Miranda Cooper

Miranda Cooper
Birth name Miranda Eleanor De Fonbrune Cooper[1]
Also known as Moonbaby
Born

1975 (age 40–41)

[2]

Origin United Kingdom
Genres Pop, electronica
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, television presenter
Years active 1996–present
Associated acts Alesha Dixon, Dannii Minogue, Gabriella Cilmi, Gina G, Girls Aloud, Kylie Minogue, Sugababes, The Saturdays

Miranda Eleanor De Fonbrune Cooper (born 1975) is a British singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and television presenter. Miranda Cooper has worked in the music industry since 1996 when she gained her first recording contract. She worked as a professional dancer for artists such as Dannii Minogue before going into television presenting.

In 1997, Cooper met Brian Higgins, the founder of Kent-based songwriting and production team Xenomania. Miranda Cooper signed a deal with London Records under the alias Moonbaby, releasing the single "Here We Go" to little success, although it was used as the theme tune to the cartoon series Totally Spies!. Cooper started songwriting with Higgins, eventually finding commercial success and critical acclaim with their productions for Girls Aloud and Sugababes. Cooper has written for successful artists such as Alesha Dixon, Gabriella Cilmi, and Kylie Minogue. Cooper's songs have spent more years on the UK chart than any other female songwriter in history, and she has penned four number one hits – "Round Round," "Sound of the Underground," "Hole in the Head," and "The Promise".

Life and career

1975–2000: Dancing, presenting, and recording artist

Cooper found a passion for dancing and performing when she was nine years old.[3] Cooper worked for as a backing dancer for Gina G, performing with her at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest.[3] She has also danced for Dannii Minogue and PJ and Duncan. Cooper later stopped dancing went into television presenting. Cooper gained her first record deal in 1996 as one half of the pop duo T-shirt, alongside Chloé Treend. The duo signed to Warner Bros. Records. Their cover of Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing" reached number two in Australia.

Cooper was introduced to British record producer Brian Higgins by Saint Etienne members Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs in the late 1990s. Cooper began recording music with him under the moniker Xenomania. "As soon as he played me some tracks, I thought 'This feels right.'"[3] Thanks to a connection with Pete Tong, Cooper and Higgins were able to sign a deal with London Records.[3] Cooper was signed as a solo artist in 2000 under the alias of Moonbaby. A four-track sampler was released, featuring the songs "Moonbaby," "Here We Go" (later recorded by Lene Nystrøm and Girls Aloud), "Deadlines and Diets" (later recorded by Girls Aloud), and "I'm Thru with Love" (later recorded by Alesha Dixon). "Here We Go" was due to be released as a single in June 2000, but the release fell through. The song later became the basis for the theme tune to the hit cartoon series Totally Spies! in 2001. The deal with London Records and Xenomania ultimately fell through.

2001–present: Songwriting

Following the demise of their deal with London Records, Cooper and Higgins began writing and producing for other artists. Cooper has been described as the "chief lyricist" of Xenomania, who are based out of a converted mansion in Kent.[4] Cooper co-wrote the song "Round Round" which became a number one hit for the Sugababes in 2002. Xenomania continued their commercial breakthrough by writing "Sound of the Underground" for Popstars: The Rivals winners Girls Aloud; the song spent four consecutive weeks at number one.

Since 2002, Xenomania have been recurring collaborators of Girls Aloud. Miranda Cooper co-wrote all of Girls Aloud's original singles up until their hiatus in 2009, including the BRIT Award-winning number one "The Promise". Cooper also co-wrote another number one single for the Sugbabes, 2003's "Hole in the Head", as well as the singles "In the Middle" and "Red Dress". In 2011, Cooper worked with girl group The Saturdays, co-penning the single "All Fired Up," and boy band The Wanted. Cooper has also co-written songs for prestigious artists such as Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys, including the singles "Giving You Up" and "Love etc." Xenomania have also helped launch the careers of The X Factor contestant Amelia Lily and Australian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi.

Cooper's songs have spent more years on the UK chart than any other female songwriter in history, In 2007, Harper's Bazaar wrote: "If it's a hit you want, you'd better talk to Cooper. For the rest of us, Cooper has the power to get a tune inside our heads."

References

  1. ↑ "Full name registered with music publisher". Warnerspecialproducts.com. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Births, Marriages & Deaths Index, England & Wales
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ticky Hedley-Dent (August 2008). "Queen of Charts". Tatler. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Ian Youngs (11 September 2009). "Inside Britain's top hit factory". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
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