Story of the Song - Warwick Avenue, Duffy (2008) | The Independent Story of the Song - Warwick Avenue, Duffy (2008) Friday 20 March 2009 00:00 BST Click to follow The Independent Culture Van Morrison ambled up Cyprus Avenue and Eddy Grant caught the spark of Electric Avenue. In her London A-Z, Duffy circled a stuccoed, tree-lined street near genteel Little Venice. The 19-year-old Welsh songstress, with just one EP to her name, had recently relocated from North Wales and was getting to grips with the London Underground. She alighted at Warwick Avenue station, on the Bakerloo line, by accident. "I got off at that stop and the name just took me by surprise," she said. The following day she was writing songs for a projected album and, as she put it, "it just sort of came out". Lyrically, "Warwick Avenue" is a heart-on-sleeve number, in the tradition of great break-up songs. "I wrote it from a secretive perspective," Duffy commented coyly after the song was a hit, stating it to be the most unusual song in her repertoire.

"Everyone is talking about it now. It meant something different to me all those years ago." Duffy collaborated with her producer, Jimmy Hogarth, and fellow songwriter Eg White. In the studio, Bernard Butler's guitar, a soulful string arrangement by Oliver Kraus and James Banbury's cello were added. The retro soft-shoe shuffle suggests "My Girl", Smokey Robinson's 1964 classic for The Temptations. "I'm learning about music – not only soul music, but all kinds," said Duffy when the similarity was brought to her attention. "I didn't even know what Tamla Motown was when I first started this record. I thought Tamla was one thing, and Motown another." "Warwick Avenue" was performed live by Duffy during 2007 and premiered on British television that autumn on Later with Jools Holland. Extracted from the following year's bestselling album, Rockferry, it was the singer's second Top 10 hit in May 2008, charting initially as a download. For the video, Duffy had planned an elaborate production featuring dancers and special effects. Instead, she settled for a tearful head-shot.

In the back of a black cab, the singer's mascara smudges as she sings: "Meet me by the entrance of the Tube/ We can talk things over a little time/ Promise me you won't stay by the light." At playback, the footage surprised the singer: "That's as close as I'm ever going to get to doing a performance that's real in a video." More about: Duffy | New Music And Songs | Duffy About Duffy Emerging during the same boom of retro U.K.-based singers that launched Amy Winehouse, Duffy distinguished herself with a melodic, vintage voice that brought to mind such '60s artists as Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark. Born in the small coastal town of Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales, Amy Ann Duffy began singing at an early age. With a record collection limited to her parents' classic LPs, though, she had few influences to draw from. Her father's VHS tapes of the 1960s television rock show Ready Steady Go!

thus became one of her biggest sources of inspiration, and Duffy started performing with various bands throughout her teenage years, sporting a charmingly retro sound that caught the ear of Rough Trade Records owner Jeannette Lee in 2004. Lee helped nurture the singer's talent by pairing her up with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. The duo co-wrote several songs, including the single "Rockferry," which revealed Duffy's knack for soulful music inspired by Stax and Motown. "Rockferry" became the title song of Duffy's debut album, which was released on Polydor in 2008. However, it took a different song -- "Mercy" -- to make her an international star. "Mercy" topped the charts in the U.K., the first song by a Welsh female in a quarter-century to hit number one, and the follow-up single, "Warwick Avenue," peaked at number three. Overseas, "Mercy" also scored platinum status in America. Rockferry became one of the year's most popular records, selling over two million copies in the U.K. alone, winning a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, and going multi-platinum in multiple other countries.

Duffy began working on her second album in 2009, taking some time off to make her acting debut in the 2010 drama Patagonia. Meanwhile, recording sessions for the album took place in England and New York, with Albert Hammond pulling a double shift as producer and co-writer. The result, Endlessly, was released in November 2010. ~ Matt Collar & Andrew Leahey, Rovi Duffy (Singer) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Show Less In 2004, following success on Wawffactor, Duffy recorded a three-song Welsh extended play, titled AimÃ©e Duffy, while working part-time in two jobs as waitress and in a fishmongers. … Read More It later achieved 2008 Welsh chart success, charting at number-one on the "Siart C2" music chart. Duffy, now in high demand, appeared on Mint Royale's See You in the Morning as a back-up singer. Read Less Duffy was introduced to Jeanette Lee of Rough Trade Records in August 2004, after singing Richard J. Parfitt's "Oh Boy".

… Read More Lee moved Duffy to Crouch End in London, orchestrating a meeting between Duffy and Suede's ex-guitar player Bernard Butler. Lee with Rough Trade would eventually manage Duffy. After Butler had given Duffy a soul music "education" by downloading tracks on to her iPod that she could listen to while around London or travelling back to Wales, the pair co-wrote with her and helped create a new retro sound. The music included tracks Al Green, Bettye Swann, Ann Peebles, Doris Duke, Scott Walker, Phil Spector and Burt Bacharach. Duffy was quoted as saying Bettye Swann "is one of my biggest inspirations" particularly her song "Cover Me" because "it marks the time I got interested in physical contact. I was 19, and here was a woman singing 'Cover me, spread your precious love all over me.' It's very tender, but it's also, hilariously, quite crude." Read Less 2006 22 Years Old Duffy dated Cheshire born Mark Durston for over five years until November 2006.

… Read More Duffy lived in Abersoch with him.<br /><br /> In September 2008, Duffy mentioned that she was "on the borderline of a nervous breakdown" because of the pressure that fame has brought her. She said that she had considered becoming a recluse, but eventually decided against the idea for the sake of her fans. Although acknowledging that most people do mean well, she finds it "scary" when people recognise her in the street, and has been fearful of her image possibly changing the person she truly is.<br /><br /> Duffy's estimated fortune of Â£4 million placed her in 16th place in the 2009 Sunday Times listing of Great Britain's wealthiest young musicians. Read Less Show Less Duffy was contracted to A&M Records (UK) on 23 November 2007. … Read More She performed on the BBC Two television show Later with Jools Holland, which resulted in a second appearance on the related broadcast Hootenanny, where Duffy performed with Eddie Floyd. Read Less … In Wales, following Duffy's recent promotion of her music, AimÃ©e Duffy reached number-one on the "Siart C2" music chart.

