworks Records in the United States in 1996.-History:... " |
George Michael George Michael George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley... |
| Top 50 | Semi Finals | "Light My Fire Light My Fire "Light My Fire" is a song by The Doors which was recorded in August 1966 and released the first week of January 1967 on the Doors' debut album. Released as a single in April, it spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and one week on the Cash Box Top 100, nearly a year after... " |
The Doors The Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger... |
| Top 10 | Inspiring Artists | "Until You Come Back to Me" | 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... |
| Top 9 | Christmas Songs | "Winter Wonderland Winter Wonderland "Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:... " |
Perry Como Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr... |
| Top 8 | Burt Bacharach Music | "Wives and Lovers Wives and Lovers Wives and Lovers is a song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It has been recorded by numerous male and female vocalists, instrumentalists and ensembles. Jack Jones released a recording in 1963, earning the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Male, and Bacharach included it on the 1965 LP... " |
Jack Jones Jack Jones (singer) John Allan "Jack" Jones is an American jazz and pop singer. He was one of the most popular vocalists of the 1960s.-Overview:... |
| Top 7 | Movie Hits | "Ain't No Sunshine Ain't No Sunshine "Ain't No Sunshine" is a song by Bill Withers from his 1971 album Just as I Am, produced by Booker T. Jones. The record featured musicians Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass guitar and Al Jackson, Jr. on drums, as well as Withers on lead vocals and guitar. The song was released as a single in September... " - "Days of Wine and Roses Days of Wine and Roses (film) Days of Wine and Roses is a film directed by Blake Edwards with a screenplay by JP Miller adapted from his own 1958 Playhouse 90 teleplay of the same name.... " |
Bill Withers Bill Withers William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"... / Andy Williams Andy Williams Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,... |
| Top 6 | Songs of ABBA ABBA ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog... |
"The Name of the Game The Name of the Game "The Name of the Game" is a 1977 song by Swedish pop group ABBA, and was released as the first single from the group's fifth studio album, The Album... " |
ABBA ABBA ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog... |
| Top 5 | Big Band | "We Are in Love We Are in Love We Are in Love is an album by American artist Harry Connick, Jr., released in 1990. The multi-platinum album features Connick on piano & vocal, Russell Malone on guitar, Shannon Powell on drums, Benjamin Jonah Wolfe on double bass, and Branford Marsalis on saxophone. Joining the quartet, is... " |
Harry Connick, Jr. Harry Connick, Jr. Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. is an American singer, big-band leader/conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with... |
| Top 4 | No. 1 Hits | "Night Fever Night Fever "Night Fever" is a disco song, written and performed by The Bee Gees. It first appeared on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was... " "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) In 1997 recorded the Finnish parody rock band Leningrad Cowboys a cover for their 1997 album Mongolian Barbeque. In that cover the mouth organ was replaced by an electric guitar for the instrumentation and the intro was so taken with the electric guitar, unlike the original this version is very... " |
Bee Gees Bee Gees The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a... The Eurythmics Eurythmics Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A... |
| Top 3 | Judges' Choice | "Beyond the Sea Beyond the Sea (song) "Beyond the Sea" is a 1946 contemporary pop song with music taken from the song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet and lyrics by Jack Lawrence.Trenet had composed "La Mer" with French lyrics totally different and unrelated to the English language version that Lawrence composed... " "I Get the Sweetest Feeling I Get the Sweetest Feeling "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" is the 1968 single by Jackie Wilson from the album with the same title.-Song information:The track is a Motown inspired song recorded during his Chicago period when he regained energy and started to record many singles and albums again. The track was written by Van... " |
Bobby Darin Bobby Darin Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country... Jackie Wilson Jackie Wilson Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history... |
| Top 2 | Idol Single A-Side Idol's Favourite Idol Single AA-Side |
"Anything is Possible" "Light My Fire" "Evergreen Evergreen (Westlife song) "Evergreen" is a pop song, co-written by Jörgen Elofsson, Per Magnusson and David Kreuger, and originally recorded by Westlife. The song appears on their album World of Our Own, and was released as a single, only in the Philippines, where it reached number 3 due to the insistent demand of their fans... " |
Will Young The Doors/Jose Feliciano Westlife Westlife Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one... |
From Now On (2002–05)
Young's first single was a double A-side featuring WestlifeWestlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
's song "Evergreen
Evergreen (Westlife song)
"Evergreen" is a pop song, co-written by Jörgen Elofsson, Per Magnusson and David Kreuger, and originally recorded by Westlife. The song appears on their album World of Our Own, and was released as a single, only in the Philippines, where it reached number 3 due to the insistent demand of their fans...
