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Kat DeLunaAm I DreamingDancing TonightDrop It LowIn The EndParty O' ClockPush PushRun The ShowUnstoppableWhine UpWhine Up (Spanish version)
In 2008 DeLuna began work on her second studio album. The album spawned several official and promotional singles. The first of these was "Unstoppable", which became a minor hit in Canada. The song was featured in the film Confessions of a Shopaholic, and on its soundtrack CD. It was followed by the second promotional single "Dance Bailalo", which became a major hit on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. DeLuna's second album, titled Inside Out, spawned the singles "Push Push", "Party O'Clock", and "Dancing Tonight". After much delay, Inside Out was released in Belgium on November 5, 2010. The album reached the top twenty of the Belgium album chart, and is currently unreleased in any other country. DeLuna has won several awards for her musical
work. In 2007 she won "Best New Artist" at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007 awards. In 2008 she won "Best New Artist" and "Best Urban Artist" at the TMF Awards, which took place in Belgium. DeLuna's debut single, "Whine Up", won the award for "Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year" at the 2008 Latin Billboard Music Awards. She also won a Casandra Award in 2008
for "Best International Artist". Deluna was born on November 17, 1987, in The Bronx, New York. At a young age, DeLuna and her family moved to the Dominican Republic.[4] When she was 12, DeLuna performed onstage and was heard by Milly Quezada who commended her vocals.[4] Friends and family recognized her talent at an early age, but it was not until she moved back to the United States at age 14, to Newark, New Jersey, that DeLuna realized her potential as a singer. She attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary in Newark, and was taught by Nicholas Straus.[4] DeLuna then attended the Newark Arts High School. While there, DeLuna and her friends formed a R&B group called Coquette.[4] DeLuna had a tough upbringing, and was raised in poverty. She spent her time listening to Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday records, which she imitated daily on her karaoke machine. At age 15, DeLuna entered a Coca-Cola sponsored
karaoke competition. Her version of "I Will Always Love You" took first place. It was through this competition that she met Cuban salsa singer
Rey Ruiz. Ruiz gave DeLuna this advice: "Nobody knows you better than you do, and nobody can help you if you can't help
yourself." DeLuna began writing her own music and has continued to do so.[5] In 2004, while
DeLuna was 17, Coquette opened for a Cassidy concert in New Jersey.[4]
In 2006, DeLuna chose to pursue a solo career and was signed by
Epic Records. After being signed to Epic Records, DeLuna began working with producers such as RedOne and Jane't Sewell-Ulepic, among others. The two worked together to produce the majority of the songs on DeLuna's debut album. On May 15, 2007, DeLuna released her debut single, "Whine Up".[6] The title comes from the Caribbean English (West Indian) pronunciation of Wind up, meaning to move one's hips on the dance floor. The single received mixed reviews from critics. A reviewer from todaysmusic gave the song a mixed review: "The song itself is great musically. It has all the ingredients of a hot dance song. I love the driving Latin sound of the chorus. But Kat, you’re 19 as of this writing. You’re writing about very sensual things. Is this what you want to tell the young girls from your neighborhood? Is this what you give your parents after all their encouragement and support as you studied music diligently all your life? Reminds me of Rihanna- wanting to be a good example to young girls, but really not being one at all."[7] Associatedcontent had a more positive review of the song, stating "On the song Kat goes back forth between singing in English and Spanish. The song is catchy and fills a void currently in the marketplace. Elephant Man adds his traditional high energy approach and the song is a surefire hit." Billboard also spoke highly of the song, claiming "Talk about a summertime sure thing. Nineteen-year-old Dominican Kat Deluna is prepped to combust with a platinum-plated debut so certain you can practically smell the smoke emanating from its juicy one-spin hook and manic tempo. Accompanied by reggaeton queen Ivy Queen and dancehall staple Elephant Man, aka the Energy God, the bilingual crossover beauty -- who grew up in poverty in the Dominican Republic and the Bronx before studying music at the New Jersey School of Performing Arts -- combines Caribbean cadence with a novel mesh of hip-hip, R&B and merengue. Deluna's launch single offers ultimate seasonal sizzle -- over the airwaves, on the beach, down the highway and across dance floors. A "Whine" to be heard loud and proud the world over."