Duffy
John Thompson 
Whatever happened to Duffy? She was poised to be the next Shirley Bassey. Her music was everywhere for 5 minutes, making a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live as well as having her music on Gray's Anatomy and Sex & The City Movie. Will she ever sing again?
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | August 2, 2020 2:25 PM |
A poorly selling second album with a bad choice of first single halted the upward rise. The fact that she was also known as a PG version of Amy didn't help. Her first album single "Stepping Stone" would have been a massive soul hit if pushed properly.
Oh yeah..Adele also stole the spotlight.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | April 17, 2016 2:17 AM |
She sang two songs in the Tom Hardy film LEGEND. She played Timi Yuro. I forgot how amazing she sounds.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | April 17, 2016 2:35 AM |
Agreed that she had no way to shine between the death of Amy and the rise of Adele.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | April 17, 2016 3:48 AM |
I knew she'd done a period piece recently. Had no idea she was playing Timi Yuro. Did she have dialogue?
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | April 17, 2016 4:17 AM |
I don't get the Shirley Bassey comparison.
I quite liked the Bernard Butler produced tracks on her debut (Distant Dreamer, especially) but the production of the other tracks was rather synthetic and paled hugely in comparison to Winehouse's Back to Black album. Vocally, she can be very grating.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | April 17, 2016 4:19 AM |
[quote]I don't get the Shirley Bassey comparison.
Both were from Wales. And the song "Smoke Without Fire" sounds so much like a Bassey song that it is driving right down Shirley Bassey Alley.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | April 17, 2016 4:27 AM |
[quote]I knew she'd done a period piece recently. Had no idea she was playing Timi Yuro. Did she have dialogue?
No. Just a spotlight on her singing during two nightclub scenes.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | April 17, 2016 4:32 AM |
Tom Jones is Welsh and he also sang "I Who Have Nothing", which sounds like a Shirley Bassey song. He doesn't remind me of Shirley Bassey, though.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | April 17, 2016 4:33 AM |
Did Duffy actually perform Timi Yuro songs? Hurt? What's a Matter Baby?
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | April 17, 2016 4:33 AM |
She sang "Are You Sure" by Yukon and "Make the World Go Away"
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 10 | April 17, 2016 4:40 AM |
Thanks. I took a listen to the Yuro cover. It kind of illustrates how Duffy doesn't really have the voice to be compared to those old school vocal heavyweights - most of whom, like Yuro, were in their 20s when they made their most celebrated work. She sounds better on the other track from the movie.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | April 17, 2016 4:48 AM |
This commercial pretty much killed her career in the UK:
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 13 | April 17, 2016 4:54 AM |
She is apparently one of those people who aren't able to handle fame and had something of a meltdown over it. It didn't help that she sounded horrible on her second album - so shrill it was unlistenable. I don't know what happened between her first album and that one, whether she was coached to sing differently or what, but it was the musical equivalent of Kate Capshaw in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom...
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | April 17, 2016 5:01 AM |
yes, STEPPING STONE should have been a huge hit.
She looks hot in the video.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 15 | April 17, 2016 5:03 AM |
Butler's baroque production style really suited her. Her voice does not sound good with too sparse an arragement or too far forward in the mix.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | April 17, 2016 5:03 AM |
Oh, that Duffy. I saw the title, and wondered why anyone at DL would be interested in the fat Senator from Canada?
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 17 | April 17, 2016 5:13 AM |
[quote]Agreed that she had no way to shine between the death of Amy and the rise of Adele.
Nonsense. With ambition and with good material you can get everywhere, especially if you're already an established star.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | April 17, 2016 8:16 AM |
The Diet Coke commercial. It was inescapable when it was released and really soiled her voice/image to the public.
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | April 17, 2016 11:50 AM |
Wasn't she more Lulu than Shirley Bassey?
I really loved the first album, but that Coke commercial was truly grating and made her voice sound cloying rather than unique. Thanks from stateside for bringing that travesty to my attention.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 20 | April 17, 2016 12:50 PM |
She and Adele stemmed neck and neck until Adele won the Best New Artist Grammy.
Then everyone ignored Duffy
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | April 17, 2016 1:03 PM |
Perhaps she might make a comeback...
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | April 17, 2016 1:36 PM |
What's wrong with Diet Coke commercial?
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | April 17, 2016 1:40 PM |
Tina Yothers, a Hollywood witch out a curse on her.
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | April 17, 2016 1:42 PM |
[quote] Wasn't she more Lulu than Shirley Bassey?
The problem is she was more 15 year old Lulu, with the head cold sounding vocal tone, than the grown up Lulu. I doubt Duffy's vocal tone will improve any time soon. Lulu's improved within the space of two years when she arrive on the scene.
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | April 17, 2016 7:00 PM |
Lulu at 17/18. No such improvement for Duffy.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 27 | April 17, 2016 7:02 PM |
Speaking of Lulu and Shirley Bassey...
I love them both!
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 28 | April 17, 2016 11:27 PM |
Today we finally found out the answer to your question.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 29 | February 26, 2020 2:19 AM |
Jesus. How awful, R29. Hopefully she's in a better place now.
The title song from her debut album is fantastic. Great production, too.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 30 | February 26, 2020 2:39 AM |
Alcoholic for more than a few years.
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | February 26, 2020 3:03 AM |
Whoa, this is terrible. Poor Duffy.
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | February 26, 2020 3:05 AM |
Adele happened. But even before that, her second album flopped. But Adele's rise is ultimately I think what really killed any chance of her having another hit song. I still love Warwick Avenue though.
