Angelina Jordan

Angelina Jordan (born Angelina Jordan Astar on 10 January 2006) is a Norwegian child singer, of Iranian ancestry, whose audition for the 2014 season of Norway's Got Talent at the age of seven, singing "Gloomy Sunday" in the style of Billie Holiday, became a viral video online, and led to worldwide press coverage.[1][2] She went on to win the competition (at eight) with her performance of George Gershwin's "Summertime". Since then she has worked to raise millions of dollars on behalf of environmental causes and children's charities around the world. She always performs barefoot, after befriending a young shoeless girl while traveling when she was six years old. Jordan wrote a book about the experience and became the youngest published author in Norway.

Angelina Jordan
Jordan in 2018
Born
Angelina Jordan Astar

10 January 2006 (2006-01-10) (age 15)
Oslo, Norway
Occupation
  • Singer
  • school student
Years active2014–present
Websiteangelinajordanofficial.com

Jordan has released multiple digital singles, two EPs, and one album called It's Magic. She appeared on the first season of Little Big Shots in 2016, and the second season of America's Got Talent: The Champions in 2020, where her original version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" brought her much attention.

In August 2020, it was announced that she has signed with Republic Records.[3] Her first single under that label, "Million Miles", was released in November 2020.[4]

Career
Jordan at Kongsberg Jazzfestival in 2018.

2014: From Norway's Got Talent to My Christmas

After Jordan's performances of two Billie Holiday songs, "Gloomy Sunday" and "I'm a Fool to Want You", on Norway's Got Talent, as well as "Fly Me to the Moon" on a TV talk show, all went viral online in March 2014, she was featured in Time,[1] Daily Mirror,[2] People,[5] and other news outlets around the world.[6] She continued in the competition singing Nancy Sinatra's version of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" live in the semifinals,[7] and won with her performance of George Gershwin's "Summertime", in the style of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong's 1958 recording of the song.

In September 2014, she performed "Fly Me to the Moon" on the US television show The View,[8] bringing her wider fame in the United States. She also performed on several TV 2 programs in Norway over the next few years, including multiple appearances on Allsang på Grensen (Singalong at the Border, referring to the border fortress of Fredriksten where outdoor concerts are held) and on TV4 in Sweden.

Jordan had a small guest role in the final episode of the Netflix series Lilyhammer, playing a girl who sings in a bar.[9]

In December 2014, she realized a personal ambition by performing for Peace Prize recipients Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert.[10]

Jordan's recording debut, the three-song maxi-single My Christmas, was released in December 2014.[11] To support the release, Jordan performed the songs on multiple TV shows, including an appearance on Christmas Day.

2015–2019: YouTube channels, The EP, It's Magic

In 2015, Jordan began recording music that would eventually be collected on the six-song Angelina Jordan – The EP, released on 27 November 2017.[12] Many of the tracks were posted to her official YouTube channel[13] well in advance of the EP release, in the form of music videos and lyric videos. These included her covers of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You", the music video for which was directed by Per Heimly, and Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black", in which Jordan sang her own original lyrics. These two music videos became the most popular videos on her official YouTube channel, surpassing 5 million views each by 2020. In 2017, she created a second YouTube channel specifically to present performances of cover songs.[14]

In November 2015, Jordan published the book Mellom to hjerter (Between Two Hearts), illustrated by her grandmother, Iranian artist Mery Zamani.[15] The book tells the story of her meeting a poor motherless girl in Asia who has no shoes. After a long conversation in which they discuss their dreams in life, she gives the girl her shoes and the girl promises to pray for Jordan to fulfill her dream to become a successful singer. According to Jordan the book is based on a real incident which she cites as the reason for always performing barefoot.[16]

In April 2016, Jordan performed "Fly Me to the Moon" on the first season of the noncompetitive children's talent show Little Big Shots.[17] A year later she performed "What a Difference a Day Makes" on the UK version of the show. She also performed "I Put a Spell on You" on the German edition of the show, Little Big Stars, in 2017.

In December 2016, she performed on Alan Walker is Heading Home, a live concert broadcast from Bergen, Norway, where she sang Walker's songs "Sing Me to Sleep" and "Faded".[18]

On 15 June 2018, a full album of recordings with Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvarets stabsmusikkorps), called It's Magic, was released.[19] The next day, Jordan and the band performed the full album live in a concert attended by Norway's Prime Minister.

