Kirsty MacColl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirsty MacColl
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MacColl at the Double Door in Chicago, March 1995
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kirsty Anna MacColl |
| Born | 10 October 1959 Croydon, Surrey, England |
| Died | 18 December 2000 (aged 41) Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1978–2000 |
| Labels | |
Kirsty Anna MacColl (born 10 October 1959 – died 18 December 2000) was a talented British singer and songwriter. She was the daughter of the famous folk singer Ewan MacColl. Kirsty became well-known for her pop songs in the 1980s and 1990s.
Some of her popular songs include "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis". She also sang cover versions of other artists' songs, like Billy Bragg's "A New England" and the Kinks' "Days." Her first single, "They Don't Know", became a hit when Tracey Ullman covered it later. Kirsty also sang on many songs produced by her husband at the time, Steve Lillywhite. One of her most famous duets was "Fairytale of New York" with the Pogues. After her death in 2000, a special campaign called Justice for Kirsty was started.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Kirsty MacColl was the daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl and dancer Jean Newlove. Her father was from England but had Scottish parents. Kirsty and her older brother, Hamish, grew up with their mother in Croydon, England.
She went to Park Hill Primary School, Monks Hill High School, and John Newnham High School. She often appeared in school plays.
Starting Her Career
Kirsty's first solo song was "They Don't Know", released in 1979. It became very popular on the radio. However, a strike by distributors meant the song couldn't get into stores. Because of this, it didn't appear on the official UK Singles Chart.
She recorded another song, "You Caught Me Out". But she felt she wasn't getting enough support from her record label, Stiff Records. So, she left the label before the song was released. Only a few special copies of the song exist today.
Music Career Highlights
In 1981, Kirsty joined Polydor Records. She had a hit song called "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis". This song reached number 14 in the UK. It was from her first album, Desperate Character, which critics really liked.
In 1983, Polydor Records decided not to continue with her. This happened just after she finished recording songs for a second album. She then went back to Stiff Records.
New Hits and Collaborations
Some of her pop songs like "Terry" and "He's on the Beach" were not very successful. But in 1985, her cover of Billy Bragg's "A New England" became a big hit. It reached number 7 on the UK charts. Billy Bragg even wrote two extra verses just for her version of the song.
Around this time, Kirsty also wrote and sang the theme song "London Girls". This was for a TV comedy show called Dream Stuffing.
Success with Tracey Ullman
In the United States, Kirsty was perhaps best known as the writer of "They Don't Know". Tracey Ullman's recording of this song became a Top Ten hit in the US. Tracey's version reached number 8 in April 1984. It did even better in the UK, reaching number 2 in September 1983. Kirsty herself sang backing vocals on the track. Tracey Ullman also recorded three more of Kirsty's songs.
Backing Vocals and Other Work
In 1986, Kirsty sang backing vocals for the Smiths on their song "Ask". She also contributed to the Simple Minds album Sparkle in the Rain in 1984.
When Stiff Records went out of business in 1986, Kirsty couldn't record her own music. No other record company bought her contract. However, she often worked as a backing vocalist. She sang on many records produced by her husband, Steve Lillywhite. These included songs for Robert Plant, the Smiths, Talking Heads, and U2. She even helped decide the order of songs for U2's famous album The Joshua Tree.
Return to Solo Music
Kirsty became popular again in December 1987. She sang a duet with Shane MacGowan on the Pogues' song "Fairytale of New York". This song reached number 2 in the UK. After this, she toured with the Pogues in 1988. She said this helped her overcome her stage fright, which is a fear of performing in front of people.
In 1989, Kirsty released her album Kite. Critics loved it, and it featured collaborations with famous guitarists David Gilmour and Johnny Marr. The album included many of Kirsty's own songs. Her biggest hit from the album was a cover of the Kinks' song "Days". This song became a UK top 20 hit in July 1989.
Later Albums and TV Appearances
During this time, Kirsty appeared on the British TV comedy show French and Saunders. She sang her songs as if she were in a music video. She continued to write and record music. In 1991, she released the album Electric Landlady. The title was a fun play on the Jimi Hendrix album Electric Ladyland. This album included her most successful song in North America, "Walking Down Madison". It was also a top 30 hit in the UK.
In 1993, Kirsty released Titanic Days. This album was inspired by her marriage with Steve Lillywhite ending. In 1995, she released two new songs and a "best of" album called Galore. Galore was her only album to reach the top 10 in the UK Albums Chart.
Kirsty didn't record new music for several years after this. She felt frustrated with the music business and had trouble writing songs. She even thought about becoming an English teacher in South America.
