Friday, April 27, 2007

Don't Stop The Music


I know many blogs have posted about Robyn before, so I figured I would take my turn and post some music from this wildly successful swedish superstar.

Robyn had her big break back in 1995 when she was signed to RCA Records. Soon after her debut single 'You've Got That Something' was released in Sweden she had her breakthrough single in Sweden with the release of 'Do You Really Want Me (Show Respect).'

It didn't take long before the whole world was singing along with Robyn. In 1997 'Show Me Love' & 'Do You Know What It Takes' hit North America and ended up on the billboard top 10. It was clear that Robyn had arrived. 'Show Me Love' was wildly successful across the globe. In 1998 Robyn had been signed to go on tour across the globe opening for the Backstreet Boys. Unfortunately before the tour began Robyn was diagnosed with exhaustion and she returned to Sweden to recuperate. What the world didn't know is that this would be the last time they would hear from Robyn for a long time.

In 1999 Robyn's second album 'My Truth' was released in Sweden and again was a hit, reching #2 in Sweden with the first single 'Electric' hitting charts across Europe. Instead of releasing the album internationally, RCA records decided her new sound wouldn't be well received in North America and the Uk and RCA decided to have Robyn re-record the album with a more 'US friendly sound." Robyn valued her artistic credibility over album sales and refused to re-record the album. As a result the album never saw an international release. Robyn simply dissapeared from the public consciousness.

2002 saw the release of 'Don't Stop The Music' was released in Sweden and again was promised a US release. Tracks were re-vamped for an international release but it never happened. Her single 'Keep This Fire Burning' was covered by 'Play' in the U.S and Beverly Knight had a Uk radio hit with her version of the song as well.

This is where things got interesting... Robyn had had enough. As an artist she was tired of working for record labels who were only interested in controlling her work and financial gain. Robyn bought herself out of her contract with her record label and in 2005 she formed her own record label...Konichiwa Records.

Today Robyn is in control of her career and continues to be successful across Europe. Her self-released album 'Robyn' was her first album to debut at #1 in Sweden in 2005. In 2006 she won 3 Swedisn Grammy awards for Best Album, Best song-writer & Best Female.' In 2007 Robyn finally returned to the Uk releasing the album 'Robyn.'

I think Robyn's story is not only interesting but you can't help but show her respect for what she has been through. She is incredibly talented and I can't wait to see what she does next.





WOW - What a perfromance - Catch it below

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