| Jimmy Somerville | |
|---|---|
Concert in Warsaw, 10 June 2006 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James William Somerville |
| Born | 22 June 1961 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Genres | Pop, synth pop |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | London Records Gut Records BMG |
| Associated acts | Bronski Beat The Communards |
| Website | www.jimmysomerville.co.uk |
James William Somerville (born 22 June 1961) is a Scottish pop singer and songwriter. He had considerable success in the 1980s with the pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards, and has also had a successful solo career.[1] He is known in particular for his falsetto singing voice. He is also openly gay and vocal about gay rights.
Somerville's latest album, Suddenly Last Summer was released in May 2009.
Contents |
In 1983, Somerville co-founded the synth pop group Bronski Beat,[2] which proceeded to have a number of hits in the British charts. Their biggest hit was "Smalltown Boy" which reached #3 in the charts. Somerville played the song's titular character in the music video who leaves his hostile 'straight' hometown for the friendlier city.
Somerville left Bronski Beat in 1985, and formed The Communards with classically trained pianist Richard Coles (now a Church of England vicar).[3] They had a number of hits, including a cover version of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes's "Don't Leave Me This Way", which spent four weeks at #1 in the UK charts, and became the biggest-selling single of 1986 in the UK. He also sang backing vocals on Fine Young Cannibals' version of "Suspicious Minds", which was a UK Top 10 hit.
The Communards split in 1988, and Somerville launched his solo career. He had several solo hits between 1989 and 1991, also singing on the second Band Aid project at the end of 1989. After releasing his 1989 album Read My Lips, which included a hit cover of Sylvester's disco classic "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" as well as a cover of The Bee Gees' hit song "To Love Somebody" a year later, Somerville left the limelight and was absent from recording for a number of years. In 1990, Somerville contributed the song "From This Moment On" to the Cole Porter tribute album "Red Hot + Blue" produced by the Red Hot Organization, the proceeds from which benefited AIDS research.
In 1991 Somerville provided backing vocals to a track called "Why aren't you in love with me?" from the album "Ripe" by Communards offshoot band Banderas. The Banderas duo Caroline Buckley and Sally Herbert had previously been part of Somerville's backing band.
Somerville returned in 1995 with the album Dare to Love, which included "Heartbeat", a #1 hit on the U.S. dance chart. Another album, entitled Manage The Damage, was released in 1999, and its companion remix album Root Beer came out a year later. His dance-oriented fourth solo album, Home Again, was released in 2005.
May 2009 saw the release of Somerville's Suddenly Last Summer album, which contained acoustic interpretations of other people's songs. The album was initially only available as a digital download but in May 2010 was made available in a limited edition (3.000 copies) CD/DVD in the UK.
In 2011 Somerville released a dance EP called "Bright Thing".
Somerville has also led an acting career, appearing in Sally Potter's 1992 film of Virginia Woolf's Orlando, in Isaac Julien's 1998 Looking for Langston, and in an episode of the cult science fiction television series Lexx ("Girltown").
| Year | Album | UK | US | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Age of Consent | 4 | 36 | BPI: Platinum |
| 1985 | Hundreds & Thousands | 24 | - | BPI: Silver |
| Year | Album | UK | US | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Communards | 7 | 90 | BPI: Platinum |
| 1987 | Red | 4 | 93 | BPI: Platinum |
| Year | Album | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Storm Paris 3 record 12" set | - | - |
| Year | Album | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Heaven | - | - |
| Year | Song | UK singles | US Hot 100 | US Dance | Netherlands | Switzerland | Austria | France | Germany | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "You Are My World" | 30 | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | - | Communards |
| 1986 | "Disenchanted" | 29 | - | - | 47 | - | - | - | - | Communards |
| 1986 | "Disenchanted (Remix)" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Communards |
| 1986 | "Don't Leave Me This Way" (The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris) | 1 (4 Weeks) | 40 | - | 1 (8 Weeks) | 2 (2 Weeks) | 19 | 6 (4 Weeks) | 5 | Communards |
| 1986 | "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Gotham City Mix) (The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris) | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 14 | Communards |
| 1986 | "So Cold the Night" | 8 | - | 25 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 14 | Communards |
| 1986 | "So Cold the Night" (Remix) + Multimix | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Communards |
| 1987 | "You Are My World '87" (Remix) | 21 | - | - | 23 | - | - | - | 59 | Communards |
| 1987 | "Tomorrow" | 23 (2 Weeks) | - | 2 | 31 (2 Weeks) | 23 | - | 32 | 25 | Red |
| 1987 | "Never Can Say Goodbye" | 4 | 51 | 2 | 3 | 12 | - | 9 | 6 | Red |
| 1987 | "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Remix) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Red |
| 1988 | "For a Friend"/"Megamix" | 28 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 35 | Red |
| 1988 | "There's More To Love" | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 34 | Red |
This is a list of all Jimmy Somerville songs, including the song title, writer(s), and the album/single on which they first appeared. Solo, group, and duet vocals are included, but songs featuring Somerville on backing vocals only are not.
