Chico Slimani
Encyclopedia
Yousseph "Chico" Slimani (born 2 April 1971) is a Welsh born singer of Moroccan
descent who rose to prominence in the United Kingdom after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2005 series of the talent show The X Factor
. In 2006, he had a number 1 hit on the British charts entitled "It's Chico Time
". In 2008, he appeared on the reality TV show CelebAir
in which he placed third.
, South Wales
, to Moroccan
parents. Chico's father and mother were both Muslim
. At age two, his parents split during a family vacation. Slimani remained in Morocco
and lived with his grandparents, whereas his mother opted to live in Belgium. Slimani spent his childhood time in Oujda City
, Morocco. His family was so poor that Chico took up goat herding to contribute to the family income, but as he says "We may have not had much money, but we had a lot of love".
When he was 14 years old, his father, living in Crawley
, West Sussex
, called him back to live in the UK. After leaving school, he began a youth training scheme as a hairdresser, before working as an electrician. He also studied martial arts
.
Aspiring to make a name for himself in arts and entertainment, Slimani took part in an exotic dance troupe called "Extreme Force" and later became a singer/compere with Lapattack. He also worked as a male stripper for a while. From a young age, he continued writing and recording songs in the hope of breaking into the music business.
In 2004, Slimani also tried his hand at acting and co-wrote, starred, produced and provided the soundtrack for the BAFTA nominated short film Winner Takes All alongside actor JC Mac
.
walked out in disgust after fellow judges Louis Walsh
and Sharon Osbourne
voted him through to the second round.
His category ("Over 25s") was mentored by Osbourne, who put him through to the live television phase after a particularly memorable performance at the Osbournes' "home", in which he jumped into a shallow pool and danced in the water (still holding a live microphone).
After the initial live shows, he was widely mocked in the press, but after changing the style of his performances, to become slightly more self-mocking, he began to win voters over. He also became notable for being the first contestant in a Simon Cowell show (Pop Idol
, American Idol
, The X Factor
) to sing an original song (co-written with X Factor vocal coach Mark Hudson), the suitably camp and iconic "It's Chico Time
", named after his catchphrase
(Chico: "What time is it?" Audience: "It's Chico Time!")
It was notable that Cowell himself was won over during the course of the series, commenting that Chico was a born entertainer, even if he wasn't the recording artist the show was supposedly looking to discover. Chico failed to reach the final of the show, being voted out in the third from last episode. The competition was eventually won by singer Shayne Ward
in December 2005.
The performances by Slimani during X Factor included:
Slimani had originally planned to release "It's Chico Time" as a single before Christmas
2005, but for contractual reasons he had to wait. Chico was stated as saying "I'm absolutely loving every minute of it, and looking forward to releasing the single at last". The single was eventually released in February 2006; it entered the UK Singles Chart
at number one on 5 March 2006, toppling Madonna
from the top spot. It remained at number one for two weeks.
In early 2006, Chico took part in the nationwide X Factor tour.
hit with considerable changes in lyrics where Slimani sings: "C.H.I.C.O. on D.I.S.C.O.". He also amended the actual lyrics to "D dynamic // I incredible // S supersonic // C Chicolicious (alluding to his own name) // O oh, oh, oh".
His next single, "Curvy Cola Bottle Body", was released on 8 October 2007 and reached #45 in its first week in the chart. Many well-known celebrities appeared in the official video including X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne and her husband Ozzy Osbourne
. Proceeds went to the British Eating Disorders Association
.
Since his X factor appearance, Chico has made many public appearances all over the UK. He went on tour at Butlins
, performing full 45-minute sets along with a live band and dancers as part of The Chico Experience.
He also appeared in 2006 and on later occasions under his original name Yousseph Slimani in Muslim events singing Islamic songs including "Moulana", a song he composed, dedicated to Prophet Muhammad
and the Awliya' (the Men of God).
