Doda (singer)

Doda

Doda in 2010
Background information
Birth name Dorota Rabczewska
Born (1984-02-15) 15 February 1984
Ciechanów, Poland
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active 1998–present
Labels
Website dodaqueen.com

Dorota Rabczewska (born 15 February 1984), better known by her stage name Doda, is a Polish musical artist, among the most successful Polish artists in terms of number of prizes won. She is the MTV Europe Music Awards winner and the World Music Awards nominee. Doda is notable for her innovative and controversial performances and music videos. She was first known as a member of the Polish rock band Virgin, with whom she released three studio albums, including a triple platinum album Ficca (2005). After the group disbanded in 2007, she continued with a solo career, releasing two platinum albums: Diamond Bitch (2007) and 7 pokus głównych (2011). In 2016, Virgin announced their reunion. That same year they released their fourth studio album Choni.

In 2008, Doda was featured on CNN's list of 10 Most Famous Poles in history.[1] In 2010, she was included on the list of 50 Best Polish Female Vocalists compiled by Machina magazine.[2] A year later, Polish magazine Viva! put her among 10 Most Influential Women in Poland.[3] In 2011, she was also included on the list of 100 Most Influential Poles compiled by Wprost magazine. She was the only female musician to be included on the list.[4]

Life and career

Early life

Dorota Rabczewska was born in Ciechanów, Poland. In her youth, she was coached in athletics for four years (long jump, 100 metres). She won the Voivodeship Championships for 100 and 60 meters, long jump and shot put. She also won bronze in the Polish Championships. She then quit sports for a musical career. She started her musical career in 1998 as a teenager, at the Buffo Theater in Warsaw. Simultaneously, she took singing lessons from Elżbieta Zapendowska, one of the most famous singing coaches in Poland.

2000–2006: Virgin era

After auditioning at the age of 16, Doda became the vocalist for the Polish hard rock band Virgin. In 2002, they made their debut by releasing their first studio album titled Virgin. It was promoted by two singles: "To Ty" and "Mam tylko Ciebie". To promote the band and the album further, Doda took part in the Polish version of the reality TV series called The Bar.

Two years after their debut, the band released their second studio album called Bimbo. It was released on 17 May 2004. The album debuted at number one on the Polish Album Sales Chart. The first single to be released from the album was "Dżaga". It became their first mainstream hit. In its music video Doda and her future husband Radosław Majdan – Polish goalkeeper are seen having sex. The next singles were ballads "Kolejny raz" and "Nie zawiedź mnie". To promote Bimbo Virgin embarked on their first concert tour Bimbo Tour.

After a line-up change the group performed their new single, a power-ballad "Znak pokoju", at the Sopot International Song Festival and won its Viewers' Choice Award. It was also their breakthrough hit on the radio. On 17 October 2005, they released their third studio album called Ficca, this time with more radio-friendly pop-rock sound. It was promoted during their second concert tour called Ficca Tour. The next single was a ballad "2 bajki", another huge hit in their career.

In April 2006, Doda was rushed to hospital due to a problem with her intervertebral disc making the band fall into a hiatus for a while. After having complicated spinal surgery she returned with a voice role on the Polish version of the film Asterix and the Vikings taking the role of Abba. Later that year, the group released their new hit called "Szansa", which was inspired by Doda's surgery. The song won the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. Also, the reissue of Ficca was released. It spent six weeks at number one on the Polish Album Sales Chart and sold over 100,000 copies, becoming the best-selling album of their career. Ficca was certified triple platinum by the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (ZPAV).

The group toured North America, where Doda had to be rushed to hospital for a second time due to her spine injury. By the end of the year, Doda had terminated her contract with her manager. On 1 January 2007, the founder of Virgin and its guitarist, Tomasz Lubert, announced that he would finish his involvement with the band, leading the group to be disbanded while Doda continued her career as a solo artist.

2007–2010: Solo career and Diamond Bitch era

Doda on the set of her music video "Nie daj się"

In 2007, Doda signed a solo contract with Universal Music Poland. On 27 June, she released her first solo studio album called Diamond Bitch. It was preceded by the single, "Katharsis", which was released in June. To promote the album Doda embarked on her first solo concert tour called Diamond Tour; some concerts took place outside Poland, in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The album went straight to number one on the Polish Album Sales Chart and stayed there for five consecutive weeks. The album received platinum certification from ZPAV for sales of over 45,000 units. "To jest to" was chosen as the second single to promote the album. However, the biggest hit, "Nie daj się", was released in June 2008. It received huge radio airplay and topped many radio charts. It remains the biggest hit of Doda's solo career to date. In August 2008, the reissue of Diamond Bitch was released. Later that year, Doda starred as herself in the film Serce na dłoni directed by Krzysztof Zanussi. In 2009, two final singles from Diamond Bitch were released: "Rany" and "Dziękuję".

