Janice Robinson
Born (1967-12-08) December 8, 1967 (age 56)
Garfield, New Jersey
OriginUnited States
GenresHouse, R&B, pop
Years active1992–present
LabelsWarner Bros. Records (1992–2006), Spinnin Records, (2022), Warner Records (2022)

Janice Robinson (born December 8, 1967) is an American singer and songwriter, initially known as a member of 1990s Italian Eurodance group Livin' Joy with global dance hit Dreamer, before she embarked on a solo career.

Personal life

Robinson was born in Garfield, New Jersey. She has two daughters, Kura and Amaya.[1]

Early life and career

Robinson, raised in Garfield, New Jersey,[2] toured as the vocalist for euro-dance group Snap! in 1990-91, replacing studio vocalist Penny Ford in the group’s live shows. Robinson gained worldwide success in the early to mid-1990s with the Italian house group Livin' Joy as the lead singer before going solo in 1999. After Robinson left, Livin' Joy scored more hits during the 1995–1996 period with singer Tameko Star. However, the biggest remains "Dreamer", an international hit reaching number 1 in the UK and the top 10 in many other European countries. It has since been certified platinum, selling over 600,000 copies in the UK alone.[3] Robinson had previously worked with the Livin' Joy producers on two singles, "Children" and "Sweetest Day of May". On Livin' Joy's Don't Stop Movin, her vocals do not appear on any tracklisted songs, until the original "Dreamer" appears as a hidden track at the very end. Her subsequent solo debut album The Color Within Me was an earthy, more pop styled album and was released in 1999 to largely favorable reviews, scoring a minor pop hit with the single "Nothing I Would Change". In 2000, Robinson performed on the drama Charmed, in the episode "Animal Pragmatism".[4]

In 2000, she toured America as an opening act for Tina Turner's U.S. leg of her world tour alongside Lionel Richie. Turner picked Robinson to open for her after hearing her album The Color Within Me, in which Robinson has described Turner as her “fairy godmother”.[5]

Robinson's biggest hit with Livin' Joy was reissued with new production, and new vocals and Robinson was credited for her work on it this time. "Dreamer '05" became a hit making the top five of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Her dance single, "Earthbeat" is featured on the compilation Pride 1998, mixed and produced by Julian Marsh. Robinson took a long hiatus and had two daughters and to care for her ill parents.

In 2015, Robinson released "There Must Be Love" in collaboration with David Morales; the track was well received, particularly in Italy, and reached the Billboard Dance Charts.[6] In 2017, she released the single "Father".[7]

In 2018, Robinson returned to the stage on The X Factor UK as a contestant surprising the judging panel with the revelation that she was the voice and songwriter behind the international dance track "Dreamer".[8] She successfully made it to the live shows as part of the Over 29s category mentored by Ayda Field and was the third contestant eliminated.

In 2019, Robinson spent the spring and summer touring the UK and abroad. On August 1, she released a new single titled "Freedom", teaming up with DJ David Morales once again.[9]

In 2021, Robinson continued working on a documentary about her life, alongside performing across the UK and abroad.

In 2022, Robinson announced that she was continuing to work on her documentary about her life story. On 8 January, she announced on BBC Radio 2 that new music is in the works.[10]The first single called "Essex Girls" with British rappers who used the verse of "Dreamer" was released in January on Warner Records and a brand new version of "Dreamer" was released in February 2022 with DJ Salvatore Lodato on Spinnin Records.[11] Robinson said she was "excited to reach a whole new generation" of fans who love her music. She also released "Love Comes Once in Your Life" with OMG Collective. In July 2023, she teamed up with OMG Collective once again with ‘Just A Little Love’. Robinson has toured alongside Ministry Of Sound Classical at sold out shows across the UK from 2019-2023, including two shows at Royal Albert Hall in London.[12]

