- Coco Star
-
"Toca's Miracle" 
Single by Fragma & Coco Star from the album Toca Released October 1996, 30 ("I Need a Miracle" vocals recorded at MCA Studios, London)
April 2000, 10 ("Toca's Miracle")
April 2008, 7 ("Toca's Miracle 2008")Format CD single, 12" Recorded 1999 Genre Euro house Length 5:44 (Original mix)
5:38 (Vocal Club Mix)
3:22 (Radio Edit)
3:01 (U.S. Radio Edit)Label Positiva Writer(s) Dirk Duderstadt, Marco Duderstadt, Ramon Zenker, Rob Davis (musician), Victor Imbres. Producer Ramon Zenker Certification Gold Awarded to Coco Star (BPI) Fragma & Coco Star singles chronology "I Need a Miracle"
(1997)"Toca's Miracle"
(2000)"It Ain't Enough"
(2001)Sue Brice, better known by her stage name Coco Star (or simply Coco) is an English singer-songwriter. She is currently signed to Universal Music and EMI[1][2][3]. Coco Star has collaborated with artists such as Craig David, Artful Dodger (UK band)[4] and Fragma for the #1 hit Toca's Miracle[5].
Contents
Toca's Miracle
Her most notable work to date is as the vocalist of "I Need a Miracle," released by Greenlight Recordings in 1996 and on EMI/Positiva in 1997[6]. This track is also known worldwide under the guise of the mashup "Toca's Miracle" which was a Number 1 hit[7] in 14 countries worldwide in 2000.[8] Toca's Miracle is the result of splicing tracks (see Mashup (music)) from two separate entities, namely Fragma (the German based Electronic producer Trio) and their Hit "Toca Me"; and "I need a Miracle" which was initially written for solo artist Coco[9], by Universal Music Publishing writers Victor Imbres and Rob Davis (musician) in 1994. Coco has never been part of the Fragma Group, and remains to this day a Solo artist with a wide array of Songs ranging from Dance, 2-step Garage to out and out Gospel.
Coco appeared live on Top of the Pops on 4 occasions, including the Christmas special during 2000 and 2001 to perform Toca's Miracle as well as on CD:UK, T4 (Channel 4) and the Pepsi Chart Show. Further live performances of Toca's Miracle and Coco's other works were given on MTV and Prince Charles Party in the Park.
Toca's Miracle 2008
Coco Star's vocals can also be heard on the 2008 remix of "Toca's Miracle" remixed by talented brother's Marko and Dirk Duderstadt. Again it uses the vocal parts from Coco's signed release of "I need a Miracle". The 2008 Remix was released by EMI/Positiva on the 7th April 2008, although the original 2000 release topped the charts in several countries exactly eight years previously, the remix climbed to #2 in Australia [10] and #16 in the UK. The original is acknowledged as one of the top 5 biggest dance anthems ever.[11][12]
Both poor Credit (creative arts) and Lip-synching[13] issues were discussed by press in Central Europe in 2010 [14] when official singer Coco Star announced on National TV that a passing off act was appearing Worldwide claiming to be the singer of the Hit[15], either Lip-synching or performing live over Coco's copyright protected vocals, a scenario compared with the Milli Vanilli story, although it relates to only one song Toca's Miracle, effectively a remix of "I need a Miracle" written for Coco Star in 1994. The offending passing off artist appears on the cover of the Australian release[16] of Toca's Miracle 2008 adding to further confusion.[17]
Early life
Coco Star was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Her parents were both musical artists and singers although not professionally. She was musically active before the age of just 5 with hopes of having a No.1 hit record[18], which she later achieved. Coco can play the Cello and all the Recorder family, and some piano.[19]
At the age of just 12, Coco was writing and performing her own songs and had recorded her first track at the age of 15.[20]
Coco attended The University of West England, Bristol where she achieved a BA Hons degree in Fashion and Textiles. Prior to this she had completed an art foundation course and a national diploma in art and design.[21]
Musical career
During her time at The University of West England (not to be confused with The University of Bristol) she met up with Jody Wisternoff, Massive Attack and Tricky and began to further enhance her live performances and song writing skills, landing underground hits with "One By One"[22] and "Always on my Mind"[23]
In 1994, Coco Star was signed by Universal MCA music publishing as part of a development deal where she worked alondside Paul Connolly (music publisher) on live showcases. Coco was coached by Whitney Houston's vocal coach and had dance tuiton at Pineapple Dance Studios, as well as meeting Rob Davis (musician) regularly to work on music he wrote, and "I Need a Miracle" was just one of a few projects Coco worked on between 1994 and 1997. The Ad libitum parts and sections of the melody line in "I Need a Miracle" and Toca's Miracle including harmonies are exclusively the creation of Coco, who gave the song its iconic stamp.
