Michelle Leonard Explained

Michelle Leonard should not be confused with Michelle Leonardo.

Michelle Leonard
Background:solo_singer
Birth Date:1973 6, df=y
Birth Place:Soost, Germany
Origin:Germany
Instrument:singing, keyboards, programming
Genre:Pop, rock, punk, electro
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Years Active:1990–present
Label:Universal Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Associated Acts:Aurora, Paul van Dyk, Robin Schulz, Joachim Witt, Cinema Bizarre, Mike Leon Grosch, Tarja Turunen, Sarah Connor, Thomas Godoj, Stanfour, Sarah Brightman, Popstars, Zoë Badwi, Hanna Pakarinen, Gregorian, Zweiohrküken, Robin Schulz, Moguai, f(x), Sistanova, Eisbrecher, Elif Demirezer, Popakademie Baden-Württemberg

Michelle Leonard (born 5 June 1973) is a German / British singer and songwriter, now based in Berlin. Leonard has written and co-written multiple songs, both singles and for albums, that have achieved gold and platinum status.[1] [2] Leonard is known internationally for her work with AURORA and Paul van Dyk, as well as for her collaboration with Robin Schulz (under the stage name Solamay).[3] As a songwriter, Leonard is currently signed to Budde Music Publishing.[4]

Biography

Leonard grew up in Germany, where she attended British schools. EMI Music Publishing signed her when she was 17.[5] She had just released her first single at 16, which was a cover version of "Falling," a 1990 song by Julee Cruise that later became popular as the Twin Peaks theme song.

Leonard's first original songs included "Feel So Perfect," which was released by Cape, became a radio hit, and was used for a three-year, pan-European C&A advertising campaign. Multiple music videos and short films were created around the song. Many of her co-written songs have been used in advertisements for companies including Axe, RMS (Radio marketing services), Ford Ka and Vodafone Germany.[6]

Some of Leonard's biggest songwriting hits have been performed by other artists. Her greatest achievements in this field have included AURORA's "Running with the Wolves," "Rooftop" by Nico Santos, and "Love Is You" by Thomas Godoj. In 2005, Leonard also worked on the song "Instant Replay" with Such a Surge, which was released on their album Alpha.

Leonard was also the performance and music director for the German Theatre Abroad project in New York and directed the musical "Electric Society," which was staged on 12 November 2005 in Cologne, Germany.[7] In 2009, she was a judge on the German casting television show Popstars and released her debut album Fragile.[8]

Since 2005, Leonard has been a lecturer at the Popakademie (University of Popular Music and Music Business), the Columbia College Chicago, and at the SRH Hochschule der populären Künste (College of Popular Arts) in Germany for Songwriting.[9] [10] In 2011, Leonard started the co-publishing company "DOLSIRA" with Universal Music Publishing, Germany, and in 2018, started "EERA" in cooperation with BMG Rights Management.[11] [12] In 2015, she started her own solo-artist project, Solamay, which has achieved platinum status.

Discography

As songwriter

YearTitleAlbumChart Position Comment
Austria Finland Sweden United States
2002Hurra, Hurra, die Schule brenntBusted – Busted (Album)19(7 weeks)[13] 20(8 weeks)34(5 weeks.)Translation work
2004Save My Life TonightHanna Pakarinen – When I Become Me (Album)2 (17 weeks)[14]
2005Out Of Tears

Hanna Pakarinen – Stronger (Album)

2 (7 weeks)[15]
VirusNu Pagadi – Your Dark Side (Album)1(12 weeks)[16] 5(10 weeks)6(9 weeks)
Sag Mir WannNikko Weidemann- Perfekte Welle Compilation (Album)
2006Celebrity QueenAlexander Klaws – Attention! (Album)20(3 weeks)[17] 1948
Der TurmJoachim Witt – Bayreuth 3 [Limited Edition] (Album)35(3 weeks)[18]
Don't Let It Get You DownMike Leon Grosch– Don't Let It Get You Down (Single)1(11 weeks)[19] 6(10 weeks)[20] 2(14 weeks)
Don't Let It Get You Down This RideMike Leon Grosch– Absolute (Album)2(12 weeks)[21] 12(4 weeks)6(8 weeks)
Living Without You, It's Over, Venom, Occupied, Tattooed On MeSandy Mölling – Frame Of Mind (Album)36[22]
DangerzoneVanilla Ninja – Dangerzone (Single)21(9 weeks)[23] 23(6 weeks)18(8 weeks)
Dangerzone, Kingdom Burning Down, The Band That Never, Existed Rockstarz, Battlefield, Insane in Vain, Silence, Love Is Just A War, My NameVanilla Ninja – Love Is War (Album)16(5 weeks)[24] 29(3 weeks)14(9 weeks)EE No. 1
You And Me, Cruel To MyselfHell Yeah

