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Setting uplifting songs of love and modern-city life to a mid-tempo, hook-laden blend of reggae, calypso, rap, and British pop, Des'ree has risen to the upper echelon of British R&B. Although she failed to reach an American audience with her 1992 duet with Terence Trent D'Arby, "Delicate," despite it being a Top Ten hit in the U.K., she made up for it with her second album, I Ain't Movin', two years later. The album's single, "You Gotta Be," became the most played video on VH1, spent 80 weeks on the Billboard charts, and was included on a highly visible tribute album for Diana, Princess of Wales. Driven by the song's success, I Ain't Movin' sold more than 16 million copies. Des'ree kept the momentum going with an American tour in 1995 with Seal and performed at the first-ever secular concert at the Vatican. Her songs appeared in Spike Lee's film Clockers in 1995 and Baz Luhrmann's remake of Romeo and Juliet the following year. She released her third album, Supernatural, in 1998. Born in a small village south of London to parents from the Caribbean, Des'ree was influenced by both cultures. After living in Barbados from the age of 11 until she was 14, she began writing poetry upon her return to England. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide |
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