Read Less By 2007, Duffy was finalising her debut album effort, to be titled Rockferry, after Rock Ferry, where her grandmother lives. … Read More She subsequently struck a US label deal with Mercury Records, a newly re-activated imprint of Island Def Jam Music Group. The first single from the album, also titled "Rockferry" was critically well-received with Allmusic calling it a "grand, sweeping ballad". Read Less … The black and white album art and video for the title track were shot by directors Luke Seomore and Joseph Bull, on and around the Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog, which was renamed 'Rockferry' for the occasion. According to Duffy, "The album took nearly four years to make. We had to hire cheap, tiny studios and sometimes there would be three-week periods between writing and recording." Bernard Butler, who was not initially paid, produced four songs for the album, including the single, "Rockferry". The singles "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone", were co-written and produced by Steve Booker, and the second single "Warwick Avenue", by Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White.

Read Less Duffy released the debut limited edition single "Rockferry" in November 2007 followed by the Steve Booker co-written and produced single, "Mercy", which went straight to number one. "Mercy" was the last song written for the album. … Read More The single was physically released on 25 February 2008. She revealed that both "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone" are autobiographical; "Mercy" is about "sexual liberty" and "not doing something somebody else wants you to do", and "Stepping Stone" is about not expressing her feelings to a person she fell in love with. "Warwick Avenue" was the second single released from the album. The song occurred when Duffy, then 19 years old, was familiarising herself with the London Underground and accidentally found herself at the Warwick Avenue station. The following day the song "just sort of came out". At first the video for the song was meant to be an elaborate production but ended up a tearful head shot in a taxi cab with Duffy's mascara smudging.

Duffy has said "That's as close as I'm ever going to get to doing a performance that's real in a video." Read Less Show Less Following the release of the singles "Rockferry" (2007) and "Mercy" (2008), the latter reaching singles charts worldwide, Duffy released her 2008 debut album Rockferry. … Read More The album entered the UK Album Chart at number one, and became the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008 with 1.68 million copies sold. The album was certified several times Platinum and sold over 7 million copies worldwide, spawning further successful singles. With "Mercy", Duffy became the first Welsh woman to achieve number-one on the UK Singles Chart since 1983, while Rockferry was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album amongst further nominations at the 51st Grammy Awards. In 2009, she won three Brit Awards for British Breakthrough, Best British Female and Best British Album.<br /><br /> In 2010, Duffy released her second album Endlessly.

Following its relative critical and commercial failure, in February 2011, Duffy announced she would take an extended hiatus from music before beginning work on her third album, and made her acting debut in the film Patagonia. She has since appeared in, and contributed music to, the films Secret Love and Legend (both 2015), in the latter playing American singer Timi Yuro. Read Less On 22 February 2008, she appeared on Later with Jools Holland for a third time and performed "Rockferry", "Mercy", and "Stepping Stone". Duffy also made appearances on the BBC Two television programme The Culture Show on 23 February 2008, performing "Mercy". In January 2008, Duffy came second to Adele in the annual BBC News Online poll of industry experts Sound of 2008, for acts to emerge in the coming year. Butler and his musical partner David McAlmont, and a number of other musicians formed the backbone of Duffy's band for her debut album, Rockferry, which was released on A&M Records on 3 March 2008.

… By May, "Mercy" was a staple on VH1 and a hot Adult Contemporary radio hit and had been featured in the season finale of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy as well as being on the soundtrack album for Sex and the City: The Movie. A remix of "Mercy", featuring rap artist The Game, was released on 10 May. On 13 May Rockferry was released in the United States to positive reviews. Because of its cheap production values the album is reaping Duffy substantial financial benefits. Despite her album's success in the United States, Duffy was quoted as saying "I donât like how big American stars consider themselves an exception from humanity". In November 2008, the single "Rain on Your Parade" was released. The song was co-written & produced by Steve Booker. The song was first released on download sales only on 10 November 2008 before being released physically on 17 November 2008. Duffy describes this song as "a big, disco-y dance song". The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number twenty-two before rising to a peak of fifteen the following week.

The track was included on the deluxe edition of Rockferry. Read Less At the 2008 MOJO Awards, Duffy won the "Song of the Year" award for "Mercy" and was nominated also for "Album of the Year" and "Breakthrough Act". … Read More These three nominations were the largest number of nominations for any one act. Read Less She also received a 2008 Q Award in the category of Breakthrough Act, a nomination for the Q category of Best Track for "Mercy", a Music of Black Origin Award nomination for Best UK Female. … Read More At the MTV Europe Music Awards, she received nominations in the categories of Album of the Year, Most Addictive Track, and New Act. She performed at the EMA show.<br /><br /> Duffy has performed at concerts and festival gigs around the world. Her first American performances took place at the SXSW conference, and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was her first festival gig. The Coachella performance delighted the crowd with 'Rockferry', 'Serious', 'Warwick Avenue' and 'Mercy'. To coincide with the release of Rockferry, Duffy performed at the Apollo Theater in New York City.

Read Less Duffy received the honour of performing at the Royal Variety Performance 2008. In 2008, Duffy played many festivals in Europe. … Read More This included visits to French, Swedish and Irish summer festivals, amongst others. In the United Kingdom, Duffy visited venues such as Glastonbury and the Evolution Festival. Read Less She also toured the American summer festivals in 2008 for example a visit to Lollapalooza in Chicago. Duffy toured the United Kingdom and Ireland during November and December 2008. … Read More To promote Rockferry, Duffy made many visits to American television, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Saturday Night Live. Duffy played a fourteen-city North American tour. Plans had called for her to open for Coldplay on six of the dates. During a concert in Cleveland, Duffy accidentally set the left side of her hair on fire. In New York, Duffy was left apologising to an audience after briefly crying. She explained to the audience that this happens in one out of every 15 of her shows when she feels exposed for reasons she does not fully understand. Duffy also made a recording for British broadcaster BBC, performing at the LSO St.

