Aly & AJ

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Aly & AJ
Origin Torrance, California
Country United States
Years active 2004—present
Genres Teen pop
Labels Hollywood
Members Alyson Michalka
Amanda Michalka
Website(s) http://www.alyandaj.com/

Aly & AJ are a Teen pop duo consisting of sisters Alyson Renae "Aly" Michalka and Amanda Joy "AJ" Michalka. They were born in Torrance, California, but spent part of their childhood in Seattle, Washington. They are actresses and singer-songwriters.

Contents

Early years

Aly was born on March 25, 1989 and AJ on April 10, 1991. Aly and AJ have had a passion for music since they were very young. "I think it started when we were three and five. Just singing in church together and in school plays", Aly said.[1] That later moved onto just AJ as Aly started to act very early, when AJ was nine years old (2000). Today, the two sisters consider themselves "the first set of twins to be born two years apart". The sisters both live in a gated community in Calabasas, California with their parents. Their mother, Carrie Michalka, used to sing in a Christian group called "J.C. Band" and their father, Mark, owns a contracting company.

Music

Aly and AJ have released many songs for different films as part of their contract with Disney. "No One" was a song that was featured in the Disney motion picture Ice Princess. The song "Do You Believe in Magic" written and originally recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, added a rock edge. Also, their cover of Katrina and the Waves' "Walking on Sunshine" was used in the Disney motion picture Herbie: Fully Loaded. They have been involved in various Walt Disney Records projects, some of which are covers. These include soundtracks and compilations and are primarily marketed at pre-teens. "Into The Rush" was also featured on Movietunes. Here are some of their original songs, all of which are included on their 2005 debut album Into the Rush:

Here are their covers:

The "Aly and AJ Concert" took place on July 24, 2005 at the Henry Fonda theater located in Hollywood, California. The aired concert was cut to five songs and interviews (filmed October 15 and October 16, 2005). The concert included songs from Into the Rush. Aly and AJ opened for The Cheetah Girls in December 2005 on the girls' "Cheetah-licious Christmas Tour".

On September 19, 2006, Aly and AJ were nominated for Contemporary Inpsirational Artist of the Year (also known as Christian Artist of the Year) for the 2006 American Music Awards, which were held on November 21, 2006. They did not take home the award. Christian R&B artist Kirk Franklin took home the award for his first time instead. Besides being nominated for an award, they introduced Nelly Furtado's performance of her new song along with 2006's Dancing With the Stars runner-up Mario Lopez.

On September 26, 2006, their new album, "Acoustic Hearts of Winter" was released. Aly and AJ both sing original Christmas songs including "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night" as well as debuting their newest song, "Greatest Time of Year."

In a recent interview with Aly & AJ they said that they were writing for their next album which will be recorded in January 2007. They also said their album would seem more grown up and will be heavier music with a little more rock feel to it. The Acoustic Hearts of Winter tour has had a few places postponed because of "an urgent request" for their next album also.

Film and television

Aly Michalka stars in the hit Disney Channel series Phil of the Future, portraying Keely Teslow, Phil Diffy's best friend. Aly has recorded the song "Protecting Me", written by sister AJ, which was used in an episode. She was also the lead in the Disney Channel original film Now You See It... (2005), playing Allyson Miller.

AJ has appeared on many network television shows. AJ has been seen regularly over the past two seasons on the CBS drama The Guardian, and roles on the acclaimed HBO drama Six Feet Under and WB's Birds of Prey. She also appeared as Ashley B. on the longtime soap opera, General Hospital. She has co-starred with Aly in the Disney Channel Movie Cow Belles as Courtney Callum. AJ was also Debbie Berwick's singing voice for one of the Phil of the Future episodes.

