Nicki French

British singer Nicki French is a soulful vocalist with a bent toward adult contemporary and dance-oriented pop music. Best known for her 1995 cover of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart," French was born in Cumbria in 1964 and grew up in Tenterden, Kent. Before launching her solo career, she spent many years working as a backing singer and session vocalist. In 1995, French released her debut album, Secrets, which featured several Europop, Hi-NRG-style cover songs including "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and the Carpenters' "For All We Know." "Total Eclipse of the Heart" sold well, reaching number five on the U.K. Singles chart and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. In 2000, French also represented the U.K. in the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Don't Play That Song Again," ultimately finishing in 16th place. Since that time, French has appeared on television and on-stage, starring in productions of Cinderella and Annie: The Musical. Largely known for her club-oriented cover songs, French has developed a strong following in the gay community and continues to record and perform often. ~ Matt Collar