Keedie

[roger]

Thanks Nicola,

As you know, I am a Keedie fan and will certainly be adding her next CD to my collection. Please tell us whatever you can when you can.

Roger

[nicola]

I know it has literally been years, but Keedie is still struggling to get a record deal! Career wise, she is doing okay, doing some massive gigs.

I thought I'd post to mention that she will be at the Cockington Proms on 12th July. She's the vocalist throughout the evening. I am going to meet people for the first time whilst I am there and am very excited. The proms are being held for charity. If you are interested, go here: www.cockingtonproms.co.uk/

In other news, Keedie is looking better than ever, and has recently got engaged to a formula one racer, James Green. They will marry in September this year.

Keedie was due to work on a project with Diane Warren, but other people that they were both relying on became no shows. What an unreliable business this is! I do, however, have some new recordings by Keedie and will be posting them on her MySpace in due course: www.myspace.com/keediebabb

I know it's been years, and everyone had probably forgotten about her, but I'm just throwing this out there.

[roger]

Thank you for reviving this thread Nicola. I had been wondering what happened to Keedie. If she can't get a record deal after all these years, then there is something seriously wrong with the music industry. Unfortunately, Cockington is beyond my range these days but, if she appears in the London area, I would love to see her again. For what it's worth, I wish her well.

Roger

[nicola]

Some beautiful photos of Keedie:

[nicola]

Thanks, Roger. It is pretty saddening. Keedie has had a lot of 'almosts' but everyone just lets her down. She has had far too many knocks that it's a wonder that she keeps getting up again. But that's determination for you.

As I said, except the record deal, her singing career is quite good. She gets a lot of work and gigs. Her latest gigs were supporting Tina Turner, Diana Ross and performing at Rod Stewart's charity ball. She got a photo with Frank Lampard, and interestingly enough, The Sun printed it, but underneath it said "Lampard with 'mystery blond'" Typical tabloid!

[roger]

Hi Nicola,

You and I both know how versatile Keedie is - she can perform anything from classical (perhaps even operatic) to quite contemporary pop. I wonder if that versatility may be working against her. Steve Abbott once told me that record companies want to know exactly which genre a potential artist wishes to persue. That is the only way they can decide how and where to market them. He told me to advise an aspiring (and brilliant) singer not so say she could sing anything but to target one particular musical category. She could always branch out later.

Just a thought.

Roger

[postscript]

May 28, 2009 20:29:05 GMT @roger said:

Hi Nicola,

You and I both know how versatile Keedie is - she can perform anything from classical (perhaps even operatic) to quite contemporary pop. I wonder if that versatility may be working against her. Steve Abbott once told me that record companies want to know exactly which genre a potential artist wishes to persue. That is the only way they can decide how and where to market them. He told me to advise an aspiring (and brilliant) singer not so say she could sing anything but to target one particular musical category. She could always branch out later.

Just a thought.

Roger

And in my view Roger you hit the nail on the head, this is exactly what is wrong with the music industry and a lot of the modern business world. The desire to pigeon-hole, to classify, to put labels on. That's no life. LIVE LIVE LIVE AND BE!

Perhaps that is the criterion we need for great artists. They are themselves and they are the all of being.

Peter S.

[nicola]

Hello Roger,

I thought Keedie no different from other crossover artists. She sings both classical and pop, which is what many crossover artists do. Though when Keedie sings operatically she doesn't sould 'light'. She sounds like a real opera singer! That could put the crossover audience off. But I'm still amazed everytime I see a video of her live how that voice just comes out of that mouth. Maybe that's how companies see her - a live artist and not one for recording. I can only speculate.

I know Keedie's launch was not dealt with particularly well, EMI did nothing and her managers were next to useless (still are... I hope they don't read this!) Keedie did part way with them, but she went back to them. I don't know why - maybe she could find no one else, maybe differences were resolved, who knows?

My concern for Keedie is that she is getting older, and companies may not want an artist that lost a record giant like EMI so much money (though I don't know where the money went for her promotion, I didn't see any promotion for her on her launch). I think unless Keedie gets new management she doesn't really have much of a chance at a new record deal.

