Nelly Furtado
Biography
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer and songwriter, born on December 2, 1978, in Victoria, British Columbia. Her parents are of Portuguese descent, and she began singing at the age of four, initially performing in Portuguese. By the age of nine, she had learned to play the trombone and ukulele, adding guitar and keyboards in subsequent years. She started writing her own songs as a teenager and performed in a Portuguese marching band.
Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
After high school, Furtado moved to Toronto and formed a trip-hop duo called Nelstar. However, she soon left the group to pursue a solo career. Her performance at the Honey Jam talent show in 1997 caught the attention of The Philosopher Kings' singer Gerald Eaton, who helped her produce a demo that led to a record deal with DreamWorks Records.
Whoa, Nelly! (2000)
Furtado's debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, was released in October 2000. It was a critical and commercial success, characterized by its blend of trip-hop, worldbeat, folk, and Latin influences. The album featured the hit singles "I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light," both of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. "I'm Like a Bird" earned Furtado a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The album has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
Folklore (2003)
Her second album, Folklore, was released in 2003 and showcased a more introspective and folk-heavy sound, exploring her Portuguese roots. While it didn't match the commercial success of her debut in the US, it was successful in several European countries. The album included singles such as "Powerless (Say What You Want)," "Try," and "Força."
Mainstream Success with Loose
Furtado's third album, Loose, released in 2006, marked a significant shift in her musical style, incorporating R&B, hip-hop, and dance music influences. Produced largely by Timbaland, the album became her best-selling to date, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. It spawned four number-one singles globally: "Promiscuous" (featuring Timbaland), "Maneater," "Say It Right," and "All Good Things (Come to an End)". "Promiscuous" and "Say It Right" both topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Later Career and Independent Releases
Mi Plan (2009)
In 2009, Furtado released her first Spanish-language album, Mi Plan. The album won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Album. The lead single, "Manos al Aire," became her first number-one song on the Billboard Top Latin Songs chart, making her the first North American artist to achieve this with an original Spanish song.
The Spirit Indestructible and The Ride
Her fifth studio album, The Spirit Indestructible, was released in 2012, followed by the indie-pop album The Ride in 2017, which was released on her own label, Nelstar Entertainment. The Ride explored a more electronic and alternative pop sound. While these albums did not achieve the same level of commercial success as her earlier work, they were seen as personal and artistic projects for Furtado.
Return to Music and 7 (2024)
After a hiatus, Nelly Furtado returned to the music scene. Her seventh studio album, titled 7, was released in September 2024. The album is described as a collection of liberated pop music that is both celebratory and deeply personal. She collaborated with various producers and songwriters on the album, including WondaGurl, Dom Dolla, and SG Lewis.
Musical Style and Legacy
Throughout her career, Nelly Furtado has been noted for her musical versatility and her willingness to experiment with different genres, including pop, R&B, folk, hip-hop, and world music. She has sold over 45 million records worldwide, making her one of Canada's most successful artists. Furtado has received numerous awards, including a Grammy Award, a Latin Grammy Award, and ten Juno Awards. She also has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.