Nik Kershaw (born
Nicholas David Kershaw, 1 March 1958,
BristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff.With an estimated population of 416,400 for the unitary authority in mid-2007, and a surrounding urban area with an estimated 561,500 residents, it is England's sixth, and...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an
EnglishThe English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity as a people is of early medieval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn....
singer-songwriterA singer–songwriter is a musician who writes, composes and sings their own material including lyrics and melodies. They often provide the sole accompaniment to an entire composition or song, typically using a guitar or piano...
. The one time
jazzJazz is a musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
-
funkFunk is an American music genre that originated in the late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
guitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as acoustic guitars, electric guitars, classical guitars and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :...
was a mid 1980s
teen idolA Teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols are child actors...
. His 50 weeks on the
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The full chart contains the top 200 singles based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 of this list...
in 1984 beat all other
soloistsIn music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
. Kershaw appeared at
Live AidLive Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on . The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Billed as the 'global jukebox', the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia...
, and penned
hitsA hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
for
Let LooseLet Loose are a British pop/rock trio, featuring Richie Wermerling - lead vocals, keyboards, Rob Jeffrey - guitars, backing vocals and Lee Murray Let Loose are a British pop/rock trio, featuring Richie Wermerling (b. Richard John Wermerling, 11 May, 68 / Whitechapel, London, England) - lead...
,
The HolliesThe Hollies are an English rock group from Manchester formed in the early 1960s. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style they became one of the leading British groups of the era, and they enjoyed considerable popularity in many other countries although they did not achieve major US chart...
and a #1 for
Chesney HawkesChesney Lee Hawkes , is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his 1991 single "The One and Only", which topped the charts in the UK and went Top 10 in the U.S.-Life and career:...
.
Although born in Bristol, Kershaw grew up in
IpswichIpswich is a non-metropolitan district and the county town of Suffolk, England on the estuary of the River Orwell. Nearby towns are Felixstowe in Suffolk and Harwich and Colchester in Essex...
and after leaving
Northgate High SchoolNorthgate High School is a high school situated in Ipswich, Suffolk. It is a co-educational comprehensive school, for ages 11–16, and 16-18 in the Sixth Form Department...
in 1976, worked as a shop assistant and in the Department of Employment for several years, during which time he played
guitarThe guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that adapts readily to a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six strings, but four-, seven-, eight-, ten-, eleven-, twelve-, thirteen- and eighteen-string guitars also exist. The size and shape of the neck and the base of the guitar...
and sang in a number of underground Ipswich
bandsIn music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform songs. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band* Dansband* Fife and drum...
.
Nik Kershaw (born
Nicholas David Kershaw, 1 March 1958,
BristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff.With an estimated population of 416,400 for the unitary authority in mid-2007, and a surrounding urban area with an estimated 561,500 residents, it is England's sixth, and...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an
EnglishThe English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity as a people is of early medieval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn....
singer-songwriterA singer–songwriter is a musician who writes, composes and sings their own material including lyrics and melodies. They often provide the sole accompaniment to an entire composition or song, typically using a guitar or piano...
. The one time
jazzJazz is a musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
-
funkFunk is an American music genre that originated in the late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
guitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as acoustic guitars, electric guitars, classical guitars and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :...
was a mid 1980s
teen idolA Teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols are child actors...
. His 50 weeks on the
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The full chart contains the top 200 singles based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 of this list...
in 1984 beat all other
soloistsIn music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
. Kershaw appeared at
Live AidLive Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on . The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Billed as the 'global jukebox', the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia...
, and penned
hitsA hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
for
Let LooseLet Loose are a British pop/rock trio, featuring Richie Wermerling - lead vocals, keyboards, Rob Jeffrey - guitars, backing vocals and Lee Murray Let Loose are a British pop/rock trio, featuring Richie Wermerling (b. Richard John Wermerling, 11 May, 68 / Whitechapel, London, England) - lead...
