Leila K
Encyclopedia
Laila El Khalifi better known by her stage name
Leila K, is a Swedish Eurodance
singer and former rapper
of Moroccan
descent.
, but she did not fit into the system so after one year she returned to Sweden.
She was discovered by the musical duo Rob'n'Raz
when singing in a music contest. They liked her music and offered her a recording contract
in 1988. Together with Rob'n'Raz she had her first hit
in 1989 with the song
"Got To Get" (first recorded within the UK as a pre-production demo by Pete Towns of P&P Productions) (#8 UK
, #3 Germany
).
During the first years of her career she had many chart-topping
hits and her music was played all over Europe
. She broke up with Rob'n'Raz and went on her own to Ibiza
, where she was treated like a superstar and managed to set up concert
s on her own. Her solo career started in 1991 with the single
"Time" which she followed up with many other popular singles, such as her biggest hit "Open Sesame" (#23 UK, #5 Germany) and a cover version
of Plastic Bertrand's
"Ça Plane Pour Moi
" (#69 UK, #13 Germany). In 1993 she was the best selling female artist in Europe.
In 1995 Leila K was back on the music scene with the hit single "Electric". She kept releasing new music until 1997, but since then she has not released anything new.
In 1998, SVT
made a documentary
about Leila K's claim for stardom called Fuck You, Fuck You Very Much. The event focuses on an incident that happened during the 1996 Swedish Grammis
awards. In 2000, she appeared on Daisy Dee
's "Open Sesame" video
, a cover of her own 1992 hit. Daisy Dee was the presenter of the show "Viva Club Rotation" at the time. In 2003, Swedish media reported that Leila K was living on the streets, stealing food for herself.
In 2005, the Swedish cartoonist Martin Kellerman
conducted an interview with her for his own comic book
magazine
, Rocky. On June 15, 2007, Swedish media reported that she turned up as a surprise guest at a release party for the book Bögjävlar, performing the songs "Ça Plane Pour Moi", and her old hit, "Electric
".
2009 the rock documentary Fuck You, Fuck You Very Much was released May 2009 in Sweden
.
In May 2011, Leila K appeared for the first time in years as a feature guest on a new track called "Legendary" by artist Wallenberg
. It's still unclear whether new material of or with Leila K will be released in near future.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Leila K, is a Swedish Eurodance
Eurodance
Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
singer and former rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
of 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...
descent.
Biography
Her parents decided to send her to a school in MoroccoMorocco
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...
, but she did not fit into the system so after one year she returned to Sweden.
She was discovered by the musical duo Rob'n'Raz
Rob'n'Raz
Rob'n'Raz were a Swedish musician duo of Robert Wåtz and Rasmus Lindwall.After some years of disc jockeying in the late 1980s, they decided to start performing and composing together. They worked on production, remixing and scratching...
when singing in a music contest. They liked her music and offered her a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
in 1988. Together with Rob'n'Raz she had her first hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in 1989 with the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"Got To Get" (first recorded within the UK as a pre-production demo by Pete Towns of P&P Productions) (#8 UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, #3 Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
).
During the first years of her career she had many chart-topping
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
hits and her music was played all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. She broke up with Rob'n'Raz and went on her own to Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, where she was treated like a superstar and managed to set up concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s on her own. Her solo career started in 1991 with the single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Time" which she followed up with many other popular singles, such as her biggest hit "Open Sesame" (#23 UK, #5 Germany) and a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Plastic Bertrand's
Plastic Bertrand
Plastic Bertrand is a Belgian musician, songwriter, producer, editor and television presenter, best known for the 1977 international hit single "Ça plane pour moi".-Early life and bands:...
"Ça Plane Pour Moi
Ça plane pour moi
"'" is a punk rock song by Plastic Bertrand, although the voice on the original recordings is of producer Lou Deprijck. It was issued as a single in December 1977. The song was composed by Yvan Lacomblez and produced by Lou Deprijck. "Jet Boy, Jet Girl", an adaptation recorded in November 1977 by...
" (#69 UK, #13 Germany). In 1993 she was the best selling female artist in Europe.
In 1995 Leila K was back on the music scene with the hit single "Electric". She kept releasing new music until 1997, but since then she has not released anything new.
In 1998, SVT
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
made a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about Leila K's claim for stardom called Fuck You, Fuck You Very Much. The event focuses on an incident that happened during the 1996 Swedish Grammis
Grammis
The Grammis Awards are the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards. The awards ceremony is generally held each year in February in Stockholm.The awards were established in 1969 and awarded until 1972 when they were cancelled....
awards. In 2000, she appeared on Daisy Dee
Daisy Dee
Desiree Rollocks is a singer, actress and TV host, especially well known in the German-speaking world.- History of Daisy Dee's career :...
's "Open Sesame" video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, a cover of her own 1992 hit. Daisy Dee was the presenter of the show "Viva Club Rotation" at the time. In 2003, Swedish media reported that Leila K was living on the streets, stealing food for herself.
