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Kelly Key

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Almeida and the second or paternal family name is Afonso Freitas.
Kelly Key
Key at fitness event in 2016.
Key at fitness event in 2016.
Background information
Birth nameKelly de Almeida Afonso Freitas
Born (1983-03-03) March 3, 1983 (age 41)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • youtuber
  • television personality
InstrumentVocals
Years active2001–present
Labels
Websitekellykey.com.br

Kelly de Almeida Afonso Freitas (born March 3, 1983), better known professionally as Kelly Key, is a Brazilian pop singer-songwriter, YouTuber, and television personality. She rose to prominence in 2001 with her singles "Baba" and "Cachorrinho" which became defining hits of the early 2000s Brazilian pop music scene. Known for her blend of pop, dance, and funk music, she quickly established herself as a pop icon in Brazil.[1] Over the course of her career, she has sold millions of records, earned numerous awards, and helped shape the genre of Brazilian pop for a new generation.[2] Often compared to American contemporaries like Britney Spears for her playful and provocative image,[3] Kelly Key has remained a fixture in Brazilian popular culture.[1]

Biography

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1999–2002: Career beginnings and breakthrough with debut album Kelly Key

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Kelly Key’s career began in 1999 when she worked as a backing vocalist and performer on the TV show Samba Pagode & Cia.[1][4] During a recording session, she met music producer DJ Cuca and offered to provide backing vocals for a project he was working on. After working together, Cuca encouraged Kelly to write lyrics for some of his beats. Drawing from personal writings from her teenage diaries,[4] she wrote several songs that would later define her debut album alongside her friend MC Andinho, a prominent figure in the funk carioca scene,[5][6] who helped her refine early song ideas​.[1]

Her eponymous debut album was released in 2001[7] to great commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies within six months of its release[8] and earning a platinum certification.[9] The album blended pop, R&B, and funk rhythms, giving her music a distinctive Brazilian flavour that contributed to her breakthrough success​.[1] Lyrically, the album focused on themes of female empowerment, teenage rebellion, and romance.[1][10][11][12]

While her debut single, "Escondido," was only a minor radio hit, it generated significant buzz[6] which prompted her record label to release a follow-up single, "Baba." The song became a massive hit,[5] catapulting her to national stardom and earning comparisons to international stars like Britney Spears.[4] Subsequent singles, "Cachorrinho" and "Anjo," continued her success, reinforcing her image as a strong, independent voice for young women.[1]

In 2002, Kelly Key expanded her reach to Hispanic America with Kelly Key en Español, a Spanish-language version of her debut album, which helped her establish a fan base in countries like Chile and Argentina.[13][14] That same year, she also released a remix album called Remix Hits.[15]

2003–2004: Do Meu Jeito and live album

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Kelly Key began working on her sophomore album in 2002.[4] Do Meu Jeito was released the following year.[1] The album continued to explore familiar themes from her debut but also expanded into socially conscious issues, such as racial prejudice. Do Meu Jeito was both a commercial and critical success, selling over 300,000 copies,[16] and producing several hit singles, including "Adoleta" and "Chic, Chic." In 2004, she released a live album.

2005–2009: Kelly Key, Por Que Não? and music hiatus

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Key in 2006

In 2005, after changing the writers and producers of her first works, Key went through a transformation to her third studio album, Kelly Key 2005 which featured teen pop songs. The album featured the hits "Escuta Aqui, Rapaz" ("Listen Hear, Boy") and a remake of Aqua's 1997 hit "Barbie Girl", selling about 100,000 copies in Brazil. In 2006 she released her last album on the Warner Music label, Por Que Não? (English: Why Not?), selling 45,000 copies. The album spawned the hits "Pegue e Puxe" ("Grab and Pull"), "Shake Boom" and "Analista" ("Analyst").

In 2007 Key released her first compilation, 100% Kelly Key, by Som Livre ("Free Sound") Records, her new label, selling 50,000 copies. The album released the smash "Você é o Cara" ("You're the guy"), reaching her seventh number one single in Brazil. In 2008 Key released her fifth studio album Kelly Key, rescuing adult themes and selling 40,000 copies. In 2009, Key left Som Livre Records to become a presenter.

