British R&B vocalist Gabrielle began her career singing for free in London West End clubs whilst temping in offices during the day. Her big break came when she recorded a demo, called “Dreams,” based around Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” which subsequently fell into the hands of an A&R man at London’s Go! Beat records. With the hit came a head-turning image, complete with kiss curls and sequined eye patch as Gabrielle’s right eye has a drooped lid.
Her debut album, Find Your Way, sold over a million copies worldwide, and paved the way for her sophomore, self-titled album, released in 1996 . In three short years, those two albums and nine singles — five of which were Top Ten — established Gabrielle as the U.K.’s premiere soul vocalist.
In 2000, Gabrielle followed up with her appropriately titled third album, Rise, which followed a difficult time for her personally and creatively. Widely publicized reports concerning her ex-partner’s criminal conviction threatened to overshadow her musical accomplishments, not to mention her creative potential. The songs on Rise spoke of optimism, romanticism, devotion, and a keen survival instinct. The lead single, “Sunshine,” was a spirited thank you to those friends you have on hand to boost your confidence when you’re low. Her 2001’s world-wide hit “Out of Reach” was the feature track from the Bridget Jones’s Diary soundtrack.
Now if you feel in the mood , listen to her hit “Out of Reach”, my “moody” choice this week, especially dedicated to you know who.
Want to sing ?
Knew the signs
Wasn’t right
I was stupid for a while
Swept away by you
And now I feel like a fool
So confused,
My heart’s bruised
Was I ever loved by you?Out of reach, so far
I never had your heart
Out of reach,
Couldn’t see
We were never
Meant to be