Goldfrapp
Encyclopedia
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music
duo, formed in 1999 in London
, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp
(vocals
/synthesizer
) and Will Gregory
(synthesizer).
Despite favourable reviews and a short-listing for the Mercury Prize
, the ambient
sound of their 2000 debut album Felt Mountain
did not chart highly. Goldfrapp's second album Black Cherry, which incorporated glam rock
and synthpop
sounds into their music, was released in 2003. The album influenced the same dance-oriented sound of their third album Supernature
. Supernature took Goldfrapp's work further into dance music
, and enjoyed international chart success. Supernature produced three number-one U.S. dance singles, and was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album
at the 49th Grammy Awards. Their fourth album Seventh Tree
placed a greater emphasis on ambient and downtempo
music, drawing inspiration from nature
and Paganism
, while their fifth album, Head First
, found the group exploring 1980s-influenced synthpop, and brought the formation a Grammy Award
-nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album
in 2010.
Some of their charting singles include "Utopia
", "Strict Machine
", "Train
", "Black Cherry
", "Number 1", "Ride a White Horse
", "A&E
", "Happiness
" and "Ooh La La" - their most successful single to date.
began her musical career in the early 1990s as a guest vocalist with the electronic band Orbital
and trip hop
artist Tricky
. In 1999, she was introduced to composer Will Gregory
after he had listened to an early version of the song "Human
". Gregory felt a connection with Goldfrapp and invited her to record a demo
for the film soundtrack he was composing, to see if they could work together. The demo was never completed, but the recording session had been pleasant. Following several months of phone calls, they decided to form a musical band and began performing under Goldfrapp's last name
.
In August 1999, Goldfrapp signed a recording contract with London-based record label
Mute Records
. The pair began recording their debut album over a six-month period, beginning in September 1999, in a rented bungalow
in the Wiltshire
countryside. The recording process was difficult for Alison, who often found herself alone and disturbed by the mice and insects in the bungalow.
was released in September 2000 and featured the singles "Lovely Head
", "Utopia
", "Pilots (On a Star)
" and "Human
". The album featured Alison Goldfrapp's synthesized vocals over cinematic soundscape
s and is influenced by a variety of music styles including cabaret
, folk
and electronic music
. The album was well received by music critics, described as "simultaneously smarmy and seductive, yet elegant and graceful". It reached number fifty-seven on the UK Albums Chart
, and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry
. In 2001, Felt Mountain was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize
, an annual music prize awarded for the best British or Irish album from the previous year.
The lyrics on Felt Mountain were written by Alison Goldfrapp and are abstract obsessional tales inspired by films, her childhood, and the loneliness she felt while recording the album. The song "Oompa Radar" was inspired by Roman Polanski
's film Cul-de-sac, while "Pilots", which describes travelers floating in the atmosphere above the earth, was inspired by John Barry
's James Bond
theme songs.
To promote Felt Mountain, Goldfrapp toured the UK, Europe and North America, supporting the alternative music
bands Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
and The Doves. The band found it difficult to perform songs from the album live because of their complex arrangements which required up to forty musicians. They eventually settled on performing with violin
ist Davide Rossi
, drummer
Rowan Oliver and keyboard
ist Andy Davies.
Goldfrapp's second album Black Cherry was released in April 2003. The band recorded the album in a darkened studio in Bath, England. The studio's walls were covered in neon light
s and Goldfrapp used them to write down her song ideas. The album focused more heavily on dance music
and glam rock
inspired synths
than its predecessor. Alison Goldfrapp commented that the album differed from Felt Mountain because the band "felt that we really didn't want to repeat what we had done...we kind of wanted to do something that felt equally as fresh to us as the first one felt fresh to us, and we wanted to put more kind of "oomph" in it." The album received positive reviews from critics, who found it to be an "unexpected delight" and a "rare electronica album of warmth and depth...the ultimate chillout pleasure". Black Cherry peaked at number nineteen on the UK Albums Chart and number four on the Billboard
Top Electronic Albums
chart in the United States. It sold well, reaching platinum status in the UK and selling 52,000 copies in the U.S.
