Bonnie McKee

Bonnie McKee

McKee at The Citadel Outlets' 12th Annual Tree Lighting Concert in Commerce, California on November 9, 2013
Background information
Birth name Bonnie Leigh McKee
Born (1984-01-20) January 20, 1984
Vacaville, California, U.S.
Origin Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active 2002–present
Labels
Website www.bonniemckeeofficial.com

Bonnie Leigh McKee (born January 20, 1984) is an American singer and songwriter. Her debut album, Trouble, was released in September 2004 under Reprise Records.[1] After being dropped by Reprise several years after its release, McKee had taken a musical hiatus before establishing a name for herself as a songwriter. McKee has co-written eight singles that have reached #1 in the United States or the United Kingdom,[2][3][4][5][6] which have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide combined.[7][8][9][10] After sometime of focusing on songwriting, McKee released "American Girl" in July 2013.[11]

McKee is particularly known for collaborating with pop singer Katy Perry, and the duo have co-written the hits "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," "Part of Me," "Wide Awake," and "Roar" together. McKee also co-wrote "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz, which became the second best-selling song by a British artist in the digital era.[12]

Early life

Childhood

Bonnie Leigh McKee was born in Vacaville, California and raised in Seattle, Washington.[13] She studied classical piano and became a member of the Seattle Girls Choir Prime Voci at age 12, and toured with the choir throughout North America and Europe. She recorded two albums with the choir, titled Jackson Berkey Meets The Seattle Girls' Choir and Cantate 2000.[14] She briefly attended The Bush School, where she recorded a demo as part of a class project, before being kicked out soon after.[15] At age 12, McKee's mother gave a demo CD featuring her singing Bette Midler and Fiona Apple songs to a friend of hers, the co-founder of the Sub Pop label, Jonathan Poneman, who was intrigued by her songwriting talents. According to McKee, this was the moment when she realized she had to be "more than just a singer," but a songwriter as well.[13]

Career

2004–05: Career beginnings and Trouble

By age 15, McKee was writing songs and performing in the Seattle area. McKee’s raw demo tape got to Colin Filkow, an ex-Priority Records label executive. Filkow recognized that she was a rare talent and signed her to his management company, Platinum Partners Artist Management in Beverly Hills. He flew her to Los Angeles, California, and welcomed her into his family, she was only 17 at the time. He inspired her to sing and write songs and to trust her instincts. Filkow took Bonnie's demo to dozens of labels, publishers, agents and entertainment lawyers. After more than a year Filkow signed Bonnie to Warner Bros Records in one of the most lucrative signings ever for a new artist.

Her debut album Trouble was recorded across a period of two years by producers Bob Power and Rob Cavallo,[16][17] and commercially released on September 28, 2004.[1] Reprise was unsure on how to sell McKee, so the label settled a partnership with internet radio website LAUNCHcast, which would promote lead single "Somebody". "Somebody" soon became one of the most played tracks on the website, and its popularity with young females led to a strategy where McKee would be a subversive alternative to the teen pop demographic.[18] "Somebody" was performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, included in the motion picture Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, and had a music video featured on MTV's Buzzworthy and VH1's You Oughta Know.[19] Trouble received positive reviews in Blender, Nylon, The Los Angeles Times, and Teen People, but was commercially unsuccessful. McKee spoke about the album being unsuccessful, saying "It was devastating when the album didn't happen," she said.[20] "I realized there are so many steps from getting a deal to having a hit...and I didn't get there. It was a huge letdown."[20] McKee began work on a second studio album, which never came to existence.[15] According to McKee, she "downward-spiraled" and began to abuse crystal meth, an addiction she struggled with for several years.[21] She was dropped from the label after defacing the CEO's car with lipstick during the middle of the night.[21]

2006–13: Songwriting career

Following her release from Reprise Records, McKee managed to get a job at Pulse Recordings' publishing arm Check Your Pulse through her boyfriend and longtime collaborator, Oliver "Oligee" Goldstein.[16][21] She lived in poverty, without hot water, cell phone or a car,[22] while spending many hours in the recording studio, learning how to use Pro Tools and crafting new songs working with Elliott Yamin and Leighton Meester. In 2009, McKee was introduced to music producer Dr. Luke, by her manager Josh Abraham. Dr. Luke had collaborated with McKee's longtime friend Katy Perry on her second album One of the Boys,[16] and Perry expressed for her follow-up interest for "a co-writer I could volley with, and Bonnie and I are on the same zeitgeist tip."[21]

Together, they (along with Max Martin and Benny Blanco) began writing songs, ultimately producing the hits that would appear on Perry's third album, Teenage Dream. McKee co-wrote three singles from the album, "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream" and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)" - the last of whom was inspired by McKee and Perry's misadventures in their teenage years - each of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[23][24] also earning McKee several BMI Pop Awards in 2011 and 2012 for her role as a songwriter.[25][26] McKee also co-wrote two more chart-toppers for Perry, "Part of Me" and "Roar", and four other songs that hit number one on either the Hot 100 or the UK Singles Chart, Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me," Taio Cruz's "Dynamite," Rita Ora's "How We Do (Party)" and Cheryl's "I Don't Care".