Luke's. The performance was televised in 2009 on the British television station BBC One. Read Less Show Less At the 51st Grammy Awards held in February 2009, Duffy won a Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop Vocal Album for Rockferry. … Read More Earlier she had been nominated for awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her single "Mercy". Read Less Duffy equalled Coldplay with four 2009 Brit Awards nominations. … Read More She eventually won three awards, including Best Album for Rockferry, one behind the record held by Blur for the most won in one night. "I cannot tell you what this means after five years of hard work," Duffy said. At the awards ceremony she performed "Warwick Avenue". Record producers & songwriters Steve Booker & Bernard Butler gained awards for their work on the Rockferry album. Read Less She shared a 2009 Ivor Novello Award in the category "Most Performed Work" with Steve Booker for their work on Mercy. Songwriter Eg White won the award for "Songwriter of the Year" in part for Warwick Avenue, which he co-wrote with Duffy.

"Mercy" was played on United States radio and television more than 3 million times earning Duffy a 2009 Broadcast Music Incorporated award. … Read More The album was nominated and shortlisted for the Album of 30 Years category at the 2010 Brit Awards.<br /><br /> The album's success led to a period of confusion about her role in the music business that nearly led her to quit music. Duffy has said that she did not mind people illegally downloading her music because she believes most people who do are kids who cannot afford the CDs and will buy them when they get older. Duffy recorded a cover of Paul McCartney and Wings' song "Live and Let Die". It was used on the War Child charity album titled War Child Heroes, Volume I. Acclaim came from Paul McCartney, saying that Duffy's version "is great â I was really impressed". Duffy and Bernard Butler wrote the song "Smoke Without Fire", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film An Education.

Read Less … Under the sub-title, "The New Amys", Adam Thompson wrote in The Times on 30 December 2007 that "Duffy, Estelle, Gabriella Cilmi and Adele lead the charge to be the next Winehouse. First sightings seem to indicate that they are all bright-eyed innocents with bags of talent â a familiar starting point, no?" She said at first she did not understand the comparisons to Dusty Springfield and believes the comparisons with others or putting her in a movement is "a gimmick" and noted that "nobody is replaceable". Later some of Springfield's friends sought out and befriended Duffy. Duffy was quoted as saying they tell her she is much like Springfield and talk to her as if she were around during the 1960s. <br /><br />Alison Goldfrapp said while Duffy has a great voice, she was trained to sound essentially like Amy Winehouse as part of a business plan, mistakenly believing that Duffy had attended the BRIT School. Noel Gallagher of Oasis has a similar perspective.

By 2009, people had stopped referring to Duffy as the "New Amy" or "New Dusty" a prospect that is a "bit more frightening because before I had certain references but now it's just me on my own". On 1 February 2009, The Times Encyclopedia of modern music named Rockferry an "Essential" Blue-eyed soul recording. Albums by Amy Winehouse and Adele were also named as essential Blue Eyed Soul recordings in the "recent" category. Read Less At the 2009 Grammy Awards Adele during her acceptance speech said that "she loves Duffy and thinks that she is amazing". … Read More Duffy lists Marvin Gaye, Phil Spector, and Arcade Fire as her musical influences.<br /><br /> Duffy has endorsed several products. In August 2008, Duffy appeared in Fashion Rocks, supporting a new range of Nivea products. Duffy has also appeared in various European television commercials endorsing the beverage Diet Coke. The campaign, showing Duffy cycling through a supermarket singing "I Gotta Be Me", was launched on British television station ITV, following the 2009 BRIT Awards, which saw Duffy take home three awards for her work.

Duffy was named as the "face" of the brand, alongside other famous women, though her initial advert for the brand was widely deemed as a career misstep. In addition, the advert went on to spark unexpected complaints about the health of children when it showed Duffy riding without protective gear, to the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority. However, these claims were ultimately rejected. Read Less Duffy dated Welsh International rugby star Mike Phillips from September 2009 to May 2011. … Read More On 3 October 2012, Duffy escaped from a fire in the rented penthouse apartment in which she was living, in Kensington, London.<br /><br /> Studio albums Read Less Show Less Duffy's second album required her to slow her career. In late January 2010 Rough Trade Management, who with Jeanette Lee had managed Duffy, announced that they and the singer had parted amicably. … Read More Duffy's new management stated that "the professional relationship between Duffy and Rough Trade management has run its course." She is currently with A&M/Universal. Read Less On 16 September 2010 Duffy announced the release of her second album, Endlessly.

… Read More The album was recorded in New York, London and Spain in the year prior to the announcement. Duffy formed a songwriting partnership with Albert Hammond for the record. Endlessly was released in the United Kingdom on 29 November 2010 and placed at number 9 in the album charts of 5 December. The album's first single failed to achieve the success of previous singles, entering the UK charts at number 41 on 21 November. Called "Well, Well, Well", the single features a rhythm section by United States hip hop group The Roots. Read Less Duffy made her film debut playing the character of Sissy in the 2010 drama film Patagonia, directed by Marc Evans. … Read More Sissy's character is "a Welsh student who livens up the holiday of a young Argentinian man on a trip to Wales". The film is about Welsh Argentines living in Y Wladfa, Patagonia. Patagonia premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival on 10 June 2010, and was released in October 2010.