The first single released from the album was "Train
", which reached number twenty-three on the UK Singles Chart
. The song's lyrics discuss obsession and overindulgence and were inspired by Goldfrapp's visit to Los Angeles
while touring in support of Felt Mountain. "Strict Machine
" was released as the album's second single. The song proved successful on several formats, and reached number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2004, "Strict Machine" won an Ivor Novello Award
for "Best Dance Single". The third single released from Black Cherry was "Twist
", a song inspired by a sexual fantasy
Goldfrapp had as a teenager. The title track
was released as the album's fourth single and reached number twenty-eight in the UK.
In 2003, Alison Goldfrapp modified her image, from a sophisticated Marlene Dietrich
inspired look to that of a New Wave
diva
. The reinvented image included false eyelashes, customized T-shirts, military uniforms and fishnet stockings. In 2004, the band toured Australia, Japan, Europe and North America supporting Duran Duran
, and embarked on the Wonderful Electric Tour. Sections of the stage show featured Goldfrapp in a white dress wearing a horse tail and dancers with deer heads, and were inspired by Goldfrapp's interest in animals and mythology.
, Goldfrapp's third album, was released in August 2005. The album comprises pop and electronic dance music
prominently featured on Black Cherry, but focuses more on subtle hooks instead of the large choruses that made up its predecessor. The band never intended to create dance music, however, previous releases were popular across nightclubs in North America and as a result, they decided to write a more dance-oriented album. Supernature debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, selling 52,000 copies in its first week. It has sold one million copies worldwide and was certified platinum in the UK. The album received a Grammy Award
nomination in 2007 for Best Electronic/Dance Album
and "Ooh La La" was nominated for Best Dance Recording
.
"Ooh La La", the album's lead single
, became Goldfrapp's first UK top five single. The song was chosen as the lead single "because it was up and in your face and carried on the theme of the glammy, discoey beat from the last album". "Ooh La La" became the first song performed by the band to feature the electric guitar
and was often cited as a highlight of the album by music critics. "Number 1" was released as the album's second single. Constructed around a synthesizer and bass
arrangement, it was written about the importance of relationships. The album's third single "Ride a White Horse
" was inspired by the disco
era and reached number 15 in the UK. "Fly Me Away
" was released as the album's fourth single, but did not perform as well as its predecessors.
In 2006, Goldfrapp released We Are Glitter
, a North American-only compilation of remix
es from Supernature. It included a Flaming Lips
remix of "Satin Chic
", the band's favourite song from the album.
, their fourth album, was released in February 2008, and debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart. The album is a departure from the pop and electronic-dance music featured on Supernature, and features ambient and downtempo
music. The band were inspired by an acoustic
radio session they had performed, which led the duo to incorporate acoustic guitars into their music to create "warm" and "delicate" sounds.
The album's lead single, "A&E
", reached number ten in the UK. The single received positive reviews from critics, who found it to be "a beautifully paced ballad" and "lush, folky and organic". "Happiness
", the album's second single, reached number twenty-five in the UK. The third single, "Caravan Girl
", which describes the story of a girl that suffers from amnesia
, reached number fifty-four in the UK.
In 2008, Alison Goldfrapp again reinvented her image, this time as a circus performer. The artwork for Seventh Tree featured her dressed as a clown
because it is an "iconic image" with "so many different connotations". Goldfrapp chose to tone down her overtly sexual image because she felt that it was taking over the music. Her new image, inspired by Paganism, featured her dressed in white or natural-coloured flowing gowns with loose, curly blond hair.
. A photoshoot for the album already took place in November. On 1 December 2009 the duo announced the release of their fifth album, Head First, on 22 March 2010. Lead single "Rocket
" was premiered on The Jo Whiley Show
on 23 January 2010 and subsequently released on 9 March 2010.
"Alive
" was released as the second single from Head First on 7 June 2010 and was available as a download and limited edition picture vinyl. This date also marked the beginning of the Head First World Tour
in support of the album. The song "Believer" was released as the album's third single on 6 September 2010.
The album received a Grammy Award nomination in 2010 for Best Electronic/Dance Album and "Rocket" was nominated for Best Dance Recording. Following a successful year on the Billboard Music Charts, Goldfrapp appeared on a few of the Year End Charts in 2010
On 19 November 2010, Alison blogged on the band's official website that their contractual agreement with EMI had come to an end and that Goldfrapp will be releasing a 'Best Of' album for 2011/12.