| Name | Writer (s) | Album | Single |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Cadillac Car" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | Why? | |
| "Close To The Edge" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | Why? | |
| "Hard Rain" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | Hundreds & Thousands | |
| "Heatwave" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Age Of Consent | |
| "I Feel Love (w/Marc Almond)" | Moroder/Belotte/Summer/Goddard | I Feel Love | |
| "I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me" | Moroder/Belotte/Summer/Goddard | The Age Of Consent | |
| "Infatuation/Memories" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | Smalltown Boy | |
| "It Ain't Necessarily So" | Gershwin/Gershwin/Heyward | The Age Of Consent | |
| "Junk" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Age Of Consent | |
| "Love And Money" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Age Of Consent | |
| "Memories" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | Smalltown Boy | |
| "Need A Man Blues" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Age Of Consent | |
| "No More War" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Age Of Consent | |
| "Puit D'Amour" | Somerville | I Feel Love | |
| "Red Dance" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | It Ain't Necessarily So | |
| "Run From Love" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | Hundreds & Thousands | |
| "Screaming" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Age Of Consent | |
| "Signs (And Wonders)" | Steinbachek | I Feel Love | |
| "Smalltown Boy" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Age Of Consent | |
| "The Potatoe Fields" | Bronski | I Feel Love | |
| "Why?" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Age Of Consent |
| Name | Writer (s) | Album | Single |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Annie" | Somerville/Coles | Disenchanted | |
| "Breadline Britain" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "C Minor" | Somerville/Coles | Red | |
| "Czardas" | Vittorio Monti | You Are My World | |
| "Disenchanted" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "Don't Leave Me This Way (w/Sarah Jane Morris)" | Gamble/Huff/Gilbert | Communards | |
| "Don't Slip Away" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "For A Friend" | Somerville/Coles | Red | |
| "Forbidden Love" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "Heavens Above" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "Hold On Tight" | Somerville/Coles | Red | |
| "I Do It All For Love" | Somerville | Heaven | |
| "If I Could Tell You" | Somerville/Auden | Red | |
| "I Just Want To Let You Know" | Somerville/Coles | Tomorrow | |
| "Johnny Verso" | Somerville/Coles | Disenchanted | |
| "Judgement Day" | Somerville/Coles | You Are My World | |
| "La Dolarosa" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "Loverman (w/Sarah Jane Morris)" | Davis/Ramirez/Sherman | Communards | |
| "Lovers And Friends" | Coles | Red | |
| "Matter Of Opinion" | Somerville/Coles | Red | |
| "Never Can Say Goodbye" | Davis | Red | |
| "Never No More" | Ross/Block/Hecht | So Cold The Night | |
| "Piece Of Saxophone" | Never Can Say Goodbye | ||
| "Reprise" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "Romanze For Violin, Piano, And Hedgehog" | Coles | Tomorrow | |
| "Sanctified" | Somerville/Coles | Don't Leave Me This Way | |
| "Scat" | Somerville | Tomorrow | |
| "Sentimental Journey" | Green/Brown/Homer | You Are My World | |
| "77 The Great Escape" | Somerville/Coles | Never Can Say Goodbye | |
| "So Cold The Night" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "Spanish Rap" | Somerville/Coles | There's More To Love | |
| "The Message" | You Are My World | ||
| "There's More To Love " | Somerville/Coles | Red | |
| "Tomorrow" | Somerville/Coles | Red | |
| "Victims" | Somerville/Coles | Red | |
| "When The Boy In Your Heart Is The Boy In Your Arms" | Bennett | There's More To Love | |
| "When The Walls Come Tumbling Down" | Somerville/Coles | So Cold The Night | |
| "You Are My World" | Somerville/Coles | Communards | |
| "You Are My World '87" | Somerville/Coles | You Are My World | |
| "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" | Hanley | There's More To Love |
| Name | Writer (s) | Album | Single |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Adieu! (Madame Tata Mix)" | Gold/Gainsbourg/Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "A Dream Gone Wrong" | Butcher/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Ashford/Simpson | Home Again | |
| "Alright" | Butcher/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Amnesia" | Somerville/Gauder | Home Again | |