Valentine – Blue Merry-Go-Round (Album)

2007Lovesongs (They Kill Me)Cinema Bizarre – Lovesongs (They Kill Me) (Single)9(9 weeks)[25] 32(8 weeks)FR No. 28 (19 weeks)
Lovesongs (They Kill Me), Get Off, Heaven SentCinema Bizarre – Final Attraction (Album)9(1 week)[26] 28(2 weeks)FR No. 24 (9 weeks) IT No. 30 (9 weeks)
If I Lose YouLisa Bund – Born Again (Album)27(2 weeks)[27] 66(1 week)88(1 week)
Life Is A MiracleNo Angels – "Kleiner Dodo" Soundtrack (Album)Title track of the Warner Bros. Movie "Kleiner Dodo“
Großstadtkinder, JennyPeilomat– Großstadtkinder
Lost Northern Star, Ciárans Well, Calling GraceTarja Turunen – My Winter Storm (Album)3(4 weeks)[28] 11(4 weeks)15(9 weeks)1 (9 weeks)41(1 week)NO No. 37 (1 week)SP No. 77 (1 week)

FR No. 88 (1 week)

Superstar, I Am Not AfraidOrange Blue – Superstar (Album)88(1 week)[29]
Atomic Love, Another DayNouveau Riche – Pink Trash (Album)
Various SongsSistanova
2008Stay With MeJesus on Extasy – Stay With Me (Single)1 (Alternative Charts)
Love Is YouThomas Godoj – Love Is You (Single)1(13 weeks)[30] 1(12 weeks)1(11 weeks)
Love Is You, Too Young To Grow Old, Summer Breeze, Brand New StartThomas Godoj – Plan A! (Album)1 (25 weeks)[31] 1 (8 weeks)3(11 weeks)
2009No More Days To WasteAloha from Hell – No More Days To Waste (Single)59(4 weeks)[32] JP No. 11
Blown AwayOliver Wimmer – Blown Away (Single)1 (10 weeks)[33] CH Airplay Charts No. 1
Little Riding Hood RapSarah Brightman – Little Riding Hood Rap (Single)
Touching And Kissing, My Obsession, Je Ne Regrette Rien, In Your Cage, Heaven Is Wrapped in Chains, I Don't Wanna Know (If You Got Laid), Out Of Love, Sad Day (For Happiness), Tears in VegasCinema Bizarre – ToyZ / BANG (Album)24(1 week)[34] 44(1 week)FR No. 79 (3 weeks)IT No. 36 (3 weeks)

NL No. 94 (1 week)

Love in a Million ShadesHanna Pakarinen – Love in a Million Shades (Album)7 (5 weeks)
EnoughTarja Turunen – My Winter Storm [Limited Fan Edition] (Album)
Tired AgainStanfour – Zweiohrküken(Soundtrack)6(16 weeks)[35] 15(9 weeks)56(7 weeks)
2010I Can't Dance AloneGiovanni feat. Ross Antony – I Can't Dance Alone (Single)26(7 weeks)[36] 49(4 weeks)
Anteroom Of Death, I Feel Immortal, Until My Last BreathCrying Moon

Tarja Turunen – What Lies Beneath (Album)