"As most of you know, our studio is in this part of the world and it's where we've written all our albums. We've started writing but won't be rushing things. I will keep you up to date with what we are up to."
On 27 July Alison Goldfrapp, from their Twitter account confirms that Goldfrapp will play in South-America for a three-date minitour which will take place at Personal Fest 2011, Buenos Aires (Argentina) on 4 November, Planeta Terra 2011 festival (Brazil) on 5 November and Maquinaria Festival (Chile) on 8 November.
sound in Felt Mountain, through electronic music in Black Cherry to a more glam rock
sound in Supernature, and most recently to a blend of ambient
, folk
and electronic in Seventh Tree and an 1980s synthpop
influence in Head First. However, they have experimented with other genres of music, such as cabaret
("Satin Chic", "Oompah Radar"), electroclash
("Slide In", "Koko"), folktronica
("Clowns") and cha-cha-cha
("Human").
Goldfrapp draws inspiration from a range of artists and genres. Alison Goldfrapp listened to Kate Bush
, T. Rex
, Donna Summer
and Iggy Pop
as a teenager and discovered Serge Gainsbourg
while working in Belgium. While traveling through Europe in the early 1990s, she also began listening to Polish disco music and cabaret music from the Weimar Republic
. Will Gregory's musical background was classical music
and has cited Ennio Morricone
as his main influence. Other media, including film, have had an impact on Goldfrapp; Alison Goldfrapp cites Roman Polanski
's psychological thriller
Cul-de-sac, the cult film
The Wicker Man, and the James Bond
franchise as influences. They also draw inspiration from surrealism
and nature, all of which appear in the band's album artwork, which Goldfrapp designs in collaboration with Big Active. Goldfrapp have also remixed Marilyn Manson
's single "This Is the New Shit
" and Lady Gaga
's single "Judas
".
The majority of the band's songs are composed by Goldfrapp and Gregory, although they have collaborated with session musician
Nick Batt several times. They have called their writing sessions a "democratic affair", playing off one another while in the recording studio. However, Goldfrapp is responsible for the lyrics. While writing, Goldfrapp uses her vocals to create melodies and drumbeats. Gregory composes his music on vintage keyboards, interpreting the mood of Goldfrapp's lyrics. Alison Goldfrapp believes that "music is a visual experience" and therefore visualizes her lyrics before writing them. Her songwriting is characterized by its use of animals to describe human emotions and status.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
duo, formed in 1999 in 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...
, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
(vocals
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
/synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
) and Will Gregory
Will Gregory
William Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer...
(synthesizer).
Despite favourable reviews and a short-listing for the Mercury Prize
Mercury Prize
The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British...
, the ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
sound of their 2000 debut album Felt Mountain
Felt Mountain
Felt Mountain is the debut album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 11 September 2000 by Mute Records...
did not chart highly. Goldfrapp's second album Black Cherry, which incorporated glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
and synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
sounds into their music, was released in 2003. The album influenced the same dance-oriented sound of their third album Supernature
Supernature (Goldfrapp album)
Supernature is the third studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2005 by Mute Records, and received mostly favourable reviews. Most critics complimented its blend of pop and electronic music, while others called it uninspiring...
. Supernature took Goldfrapp's work further into dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, and enjoyed international chart success. Supernature produced three number-one U.S. dance singles, and was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album
Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album
The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the dance music and electronica genres...
at the 49th Grammy Awards. Their fourth album Seventh Tree
Seventh Tree
Seventh Tree is the fourth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp, released in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2008 by Mute Records and the day after in the United States....
placed a greater emphasis on ambient and downtempo
Downtempo
Downtempo is a laid-back electronic music style similar to ambient music, but usually with a beat or groove unlike the beatless forms of Ambient music. The beat is sometimes made from loops that have a hypnotic feeling...
music, drawing inspiration from nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
and Paganism
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
, while their fifth album, Head First
Head First (Goldfrapp album)
Head First is the fifth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2010 by Mute Records. The album's lead single, "Rocket", was released on the iTunes Store on 5 March 2010...
, found the group exploring 1980s-influenced synthpop, and brought the formation a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album
Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album
The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the dance music and electronica genres...
in 2010.
Some of their charting singles include "Utopia
Utopia (Goldfrapp song)
"Utopia" is an electronic song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's debut album Felt Mountain...