Read Less DUFFY DUFFY Aimï¿½e Ann Duffy (born 23 June 1984), known as Duffy, is a Welsh (soul) singer-songwriter. Her 2008 debut album Rockferry entered the UK Album Chart at number one. It was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008 with 1.68 million copies sold. The album was certified several times Platinum and sold over 7 million copies worldwide, spawning the hits "Mercy" and "Warwick Avenue". With "Mercy", Duffy became the first Welsh woman to achieve number-one on the UK Singles Chart since Bonnie Tyler topped the charts with "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983. Duffy is an exciting singer, a breath of fresh air, compared to Dusty Springfield which she doesnï¿½t like, but then that is a compliment, whichever way you look at it. We were completely knocked out by this girlï¿½s presence and talent. In 2009, Duffy won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album for Rockferry, and she was nominated for two other Grammys at the 51st Grammy Awards.

In 2009 she won three Brit Awards: British Breakthrough, Best Female Solo and Best British Album. In 2010 she completed recording of her second album Endlessly that was released on 29 November and made her acting debut in the film Patagonia. In February 2011 it was announced that Duffy would take an extended hiatus from music before beginning work on her third album. EARLY LIFE Duffy was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, and brought up in Nefyn on the Llŷn Peninsula, in Gwynedd, Wales, with her twin sister, Katy Ann, and older sister Kelly; she would later write songs about both sisters. She grew up speaking Welsh as her mother tongue but soon learnt English as well. Duffy's parents divorced when she was 10 and she moved to Pembrokeshire with her mother and sisters. Duffy attended Ysgol Nefyn, on the Llyn Peninsula and Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest, as a child.

In September 1998, at the age of fourteen, Duffy was briefly put in a police safe house when authorities uncovered a plot by her stepfather's ex-wife to pay an assassin ï¿½3000 to kill her stepfather, identified as Philip Smith. Smith's ex-wife, Dawn Watson, was sentenced to a 3ï¿½-year jail term for soliciting to murder. "I was so terrified. I felt so ill," Duffy recounted in 2008, as reported by the NME and The Sun. A 1998 article in the Daily Mirror, another British tabloid, quotes a man identified as Philip Smith describing similar circumstances, though the stepdaughter's name is spelled Aimy ï¿½ not Aimï¿½e ï¿½ and the surname Duffy is not mentioned. Duffy describes living in the safe house as a dog-eat-dog, claustrophobic and isolating experience. At age 15, she ran away back to her father's home in Nefyn. Duffy said in retrospect, "It was a horrendous thing to do." Her mother and her sisters did not speak to her for about a year afterward.

In reaction to her parents' breakup, the following three years were a rebellious period that included binge drinking and stealing a rowing boat. Duffy's early introduction to soul music and inspiration to get into the music industry occurred while watching Whoopi Goldberg's performance in the movie Sister Act. It is known that Duffy did not hold a large record collection in her youth, instead being inspired by her father's videotapes of the 1960s television rock show, Ready Steady Go! Duffy was interested in music from an early age, beginning to sing at age 6, carrying a notebook that she filled with scribbled lyrics. Despite this, she was later asked to leave her school choir because her voice was "too big" and she "didn't fit in." MUSIC CAREER 2003ï¿½06: Musical beginnings After finishing her GCSEs in Pembrokeshire, Duffy returned to Nefyn, to live with her father, when she was fifteen, and started singing in various local bands. Duffy then spent six weeks in Switzerland (before she started college), collaborating with the writer-producer Soren Mounir, under the name Soulego.

She was advised by a lecturer at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor to "Go on the dole, love, and become a singer". She also built up a following at Alexander's, a local jazz and blues club in Chester, performing with guitarist David Burton from the band The Invisible Wires. Duffy returned to Wales in 2003 and was invited to appear on Wawffactor, a Welsh television talent show. She was expected to win but came second to winner Lisa Pedrick. She claimed that she was conned into the appearance, later calling it "the unhappiest time in my life." After a re-evaluation, she decided to just make music for no other purpose than her own fulfilment. In 2004, following success on Wawffactor, Duffy recorded a three-song Welsh extended play, titled Aimï¿½e Duffy, while working part-time in two jobs as waitress and in a fishmongers. It later achieved 2008 Welsh chart success, charting at number-one on the "Siart C2" music chart. Duffy, now in high demand, appeared on Mint Royale's See You in the Morning as a back-up singer.

Duffy was introduced to Jeanette Lee of Rough Trade Records in August 2004, after singing Richard J. Parfitt's "Oh Boy". Lee moved Duffy to Crouch End in London, orchestrating a meeting between Duffy and Suede's ex-guitar player Bernard Butler. Lee with Rough Trade would eventually manage Duffy. After Butler had given Duffy a soul music "education" by downloading tracks on to her iPod that she could listen to while around London or traveling back to Wales, the pair co-wrote with her and helped create a new retro sound. The music included tracks Al Green, Bettye Swann, Ann Peebles, Doris Duke, Scott Walker, Phil Spector and Burt Bacharach. Duffy was quoted as saying Bettye Swann "is one of my biggest inspirations" particularly her song "Cover Me" because "it marks the time I got interested in physical contact.

I was 19, and here was a woman singing 'Cover me, spread your precious love all over me.' It's very tender, but it's also, hilariously, quite crude." 2007ï¿½09: Rockferry and international breakthrough Duffy was contracted to A&M Records (UK) on 23 November 2007. She performed on the BBC Two television show Later with Jools Holland, which resulted in a second appearance on the related broadcast Hootenanny, where Duffy performed with Eddie Floyd. On 22 February 2008, she appeared on Later with Jools Holland for a third time and performed "Rockferry", "Mercy", and "Stepping Stone". Duffy also made appearances on the BBC Two television programme The Culture Show on 23 February 2008, performing "Mercy". In January 2008, Duffy came second to Adele in the annual BBC News Online poll of industry experts Sound of 2008, for acts to emerge in the coming year.