McKee performing live in Commerce, California, on November 9, 2013

In 2012, McKee co-wrote two songs that appeared on Adam Lambert's album Trespassing, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.[27] She appeared as a featured performer on "Thunder" from Rusko's album Songs, released on Mad Decent.[28] During this time, she signed a recording contract with Epic Records.[29] She had garnered attention for her fashion sense, appearing on E!'s Fashion Police,[30] and appearing on the pages of the New York Times, New York Post, and Schön! Magazine. In 2013, McKee was awarded with three more BMI Pop awards for her songwriting work on Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" and "Part of Me" as well as Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me."[31]

McKee performing on the KIIS Jingle Ball Village Stage at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, in 2013

McKee's first single under Epic Records was "American Girl", which was released on July 23, 2013.[32] She posted a promotional video for "American Girl" on YouTube in June 2013 which garnered 2.3 million views. The official music video for the song was released on July 22, 2013.[33] In October, McKee released a new song titled "Sleepwalker." McKee confirmed that the song was not a single, but rather an "inbetweengle," a portmanteau meaning "in between single," meant to tide fans over until her next official release.[34] The music video premiered on October 17, 2013 and starred McKee and Kelsey Chow.[35] McKee had spent several years under a joint deal between Epic and Kemosabe Records and had planned to release her second studio album in the Summer of 2014. A second single titled "S.L.A.Y." was performed at multiple venues and while she was on tour with Karmin on their Pulses Tour, but was delayed many times and eventually not released. McKee left Epic and Kemosabe Records after feeling she had a lack of control over her career and the creative direction that she wanted to take.

2014–present: Bombastic

On December 18, 2014, McKee released a song called "California Winter" on to her SoundCloud and iTunes.[36] This song not having Kemosabe or Epic Records' name attached to it on iTunes caused people to question whether or not she had been dropped or left. On April 12, 2015, in an interview with Ultimate Music she announced she had departed from her Epic Records. McKee stated that this was because she favors her being an independent artist because she felt controlled and like she had no creative freedom. She said that she is releasing her second extended play in June. She also stated her intentions for it to be a visual EP. One song titled "Wasted Youth" has been announced and has already had its music video filmed. At the Billboard Music Awards 2015, McKee revealed in an interview that Charlie Puth (a close friend), who she had previously worked with on her song California Winter, had co-written her next single which she also said would be released in the next week. This single is believed to be called "Bombastic" as teased on her Instagram page. A snippet for "Bombastic" as well as another song "In The Wild" recently leaked onto the internet. The video for "Bombastic" released onto Bonnie's VEVO account on May 26, 2015. McKee is set to appear in Eden xo's music video for her single "The Weekend". McKee plays "Cinderella". The Bombastic EP was released on June 30, being her first album release since her 2004 debut Trouble. On July 1, McKee announced on a live stream she was trying to get back the rights to the songs she had previously recorded with her late label Epic Records so she could finally get to release them, she also confirmed physical copies of the Bombastic EP were being released in the coming months. For Christmas celebration, McKee released a special called "California Winter Extravaganza" in her YouTube account in December 16, which features Ferras, Sarah Hudson, Lindsey Stirling, Todrick Hall, Karmin, Eden xo, Paper Pilots and Bridget Marquardt.[37]

On January 12, 2016, McKee released the music video for "Wasted Youth" on her VEVO account.[38]

She uploaded a cover of Prince's song, "When Doves Cry" on her YouTube channel on April 28, 2016, as a tribute to Prince following his death on April 21, 2016. Of the cover, she said "Prince has been and always will be one of my favorite artists and songwriters of all time. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I ask myself nearly every time I sit down to write a song, "What would Prince do?" Doves cry is perfection and I know I could never even hope to touch his brilliance, but in his passing I realized how much this song really means to me, and was inspired to pay homage to the late, great, genius who taught me to take musical risks, to act my age and not my shoe size, and how to get through this thing called life".[39]

On June 21, 2016, McKee released "I Want It All" as the third single from the EP and published the music video on her VEVO account.[40] In September 2016, in collaboration with Quest Nutrition brand, McKee released the video for the song "Stud Muffin" inspired on the movie "Grease".

On November 2, 2016, McKee released "Easy" as the fourth and final single from the EP and published the music video on her VEVO account. [41]

Personal life

McKee identifies as bisexual, stating on an episode of In Bed with Joan, "I think it's one of those things where, you know, I think all little girls kind of play 'doctor' with their girlfriends, and then I kind of never grew out of it."[42]

Influences

McKee has cited Madonna, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner, Blondie, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Prince as major influences on her while she was growing up.[39][43]

Awards and nominations

BMI Pop Music Awards

Discography

Studio albums
Extended plays

Tours

Opening act

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001 All Cheerleaders Die Marquita Fector
2004 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Herself Uncredited
2007 August Rush Lizzy
2012 Katy Perry: Part of Me Herself Uncredited
2015 California Winter Extravaganza Herself Short film
2016 The Bride-To-Be Annie Pre-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 American Dreams Janis Joplin Episode: "Shoot the Moon"
2009 CSI: NY Eleanor Ravelle Episode: "Help"
2012 Fashion Police Herself