In 2005, the Swedish cartoonist Martin Kellerman
Martin Kellerman
Martin Kellerman is a Swedish cartoonist, known for the comic strip Rocky.-Biography:Kellerman was influenced by American and Swedish underground cartoonists such as Peter Bagge, Max Andersson, Robert Crumb, Harvey Pekar, Joe Matt and Mats Jonsson. Kellerman states that his work resembles "a...
conducted an interview with her for his own comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, Rocky. On June 15, 2007, Swedish media reported that she turned up as a surprise guest at a release party for the book Bögjävlar, performing the songs "Ça Plane Pour Moi", and her old hit, "Electric
Electric (Leila K song)
"Electric" is a song performed by Leila K. The song was released as a single in late 1995 and later included on the 1996 album Manic Panic. The chorus is sung by Jessica Folcker....
".
2009 the rock documentary Fuck You, Fuck You Very Much was released May 2009 in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
In May 2011, Leila K appeared for the first time in years as a feature guest on a new track called "Legendary" by artist Wallenberg
Wallenberg (artist)
Petter Wallenberg is a Swedish music producer, song writer, author and artist. He uses the name Wallenberg for his musical releases....
. It's still unclear whether new material of or with Leila K will be released in near future.
Albums
- Rob'n'Raz feat Leila K (1990) (#14 SWESwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) - CarouselCarousel (Leila K album)- Track listing :# "Carousel" 6:08# "Open Sesame" 8:49# "Ca plane pour moi" 5:47# "Slow Motion" 4:00# "Glam!" 3:43# "Check the Dan" 5:22# "Pyramid" 4:34# "Massively Massive" 4:22# "Close Your Eyes" 3:20# "Open Sesame" 4:23...
(1993) (#30 SWE) - Manic PanicManic Panic (Leila K album)Manic Panic is an album released in 1996 by Swedish singer Leila K.- Track listing :# "C'Mon Now" 3:04# "Blacklisted" 3:55# "Dynamite" 3:19# "It's 2 Die 4" 4:02# "Electric" 3:35# "Murderer" 3:13# "Rude Boy" 3:11# "Cue Club" 3:28...
(1996) (#17 SWE) - Leila K's Greatest Tracks (2003) (#40 SWE)
Singles
- "Got to GetGot to Get"Got to Get" is a single released by Rob'n'Raz featuring Leila K in 1989. It contains a sample of Nasty Girl by Vanity 6.- Versions :* Club Version 5:15* Radio Edit 4:30* Instrumental 4:16* Single Version 3:45* Extended Mix 4:26* SweMix 5:40...
" (1989) (#10 SWESwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, #8 UKUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
) - "Rok the NationRok the Nation-Versions:* Rok The Dancefloor 6:52* Radio Edit 3:43* SweMix Club Version 5:20* Panik Mix 6:08* Funk-E-Drummer Mix 6:11* Like A Drum Mix 3:42-References:*http://web.archive.org/web/20050215215804/tihlde.org/~ivara/leilak/rok_the_nation.html...
" (1990) (#3 SWE, #41 UKUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
) - "Just Tell Me" (1990)
- "It Feels So Right" (1990)
- "Hello AfrikaHello Afrika (song)"Hello Afrika" is a 1990 song recorded by the Sweden-based musician and producer Dr Alban. It was his debut single from his first album, with the same name...
" (with Dr. AlbanDr. AlbanAlban Uzoma Nwapa , known by his stage name Dr. Alban, is a Nigerian, Sweden-based musician and producer with his own record label dr-records. His music can best be described as a Eurodance/hip-hop reggae with a dancehall style. He is most famous for his worldwide 1992 hit "It's My...
) (1990) (#7 SWE) - "Time" (1991)
- "Magic Ball" (1991) (#30 SWE)
- "Open SesameOpen Sesame (Leila K song)"Open Sesame" is a single released by Leila K in 1992 with vocals by Leila K. and Deep Fried.- Versions :# Radio Edit 3:50# Extended 8:51# Felix Remix 5:22# Bouncing Baby Remix 3:39# Karaoke Remix 3:50# Radio Edit 3:28# Album Version 8:51...
" (1992) (#21 SWE, #23 UKUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
) - "Open Sesame Remixes" (1992)
- "Ça Plane Pour MoiÇa plane pour moi"'" is a punk rock song by Plastic Bertrand, although the voice on the original recordings is of producer Lou Deprijck. It was issued as a single in December 1977. The song was composed by Yvan Lacomblez and produced by Lou Deprijck. "Jet Boy, Jet Girl", an adaptation recorded in November 1977 by...
" / "Check the Dan" (1993) (#25 SWE, #69 UKUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
) - "Slow Motion" (1993) (#27 SWE)
- "Close Your Eyes" (1993)
- "ElectricElectric (Leila K song)"Electric" is a song performed by Leila K. The song was released as a single in late 1995 and later included on the 1996 album Manic Panic. The chorus is sung by Jessica Folcker....
" (1995) (#8 SWE) - "Electric Remixes" (1995)
- "C'Mon Now" (1996) (#21 SWE)
- "Rude Boy" (1996) (#29 SWE)
- "Blacklisted" (1996)
- "Party Police (12" Promo) (1997)
- "Open Sesame '99" (1999)
- "Burning Up" (1999)
- "I Love To Roll" (With Backyard BabiesBackyard BabiesBackyard Babies are a rock band, from Nässjö, Sweden. The band was formed in 1987 and over the years they have released five studio albums and won a Swedish Grammy. The band is now located in Stockholm, Sweden....
) (2000)