By 1997, Coco had entered the main UK charts with "I Need a Miracle" at #31[24] following its debut live performance at Pacha, Ibiza. It later went on to be the feature of a Bootleg by UK DJ Vimto[25] with huge success. Originally called "Fragma Vs Coco", the Mashup (music) of the two records "Toca Me" by Fragma; and Coco - "I need a Miracle" resulted in the name Toca's Miracle[26]. By the time of its official release in April 2000, the energy surrounding it was such that it went straight in at #1 in the UK, selling in excess of 500,000 copies.[27]
Coco Star is an accomplished songwriter, also signed to Universal Music Publishing for her works, including "It Ain't Enough" which features on the Artful Dodgers album "It's All About the Stragglers", this version features Coco's Vocals. 'It Ain't Enough' was a top 20 hit for the Artful Dodger in 2001 but featured vocalist MZ MAY.
Coco also wrote the track 'Driftaway' which was covered by Kele Le Roc.
Currently Coco is working on an EP of songs by songwriter/producer Peter Wright. "Take you there" is due for release in April 2011.
Coco has signed a deal with Russian superstar DJ Smash (Russian musician), for a release of her self penned "Get over you". This future collaboration is part of the 2011 DJ Smash album "23" [28] and features production by another Russian talent, DJ She.
Ahead of the Miami Winter music conference 2011, Coco Star featured at #12 in the official buzz chart [29] with a revocal of "I Need a Miracle", in a fresh new collaborative work with MYNC and Australian House Music star Christian Luke form Melbourne. As with Toca's Miracle, the new release entitled "A Miracle in Melbourne" is a Mashup (music) of the iconic vocal from "I Need a Miracle" and the track "London to Melbourne" released in late 2010 by MYNC and Christian Luke on CR2 records, London [30].
Collaborations
Coco Star has collaborated with artists including; Sub Love (Way out West) 1993 (both writing and performing with Jody Wisternoff), Tricky, Massive Attack Victor Imbres (Deep Dish Engineer) and Rob Davis (musician) (Kylie's songwriter) 1994-1997, Craig David and the Dreem Teem (Timmi Magic and DJ Spoony), Artful Dodger (UK band), Brian Harvey (East 17), Fragma (remix of "I need a Miracle" 2000 & 2008) and DJ Photek. In 2011, Coco Star teamed up with MYNC and Christian Luke for collaborative works involving "I Need a Miracle"[31]
Coco Star is also associated with Andy Levy and Simon Bartholomew of the Brand New Heavies with whom she collaborated with during the production of some of her self written music.
References
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/artist/Coco
- ^ Coco's Got Her Miracle by Bill Lennon, Hertfordshire Magazine June, 2000
- ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep00/articles/tracks.htm
- ^ http://www.last.fm/music/Dreem+Teem+Vs.+Artful+Dodger+Feat.+Coco+And+Craig+David/_/It+Ain'T+Enough+(Dodger'S+Dubby+Dreem+Mix)+-+Audio+Mix+Edit
- ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep00/articles/tracks.htm
- ^ http://www.positivarecords.com/releases.php?artistID=39
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles.shtml
- ^ John-Paul. "Coco Star one of the biggest dance vocalists of all time!", "Don't Stay In", December 31, 2008.
- ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep00/articles/tracks.htm
- ^ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/
- ^ "Coco Star The outstanding voice of Fragma’s monster hit ‘I Need a Miracle’", "MN2S".
- ^ http://www.positivarecords.com/releases.php?artistID=19
- ^ http://video.mail.ru/mail/mishkabu/3483/3604.html
- ^ http://www.t-music.cz/magazin/coco-star-nikdy-jsem-nebyla-fragma--3120/
- ^ http://www.eurokdj.com/search/eurodb.php?name=Coco_(2)
- ^ http://www.centralstation.com.au/releases/releaseinfo.asp?id=2922
- ^ http://www.t-music.cz/magazin/coco-star-nikdy-jsem-nebyla-fragma--3120/
- ^ Coco's Got Her Miracle by Bill Lennon, Hertfordshire Magazine June, 2000
- ^ www.myspace.com/cocomusicuk
- ^ www.myspace.com/cocomusicuk
- ^ www.myspace.com/cocomusicuk
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Sublove-One-By-One-EP/release/162619
- ^ Mixmag Music Magazine 1993
- ^ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/
- ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep00/articles/tracks.htm
- ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep00/articles/tracks.htm
- ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep00/articles/tracks.htm
- ^ http://djsmash.promodj.ru/tracks/2255635.html
- ^ http://www.dmcupdate.com/charts/charts.asp?id=2158
- ^ http://www.cr2records.co.uk/
- ^ http://www.dmcupdate.com/charts/charts.asp?id=2158
External sources
Categories:- Living people
- British songwriters
- United Kingdom Gospel singers
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