4(5 weeks)[37] 12(6 weeks)11(4 weeks)7(7 weeks)45 (Sweden Album Charts)(1 week)11 (UK Rock Chart)24 (US Top Heatseekers)Reached Chart positions in 18 countries (e.g. IT, CZ, HUN, RUS, PL, NL, BEL, MEX)
Stay With MeJesus on Extasy – Beloved Enemy (Album)
An Le Chang ZanGary ChengCantonese version of "I'm A Big Girl Now“
Born To Feel AliveGregorian – The Dark Side of the Chant (Album)7(13 weeks)[38] 11(16 weeks)20(14 weeks)First English version of the song "Geboren um zu leben" by the German group Unheilig,DK No. 9 (6 weeks)
Carry Me HomeSarah Connor – Real Love (Album)8(8 weeks)[39] 15(4 weeks)22(4 weeks)
2011UndercoverFrida Gold – Juwel (Album)14 (38 weeks)[40] 59(2 weeks)
DaddyMarla Glen – Humanology (Album)
Down The Hole And Back 3DBertil Mark – Insight Outside (Earbook)
Carry Me HomeGrant Smillie feat. Zoë Badwi – Carry Me Home (Single)ARIA Club Charts No. 16, Album "Zoë" hit No. 36 in AU Album Chart
Ich Sehe DichUwe Ochsenknecht – Das Große Comeback (Soundtrack)Titelsong des ZDF TV Films "Das Große Comeback
Sam Na SvetaToma feat. Billy Hlapeto – Sam Na Sveta (Single)BG No. 7
2012Du Fölier Väl MedLena Philipsson – Du Fölier Väl Med (Single)4
Du Fölier Väl MedLena Philipsson – Världen snurrar (Album)4
Lost in BerlinLove Ammunition

Paul van Dyk (feat. Michelle Leonard) – Evolution (Album)

Lost in Berlin (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix)Paul van Dyk (feat. Michelle Leonard) – Vonic Sessions 2012 (Album)22(4 weeks)49(2 weeks)NL No. 78 (1 weeks)
Anteroom Of Death, Lost Northern Star, Ciarans WellTaja Turunen – Tarja Act 1 (Live Album & DVD)5(4 weeks)[41] 36(1 week)48(1 week)[42] 12(3 weeks)FR No. 147, BE No. 99, FI No. 12
The Knife, Beat The WinterMikko Sipola – Making A Sound5[43]
Shooting StarsKindervater – Future Trance Vol.61 (Compilation)3 (Compilation Charts)2(12 weeks)[44] 5(8 weeks)
Shooting StarsKindervater – Dream Dance Vol.65 (Compilation)6 (Compilation Charts)12(2 weeks)7(6 weeks)
Army Of HopeMichael Schulte – Wide Awake (Album)54(1 week)[45]
GloriaJoachim Witt – Gloria (Single)74(2 weeks)[46]
Gloria, Jetzt Geh, Tränen, Blut, Königreich, Beben, Licht Im Ozean, Komm Nie Wieder Zurück, Leichtsinn, UntergehenJoachim Witt – DOM (Album)6(6 weeks)[47] 43(1 week)68(1 week)DE Alternative Charts No. 1
Brave It OutGenerations – Brave It Out (Single)Title track of the Japanese NTV Drama "Sugarless", JP # 5 Hot 100 Official Billboard, No. 9 Top 100 Airplay No. 4 Adult Contemporary Airplay, No. 6 Hot Single Sales, No. 3 Oricon Single Charts
2013Carry MeMichael Mind Project – State Of Mind (Album)53(3 weeks)[48] 43(3 weeks)
Kein RauschBetty Dittrich – Gute Jungs, böse Mädchen (Album)
Lock U in a Rocket, Love Love LoveZibbz – Ready? Go! (Album)14(4 weeks)[49]
Gotta Remember To Forget YouAngy – Drama Queen (Album)SP No. 30 (1 week)
Recognise MeSofi de la Torre – Rubinrot (Soundtrack)
Zu EndeMega Mega – Behalt Die Nerven (Album)
Grüne WelleMC Fitti feat. Bonnie Strange – Geilon (Album)2(11 weeks)[50]
Snapshotf(x) – Pink Tape (Album)21 (US Heatseekers Albums – Billboard)Billboard World Album Charts No. 1, KR No. 1, JP No. 30
GloriaGregorian – Masters Of Chant 9 (Album)14(13 weeks)[51] 16(4 weeks)29(8 weeks)
Brave It OutGenerations – Generations (Album)JP No. 1
2014Spät, Hoping (feat. Lisa Gerrard)Joachim Witt – Neumond (Album)8(4 weeks)[52]
2015SchlachtbankEisbrecher – Schock (Album)2(33 weeks)[53] 11(3 weeks)16(3 weeks)
Hearts Are Digital, Burn/fear, Electric, Angel, Just An Illusion, Lovers When It's Cold, Glory, The Matrix, Not My God, Metropolis, You Can't Save Me, (In Your) Waiting RoomJack Strify – Illusion (Album)
GentleGregorian – Masters Of Chant X– The Final Chapter (Album)8(11 weeks)54(2 weeks)25(5 weeks)
Let's Die Together, Radio Song, There Was A TimeRusskaja – Peace, Love & Russian Roll (Album)42(1 week)[54]
Running with the WolvesAurora – Running with the Wolves (EP)5 (Aqua Charts)Title track Vodafone Campaign Germany,UK Mix Charts No. 5,

