Natalia (Belgian singer) explained

Natalia Druyts
Birth Name:Natalia Willy Druyts
Alias:Natalia
Birth Date:1980 12, df=y
Birth Place:Geel, Antwerp, Belgium
Genre:R&B, pop, rock
Occupation:Singer
Years Active:2003–present
Label:Sony Music Belgium, Universal

Natalia Willy Druyts (born 3 December 1980), known mononymously as Natalia, is a Belgian singer. She became known in Flanders during the VTM program Idool 2003, in which she finished in second place. She is currently a coach in Flemish TV-programs The Voice van Vlaanderen, The Voice Kids and The Voice Senior.

Early life and career

Natalia was born on 3 December 1980 in Geel, Belgium.[1] Her parents had always lived in Oevel, a village close by the Geel municipality.[1] She graduated as a translator in English and Spanish.

Before 2003 Natalia was the singer of a small music group in Gierle (Belgium). This group was only known in the area of Turnhout (Belgium) and Westerlo (Belgium), where they had some performances. She got her breakthrough in 2003, which unfortunately meant she had to break up with her friends from 'Secret Me'.

In 2003 Natalia released her first single "Without You", the single peaked at number two in the Belgian charts and was certified gold in Belgium.[2] Not much later, Natalia provided two songs for the Belgian movie Team Spirit II, releasing "I've Only Begun To Fight" as her second single and as part of the soundtrack for the movie.[3] The song peaked at number one in the Belgian charts and was certified gold in Belgium.[3] [4] Shortly after, she recorded her first album, This Time. It was certified platinum in Belgium,[5] and Natalia started her first tour, the This Time Live Tour. Originally planned as a 20 date tour, it was extended to 90 dates due to massive ticket demands. While on tour she performed at the pre-selections for the Eurovision Song Contest with "Higher Than The Sun", which was released as her third single.[6] It peaked at number two in the Belgian charts.[7] The fourth and last single of the This Time album was "I Want You Back", which peaked at number three in the charts.

In October 2005, Natalia released a single together with The Pointer Sisters, "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves",[8] which reached number two in the Belgian charts.[9] She performed 10 concerts with The Pointer Sisters in January 2006 during Natalia Meets The Pointer Sisters in the Sportpaleis, Antwerp, attended by more than 130,000 people.

Natalia released a single together with En Vogue called "Glamorous" in October 2007; it reached number two on the Belgian charts. In January 2008 she performed with En Vogue and Shaggy during Natalia Meets En Vogue, Feat Shaggy at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp.[10]

In January 2011, Natalia planned a new concert series with an international superstar, this time she chose Anastacia. They recorded a single called "Burning Star", and in January 2011 toured as Natalia Meets Anastacia, selling over 75,000 tickets. In January 2014, Natalia was on the screen as a presenter for the first time. Together with Sam De Bruyn, she presented the Music Industry Awards on Eén.[11] In the autumn of 2015 Natalia was a coach in the program The Voice Kids. A candidate from Natalia's team, Mentissa, eventually won the program.[12] In 2015 she continued with her role as a coach in The Voice Kids. On 14 February 2015, Natalia was a guest at the Ladies of Soul in the Netherlands, singing the song Lady Marmalade.[13] In August 2015, she presented her new single "Smoking Gun" during the Pop Up Live program on Eén.[14] [15]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleChart positionsCertifications
BEL
[16]
2003This Time
  • 1st studio album
  • Released: 3 November 2003
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Versions: original version, New Version

(including "Higher Than The Sun")

  • Genre: Pop
  • Label: Sony BMG
Belgium: 2× Platinum
2004Back For More
  • 2nd studio album
  • Released: 30 August 2004
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Versions: original version, New Version

(including "You Are" and "Heart Of Gold")

  • Genre: Pop
  • Label: Sony BMG
Belgium: 3× Platinum
2007Everything and More
  • 3rd studio album
  • Released: 28 May 2007
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Versions: original version, New Version

(including "Drop A Little (Single Version)", "All That I Am", "Where She Belongs")

  • Genre: Pop
  • Label: Sony BMG
Belgium: 2× Platinum
2009Wise Girl
  • 4th studio album
  • Released: 17 April 2009
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Versions: original version, New Version

(including "Feeling", "Soul Divided", "Mind, Body and Soul")