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | February 26, 2020 3:07 AM |
I hate to be cynical but I really hope that her story isn’t bullshit to sell a new record
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | February 26, 2020 3:12 AM |
I always assumed she quit because her followup album didn't do all that well compared to her first one and that she realized she just wasn't cut out for fame and the celebrity lifestyle. I never imagined it would be something like that. I hope they know who is responsible and that they have been brought to justice.
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | February 26, 2020 5:14 AM |
R34 - I know what you mean. I'm not some misogynistic incel. I BELIEVE WOMEN.
There was just something odd about the way she announced this horrible news and the fact that her spokespeople weren't available for comment afterward. That coupled with the fact that we never heard that a Grammy winning singer was raped and held captive for several days feels... a bit off.
But, like you, I hope it's just the circumstances her announcement and nothing more than that. I guess we'll learn more when this interview she's teased comes out.
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | February 27, 2020 1:20 AM |
I must confess, it crossed my mind that she may have gone batshit crazy a la Amanda Bynes, Britney Spears, Shelley Duvall, etc. and only believes it happened to her when it didn't. I just don't see how something like that could happen to a Grammy winning star with a worldwide hit and we wouldn't hear something about it.
The only way I can see it is if it was an abusive boyfriend or something saying "you can't leave this house or else I'll kill you" and that's what she meant by "held captive." Not a literal kidnapping like it sounds. Then maybe she just wanted to be done with him forever and never see his face again so she declined to press charges. I suppose that is very possible. I am very interested to hear the upcoming interview so we can learn more about exactly what happened.
| by Anonymous | reply 37 | February 27, 2020 1:41 AM |
Blatant attempt to regain some popularity after her star had faded. Too many red flags to ignore. You can believe women, but you shouldn't blindly believe anyone, especially not narcissistic stars.
| by Anonymous | reply 38 | February 27, 2020 1:51 AM |
According to Wikipedia she dated rugby player Mike Phillips from September 2009 to May 2011. So that would've been around the time she released her 2nd album and then went away. He has been reported to have a nasty temper and was in a couple fights in the past. The most famous of which took place outside of a McDonald's because he wanted to go in while they were closing. He also has been reported to have a drinking problem.
I'm not saying for sure he is the one, but it is possible.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 39 | February 27, 2020 2:32 AM |
Have we learned anything more?
| by Anonymous | reply 40 | February 28, 2020 1:28 AM |
Her dad gave an interview with some hints, R40
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 41 | February 28, 2020 2:54 AM |
There has been talk about her having a fucked up family life for years, I remember reading stuff about it like 10 years ago. I feel bad for her. And I like her voice more than Adele's.
| by Anonymous | reply 42 | February 28, 2020 3:00 AM |
I don't understand how the tabloids didn't get a hold of this story earlier. British tabloids are very invasive .
| by Anonymous | reply 43 | February 28, 2020 4:36 AM |
[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 44 | February 29, 2020 1:51 PM |
If someone in the UK is rich enough, may they buy a super subpoena?
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | March 1, 2020 3:33 AM |
Do you mean a super injunction, R45? It must be granted by a court.
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | March 1, 2020 3:34 AM |
Thx, r46. I need to look it up.
| by Anonymous | reply 47 | March 1, 2020 3:39 AM |
How kind of the journalist to wait until Duffy is ready to share the story (I assume they're the one who the upcoming interview is with). Summer has been 6-8 months ago. What a long time to have to sit on such a big story.
| by Anonymous | reply 48 | March 1, 2020 4:02 AM |
There may be a NDA involved, R48. She likely controls the timing, not altruism.
| by Anonymous | reply 49 | March 1, 2020 8:27 PM |
I think she’s great and hope she’s ok.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 50 | March 1, 2020 11:29 PM |
[r50] Can't listen now, just wanted to say how much I love the lyrics.
| by Anonymous | reply 51 | March 1, 2020 11:54 PM |
She finally told the full story today, and it is wild.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 52 | April 5, 2020 11:58 PM |
She was great in Newhart, but ruined designing women
| by Anonymous | reply 53 | April 6, 2020 12:00 AM |
Why couldn’t you have posted a picture OP? Why? What’s your fucking problem?
| by Anonymous | reply 54 | April 6, 2020 12:04 AM |
Man, I just don't know what to make of R52. Am I an asshole for thinking there feels like a little bit of EST to her post? Maybe it's just all the freshman Creative Writing class flourishes in her blog post that are throwing me off. She doesn't owe us anything, but if she recounted this story to the police multiple times in the years since, why wasn't any kind of case pursued? She seems to know the identify of her captor and rapist. Surely, drugging, kidnapping and raping someone across international borders has to be pursued, whether the victim wants to "press charges" or not. Regardless, sounds like she's in a better place now.
| by Anonymous | reply 55 | April 6, 2020 3:52 AM |
So, Duffy randomly played on a Spotify radio station I was listening to and it reminded me of this thread. Something still feels off about this story. No?
| by Anonymous | reply 56 | August 2, 2020 7:43 AM |
I'm unhappy Anita Baker retired. She had a heavenly voice. What a waste.
| by Anonymous | reply 59 | August 2, 2020 10:58 AM |
Her exasperatingly ducky voice killed her career.
| by Anonymous | reply 60 | August 2, 2020 11:17 AM |
R33, I also love "Warwick Avenue." I regret not going to see her at, I think, the Beacon the week she performed on the "Regis" show. He was quite complimentary of her.
I bitterly regret not seeing Amy in concert.
Adele? Bleagh!
| by Anonymous | reply 61 | August 2, 2020 11:35 AM |
Warwick Avenue is an amazing album. It won a Grammy for Best Pop Album the year it came out and even beat Adele’s first album released that same year.
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | August 2, 2020 2:25 PM |