On 27 June 2018, Jordan performed "Fly Me to the Moon" for Quincy Jones in The O2 Arena in London, as part of his 85th birthday celebration, and also joined with other singers to perform "Man in the Mirror" to close the show.[20][21]

2019–2020: America's Got Talent, "Bohemian Rhapsody", and Republic Records

In 2019, Jordan performed for former president Barack Obama and other public figures at the Brilliant Minds conference in Stockholm.

In October 2019, she competed in the second season of America's Got Talent: The Champions, which was aired in January and February 2020.[22] Her first appearance on the show, singing an original arrangement of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", received a "golden buzzer" from judge Heidi Klum (meaning that Jordan would pass directly into the finals). As with her Norway's Got Talent audition six years earlier, a video of Jordan's performance began to go viral on YouTube, quickly reaching 10 million views.[23] The performance also garnered praise from Queen's official Twitter account.[24] Shortly afterwards, the video was taken down[23] and Jordan released a studio version of the same arrangement under her own copyright.[25] Jordan's second performance (in the finals), a similarly reworked "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" based largely on a version by Sara Bareilles, was also well received, but she was not among the top 5 acts.

In August 2020, Jordan's manager (her uncle, Michael Astar) announced that she had signed with Republic Records.[3] Her first single on the label, "Million Miles", was released on 6 November 2020, on all major digital platforms.[4] An official lyric video was posted to her official YouTube channel the same day.[26] The track was produced by the Norwegian duo Stargate, who also co-wrote the song with Jordan.[27] She has since released two additional music videos for the song: one showing her singing the song "live" in a recording studio, the other an "official music video" featuring her younger sister.[28][29]

Personal life

Jordan was born in Oslo, Norway, and has lived for extended periods both there and in Los Angeles. She also lived for a time in the Middle East. She has a younger sister who has been featured in two of her music videos. Her father, Gerry Christian Slattman, is Swedish.[30] Her Norwegian mother, Sara Astar, is the daughter of Iranian artist and poet Mery Zamani and a Japanese father.[31][16]

Jordan attended the Oslo Waldorf School and participated in the Oslo School of Music and Performing Arts after-school program, where she received vocal training. In addition to singing, she plays the piano, violin, guitar, and flute, and also paints.[32]

As of 2020, she is living and going to school in Los Angeles.

Discography

Albums
Title Release date Track listing
My Christmas[11]
(maxi-single)		 14 December 2014
  1. "White Christmas"
  2. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
  3. "Silent Night"
Angelina Jordan – The EP[12] 27 November 2017
  1. "I Put a Spell on You"
  2. "Our Day Will Come"
  3. "When You're Smiling"
  4. "Fly Me to the Moon"
  5. "What a Difference a Day Makes"
  6. "Back to Black"
It's Magic[19]
(with Forsvarets stabsmusikkorps)		 15 June 2018
  1. "It's Magic" (Cahn, Styne)
  2. "What is Life" (Jordan)
  3. "Cheek to Cheek" (Berlin)
  4. "Waltz for Debbie" (Evans) [instrumental]
  5. "Oslo" (Jordan)
  6. "Crazy" (Nelson)
  7. "Fly Me to the Moon" (Howard)
  8. "Cry Me a River" (Hamilton)
  9. "Line for Lyons" (Mulligan) [instrumental]
  10. "I'm a Fool to Want You" (Herron, Sinatra, Wolf)
  11. "La Bohème" (Aznavour, Plante)
  12. "It's a Man's World" (Brown, Newsone)
  13. "Answer Me, My Love" (Rauch, Winkler) [instrumental]
  14. "Mr. Lonely" (Vinton, Allan)
  15. "Speak Softly Love" (Rota)
  16. "Can't Help Falling in Love" (Weiss, Greatore, Peretti)

Singles
Title Year Album
"I Put a Spell on You"[33] 2016 Angelina Jordan – The EP[12]
"What a Difference a Day Makes"[34]
"Fly Me to the Moon" (Acoustic)[35] 2017
"Back to Black"[36][37]
(with lyrics by Jordan)
"What is Life"[38]
Angelina Jordan and Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps		 2018 It's Magic[19]
"Shield"[39] —
"Bohemian Rhapsody"[40][41] 2020 —
"Million Miles"[4] —