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Breaking Bonnie Herself Main role; 6 episodes
2014 In Bed with Joan Herself Episode: "Bonnie McKee"

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Johnny Loftus (2004-09-07). "Trouble - Bonnie McKee : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  2. ↑ "Katy Perry Closing In On Michael Jackson's #1 Singles Record - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. 2011-06-24. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  3. ↑ Britney Spears 'Hold It Against Me' hits #1 spot - PopWrap Archived November 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ "Rita Ora bags third consecutive UK #1 single with 'How We Do' :Toya'z World // Urban Pop Culture at your Beck & Call…". Toyazworld.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  5. ↑ Trust, Gary (2013-09-04). "Katy Perry Dethrones Robin Thicke Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  6. ↑ "Taio Cruz - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
  7. ↑ "Katy Perry Breaks Own Digital Sales Record With 'Last Friday Night,' Closing in on Michael Jackson No. 1s Record | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 2011-06-24. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  8. ↑ "Country Days Of Summer - May 21, 2013". RIAA. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  9. ↑ Archived November 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Trust, Gary (2013-09-11). "Katy Perry Rules Hot 100 For Second Week Lorde Reaches Top 3". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  11. ↑ "iTunes - Music - American Girl - Single by Bonnie McKee". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  12. ↑ "The Nielsen Company & Billboard's 2011 Music Industry Report". Business Wire. 2012-01-05. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  13. 1 2 "Bonnie McKee, ABC TV Show Music & Songs by Artist". ABC. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  14. ↑ &#8250 Stephanie Laurens. "Cantate 2000: Seattle Girls Choir, Jerome Wright (Conductor), Jackson Berkey (Composer), Jackson Berkey, Seattle Girls¿ Choir ¿ Prime Voci" "Carrie Brady" "Helen L". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  15. 1 2 Fallon, Kevin. "Bonnie McKee Strikes Out on Her Own". NewsWeek. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  16. 1 2 3 "Billboard".
  17. ↑ "Bonnie McKee".
  18. ↑ Anderson, Chris (2008). The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More. Hyperion. pp. 100–4.
  19. ↑ "Bonnie McKee Spins Janis Joplin Turn Into Career Kick Starter". MTV News.
  20. 1 2 Kawashima, Dale. "Hot Songwriter Bonnie McKee Writes Hits with Katy Perry and Taio Cruz, Readies Her Own Album". songwriteruniverse.com. SongWriterUniverse. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Diehl, Matt. "Singles Lady: Bonnie McKee Is Looking Out For Number One". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  22. ↑ Winnie Sun (11 August 2015). "Financial Lessons From Bonnie McKee, Music's Millennial Powerhouse". Forbes.
  23. ↑ "KATY PERRY'S TEENAGE DREAM IS THE NO. 1 ALBUM IN THE U.S. | Radio FactsRadio Facts". Radiofacts.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  24. ↑ Matthew Perpetua (2011-01-05). "Katy Perry Sells Most Digital Singles in Dismal Year For Record Sales | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  25. ↑ "2011 BMI Pop Music Award List | Press". BMI.com. 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  26. ↑ "Carole King Named BMI Icon at 60th Annual BMI Pop Awards | News". BMI.com. 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  27. ↑ "Adam Lambert Scores First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Trespassing' | Billboard". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  28. ↑ Jason Lymangrover (2012-03-26). "Songs - Rusko : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  29. ↑ "Bonnie McKee, 'Teenage Dream' Co-Writer, Signs With Epic Records". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  30. ↑ "Fashion Police Show: A Style Perp Fights Back! on Fashion Police". E! Online. 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  31. ↑ BMI (2013-05-15). "Adam Levine and Top Songwriters Honored at 61st Annual BMI Pop Awards". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  32. ↑ "iTunes - Music - American Girl - Single by Bonnie McKee". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  33. ↑ Rubenstein, Jenna Hally. "New Video: Bonnie McKee, 'American Girl'". MTV. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  34. ↑ Davis, Rebecca Willa. "NYLON MAGAZINE". Nylon. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  35. ↑ "Bonnie McKee - Sleepwalker (Official)". YouTube. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  36. ↑ "Bonnie McKee - California Winter". SoundCloud.
  37. ↑ Wass, Mike (December 17, 2015). "Bonnie McKee's 'California Winter Extravaganza' Features Ferras, Sarah Hudson & Lindsey Stirling: Watch". Idolator. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  38. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ3ZwvohOkI
  39. 1 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XJN8WNwIKA
  40. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj_La4gaVIQ&feature=youtu.be
  41. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aV4JYdx380
  42. ↑ "Bonnie McKee Opens Up About Being Bisexual". Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  43. ↑ McDonough, Megan (11 August 2013). "Bonnie McKee on songwriting, her upcoming debut album and her hopes for the future". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 June 2015.

External links

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