" and "Anything Is Possible", a new song written for the winner of the show by Chris Braide
Chris Braide
Christopher Braide is an English singer, songwriter, record producer published by Sony/ATV worldwide based in Los Angeles.Producer, Songwriter and Ivor Novello ASCAP and Billboard award winner Christopher Braide has achieved considerable success as a songwriter in the UK and the US. His songs have...
and Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis is a British dance-oriented pop singer-songwriter, record producer and actress...
. In March 2002, this became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, selling 403 027 copies on its day of release (1 108 659 copies in its first week). It went on to sell over 1.7 million copies, and on the official list of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK issued later that year, it was ranked eleventh. In 2008, Official Charts Company released the Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
of the 21st Century (so far) in which Will's version of Evergreen topped the chart. On 31 December 2009, Radio 1 confirmed that "Anything Is Possible"/"Evergreen" was the biggest selling single of the 2000s decade in the United Kingdom. "Anything is possible" won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyric
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
ally.
In October 2002, Young released his debut album, From Now On, which included "Evergreen" nominated in the Best single category in 2003 at the BRIT Awards and "Anything Is Possible". It produced three singles: "Light My Fire", "The Long and Winding Road
The Long and Winding Road
"The Long and Winding Road" is a ballad written by Paul McCartney that originally appeared on The Beatles' album Let It Be. It became The Beatles' 20th and last number-one song in the United States on 23 May 1970, and was the last single released by the quartet...
" (a duet with Gareth Gates, released as a double A-side with Gates's song "Suspicious Minds
Suspicious Minds
"Suspicious Minds" is a song written by American songwriter Mark James that, after the failure of his own recording, was handed to Elvis Presley by producer Chips Moman becoming one of his most notable hits and a number one in 1969, "Suspicious Minds" was widely regarded as the single that returned...
") and "Don't Let Me Down"/"You and I
You and I (Will Young song)
"You and I" is a pop song, co-written by Ed Johnson, Henry Johnson and Mike Peden, and performed by Pop Idol UK series 1 winner Will Young. It appeared on his debut album, From Now On, and was released as his fourth single, along with the track "Don't Let Me Down". It reached number two in the UK...
" (released in aid of Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
). He won his first BRIT Award in February 2003 as Best Breakthrough Artist.
Friday's Child and Keep On (2003–06)
Young's second album, Friday's ChildFriday's Child (album)
Friday's Child is the second album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 1 December 2003 and reached #1 in the UK Album Chart...
, was released in December 2003. It features the singles "Leave Right Now
Leave Right Now
"Leave Right Now" is a popular song written by Eg White and performed by Will Young. It appears on Young's second album, Friday's Child, and was released as the first single from the album, and Young's fifth overall. The single went to number one in the UK Singles Chart, selling 117,700 in its...
", nominated in the Best British single category of the past 25 years at the 2005 BRIT Awards and winner of the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2004, "Your Game
Your Game
"Your Game" is the second single from Will Young's second studio album Friday's Child. It was co-written by Young, Taio Cruz and Blair MacKichan. It went to number three in the UK Singles Chart. The song also appears on the international version of Young's third album Keep On...