Trivia

  • In an interview with Blender magazine, the two expressed their disbelief in the theory of evolution, with Aly saying, "Are they teaching that in schools now?", and when told yes, she replied “I think that’s kind of disrespectful, Anything that has to do with anybody’s beliefs on religion, that should stay out of the classroom. I mean, I think people should be able to pray in school, if people were into that. Everybody should just do their own gig,” and AJ adding, "Evolution is silly. Monkeys? Um, no."[2]
  • Aly & AJ were nominated in September 2006 for Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist of the Year at the 2006 American Music Awards, but lost the award to Kirk Franklin during the November 21 presentation.[3]
  • Aly & AJ are co-chairpersons for the Children's Advisory Board of the AmberWatch Foundation, and have performed at a benefit concert to raise money for the charity.[4]
  • They have recorded their song "Chemicals React" in Simlish, which will be included in The Sims 2: Pets,[5] the fourth expansion pack of The Sims 2. One can find the Simlish version of "Chemicals React" as a music video on their Into The Rush (Deluxe Edition) album.
  • They performed "Chemicals React" on the America's Got Talent finale on August 17, 2006.[6]
  • On August 21, 2006, Aly & AJ showed the home in California they share with their parents on MTV Cribs.[7]
  • The song, "I Am One of Them" was inspired by the 2004 kidnapping and murder of Carlie Brucia.[citation needed]
  • Aly and AJ released the "Greatest Time of Year" music video from their new album Acoustic Hearts of Winter on the Disney Channel on October 16, 2006.
  • Plans for a sequel to the movie Cow Belles were scrapped when the girls decided not to reprise their roles as the Callum Sisters. [citation needed]
  • Aly and AJ will be back in the studio in January 2007 to work on their third studio release album.[8]

Discography

Albums

Album information
Into the Rush

(Re-released: Into the Rush: Deluxe Edition)
Acoustic Hearts of Winter
TBA
  • Release: April 3, 2007 (U.S.)
  • Chart positions: TBA
  • U.S. sales: TBA
  • RIAA certification: TBA

Aly & AJ tours

  • The Cheetah Girls Cheetah-lious Christmas Tour, warm up band for TCG (December 2005)
  • Mini Mall Tour (August 2005)
  • Holiday Season Tour (November - December 2006)

Songs

Singles
Year Title Album Chart positions
U.S. UK CAN AUS ARC
2005 "Do You Believe in Magic" Into the Rush — — 23 — —
"No One" — — — — —
"Walking on Sunshine" — — — — —
"Rush" 59 — — — 35
2006 "Never Far Behind"* Into the Rush (Deluxe Edition) — —
"On the Ride" Into the Rush — — — —
"Chemicals React" Into the Rush (Deluxe Edition) 50 TBR — — —
"Greatest Time of Year" Acoustic Hearts of Winter 96 — — — —
"Shine"* Into the Rush (Deluxe Edition) — —

Notes
  • [*] Released only to U.S. Christian radio./Hit #1 on R&R chart. (Only Never Far Behind)
  • TBR=To be released.
  • A blank box means the song will never be released to that country.
Other songs

DVDs

Dual filmography

Year Title Aly's role AJ's role Notes
2006 Cow Belles Taylor Callum Courtney Callum Disney Channel original movie
Guest appearances as themselves
Appearances but not shown on camera

Notes and references

  1. ^ Interview that was part of the aired Aly and AJ concert.
  2. ^ Tweenage Riot. Blender Magazine, June 2006.
  3. ^ 2006 American Music Awards. Accessed 11 December, 2006.
  4. ^ AmberWatch Foundation Official Site.
  5. ^ The Sims 2 Website, 8 August 2006.
  6. ^ Bianca Ryan's "Got Talent" Amy Bonawitz, Associated Press, 17 August, 2006
  7. ^ MTV Cribs: Slim Thug, Sean Avery, Aly & AJ. Episode Guide for MTV Cribs from tv.com. Accessed 11 December 2006.
  8. ^ Checking in with our friends. From Aly & AJ's official myspace blog. Posted 6 November 2006.

External links

Aly & AJ
Alyson Michalka | Amanda Michalka
Discography
Albums: Into the Rush | Acoustic Hearts of Winter
Singles: Do You Believe in Magic · No One · Walking on Sunshine
Rush · Never Far Behind · On the Ride
Chemicals React · Greatest Time of Year · Shine
Related content
Aly & AJ | List of Aly & AJ songs

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