Dido

Singer-songwriter Dido first came to my attention when a friend lent me her second album Life For Rent (2003), another friend then lent me her first album No Angel (1999). Of the two, I prefer the second album Life For Rent.

Would Dido have come to the public's attention if she had not been sampled by a crap rap artist?

A very talented lady, daughter of French poet Claire and book publisher William Armstrong, at the age of six, she attended the Guildhall School of Music in London, By the time she reached her teens she had already mastered piano, violin, and recorder.

Dido was educated at Thornhill Primary, City of London Girls', and Westminster Schools.

Dido performed at the Live 8 Concerts in July 2005 which preceded the G8 Summit in Scotland. She performed with Youssou N'Dour at the main venue in London, the Eden Project in Cornwall (World Music), then on to perform in Paris.

The songs of Dido are simple, underlaid with an interesting Latin African rhythm.

At times Dido is reminiscent of Rickie Lee Jones. One would though have to go a long way back to find a singer-songwriter of the same talent, maybe Carol King.

An absolute must for any collection is the DVD Live at the Brixton Academy (2004, released 2005).

Dido has a guest appearance on the Carlos Santana album Shaman (2002).


Music
(c) Keith Parkins 2006 -- January 2006 rev 0