" (which won Young his second BRIT Award in 2005) and "Friday's Child" In November 2005, Young released his third album, Keep On
Keep On
Keep On is the third album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on November 21, 2005, debuting at #2 on the albums chart in the United Kingdom, as the album sold 107,318 copies in its first week. However, its biggest sales are 132,109, in its fifth week when the album...
, which included the single "All Time Love
All Time Love
"All Time Love" is a popular song, written by Jamie Hartman and performed by Will Young. It was released as the second single from Young's third album Keep On and his ninth single overall...
", nominated in the Best British Single category at the 2007 BRIT Awards
2007 BRIT Awards
The 2007 BRIT Awards was the 27th edition of the biggest annual pop music awards in the United Kingdom. They are run by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 14 February 2007 at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London...
. Other singles from the album were "Switch It On
Switch It On
"Switch It On" is a popular song written by Will Young, Stephen Lipson, Ronnie Peterson, Karen Poole and Steve Wolf, and performed by Will Young. It was released as the first single from Young's third album Keep On, and his eighth single overall. The single reached number five in the UK Singles Chart...
" and "Who Am I".
In May 2006, he sang at The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
30th Birthday, which took place at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. From 12 September until 2 October 2006, Young toured the UK with his Keep On Live tour, which included the songs taken from his album Keep On and a selection of past songs. The official merchandise range for the tour, highlighted by the press, included a "tip and strip" pen which, when turned over, reveals Young in his underpants. In October 2006, Young sang at Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
's concert in the BBC Electric Proms
BBC Electric Proms
The BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms was an October music festival in London run by the BBC for five years, 2006-2010...
series of concerts. He followed this by performing in South Africa for Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
's Unite of the Stars charity concerts.
In July 2007, he appeared at the Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana was a concert held at the then new Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday; 31 August that year brought the 10th anniversary of her death...
at the new Wembley Stadium. Young was the headline act at the Proms in the Park, which took place in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
in September 2007 as part of the Last Night of the Proms. In September 2007, Young performed at Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
's Jazz Club with the Vanguard Big Band. Young took part in the Little Noise Sessions
Little Noise Sessions
The Little Noise Sessions is a series of acoustic charity concerts held annually at the Union Chapel, London, England in November, although one was held in Exeter in December 2009. The proceeds of ticket sales are donated to the charity, Mencap...
, a series of intimate, acoustic gigs for the learning disability charity, Mencap
Mencap
The Royal Mencap Society is a charity based in the UK that works with people with a learning disability.-Profile:Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers...
. He performed in November 2007 with special guests at Islington's Union Chapel.
Let It Go and Greatest Hits (2008–10)
On 29 September 2008, Young's fourth album, Let It GoLet It Go (Will Young album)
Let It Go is the fourth album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 29 September 2008. It is Will Young's first album in 3 years, since the release of "Keep On" in late 2005....
, was released. It peaked at Nº2 in the album charts, having been preceded by the single "Changes
Changes (Will Young song)
"Changes" is a pop song recorded by British singer Will Young for his fourth studio album, Let It Go. The song was released as the album's lead single on 15 September 2008, as a digital download, with the physical release a week later....
", which was released on 15 September and peaked at Nº10 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 ...
. His next single "Grace" was released on 1 December 2008, and peaked at Nº33 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The third single taken from the album, "Let It Go
Let It Go (Will Young song)
"Let It Go" is a song written by Eg White, Jeremy Gregory and Karen Poole and performed by Will Young. The song appears on Young's fourth studio album Let It Go and was released as the third single from that album. To It was Young's poorest selling single at the time and his first to miss the Top 40...
", was released on 2 March 2009 in the UK, and peaked at Nº58 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The fourth and final single, "Tell Me the Worst", was released in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
only, on 5 July 2009. It served as a club promo, and featured some Fred Falke
Fred Falke
Frédérick "Fred" Falke is a French based house producer and DJ of German origin.Falke started out as a bass player around 1995 before turning his hand to production work in the late 1990s...
remixes.