In Wales, following Duffy's recent promotion of her music, Aimï¿½e Duffy reached number-one on the "Siart C2" music chart. By 2007, Duffy was finalizing her debut album effort, to be titled Rockferry, after Rock Ferry, where her grandmother lives. She subsequently struck a US label deal with Mercury Records, a newly re-activated imprint of Island Def Jam Music Group. The first single from the album, also titled "Rockferry" was critically well-received with Allmusic calling it a "grand, sweeping ballad". Butler and his musical partner David McAlmont, and a number of other musicians formed the backbone of Duffy's band for her debut album, Rockferry, which was released on A&M Records on 3 March 2008. The black and white album art and video for the title track were shot by directors Luke Seomore and Joseph Bull, on and around the Ffestiniog Railway in Porthmadog, which was renamed 'Rockferry' for the occasion. According to Duffy, "The album took nearly four years to make.

We had to hire cheap, tiny studios and sometimes there would be three-week periods between writing and recording." Bernard Butler, who was not initially paid, produced four songs for the album, including the single, "Rockferry". The singles "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone", were co-written & produced by Steve Booker, and the second single "Warwick Avenue", by Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White. Duffy released the debut limited edition single "Rockferry" in November 2007 followed by the Steve Booker co-written & produced single, "Mercy", which went straight to number one. "Mercy" was the last song written for the album. The single was physically released on 25 February 2008. She revealed that both "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone" are autobiographical; "Mercy" is about "sexual liberty" and "not doing something somebody else wants you to do", and "Stepping Stone" is about not expressing her feelings to a person she fell in love with. "Warwick Avenue" was the second single released from the album.

The song occurred when Duffy, then 19 years old, was familiarising herself with the London Underground and accidentally found herself at the Warwick Avenue station. The following day the song "just sort of came out". At first the video for the song was meant to be an elaborate production but ended up a tearful head shot in a taxi cab with Duffy's mascara smudging. Duffy has said "That's as close as I'm ever going to get to doing a performance that's real in a video." By May, "Mercy" was a staple on VH1 and a hot Adult Contemporary radio hit and had been featured in the season finale of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy as well as being on the soundtrack album for Sex and the City: The Movie. A remix of "Mercy", featuring rap artist The Game, was released on 10 May. On 13 May Rockferry was released in the United States to positive reviews. Because of its cheap production values the album is reaping Duffy substantial financial benefits. Despite her album's success in the United States Duffy was quoted as saying ï¿½I donï¿½t like how big American stars consider themselves an exception from humanity".

In November 2008, the single Rain On Your Parade was released. The song was co-written & produced by Steve Booker. The song was first released on download sales only on 10 November 2008 before being released physically on 17 November 2008. Duffy describes this song as "a big, disco-y dance song". The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number twenty-two before rising to a peak of fifteen the following week. The track was included on the deluxe edition of Rockferry. At the 2008 MOJO Awards, Duffy won the "Song of the Year" award for "Mercy" and was nominated also for "Album of the Year" and "Breakthrough Act". These three nominations were the largest number of nominations for any one act. She also received a 2008 Q Award in the category of Breakthrough Act, a nomination for the Q category of Best Track for "Mercy", a Music of Black Origin Award nomination for Best UK Female. At the MTV Europe Music Awards, she received nominations in the categories of Album of the Year, Most Addictive Track, and New Act. She performed at the EMA show.

At the 51st Grammy Awards held in February 2009, Duffy won a Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop Vocal Album for Rockferry. Earlier she had been nominated for awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her single "Mercy". Duffy equalled Coldplay with four 2009 Brit Awards nominations. She eventually won three awards, including Best Album for Rockferry, one behind the record held by Blur for the most won in one night. "I cannot tell you what this means after five years of hard work," said the singer. At the awards ceremony she performed "Warwick Avenue". Record producers & songwriters Steve Booker & Bernard Butler gained awards for their work on the Rockferry album. She shared a 2009 Ivor Novello Award in the category "Most Performed Work" with Steve Booker for their work on Mercy. Songwriter Eg White won the award for "Songwriter of the Year" in part for Warwick Avenue, which he co-wrote with Duffy. "Mercy" was played on United States radio and television more than 3 million times earning Duffy a 2009 Broadcast Music Incorporated award.

The album was nominated and shortlisted for the Album of 30 Years category at the 2010 Brit Awards. The album's success led to a period of confusion about her role in the music business that nearly led her to quit music. Duffy has said that she did not mind people illegally downloading her music because she believes most people who do are kids who cannot afford the CDs and will buy them when they get older. Duffy recorded a cover of Paul McCartney and Wings' song "Live and Let Die". It was used on the War Child charity album entitled War Child Heroes, Volume I. Acclaim came from Paul McCartney, saying that Duffy's version "is great ï¿½ I was really impressed". Duffy and Bernard Butler wrote the song Smoke Without Fire, which appeared on the soundtrack for the film "An Education". 2009ï¿½10: Endlessly Duffy's second album required her to slow her career. In late January 2010 Rough Trade Management, who with Jeanette Lee had managed Duffy, announced that they and the singer had parted amicably.

Duffy's new management stated that "the professional relationship between Duffy and Rough Trade management has run its course." She is currently with A&M/Universal. On 16 September 2010 Duffy announced the release of her second album Endlessly. The album was recorded in New York, London and Spain in the year prior to the announcement. Duffy formed a songwriting partnership with Albert Hammond for the record. Endlessly was released in the United Kingdom on 29 November 2010 and placed at number 9 in the album charts of 5 December. The album's first single failed to achieve the success of previous singles, entering the UK charts at number 41 on 21 November. Called "Well, Well, Well", the single features a rhythm section by United States hip hop group The Roots. 2011ï¿½present: Hiatus and third studio album Following the release of Endlessly it was confirmed that no more singles would be released from the album and in February 2011, it was announced that Duffy would take a two year break from music before beginning work on her third album.