During the Diamond Bitch era, Doda won eleven awards at VIVA Comet making her the most successful artist to have won that award in the world along with Tokio Hotel (they also won 11 awards). She won Video of the Year award for three years in a row and the Artist of the Decade award. She won two MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Polish Act and came second in the Best European Act category in 2009. At the 2008 National Festival of Polish Song in Opole Doda received the Superjedynka Award for Best Artist.

In March 2010, a tour called Rock'n'Roll Palace Tour began. It lasted a year.

2010–2013: 7 pokus głównych era

In June 2010, Doda released the English-language version of the first single from her second studio album, "Bad Girls". In July, the Polish-language version of the song was released. "Bad Girls" became a big hit, particularly in 2011, after the premiere of its big-budget music video, delayed due to the illness of her then fiancé Nergal, leader of the death metal group Behemoth. Her second studio album, 7 pokus głównych, was released on 30 May 2011.[5] This time Doda presented a brand new electro-rock music style. The album was released with seven different covers, each representing different temptation; all covers are the same edition of the album. It sold over 30,000 copies and was certified platinum by ZPAV. Songs from the album were also recorded in English and were meant to be released internationally under the title The 7 Temptations. However, the material remains unreleased. Only few demos were uploaded onto Doda's official YouTube channel and her official website. These include "Let's Get It Started", "My Way or No Way", "XXX" and "Singing in the Chains" which earned Doda 2014 World Music Award nomination for the World's Best Song.

7 pokus głównych was promoted during Doda's third headling tour, The Seven Temptations Tour, which began in May 2011, and lasted a year and a half. "XXX" was the second single released from 7 pokus głównych.[6] Its music video, as well as the music video for "Bad Girls", are considered the best in Polish music history. In September 2011, Doda received her third MTV Europe Music Award nomination for Best Polish Act.[7] In November 2011, she became a columnist for the Polish edition of Maxim magazine, writing for its first two issues[8] In December, she posed for Playboy USA.[9]

In February 2012, Doda released a song "Kac Wawa", theme from the Polish comedy movie of the same name. Also in February Doda won VIVA Comet Award for Video of the Year for "XXX". By doing so she surpassed the record previously held by Tokio Hotel and herself and became the only artist in the world to win 12 VIVA Comet Awards. It is also Doda's fourth Video of the Year award. In June, she released a collaboration with her best friend and impersonator Dżaga titled "Twa Energia". At the end of 2012, another single from 7 pokus głównych was released. It was a collaboration with Polish rap legend Fokus, "Fuck It". Its controversial music video with scenes of violence between both artists, was banned on TV. However, it managed to gain popularity on the internet and on a day of its premiere it was viewed over million times on YouTube. The last single from the album was a haunty electro-ballad titled "Electrode", released in 2013.

2013–present: Fly High Tour – Doda Live, singles, acting and Virgin reunion

In December 2012, Doda signed a new recording deal with EMI Music Poland (since 2014 part of Warner Music Poland). Shortly afterwards she began the recordings of her third solo studio album. In May 2013, she embarked on a brand new, one-and-a-half-year tour, Fly High Tour – the first in her career to be filmed and released on DVD as Fly High Tour – Doda Live.

In October 2013, Doda released a single called "Wkręceni (High Life)", recorded for the Polish comedy movie Wkręceni.

In 2014, she signed a new contract with her former label Universal Music Poland. On the New Year's Eve 2014, she released a new single "Riotka", which was later certified gold by ZPAV. Its English-language version was recorded and released as "Not Over You". In May 2015, Doda's fifth solo concert tour, Riotka Tour began. One of its concerts was filmed in November 2016 and will be released on DVD in Spring 2017.

On 25 June 2015, a single called "Nie pytaj mnie" was released. Both "Riotka" and "Nie pytaj mnie" were written by Chelcee Grimes who previously worked with Kylie Minogue and The Saturdays.

In October 2015, Doda's manager announced that "Riotka" and "Nie pytaj mnie" would remain as stand-alone singles and would not be included on singer's third studio album as she's taking different musical direction; the album is yet to be released as Doda currently records with her former band Virgin since their reunion in 2016.

On 20 November 2015, Doda performed with Slash at his concert from World on Fire World Tour which took place in Poland. She sang "Sweet Child o' Mine".[10]

In May 2016, she was cast as Andżelika (Angelica) in IMKA Theatre's play called Słownik Ptaszków Polskich.[11] In August 2016, Virgin announced their reunion.[12] That same month, they released their first single in ten years, "Hard Heart".[13] In November, Virgin released their fourth studio album Choni.