", "Strict Machine
Strict Machine
"Strict Machine" is an electronic dance song written by British group Goldfrapp and Nick Batt for their second studio album Black Cherry . It was produced by Goldfrapp and describes laboratory rats in neuroscience experiments...
", "Train
Train (Goldfrapp song)
"Train" is an electronic dance song written by British group Goldfrapp for their second album Black Cherry . The song was produced by Goldfrapp and received a very positive reception from music critics. It was released as the lead single in the second quarter of 2003 and reached the top thirty in...
", "Black Cherry
Black Cherry (song)
"Black Cherry" is an electronic song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's second album Black Cherry . The song was released as the album's fourth single in March 2004 to positive reviews from music critics...
", "Number 1", "Ride a White Horse
Ride a White Horse
"Ride a White Horse" is an electronic–dance song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written by Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory and Nick Batt for Goldfrapp's third album Supernature . The song was inspired by the disco era nightclub Studio 54.The song was released as the album's...
", "A&E
A&E (song)
"A&E" is a song performed by British duo Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's fourth album Seventh Tree...
", "Happiness
Happiness (Goldfrapp song)
"Happiness" is a folktronica song by the English duo Goldfrapp from their fourth studio album, Seventh Tree . Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, the song was released as the album's second single on 14 April 2008...
" and "Ooh La La" - their most successful single to date.
Formation (1999)
Alison GoldfrappAlison Goldfrapp
Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
began her musical career in the early 1990s as a guest vocalist with the electronic band Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
and trip hop
Trip hop
Trip hop is a music genre consisting of downtempo electronic music which originated in the early 1990s in England, especially Bristol. Deriving from "post"-acid house, the term was first used by the British music media and press as a way to describe the more experimental variant of breakbeat which...
artist Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
. In 1999, she was introduced to composer Will Gregory
Will Gregory
William Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer...
after he had listened to an early version of the song "Human
Human (Goldfrapp song)
"Human" is an electronic song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's debut album Felt Mountain . It was released as the album's third single on 26 February 2001....
". Gregory felt a connection with Goldfrapp and invited her to record a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
for the film soundtrack he was composing, to see if they could work together. The demo was never completed, but the recording session had been pleasant. Following several months of phone calls, they decided to form a musical band and began performing under Goldfrapp's last name
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
.
In August 1999, Goldfrapp signed a recording contract with London-based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
. The pair began recording their debut album over a six-month period, beginning in September 1999, in a rented bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
in the Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
countryside. The recording process was difficult for Alison, who often found herself alone and disturbed by the mice and insects in the bungalow.
Felt Mountain (2000–2002)
Goldfrapp's debut album Felt MountainFelt Mountain
Felt Mountain is the debut album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 11 September 2000 by Mute Records...
was released in September 2000 and featured the singles "Lovely Head
Lovely Head
"Lovely Head" is an electronic song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's debut album Felt Mountain . It was released as the album's first single in May 2000 but did not chart...
", "Utopia
Utopia (Goldfrapp song)
"Utopia" is an electronic song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's debut album Felt Mountain...
", "Pilots (On a Star)
Pilots (Goldfrapp song)
"Pilots" is an electronic song written by British group Goldfrapp for their debut studio album Felt Mountain . The song was produced by Goldfrapp and received a positive reception from music critics...
" and "Human
Human (Goldfrapp song)
"Human" is an electronic song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's debut album Felt Mountain . It was released as the album's third single on 26 February 2001....
". The album featured Alison Goldfrapp's synthesized vocals over cinematic soundscape
Soundscape
A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. The study of soundscape is the subject of acoustic ecology...
s and is influenced by a variety of music styles including cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
. The album was well received by music critics, described as "simultaneously smarmy and seductive, yet elegant and graceful". It reached number fifty-seven on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, and was certified gold 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 2001, Felt Mountain was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize
Mercury Prize
The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British...
, an annual music prize awarded for the best British or Irish album from the previous year.
The lyrics on Felt Mountain were written by Alison Goldfrapp and are abstract obsessional tales inspired by films, her childhood, and the loneliness she felt while recording the album. The song "Oompa Radar" was inspired by Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
's film Cul-de-sac, while "Pilots", which describes travelers floating in the atmosphere above the earth, was inspired by John Barry
John Barry (composer)
John Barry Prendergast, OBE was an English conductor and composer of film music. He is best known for composing the soundtracks for 12 of the James Bond films between 1962 and 1987...