The Slimani songs "I Wanna Dance With U" and "You Take My Breath Away" were written by Roachie and produced by Danny Kirsch. "Good Day" Another Roachie / Kirsch production was used as part of the 2007 Butlins TV adverts.
The video for Chico's fourth single, "Are You In It For Love", was premiered on his official website. It is a cover of a Ricky Martin
hit. His debut album titled Lights Camera Action was released beginning of 2009.
In 2010, Slimani recorded a single in support of the English Football Team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in South Africa. Aptly entitled "It's England Time", a play on "It's Chico Time
", it uses the same tune of his previous #1 hit with amended lyrics. The song was first played on The Chris Moyles Show
. Slimani recorded the single after having a 'vision' that England won the 2010 World Cup and that in the celebrations, commentators made reference to his Chico Time song. The music video was shot in Pinewood Studios and the official release date of the single was 7 June 2010. Proceeds went to Rainbow Child Foundation to help underprivileged children in Africa.
. In 2005, he played a male stripper in Roberto Gomez Martin's Hell to Pay
, a London underworld gangster film. In 2009, Chico also appeared in 45, a psychological thrilling boxing movie also alongside JC Mac.
. Chico and Danijela have a daughter named Lalla-Khira, and a son Zacharia. "
.
He went on to take part in another Rainbow Child Foundation project in South Africa with the charity One Water to see the work caried out installing Play Pumps, devices that pump water while children play the merri-go-round and as the children are playing on it, it pumps clean drinking water from the ground. Chico's promotional video helps in funding for installation of more Play Pumps. In 2011, Chico went to Malawi and opened Play pumps there.
Chico's single "Curvy Cola Bottle Body" is a protest against the "Size Zero
" phenomenon. As part of its promotion, Chico teamed up with the British Eating Disorders Association
(beat) charity. Profits from the single were donated to the charity.
Proceeds from Chico's 2010 single "It's England Time" went to the Rainbow Child Foundation to help underprivileged children in Africa.
Tracks:
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
descent who rose to prominence in the United Kingdom after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2005 series of the talent show 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...
. In 2006, he had a number 1 hit on the British charts entitled "It's Chico Time
It's Chico Time
"It's Chico Time" is the first single by The X Factor contestant Chico . Chico performed the song on the show on 19 November 2005. It is the only time that a contestant has performed an original song in the live stages of the show...
". In 2008, he appeared on the reality TV show CelebAir
CelebAir
CelebAir is a reality TV series in which 11 celebrities performed the duties of cabin crew and check-in attendants. The series is presented by Angellica Bell and aired on ITV2 from 2 September 2008 until 23 October 2008, when Lisa Maffia was declared the winner.For the show, Monarch Airlines...
in which he placed third.
Early life
Chico Slimani was born in BridgendBridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, to Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
parents. Chico's father and mother were both Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. At age two, his parents split during a family vacation. Slimani remained in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and lived with his grandparents, whereas his mother opted to live in Belgium. Slimani spent his childhood time in Oujda City
Oujda
Oujda is a city in eastern Morocco with an estimated population of 1 million. The city is located about 15 kilometers west of Algeria and about 60 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Oriental Region of Morocco and the birthplace of the current Algerian president,...
, Morocco. His family was so poor that Chico took up goat herding to contribute to the family income, but as he says "We may have not had much money, but we had a lot of love".
When he was 14 years old, his father, living in Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, called him back to live in the UK. After leaving school, he began a youth training scheme as a hairdresser, before working as an electrician. He also studied martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
.
Aspiring to make a name for himself in arts and entertainment, Slimani took part in an exotic dance troupe called "Extreme Force" and later became a singer/compere with Lapattack. He also worked as a male stripper for a while. From a young age, he continued writing and recording songs in the hope of breaking into the music business.
In 2004, Slimani also tried his hand at acting and co-wrote, starred, produced and provided the soundtrack for the BAFTA nominated short film Winner Takes All alongside actor JC Mac
JC Mac
JC Mac is an actor and producer based in Hollywood, California.-Early life:Mac was brought up by his grand parents William and Mary Campbell. The family moved from Canning Town in East London to Colchester in Essex when JC was the age of 5...