In 2017, Doda was cast as Anielka in the TV series Daleko od noszy. Reanimacja, however due to poor ratings the show was cancelled before the episode she appeared in aired.

Personal life

Doda in 2007

Doda was born to Paweł Rabczewski (a weightlifter) and Wanda. She has a nine years older half-brother Rafał with the same mother. He was her road manager. She also has a twelve years older half-brother Grzegorz and sixteen years younger half-sister Paulina with the same father.

In 2003, she met her future husband Polish goalkeeper, Radosław Majdan. He later proposed to her during their vacation in Jerusalem, Israel, and they were married on 5 March 2005. Three years later, in May 2008, the couple divorced.

On 9 May 2009, it became public that she had a relationship with the frontman of the blackened death metal band Behemoth, Adam Darski (aka Nergal).[14] In December 2009, the couple got engaged.[15] In March 2011, it was reported the couple had called off the engagement and broken up.[16] Since 2014, Doda dated a businessman Emil Hajdar who appeared in the music video for "Nie pytaj mnie". In July 2015, they got engaged.[17] However, in November 2015, Doda released a statement in which she announced that their relationship is over.[18]

Doda is a member of Mensa Poland.[19]

Blasphemy charges

In May 2010, the Warsaw prosecutor's office charged Doda with the crime of "offending religious sensibilities" for remarking in a year-earlier television interview that she believed more in dinosaurs than she did in the Bible because "it is hard to believe in something written by people who drank too much wine and smoked weed."[20] In January 2012, she was found guilty and fined 5,000 złoty by local court Warszawa-Mokotów.[21] Her appeal was not effective. In June 2012, district court in Warsaw upheld the verdict of the local court.[21]

Some of Polish publicists, as politician Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, logician Wojciech Krysztofiak, pharmacologist Jerzy Vetulani and members of Palikot's Movement criticized the judgment.[22][23][24][25] Doda commented that "she was a victim of Polish anachronistic jurisdiction" and said that she will submit the case to European Court of Human Rights for consideration.[26]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
POL
[27]		 EU
[28]
Diamond Bitch 1 66
  • POL: 45,000
7 pokus głównych (The 7 Temptations)
  • Released: 30 May 2011
  • Label: Universal Music Poland
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 4 —
"—" denotes album that did not chart.

Live albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
POL
[27]
Fly High Tour – Doda Live
  • Released: 14 March 2014
  • Label: FM Productions/Warner Music Poland
  • Formats: CD+DVD, digital download
 17

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
POL
New
[32]		 POL
TV
[32]
"Katharsis" ("Catharsis") 2007 —[lower-alpha 1] —[lower-alpha 1] Diamond Bitch
"To jest to" ("This Is It") —[lower-alpha 1] —[lower-alpha 1]
"Nie daj się" ("Don't Give Up") 2008 —[lower-alpha 1] —[lower-alpha 1]
"Rany" ("Wounds") 2009 —[lower-alpha 1] —[lower-alpha 1]
"Dziękuję" ("Thank You") —[lower-alpha 1] —[lower-alpha 1]
"Bad Girls" 2010 — 2 7 pokus głównych
"XXX" 2011 — —
"Kac Wawa" 2012 — — Kac Wawa (soundtrack)
"Twa Energia" ("Your Energy")
(with Dżaga)		 — — Non-album single
"Fuck It"
(featuring Fokus)		 — — 7 pokus głównych
"Electrode" 2013 — —
"Wkręceni (High Life)" ("Screwed Up (High Life)") 3 — Wkręceni (soundtrack) /
Fly High Tour – Doda Live
"Riotka" ("Riot Girl") 2014 4 — Non-album singles
"Nie pytaj mnie" ("Don't Ask Me") 2015 2 —
"—" denotes a single that did not chart.
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
POL
TV
[32]
"Muzyki moc" ("Music Power")
(as part of VIVA and Friends)		 2010 2 VIVA 10 lat

Other appearances

 List of non-single guest appearances
Title Year Album
"Hej" ("Hey")
(Lubert featuring Doda)		 2014 Z miłości do muzyki

