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	Interviews archive Soul cinderella Source/Date: Sony Style - Spring 2001 Author: David A. Keeps Listen to her bluesy voice, her remarkable debut cd, Not That Kind, and the story of her life's fateful twists - Anastacia fans around the world agree, she's a cut above. Anastacia may not be, as her name suggests, a long-lost Russian princess, but the 28 year old singer did have a coronation of sorts. On the stage of Madison Square Garden, no less. "I was singing 'Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting' as a duet with Elton John for his new live album." she says. "He came over, hugged me, kissed me on the cheek, and I was just like, 'Ah, thanks!' And as I webnt to wave at the audience, he went down on one kneww and kissed me on my belly button. I actually lost consciousness for a good three seconds, which felt like three hours. And then I snapped out of it and just stood there. I mean, I had nothing to say: Sir Elton John himself knighted me on the belly button." This was not the first magic moment in Anastacia's career. In 1998, after trying to break into the music business for five years, the petite blond with the big R&B voice sang one of her original compositions, "Not That Kind" on The Cut. MTV's hip version of Star Search, and although she didn't win the contest, the following spring she nabbed a recording contract with Daylight, acustom label distributed by Epic Records. Daylight hooked her up with songwriters and producers who have worked with big-name talent, the CD that resulted, Not That Kind, is filled with a wide range of musical genres and emotions, from the country-rock twang of Cowboys & Kisses to the high drama diva balladry of "I Ask of You." Still it's the modern R&B tunes like "Wishing Well" and a sassy, hip-hop cover of Gary Wright's "Love is Alive" that best showcase Anastacia's soulful pipes and down-and-funky performance style. On the strength of her bumpin', thumpin' house-music single "I'm Outta Love," she has already established herself internationally as a club queen, Not That Kind has sold more than 1.4 million copies abroad, and Anastacia was nominated for Best New Artist at the MTV Europe Video Music Awards. When sony style caught up with her recently on a promotinoal tour of Austrailia and Southeast Asia, she was having, she says, a bad toenails day. "I did it myself and totally jacked 'em," she explains, busting out a little urban slang. "I picked a color like Liquid Paper and it just looks wacked. And it's been on for the last two weeks. Do you remember the Popeye cartoons when Olive Oyl would stick her feet out and throw some paint over her feet and her toes would be done? How cool was that? I'd like to have one of those Jane Jetson conveyor belts that take you into a room and you come out five seconds later with your clothes changed and your hair done." In a world of guarded image-driven superstars, Anastacia is refreshingly down to earth, tempering her feel-good messages about life, love and the power of music with a whimsical sense of humor. Born Anastacia Newkirk in 1972, the middle child of two musician actors, she was an easily distracted, tomboyish kid ("I once used a hammer ont he china head of my sister's baby doll") who had the uncanny ability to mimic the people she heard singing on the radio. In 1985, Anastacia moved from Chicago to Manhattan. It was there that the 13 year old went to see the Police - her first concert - but only becasue Andy Gibb was the opening act. "I just remember crying the whole time," she says. "He was the cutest, cutest thing." That's when Anastacia decided she wanted to be a dancer. This despite the fact that she was "really scared of boys," she says. "I didn't really realize that I was a girl at all until one day I did a dance to "Thriller" in school. And I had to wear this very small silver unitard. After the guys saw me in that unitard they treated me so...differently." In her late teenage years, Anastacia stormed the dance floor of New York's 1018, the unofficial HQ of the early -'90s Latin freestyle scene. That led to appearances on Club MTV and dancing roles in Salt 'n' Pepa videos. Every now and then she was approached by producers who wanted to know if she could sing, but her first few auditions were daunting. She recalls a stage appearance where "my voice was fine, but my legs were shaking so badly I thought they were going to snap off." In 1993 she moved to Los Angeles and tried her hand at country, girl group music and classical soul, but earned her living singing at weddings and working as a receptionist. Throughout all the twists and turns in her career, Anastacia says she has drawn strength from her family. "They'e really inspired me about love an the quality of life," she says. "Which is why my songs are the way they are. I'm really open, I'm really honest, becasue I just don't feel like being any other way is going to help me out as a person." And there were times when help was needed. When Anastacia was 13, a lump was discovered in her stomach. It turned out to be a symptom of Crohn's disease. "Basically," she explains. "it means your intestines don't work. And sometimes you're hospitalized, and you have to go on strong mediaction. But I've been very blessed, some Crohns patients have died." Anastacia remains upbeat, even defiantly so. " I'm a bad girl," she says. "I don't really exercise, and I'm Taco Bell all the way. But I never let the disease stop me from dancing and singing, even though they've opened me up - I have a scar on my stomach as a constant reminder." Over on her lower back, something quite different is visible: a tatoo of an Egyptioan ankh (the symbol of life). And between her shoulder blades is another bit of ink. "It just looks like a design," Anastacia says, "but if you look really close, you cans ee it says the word ferever." Back<< --		Navigate ANASTACIA MEDIA WEB FANZONE DANA'S CORNER BACK HOME Latest images I CAN FEEL YOU - Promo EMAs Arrivals Current projects New Album - 24th of October 2008 New Single - 10th of October 2008 - "I Can Feel You" Currently? - Promoting the album in Europe. 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