.
The X Factor
Chico's initial X Factor audition was notable because judge Simon CowellSimon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
walked out in disgust after fellow judges Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
and Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
voted him through to the second round.
His category ("Over 25s") was mentored by Osbourne, who put him through to the live television phase after a particularly memorable performance at the Osbournes' "home", in which he jumped into a shallow pool and danced in the water (still holding a live microphone).
After the initial live shows, he was widely mocked in the press, but after changing the style of his performances, to become slightly more self-mocking, he began to win voters over. He also became notable for being the first contestant in a Simon Cowell show (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...
, 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...
, 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...
) to sing an original song (co-written with X Factor vocal coach Mark Hudson), the suitably camp and iconic "It's Chico Time
It's Chico Time
"It's Chico Time" is the first single by The X Factor contestant Chico . Chico performed the song on the show on 19 November 2005. It is the only time that a contestant has performed an original song in the live stages of the show...
", named after his catchphrase
Catch phrase
A catchphrase is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through a variety of mass media , as well as word of mouth...
(Chico: "What time is it?" Audience: "It's Chico Time!")
It was notable that Cowell himself was won over during the course of the series, commenting that Chico was a born entertainer, even if he wasn't the recording artist the show was supposedly looking to discover. Chico failed to reach the final of the show, being voted out in the third from last episode. The competition was eventually won by singer Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
in December 2005.
The performances by Slimani during X Factor included:
- Audition: "If I Ever Fall in LoveIf I Ever Fall in Love"If I Ever Fall in Love" is an a cappella song by Shai, which reached #2 in the US charts in 1992, and spent one week at number-one on the US R&B chart. Its eight weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US meant that it held the record for the second-most weeks at number two in the chart's...
" (from ShaiShai (band)Shai is an early 1990s vocal R&B/soul quartet. Their biggest hit was "If I Ever Fall in Love," which reached #2 in the U.S. Top 40.-History:...
) / "KissKiss (song)In 1988 Art of Noise released a cover of the song, featuring Tom Jones on vocals. The song became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number eighteen on the U.S. dance charts and number five on the UK Singles Chart, higher than the original in that country...
" (from PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
and the RevolutionThe Revolution (band)The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,...
) (to Final 24) - Judges House: "Livin' la Vida LocaLivin' la Vida Loca"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin's self-titled debut English album. The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and topped the charts during 1999...
" (from Ricky MartinRicky MartinEnrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
) (to Final 12) - Week 1: (15 October 2005): "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" (from Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
) (Bottom 2, saved 2-1) - Week 2 (22 October 2005): "Play That Funky MusicPlay That Funky Music"Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn...
" (from Wild CherryWild Cherry (band)Wild Cherry was a funk/rock band best known for their funk song "Play That Funky Music".-History:Rob Parissi was raised in the steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio. Parissi graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed the band Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of...
) (safe) - Week 3 (29 October 2005): "Livin' la Vida LocaLivin' la Vida Loca"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin's self-titled debut English album. The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and topped the charts during 1999...
" (from Ricky MartinRicky MartinEnrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
) (Bottom 2, saved 2-1) - Week 4 (5 November 2005): "KissKiss (song)In 1988 Art of Noise released a cover of the song, featuring Tom Jones on vocals. The song became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number eighteen on the U.S. dance charts and number five on the UK Singles Chart, higher than the original in that country...
" (from PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
and the RevolutionThe Revolution (band)The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,...
) - Week 5 (12 November 2005): "HeroHero (Enrique Iglesias song)"Hero" is a single released by Enrique Iglesias from his second English album Escape and was written for his good friend Simon Baxendale, by Iglesias, Paul Barry and Mark Taylor. Enrique first released the song to radio in early September 2001 to a positive critical and commercial reception...
" (from Enrique IglesiasEnrique IglesiasEnrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
) - Week 6 (19 November 2005): "It's Chico TimeIt's Chico Time"It's Chico Time" is the first single by The X Factor contestant Chico . Chico performed the song on the show on 19 November 2005. It is the only time that a contestant has performed an original song in the live stages of the show...
" by Chico Slimani (safe) - Week 7 (26 November 2005): "Billie JeanBillie Jean"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop/R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written, composed, and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones from the singer's sixth album, Thriller . Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and...
" by Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
(safe) - Week 8 (3 December 2005): "I Got You (I Feel Good)I Got You (I Feel Good)"I Got You " is a hit song by James Brown. Released as a single in 1965, it was one of Brown's signature songs, and is arguably his most widely-known recording.-Description:...
" (from James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
) and "Time Warp" (from The Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stageplay, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. Director Jim Sharman collaborated on the...
) (Eliminated after receiving fewest public votes)
Slimani had originally planned to release "It's Chico Time" as a single before Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
2005, but for contractual reasons he had to wait. Chico was stated as saying "I'm absolutely loving every minute of it, and looking forward to releasing the single at last". The single was eventually released in February 2006; it entered 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 ...
at number one on 5 March 2006, toppling Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
from the top spot. It remained at number one for two weeks.
In early 2006, Chico took part in the nationwide X Factor tour.
Singing career
Chico's follow-up single to #1 hit "It's Chico Time" was a cover of the song "D.I.S.C.O.", entered the chart at number 24 in August 2006 in the British Singles Chart. Slimani's single was an alternative version of the OttawanOttawan
Ottawan were a French eurodisco duo in the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Career:They were fronted by lead singer Jean Patrick and Annette , with Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger the main songwriters. They are best known for their two hit singles "D.I.S.C.O." and "Hands Up "...
hit with considerable changes in lyrics where Slimani sings: "C.H.I.C.O. on D.I.S.C.O.". He also amended the actual lyrics to "D dynamic // I incredible // S supersonic // C Chicolicious (alluding to his own name) // O oh, oh, oh".
His next single, "Curvy Cola Bottle Body", was released on 8 October 2007 and reached #45 in its first week in the chart. Many well-known celebrities appeared in the official video including X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne and her husband Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
. Proceeds went to the British Eating Disorders Association
Eating Disorders Association
The Eating Disorders Association, known as beat since February 2007, is the major British medical charity in the area of eating disorders. It is dedicated to helping people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders, and providing information to the public...
.
Since his X factor appearance, Chico has made many public appearances all over the UK. He went on tour at Butlins
Butlins
Butlins is a chain of large holiday camps in the United Kingdom. Butlins was founded by Billy Butlin to provide affordable holidays for ordinary British families....
, performing full 45-minute sets along with a live band and dancers as part of The Chico Experience.
He also appeared in 2006 and on later occasions under his original name Yousseph Slimani in Muslim events singing Islamic songs including "Moulana", a song he composed, dedicated to Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
and the Awliya' (the Men of God).
The Slimani songs "I Wanna Dance With U" and "You Take My Breath Away" were written by Roachie and produced by Danny Kirsch. "Good Day" Another Roachie / Kirsch production was used as part of the 2007 Butlins TV adverts.
The video for Chico's fourth single, "Are You In It For Love", was premiered on his official website. It is a cover of a Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
hit. His debut album titled Lights Camera Action was released beginning of 2009.
In 2010, Slimani recorded a single in support of the English Football Team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa. Aptly entitled "It's England Time", a play on "It's Chico Time
It's Chico Time
"It's Chico Time" is the first single by The X Factor contestant Chico . Chico performed the song on the show on 19 November 2005. It is the only time that a contestant has performed an original song in the live stages of the show...
", it uses the same tune of his previous #1 hit with amended lyrics. The song was first played on The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show is the current BBC Radio 1 breakfast show in the UK, and has been since Chris Moyles became the station's breakfast show presenter on 5 January 2004. From 2004 to 2007, the show was broadcast 6:55–10:00 am each weekday, but since 15 October 2007 it has started from...
