One Voice (Andrew Johnston album)
Encyclopedia
One Voice is the debut album by British boy soprano
Andrew Johnston
, who rose to fame in 2008 after his appearance on the second series
of Britain's Got Talent
. The album was released on 29 September 2008 by Syco Music, Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell
's record label. Recorded in London, the album features both classical and popular songs, some of which had been previously performed by Johnston, including a duet with Faryl Smith
. Johnston made a number of media appearances to publicise the album's launch, and appeared in his hometown of Carlisle on the day of the release, where the album sold out. Upon release, One Voice debuted at number five in the British album charts, finishing the week at number four. It also charted in Ireland, reaching number six. Critics responded positively to the album, favourably comparing Johnston to Aled Jones
, and One Voice was rated gold in the UK.
of reality show Britain's Got Talent
. Johnston reached the final, held on 31 May 2008, and finished in third place. Despite this, it was announced that he had been signed by judge Simon Cowell
's label Syco Music in June, and that his debut album would be released in late 2008. It was on the show that Johnston first performed a rendition of "Pie Jesu
", later described as "the song that made him famous", as well as a cover of Eric Clapton
's "Tears in Heaven
". Both of these songs were recorded for One Voice, and so was a duet of "Walking in the Air
" with fellow contestant Faryl Smith
, first performed on the Britain's Got Talent Live Tour.
contestant Faryl Smith
, and the song was tipped as a potential Christmas number-one. The recording was finished by September 2008, after which Johnston began to make appearances to publicise the release, including appearances on GMTV
, Channel 5 News, BBC Breakfast
, This Morning
and Radio 2
's Friday Night Is Music Night. In preparation for the album's promotion, Johnston received confidence tutoring. He said that "I've got no confidence and sometimes people get on at me for being moody so I've had some help with that." Johnston also received vocal training from Yvie Burnett
, who was, at the time, coaching Leona Lewis
and Leon Jackson
, and with whom Smith trained during Britain's Got Talent. The album was produced by Nigel Wright.
The release of One Voice was highly anticipated, and demand was so great that it charted on both Amazon's pre-sales chart and the easy listening chart before its release. The album was released on 29 September, later than first announced, and was Syco's first release in the fourth quarter. Johnston made an appearance at the city-centre Woolworths
store in his home town of Carlisle to celebrate the album launch on 1 October, and spoke to reporters for the local paper The Cumberland News, saying "I am really grateful to my local supporters and it is great to take part in my first signing here in Carlisle." In February 2009, the album was released in South Korea
.
, Robert Spellman said that "anyone missing Aled Jones since nature had its way will lap up Andrew's butter-wouldn't-melt renditions of Pie Jesu, Agnus Dei and One Voice." Kate Leaver, writing for South Korea's JoongAng Daily, said Johnston "has truer talent than hoards of his musical elders" and that "the vulnerability of this One Voice makes for a haunting musical experience."
One Voice entered the UK Album Chart at number five, and finished the week at number four. It stayed in the top 75 for five weeks. Demand for the album in Johnston's local area was so great that many Carlisle stores had sold out of the album the day after its release. In an interview published in the Daily Record
, Johnston said "Thanks to everyone that has bought the album. You've made my dreams come true". The album has sold over 120,000 copies, and was rated gold in the UK. Johnston was presented a gold disk by Penny Smith
, and said that "it was such a surprise to see how well the album did". The album also charted in the Irish Album Charts, entering at ten, peaking at six and spending a total of seven weeks in the top 75.
Boy soprano
A boy soprano is a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the soprano range. Although a treble, or choirboy, may also be considered to be a boy soprano, the more colloquial term boy soprano is generally only used for boys who sing, perform, or record as soloists, and who may not necessarily...
Andrew Johnston
Andrew Johnston (singer)
Andrew Johnston is a British singer who rose to fame when he appeared as a boy soprano on the second series of the British television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. Although he did not win the series, he received a contract to record on the SyCo Music label owned by the Britain's Got...
, who rose to fame in 2008 after his appearance on the second series
Britain's Got Talent (Series 2)
The 2008 series of Britain's Got Talent was the second series of the show. Notable differences from the 2007 series the included the fact that the auditions visited Scotland and that there were 40 in the live semi-finals...
of Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
. The album was released on 29 September 2008 by Syco Music, Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell
Simon 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...
's record label. Recorded in London, the album features both classical and popular songs, some of which had been previously performed by Johnston, including a duet with Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith is a British teen mezzo-soprano who rose to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. She received praise throughout the competition, and although she was the favourite to win after the second round, she finished...
. Johnston made a number of media appearances to publicise the album's launch, and appeared in his hometown of Carlisle on the day of the release, where the album sold out. Upon release, One Voice debuted at number five in the British album charts, finishing the week at number four. It also charted in Ireland, reaching number six. Critics responded positively to the album, favourably comparing Johnston to Aled Jones
Aled Jones
Aled Jones is a Welsh singer and television/radio personality, broadcaster and television presenter who first came to fame as a treble...
, and One Voice was rated gold in the UK.
Background
Johnston first rose to fame when he tried out for the second seriesBritain's Got Talent (Series 2)
The 2008 series of Britain's Got Talent was the second series of the show. Notable differences from the 2007 series the included the fact that the auditions visited Scotland and that there were 40 in the live semi-finals...
of reality show Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
. Johnston reached the final, held on 31 May 2008, and finished in third place. Despite this, it was announced that he had been signed by judge Simon Cowell
Simon 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...