In April 2008, Young again appeared at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club with the Vanguard Big Band. Young is to perform at various festivals during mid 2008, including Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, T In the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
in Scotland and Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
.
On 24 August 2008 Young appeared at the Olympic Party which took place in The Mall, London. He performed his latest single Changes
Changes (Will Young song)
"Changes" is a pop song recorded by British singer Will Young for his fourth studio album, Let It Go. The song was released as the album's lead single on 15 September 2008, as a digital download, with the physical release a week later....
and I Can See Clearly Now
I Can See Clearly Now
-Certifications:-Charts:-Other covers:The song also appears in various other films, such as Grosse Pointe Blank, The Break-up, Thelma & Louise, Antz, Deep Blue Sea, Envy, Hitch, Shrek 2s Far Far Away Idol, Viktor Vogel – Commercial Man and Jennifer's Body, as well in a 2009 advertisement for Lipton...
, which was originally sung by Johnny Nash
Johnny Nash
John Lester "Johnny" Nash, Jr. is an American pop singer-songwriter, best known in the US for his 1972 hit, "I Can See Clearly Now". He was also the first non-Jamaican to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica.-Life and career:...
.
On an interview with Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, Will Young revealed that he was working on a Dance-Pop album, which might be released in late 2009. He also confirmed that he was working with British duo Groove Armada
Groove Armada
Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
, Superbass, who remixed his UK Top 10 single "Changes", and Gregg Alexander
Gregg Alexander
Gregg Alexander is an American singer/songwriter and producer, best known as the frontman of the New Radicals, who scored the international hit "You Get What You Give" in late 1998. Earlier in life he recorded two solo albums, Michigan Rain and Intoxifornication...
, who has previously worked with British pop singers Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor is an English singer, songwriter, model and occasional DJ. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s, as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded, Ellis-Bextor went solo, achieving widespread success in the early 2000s...
and Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
. He also confirmed that he is working on an album covering songs by Noel Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
, which is as yet in its very early stages and he "doesn't know if it will end up". Young performed in a sell-out theatre tour, commencing on 16 November 2008 and continuing until 13 December 2008 with two dates at The Roundhouse in Camden, London.
Young was the featured singer on the X-Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
programme on ITV1 on Saturday 1 November 2008. He also mentored the remaining contestants. On 31 December 2008 Young was featured as a guest on Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's Live New Year show at the O2 Arena in London. He joined Sir Elton in the song Daniel
Daniel
Daniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
. Young was one of the performers at the BBC's "Live at Blackpool" programme on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday 5 September 2009.
Young's greatest hits collection was released on 16 November 2009. It included two brand new songs, one of them the single "Hopes & Fears". The album was a success on the charts, being certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
. In 2010 Will Young collaborated with Groove Armada
Groove Armada
Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
on their album Black Light
Black Light (album)
-North American track listing:- Singles :- External links :* *...
, singing vocals on the track 'History'. As part of his 2010 outdoor summer tour, it was announced that he would be a special guest and play on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor was his supporting act for his 2010 tour.
Recently his 2003 song "Leave Right Now" has been featured on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
as the "departing song". He also performed live on the programme on 25 May 2010. Young gave his first U.S. concert on May 26 at West Hollywood's Ultra Suede nightclub. He was also featured on the cover of the U.S. magazine Instinct
Instinct (magazine)
Instinct is a monthly American magazine geared toward gay men, published by Instinct Publishing, Inc. since 1997. Distributed by Curtis Circulation...
.
Echoes (2011–present)
In early 2011, Will tweeted teaser clips of tracks from his new album, 'EchoesEchoes (Will Young album)
-Singles:The first single to be released from the album was "Jealousy" on 19 August 2011. The artwork for the single was revealed on Young's Facebook page on 8 July 2011....