. Slimani recorded the single after having a 'vision' that England won the 2010 World Cup and that in the celebrations, commentators made reference to his Chico Time song. The music video was shot in Pinewood Studios and the official release date of the single was 7 June 2010. Proceeds went to Rainbow Child Foundation to help underprivileged children in Africa.
Television and acting career
- In May 2006, Chico appeared on The Weakest Link. He was the second contestant voted off.
- In December 2007, Chico made an appearance on BBC TwoBBC TwoBBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
's music panel comedy quiz show, Never Mind The BuzzcocksNever Mind the BuzzcocksNever 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...
, as part of the "identity parade" feature. He was correctly identified by the panel. - Chico made a guest appearance in the 2007 Christmas special of Ricky GervaisRicky GervaisRicky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
' TV series ExtrasExtras (TV series)Extras is a British sitcom about extras working on TV and film sets and in theatre. The series was co-produced by the BBC and HBO, and is created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, both of whom also star in it...
, taking part in a mock-up of Celebrity Big BrotherBig Brother (UK)Big Brother UK is the British version of the Dutch Big Brother television format, which takes its name from the character in George Orwell's 1948 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four...
. - In the 2008 series of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Chico was a member of "Team Dec" in the feature "Ant vs. Dec: The Teams". Chico also starred as the celebrity "hider" in an episode of the CBBCCBBCCBBC 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...
show Hider in the HouseHider in the HouseHider in the House was a British children's game show presented by Jason King and Joel Ross . In the programme, a celebrity had to be hidden in a family's house by three children and a parent. If the family have fewer than three children, they use friends or related children to make up the numbers...
. - Later in 2008 he featured as a celebrity in the reality television show CelebAirCelebAirCelebAir is a reality TV series in which 11 celebrities performed the duties of cabin crew and check-in attendants. The series is presented by Angellica Bell and aired on ITV2 from 2 September 2008 until 23 October 2008, when Lisa Maffia was declared the winner.For the show, Monarch Airlines...
on ITV2ITV2ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
. Slimani came third overall. - In November 2009 he returned to Never Mind The BuzzcocksNever Mind the BuzzcocksNever 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...
as a joke upon guest panelist and investigative journalist Donal MacIntyreDonal MacIntyreDonal MacIntyre is an Irish investigative journalist, specialising in investigations, undercover operations and television exposés. His work is in the area of care homes for the elderly and the learning disabled...
. Chico was supposed to be part of a running scam on the show, feeding answers to the opposite team. - Chico appeared at the Darlington Civic Theatre, starring as Aladdin in the 2009/10 pantomime. He has his own TV show in pre-production. 26 episodes are planned overall of the children show. He also appeared as Aladdin in the 2010/2011 pantomime in Hull.
- Chico appeared in BBC OneBBC OneBBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's 2011 series of Celebrity Total Wipeout. He won the second "Dizzy Dummies" round and came second overall.
Films
Chico is involved with a production company called Unity Films, and his daughter appeared in one of their short films, Left Holding Baby, for which Chico composed the music. He also stars in the BAFTA-nominated 2004 short film Winner Takes All, along with his brother actor JC MacJC Mac
JC Mac is an actor and producer based in Hollywood, California.-Early life:Mac was brought up by his grand parents William and Mary Campbell. The family moved from Canning Town in East London to Colchester in Essex when JC was the age of 5...
. In 2005, he played a male stripper in Roberto Gomez Martin's Hell to Pay
Hell to Pay (film)
Hell to Pay is a 2005 British film by Roberto Gomez Martin, his directorial debut, about a London East End's gangster life based on the semi-autobiographical story of Dave Courtney, who plays character of Dave Malone in the film.-Plot:...
, a London underworld gangster film. In 2009, Chico also appeared in 45, a psychological thrilling boxing movie also alongside JC Mac.
