This DVD captures Natasha's first sold-out concert in the U.S. It was filmed on June 8, 2006 in the heart of Times Square at the Nokia Theatre. This unique DVD features:
• Natasha's two hour set including "Unwritten," "These Words," "Single," and a special rendition of Coldplay's "The Scientist." • Five-song acoustic performance filmed at Clear Channel Stripped. • Behind-the-scenes documentary of Natasha in New York City. • Director's cut of the "These Words" music video. • "Unwritten" music video.
After a consecutive run of 18 weeks for "Bad Day" (Warner Bros.), Daniel Powter abdicates his Adult Contemporary chart throne to a new leader: Natasha Bedingfield, who claims her first AC No. 1 with "Unwritten" (Epic).
It's been a six-month journey for "Unwritten," Bedingfield's first song to appear on the AC tally. The single debuted the week of March 18 and first made the top five the week of May 27. "Unwritten" slipped to No. 6 but then returned to the top five the week of June 17 and has been there ever since, spending the last eight weeks in the runner-up spot before claiming pole position.
"Unwritten" is the fourth new No. 1 of 2006, and the first by a female artist. Before "Bad Day," the other two songs that advanced to No. 1 in 2006 were "You and Me" by Lighthouse and "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt.
Bedingfield is the first female artist to lead the AC list since Kimberley Locke had a four-week reign with "Up on the Housetop." That holiday song moved into the penthouse the week of Dec. 17, 2005.
Bedingfield is the first British female to dominate the AC chart since Dido spent four non-consecutive weeks on top with "Thank You" between June and September of 2001.
Powter is not the only Daniel who figures into this chart feat. Natasha's brother, Daniel Bedingfield, also had one AC chart entry. "If You're Not the One" peaked at No. 3 the week of June 14, 2003.
• The new single from Natasha's sophomore album, "I Want To Have Your Babies," has been pushed back to a January 15, 2007 release while the new album has been pushed back to January 22, 2007 (Source: HMV UK). A staggered North American and European release will follow. • Unwritten, the album, has sold over 700,000 copies in the USA! • "Single," the follow-up single to her top 5 hit "Unwritten," peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100 only to spend a sad 6 weeks on the chart overall. • "Unwritten" was the theme song to the hit MTV reality show The Hills. • Natasha is featured in a U.S. GAP campaign which can be found in stores now. Click here to see the beautiful photo used for the promotion. • The-N has released their first ever soundtrack featuring a live track of Natasha performing "Unwritten." • On Friday, July 28 Natasha appeared for the second time on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. She performed "Single" and stuck around for a short and humorous interview. • August 10 Natasha was featured on TV Guide's The 411 and on August 17 Natasha made an appearance on CD:USA. • On September 27 Natasha is scheduled to perform at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square to honor the British victims of 9/11. • Natasha has recorded the title song to Rocky Balboa, "Still Here," written by Diane Warren. She is also rumored to act in the movie. • Catch an episode of My Own Natasha Bedingfield on MTV September 4. • Natasha was nominated for a 2006 Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout Female Artist. • AOL Music has featured Natasha's full concert performance at the Nokia Theatre. Click here to watch.
Wonder what dinner is like when all the Bedingfields sit down together? If the conversation turns to how the children are doing at work, it's Natasha's turn to brag. Her third chart entry on the Hot 100, "Single" (Epic), debuts at No. 72.
That pushes her past brother Daniel, who has two chart entries to date with "Gotta Get Thru This" (No. 10 in September 2002) and "If You're Not the One" (No. 15 in May 2003).
Like Daniel, Natasha has one top 10 hit to date, "Unwritten" (No. 5 in April). She also has two non-top 10 hits, including "These Words" (No. 17 in August 2005).
She may have become a download millionaire in the U.S., but the world's biggest music market will be made to wait for the next Natasha Bedingfield album.
As recording for the follow-up to her 2.3m-selling debut Unwritten reaches the midway point, her label Phonogenic is plotting a release strategy which will see her new album appearing in the UK on September 25, but not until 2007 internationally.
For the U.S., where the title track of her first album is five-times platinum after reaching its one-millionth paid-for download last month, it follows a similar pattern to her debut, which came out in the UK in September 2004, but was only made available in the States the following August. The tactic clearly worked, with only James Blunt this year overshadowing Bedingfield as the UK success story in the U.S. this year.
In delaying the second album's Stateside release, label co-founder Paul Lisberg says it remains relatively early days for Bedingfield in the U.S., where Epic is just starting to work third single, Single. "Unwritten has only just peaked at radio there," says Lisberg. "Our priority will be the UK."
Bedingfield will join X-Factor finalist Michelle Lawson as the two big quarter four priorities for Phonogenic, which was formed in 2003 by Lisberg and Tops Henderson, with songwriters Steve Kipner and Andrew Frampton. "Domestically, 2005 was a year of development for us and quite focused on Natasha's record internationally, so it's going to be good to get moving on these releases," says Lisberg.
RCA was last week unveiling a selection of tracks from the new Bedingfield album to long-lead publications, including first single I Want to Have Your Babies, which will go to radio in early August and receive a full commercial release on September 4. "You can really see Natasha's growth on this record," says Lisberg. "She was always, potentially, a very special artist, but she's almost unrecognisable in the sense of how far she's come as both a performer and writer."
Bedingfield has collaborated on a number of tracks with the songwriting trio of Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton, and Wayne Wilkins, who, together, wrote more than half of her debut. Additional credits go to Greg Kurstin, musical director for Beck, Gwen Stefani, and co-writer on new songs for both Lily Allen and All Saints; Rich Harrison, the name behind Beyonce's Crazy In Love and Amerie's 1 Thing; David Arnold; and the songwriting duo of Danielle Brisebois and Wayne Rodrigues, who wrote the title track of her debut.