NO Dance Charts No. 18

2016UFOAlex Mattson feat. Solamay – UFO (Single)10 (6 weeks)[55]
Running with the Wolves, Warrior, Eyes of a Child, Wisdom CriesAurora – All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend (Album)24(4 weeks)504128150NO No. 1IE No. 66

NL No. 17

AU No. 67

Recognise MeSofi de la Torre – Smaragdgrün (Soundtrack)Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Film/DVD Charts DE #3)
2017JealousyAlice Merton – No Roots (EP)5314 (Billboard Top Alternative Albums)Billboard US Top Rock Albums No. 30
My Girls, Bff, Vergiss Mein NichtHanni & Nanni – Mehr Als Beste Freunde (Film Soundtrack)
Charming Horses Remix EditJam feat. Solamay – Invaded (EP)
Hey Road, Send You An Angel, Still in Love, Volle Kraft VorausRusskja – Kosmopoliturbo (Album)27(1 week)[56]
Krieger, Alle in Einem Boot, Wo Geht Der Teufel Hin, Herz Auf, Der WahnsinnEisbrecher – Strumfahrt (Album)1(9 weeks)[57] 10[58] 8
Killin‘ ItLaz Perkins feat. Mad Ice & Bang for the Buck – Killin’ It (Single)
RooftopNico Santos – Rooftop (Single)5 (32 weeks)[59] 2 (24 weeks)[60] 5(29 weeks)DE Airplay Charts No. 1
HerzstreikAlina – Die Einzige (Album)26(12 weeks)[61] 100(1 week)
TabooMoody – Taboo (Single)
2018Liebe Ist SafeGlasperlenspiel – Licht & Schatten (Album)5(10 weeks)[62]
Dig DeepLxandra – Dig Deep (Single)
TrickNicki & Freddi & The Sixties – Ku’damm 59 (Soundtrack)Original Motion Picture Soundtrack "Ku’damm 59"
Never Let You DownMichael Schulte – Never Let You Down (Single)
Not YoursHalie – Not Yours (Single)
Rooftop, HeatwaveNico Santos – Streets Of Gold (Album)25 (3 weeks)[63] 69 (1 week)29(2 weeks)
2019Honeymoon HeartbreakAlice Merton – Mint2

(7 weeks)[64]

19

(1 week)

21

(1 week)

IT No. 62 (2 weeks)
The SeedAurora - A Different Kind Of Human (Step 2)58

(1 week)[65]

66

(1 week)

54

(1 week)

NO No. 4 (5 weeks),

BE No. 172 (1 week)

Solitary Soul Michael Leonardi – Solitary Soul (Album)