', which was subsequently released on August 22, 2011 and entered the UK Album charts at #1 on August 29th 2011 making it Youngs first number one album since "Fridays Child" in 2003. The first single is called 'Jealousy
Jealousy (Will Young song)
"Jealousy" is the first single from Will Young's album Echoes. It was released on 19 August 2011, with the album released on the same day. On 25 August 2011 the single entered the Irish Singles Chart at number 23, his first single to chart in Ireland since "Changes" back in 2008...
', and premiered on BBC Radio 2, between 9am-12pm, Monday 11 July 2011, as confirmed on Will's Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page. The single was released on August 21, 2011, preceding the album by 1 day with the single peaking at #5. "A Night With...Will Young" was aired two days before the release of Echoes on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
presented by Kate Thornton
Kate Thornton
Kate Thornton is an English journalist and television presenter. Early in her career, she was notable for her articles at the Daily Mirror and for her role as editor of Smash Hits magazine...
charting all of Youngs greatest hits plus performing a few new tracks from the album. Young appeared on the third episode of The Jonathan Ross Show
The Jonathan Ross Show
The Jonathan Ross Show is a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on ITV on 3 September 2011 - in the Saturday 9:45pm timeslot - following the conclusion of Ross' BBC One chat show, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, in July 2010.-Production:The show is filmed...
performing a track from Echoes to further promote the album. Will has announced a brand new 23 date UK tour including 2 nights at London's Shepherds Bush Empire.
Acting career
Young added acting to his repertoire when he accepted a role in the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
film Mrs. Henderson Presents
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Mrs Henderson Presents is a 2005 British comedy film directed by Stephen Frears. It stars Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Kelly Reilly, and Will Young in his acting debut.-Plot:...
, starring Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
and Bob Hoskins
Bob Hoskins
Robert William "Bob" Hoskins, Jr. is an English actor known for playing Cockney rough diamonds, psychopaths and gangsters, in films such as The Long Good Friday , and Mona Lisa , and lighter roles in family films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Hook .- Early life :Hoskins was born in Bury St...
, in which he played Bertie. The film was released in the UK in November 2005 to excellent reviews—not least for Young's performance as both actor and singer in the film. The scene, in which Young appears naked, postdated his "absolutely thrilled" acceptance of the British male Rear of the Year Award 2005, an accolade to add to the Most Stylish Male Music Star, Best Bod, Sexiest Star, Best Dressed and Best Hair awards he had already won.
Young trod the boards in the Royal Exchange Theatre's production of The Vortex
The Vortex
The Vortex is a play by the English writer and actor Noël Coward. The story focuses on sexual vanity and drug abuse among the upper classes. The play was Coward's first great commercial success....
by Noel Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
. This production ran from January to March 2007 and Young played the leading role of Nicky Lancaster. Critics, including Nicholas de Jongh
Nicholas de Jongh
Nicholas de Jongh is a British theatre critic and playwright. He served as the senior drama critic of the Evening Standard from 1991 to 2009. Prior to that, he worked for the Guardian newspaper for almost 20 years...
, were very positive.
In October 2007 Young narrated an audio version of the Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
novel Danny, the Champion of the World
Danny, the Champion of the World
Danny, the Champion of the World is a 1975 children's book by Roald Dahl. The plot main centers on a young English boy, Danny, and his father, William, who live in a Gypsy vardo fixing cars for a living and partake in poaching pheasants. The story is based on Dahl's adult short story "Champion of...
.
Young also appeared in the Marple
Marple (TV series)
Marple is a British television series based on the Miss Marple and other murder mystery novels by Agatha Christie. It is also known as Agatha Christie's Marple. The title character was played by Geraldine McEwan from the first to third series, until her retirement from the role. She was replaced...
drama The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side and guest starred in an episode of Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
in 2010.
In 2011, he starred in a new drama series on Sky Living called Bedlam
Bedlam (TV series)
Bedlam is a British supernatural drama television series created by David Allison, Neil Jones and Chris Parker for Sky Living. It first aired on February 7, 2011. Series regulars include Theo James, Will Young, Charlotte Salt, Ashley Madekwe, and Hugo Speer. The season finale was aired on March...
