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Charlotte
On Course For Greater Success |
Rising Star On Course
For Even Greater Success
Karen Price
TW
15/11/1999
It’s a year
today Charlotte Church became a household name. At 12 she became the
youngest artist ever to reach the top 40 of the album charts, an
achievement that was to transform her from schoolgirl to
multi-millionaire.
Until then
Charlotte was a typical Cardiff schoolgirl who enjoyed the same
things as most other 12-year-olds.
The only thing
that made her different from her friends was the fact she had a
six-figure record deal with Sony and had released her debut album, Voice
of An Angel.
The album went
on to be number one in the classical charts and reached the top five
of the UK album charts.
It catapulted
the young soprano to fame and has sold millions of copies throughout
the world.
Today, her
meteoric rise will continue with the release of her second album.
Perhaps the
title itself is testimony to the phenomenal success she has achieved
in her short career - it is called simply Charlotte Church.
During the last
12 months, Charlotte has hardly had a chance to catch her breath as
she has mixed schoolwork with international tours to promote Voice
of An Angel.
There have also
been concerts at some of the world’s best known venues and she has
performed in front of royalty, politicians and celebrities.
All this,
coupled with the fact she is now a multi-millionaire, would be
enough to transform most normal, down-to-earth people - let alone a
child - into people full of airs of graces.
But
Charlotte’s parents James and Maria have strived to ensure their
daughter has remained as level-headed as possible.
When asked if
Charlotte is still a typical teenager, Maria is adamant in her
reply.
“Honestly,
honestly, yes she is,” said the 33-year-old.
“Obviously,
what she’s experienced is not very typical but when you see her at
home she’s just like any other kid.
“She eats
junk food, goes shopping with her friends, has to tidy her room and
gets told off when she’s naughty.
“Fame
hasn’t changed Charlotte. It’s obviously affected her - she’s
more aware of what’s happening.
“She finds it
a huge compliment when her peers appreciate what she’s doing.
“At the same
time she finds it difficult to get her head round technically being
famous as she still sees herself as a regular kid.”
The Church
family lives in the Cardiff suburb of Llandaff and Charlotte still
attends nearby Howell’s School for Girls, where her parents say
she is doing “in-credibly well”.
“Charlotte is
very academic and her exam results for the summer term were
excellent,” said her father James.
“She’s
determined to be an accomplished all-rounder and, to her, her
education is the most important part of that.
“She’s also
got a fantastic tutor who travels with us when we’re abroad so her
schooling is never allowed to slide.”
Charlotte’s
friends also help her to keep her feet firmly on the ground.
“She’s got
all her old friends,” said Maria.
“When she’s
at school she hangs out with them and when she’s away she keeps in
contact via the phone and e-mail whenever possible.
“The minute
she returns home, she’s straight on the phone.”
It’s not just
Charlotte’s life that has been turned upside down. The last 12
months have seen some dramatic changes for her parents, too.
Maria has given
up her job with Cardiff County Council to oversee her daughter’s
career.
“Our life has
changed dramatically in the last year but we both feel for the
better,” she said.
“It’s like
having two different lives - normal family life, seeing friends and
shopping at the supermarket, versus staying at amazing hotels in
beautiful countries while being involved with Charlotte’s
promotional work.
“We’re
getting the best of both worlds. The most important thing is that we
are both on board with Charlotte, which makes a big difference to
her.”
Charlotte’s
career took a leap forward earlier this month when she was seen by
one billion people singing on car manufacturer Ford’s latest
advertisement as it was broadcast simultaneously in countries around
the globe.
“People have
responded well to it,” said Charlotte, who performed Just
Wave Hello, which was especially written for her. “They
seem to like the song and have described the ad as being huge, like
a mini film.”
Charlotte was
also one of the performers, along with Shirley Bassey,
Stereo-phonics and Bryn Terfel, at the closing ceremony of the Rugby
World Cup at the Millennium Stadium - something she considers as one
of the highlights of her career (her favourite moment was meeting
the Pope).
“I was
extremely proud to be there and enjoyed the whole experience,”
said Charlotte, who performed Just Wave Hello at the
ceremony.
“The sound is
really clear and resounds round the stadium.
“The stadium
is absolutely amazing. “It’s smaller than you first expect but
it’s an awesome space - definitely one of the most beautiful
stadiums I’ve ever seen.”
In January,
Charlotte will embark on another international tour to promote the
new album.
“I think
I’ve improved a lot,” she said. “My voice has changed and
matured. This time the songs are not so onethemed, not so religious,
more mixed.”
On November 1,
a video of Charlotte’s first solo concert in London was released
on video.
Next year she
would like to perform more concerts - and hopes to sing at Cardiff
Castle in July.
But not content
with being one of the world’s biggest singing sensations at such a
tender age, Charlotte is also busy planning an acting career.
At Christmas,
she will be starring in an episode of the TV drama Heartbeat.
She hopes her
talents will lead her to the silver screen.
“I definitely
would like to do some more acting,” she said.
Despite her
almost overnight success, Charlotte also still sees herself as “a
regular kid”.
“I still go
to school, I have sleep-overs at my friends’ houses and I spend
time with my family.”
She is
currently deciding where she will spend the millennium.
It is reported
that both the Vatican and the White House are battling it out to
secure Charlotte to sing at their millennium parties.
She has already
sung for both the Pope and Bill Clinton.
“I’ve had
various offers but as yet I’m not sure,” said Charlotte.
“I might stay
at home in Cardiff but wherever I am, I’ll have my family around
me.”
Charlotte has
already achieved more in her short career than most people do in a
lifetime but James and Maria are certain it is only the beginning of
their daughter’s success.
“We hope that
her career continues to progress in the same positive manner,”
said Maria.
“She’d love
to carry on singing and also branch out into acting and other
fields.
“Charlotte
adores to perform in front of an audience and is really enjoying
herself.
“We’ll just
have to wait and see what’s around the corner.”
High hopes for
album
THE head of
music at Red Dragon FM, Julian Wharam, said Charlotte Church’s
second album will be as popular as her debut, Voice of An
Angel.
“It will
equal it, if not better it,” said Mr Wharam.
“Since the
first album came out she has been everywhere. Everyone knows who she
is.
“With
Christmas just around the corner, her new album will be an ideal
gift for a lot of people.”
The album
contains 17 tracks, including the popular Welsh songs Guide
Me, O Thou Great Redeemer and Men of Harlech.
Charlotte also
performs Just Wave Hello from the Ford commercial,
Rossini’s La Pastorella and Puccini’s O Mio
Babbino Caro.
The video
released recently, Charlotte Church - Voice of An
Angel in Concert, features her first solo performance and
includes behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Charlotte,
her family and friends.
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