,
The HolliesThe Hollies are an English rock group from Manchester formed in the early 1960s. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style they became one of the leading British groups of the era, and they enjoyed considerable popularity in many other countries although they did not achieve major US chart...
and a #1 for
Chesney HawkesChesney Lee Hawkes , is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his 1991 single "The One and Only", which topped the charts in the UK and went Top 10 in the U.S.-Life and career:...
.
1980s
Although born in Bristol, Kershaw grew up in
IpswichIpswich is a non-metropolitan district and the county town of Suffolk, England on the estuary of the River Orwell. Nearby towns are Felixstowe in Suffolk and Harwich and Colchester in Essex...
and after leaving
Northgate High SchoolNorthgate High School is a high school situated in Ipswich, Suffolk. It is a co-educational comprehensive school, for ages 11–16, and 16-18 in the Sixth Form Department...
in 1976, worked as a shop assistant and in the Department of Employment for several years, during which time he played
guitarThe guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that adapts readily to a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six strings, but four-, seven-, eight-, ten-, eleven-, twelve-, thirteen- and eighteen-string guitars also exist. The size and shape of the neck and the base of the guitar...
and sang in a number of underground Ipswich
bandsIn music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform songs. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band* Dansband* Fife and drum...
. However, when the last of these, Fusion, split up in 1982, he embarked on a full time career as a songwriter and performer. In 1983, he signed a
recording contractA recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with
MCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part...
, a deal which spawned his debut
singleIn music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats.-History:...
, "
I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song by singer Nik Kershaw, first released on his hit debut album Human Racing.The song was written during the latter part of the Cold War period when nuclear war between the two superpowers of the USSR and USA was still a very real concern, and the lyrics...
". At the beginning of 1984, Kershaw released his breakthrough
songA song is a metrical composition intended or adapted for singing, especially one in rhymed stanzas; a lyric; a ballad....
"
Wouldn't It Be Good"Wouldn't It Be Good" is a song written and recorded by singer Nik Kershaw for his 1984 studio album Human Racing. The song has been covered by numerous artists since, including Placebo, Danny Hutton Hitters, Cascada, and Soulwax.-Song information:...
", featuring a
music videoA music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music/song. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. Although the origins of music videos go back much further, they came into their own in the...
of Kershaw as a
chroma keyChroma key is a technique for mixing two images or frames together, in which a color from one image is removed , revealing another image behind it. This technique is also referred to as color keying, colour-separation overlay , greenscreen, and bluescreen...
-suited
alienIn popular cultures, life forms —especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin, i.e. not coming from the Earth are referred to collectively as aliens....
. The song reached Number 4 in the
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The full chart contains the top 200 singles based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 of this list...
, and was a big success in Europe, particularly in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and in Scandinavia, and in Australia. He enjoyed three more Top 20 hits from his debut album
Human RacingHuman Racing is Nik Kershaw's first album. It was released in 1983 by MCA Records. The title track was a top #20 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #19....
, including the title track and a successful re-issue of his debut single "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". This track ultimately proved his biggest hit as a performer when it reached Number 2 in the UK.
Kershaw's second album was
The RiddleThe Riddle is Nik Kershaw's second album. It was released in 1984 by MCA Records.-LP, Cassette, CD:#"Don Quixote" – 4:55#"Know How" – 4:52#"You Might" – 3:17#"Wild Horses" – 3:59#"Easy" – 4:13#"The Riddle" – 3:52#"City of Angels" – 3:56...
. The
title track"The Riddle" was a hit single for the popular music artist Nik Kershaw in 1984/1985. It reached number three on the UK Singles chart.-Lyrics:...
proved to be another UK and international
hit singleA hit single is a recorded track or single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio airplay and/or significant...
, and the album also spawned two more UK Top 10 hits, "Wide Boy" and "Don Quixote", as it went
platinumMusic recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped a certain number of copies.Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories, which are named after the precious materials gold, platinum and diamond...