Personal life
Chico is now married to Danijela Rakic, sister of 2008 and 2009 Wimbledon Men's Doubles Champion Nenad ZimonjićNenad Zimonjic
Nenad Zimonjić is a professional Serbian tennis player who is currently ranked World No. 3 in men's doubles. He is the second tennis doubles player from Serbia to hold the World No.1, after Slobodan Živojinović.-Career:...
. Chico and Danijela have a daughter named Lalla-Khira, and a son Zacharia. "
Charity work
Chico helped the Rainbow Child Foundation and took part in a promotional video of the foundation to open an orphanage in CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
.
He went on to take part in another Rainbow Child Foundation project in South Africa with the charity One Water to see the work caried out installing Play Pumps, devices that pump water while children play the merri-go-round and as the children are playing on it, it pumps clean drinking water from the ground. Chico's promotional video helps in funding for installation of more Play Pumps. In 2011, Chico went to Malawi and opened Play pumps there.
Chico's single "Curvy Cola Bottle Body" is a protest against the "Size Zero
Size Zero
Size 0 is a women's clothing size in the US catalog sizes system. Size 0 and 00 were invented due to the changing of clothing sizes over time , which has caused the adoption of lower numbers...
" phenomenon. As part of its promotion, Chico teamed up with the British Eating Disorders Association
Eating Disorders Association
The Eating Disorders Association, known as beat since February 2007, is the major British medical charity in the area of eating disorders. It is dedicated to helping people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders, and providing information to the public...
(beat) charity. Profits from the single were donated to the charity.
Proceeds from Chico's 2010 single "It's England Time" went to the Rainbow Child Foundation to help underprivileged children in Africa.
Albums
- Lights, Camera, Action (2006)
Tracks:
- I Wanna Dance With You
- Take My Breath Away
- Come with Me
- Cheeky Bow Wow
- If I'm Not The One
- Crazy
- Are You In It For Love
- Girls of the World
- Curvy Cola
- Lights, Camera, Action
- Girls, Girls, Girls
- Good Day
- Prisoner of Love
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK 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 ... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
||
| 2006 | "It's Chico Time It's Chico Time "It's Chico Time" is the first single by The X Factor contestant Chico . Chico performed the song on the show on 19 November 2005. It is the only time that a contestant has performed an original song in the live stages of the show... " |
1 | 3 |
| 2006 | "D.I.S.C.O." | 24 | 39 |
| 2007 | "Curvy Cola Bottle Body Baby" | 45 | - |
| 2008 | "Are You In It For Love" | - | - |
| 2010 | "It's England Time" | - | - |
Actor
- 2004: Winner Takes All .... Narrator
- 2005: Hell to PayHell to Pay (film)Hell to Pay is a 2005 British film by Roberto Gomez Martin, his directorial debut, about a London East End's gangster life based on the semi-autobiographical story of Dave Courtney, who plays character of Dave Malone in the film.-Plot:...
.... Stripper (Video) - 2008: Ten Dead MenTen dead menTen Dead Men is the follow-up to the cult independent action film Left for Dead. Produced by the same company, Ten Dead Men features many of the same actors as its predecessor. Ten Dead Men was directed by Ross Boyask and produced by Phil Hobden...
.... Himself - 2009: 4545 (film)45 is a 2009 short film by producer and director Peter Coster starring JC Mac. This 12-minute comedy / drama / psychological thriller is Coster's debut film as director. A Dragons Lair films and MaChico bros production.-Plot:...
.... Banks - 2009: 31 North 62 East31 North 62 East31 North 62 East is a US$ 3.1 million British independent psychological thriller film released in September 2009. It was written by brothers Leofwine Loraine and Tristan Loraine with the first draft of the screen play being completed on 2 May 2008. Principal photography commenced on 21 July 2008...
(also known as Too Close to the Truth (UK alternative title))
Composer
- 2004: Winner Takes All
- 2007: Left Holding Baby
- 2009: Three Pints of Beer
Producer
- 2004: Winner Takes All (producer)
- 2007: Left Holding Baby (executive producer)