's label Syco Music in June, and that his debut album would be released in late 2008. It was on the show that Johnston first performed a rendition of "Pie Jesu
Pie Jesu
Pie Jesu is a motet derived from the final couplet of the Dies irae and often included in musical settings of the Requiem Mass. The settings of the Requiem Mass by Luigi Cherubini, Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Duruflé, John Rutter, Karl Jenkins and Fredrik Sixten include a Pie Jesu as an independent...
", later described as "the song that made him famous", as well as a cover of Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
's "Tears in Heaven
Tears in Heaven
"Tears in Heaven" is a ballad written by Eric Clapton and Will Jennings about the pain and loss Clapton felt following the death of his four-year-old son, Conor. Conor fell from a window of the 53rd-floor New York apartment of his mother's friend on March 20, 1991. Clapton, who arrived at the...
". Both of these songs were recorded for One Voice, and so was a duet of "Walking in the Air
Walking in the Air
"Walking in the Air" is a song written by Howard Blake for the 1982 animated film of Raymond Briggs' 1978 children's book The Snowman. In the film the song was performed by St Paul's Cathedral choirboy Peter Auty...
" with fellow contestant Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith is a British teen mezzo-soprano who rose to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. She received praise throughout the competition, and although she was the favourite to win after the second round, she finished...
, first performed on the Britain's Got Talent Live Tour.
Recording and release
The album was recorded immediately after Johnston finished the Britain's Got Talent live tour over a six week period in London. The track listing, which contained both religious and popular songs, was chosen by Cowell; Johnston said "I hadn't sung many of the tracks before. But I knew them all and, anyway, I like a challenge." Johnston described recording the album as "great", and said "All I’ve ever wanted to do is go into a studio and record an album and it was everything I’ve ever dreamed of." Johnson recorded "Walking in the Air" as a duet with fellow Britain's Got TalentBritain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
contestant Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith is a British teen mezzo-soprano who rose to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. She received praise throughout the competition, and although she was the favourite to win after the second round, she finished...
, and the song was tipped as a potential Christmas number-one. The recording was finished by September 2008, after which Johnston began to make appearances to publicise the release, including appearances on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
, Channel 5 News, BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
, This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
and Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
's Friday Night Is Music Night. In preparation for the album's promotion, Johnston received confidence tutoring. He said that "I've got no confidence and sometimes people get on at me for being moody so I've had some help with that." Johnston also received vocal training from Yvie Burnett
Yvie Burnett
Yvie Burnett , is a Scottish mezzosoprano singer and vocal coach, best known for her work with Simon Cowell on television shows The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.-Education:...
, who was, at the time, coaching Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
and Leon Jackson
Leon Jackson
Leon Jackson is a Scottish singer-songwriter. He won the fourth series of British talent show The X Factor in 2007. Following his win, Jackson was the main star of his on-web series entitled Leon's Life, which ran from 2007 until 2008...
, and with whom Smith trained during Britain's Got Talent. The album was produced by Nigel Wright.
The release of One Voice was highly anticipated, and demand was so great that it charted on both Amazon's pre-sales chart and the easy listening chart before its release. The album was released on 29 September, later than first announced, and was Syco's first release in the fourth quarter. Johnston made an appearance at the city-centre Woolworths
Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group plc was a listed British company that owned the high-street retail chain, Woolworths, as well as other brands such as the entertainment distributor Entertainment UK and book and resource distributor Bertram Books...
store in his home town of Carlisle to celebrate the album launch on 1 October, and spoke to reporters for the local paper The Cumberland News, saying "I am really grateful to my local supporters and it is great to take part in my first signing here in Carlisle." In February 2009, the album was released in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Reception and performance
Critics responded positively to the album. Writing for the United Kingdom's Daily ExpressDaily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
, Robert Spellman said that "anyone missing Aled Jones since nature had its way will lap up Andrew's butter-wouldn't-melt renditions of Pie Jesu, Agnus Dei and One Voice." Kate Leaver, writing for South Korea's JoongAng Daily, said Johnston "has truer talent than hoards of his musical elders" and that "the vulnerability of this One Voice makes for a haunting musical experience."
One Voice entered the UK Album Chart at number five, and finished the week at number four. It stayed in the top 75 for five weeks. Demand for the album in Johnston's local area was so great that many Carlisle stores had sold out of the album the day after its release. In an interview published in the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
, Johnston said "Thanks to everyone that has bought the album. You've made my dreams come true". The album has sold over 120,000 copies, and was rated gold in the UK. Johnston was presented a gold disk by Penny Smith
Penny Smith
Penelope Jane Smith is an English television presenter and newsreader. She has worked on the breakfast TV show GMTV, for Sky News and for Classic FM.-Early life:...
, and said that "it was such a surprise to see how well the album did". The album also charted in the Irish Album Charts, entering at ten, peaking at six and spending a total of seven weeks in the top 75.
Choir
- London Lads - Chorus
- London Oratory School Schola - Chorus
- Anne Skates - Vocal Arrangement, vocal contractor, children's choirmaster
- Lee Ward - Children's choirmastering
- Sebastian Budner - Choir coordination
- Joan Lane - Choir coordination
Music
- Sylvia Addison - Orchestra contracting
- Pete Murray - Arrangement
- Rolf Wilson - Orchestra leading
- Nigel Wright - Arrangement, conducting
Production and publicity
- Dave Arch - arranger
- Joanna Baker - Music preparation
- John Baker - Music preparation
- Dick Beetham - Mastering
- Robin Sellars - Engineering
- Josh Blair - Assistant engineering
- Paula Chandler - Digital editing
- Paul Chandler - Digital editing
- Yann McCullough - Digital and vocal editing
- Yvie Burnette - Vocal production and coaching
- Sarah Payne - Personal assistance
- Nigel Wright - Production
- Simon Fowler - Photography