Nicki French is an English singer and dancer from Carlisle, Cumbria, born in 1964 and raised from the age of four in Tenterden, Kent. Her work is associated with dance-pop, eurodance, europop, hi-NRG and pop. Before her best-known hit, she works for many years as a session singer.

Breakthrough

French is best known for her dance cover of Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart. The song first appears as a UK single in 1994 and is re-released in 1995, when it reaches number 5 in the UK after a three-month chart run. It sells over 5 million copies, earns a silver sales award and becomes the biggest chart success for her label Love This.

The single also becomes a major hit in the United States, where it reaches number 2 and spends six months on the Billboard Hot 100. It reaches number 1 in Australia, Japan, Canada, Israel, Spain, Hong Kong and Brazil, and also charts in Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway.

Eurovision and awards

In 2000, French represents the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest with Don't Play That Song Again, which finishes in 16th place. She also wins three awards at the Dance Music Rasberry Authority Magazine Awards in the United States: Single of the Year for Total Eclipse of the Heart, Newcomer, and Female Vocalist of the Year.