Bic Runga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bic Runga
|
|
|---|---|
Runga performing on the 2010 Winery Tour, in Auckland, New Zealand
|
|
| Born |
Briolette Kah Bic Runga
13 January 1976 Christchurch, New Zealand
|
| Spouse(s) | Kody Nielson |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Boh Runga (sister) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Pop rock, folk rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Sony New Zealand, Columbia |
Briolette Kah Bic Runga (born 13 January 1976), known professionally as Bic Runga, is a famous pop artist from New Zealand. She is a talented singer, songwriter, and can play many instruments.
Runga is one of New Zealand's most successful musicians. Her first three studio albums all started at number one on the New Zealand music charts. She also became famous in other countries like Australia and the United Kingdom with her hit song "Sway" in 1997.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Runga was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Her mother, Sophia Tang, was a lounge singer from Malaysia, and her father, Joseph Te Okoro Runga, was a Māori ex-serviceman who taught himself to play the piano. They moved to New Zealand to start their family.
Her name, Bic, is Chinese and means "the colour of jade." She says it's pronounced "Bec."
Music was a big part of her family life. She grew up in Hornby, a suburb of Christchurch, and began recording songs with her sisters, Boh and Pearl, when she was only four. Her older sister, Boh, became the lead singer of the rock band Stellar, and her sister Pearl is also a singer.
Runga started learning instruments at a young age. She learned to play the drums when she was eleven and the guitar when she was about fourteen. She also learned the keyboard and played in jazz bands while attending Cashmere High School.
Music Career
1993–1997: First Steps and Debut Album Drive
When she was a teenager, Runga and her friend Kelly Horgan formed a duo called Love Soup. They entered the 1993 Smokefreerockquest, a music competition in Christchurch, and won third place. This led to a contract with a record label.
She later moved to Auckland in 1994 to focus on writing her own songs. In 1995, she sent a demo of her song "Drive" to Sony Music. The company was so impressed that they signed her to a record deal. "Drive" became a top 10 hit in New Zealand and won her the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll award for songwriting in 1996.
Her first album, also called Drive, was released in 1997. It was a huge success. The song "Sway" from the album became an international hit. It was featured in popular movies like American Pie and Cruel Intentions.
2000–2008: More Hit Albums
In 2000, Runga toured with two other famous New Zealand musicians, Tim Finn and Dave Dobbyn. They released a live album together called Together in Concert: Live, which was very popular.
Her second solo album, Beautiful Collision, came out in 2002. It went straight to number one on the New Zealand charts and sold so many copies that it was certified 10 times platinum.
In 2005, she released her third album, Birds. It also debuted at number one, making it her third album in a row to do so. That same year, she appeared in the movie Little Fish as a lounge singer.
For her amazing contributions to music, Runga was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2006 New Year Honours. This is a special award given by the New Zealand government.
2011–Present: Recent Music and Hall of Fame
Runga continued to create music, releasing the album Belle in 2011. She also wrote music for the New Zealand film My Wedding and Other Secrets. In 2012, she released a greatest hits album called Anthology.
In 2016, she released Close Your Eyes, an album with covers of her favorite songs and two new original tracks.
A major highlight of her career came in November 2016 when she was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. This award recognized her as one of New Zealand's most loved and important musicians.
Personal Life
Runga's partner is Kody Nielson, who is also a musician and drummer. Together, they have three children. Her two sisters, Pearl and Boh Runga, are also successful musicians.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout her career, Bic Runga has won many New Zealand Music Awards. She has been named "Best Female Vocalist" four times and has won "Album of the Year" for Drive and Birds. Her songwriting has also been celebrated, with her song "Sway" winning "Single of the Year" and "Best Songwriter". Her induction into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2016 is one of her highest honours.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Drive (1997)
- Beautiful Collision (2002)
- Birds (2005)
- Belle (2011)
- Close Your Eyes (2016)
Compilation Albums
- Try to Remember Everything (2008)
- Anthology (2012)
Live Albums
- Together in Concert: Live (with Tim Finn and Dave Dobbyn) (2000)
- Live in Concert with the Christchurch Symphony (with The Christchurch Symphony) (2003)
See also
In Spanish: Bic Runga para niños
