# Nicki French

Nicola Sharon French (born 26 September 1964) is an English singer. She is best known for her 1995 dance cover version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", which reached the US and UK top 5, and for representing the United Kingdom in the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm.

## Life and career
### 1964–1993

French was born in Carlisle, Cumberland, England.
French's first "gig" came at the age of seven, when she was chosen to sing the first verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" at her infants' school Christmas concert.
From the age of 16, French studied music and drama at West Kent College in Tonbridge, Kent. She played the lead role of Laurey in Oklahoma! before moving to London and started auditioning for bands and theatre shows.

### 1980s-1993: Musical beginnings

In the mid-1980s, French was part of the duo Whisky and Sofa. They released "Dirty Den" in 1986.
In 1991, French was booked as the leading lady in a series of revue shows on a cruise ship, touring Europe and beyond and covering songs from stage and screen.
In 1992, French provided backing vocals on Rose-Marie's 1992 album, Emotional Exposure. Generally, French had been a session singer for many years before she covered "Total Eclipse of the Heart".

### 1994–1999: Career peak, Secrets and French Connection

In 1994, French covered "Total Eclipse of the Heart", a song originally made famous by Bonnie Tyler. The song reached number 5 during a three-month chart run on the UK Singles Chart, selling over 250,000 (UK) copies in the process and earning a silver sales award. In the United States, the song reached number 2, spending six months on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and gaining gold certification from the RIAA. The single also reached number 1 in a number of countries – Japan, Canada, Spain and Brazil – as well as charting in Australia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. French sold in excess of 5 million copies.
Her second single, "For All We Know", a cover version of the Carpenters' song, peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart. French's debut album, Secrets, was released in 1995 and further singles from the album included "Is There Anybody Out There?", "Did You Ever Really Love Me?" and "Never in a Million Years". French was Mike Stock's Love This Records's biggest artist before it went into liquidation. Secrets sold over 50,000 copies in its first week of sale in the US.
In 1997, French released French Revolution. The single "Te Amo" peaked at number 4 in Brazil. French Revolution achieved success in Japan and Taiwan but French was then dropped by her record label after management reconstructing.

### 2000–present: Eurovision Song Contest and diversification

At the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest, French represented the United Kingdom with "Don't Play That Song Again". The song was selected by the British public ahead of seven other finalists on radio and TV. French finished the contest in 16th place. The track entered at number 34 in the UK chart.
French signed to Jim Steinman's Ravenous Records label for a short period in 2000, during which time she recorded "Lovers Again" and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad", neither of which was ever commercially released.
In 2003, French was one of nine contestants on a special Eurovision edition of BBC Television's The Weakest Link. Joining Sonia, Lyn Paul, James Fox, Katie Boyle, Bobby Gee, Jessica Garlick, Katrina Leskanich and Jemini on the show hosted by Anne Robinson, French won the event and was declared 'The Strongest Link' raising £13,000 for Cancer Research, having lost her father to cancer in 1997.
In 2004, French released "I Surrender" and in 2005, "Calling Out My Name". "I Surrender" charted on the UK Indie Chart at #37 and EuroNRG Top 40 chart
In 2007, French was cast as understudy for the original London cast of Menopause the Musical, starring Su Pollard. She was subsequently part of all the UK and Irish productions, and has played three out of the four roles throughout her connection with the show, elevating to being cast in the main roles.
In 2008, French took part in her first pantomime, playing Queen Genevieve in Sleeping Beauty at Chipping Norton Theatre. The pantomime gained great reviews, making it into the top 10 pantomimes in the UK in the Daily Telegraph newspaper. In 2009, French played Fairy Godmother in Cinderella for New Pantomime Productions.
In 2009, a special edition of French's second album, French Revolution, became available. The re-release contained seventeen tracks and included all three of her most recent singles along with a previously unreleased version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
In August 2010, French toured the UK in the musical Annie, performing eight different roles every night in the show's long run, and was understudy for the role of Miss Hannigan, played by Su Pollard.
In November 2012, French played the role of Helga Ten Dorp in Ira Levin's Deathtrap at the Brookside Theatre in Romford.
In 2014, 20 years after the success of "Total Eclipse of the Heart'", Mike Stock and French started working together again, recording new tracks for his label Modal Production Group (MPG Ltd). The first release from the studio session was the dance number "This Love". According to Stock, "the song's message is a celebration of love and commitment".
In April 2023, French released a Eurovision covers album, titled Eurovision, featuring edits from her three previous EPs and two new songs.

## Personal life

French was born in Carlisle to Joseph and Eileen. She has three siblings. The French family moved when Nicki was four and settled in Tenterden, Kent. She attended Homewood School and West Kent College in Tonbridge.
French married Gavin Mallett, a professional musician, in July 1993 at St. Mildred's Church, Tenterden. The couple lived in Middlesex. They are now divorced.