. During this time, Kershaw toured extensively with his backing band The Krew, consisting of Keith Airey, Tim Moore,
Mark PriceMark Gerard Price is a English drummer, who is known for being the first full time drummer for All About Eve and being the percussionist of Del Amitri between 1997 and 2002...
, Sheri Kershaw (his wife), and Dennis Smith.
In July 1985, Kershaw was among the performers at
Live AidLive Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on . The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Billed as the 'global jukebox', the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia...
, held at Wembley Stadium. His stardom began to wane soon afterwards and he enjoyed only one more UK Top 40 hit. He continued to
recordSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and release
recordsA gramophone record, commonly known as phonograph record, vinyl record, or simply record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed modulated spiral groove usually starting near the periphery and ending near the centre of the disc...
, and collaborated with others. Also in 1985,
Elton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE is an English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist.In his four-decade career, John has sold more than 200 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single, Candle in the Wind 1997, has sold over 37 million copies, becoming the...
asked Kershaw to play guitar on John's hit "
Nikita"Nikita" is a song by English singer Elton John about the Cold War from his 1985 album Ice on Fire. Released in late 1985, the song achieved success in many countries, becoming a top ten hit in almost all of them.-Song synopsis:...
". His 1986 album,
Radio MusicolaRadio Musicola is Nik Kershaw's third album. It was released in 1986 by MCA Records.The album deals with subjects of integrity - media skepticism , privacy, insecurity and mass produced run-of-the-mill pop Radio Musicola is Nik Kershaw's third album. It was released in 1986 by MCA Records.The album...
was released to critical acclaim but to little commercial success and it seemed that he had outgrown his original audience with increasingly mature releases;
The WorksThe Works is Nik Kershaw's fourth album. It is the last one he created for MCA Records, in 1989. It introduces slight jazz influences in some tracks.The title could be interpreted as "the end", a possibility supported by the lyrics of the track "Take My Place"...
, his final album of the 1980s, was released in 1989 to little success.
1990s
His prowess as a songwriter served him well in 1991, when his song "
The One and Only"The One and Only" is a popular song written by Nik Kershaw and recorded by Chesney Hawkes. Produced by Kershaw and Alan Shacklock, Hawkes's recording was featured in the film 1991 Buddy's Song which starred Hawkes as the eponymous Buddy and Roger Daltrey as his father...
" appeared on the
soundtrackA soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the synchronized...
to the British
filmFilm encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the motion picture industry. Films are produced by recording images from the world with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects....
Buddy's SongBuddy's Song is a 1991 film starring Chesney Hawkes, Billy Murray, Lee Ross, Nick Moran, Sharon Duce, Emma Amos and Roger Daltrey, based on the novel by Nigel Hinton....
, and in the American movie
Doc HollywoodDoc Hollywood is a 1991 comedy film based on the book, What? Dead again?, by Dr. Neil Shulman. The film starred Michael J. Fox, Julie Warner, Woody Harrelson and Bridget Fonda.-Plot:...
. "The One and Only" proved to be a UK Number 1 for the star of
Buddy's Song,
Chesney HawkesChesney Lee Hawkes , is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his 1991 single "The One and Only", which topped the charts in the UK and went Top 10 in the U.S.-Life and career:...
. In 1993,
The HolliesThe Hollies are an English rock group from Manchester formed in the early 1960s. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style they became one of the leading British groups of the era, and they enjoyed considerable popularity in many other countries although they did not achieve major US chart...
had a minor hit with another of Kershaw's songs, "The Woman I Love". During the mid 1990s he also wrote and
producedIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
material for the
boy bandIn pop or R&B a boy band is a group of several young male singers. The members are generally expected to perform as dancers as well, often executing highly choreographed sequences to their own music. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions...
,
Let LooseLet Loose are a British pop/rock trio, featuring Richie Wermerling - lead vocals, keyboards, Rob Jeffrey - guitars, backing vocals and Lee Murray Let Loose are a British pop/rock trio, featuring Richie Wermerling (b. Richard John Wermerling, 11 May, 68 / Whitechapel, London, England) - lead...