's James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
theme songs.
To promote Felt Mountain, Goldfrapp toured the UK, Europe and North America, supporting the alternative music
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
bands Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
and The Doves. The band found it difficult to perform songs from the album live because of their complex arrangements which required up to forty musicians. They eventually settled on performing with violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Davide Rossi
Davide Rossi
Davide Francesco Rossi , is a violinist, string arranger, composer and a record producer, perhaps best known for being the violinist, guitar and keytar-player for the British electronic music group Goldfrapp, and for his large contribution of electric violin parts and for all the string...
, drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Rowan Oliver and keyboard
Musical keyboard
A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
ist Andy Davies.
Black Cherry (2003–2004)
Neon lamp
A neon lamp is a miniature gas discharge lamp that typically contains neon gas at a low pressure in a glass capsule. Only a thin region adjacent to the electrodes glows in these lamps, which distinguishes them from the much longer and brighter neon tubes used for signage...
s and Goldfrapp used them to write down her song ideas. The album focused more heavily on dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
and glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
inspired synths
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
than its predecessor. Alison Goldfrapp commented that the album differed from Felt Mountain because the band "felt that we really didn't want to repeat what we had done...we kind of wanted to do something that felt equally as fresh to us as the first one felt fresh to us, and we wanted to put more kind of "oomph" in it." The album received positive reviews from critics, who found it to be an "unexpected delight" and a "rare electronica album of warmth and depth...the ultimate chillout pleasure". Black Cherry peaked at number nineteen on the UK Albums Chart and number four on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top Electronic Albums
Top Electronic Albums
Dance/Electronic Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top-selling electronic music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated June 30, 2001. It originally began as a fifteen-position chart and has since expanded to twenty-five...
chart in the United States. It sold well, reaching platinum status in the UK and selling 52,000 copies in the U.S.
The first single released from the album was "Train
Train (Goldfrapp song)
"Train" is an electronic dance song written by British group Goldfrapp for their second album Black Cherry . The song was produced by Goldfrapp and received a very positive reception from music critics. It was released as the lead single in the second quarter of 2003 and reached the top thirty in...
", which reached number twenty-three 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 song's lyrics discuss obsession and overindulgence and were inspired by Goldfrapp's visit to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
while touring in support of Felt Mountain. "Strict Machine
Strict Machine
"Strict Machine" is an electronic dance song written by British group Goldfrapp and Nick Batt for their second studio album Black Cherry . It was produced by Goldfrapp and describes laboratory rats in neuroscience experiments...
" was released as the album's second single. The song proved successful on several formats, and reached number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2004, "Strict Machine" won an Ivor Novello Award
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
for "Best Dance Single". The third single released from Black Cherry was "Twist
Twist (Goldfrapp song)
"Twist" is an electronic–dance song written by British duo Goldfrapp for their second album Black Cherry . It was produced by Goldfrapp, and received a positive reception from music critics...
", a song inspired by a sexual fantasy
Sexual fantasy
A sexual fantasy, also called an erotic fantasy, is a fantasy or pattern of thoughts with the effect of creating or enhancing sexual feelings; in short, it is "almost any mental imagery that is sexually arousing or erotic to [an] individual"...
Goldfrapp had as a teenager. The title track
Black Cherry (song)
"Black Cherry" is an electronic song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's second album Black Cherry . The song was released as the album's fourth single in March 2004 to positive reviews from music critics...
was released as the album's fourth single and reached number twenty-eight in the UK.
In 2003, Alison Goldfrapp modified her image, from a sophisticated Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
inspired look to that of a New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
diva
Diva
A diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna"....
. The reinvented image included false eyelashes, customized T-shirts, military uniforms and fishnet stockings. In 2004, the band toured Australia, Japan, Europe and North America supporting Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, and embarked on the Wonderful Electric Tour. Sections of the stage show featured Goldfrapp in a white dress wearing a horse tail and dancers with deer heads, and were inspired by Goldfrapp's interest in animals and mythology.
Supernature (2005–2006)
SupernatureSupernature (Goldfrapp album)
Supernature is the third studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2005 by Mute Records, and received mostly favourable reviews. Most critics complimented its blend of pop and electronic music, while others called it uninspiring...