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | AUS | USA |
| Secrets | Released: 1995 Label: Love This Record Format: CD, cassette | 95 | 151 |
| French Revolution | Released: 1997 Label: Cutting Edge Records Format: CD, cassette | — | — |
| One Step Further | Released: 2015 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download | — | — |
| A Very Nicki Christmas | Released: 2017 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download | — | — |
| Glitter to the Neon Lights | Released: 2018 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download | — | — |
| Who, What, Where | Released: 16 August 2024 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download | — | — |

### Mini albums

List of mini albums, with selected details :
| Title | Album details |
| Rare and Unreleased | Released: 2011 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download |
| Eurovision E.P | Released: 2015 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download |
| This Love | Released: 2015 Label: MPG Records Format: CD, download |
| Let's Play That Song Again | Released: 2019 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download |
| A Touch More Glitter | Released: 2020 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download |
| Let's Play That Song Again Vol. 2 | Released: 2021 Label: Energise Records Format: CD, download |

### Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected details :
| Title | Album details |
| Te Amo – Best Of | Released: 2015 Label: Sandrew Metronome Format: download |
| The Essentials | Released: 2015 Label: Sandrew Metronome Format: download |
| The Singles 1997–2014 | Released: 2015 Label: Energise Records Format: download |
| Eurovision | Released: 24 April 2023 Label: Energise Records Format: download |

### Extended Plays

List of EPs, with selected details :
| Title | Album details |
| Christmas at the Disco | Released: 30 November 2023 Label: Energise Records Format: download |

### Singles

List of singles as main artist, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | UK | AUS | BEL | CAN | GER | IRE | JPN | NL | NZ | US | Certifications | Album |
| "Dirty Den" (as Whisky and Sofa) | 1986 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "You'll Be Sorry" (as The French Connection) | 1993 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart" | 1993 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (re-release) | 1994 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 65 | 15 | 39 | 10 | 13 | 2 | BPI: Silver ARIA: Platinum RIAA: Gold | Secrets |
| "For All We Know" | 1995 | 42 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Secrets |
| "Did You Ever Really Love Me" | 1995 | 55 | 150 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Secrets |
| "Is There Anybody Out There?" | 1995 | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Secrets |
| "Never in a Million Years" (Sweden and Denmark only) | 1995 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Secrets |
| "Stop in the Name of Love"/ "Is There Anybody Out There?" (Australia only) | 1996 | — | 227 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Secrets |
| "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" | 1997 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | French Revolution |
| "Te Amo" | 1997 | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | French Revolution |
| "Give It Up Now" | 1997 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | French Revolution |
| "Don't Play That Song Again" | 2000 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "I Surrender" | 2004 | 110 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Calling Out My Name" | 2005 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart 2006" (as Diva DJs vs. Nicki French) | 2006 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Ain't No Smoke (Without Fire)" | 2011 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Red Light (Spells Danger)"/"Leave a Light On" | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | One Step Further |
| "The Boss" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | One Step Further |
| "This Love" | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | This Love (EP) |
| "Teardrops (On the Disco Floor)" | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Glitter to the Neon Lights |
| "Steal the Crown" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Glitter to the Neon Lights |
| "On Your Marks, Get Set, Go Away" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Glitter to the Neon Lights |
| "It's Gonna Be a Cold Cold Christmas" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | A Very Nicki Christmas |
| "Raise Your Voice" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Glitter to the Neon Lights |
| "Haunted Heart" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Who, What, Where |
| "Last Dance" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Who, What, Where |
| "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | A Very Nicki Christmas |
| "Nothing Is Impossible" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Who, What, Where? |
| "High Hopes & Heartaches" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Who, What, Where? |
| "S.O.S. (Same Old Story)” | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Who, What, Where? |

### Other releases

* 1995: "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" (available on vinyl and dance compilations) (Avex Records)
* 2000: "When You Walk in the Room" (on Euro2000 album as Paris) (Dominion Records)
* 2000: "The One and Only" (on Euro2000 album as Paris) (Dominion Records)
* 2000: "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" (on Euro2000 album as Paris) (Dominion Records)
* 2005: "Private Dancer" (for Gayfest album 2005) (Klone Records)

## Industry Awards

DMA (magazine) HI-NRG Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1995 | Herself | Best Female Vocal Performance | Won |
| 1995 | Total Eclipse of the Heart | Single of the Year | Won |
| 1995 | Herself | Most Promising Newcomer | Won |
International Dance Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1996 | Total Eclipse of the Heart | Best Hi-NRG 12-inch of the Year | Won |