, with two of the tracks ("Seventeen" and "Everybody Say Everybody Do") achieving reasonable success.
1999 saw the release of
15 Minutes15 minutes is a 1999 album released by UK singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw.-Track listing:#"Somebody Loves You" – 5:02#"Have A Nice Life" – 3:58#"Billy" – 4:20#"Find Me An Angel" – 5:55#"Your Brave Face" – 5:50#"What Did You Think Of It So Far" – 3:56...
. Kershaw revealed that he decided to
recordSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
the tracks himself, when he could not envisage them being recorded by other artists. The album spawned two singles, including "What Do You Think Of It So Far?", a song described as "an elegant and soaring ode to the transience of time, infused with both self-doubt and an acceptance of life that can only come with maturity".
2000s
The follow-up album,
To Be Frank-Track listing:#"Wounded" – 4:21#"Get Up" – 4:11#"Die Laughing" – 4:39#"Jane Doe" – 4:22#"How Sad" – 4:16#"Take Me to the Church" – 4:54#"Hello World" – 4:20#"Already" – 5:13#"One Day" – 5:07#"All Is Fair" – 4:13#"Show Them What You're Made Of" – 4:17...
, was released in 2001. Over the years, Kershaw has collaborated on albums with
artistsA musician is a person who performs or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music:* An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.* A singer uses his or her voice as an instrument....
such as
Elton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE is an English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist.In his four-decade career, John has sold more than 200 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single, Candle in the Wind 1997, has sold over 37 million copies, becoming the...
,
Bonnie TylerBonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer. She is recognisable by her distinctive, husky voice.- Early life :...
,
Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is an English composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
,
Les Rythmes DigitalesStuart Price is a British electronic musician, songwriter, and record producer whose remixing and production skills are coveted by artists including Madonna, Missy Elliott, The Killers, Gwen Stefani, Seal, Keane and Frankmusik...
,
Michael W. SmithMichael W. Smith is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, musician, recording artist, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian Music, and he has achieved considerable success in the mainstream music industry as well...
and
Imogen HeapImogen Heap is a Grammy nominated English singer and songwriter from Romford, Havering. She is known for her work as part of Frou Frou and for her 2005 solo record Speak for Yourself, which she wrote, produced and mixed. In 2006, Heap was nominated for two Grammy Awards...
.
In 2005, Kershaw released
Then And NowThen & Now: The Very Best of Nik Kershaw, released in 2005, combines Nik Kershaw hits, collaborations and a few new tracks.-CD Track listing:# Wouldn't It Be Good# Dancing Girls# I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me# Human Racing# The Riddle# Wide Boy...
, a collection of earlier material with four new tracks. In 2006, he completed another solo album,
You've Got to Laugh, available only through his
websiteA website is a collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are addressed with a common domain name or IP address in an Internet Protocol-based network...
or digitally through
iTunesiTunes is a proprietary digital media player application, used for playing and organizing digital music and video files. The program is also an interface to manage the contents on Apple's popular iPod digital media players as well as the iPhone...
. This album contained twelve tracks and was released on the diminutive musician's own
labelIn the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
,
Shorthouse RecordsShorthouse Records is the privately owned recording studio of 1980s pop star Nik Kershaw. The studio is located in Braintree, Essex and is currently the sole avenue to obtain the artist's latest album, You've Got to Laugh....
. This year also saw the
digitaliTunes is a proprietary digital media player application, used for playing and organizing digital music and video files. The program is also an interface to manage the contents on Apple's popular iPod digital media players as well as the iPhone...
re-release of his 1980s back catalogue including
The Riddle,
Radio Musicola and
The Works. Neither
Then and Now nor
You've Got To Laugh was promoted by a tour.
Kershaw performed at
Fairports Cropredy ConventionFairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
on the 15th August 2009 and the
Rewind FestivalThe Rewind Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Temple Island Meadows, Remenham, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England. It was first held in August 2009....
on 23 August 2009, on Temple Island Meadows at
Henley-on-ThamesHenley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
.