Anyway, I should be receiving an e-mail over the next few days with updates. I shall keed you dated. And thanks for taking an interest, Roger.

[martindn]

Yes, I wondered what had happened to Keedie! I saw her perform live once, with Aled Jones, and was very impressed by her. But she was clearly, I'm not sure how I should put this, a very gritty streetwise girl with a great voice who was struggling to get noticed. Shes deserves better in my opinion.


Martin

[nicola]

It's funny you should say that Martin. Keedie flew over to America to film a promo-documentary. The film-makers wanted to make her out as a pauper, and really rough, etc so the American audience would feel sorry for her.

It goes a bit too far in my opinion.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VggIXWiGx_w

[martindn]

Yes, Nicola, I think you are right. But in the end her talent is what is important. I think she has what it takes, the talent and the toughness. But that isn't the best way to sell it in my opinion. I want to enjoy her singing because she is good, not because she is poor.

Showing that sort of chip on her shoulder will not help her, I'm sure.

Martin

[rockman]

I first heard Keedie when she released the charity single with the England cricket team (sorry guys, but I am a big sports fan). I loved it and subsequently bought the album, which completely blew me away.

As the 2009 Ashes series starts on Wednesday I thought that I would put Keedie's album on the auto-changer in the car. I haven't listened to it for over a year and I was amazed that it still sounded so fresh and vibrant. It is astonishing that somebody with Keedie's talent cannot secure a recording contract. I don't know anything about that industry, but it doesn't really surprise me. My wife is a novelist (who listens - perhaps reluctantly - to a lot of Hayley whilst being driven around the literary festival circuit by me), and certainly in the publishing world I know of a lot of authors who have published several books, have been reviewed well, but sold not many copies, who are now out of contract with their publishers. Happily Hilary is in the middle of a four-book contract, so no worries on that score.

I'm pleased that Keedie is still performing. Sadly I shall miss the event on the 12th at Cockington although I will be in south Devon on the 17th at the Dartington Festival where my good lady wife is doing two events.

I really hope that Keedie manages to secure a new contract. Fortunately for us, Hayley's future seems secure enough.... roll on the next album.

Gerald

[nicola]

Greatest congratulations to your wife. I am trying to get into the publishing industry (editorial work, not writing).

I love Keedie's album. Sometimes I don't play it for a long time and I forget just how much of a great singer she is, until I put it back on, and she blows me away all over again.

I will be meeting her on Sunday. She has been kind enough to get me tickets, a parking space, and a tent! I am a little nervous, but I will let you know how it goes! I do not have a good history with meeting singers. I barely opened my mouth with Hayley, mumbling 'can... can I-I have your autograph please'? I ran away as soon as I could. Katherine wasn't much better, but the situation called for getting an autograph and then moving on. Becky Jane Taylor was probably the worst, as she was chatting with her friends, and I had to gather up courage to interrupt. That was also very meek and involved a quick getaway. XD

[nicola]

I met Keedie and her family today, and they were all absolutely lovely.

The concert I travelled over 200 miles for was cancelled, so I didn't get to see Keedie perform, but we did go to the local park and listen to some free live music for a few hours. I felt oddly comfortable. Maybe I am getting better with people in my old age!

And Roger, if you want a more thorough understanding of why Keedie is having problems, I now understand better, but dare not say it on a pubilc forum. If you're interested, send me a PM.

[nicola]

Some news for you. I was told to keep this under wraps, but since it was reported in the Sun today, I guess the cat is really out of the bag.

But Keedie has auditioned for this year's X-Factor. She got a standing ovation and four yes's. Simon Cowell said she was sensational, etc. So, expect to see Keedie on your screens this year!

I'm not 100% sure about this, as, unfairly, I don't think the audience will take to her (for various reasons I don't want to disclose - nothing to do with her, just circumstances). I just hope the press are kind to her. She's been through enough as it is. I wish her the best of luck from the bottom of my heart. It's been a painful ride for her, and it's been painful being such a big fan of her. I just want things to go right for her now.

The Sun's silly article:

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/x_factor/3015741/Judge-Nat-knew-singer.html

Can't even spell Keedie right.