In October 2011, producer/rapper David Banner announced that he and Duffy were to go in the studio for two weeks. Discography - Studio Albums PERSONAL LIFE In September 2008, Duffy mentioned that she was "on the borderline of a nervous breakdown" because of the pressure that fame has brought her. She also said that she had considered becoming a recluse, but eventually decided against the idea for the sake of her fans. Although acknowledging that most people do mean well, she finds it "scary" when people recognise her in the street, and has been fearful of her image possibly changing the person she truly is. In April 2009 Duffy had a special variant of daffodil (a flower traditionally associated with Wales) named after her called the "Duffydil". She picked the variant she wanted to be named after her from a selection grown by the Really Welsh Trading Company in Wales. Duffy said of this, "The Duffydil, brilliant!

Maybe now I can forgive myself for stealing them from people's gardens!" Duffy's estimated fortune of ï¿½4 million placed her in 16th place in the 2009 Sunday Times listing of Great Britain's wealthiest young musicians. Duffy dated Welsh International rugby star Mike Phillips from September 2009 to May 2011. In 2011 Angela Becker, Duffy's former manager, sued Duffy claiming breach of contract. Duffy has stated she intends to counter-sue. On 3 October 2012, Duffy escaped from a fire in the rented penthouse apartment in which she was living, in Kensington, London. TOURING Duffy has performed at concerts and festival gigs around the world. Her first American performances took place at the SXSW conference, and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was her first festival gig. The Coachella performance started off with sound problems but she "delighted the crowd with 'Rockferry', 'Serious', 'Warwick Avenue' and 'Mercy'." To coincide with the release of Rockferry, Duffy performed at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Duffy received the honour of performing at the Royal Variety Performance 2008.

In 2008, Duffy played many festivals in Europe. This included visits to French, Swedish and Irish summer festivals, amongst others. In the United Kingdom, Duffy visited venues such as Glastonbury and the Evolution Festival. She also toured the American summer festivals in 2008 for example a visit to Lollapalooza in Chicago. Duffy toured the United Kingdom and Ireland during November and December 2008. To promote Rockferry, Duffy made many visits to American television, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Saturday Night Live. Duffy played a fourteen-city North American tour. Plans had called for her to open for Coldplay on six of the dates. During a concert in Cleveland, Duffy accidentally set the left side of her hair on fire. In New York, Duffy was left apologising to an audience after briefly crying. She explained to the audience that this happens in one out of every 15 of her shows when she feels exposed for reasons she does not fully understand. Duffy also made a recording for British broadcaster BBC, performing at the LSO St. Luke's. The performance was televised in 2009 on the British television station BBC One.

COMPARISONS Under the sub-title, "The New Amys", Adam Thompson wrote in The Times on 30 December 2007 that "Duffy, Gabriella Cilmi and Adele lead the charge to be the next Winehouse. First sightings seem to indicate that they are all bright-eyed innocents with bags of talent ï¿½ a familiar starting point, no?" She said at first she did not understand the comparisons to Dusty Springfield and believes the comparisons with others or putting her in a movement is "a gimmick" and noted that "nobody is replaceable". Later some of Springfield's friends sought out and befriended Duffy. Duffy was quoted as saying they tell her she is much like Springfield and talk to her as if she was around during the 1960s. Singer-songwriter Alison Goldfrapp said while Duffy has a great voice, she was trained to sound essentially like Amy Winehouse as part of a business plan, mistakenly believing that Duffy had attended the Brit School. Noel Gallagher of Oasis has a similar perspective.

By 2009 people had stopped referring to Duffy as the "New Amy" or "New Dusty" a prospect that is a "bit more frightening because before I had certain references but now it's just me on my own". British singer Estelle said that she does not agree with those who describe Duffy and Adele as soul singers but that she is happy that they have been successful. In North America, Duffy is seen as part of a recent wave of British singers or "British invaders" consisting of females with a unique take on writing and performing songs. Motown has been seen in this wave. On 1 February 2009 The Times Encyclopedia of modern music named Rockferry an "Essential" Blue-eyed soul recording. Albums by Amy Winehouse and Adele were also named as essential Blue Eyed Soul recordings in the "recent" category. 2008 Mojo Awards Duffy claimed that at the Mojo Awards show in June 2008, Sex Pistols lead singer John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) heckled her.

According to Duffy, when she went to make peace with him, "I walked past him, said 'Hi, you all right?,' and next thing I was literally slammed against the wall, pinned by his arm at my throat. He called me a c***. The violence was awful." According to Lydon, "I was doing an interview and she came up behind me ï¿½ I didn't see anything." He claimed she was a "young girl who made the mistake of trying to jump on my back". He said he hadn't realised who Duffy was, saying: "Oh, she got an award? I quite like her." Although she left upset, Duffy later blamed herself for what happened. In November 2010, Lydon changed his story claiming the incident was a publicity stunt created by Duffy's staff. Duffy believes that explanation is an attempt to brush off behaviour Lydon is ashamed about. PROJECTS Since her fame, Duffy has endorsed several products. In August 2008, Duffy appeared in Fashion Rocks, supporting a new range of Nivea products. Duffy has also appeared in various European television commercials endorsing the beverage Diet Coke.

The campaign, showing Duffy cycling through a supermarket singing "I Gotta Be Me", was launched on British television station ITV, following the 2009 BRIT Awards, which saw Duffy take home three awards for her work. Duffy was named as the "face" of the brand, alongside other famous women. The advert went on to spark unexpected complaints about the health of children when it showed Duffy riding without protective gear, to the United Kingdom's Advertising Standards Authority. However, these claims were ultimately rejected. Duffy received a phone call from a famous Hollywood producer who offered her a chance to be a star. Feeling that she was not ready she instead made her film debut playing the character of Sissy in the 2010 drama film Patagonia, directed by Marc Evans. Sissy's character is "a Welsh student who livens up the holiday of a young Argentinian man on a trip to Wales". The film is about Welsh Argentines living in Y Wladfa, Patagonia.