Kershaw will also perform at The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich on 15th November 2009.
Personal life
In June 1983 Kershaw married his
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
girlfriend of long standing, Sheri. She is credited with
backing vocalsA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
on several of his albums, and was the uncredited lead singer on the song "Don't Lie", the B-side of "Don Quixote". They have three children. Nik and Sheri Kershaw separated in November 2003. Nik married his partner of three years Sarah in June 2009.
Albums
- 1983 Human Racing
Human Racing is Nik Kershaw's first album. It was released in 1983 by MCA Records. The title track was a top #20 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #19....
- UK no. 5, U.S. no. 70, AUS no. 35, Germany no. 8, Switzerland no. 12, Norway no. 7, Sweden no. 38, Finland no. 8
- 1984 The Riddle
The Riddle is Nik Kershaw's second album. It was released in 1984 by MCA Records.-LP, Cassette, CD:#"Don Quixote" – 4:55#"Know How" – 4:52#"You Might" – 3:17#"Wild Horses" – 3:59#"Easy" – 4:13#"The Riddle" – 3:52#"City of Angels" – 3:56...
- UK no. 8, U.S. no. 113, AUS no. 39, Germany no. 12, Switzerland no. 23, Norway no. 5, Sweden no. 11, Finland no. 11
- 1986 Radio Musicola
Radio Musicola is Nik Kershaw's third album. It was released in 1986 by MCA Records.The album deals with subjects of integrity - media skepticism , privacy, insecurity and mass produced run-of-the-mill pop Radio Musicola is Nik Kershaw's third album. It was released in 1986 by MCA Records.The album...
- UK no. 47, AUS no. 92
- 1987 BBC Transcription Service - Live in Concert [promo only]
- 1989 The Works
The Works is Nik Kershaw's fourth album. It is the last one he created for MCA Records, in 1989. It introduces slight jazz influences in some tracks.The title could be interpreted as "the end", a possibility supported by the lyrics of the track "Take My Place"...
- 1991 The Collection
- 1991 Wouldn't It Be Good
- 1993 The Best of Nik Kershaw
The Best Of Nik Kershaw is an album by Nik Kershaw. It contains selected 12 inch mixes, b-sides, album tracks and his hits. It is released under the Music Club Internation label.- Track listing :# Wouldn't It Be Good...
- Sweden no. 23
- 1995 Anthology
- 1998 Greatest Hits - Finland no. 12, Denmark no. 9
- 1999 15 Minutes
15 minutes is a 1999 album released by UK singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw.-Track listing:#"Somebody Loves You" – 5:02#"Have A Nice Life" – 3:58#"Billy" – 4:20#"Find Me An Angel" – 5:55#"Your Brave Face" – 5:50#"What Did You Think Of It So Far" – 3:56...
- 2000 The Essential
----The Essential is a hits compilation album by Nik Kershaw. It featuressongs from his first four albums.-Track listing:# "Wouldn't It Be Good" – 4:32# "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" – 3:22# "Dancing Girls" – 3:37...
- 2001 To Be Frank
-Track listing:#"Wounded" – 4:21#"Get Up" – 4:11#"Die Laughing" – 4:39#"Jane Doe" – 4:22#"How Sad" – 4:16#"Take Me to the Church" – 4:54#"Hello World" – 4:20#"Already" – 5:13#"One Day" – 5:07#"All Is Fair" – 4:13#"Show Them What You're Made Of" – 4:17...
- 2005 Then and Now
Then & Now: The Very Best of Nik Kershaw, released in 2005, combines Nik Kershaw hits, collaborations and a few new tracks.-CD Track listing:# Wouldn't It Be Good# Dancing Girls# I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me# Human Racing# The Riddle# Wide Boy...
