Daniel Bedingfield is BACK folks. For years I’ve been passively aggressively Tweeting in Bedingfield’s direction, inquiring about new music ventures. new projects and the like. While Bedingfield never took the time to personally respond to my messages, he did me one up. He released a new song, his first since 2005, I might add. For those of you still stuck on the Daniel Bedingfield of the early 2000s, it’s time to move on. The new Daniel Bedingfield is going to take some getting used to, that’s for sure.
“Rocks Off” is the first song lifted from Bedingfield’s forthcoming new EP, Stop The Traffik – Secret Fear, due on April 24th. “Rocks Off” is an aggressively manic and very percussive pop/rock thumper, completely different than anything we’ve heard Bedingfield do before. Clocking in at just over a minute long, the song is also extremely short. What the song lacks in minutes and seconds, it more than makes up for in intensity. Also for a treat, make sure you check out his racy video for the song below. Warning, there’s nudity so definitely NSFW. Released digitally on March 13th, the single features a B-Side called “It’s Not Me It’s You,” which, at 3:19 is not only is a more appropriate length for a single, it also showcases Bedingfield’s new sound more than “Rocks Off” ever could. Decidedly more rock than garage-tinged pop, Bedingfield’s new music is very promising indeed. At the very least, it’s left me wanting to hear more.
New Zealand-born, London-raised Daniel Bedingfield got into music at an early age by starting a band, alongside sisters Nicola and Natasha Bedingfield. Bedingfield is probably most known for his debut album, Gotta Get Through This, the title track from which went #1 in the UK back in 2001, and was a top ten smash on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. The song, recorded in his bedroom with a computer mic, became a dance floor sensation worldwide, peaking at #16 on Billboard‘s Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Bedingfield landed his second #1 single in the UK with the emotionally charged pop ballad “If You’re Not The One” in 2002, also a top twenty hit in America. While Bedingfield struck UK Singles Chart gold for a third time with his fifth single, “Never Gonna Leave Your Side” in 2003, no further singles charted in America. Releasing his sophomore album, Second First Impression, in Europe only, Bedingfield failed to see the same success that he did with his debut. The album’s lead single, “Nothing Hurts Like Love” peaked at #3, but follow up singles “Wrap My Words Around You” (#12) and “The Way” (#41) fizzled and died. Clearly a case of the sophomore slump.
After releasing Second First Impression, Bedingfield seemed to disappear. He dabbled in writing & working for other artists like David Archuleta, Pixie Lott, Tessanne Chin as well as various other projects. In 2008, Bedingfield re-recorded vocals from his hit “If You’re Not The One” for Iranian-American DJ and producer, Sharam, who released “The One” as a dance/house single backed by remixes from Joachim Garraud and David Guetta.
In his personal life, Bedingfield is heavily involved in ‘giving back.’ He serves as one of the International Executive Directors for his mother’s charity, Global Angels, an organization founded to stop child trafficking and poverty. Bedingfield also helped launch the Stop The Traffik coalition against modern day slavery. To help raise money for Stop The Traffik, Bedingfield has teamed up with Pledge Music to promoting his forthcoming EP with a variety of enticing and random auction items. Among the items/experiences Bedingfield is auctioning off:
- Early access to the EP ($15)
- Daniel Bedingfield T-Shirt ($25)
- Voicemail message recorded by Mr. Bedingfield himself ($25)
- Daniel’s Favorite Mix Tape ($40)
- “Rocks Off” cover autographed ($50)
20 minute Skype Q&A session ($50)ALL GONEHandwritten lyric sheets ($50)ALL GONE- Sampler of unreleased demos ($75)
Handmade Shirt ($75)ALL GONE- Handmade Raging Plaid Belt ($100)
- Ostentatious Handmade Plaid Tie ($100)
- Dedicated video message, plus a song sung just for you ($200)
Skype singing lesson ($250)ALL GONE- Drinking games ($250)
- In person singing lesson in LA ($350)
- Time with Bedingfield on a gun range ($500)
- Trip with Bedingfield to the fish market and a sushi-making party ($500)
Karaoke with Bedingfield ($500)ALL GONE- Date night with Daniel ($750)
- Sky Diving with Daniel ($750)
- Hot Spring Camping Trip with Daniel ($1,000)
- Game of Strip Poker with Daniel & Friends ($1,000)
- Daniel’s Costume from “Out of My Head” Video ($1,500)
Write a Song with Daniel ($2,000)ALL GONE- Daniel will Produce Your Song ($2,000)
Living Room Show ($2,500)ALL GONE
Check out Daniel Bedingfield on the web: