Anastacia Biography

Source: http://hiponline.com/anniebio, www.billboard.com , www.billboard.com/artists.anastacia.htm

Anastacia Newkirk was born on September 17, 1973 in New York City. She was raised in Chicago by her mother until the age of 14 when her parents divorced and she moved back to the west side of Manhattan with her mother. Anastacia says she comes from a very artistic family. Anastacia’s mother is an actress who worked in Broadway musicals. Anastacia’s father was a singer on the Catskills Hotel and East coast nightclub circuits. Anastacia says she never thought about being a singer her whole life. Anastacia graduated from the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan where she says that she was the only child not working in the entertainment industry already.

Anastacia, and her older sister, became a regular at club 1018, a dance club in Manhattan. This is where she got her start. The club owner noticed her dancing and asked her if she could sing also. The club owner got Anastacia a manager. She appeared on the short-lived MTV television show The Cut . She won many times but at the end, did not win and was just a finalist. Ironically, her and fellow non-winner T-bone, who is a Christian rapper, were the most successful people from the show.

The finalist position on The Cut brought attention from many major record labels and many well-known musicians such as Michael Jackson. She became an acquaintance of Michael Jackson and he helped her into the business. Michael Jackson’s help got Anastacia a record deal. In July of 1999,Anastacia signed with Epic/Daylight records.

Her first album, Not That Kind, was released in June of 2000. It became a massive success around the globe. The first single from the album was I’m outta love, which became the biggest selling single in Europe in the year 2000. Not that kind sold over 5 million albums worldwide . Anastacia became a household name in Europe, Asia, and Australia. However, Anastacia was much more successful abroad than in her homeland of the United States, where Not That Kind sold only just under 200,000 copies. Anastacia remains virtually unknown in the United States.

Anastacia’s follow-up to Not That Kind was released in January of 2002. It was titled “Freak of Nature”. Freak of Nature was a also a mega success which sold over 5 million copies worldwide. It produced the number 1 hits “Paid My dues”, which remained number 1 in Germany for 14 weeks, “One Day in Your Life”, the title track ,“Freak of Nature”, “Why’d You Lie to Me”, and “You’ll Never be Alone”. It has been certified multi-platinum in over 25 countries worldwide. Anastacia says she called the album “Freak of Nature” because all of her favorite artists have always been “freaks”, or non-conformists . Also, Anastacia has an extremely soulful voice which is rare to find in a white woman. Many first-time listeners are shocked when they find out the voice they hear is coming from Anastacia, who is 5’ 2”, Blonde haired, and a white American woman in her late twenties. 

In January of 2003, Anastacia was diagnosed with breast cancer. From the beginning, she promised herself that the cancer wouldn’t stop her career. She went through with that promise by recording a song titled “Love is not a Crime” for the “Chicago” soundtrack. Anastacia was suffering from insomnia and was extremely ill from the cancer and radiation treatments. She had surgery to remove the cancer form her breast in March of 2003.

In September of 2003, Anastacia entered the recording studio with TLC producer Glen Ballard to write and record her third album, which was self-titled Anastacia. This album tells of her struggles with cancer and life in general, but it also has many ’happy’ tracks such as “Sexy Single” and “Seasons Change”. “Heavy on my Heart” is a song about Anastacia’s cancer and what she felt like during the time she had it. She stole the show at the 2004 Echo Awards in Germany when she performed it.

The first single from Anastacia is Left Outside Alone. It was released to radio outside North America on March 15, 2004. Anastacia was released outside North America on March 29, 2004. It has been number one in sales in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Beligum, France, Australia, and New Zealand since it was realeased in March. “Left Outside Alone” was number one on the billboard charts for 5 weeks and is currently still in the top 10. Anastacia will be released in the US on June 8th, 2004.

Anastacia is currently promoting her new album and will be touring this summer in Europe and Australia. Anastacia calls herself ‘bi-coastal’ and has a home in New York and Los Angeles. 

Thanks to Tim Chrzan for submitting the biography.

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Tell it like it is... | Reviewer: Anton Lorien | 2/10/11

Anastacia is a fabulous artist and great role model in the entertainment industry. With a strong, soulful voice covering a wide vocal range with perfect technique, although I'd rate Whitney the best female singer of the 80s, Mariah the best of the 90s and Beyonce being best of the 00s, Beyonce cannot rival Anastacia when it comes to power. I first heard Anastacia on the radio, thinking she was an awesome black singer only to see on Top of the Pops who actually was singing the record "I'm Outta Love"! I was impressed. Subsequently I bought the albums Not That Kind, and in the following years, Freak of Nature and Anastacia. From a professional opinion the best songs from each album are the following:

Not That Kind = Not That Kind, I'm Outta Love, Made For Lovin You and Love Is Alive = 4 out of the 12 tracks.

Freak Of Nature = You'll Never Be Alone, One Day In Your Life, How Come The World Won't Stop, Overdue Goodbye, Overdue Goodbye (Reprise), Why'd You Lie To Me, Don't Cha Wanna, I Dreamed You and Paid My Dues = 9 out of the 12 tracks.

Anastacia = Left Outside Alone, Sick And Tired, Heavy On My Heart, Welcome To My Truth and Seasons Change = 5 out of the 12 tracks.