, Goldfrapp's third album, was released in August 2005. The album comprises pop and electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
prominently featured on Black Cherry, but focuses more on subtle hooks instead of the large choruses that made up its predecessor. The band never intended to create dance music, however, previous releases were popular across nightclubs in North America and as a result, they decided to write a more dance-oriented album. Supernature debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, selling 52,000 copies in its first week. It has sold one million copies worldwide and was certified platinum in the UK. The album received a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination in 2007 for Best Electronic/Dance Album
Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album
The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the dance music and electronica genres...
and "Ooh La La" was nominated for Best Dance Recording
Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the dance music genre...
.
"Ooh La La", the album's lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
, became Goldfrapp's first UK top five single. The song was chosen as the lead single "because it was up and in your face and carried on the theme of the glammy, discoey beat from the last album". "Ooh La La" became the first song performed by the band to feature the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and was often cited as a highlight of the album by music critics. "Number 1" was released as the album's second single. Constructed around a synthesizer and bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
arrangement, it was written about the importance of relationships. The album's third single "Ride a White Horse
Ride a White Horse
"Ride a White Horse" is an electronic–dance song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written by Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory and Nick Batt for Goldfrapp's third album Supernature . The song was inspired by the disco era nightclub Studio 54.The song was released as the album's...
" was inspired by the disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
era and reached number 15 in the UK. "Fly Me Away
Fly Me Away
"Fly Me Away" is an electronic song performed by British group Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's third album Supernature...
" was released as the album's fourth single, but did not perform as well as its predecessors.
We Are Glitter
We Are Glitter is a remix album by the English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in North America on 17 October 2006 by Mute Records...
, a North American-only compilation of remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es from Supernature. It included a Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
remix of "Satin Chic
Satin Boys, Flaming Chic
"Satin Boys, Flaming Chic" is a limited edition 7" vinyl picture single by British duo Goldfrapp. The single features a remix of the band's song "Satin Chic" from their third album Supernature and a cover version of The Ordinary Boys' "Boys Will Be Boys", as performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge...
", the band's favourite song from the album.
Seventh Tree (2006–2008)
Goldfrapp began writing and recording their fourth album at the end of 2006 in Bath, England. Alison Goldfrapp described their winter recording sessions as difficult. However, spring recording sessions brought them more favourable results. Seventh TreeSeventh Tree
Seventh Tree is the fourth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp, released in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2008 by Mute Records and the day after in the United States....
, their fourth album, was released in February 2008, and debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart. The album is a departure from the pop and electronic-dance music featured on Supernature, and features ambient and downtempo
Downtempo
Downtempo is a laid-back electronic music style similar to ambient music, but usually with a beat or groove unlike the beatless forms of Ambient music. The beat is sometimes made from loops that have a hypnotic feeling...
music. The band were inspired by an acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
radio session they had performed, which led the duo to incorporate acoustic guitars into their music to create "warm" and "delicate" sounds.
The album's lead single, "A&E
A&E (song)
"A&E" is a song performed by British duo Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's fourth album Seventh Tree...
", reached number ten in the UK. The single received positive reviews from critics, who found it to be "a beautifully paced ballad" and "lush, folky and organic". "Happiness
Happiness (Goldfrapp song)
"Happiness" is a folktronica song by the English duo Goldfrapp from their fourth studio album, Seventh Tree . Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, the song was released as the album's second single on 14 April 2008...
", the album's second single, reached number twenty-five in the UK. The third single, "Caravan Girl
Caravan Girl
"Caravan Girl" is a folktronica song performed by British duo Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's fourth album Seventh Tree...
", which describes the story of a girl that suffers from amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
, reached number fifty-four in the UK.
In 2008, Alison Goldfrapp again reinvented her image, this time as a circus performer. The artwork for Seventh Tree featured her dressed as a clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
because it is an "iconic image" with "so many different connotations". Goldfrapp chose to tone down her overtly sexual image because she felt that it was taking over the music. Her new image, inspired by Paganism, featured her dressed in white or natural-coloured flowing gowns with loose, curly blond hair.
Head First (2009–2010)
In September 2009, Goldfrapp announced that they had begun recording their fifth studio album, Head FirstHead First (Goldfrapp album)
Head First is the fifth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2010 by Mute Records. The album's lead single, "Rocket", was released on the iTunes Store on 5 March 2010...