Music videos

As lead artist

Title Year Director(s)
"Katharsis" 2007 Anna Maliszewska
"Nie daj się" 2008
"Rany" 2009 Bo Martin, Doda
"Dziękuję" Anna Maliszewska
"Bad Girls" 2011 Unknown
"XXX" Takumi Koyama
"Kac Wawa" 2012 Unknown
"Twa Energia"
(with Dżaga)		 Bartosz Łukasiuk, Patryk Grabarczyk
"Fuck It"
(featuring Fokus)		 Xawery Żuławski
"Titanium" Unknown
"Electrode" 2013 Jarek Bolińsko
"Wkręceni (High Life)" 2014 Unknown
"Riotka" Michał Bolland
"Nie pytaj mnie" 2015
Title Year Director(s)
"Muzyki moc"
(as part of VIVA and Friends)		 2010 Jacek Szymczak, Marek Kremer

Tours

Solo tours
As guest act

Filmography

Title Year Role Notes
Bar 2002, 2004 Herself; Contestant Season 2, Season 4
Asterix i wikingowie 2006 Abba (voice) Polish dub version of Asterix and the Vikings
Shibuya Herself; Judge Karaoke show
Jazda z Dodą 2007 Herself Reality TV series
Gwiazdy tańczą na lodzie 2007–2009 Herself; Judge Polish version of Dancing on Ice
Serce na dłoni 2008 Singer Feature film
Tylko nas dwoje 2010 Herself; Judge Polish version of Just the Two of Us
Daleko od noszy. Reanimacja 2017 Anielka TV series; cancelled

Awards

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The official singles charts didn't exist in Poland until 2010.

References

  1. ↑ "Famous Poles through the ages". CNN. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  2. ↑ "50 NAJLEPSZYCH POLSKICH WOKALISTEK". Machina (in Polish). 2010-12-17. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  3. ↑ "10 najbardziej wpływowych kobiet na okładkach Vivy!". Viva! (in Polish). 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  4. ↑ "Doda wśród "100 NAJBARDZIEJ WPŁYWOWYCH POLAKÓW"". Doda-Music.com (in Polish). 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  5. ↑ "30 maja premiera" (in Polish). doda-music.com. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  6. ↑ "NOWE SINGLE" (in Polish). dodaqueen.com. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  7. ↑ "NOMINACJA DO EMA MTV 2011" (in Polish). doda-music.com. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  8. ↑ ""Maxim" ponownie w Polsce, Doda i Kominek felietonistami" (in Polish). wirtualnemedia.pl. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
  9. ↑ "Doda w "Playboyu"! Ostro i gorąco! Zobacz!". Fakt (in Polish). Retrieved 2015-05-25.
  10. ↑ "SLASH Joined By Polish Pop Star DODA For Performance Of GUNS N' ROSES Classic". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  11. ↑ "Słownik ptaszków polskich /Na co do teatru?/". KulturaOnLine.pl (in Polish). 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  12. ↑ "Virgin powraca z nowym singlem. Doda i Tomek Lubert znowu razem!". Radio Eska (in Polish). 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  13. ↑ "Hard Heart – Single by Virgin". iTunes. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  14. ↑ "Doda oficjalnie z Nergalem?" (in Polish). Interia.pl. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  15. ↑ "DODA ZARĘCZYŁA SIĘ Z NERGALEM!" (in Polish). Plejada. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  16. ↑ "BEHEMOTH Frontman Dumps Polish Pop-Star Girlfriend?". blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  17. ↑ "To potwierdzone! Doda zaręczyła się z Emilem Haidarem!" (in Polish). afterparty.pl. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "Doda wydała oświadczenie w sprawie narzeczonego" (in Polish). wp.pl. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  19. ↑ "Doda ponadprzeciętnie inteligentna" (in Polish). Onet.pl. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  20. ↑ Day, Matthew (2010-05-05). "Pop star claims Bible written by drunks". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  21. 1 2 "Doda skazana za obrazę uczuć religijnych". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). 16 January 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  22. ↑ Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (21 June 2012). "Sąd średniowieczny". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  23. ↑ Wojciech Krysztofiak (20 June 2012). "Doda jest niewinna". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  24. ↑ Jerzy Vetulani (6 July 2012). "Jakie zioła palili ci napruci winem?" (in Polish). vetulani.wordpress.com. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  25. ↑ "Palikot: kochamy Dodę, trzeba zmienić prawo" (in Polish). Polskie Radio. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  26. ↑ Magda Rigamonti (2 July 2012). "Doda: jestem ofiarą polskiego zacofanego sądownictwa". Wprost (in Polish). Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  27. 1 2 Peak chart positions in Poland:
  28. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums – Diamond Bitch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Albums certified platinum in 2007" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  30. 1 2 "Certification criteria" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Albums certified platinum in 2011" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  32. 1 2 3 Peak chart positions in Poland:
  33. ↑ "Albums and singles certified gold in 2015" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
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