Patagonia premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival on 10 June 2010, and was released in October 2010 NICE ONE When I hear Duffy singing Mercy, she sends a shiver up my spine, she's that good. She looks and sounds the business. I hope that she manages to resolve her personal life, by tying up the loose ends and setting up a bullet proof bolt hole, for a comfortable happy life. Everyone needs a haven to retreat to in between the razzle. Music is an excellent focus. Art, you cannot beat it and she is one heck of an artist. Best wishes from all your fans here at Kismet. 2-UpTop || Album Review: Duffy: Endlessly World Fantansy League: WFL 2010 - 2011 is running. Album Review: Duffy: Endlessly Duffy - Endlessly Released by A&M Welsh songwriter Duffy has had a great start to her career with her debut album being the best-selling album in the UK in 2008 and becoming the first Welsh female-singer to top the UK singles Chart in 25 years. After a lengthy absence, Duffy returns now with her sophomore offering, Endlessly.

The result, whilst the short ten track listing may disappoint, is a fun and attractive addition to her portfolio. The LP kicks off with My Boy, sparking off with an applause; and rightfully so. This track oozes class and combines a traditional and dated sound with a modern twist; hence representing exactly what we are to expect from the rest of the album. Building to a stunning climax, the applauded backing that is adopted is lawfully deserved. Similarly, the dated Too hurt to Dance sounds like it would appear in a leavers ball in the 1940s with war veterans saying goodbye to their loved ones. Beautiful and charming are words to describe this track, but at times the production seems a bit uninspired, whilst it can get a bit tiring by its end. Likewise, the album, can at times, fall into the trap of being too sedated. The title track, whilst gorgeously produced, doesn't seem to have that spark that Duffy captivated us with when she first appeared on the music scene, or Breath Away hardly does anything to take our breath away. There is no denying that Duffy is certainly doing what she does best, but it all comes across a bit numb, without any attempts to take a risk with her sound.

At times, it even seems that she is simply trying to re-create her previous success; Don't forsake Me's verses, for example, paint too much of a resemblance to her previous smash-hit Warwick Avenue. Luckily, Duffy returns with a vengeance on some tracks. Keeping my Baby is striking and captivating song that stuns the senses, whilst Lovestruck is a haunting creation, where it's tragic undertones fit Duffy's voice perfectly. Duffy's vocals do have to be commended on this LP. Well Well Well, a fun and bouncy offering, aligns her smooth abilities to an early Dolly Parton; one of which haunts us to the very end of the track. This album is decent and respectable, but that is it really. One can't deny Duffy's abilities to produce classic tracks that remain imprinted onto the psyche, but it is a real shame that she has not attempted to diverge on this new album. The result is an offering that is a balance between the striking and the sedate; this being even more of a shame with the short track-listing. Sincere it is, but memorable it may not be.

by Nima Baniamer Duffy | Free Internet Radio | AOL Radio Gabriella Cilmi Emerging during the same boom of retro U.K.-based singers that launched Amy Winehouse, Duffy distinguished herself with a melodic, vintage voice that brought to mind such '60s artists as Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark. Born in the small coastal town of Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales, Amy Ann Duffy began singing at an early age. With a record collection limited to her parents' classic LPs, though, she had few influences to draw from. Her father's VHS tapes of the 1960s television rock show Ready Steady Go! thus became one of her biggest sources of inspiration, and Duffy started performing with various bands throughout her teenage years, sporting a charmingly retro sound that caught the ear of Rough Trade Records owner Jeannette Lee in 2004. Lee helped nurture the singer's talent by pairing her up with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. The duo co-wrote several songs, including the single "Rockferry," which revealed Duffy's knack for soulful music inspired by Stax and Motown.

"Rockferry" became the title song of Duffy's debut album, which was released on Polydor in 2008. However, it took a different song -- "Mercy" -- to make her an international star. "Mercy" topped the charts in the U.K., the first song by a Welsh female in a quarter-century to hit number one, and the follow-up single, "Warwick Avenue," peaked at number three. Overseas, "Mercy" also scored platinum status in America. Rockferry became one of the year's most popular records, selling over two million copies in the U.K. alone, winning a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, and going multi-platinum in multiple other countries. Duffy began working on her second album in 2009, taking some time off to make her acting debut in the 2010 drama Patagonia. Meanwhile, recording sessions for the album took place in England and New York, with Albert Hammond pulling a double shift as producer and co-writer. The result, Endlessly, was released in November 2010.

~ Matt Collar & Andrew Leahey The top 10 best Duffy songs - AXS The top 10 best Duffy songs By: Bill Craig AXS Contributor Apr 27, 2016 189 189 16541761 6 y2016m04d27 82825 youtube.com The Welsh singer/songwriter/actress Duffy had a breakout in 2008 with her debut album Rockferry and its international smash hit single "Mercy." The release also won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. That year she also appeared at SXSX and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Duffy's musical style harkens back to pop and soul singers from the 1960s. Even her look and image as a performer references British female pop sensations like Dusty Springfield. Her vocal texture is unique and her range is outstanding with power and control. Around the same time as her biggest successes, the other Brit girl singer looming large on the world stage was the late Amy Winehouse.

The two had some stylistic similarities, but Duffy tended to be the poppier side of soul, while Winehouse was darker and jazzier with a lower vocal range. Both major talents that were like the yin and yang of hit making British women in those years. Here are 10 of Duffy's best known and loved songs. 10."Distant Dreamer" - Duffy sings here about her rich fantasy life. This is a well written tune that allows her voice to show off it's edge as well as a soft falsetto. A saxophone provides fills that cut through the lush production, but of course the star of the track is Duffy's vocal. 9."I'm Scared" - This song has more production, including strings and electric guitar riffs which play off of the vocal. It's a mid-tempo pop song about the uncertainty of a relationship. Some nice non-stock chord changes and of course Duffy's signature vocals. 8."Syrup and Honey" - Slow and bluesy, Duffy gets a chance here to show off both her power and range. The song is a plea for her man to get his priorities in order.