Notice all albums have 12 tracks and are kickin, very strong tunes, not just her best tracks but some of the best tracks done and worth purchasing for your collection and enjoyment.

From what I can gather, from what I've observed and have referenced on the internet is that Anastacia changed her record label due to the lack of backing to promote her deservedly. They also decided to release the greatest hits compilation, Pieces of A Dream. What a stupid idea. For most artists it signals the best work of an artist's career - Anastacia should have been given the proper backing and she would have been a gargantuan success especially in the United States - how ridiculous she's hardly known there - this will change.

After listening to Anastacia's most recent album, Heavy Rotation I concluded it's an album of mostly, what I call "productions" NOT songs with the exception of You'll Be Fine which is beautiful. Like many artists whose best work is behind them i.e. Whitney, Mariah, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, the list goes on, apart from lacking the appropriate backing, they are missing one key thing = good material. After many years of analysing, it's accurate to put an artist's initial success/"making it" AND sustaining of success down to such a factor.

Thus, I sincerely wish Anastacia get some more good people behind her or flow herself more power as a songwriter and get more good material out like she had before but of course, this time, getting the deserved respect and support she should get if she's happy with the record label, etc. she's with now. And for the future, all of her songs or albums should be re-released without doubt and be the successful albums they rightfully should be.

I'm a professional singer/songwriter of 14yrs and I hope to also make it shortly, you can buy my debut single, in aid of Afghan Heroes on iTunes called We Are The Brits - all proceeds go to charity. I have a love and respect for Anastacia and would be most happy to collaborate with her in the future. Although rare for a male singer, I actually sing her songs - although, very demanding, possible with the correct technique; hence, being so sure-footed in my stance here. It's also an outrage she is not regarded enough and pass on all my best wishes to her and hope to hear much more from Anastacia.

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Wow! | Reviewer: Marcus | 4/21/10

I have followed this woman for the best part of 8 years! I love her, her voice is just untouchable by some artists. It was so strange to see that she was white, as most white women don't have as much soul in their songs. I'm so glad she got through cancer, and the amazing album that followed it WOW! I love all her albums though (apart from heavy rotation, I only like that)

She's a godess, and I love her style, it really suits her. In December 2009 I went to see her in the Here Come the Girls tour (she doesn't perform much in the UK so I had to go), she was with Chaka Khan and Lulu, was such a great performance I loved every minute and didn't sit down! She's such a great, unique, genuine person. And who would guess she's 41...I wouldn't that's for sure.

Fave songs: I'm Outta Love, Not That Kind, I Ask Of You, Yo Trippin', One More Chance, Paid My Dues, Freak of Nature, One Day In Your Life, You'll Never Be Alone, I Dreamed of You, Love is a Crime, Left Outside Alone, Season's Change, Sick and Tired, Time, I Do, Rearview, Sexy Single, Welcome to My Truth, Heavy on my Heart, Maybe Today, Everything Burns, Pieces of a Dream, I Belong to You (Il Ritmo Della Ta Passione) In Your Eyes, I Can Feel You, Defeated, Stalemate, Calling All Angels

So yeah, I think I only like a few of her songs...haha!

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Anastacia floats the duckbath! | Reviewer: AnastaciaFan4EVER | 9/2/08

Anastacia is the most amazing singer you will ever hear. She is also a great comedian and a fantastic 'people person'. She loves her fans and would do anything for those she cares about. In reply to Sue ("She's the best thing that ever happened since david byrne") I too think that David Byrne has great grey hair and Anastacia is a SUPER star. She is iconic and the legend will live on forever. Thank you Anastacia for the music you have given the world. May the 17th always be with you.

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Anastacia site | Reviewer: Fan | 6/21/07

Anastacia is just amazing, visit my site about her! www.anastacia.xx.pl

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hello | Reviewer: georg | 2/11/07

Hi Ana. I love you very much and i will always love you. you're so beautiful. i wish you helth.
you're my sister i wanna be a singer becous you are a singer bye

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The Amazing Anastacia | Reviewer: Daniel | 12/7/06

I just love her so much she is so amazing. Her voice is awesome, and her music sprocks like no other!!

I'm so glad she's all good after cancer I would have died if anything happened to her... also, her music changed after cancer I love how that happened.

I LOVE YOU ANA I WILL NEVER LET YOU GO!!

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She is adorable! | Reviewer: Sprock | 6/2/06

She is the best. Anastacia really sprocks! Her songs is great.

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Shes the best thing that ever happened since david byrne | Reviewer: Sue | 2/17/06

I love her.

Her music is great.

She upstages david byrne by a mile or five even though he rocks too and has nice grey hair.

She upstages him because she is American and david byrne was only brought up there.

Our good calum mcsue mcintosh (nickname crapbag) thinks she is a superstar in a gaybar (like the song). But that was only his words.
He also likes her glasses.

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Amazing young women | Reviewer: Courtney | 11/17/05

She has an amazing voice who would of thought that it came from a 32-year-old white 5"3 women she writes great songs and involes her fans i just love her to bits she is so amazing words can't describe how great she is

ANASTACIA ROCKS!!!

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Anastacia is FAB!! | Reviewer: Chelsea | 10/19/05

She has an amazing voice and is so down 2 Earth, especially with her fans. She is Simply the Best :D

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