. A photoshoot for the album already took place in November. On 1 December 2009 the duo announced the release of their fifth album, Head First, on 22 March 2010. Lead single "Rocket
Rocket (Goldfrapp song)
"Rocket" is a synthpop song by English duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First. Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Pascal Gabriel, the song was released as the album's lead single on 8 March 2010. To promote the single release,...
" was premiered on The Jo Whiley Show
The Jo Whiley Show
The Jo Whiley Show was a British weekday radio show on BBC Radio 1 hosted by Jo Whiley. The programme was on air from February 2001 to September 2009 and was broadcast each morning between 10:00am and 12:45pm. And Bank Holidays And Good Fridays At 10.00-13.00-Show Format:The show began at 10:00am...
on 23 January 2010 and subsequently released on 9 March 2010.
"Alive
Alive (Goldfrapp song)
"Alive" is a synthpop song by English duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First. Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Richard X, the song was released as the album's second single on 7 June 2010. The music video premiered on YouTube...
" was released as the second single from Head First on 7 June 2010 and was available as a download and limited edition picture vinyl. This date also marked the beginning of the Head First World Tour
Head First World Tour
Head First is the fifth concert tour from British band Goldfrapp in support of their fifth studio album, Head First, released in March 2010.-Development:...
in support of the album. The song "Believer" was released as the album's third single on 6 September 2010.
The album received a Grammy Award nomination in 2010 for Best Electronic/Dance Album and "Rocket" was nominated for Best Dance Recording. Following a successful year on the Billboard Music Charts, Goldfrapp appeared on a few of the Year End Charts in 2010
On 19 November 2010, Alison blogged on the band's official website that their contractual agreement with EMI had come to an end and that Goldfrapp will be releasing a 'Best Of' album for 2011/12.
Future work
On 2 May 2011 it was confirmed that Goldfrapp are working on a new album, as quoted from Goldfrapp's twitter account"As most of you know, our studio is in this part of the world and it's where we've written all our albums. We've started writing but won't be rushing things. I will keep you up to date with what we are up to."
On 27 July Alison Goldfrapp, from their Twitter account confirms that Goldfrapp will play in South-America for a three-date minitour which will take place at Personal Fest 2011, Buenos Aires (Argentina) on 4 November, Planeta Terra 2011 festival (Brazil) on 5 November and Maquinaria Festival (Chile) on 8 November.
Musical style
Although Goldfrapp's musical style has changed over time, they are considered to be an electronic music band. Goldfrapp has explored a range of musical styles in their songs, although many songs are characterized by Alison Goldfrapp's distinctive breathy, soft soprano vocals and Will Gregory's multi-layered synthesizer and string arrangements. The band's sound has progressed from an ambientAmbient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
sound in Felt Mountain, through electronic music in Black Cherry to a more glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
sound in Supernature, and most recently to a blend of ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and electronic in Seventh Tree and an 1980s synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
influence in Head First. However, they have experimented with other genres of music, such as cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
("Satin Chic", "Oompah Radar"), electroclash
Electroclash
Electroclash is a style of music that fuses New Wave and electronic dance music. It emerged in New York and Detroit in the later 1990s, pioneered by acts including I-F and those associated with Gerald Donald, and is associated with acts including Peaches, Adult, and Fischerspooner...
("Slide In", "Koko"), folktronica
Folktronica
Folktronica or electrofolk is a genre of music comprising various elements of folk music and electronica, often featuring samplings of acoustic instruments—especially stringed instruments—and incorporating hip hop rhythms...
("Clowns") and cha-cha-cha
Cha-cha-cha (music)
The Cha-cha-chá is a style of Cuban music. It is popular dance music which developed from the danzón in the early 1950s.- Origin :As a dance music genre, cha-cha-chá is unusual in that its creation can be attributed to a single composer, Enrique Jorrín, then violinist and songwriter with the...
("Human").
Goldfrapp draws inspiration from a range of artists and genres. Alison Goldfrapp listened to Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
, T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
, Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
and Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
as a teenager and discovered Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
while working in Belgium. While traveling through Europe in the early 1990s, she also began listening to Polish disco music and cabaret music from the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
. Will Gregory's musical background was classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and has cited Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
as his main influence. Other media, including film, have had an impact on Goldfrapp; Alison Goldfrapp cites Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
's psychological thriller
Psychological thriller
Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller with heavy focus on characters. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with the typical traits of the thriller genre...