| "And You Never Thought That This Could Happen To You" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "Because Of Him" | Butcher/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Been So Long" | Rowbottom/Somerville/Stannard | Hurt So Good | |
| "Blame" | Herbert/Somerville | Dark Sky | |
| "Burn" | Somerville/Winfield/Osborne/Buckley | Home Again | |
| "But Not Tonight" | Gore | Home Again | |
| "By Your Side" | Rowe/Somerville/Stannard | Dare To Love | |
| "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" | Crewe/Gaudio | Queer As Folk 2 (Soundtrack) | |
| "Child" | Home Away (Digital Bonus Track) | ||
| "Come Lately" | Butcher/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Come On" | Plate/Sommer/Somerville/Greeve | Home Again | |
| "Coming" | Potter/Somerville/Motion | Orlando (Soundtrack) | |
| "Comment Te Dire Adieu (w/June Miles Kingston)" | Gold/Gainsbourg | Read My Lips | |
| "Control" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "Could It Be Love" | Somerville/Gauder/Sale | Home Again | |
| "Cry" | Butcher/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Dare To Love" | Butcher/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Dark Sky" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "Desire" | Somerville/Butcher | Run From Love | |
| "Don't Know What To Do (Without You)" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "Eve" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "From This Moment On" | Porter | Red Hot + Blue (Various Artists) | |
| "Gimme Shelter (w/Voice of the Beehive)" | Jagger/Richards | Gimme Shelter (w/Voice of the Beehive) | |
| "Girl Falling Down" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "Heartbeat" | Rowe/Stannard/Watkins/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Heaven Here On Earth (With Your Love)" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "Here I Am" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "Home Again" | Somerville/Picotto/Remondini | Home Again | |
| "Hurts So Good" | Mitchell | Dare To Love | |
| "I Believe" | Somerville/Herbert/Monaghan | Lay Down | |
| "I Believe In Love (w/Arthur Baker)" | Angelo/Baker/Somerville | Merge (Arthur Baker) | |
| "It's So Good" | Mac/Somerville | Home Again | |
| "It Still Hurts" | Plate/Sommer/Somerville/Greeve | Home Again | |
| "I Was Born This Way (w/Craig C.)" | Jones/Spierer | Another Gay Movie (Soundtrack) | |
| "I Will" | Spark Within (Mystéfy) | ||
| "I Will Always Be Around" | Somerville/Herbert/Gauder/Saje | Home Again | |
| "Lay Down" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "Lovething" | Butcher/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Love You Forever" | Butcher/Somerville | Hurt So Good | |
| "Moving On" | Somerville/Herbert | Lay Down | |
| "My Heart Is In Your Hands" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "My Life" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "Nothing Said, Nothing Done" | Butcher/Somerville | By Your Side | |
| "Not So God Almighty" | Somerville | Mighty Real | |
| "One Fine Day (w/Carmel)" | Osapanin | Set Me Free (Carmel) | |
| "Perfect Day" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "Rain" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "Rolling" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "Run From Love (w/Claudia Brucken)" | Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski | The Singles Collection 1984/1990 | |
| "Safe In These Arms" | Butcher/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Selfish Days" | Somerville/Mar | Home Again | |
| "Sing It To Your Heart" | ? | Home Again | |
| "So Long Babe" | Hazelwood | Postcards From America (Soundtrack) | |
| "Someday Soon" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "Someday We'll Be Together" | Beavers/Bristol/Fugua | Dare To Love | |
| "Something To Live For" | Somerville/Herbert/Monaghan | Manage The Damage | |
| "Star (w/Weather Girls)" | ? | Star | |
| "Stay" | Somerville/Merlin | Home Again | |
| "Stone" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "Stranger" | Somerville | Read My Lips | |
| "Tear Fool" | Butcher/Somerville | Dark Sky | |
| "Tell The World" | Somerville | Comment Te Dire Adieu | |
| "The Last Infanta (w/Uno)" | Clermontet | Uno (Uno) | |
| "The Number One Song In Heaven (w/Sparks)" | Moroder | Plagiarism (Sparks) | |
| "This Must Be Love" | Somerville/Herbert | Manage The Damage | |
| "To Love Somebody" | Gibb/Gibb | The Singles Collection 1984/1990 | |
| "Too Much Of A Good Thing" | Hague/Shear/Somerville | Dare To Love | |
| "Under A Lover's Sky" | Somerville/Uhrmacher/Fornaro | Home Again | |
| "Up And Away" | Butcher/Somerville | Heartbeat | |
| "What's Your Game?" | Somerville/Winfield/Osborne/Buckley | Home Again | |
| "You & Me (w/Blue Ray)" | Moyet/Somerville/Cole/Bronski/Clarke | You And Me (w/Blue Ray) | |
| "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" | Warrick/James | Read My Lips |