  • Genre: Pop
  • Label: Sony BMG
Belgium: Platinum
2010Acoustelicious
  • 1st live album
  • Released: 16 February 2010
  • Formats: CD
  • Genre: Pop
  • Label: Sony BMG
Belgium: Platinum
2013Overdrive
  • 5th studio album
  • Released: 26 April 2013
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Genre: Pop, Dance
  • Label: Universal Music Belgium
Belgium: Platinum
2016In My Blood
  • 6th studio album
  • Released: 29 April 2016
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Genre: Pop, soul
  • Label: Natalia Music
Belgium: Platinum
2017The Sound of Me
  • 7th studio album
  • Released: 9 June 2017
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Label: Natalia Music
Belgium: Gold
2023Hallelujah to the Beat
  • 8th studio album
  • Released: 21 April 2023
  • Formats: CD, digital download
  • Label: Sony

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
BEL
"Without You"20032This Time
"I've Only Begun to Fight"1
"Higher Than the Sun"20042
"I Want You Back"3
"Risin'"2Back For More
"Fragile, Not Broken"11
"Shelter"200528
"Ridin' By/You Are"12
"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves"
(with The Pointer Sisters)
2rowspan="2"
"Rid of You"200614
"Gone to Stay"20079Everything & More
"Glamorous/Where She Belongs"
(with En Vogue)
2
"I Survived You"200826
"Drop a Little"7
"All or Nothing"13Wise Girl
"Heartbreaker"200948
"Feeling"36
"Still with Me"63
"Hallelujah"
(with Gabriel Rios)
20101
"On the Radio"Wise Girl
"Burning Star"
(with Anastacia)
45rowspan="3"
"1 Minute"201158
"Angel"
(Lionel Richie featuring Natalia)
201232
"Overdrive"201319Overdrive
"Boom"10
"A Girl Like Me"52
"Ride Like the Wind/Cavalgaré"201455
"Downtown"
(with Paul Michiels)
41"A Singer's Heart"
(Paul Michiels)
"Smoking gun"201513In My Blood
"You Are So Beautiful"9
"In My Blood"201616In My Blood
"Razorblade"
(with Lara Fabian)
"Anyone Out There"
"Synchronize"The Sound of Me
"You've Got a Friend" (live)20179
"How I Danced" (live)31
"Conqueror"
"Hear That Sound"2018
"When You Came By"2023Hallelujah to the Beat
"Ready for the Ride"23
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

NotesA. "I Survived You", "Heartbreaker" and "Still with Me" were only released digitally.
B. "Razorblade" did not enter the Flemish Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 5 on the Ultratip chart.
C. "Anyone Out There" did not enter the Flemish Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 15 on the Ultratip chart.
D. "Synchronize" did not enter the Flemish Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 12 on the Ultratip chart.
E. "Conqueror" did not enter the Flemish Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 16 on the Ultratip chart.
F. "Hear That Sound" did not enter the Flemish Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 2 on the Ultratip chart.

