Proud (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Proud” | ||
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| Single by Heather Small from the album Proud |
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| Released | May 23, 2000 | |
| Format | CD, Digital Download | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 4:29 | |
| Label | BMG | |
| Writer(s) | Heather Small John Vettese |
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| Producer | Peter-John Vettese Simon Climie Steve DuBerry Ollie Marland |
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| Audio sample | ||
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"Proud" was a Top 20 hit for M People singer Heather Small in mid-2000, peaking at #16[1]. It was the title track from the album Proud, and was released as her first single, becoming a worldwide hit.
The song quickly became one of Small's most popular; becoming for example the 'unofficial Olympic theme'[citation needed]. In 2005, the song was adopted as the anthem for the London Olympics of 2012 and was featured on the advert campaign [3]. Re-released in honor of this the same year, the song returned to the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #33 and remaining in the Top 75 for two more weeks. [4] It is considered Small's signature song[citation needed]. The song was also re-released on the Biggest Loser's soundtrack in 2006. It peaked at 34.[5]
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[edit] In the media
- Heather Small performed Proud at the 60th anniversary of VE day in Trafalgar Square.[6]
- She also performed the song for the launch of the Queen Mary 2.[6]
- She appeared at a performance to celebrate Britain's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[6]
- In 2005, Small performed for the Tsunami Relief Concert at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium. This concert was able to raise over £1.25 million and bring awareness to distressed countries.[6]
- It was featured prominently in episodes of both the UK and US TV Series of Queer as Folk and has appeared on a number of soundtracks. Several remixed versions of the song were used on Showtime's Queer as Folk.
- In November 2005 Small made her US television debut performing "Proud" on The Oprah Winfrey Show whereupon Winfrey named it as the new theme for the program.[6]
- "Proud" was used as the theme music for the second season of NBC's weight-losing reality show The Biggest Loser.
- The song is being used on the soundtrack of the film 'Akeelah and the Bee'. The soundtrack was released in the US on April 4th, 2006 and the film on April 28th, 2006 in US theatres.
- In 2006, the song "Proud" was used as the main campaign song for Massachusetts gubanatorial candidate Deval Patrick.
- Small appeared on 03 July 2006 at the Royal Albert Hall in London during EuroPride 2006, The Show. She performed a special arrangement of Proud with the London Gay Men's Chorus (together with 3 other songs on her own, including, Moving On Up and Radio On). Later in the year, she performed at the opening ceremony of Gay Games VII in Chicago Zane Lowe. [1].
[edit] Music Video
The music video opens up with Heather Small walking through a modest sized town filled with many small shops along a main road. One can see children playing in the streets, adults playing various games, such as dominoes, cards, and chess, on the sidewalks, and other townsfolk, moving about with their daily activities. Heather proceeds through the town, noting the everyday activity, like a woman having her fortune told, a bride preparing her dress for her wedding, and a mischievous child splashing his drink onto an officer's uniform. As Small continues to walk through the town, a rainstorm appears as if from out of nowhere. The townspeople show great appreciation for the rain, as many people walk outdoors, smiling and holding their arms outstretched to the sky. The video concludes with Small on a building balcony, looking off into the horizon.
The music video also has an adaptation for the film Akeelah and the Bee. This version inserts various scenes into the music video to depict a story. The first scene shows Akeelah studying from a dictionary up in her room. Then it shows her participating in a spelling bee, nervously approaching the microphone. Akeelah continues to successfully remain in the competition, despite seeing many others spell their words incorrectly. The video shows a quick montage of clips, showing Akeelah working hard at various activities. The ending consists of Akeelah standing at the microphone sporting a smile, and expressing a feeling of accomplishment.
[edit] References
- ^ a b UK Top 40 Database. Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
- ^ Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (July 1st, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-09-12.
- ^ YouTube - London 2012 - Candidate city video (Heather Small - Proud)
- ^ UK Top 40 Database.
- ^ Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ([2006-07-01]). Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
- ^ a b c d e Gage, Simon. Heather Small:Biography. Graymedia. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
