The MacDonald Brothers
Encyclopedia
The MacDonald Brothers are a Scottish pop rock
duo from Ayrshire
in Scotland
, consisting of brothers Brian and Craig MacDonald. They first rose to prominence in the third UK series of television talent show The X Factor
in 2006, and have since gone on to release four albums.
The brothers are currently signed with Big Jo-Ke Records in Australia
but remain living in Scotland. As well as singing, both Craig and Brian play a range of instruments
including the violin, accordion, guitar, pink flute, mouth organ and piano.
, Scotland singing "Don't Worry Baby
" originally by The Beach Boys
, and the judges comments were positive, with Sharon Osbourne
saying "You made that song not sound Californian, you made it sound Scottish ..." and Louis Walsh
added "Which Was Good!". The band received three positve votes from the judges Simon Cowell
, Osbourne and Walsh. Throughout the show, the boys were mentored and coached by Walsh, who became their music manager throughout their career.
The brothers finished in fourth place, with Leona Lewis
being the eventual winner. The Macdonald Brothers signed a recording contract
with Syco Records, along with Sony Music Entertainment
.
, The MacDonald Brothers
, which was released on 2 April 2007. The album entered the UK Album Charts at #18. The album also charted at #1 on the Scottish Albums Chart. The album consisted mainly of covers
including "Real Gone Kid
", "Shang-A-Lang", "When You Say Nothing At All
" and "Bye Bye Baby".
"Runaway (Do You Love Me)" was released as a single, which was written by Elton John
.
Their fourth and most recent album, Young Celts
was released on 13 October 2008. "You Can Always Come Home Son" was released as a single. The duo undertook a 2010 tour around Scotland, and worked in Australia
.
for the majority of their 2008 tour. They played at the Alford Transport Museum on 12 September 2009.
" and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
".
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
duo from Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, consisting of brothers Brian and Craig MacDonald. They first rose to prominence in the third UK series of television talent show The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
in 2006, and have since gone on to release four albums.
The brothers are currently signed with Big Jo-Ke Records in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
but remain living in Scotland. As well as singing, both Craig and Brian play a range of instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
including the violin, accordion, guitar, pink flute, mouth organ and piano.
X Factor
The Macdonald Brothers are Brian (born 28 November 1986) and Craig (born 16 December 1985). They auditioned for The X Factor (UK series 3) in 2006 in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland singing "Don't Worry Baby
Don't Worry Baby
"Don’t Worry Baby" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian, produced by Wilson and first recorded by the Beach Boys. The band's version, a tender ballad with falsetto lead vocal by Brian, was first released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. It was also released as the B-side of...
" originally by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, and the judges comments were positive, with Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
saying "You made that song not sound Californian, you made it sound Scottish ..." and Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
added "Which Was Good!". The band received three positve votes from the judges 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...
, Osbourne and Walsh. Throughout the show, the boys were mentored and coached by Walsh, who became their music manager throughout their career.
The brothers finished in fourth place, with 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....
being the eventual winner. The Macdonald Brothers signed 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...
with Syco Records, along with Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
.
The Macdonald Brothers (2006-2007)
After The X Factor, the band recorded their debut albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, The MacDonald Brothers
The MacDonald Brothers (album)
The MacDonald Brothers is a self-titled album by Scottish band The MacDonald Brothers. It was recorded in 2007 and released on 2 April 2007...
, which was released on 2 April 2007. The album entered the UK Album Charts at #18. The album also charted at #1 on the Scottish Albums Chart. The album consisted mainly of covers
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...
including "Real Gone Kid
Real Gone Kid
"Real Gone Kid" is a song by the Scottish rock/pop band Deacon Blue. Rleased in 1988, it was the first single to from the band's second album When the World Knows Your Name which was released six months later. The single was the band's first top ten hit, reaching #8 in the UK Singles Chart...
", "Shang-A-Lang", "When You Say Nothing At All
When You Say Nothing at All
"When You Say Nothing at All" is the debut solo single by Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Keating. The song was recorded in 1999 for the soundtrack of the film Notting Hill. It also appeared on Keating's debut solo album, Ronan. The song was released on July 26, 1999 in the United Kingdom. It peaked...
" and "Bye Bye Baby".
The World Outside (2007-2008)
Their second album, The World Outside was released on 15 October 2007. The album peaked at #41 on the UK chart. It entered the Scottish chart at #2."Runaway (Do You Love Me)" was released as a single, which was written by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
.
With Love and Young Celts (2008-present)
The third album, With Love was released on 18 February 2008, and failed to appear in the UK chart.Their fourth and most recent album, Young Celts
Young Celts
Young Celts is a 2008 studio album by Scottish brother band The MacDonald Brothers, who were contestants on The X Factor. The album was released on 13 October 2008.-Background:...
was released on 13 October 2008. "You Can Always Come Home Son" was released as a single. The duo undertook a 2010 tour around Scotland, and worked in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Concert tours
As well as appearing with other X Factor contestants on The X Factor Live tour, the duo supported WestlifeWestlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
for the majority of their 2008 tour. They played at the Alford Transport Museum on 12 September 2009.
SECC, Choices for Life
During May 2009, The MacDonald Brothers performed four songs at Choices for Life, a concert for Scottish primary schools as part of a drug awareness campaign. They sang an extra two songs, "Flower of ScotlandFlower of Scotland
Flower of Scotland is a Scottish song, used frequently at special occasions and sporting events. Although there is no official national anthem of Scotland, Flower of Scotland is one of a number of songs which unofficially fulfil this role, along with the older Scots Wha Hae, Scotland the Brave...
" and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
"I'm Gonna Be " is a song written and performed by The Proclaimers. It was released on their 1988 Sunshine on Leith album, and subsequently as a single. It has become one of their most popular songs, reaching No. 11 in the UK charts and No. 1 on the Australian ARIA Charts in 1989, plus, five years...
".
Instruments Used
- Brian MacDonald - Vocals, Piano, Keyboard
- Craig MacDonald - Vocals, Guitar, Accoustic Guitar, Keyboard
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK 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... |
||
| 2007 | The MacDonald Brothers The MacDonald Brothers (album) The MacDonald Brothers is a self-titled album by Scottish band The MacDonald Brothers. It was recorded in 2007 and released on 2 April 2007...
|
18 |
| 2007 | The World Outside
Pop music Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop... , rock Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... Syco Syco Entertainment, often known as simply Syco , is a global joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment focused on the production and exploitation of music, television, film and digital content... Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
41 |
| 2008 | With Love
Pop music Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop... , rock Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... , 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.... Syco Syco Entertainment, often known as simply Syco , is a global joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment focused on the production and exploitation of music, television, film and digital content... Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
– |
| 2008 | Young Celts Young Celts Young Celts is a 2008 studio album by Scottish brother band The MacDonald Brothers, who were contestants on The X Factor. The album was released on 13 October 2008.-Background:... Pop music Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop... , rock Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... , 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.... Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
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