Featured in

Title Year Album
"Song for A"
Nico Cartosio featuring Angelina Jordan		 2019 Melting
"Above the Water"[42]
TRXD featuring Angelina Jordan		 2020 —

References
  1. Locker, Melissa (10 March 2014). "This 7-Year Old's Incredible Voice Will Give You Chills as She Channels Billie Holiday". Time.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  2. Keegan, Simon (10 March 2014). "WATCH: Girl sings Billie Holiday classic and wows talent show judges with soulful Gloomy Monday cover". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  3. Brodal, Tina (26 August 2020). "Industry Talk: Michael Astar". Music Norway. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. Aswad, Jem (5 November 2020). "Republic Records Signs 14-Year-Old Norwegian Singer Angelina Jordan (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. Jones, Nate (7 May 2014). "See This 8-Year-Old Norwegian Girl Sing Frank Sinatra Perfectly". People.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  6. Storhaug, Sofia; Johansen, Øystein David (25 May 2014). "Angelina vant 'Norske talenter': - Jeg vil hjelpe barn som ikke har det bra" [Angelina won 'Norwegian talents': 'I want to help children who are not doing well']. VG.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  7. Pettersen, Jørn; Erikssen, Heidi Østhus (12 April 2014). "Norske Talenter-Angelina til finalen". VG.no. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  8. "Nå har norske Angelina endelig debutert på amerikansk TV" [Now Norwegian Angelina finally debuted on American television]. TV2.no (in Norwegian). 19 September 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  9. Miljeteig, Margrethe (17 December 2012). "Se Angelina Jordan (8) debutere som skuespiller" [See Angelina Jordan (8) debut as an actor]. TV2.no (in Norwegian).
  10. "Angelina Jordan – Nobel Peace Prize Live performance". NobelWeb.org. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  11. My Christmas at Discogs
  12. Angelina Jordan – The EP at Discogs
  13. "Angelina Jordan Official". YouTube.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  14. "Angelina Jordan CoverChannel / About". YouTube.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  15. "Between Two Hearts / Angelina Jordan Astar". Cappelen Damm. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  16. "Når man våger å møtes" [When one dares to meet]. vl.no (in Norwegian). 3 December 2015.
  17. "Fly to the Moon with Angelina Jordan". Little Big Shots. YouTube.
  18. "Alan Walker is Heading Home (LIVE STREAM RECORDING)". Alan Walker on YouTube.
  19. It's Magic at Discogs
  20. "Angelina sjarmerte musikk-legenden" [Angelina charmed the music legend]. VG.no. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  21. "Angelina Jordan Opening Concert for Quincy Jones". Angelina Jordan Fanclub Mosarz on YouTube. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  22. "5 Things to Know About 'AGT: The Champions' Star Angelina Jordan". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  23. "10 Facts You Didn't Know About Angelina Jordan On @America's Got Talent Champions | What's Hot?". Talent Recap on YouTube. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  24. Lifton, Dave (8 January 2020). "Queen Wowed by 13-Year-Old 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Singer". ultimateclassicrock.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  25. "Bohemian Rhapsody". Angelina Jordan Official on YouTube. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  26. "Angelina Jordan - Million Miles (Official Lyric Video)". Angelina Jordan Official on YouTube. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  27. "Million Miles". Universal Music Group (through Angelina Jordan Official) on YouTube. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  28. "Angelina Jordan - Million Miles (Live in Studio)". Angelina Jordan Official on YouTube. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  29. "Angelina Jordan - Million Miles (Official Music Video)". Angelina Jordan Official on YouTube. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  30. Brandvol, Ivar (18 February 2020). "Fra barnestjerne til superstjerne" [From child star to superstar]. VG.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  31. "Høstens sminketrender". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  32. Maaland, Borghild (28 March 2014). "Enorm interesse for sangtalentet" [Tremendous interest in singing talent]. VG.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  33. "I Put a Spell on You" at Discogs
  34. "What a Difference a Day Makes" at Discogs
  35. "Fly Me to the Moon (Acoustic)" at Discogs
  36. "Back to Black by Angelina Jordan". Amazon.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  37. "Back to Black – Single by Angelina Jordan". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  38. "What is Life" at Discogs
  39. "Shield" at Discogs
  40. "Bohemian Rhapsody by Angelina Jordan". Amazon.com. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  41. "Bohemian Rhapsody – Single by Angelina Jordan". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  42. "Above the Water" at Discogs
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