Kirsty MacColl
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Kirsty Anna MacColl (10 October 1959 - 18 December 2000) was a British pop singer-songwriter. She was the daughter of dancer Jean Newlove and noted folk singer Ewan MacColl.
MacColl began her career in the late 1970s UK punk rock scene, singing backing vocals for Drug Addix. She was probably most recognizable in the United States as the writer of “They Don’t Know”.
Tracey Ullman’s version, helped by a video guest-starring Paul McCartney, reached Number 2 in the UK in 1983 and the Top Ten in North America. She had more success in her native England, where her hits included the 1981 single “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”, a cover of Billy Bragg’s “A New England” in 1985, a duet with Shane MacGowan of The Pogues on “Fairytale of New York” in 1987, and a cover of The Kinks’ song “Days” in 1989.
After a break from the music industry for much of the 1990s, several trips to Cuba and Brazil restored MacColl’s creative muse, and the world music-inspired (particularly Cuban and other Latin American forms) Tropical Brainstorm, often described as her finest work, was released in 2000.
On 18 December 2000, while swimming in a restricted diving area with her family on a holiday in Cozumel, she was killed in a collision with a powerboat while managing to drag her son out of its path. The boat was owned by Mexican supermarket millionaire Guillermo González Nova (owner of Comercial Mexicana), who was on board with several members of his family.
MacColl began her career in the late 1970s UK punk rock scene, singing backing vocals for Drug Addix. She was probably most recognizable in the United States as the writer of “
They Don’t Know”.
Tracey Ullman’s version, helped by a video guest-starring Paul McCartney, reached Number 2 in the UK in 1983 and the Top Ten in North America. She had more success in her native England, where her hits included the 1981 single “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”, a cover of Billy Bragg’s “A New England” in 1985, a duet with Shane MacGowan of The Pogues on “Fairytale of New York” in 1987, and a cover of The Kinks’ song “Days” in 1989.After a break from the music industry for much of the 1990s, several trips to Cuba and Brazil restored MacColl’s creative muse, and the world music-inspired (particularly Cuban and other Latin American forms) Tropical Brainstorm, often described as her finest work, was released in 2000.
On 18 December 2000, while swimming in a restricted diving area with her family on a holiday in Cozumel, she was killed in a collision with a powerboat while managing to drag her son out of its path. The boat was owned by Mexican supermarket millionaire Guillermo González Nova (owner of Comercial Mexicana), who was on board with several members of his family.
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Top Albums
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Galore
Kirsty MacColl
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The Stiff Years
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Tropical Brainstorm
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Kite
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Shoutbox
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rainy-dog wrote:
she used to use a lot of imagery relating to water in her songwriting. even when those songs were verging on euphoric, it's quite bittersweet to hear them now in light of what happened. i wish she'd never been taken from us.
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Klash69NYC wrote:
Such a beautiful voice. I miss Kirsty a lot. Thankfully there are so many places to hear her: her own music, and guesting on others albums. A big loss for us all.
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HellBelleAustin wrote:
In These Shoes is one of my ALL TIME favorite songs...so sad we won't have more music from Kirsty...she was so awesome.
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Olleroo wrote:
I like her voice, it's so either usual and unisual, I get greatest pleasure and cannot stop listening to her. I really missing, she'd been gone...
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YControl755 wrote:
can't get enough of her...she was a true original in a world full of bores
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titanicbryn wrote:
I really miss Kirsty :( R.I.P.
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michaelhlamb wrote:
10 years without Kirsty MacColl...R.I.P. But she is alive in my heart! (3)
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brownieboy wrote:
A new england catchy track.
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kbc246 wrote:
this woman was a genius...damn. like out-of-this-world talented.
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Furashubakku wrote:
Whenever I listen to Billy Bragg and hear Kirsty's voice, I always feel a little sad.
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tkeaprtthdmns wrote:
why is electric landlady so underrated i grew up on this it's looking like an all time classic
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Dennisjc wrote:
10 years without Kirsty MacColl...R.I.P. But she is alive in my heart! (2)
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Onlygleb wrote:
10 years without Kirsty MacColl...R.I.P. But she is alive in my heart!
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enfieldchris wrote:
Rest In peace Kirsty, ten years on the sadness still lies hard on the heart. We have the music... but who knows what was still in store...
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titanicbryn wrote:
R.I.P Kirsty. No doubt her music will be heard all day in my house.
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nitram25 wrote:
10 years already... :-(
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denzilpenberthy wrote:
Happy Birthday X
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titanicbryn wrote:
Happy birthday Kirsty, can't be at the concert today but I'm sure you'll get the fine tribute you deserve.
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rosstyuk wrote:
Happy Birthday Kirsty wherever you are. Would've been 51 today :-(
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RichInNC wrote:
Happy birthday, Kirsty! I never met you, but I miss you every day.
Videos
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Walking Down Madison
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Innocence
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The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl…
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England 2 Columbia 0
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Recent Activity
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Dekidex added Kirsty MacColl to Dekidex’s library. yesterday afternoon
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idkmon tagged Kirsty MacColl with dead, deceased, british and 4 other tags. yesterday morning
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JMo3186, jockieau, AlexRange and 32 other people added Kirsty MacColl to their libraries. Wednesday afternoon
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shiner_1 tagged Kirsty MacColl with british, uk, pop and 2 other tags. last month
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lineworker, tombabylon, outofgermany and 3 other people added Kirsty MacColl to their libraries. last month
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RPLastFM tagged Kirsty MacColl with radio paradise and radioparadise. last month
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thegrafattack, Missmuppet07, mxh577 and 2 other people added Kirsty MacColl to their libraries. last month
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wilte01 tagged Kirsty MacColl with ‘pop’. December 2011
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ikogilvie added Kirsty MacColl to ikogilvie’s library. December 2011
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Chromefox tagged Kirsty MacColl with ‘jangle pop’. December 2011
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