Cul-de-sac, the cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
The Wicker Man, and the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
franchise as influences. They also draw inspiration from surrealism
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
and nature, all of which appear in the band's album artwork, which Goldfrapp designs in collaboration with Big Active. Goldfrapp have also remixed Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
's single "This Is the New Shit
This Is the New Shit
"This Is the New Shit" is the second single of Marilyn Manson's album The Golden Age of Grotesque. It has several new industrial beats that Tim Sköld added when he joined the band as the bassist in 2002. It was the most successful song from The Golden Age of Grotesque following mOBSCENE...
" and Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
's single "Judas
Judas (song)
"Judas" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga, taken from her second studio album Born This Way . The song was released worldwide on April 15, 2011, four days ahead of its scheduled release, by Interscope Records. Written and produced by Lady Gaga and RedOne, "Judas" is a dance song that...
".
The majority of the band's songs are composed by Goldfrapp and Gregory, although they have collaborated with session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
Nick Batt several times. They have called their writing sessions a "democratic affair", playing off one another while in the recording studio. However, Goldfrapp is responsible for the lyrics. While writing, Goldfrapp uses her vocals to create melodies and drumbeats. Gregory composes his music on vintage keyboards, interpreting the mood of Goldfrapp's lyrics. Alison Goldfrapp believes that "music is a visual experience" and therefore visualizes her lyrics before writing them. Her songwriting is characterized by its use of animals to describe human emotions and status.
Discography
- Felt MountainFelt MountainFelt Mountain is the debut album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 11 September 2000 by Mute Records...
(2000) - Black Cherry (2003)
- SupernatureSupernature (Goldfrapp album)Supernature is the third studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2005 by Mute Records, and received mostly favourable reviews. Most critics complimented its blend of pop and electronic music, while others called it uninspiring...
(2005) - Seventh TreeSeventh TreeSeventh Tree is the fourth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp, released in the United Kingdom on 25 February 2008 by Mute Records and the day after in the United States....
(2008) - Head FirstHead First (Goldfrapp album)Head First is the fifth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2010 by Mute Records. The album's lead single, "Rocket", was released on the iTunes Store on 5 March 2010...
(2010) - Best of (2011/2012)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Type | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | BRIT Awards 2004 Brit Awards The 2004 BRIT Awards were the 24th edition of the biggest annual pop music awards in the United Kingdom. They are run by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 17 February 2004 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. The awards were marked by a set of victories by the rock band The... |
British Dance Act | |
| ASCAP/PRS Awards | Dance Award | ||
| Ivor Novello Awards Ivor Novello Awards The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place... |
Best Dance Single ("Strict Machine Strict Machine "Strict Machine" is an electronic dance song written by British group Goldfrapp and Nick Batt for their second studio album Black Cherry . It was produced by Goldfrapp and describes laboratory rats in neuroscience experiments... ") |
||
| 2005 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Alternative | |
| 2007 | Grammy Awards | Best Dance Recording Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording The Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the dance music genre... ("Ooh La La") |
|
| Best Electronic/Dance Album Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album The Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronica Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the dance music and electronica genres... (Supernature Supernature (Goldfrapp album) Supernature is the third studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2005 by Mute Records, and received mostly favourable reviews. Most critics complimented its blend of pop and electronic music, while others called it uninspiring... ) |
|||
| International Dance Music Awards | Best Progressive House/Trance Track ("Number 1") | ||
| 2008 | Q Awards | Best Video ("Happiness Happiness (Goldfrapp song) "Happiness" is a folktronica song by the English duo Goldfrapp from their fourth studio album, Seventh Tree . Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, the song was released as the album's second single on 14 April 2008... ") |
|
| 2011 | Grammy Awards 53rd Grammy Awards The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were... |
Best Dance Recording ("Rocket Rocket (Goldfrapp song) "Rocket" is a synthpop song by English duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First. Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Pascal Gabriel, the song was released as the album's lead single on 8 March 2010. To promote the single release,... ") |
|
| Best Electronic/Dance Album (Head First Head First (Goldfrapp album) Head First is the fifth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2010 by Mute Records. The album's lead single, "Rocket", was released on the iTunes Store on 5 March 2010... ) |
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