Fefe Dobson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fefe Dobson
Dobson in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Felicia Lily Dobson
Born	(1985-02-28) February 28, 1985 (age 40) Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Pop rock pop punk power pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Island 21

Felicia Lily Dobson (born February 28, 1985) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She was born in Toronto, Ontario. Fefe started performing when she was a teenager. She even turned down a record deal offer from Jive Records because she wanted to make her own kind of music.

Soon after, Fefe signed with Island/Def Jam. She released her first album, Fefe Dobson, in 2003. This album had popular songs like "Bye Bye Boyfriend" and "Don't Go (Girls and Boys)". She also received two Juno Award nominations for her work.

Her second album, Sunday Love, was planned for 2005. However, it faced problems and was not widely released at first. Fefe left her record label because she wanted to make different music. The album was later released digitally in 2012. She then re-signed with Island Records and released her third album, Joy, in 2010. This album included hit songs in Canada like "Ghost" and "Stuttering".

Early Life and Music Start

Fefe Dobson was born on February 28, 1985, in Scarborough, a part of Toronto, Ontario. Her mother has English, Dutch, First Nations, and Irish family roots. Her father is from Jamaica. Fefe went to Wexford Collegiate Institute for high school. She also took singing lessons to improve her voice.

When Fefe was 11, she started sending demo tapes to music companies. She recorded these tapes using a home karaoke machine. At 13, she began playing the piano and writing her own songs.

Early in her career, some people expected Fefe to be a pop or R&B singer because of her background. But Fefe wanted to be a rock musician. She even turned down a deal from Jive Records because they wanted her to be a pop star. After that, she met Jay Levine and Chris Smith, who helped her show her music to different record companies. When she performed for Island/Def Jam, they were so impressed that they signed her right away!

Music Career Highlights

First Albums: Fefe Dobson and Sunday Love

Fefe Dobson performing live in 2004

Fefe Dobson's first album, Fefe Dobson, came out on December 9, 2003. It sold many copies in the United States. The album quickly became number one on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. Four songs from the album were released as singles: "Bye Bye Boyfriend", "Take Me Away", "Everything", and "Don't Go (Girls and Boys)". Some of her songs were even used in the movie The Perfect Score.

In 2004, Fefe promoted her album by performing live and appearing in magazines. She also opened for Justin Timberlake on his European tour. Her song "Don't Go (Girls and Boys)" was featured in a Tommy Hilfiger commercial.

In 2005, Fefe was nominated for two Juno Awards: Pop Album of the Year and New Artist of the Year. That summer, she also appeared in a public service ad called "Make Poverty History" to help raise awareness about child poverty around the world.

Fefe released new songs like "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" in 2005 and "This Is My Life" in 2006. When these songs didn't become big hits, Island Records decided to stop working with her. This meant her second album, Sunday Love, wasn't widely released at the time. However, her dedicated fans were able to find it online. Fefe didn't give up; she went back to the studio and started making new music. Sunday Love was finally released digitally in 2012. One song from the album, "Be Strong," was used in the movie It's a Boy Girl Thing.

Other artists have also recorded songs that Fefe helped write or sang background vocals on. For example, Miley Cyrus recorded "Start All Over" for her album Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus in 2007.

Joy Album and More Success

In 2009, Fefe Dobson performed at several events, including the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards weekend. She also performed her song "I Want You" on the Canadian TV show The Next Star. This song was also used to promote the movie Whip It.

Fefe performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics celebration in Toronto in February 2010. She also joined other Canadian artists to record a charity song, "Wavin' Flag" by K'naan, to help Haiti. Her involvement with the Olympics continued as she performed at the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Paralympics.

Her third album, Joy, was released on November 22, 2010. It took almost four years to finish! The album featured popular songs like "Ghost", "Stuttering", and "Can't Breathe". "Can't Breathe" reached number 19 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. Fefe also co-wrote the song "Round & Round" for Selena Gomez & the Scene's album A Year Without Rain.

Recent Music and Emotion Sickness

In 2013, Fefe Dobson started working on her fourth album, which was going to be called Firebird. She released a song called "Legacy" in August 2013 and "Celebrate" in February 2014. However, the Firebird album was not released.

Fefe Dobson married American rapper Yelawolf on September 27, 2019.

In early 2022, Fefe announced her return to music with the single "FCKN IN LOVE," released on February 25, 2022. In 2023, she joined other artists to record a charity song, "What I Wouldn't Do" by Serena Ryder, to support youth mental health. Fefe Dobson released her fourth studio album, Emotion Sickness, on September 29, 2023. This album included the song "I Can't Love Him (And Love You Too)."

Musical Style and Inspirations

Fefe Dobson's music is mostly pop-rock, with some punk music influences. Some of her songs are acoustic, meaning it's just her voice and a guitar. Her music was different from the pop music that was popular when she started.

Fefe has said that John Lennon and Judy Garland are her main musical influences. She also shared that her biggest inspiration growing up was Michael Jackson. She also mentioned Janet Jackson as an important influence.

Film and Television Appearances

Fefe Dobson has appeared in some films and television shows.

Albums

• Fefe Dobson (2003)
• Joy (2010)
• Sunday Love (2012)
• Emotion Sickness (2023)

Awards and Nominations

Fefe Dobson has won and been nominated for several awards for her music.

See also

In Spanish: Fefe Dobson para niños