As soloartist

Singles

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michelle Leonard - hitparade.ch. swisscharts.com.
  2. Web site: Michelle Leonard. Discogs.
  3. Web site: Song: Running with the Wolves written by Michelle Leonard, Nico Rebscher, Aurora [NO] SecondHandSongs]. secondhandsongs.com. 22 January 2019.
  4. Web site: Michelle Leonard. facebook.com. 22 January 2019.
  5. Web site: MTV Music. https://web.archive.org/web/19961222031224/http://www.mtv.com/music/. dead. 22 December 1996. MTV.
  6. Web site: Running with the Wolves – Die Sängerin Aurora im Interview. 8 May 2015. Featured. de. 22 January 2019.
  7. Web site: Detailansicht Speaker - Reeperbahn Festival. 2020-10-09. Detailansicht Speaker. en.
  8. Web site: Michelle Leonard – Fragile. discogs. 22 January 2019.
  9. Web site: Baden-Württemberg. Popakademie. Lecturers Popular Music M.A. - Popakademie Baden-Württemberg. 2020-10-09. www.popakademie.de. en.
  10. Web site: Popakademie Summer Camp – Michelle Leonard /Songwriting.
  11. Web site: MusikWoche News Universal Music Publishing und Dolsira veranstalten Dolsira Music Night. www.mediabiz.de. de. 22 January 2019.
  12. Web site: Michelle Leonard (@solamaylove) • Instagram photos and videos. instagram.com. 22 January 2019.
  13. Web site: Busted – Hurra hurra die Schule brennt – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  14. Web site: When I Become Me by Hanna Pakarinen – Music Charts. acharts.co. 21 January 2019.
  15. Web site: Stronger by Hanna Pakarinen – Music Charts. acharts.co. 21 January 2019.
  16. Web site: Nu Pagadi – Your Dark Side – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  17. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. offiziellecharts.de. 22 January 2019.
  18. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. offiziellecharts.de. 22 January 2019.
  19. Web site: Mike Leon Grosch – Don't Let It Get You Down – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  20. Web site: Mike Leon Grosch – Don't Let It Get You Down – hitparade.ch. swisscharts.com. 21 January 2019.
  21. Web site: Mike Leon Grosch – Absolute – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  22. Web site: Sandy – Frame Of Mind – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  23. Web site: Vanilla Ninja – Dangerzone – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  24. Web site: Vanilla Ninja – Love Is War – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  25. Web site: Lovesongs (they Kill Me) by Cinema Bizarre – Music Charts. acharts.co. 22 January 2019.
  26. Web site: Final Attraction by Cinema Bizarre – Music Charts. acharts.co. 22 January 2019.
  27. Web site: Lisa Bund – Born Again – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  28. Web site: Tarja – My Winter Storm – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  29. Web site: Orange Blue – Superstar – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  30. Web site: Thomas Godoj – Love Is You – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  31. Web site: Thomas Godoj – Plan A!. Hung. Steffen. austriancharts.at. 22 January 2019.
  32. Web site: Aloha From Hell – No More Days To Waste – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  33. Web site: Oliver – Blown Away – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  34. Web site: Cinema Bizarre – ToyZ – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  35. Web site: Soundtrack – ZweiOhrKüken – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  36. Web site: Giovanni feat. Ross Antony – I Can't Dance Alone – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  37. Web site: What Lies Beneath by Tarja Turunen – Music Charts. acharts.co. 21 January 2019.
  38. Web site: Gregorian – The Dark Side of the Chant – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  39. Web site: Sarah Connor – Real Love – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  40. Web site: Frida Gold – Juwel – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  41. Web site: Tarja – Act I – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  42. Web site: Tarja Turunen – Act I [DVD] – hitparade.ch]. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  43. Web site: Making A Sound by Mikko Sipola – Music Charts. acharts.co. 22 January 2019.
  44. Web site: Future Trance 61 – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  45. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. offiziellecharts.de. 21 January 2019.
  46. Web site: Joachim Witt – Gloria – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  47. Web site: Joachim Witt – Dom – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 21 January 2019.
  48. Web site: Suche – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. offiziellecharts.de. 22 January 2019.
  49. Web site: ZiBBZ – Ready? Go! – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  50. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. offiziellecharts.de. 22 January 2019.
  51. Web site: Gregorian – Masters Of Chant 9 – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  52. Web site: Joachim Witt – Neumond – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  53. Web site: Eisbrecher – Schock – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  54. Web site: Russkaja – Peace Love & Russian Roll – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  55. Web site: EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2018: GERMANY – 'You Let Me Walk Alone' By Michael Schulte. Steve. 4 April 2018. Talk About Pop Music. 22 January 2019.
  56. Web site: Russkaja – Kosmopoliturbo. Hung. Steffen. austriancharts.at. 22 January 2019.
  57. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. offiziellecharts.de. 22 January 2019.
  58. Web site: Eisbrecher – Sturmfahrt – hitparade.ch. swisscharts.com. 22 January 2019.
  59. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. offiziellecharts.de. 22 January 2019.
  60. Web site: Nico Santos. Chartsurfer.de. chartsurfer.de. 22 January 2019.
  61. Web site: Alina [2010s] – Die Einzige – hitparade.ch]. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.
  62. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. offiziellecharts.de. 22 January 2019.
  63. Web site: Nico Santos – Streets Of Gold – hitparade.ch. swisscharts.com. 22 January 2019.
  64. Web site: Alice Merton – Mint – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 11 October 2019.
  65. Web site: Aurora [NO] – A Different Kind Of Human – Step 2 – hitparade.ch]. hitparade.ch. 11 October 2019.
  66. Web site: Soundtrack – ZweiOhrKüken – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 22 January 2019.