, about supernatural happenings taking place at a disused asylum being converted into loft-style apartments. The £3 million six-part series began airing on 7 February 2011. It was distributed by BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
.
In November 2004, Young presented a documentary entitled Runaways as part of the Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
campaign, highlighting the problems facing distressed teens who run away from home, and the plight they were in being picked up off the streets and railway stations by pimps who offered them work and drugs. The children did not know where to go for immediate help unless they were picked up by the police and sent to a refuge centre.
During June 2007 a series of documentaries entitled Saving Planet Earth
Saving Planet Earth
Saving Planet Earth is a season of nature documentaries with a conservation theme, screened on BBC Television in 2007 to mark the 50th anniversary of its specialist factual department, the BBC Natural History Unit....
was shown on BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
. Young filmed an episode about saving the gorillas of West Africa during his visit to Africa earlier in the year.
In March 2009, ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
arts programme The South Bank Show
The South Bank Show
The South Bank Show was a television arts magazine show, originally made by London Weekend Television , presented by Melvyn Bragg, broadcast on ITV and seen in over 60 countries worldwide — including Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States...
presented an hour long fly on the wall documentary about Young that they had been filming over the course of the year as he returned to promote the Let It Go album. It showed him in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
filming the video for the Let It Go single, backstage before his performance on The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
and on his UK theatre tour from November 2008 amongst other segments.
Young has been made a "Companion" of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Young was a guest on Top Gear during season 12 episode 2 and was the fastest wet lap around the track in the Chevrolet Lacetti.
Young is making a documentary about Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor and film director. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days, The Duchess and Schindler's List....
production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus
Coriolanus
Gaius Marcius Coriolanus was a Roman general who is said to have lived in the 5th century BC. He received his toponymic cognomen "Coriolanus" because of his exceptional valor in a Roman siege of the Volscian city of Corioli. He was then promoted to a general...
which is being filmed in Serbia. He also has a small role in the film as well as being Executive Producer.
In August 2011, ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
based an hour-long programme on Young, entitled "A Night with Will Young". This was to promote the release of his most recent album, Echoes
Echoes
Echoes or echos may refer to:* the plural of Echo -Songs:* "Echoes" , a 1971 Pink Floyd song* "Echoes" by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss...
.
October 31st 2011, Will was the guest host of Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
.
Other work
On 27 October 2008, Young spoke on Celebrity at the Oxford UnionOxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
, where he showed an interest in forming a band named 'Will Young and the Credit Crunchers'. he was invited to appear on Question Time
Question Time (TV series)
Question Time is a topical debate BBC television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience...
after he revealed he was a fan of the show. He participated in the edition from Dunstable
Dunstable
Dunstable is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.-Etymology:In...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, in February 2009.
Young supports the charity Women's Aid
Women's Aid
Women's Aid is a group of feminist charities across the United Kingdom. There are four main Women's Aid Federations, one for each country. Its aim is to end domestic violence against women and children...
, about which he wrote: "I am proud to put my name beside this cause, and hope that I might be able to help more people affected by the terrors of domestic violence, as well as help to create a wider awareness within our society."
Young also supports Mencap
Mencap
The Royal Mencap Society is a charity based in the UK that works with people with a learning disability.-Profile:Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers...
—about which he wrote, "I'm very much in this for the long term, and I'd like to help continue to break down peoples' misconceptions and prejudices"—, The Children's Society
The Children's Society
The Children's Society, formally The Church of England Children's Society, is a UK charity allied to the Church of England and driven by a belief that all children deserve a good childhood.-History:...
Safe and Sound Campaign, and Positive Action Southwest (PASW), for which he performed at his first solo concert, in July 2003, at Killerton House
Killerton
Killerton is an 18th-century house in Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon, England, which, with its hillside garden and estate, has been owned by the National Trust since 1944 and is open to the public...
, Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
.
Young has been an ambassador for The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
since 2002, and performed at the 30th anniversary concert in the grounds of the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
.
Together with Dame Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren
Dame Helen Mirren, DBE is an English actor. She has won an Academy Award for Best Actress, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.-Early life and family:...
, Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is an English actress of film, stage, and television. She made her acting debut in a television adaptation of K. M. Peyton's A Pattern of Roses before winning her first film role as the titular character in Lady Jane...
and Martin Freeman
Martin Freeman
Martin John C. Freeman is an English actor. He is known for his roles as John in Love Actually, Tim Canterbury in the BBC's Golden Globe-winning comedy The Office, Arthur Dent in the film adaptation of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Dr. John Watson in Sherlock and Mr. Madden...
, Young appeared in a series of advertisements during the Christmas period 2007 for Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
; "Oxfam Unwrapped".
Young is the ambassador for Mood Foundation, a charity which aims to build a database of private therapists and alternative therapies to treat various types of depressive conditions. It was set up by Young's twin brother Rupert Young.
Young is an ambassador for Catch22
Catch22 (charity)
Catch22 is a registered charity in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2008, it has over 1000 employees.-Scope:Catch22 work with young people and their families within England and Wales. They provide advice, mentoring, mediation, accommodation, education and employment opportunities to young people...
, a UK young people's charity, which supports young people in tough situations. The young people may come from tough upbringings or neighbourhoods, where poverty, crime and unemployment are common features. They may be leaving care, truanting, or have been excluded from school. Some of them have started getting into trouble with the police or may have got as far as custody.. In April 2011 Young ran the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
for Catch22
Catch22 (charity)
Catch22 is a registered charity in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2008, it has over 1000 employees.-Scope:Catch22 work with young people and their families within England and Wales. They provide advice, mentoring, mediation, accommodation, education and employment opportunities to young people...
.
Personal life
In March 2002, Young revealed that he is gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, pre-empting a tabloid newspaper that was preparing to out
Outing
Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person's true sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Outing gives rise to issues of privacy, choice, hypocrisy, and harm in addition to sparking debate on what constitutes common good in efforts...
him. He also stated that he had never hidden and was comfortable with his sexuality.
Discography
- From Now On (2002)
- Friday's ChildFriday's Child (album)Friday's Child is the second album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 1 December 2003 and reached #1 in the UK Album Chart...
(2003) - Keep OnKeep OnKeep On is the third album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on November 21, 2005, debuting at #2 on the albums chart in the United Kingdom, as the album sold 107,318 copies in its first week. However, its biggest sales are 132,109, in its fifth week when the album...
(2005) - Let It GoLet It Go (Will Young album)Let It Go is the fourth album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 29 September 2008. It is Will Young's first album in 3 years, since the release of "Keep On" in late 2005....
(2008) - EchoesEchoes (Will Young album)-Singles:The first single to be released from the album was "Jealousy" on 19 August 2011. The artwork for the single was revealed on Young's Facebook page on 8 July 2011....
(2011)
Filmography
| Title | Year | Medium | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Henderson Presents | 2005 | Feature film Feature film In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie... |
Bertie | |
| Skins Skins (TV series) Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death... |
2010 | Television series | T Love | Appeared in the forth series in the episode titled "Freddie" |
| Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side | 2010 | Television film | Casey Croft | |
| Bedlam Bedlam (TV series) Bedlam is a British supernatural drama television series created by David Allison, Neil Jones and Chris Parker for Sky Living. It first aired on February 7, 2011. Series regulars include Theo James, Will Young, Charlotte Salt, Ashley Madekwe, and Hugo Speer. The season finale was aired on March... |
2011 | Television series | Ryan McAllister |
External links
- Official website
- Will Young discography at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
.. - Will Young Tour Review on the Daily Music Guide, 6 November 2008.
- Interview with Will Young on the Daily Music Guide, 8 November 2008.