In 2000, after trips to Cuba and Brazil, Kirsty recorded Tropical Brainstorm. This album was inspired by world music, especially from Cuba and Latin America. Critics praised it a lot. It included the song "In These Shoes?", which was played on the radio in the US. This song was later covered by Bette Midler and used in the TV show Sex and the City. It also became the theme song for The Catherine Tate Show after Kirsty's death.
Television Appearances
Kirsty MacColl often appeared on the third series of the French and Saunders Show. She would sing her songs as if she were in a music video. She also made regular appearances on Jools Holland's TV shows. In 1995, she sang "Miss Otis Regrets" with the Pipes and Drums of the Irish Guards.
In 1991, Kirsty appeared in a Channel 4 musical fantasy called The Ghosts of Oxford Street. She played Kitty Fisher and sang "Fairytale of New York" with Shane MacGowan.
Kirsty's Tragic Death
In 2000, Kirsty went on holiday to Cozumel, Mexico, with her two sons and her boyfriend. On 18 December 2000, she and her sons went diving at a reef. This area was meant to be safe, with no boats allowed.
As they were coming up from their dive, a powerboat came into the restricted area very fast. Kirsty saw the boat coming before her sons did. Her younger son, Louis, was safe. But her older son, Jamie, who was 15, was in the boat's path. Kirsty bravely pushed Jamie out of the way, saving him from serious injury. Jamie only had minor head and rib injuries. However, Kirsty was hit by the powerboat and died instantly.
Her body was brought back to the United Kingdom. She was cremated after a humanist funeral.
After the Accident
The powerboat was controlled by an employee of a wealthy businessman, Guillermo González Nova. The employee, José Cen Yam, said he was driving the boat. But people who saw the accident said he was not driving and that the boat was going much faster than it should have been.
José Cen Yam was found responsible for Kirsty's death. He was given a short prison sentence, but under Mexican law, he was allowed to pay a small fine instead of going to prison. He also had to pay a small amount of money to Kirsty's family. Some people believe he was paid to take the blame for the accident.
Justice for Kirsty Campaign
Kirsty's family started the Justice for Kirsty campaign. They wanted to find out the truth about what happened and make sure justice was served.
- Kirsty's family and their lawyers worked hard to get a full review of the accident. They spoke with the Mexican government many times.
- Kirsty's friends and family felt that the Mexican authorities were not helping enough.
- In 2004, the BBC showed a documentary called Who Killed Kirsty MacColl?
- U2 singer Bono, who was a friend of Kirsty, spoke about the accident during a concert in Mexico in 2006. The Mexican government then said they would take action.
In December 2009, the Justice for Kirsty Campaign announced it was ending. They felt they had achieved most of their goals. The money left from the campaign was given to two charities that Kirsty would have supported.
Kirsty's Legacy
Since Kirsty's death, Billy Bragg always includes the extra verses Kirsty sang when he performs "A New England". In 2002, a memorial concert was held for her in London. Many musicians who worked with her or were inspired by her performed. Another concert was held on her birthday in 2010 to support her favorite charity, The Music Fund for Cuba.
In 2001, a special bench was placed in London's Soho Square to remember her. It has words from one of her songs: "One day I'll be waiting there / No empty bench in Soho Square". Every year, around her birthday (10 October), fans from all over the world gather at the bench to remember her and sing her songs.
Kirsty's music is still very popular. In 2005, a three-CD collection of her songs called From Croydon to Cuba was released. Her albums Titanic Days, Kite, and Electric Landlady have also been re-released with extra songs. In 2005, a "best of" album, The Best of Kirsty MacColl, reached number 12 on the UK album charts.
Her song with the Pogues, "Fairytale of New York", is still a very popular Christmas song. It has been voted the favorite Christmas song many times. It often re-enters the charts around Christmas time because so many people download it.
Awards and Nominations
| Award | Year | Nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
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| Ivor Novello Awards | 1992 | "Walking Down Madison" | Best Contemporary Song | Nominated | |
| 1995 | "Dear John" | Most Performed Work | Nominated |
Discography
- Desperate Character (1981)
- Kite (1989)
- Electric Landlady (1991)
- Titanic Days (1993)
- Tropical Brainstorm (2000)
Bibliography
- MacColl, Jean (2008). Sun on the Water: The Brilliant Life and Tragic Death of Kirsty MacColl. London: John Blake. ISBN 978-1-84454-549-0. OCLC 434559942.
- O'Brien, Karen (2004). Kirsty MacColl: The One and Only. London: Andre Deutsch. ISBN 0-233-00070-4. OCLC 308622623.
Images for kids
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Kirsty MacColl performing in Chicago, 1995
See also
In Spanish: Kirsty MacColl para niños