[8] The single experienced commercial success. In the US, the single debuted at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart. In the following weeks, the song would continue climbing the charts until it reached a peak of number 29, becoming her only US Top 40 hit. The single also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, which monitors plays songs in night clubs.[9] The single peaked at number 43 on the Hot Latin Songs chart. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the single peaked at number 12. It reached the Top 20 of the Pop 100, peaking at number 14.[10] The single charted well internationally; it reached the Top 20 of the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number 15, as well as reaching a peak of number 7 in Belgium and France.[11] The single peaked at number 18 on the Australian ARIA Charts, and at number 13 on the Romanian Singles Chart.[12] DeLuna's debut album, 9 Lives, was released on
August 7, 2007. The album peaked at number fifty-eight on the Billboard
200, selling 11,000 copies in its first week.[13][14] The album
has since sold near 200,000 copies in the United States. The album
was well received commercially in the international market. In
Belgium, the album debuted inside the Top 20, peaking at number
16. The album reached the Top 20 in Finland, where it peaked at
number 15 on the official album chart. In France, the album debuted
at number 24. On the Ö3 Austria Top 40 chart, the album peaked
at number 64.[15] The album was successful in Poland, where it
peaked at number 12 on the official albums chart.[16] DeLuna chose
to release "Am I Dreaming" as the second single. It began receiving airplay on Latin radio stations, leading
to its peak of 26 on the U.S. Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay
chart.[17] Despite its early success in the Latin music industry,
further plans for the single were immediately scrapped for unknown
reasons, and a new single has yet to be chosen. At the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007 awards show, DeLuna won the Best New Artist award.[18] In late 2007, DeLuna collaborated with Omarion on the single "Cut Off Time", which was the lead single from the Feel the Noise soundtrack. The song peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and at number 123 on the Hot 100. In December 2007 DeLuna announced that "Run the Show" would be the second single. It was released on January 15, 2008, for radio airplay. The US version of the song features rapper Busta Rhymes, while the international release of the single features Don Omar. The version on the album is different again, with guest vocals from Shaka Dee.[19] The single has become one of DeLuna's biggest hits to date. "Run the Show" reached the Top 10 in several countries, including Finland, where it peaked at number 2; Belgium, where it reached number 5; and Romania, where it peaked at number 8.[20][21][22][23] In the US, the failed to chart on the Hot 100. It did, however, peak at number 17 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart. Despite its failure on the Hot 100, the single managed to rise to number 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, only one spot lower than "Whine Up".[24][25] After the release of "Run the Show", the album was re-released on Akon's record label. Due to the poor performance of the single in the US, plans for the album's re-release in America were scrapped. In September 2008 DeLuna's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a Dallas Cowboys Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles was roundly booed.[26] The crowd felt that DeLuna's vocals were "scathing" and overwrought. The event garnered much media attention,[27] and landed the number one-spot on Billboard Magazine's "10 Worst National Anthem Performances Ever" in 2010.[28] At the 2008 TMF Awards in Belgium, DeLuna won
awards for Best New Arist and Best Urban Artist. At the Latin Billboard
Music Awards 2008, DeLuna won the "Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year" Award for her single "Whine Up".[29] Shortly after the award shows, it was announced that "In the End" would be released as the third international single. The single was her first
to receive no release whatsoever in the US. Due to a lack of promotion,
the single failed to make an impact on music charts. In Belgium,