- 2006 You've Got to Laugh
Singles
- 1983 "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
"I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song by singer Nik Kershaw, first released on his hit debut album Human Racing.The song was written during the latter part of the Cold War period when nuclear war between the two superpowers of the USSR and USA was still a very real concern, and the lyrics...
" - UK no. 47, Sweden no. 10
- 1984 "Wouldn't It Be Good
"Wouldn't It Be Good" is a song written and recorded by singer Nik Kershaw for his 1984 studio album Human Racing. The song has been covered by numerous artists since, including Placebo, Danny Hutton Hitters, Cascada, and Soulwax.-Song information:...
" - UK no. 4, U.S. no. 46, CAN no. 5, AUS no. 5, Ireland no. 2, Germany no. 2, Switzerland no. 3, Norway no. 6, Netherlands no. 32, France no. 35, Austria no. 12, Italy no. 14, South Africa no. 14
- 1984 "Dancing Girls" - UK no. 13, Ireland no. 14, Germany no. 21
- 1984 "I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (re-issue)" - UK no. 2, AUS no. 17, Ireland no. 4, Germany no. 12, Switzerland no. 6, Norway no. 8, Netherlands no. 5
- 1984 "Human Racing
"Human Racing" is a song by singer Nik Kershaw, and was the title track for his hit debut album Human Racing, released in 1984. It was the fourth hit from the album, reaching #19 in the UK singles chart....
" - UK no. 19, Ireland no. 17
- 1984 "The Riddle
"The Riddle" was a hit single for the popular music artist Nik Kershaw in 1984/1985. It reached number three on the UK Singles chart.-Lyrics:...
" - UK no. 3, AUS no. 6, Ireland no. 3, Germany no. 8, Switzerland no. 15, Norway no. 5, Sweden no. 5, Netherlands no. 19, France no. 18, Finland no. 12, Italy no. 10, South Africa no. 9
- 1985 "Wide Boy
Wide boy is a British term for a man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing. According to the Oxford English Dictionary it is synonymous with spiv. Newspapers of the late 1940s and 1950s often use both terms in the same article about the same person when dealing with ticket touts, fraudsters...
" - UK no. 9, AUS no. 7, Ireland no. 5, Germany no. 25, Netherlands no. 47
- 1985 "Don Quixote" - UK no. 10, AUS no. 83, Ireland no. 9, Germany no. 39
- 1985 "When a Heart Beats
"When A Heart Beats" was the eighth Top 40 hit for 1980's teen idol Nik Kershaw. It reached #27 in the UK Singles Chart towards the end of 1985 and was the second track on the Now That's What I Call Music 6 album.-References:*...
" - UK no. 27, US no. 92, Ireland no. 14, Germany no. 55
- 1986 "Nobody Knows
Radio Musicola is Nik Kershaw's third album. It was released in 1986 by MCA Records.The album deals with subjects of integrity - media skepticism , privacy, insecurity and mass produced run-of-the-mill pop Radio Musicola is Nik Kershaw's third album. It was released in 1986 by MCA Records.The album...
" - AUS no. 73, Japan no. 2
- 1986 "Radio Musicola" - UK no. 43
- 1987 "James Cagney" [released only in Germany]
- 1989 "One Step Ahead" - UK no. 55
- 1989 "Elisabeth's Eyes"
- 1991 "Wouldn't It Be Good (re-issue)"
- 1991 "I Wanna Change the Score" - (Tony Banks
Anthony George "Tony" Banks is an English composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
and Kershaw) - Germany no. 55
- 1993 "Old Friends" - (Kershaw & Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE is an English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist.In his four-decade career, John has sold more than 200 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single, Candle in the Wind 1997, has sold over 37 million copies, becoming the...
) [promo only]
- 1998 "Wouldn't It Be Good ('98 Remix)"
- 1998 "'98 Remixes (Wouldn't It Be Good & I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me) EP" [released only in Denmark]
- 1999 "Somebody Loves You" - UK no. 70
- 1999 "Sometimes" - (Les Rythmes Digitales
Stuart Price is a British electronic musician, songwriter, and record producer whose remixing and production skills are coveted by artists including Madonna, Missy Elliott, The Killers, Gwen Stefani, Seal, Keane and Frankmusik...
featuring Kershaw)" - UK no. 56
- 1999 "What Do You Think Of It So Far?"