DVDs

Awards

Year Award-Show Award Result
2003 TMF Awards Best New Artist National
2003 Tien Om Te Zien summer (vtm) Best song ("Without You")
2003 Tien Om Te Zien winter (vtm) Best song ("I've Only Begun To Fight")
2003 Jommeke's Newspaper Best Female Singer
2004 Tien Om Te Zien summer (vtm) Best Song ("I Want You Back")
2004 Tien Om Te Zien summer (vtm) Best Song ("Risin'")
2004 ZAMU Music Awards Most Popular
2004 TMF Awards Best Female Artist National
2004 TMF Awards Best Pop Natinonal
2004 Jommeke's Newspaper Best Female Singer
2004 Best Song of the year ("Risin'")
2004 Online Men Magazine "Feliks" Most Desirable Woman of Belgium
2005Tien Om Te Zien summer Best Song ("You Are")
2005 TMF Awards Best Female Artist National
2005TMF Awards Best Pop National
2005 TMF Awards Best Album National ("Back For More")
2005 Online Men Magazine "Feliks" Most Desirable Woman of Belgium
2005 Kids Awards Chick of the Year
2006 ZAMU Music Awards Best Live Act
2006 TMF Awards Best Female Artist National
2006 TMF Awards Best Pop National
2006 Radio 2 Best Concert ("Natalia meets The Pointer Sisters")
2007 Radio 2 Best Summer Song ("Gone To Stay")
2007 Radio 2 Best Performance
2007 Tien Om Te Zien summer Best Song ("Gone To Stay")
2007 TMF Awards Best Pop National
2007 TMF Awards Best Album National (Everything & More)
2007 TMF Awards Best Female Artist National
2007 TMF Awards Best Live National
2007 Golden Flip Award Best Female Singer '
2007 Showbizz-Site of 2007 Best website https://www.nataliamusic.be
2008 Best Live act
2008 Music Industry Awards Best Solo Artist
2008 Music Industry Awards Best Pop
2008 Music Industry Awards Best Song (Gone to Stay)
2008 Kids Awards Music of the Year
2008 Kids Awards Chick of the Year
2008 TMF Awards Best Female Artist
2008 TMF Awards Best Live Act
2008 TMF Awards Best Pop Act
2008 Radio 2 Best Song (I Survived You & Drop a Little)
2008 Radio 2 Best Performance (Natalia meets En Vogue ft. Shaggy)
2008 Radio 2 Best Video Clip (I Survived You)
2009 Radio 2 Best Performance (Glamorous Arena Tour)
2009 Radio 2 Best Song (All Or Nothing, Heartbreaker)
2009 TMF Awards Best Album (Wise Girl)
2009 TMF Awards Best Live Act
2009 TMF Awards Best Female
2009 TMF Awards Best Pop
2009 Music Industry Awards Best Pop
2009 Music Industry Award Best Female solo
2009 Music Industry Award Best Song (All Or Nothing)
2014 Music Industry Award Best Female solo
2014 Music Industry Award Best Pop

Autobiography

Met Hart En Soul (English: With Heart and Soul) was written by Natalia and a ghost-writer.It is about her early life and career. The book was released on 8 October 2007.

External links

Official sites:

Official site for Natalia Meets Anastacia

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Natalia: "Ik wil wel naar het buitenland, maar ik ga mijn ziel niet verkopen" . 7 December 2015 . De Morgen . 13 December 2021 . https://archive.today/20211213113155/https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/natalia-ik-wil-wel-naar-het-buitenland-maar-ik-ga-mijn-ziel-niet-verkopen~b22ed96e/ . 13 December 2021.
  2. Web site: Natalia – Without You . Ultra Top.be . 13 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Natalia . buikrock.be . 13 December 2021.
  4. Web site: Natalia – I've Only Begun To Fight . Ultra Top.be . 13 December 2021.
  5. Web site: Me and My Producer - The Second Edition . www.nextar.be . 13 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Eurosong 2004 - Het concept . www.songfestival.be . 13 December 2021.
  7. Web site: Natalia – Higher Than The Sun . Ultra Top . 13 December 2021.
  8. Web site: Billboard Staff . Billboard Bits: Tom Vek, Pointer Sisters/Natalia, Go-Betweens . Billboard . 13 December 2021.
  9. Web site: THE POINTER SISTERS . www.gracialive.be . 13 December 2021.
  10. Web site: bsouffreau . Natalia nodigt En Vogue én Shaggy uit . Het Belang van Limburg . 13 December 2021 . 31 October 2007.
  11. Web site: "VRT heeft Natalia niet in de juiste rol ingezet tijdens MIA's" . deredactie.be . 8 July 2014.
  12. Web site: " Mentissa (14) wint "The voice kids" " . 24 October 2014 . deredactie.be . 3 January 2015.
  13. http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/944/Celebrities/article/detail/2216779/2015/02/13/Natalia-over-toekomst-Gedaan-met-boenke-boenke.dhtml Natalia over toekomst: "Gedaan met boenke boenke"
  14. http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/924/Showbizz/article/detail/2414182/2015/08/06/Natalia-brengt-verrassende-single-Dit-is-een-nieuwe-start.dhtml Natalia brengt verrassende single: "Dit is een nieuwe start"
  15. http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/924/Showbizz/article/detail/2416337/2015/08/08/Verrassende-nieuwe-single-Natalia-krijgt-blijkbaar-ook-verrassende-clip.dhtml Verrassende nieuwe single Natalia krijgt blijkbaar ook verrassende clip
  16. Web site: ultratop.be – Natalia – 1 Minute . Hung Medien . 8 December 2013.