Songwriting discography

Abigail - Home...Again
Ashley Tisdale - Headstrong
Brahim - Evolution
Hania Stach
Kristine W - Stronger
Lucas Prata - Let's Get It On
Natalia - Back For More
Reina - This Is Reina
Ricki-Lee Coulter - Brand New Day
Sandrine Van Handenhoven - Story of Us (Movie)
Taylor Dayne - Satisfied
Taylor Dayne - Naked without You
Tevin Campbell - Tevin Campbell
VFactory - These Are the Days EP

Singles

Year Title Album US US Dance
1999 "Nothing I Would Change" Nothing I Would Change – –
1998 "Earthbeat" Pride 1998 – –
2005 "Dreamer '05" Dreamer EP – 5

Other singles

Year Title US US Dance
2015 "There Must Be Love" (with David Morales) – 1[13]
2022 "Love Comes Once In Your Life" (with OMG Collective) – [14]
2023 "Just A Little Love" (with OMG Collective) – [15]

As Livin Joy

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
ITA[16] AUS[17] BEL[18] FIN[19] GER[20] IRE[21] NED[22] SWE[23] UK[24] US[25] US Dance[25]
1994 "Dreamer" — — — — — — 23 — 18 — 1 Don't Stop Movin'
1995 "Dreamer" (re-issue) — 90 — 10 87 7 36 — 1 72 —
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Tours

• Tina Turner - Twenty Four Seven Tour (opening act on North American leg - 2000)

• Ministry Of Sound Classical (Guest vocalist - United Kingdom - 2019-2024)

See also

References

  1. ^ Hulme, Charlotte (February 5, 2022). "Inside X Factor star Janice Robinson's life now – from family tragedy to new career as a teacher". OK Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Morse, Steve (December 23, 1999). "JANICE ROBINSON\ THE COLOR WITHIN ME\ WARNER BROS". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  3. ^ "BRIT Certified - bpi". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  4. ^ Pearce, Tilly (July 22, 2018). "Auditionee Janice Robinson made a special appearance in cult classic, Charmed". Metro UK.
  5. ^ McDonald, Patrick (May 12, 2000). "At 60, Tina Turner is still going strong on her last arena tour". The Seattle Times.
  6. ^ "Hot Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  7. ^ French, Ian (December 12, 2017). "Exclusive Premiere: David Morales & Janice Robinson – Father (Classic Epic Mix)". Decoded Magazine.
  8. ^ "X Factor's Robbie Williams close to tears as 90s dancefloor icon auditions". Metro. August 30, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.[better source needed]
  9. ^ Sgalbazzini, Marc (July 29, 2019). "Dream Duo David Morales and Vocalist Janice Robinson Re-Unite For Highly-Anticipated "Freedom" House Gospel Release". 6am Group. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  10. ^ "Rylan On Saturday - Am I A Dreamer? Rylan chats to Janice Robinson - BBC Radio 2". BBC. January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  11. ^ "LODATO AND JANICE ROBINSON BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO 90'S HOUSE CLASSIC, "DREAMER"". EDM.com. February 20, 2022.
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Hot Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  14. ^ "OMG Collective And Janice Robinson Team Up For 'Love Comes Once In Your Life". CelebMix. May 2, 2022. ((cite magazine)): Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  15. ^ "Janice Robinson Releases New Single 'Just A Little Love'". Music Talkers Magazine. June 8, 2023. ((cite magazine)): Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  16. ^ "Italian Singles". hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  17. ^ Australian (ARIA) peaks:
  18. ^ "Belgian (Flanders) Singles". ultratop.be. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  19. ^ "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1961" (in Finnish). Sisältää Hitin - Suomen listalevyt (Timo Pennanen). Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  20. ^ German Singles:
  21. ^ "Irish Singles". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  22. ^ "Netherlands Singles". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  23. ^ "Swedish Albums". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  24. ^ "Official Charts > Livin' Joy". Official Charts Company. September 3, 1994. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  25. ^ a b "Livin' Joy Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  26. ^ "BRIT Certified - bpi". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 20, 2020.

External links

Authority control databases: Artists
The X Factor (UK)
Categories