There is minimal production and instrumental backing, so that it's all about the vocal, which sells the tune. 7."Hanging On Too Long" - This has a smooth jazz feel as well nice strings and keyboards that set up the almost gospel sounding vocal chorus.The edge in Duffy's voice keeps even the mellow verse from becoming to smooth before the powerful chorus kicks in. On the tag her vocal soars. 6."Breaking My Own Heart" - Lots of percussion, strings and major production values, as well as Duffy's distinctive voice sitting on top of the mix. This is a very dramatic track that recalls '60s full-blown torch songs by the female pop stars of that era. She is a worthy addition to that tradition, but with her own modern edge. 5."Oh Boy" - The flip side of the single "Rockferry," this is an almost totally acoustic track that emphasizes the sweet and tender side of Duffy's vocal performance. This song had hit potential of its own and comes across as a heartfelt love song. The guitar backing sets a singer/songwriter vibe for the tune. 4."Rockferry" - This was Duffy's first single. It's a mid-tempo tune that showcases her strong vocals.

The slow building track gets more powerful as the momentum increases. A very haunting performance of a song with an unusual structure. This was well received by music critics and was a good first indication of her abilities as an artist going forward. 3."Rain On Your Parade" - A very strong track that was one her biggest hits. A unique song theme of a 'get even' sentiment, with Duffy's unmistakable commanding vocals set against another dramatic instrument backing, including a synth wash, strings and full-blown percussion. 2."Warwick Avenue" - So many of Duffy's songs are either 'woman scorned' or 'woman carrying a torch' scenarios, which she is masterful at delivering. Her performances are so genuine and affecting that we are able to suspend disbelief that someone so attractive would ever get dumped. This a case in point and a well-written and delivered track. Duffy even sheds tears in the video that seem quite real. 1."Mercy" - Her first and biggest hit. This was an international chart topping record in 2008 and it's easy to hear why. A very 1960's soul vibe with the infectious "yeah yeah yeah" chorus punctuation.

Duffy's vocal texture is key to all her songs' appeal. The instrumental arrangement is also retro in an irresistible way as well. Duffy is a unique artist who, along her various co-writers has created a body of material that her powerful vocal talent has delivered with great style. Keep up with all the latest new information on Duffy here . Duffy on Apple Music To preview a song, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to buy and download music. Biography Emerging during the same boom of retro U.K.-based singers that launched Amy Winehouse, Duffy distinguished herself with a melodic, vintage voice that brought to mind such '60s artists as Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark. Born in the small coastal town of Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales, Amy Ann Duffy began singing at an early age. With a record collection limited to her parents' classic LPs, though, she had few influences to draw from. Her father's VHS tapes of the 1960s television rock show Ready Steady Go!

thus became one of her biggest sources of inspiration, and Duffy started performing with various bands throughout her teenage years, sporting a charmingly retro sound that caught the ear of Rough Trade Records owner Jeannette Lee in 2004. Lee helped nurture the singer's talent by pairing her up with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. The duo co-wrote several songs, including the single "Rockferry," which revealed Duffy's knack for soulful music inspired by Stax and Motown. "Rockferry" became the title song of Duffy's debut album, which was released on Polydor in 2008. However, it took a different song -- "Mercy" -- to make her an international star. "Mercy" topped the charts in the U.K., the first song by a Welsh female in a quarter-century to hit number one, and the follow-up single, "Warwick Avenue," peaked at number three. Overseas, "Mercy" also scored platinum status in America. Rockferry became one of the year's most popular records, selling over two million copies in the U.K. alone, winning a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, and going multi-platinum in multiple other countries.

Duffy began working on her second album in 2009, taking some time off to make her acting debut in the 2010 drama Patagonia. Meanwhile, recording sessions for the album took place in England and New York, with Albert Hammond pulling a double shift as producer and co-writer. The result, Endlessly, was released in November 2010. ~ Matt Collar & Andrew Leahey Top Albums Duffy — Listen for free on Spotify Duffy Play on Spotify Emerging during the same boom of retro U.K.-based singers that launched Amy Winehouse , Duffy distinguished herself with a melodic, vintage voice that brought to mind such '60s artists as Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark . Born in the small coastal town of Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales, Amy Ann Duffy began singing at an early age. With a record collection limited to her parents' classic LPs, though, she had few influences to draw from. Her father's VHS tapes of the 1960s television rock show Ready Steady Go!

thus became one of her biggest sources of inspiration, and Duffy started performing with various bands throughout her teenage years, sporting a charmingly retro sound that caught the ear of Rough Trade Records owner Jeannette Lee in 2004. Lee helped nurture the singer's talent by pairing her up with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler . The duo co-wrote several songs, including the single "Rockferry," which revealed Duffy's knack for soulful music inspired by Stax and Motown . "Rockferry" became the title song of Duffy's debut album, which was released on Polydor in 2008. However, it took a different song -- "Mercy" -- to make her an international star. "Mercy" topped the charts in the U.K., the first song by a Welsh female in a quarter-century to hit number one, and the follow-up single, "Warwick Avenue," peaked at number three. Overseas, "Mercy" also scored platinum status in America. Rockferry became one of the year's most popular records, selling over two million copies in the U.K. alone, winning a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, and going multi-platinum in multiple other countries.

Duffy began working on her second album in 2009, taking some time off to make her acting debut in the 2010 drama Patagonia. Meanwhile, recording sessions for the album took place in England and New York, with Albert Hammond pulling a double shift as producer and co-writer. The result, Endlessly, was released in November 2010. ~ Matt Collar & Andrew Leahey, Rovi Read More Show less

Question: Which female singer had a 2008 hit with 'Warwick Avenue'?
Answer: Duffy