- 2001 "Wounded"
- 2001 "Die Laughing" [promo only]
- 2005 "What It Is" [promo only]
- 2005 "The Riddle '05" [promo only]
Collaborations
- 1991 Still
Still was a solo album released by Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks in 1991 on Virgin Records in the UK and Giant Records in the US. The album was originally going to be named after the track "Still It Takes Me By Surprise", but was later shorted to Still...
by Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is an English composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
- Kershaw on lead vocals on "Red Day on Blue Street", "I Wanna Change the Score" and "The Final Curtain". "Red Day on Blue Street" and "I Wanna Change the Score" co-written by Banks and Kershaw.
- 1993 Duets
Duets is the twenty-fourth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1993. Duets was the third and last John's studio album released as a double vinyl . It was initially a Christmas project of Elton John's, but that soon grew into an album of its own...
by Elton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE is an English singer-songwriter, composer and pianist.In his four-decade career, John has sold more than 200 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single, Candle in the Wind 1997, has sold over 37 million copies, becoming the...
- "Old Friend" written by Kershaw. All instruments by Kershaw. Vocals by Kershaw and John.
- 1996 "Walls of Sound" (single) from Strictly Inc
Strictly Inc is the self-titled project album, released by Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks, and Wang Chung lead vocalist Jack Hues, in 1995 on Virgin Records. Tony Banks wanted the album release—as the title suggested—with no reference to the band members; but the record company went against his...
- B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of 7 inch vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
"Back to You" was co-written by Banks and Kershaw.
- 1998 Live the Life
Live the Life is an album by Michael W. Smith. One notable song on this album was "In My Arms Again," which Michael W. Smith wrote for the film Titanic.-Track listing:#"Missing Person" – 6:01#"Love Me Good" – 4:41 #"Live the Life" – 4:36...
by Michael W. SmithMichael W. Smith is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, musician, recording artist, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian Music, and he has achieved considerable success in the mainstream music industry as well...
- "Let Me Show You The Way" co-written by Kershaw, Smith and producer Stephen Lipson. Also features Smith and Kershaw on guitar.
- 1999 Darkdancer
Darkdancer is the second studio album released by Les Rythmes Digitales. It was first released in May 1999 but received little critical acclaim, albeit more than the band's first release, Libération...
by Les Rythmes Digitales - "Sometimes" co-written by Jacques Lu ContStuart Price is a British electronic musician, songwriter, and record producer whose remixing and production skills are coveted by artists including Madonna, Missy Elliott, The Killers, Gwen Stefani, Seal, Keane and Frankmusik...
and Kershaw. Lead vocals by Kershaw.
- 1999 This Is Your Time
-Track listing:#"Rince De" – 1:30#"Hey You It's Me" – 4:03 #"Worth It All" – 4:03 #"I Will Be Your Friend" – 3:19 #"This Is Your Time" – 4:29 #"I Will Carry You" – 5:04 #"She Walks With Me" – 3:42#"Reach Out to Me" – 3:59...
by Michael W. Smith - "Hey You It's Me" - co-written by Kershaw and Smith. Backing vocals by Kershaw.
- 2001 "Island" by Orinoko - co-written by Kershaw.
- 2002 "The Riddle
"The Riddle" is a electronica song by Gigi D'Agostino as a remix of Nik Kershaw's song, "The Riddle", which was released in D'Agostino's album, L'Amour Toujours...
" by Gigi D'AgostinoLuigino Celestino di Agostino , better known by his stage name Gigi D'Agostino, is an Italian DJ, remixer and record producer...
- dance musicThis article is about dance music in general. You may also be looking for electronic dance music or dance-pop.Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
version.
See also
External links