it peaked at number 31 on the official singles chart.[21][22] In
October 2008, "Breathing Your Love", a collaboration with Swedish singer Darin Zanyar, was released and went on
to reach number 2 in Sweden and number 13 in Finland. DeLuna was
dropped from Epic Records in 2008, and signed a record deal with
Universal Motown. She began work on her second album, and premiered
a new song, "Calling You", on her MySpace page and her official website in 2008. In January 2009 DeLuna released "Unstoppable", featuring Lil Wayne, as a single from the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack. The song was originally due to be the lead single from her second album but its release was canceled. The music video for "Unstoppable" premiered on Kat DeLuna's MySpace profile on January 23, 2009. The video features shots of DeLuna wearing blue, pink, and black. There are scenes with her on a motorcycle with Lil' Wayne. Wayne is seen holding his signature Gibson ES-135 and singing into a microphone. The song was released for radio airplay on February 24, 2009.[30] Due to the guest vocals of Lil Wayne, the song was expected to be DaLuna's next big hit, but the single failed to impact any charts in the US or internationally, other than Canada, where it peaked at number 80 on the Canadian Hot 100. The single received positive reviews from critics. Thebeatreveiw said of the song "Now, Kat DeLuna returns to the scene with a brand new image. This time it’s pretty much better than her previous offerings. It’s a great way of a shift from R&B to semi-dance. If we’re going GAGA over these past few months, then the new one is yet to come. She’s collaborated with RedOne for the amazing romp dance rock anthem that’ll put her into the likes of Lady GaGa. I’m just not sure if this is the ultimate time for Kat releasing a new single because someone like Lady GaGa is still ruling the world with almost the same kind of music. I’m sure that the new image is edgier and much deserved of Kat DeLuna’s immensely powerful vocals and astounding dancing skills. I know if given the right chance she can manage to pull off that image and probably have a say in the music charts especially if she’s collaborating with one of the hottest artists of today, Lil’ Wayne. It seems that I can’t get over with this song and It’s actually growing on me. It sounds similar to the rocky edge of “Just Dance” added with a little bit of Kat DeLuna attitude. She’s way over GaGa but she has something to say.[31] Letssingit spoke positively of the single, stating "The anthem-like track, which features 2008's top-selling artist Lil Wayne, DeLuna challenges and even taunts naysayers. By displaying such a decidedly unapologetic, take-no-prisoners attitude, DeLuna lets audiences know shes got enough heart to withstand any criticisms, hiccups and obstacles she may encounter on the road to superstardom." In February 2009 DeLuna embarked on a "Gay Club" tour in the United States to promote the single and her forthcoming album.[32] In April 2009 DeLuna announced the album's title, as well as a new song, when she tweeted "Great News!! Finally, my official brand new single from my sophomore album titled “Inside Out” is soon to be released, and I think you guys are going to love it!" In May 2009 DeLuna released "Dance Bailalo" as a digital-only promotional single. The song had a generally positve reception. Letssingit said of the song, "[Bailalo] demonstrates DeLuna's innovative new sound by blending tropical samba rhythms with new school dance melodies. This infectious combination paired with her seductive lyrics lure listeners to let loose and hit the dance floor hard." Internet blogger Perez Hilton commented on the song as well, saying "('Dance Bailalo' is) one of the most scorching dance singles we've heard all year!" Hilton called the song the next "Summer Jam".[33] The single failed to chart on the Hot 100, but reached number 2 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It entered the top 20 on Latin charts, where it peaked at number 12.[34] In June 2009 DeLuna performed alongside Shontelle at New York City's Fashion Industries High School prom as the star of My Prom Style's official website feature, the "Ultimate Prom" fashion reality series. Three aspiring teen designers competed to design a dress to wear to the prom, and a pattern of the winning dress was then produced and sold nationwide by Simplicity Patterns.[35] In February 2010 DeLuna participated in a Spanish remake of "We Are the World" called "Somos El Mundo", alongside other Dominican singers such as Juan Luis Guerra, Milly Quezada, Eddy Herrera, Romeo (Aventura), Fernando Villalona and Latin artists such as Paulina Rubio, Thalia, Belinda, Luis Fonsi, and Chayanne, among others. The piece was a fundraiser for victims of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. Also in 2009, DeLuna recorded a track titled "Shake It Up" with Big Ali for his album Louder. The single was a commercial failure, failing to chart on any charts worldwide. In April 2010 DeLuna released "Push Push" featuring Akon, the lead single from her second album. During her mini promotional tour in Belgium and France in September, DeLuna signed a new contract with Universal Music Belgium. This new deal will assure the release of her album in mainland Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia. When asked of how the song with Akon came alobout, DeLuna said it was an accident. When they ran into each other at the studio one day, "He said, 'I have something I wanna show you,'" DeLuna said. "He played the beat and I went crazy." The single was a critical and commercial success. Nydailynews said, "The [song] is a simple, fun and insanely catchy song with a multilayered oh-oh-oh refrain by DeLuna, a solid contribution from Akon on the bridge and a thumping beat that's sure to bring the house down at the club."[36] MTV compared the song to recent releases by Lady Gaga, saying, "Push Push," the first single from DeLuna's Inside Out album (no official release date on that yet), starts out with some "oh-oh-oh's" that wouldn't sound out of place on a Gaga record. "Push Push" was produced by Radio, but it still contains some of RedOne's signature sounds."[37] The single achieved some commercial success internationally. It debuted and peaked at number 84 on the Canadian Hot 100, mainly due to digital downloads. The single achieved greater success in Europe, where it peaked at number 37. In Belgium, "Push" became her third Top 20 hit on the singles chart, when it peaked at number 15. The single became her first Top 10 hit in France since "Run the Show", peaking at number 9. DeLuna announced on Twitter[38] that the second single off the album would be "Party O' Clock". She also talked about a forthcoming music video. On October 22 the single was released on iTunes.[39][40] On November 2 DeLuna released a video premiering her release of Inside Out in Belgium and confirmed the tracklisting for the album. Inside Out was released on November 5, 2010, in Belgium. It was commercially successful in the country, debuting and peaking at number 16 on the official album's chart. The video for "Party O'Clock" was released on December 15, 2010. "Dancing Tonight" was be the next single off of the album, and she shot video in New York City on December 21–23, 2010.[41] "Dancing Tonight" debuted as the #1 Breakout on the Billboard Dance Chart.[42] The video for the song premiered on March 23. On July 29 the video for her new single Drop It Low premiered on her YouTube channel. Shortly after Jennifer Lopez released her single "On
the Floor" on February 22, 2011, many of DeLuna's fans, as well as critics, claimed that "On the Floor" plagiarised DeLuna's 2010 single "Party O'Clock". In a statement issued to the New York Daily News, DeLuna said "It's cool that artists like J.Lo are inspired by my musical sound and style.
... Jennifer helped pave the way for Latinas like myself. I love
her", and insisted that there was not an issue.[43] Following previews of the music
video for "On the Floor," DeLuna changed her mind about how she felt with the claims of copying. In another
interview with the New York Daily News, several days after the
first, she said "I've seen this before, where the more established artist tries to take the vision
and artistic ideas away from an emerging artist, and assumes no
one will notice because of their bigger shadow,... Luckily, my
loyal fans and the power of the Internet have let the 'Kat' out
of the bag".[44] DeLuna had previously said she was inspired by Lopez, and saw her as someone
who opened doors for people like her to sing.[43] When Lopez was
asked about the issue on the Latin-American entertainment program
Despierta America, she replied, "What? Really? I'm not aware of that...," and when asked a second time, she insisted she had not heard about the comparisons.[45]
It was alleged that "J.Lo's camp specifically requested that nothing about the Deluna debacle be brought
up during the interview."[45] 9 Lives (2007) [edit] Official mixtapes Inside Out: The Mixtape (2010) [edit] Awards and nominations Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica 2007 Nominations ALMA Music Awards 2009
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