2010–2019: Television career and No Controle

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In 2009 she became host of the Rede Record's TV show Hoje em Dia with other presenters. In 2010, she became host of her own TV show, the Game Show de Verão. In 2011 she returned to music and released her first house music single, "O Problema é Meu" ("The Problem is Mine"), which featured DJ and producer Mister Jam. On November 15, she released her debut English single, "Shaking (Party People).[17]

In 2014 Kelly announced return to the stage; the single "Controle" marked her return to music after five years dedicating herself exclusively to television. On February 3, 2015, the singer released her sixth studio album No Controle  [pt], which features a sound inspired by the rhythms kizomba, zouk and electronic music. In 2019, she released an EP titled Do Jeito Delas  [pt], and the following year expanded it into an album of the same name [pt].

Philanthropy and other activities

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Key has a great success with the LGBT people in Brazil, and she supports same-sex marriage in the country. She was a spokesperson to high-school age young adults in a campaign in which she said, "Show how you've grown up. This Carnaval, use condoms."[18]

Key became a friend and business partner of singer and digital influencer Clei Ribeiro and shared videos by him.[19]

Discography

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Main article: Kelly Key discography

Tours

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  • 2001–2003: Turnê Kelly Key (247 concerts – In Brazil)
  • 2003–2004: Turnê Ao Vivo e do Meu Jeito (118 concerts in Brazil)
  • 2005: Turnê O Filme Já Começou
  • 2006: Turnê Por que Não? (46 in Brazil)
  • 2008–2009: 100% Tour (90 concerts in Brazil)
  • 2010: Holiday Tour (7 concerts – Brazil)
  • 2011–2013: In the Night/Shaking Tour (43 concerts – Brazil)
  • 2015: Turnê No Controle (19 concerts – Brazil)

Filmography

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Television
Year Film Role Notes
1999 SP&C Presenter
2004 Band Kids Presenter
2003 Celebridade Herself Telenovela; 1 episode
2004 Contando Histórias com Kelly Key Presenter 5 episodes
2005 Prova de Amor Herself Telenovela; 1 episode
2006 Dança dos Famosos Celebrity contestant Season 2
2008 Astros Judge Season 1, 2 episodes
2009 Hoje em Dia Especial Presenter 2009–10
2009 Mestres do Ilusionismo Presenter Special TV show; 1 program
2010 Game Show de Verão Presenter 2010–11
2012 Ídolos Kids Herself/Judge/Mentor 2012–13
2014 Domingo Da Gente Presenter 1 program
2015 Vai Que Cola Herself 1 episode
Films
Year Film Role
2003 O Cupido Trapalhão Herself

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Por que estreia de Kelly Key antecipou pop de divas no Brasil com empoderamento dançante?". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). December 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "Contém POP entrevista Kelly Key! ~ Contém POP". April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "No começo de sua carreira, Kelly Key foi sondada para ser a 'Britney Spears brasileira'". Purepeople (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "KELLY KEY: SÓ SEI QUE ARREBENTEI". www.cmjornal.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Diario de Cuiabá". Diario de Cuiabá (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Contém POP entrevista Kelly Key! ~ Contém POP". April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Official release of Kelly Key debut Album". All Music. October 17, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  8. ^ "Revista da Folha - A RAINHA DO "TCHU, TCHU, RU, RU" - 16/02/2003". November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "CERTIFICADOS". Pro-Música Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "A Anti-Sandy". Scream and Yell. October 28, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  11. ^ "Contém POP entrevista Kelly Key! ~ Contém POP". April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  12. ^ [https://web.archive.org/web/20110216030912/http://dedodomeio.lexlilith.org/000062.html "O dedo do meio � a mensagem: >KELLY KEY N�O � O PROBLEMA, KELLY KEY � SOLU��O"]. February 16, 2011. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2024. {{cite web}}: replacement character in |title= at position 16 (help)
  13. ^ "Kelly Key - Baba". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Kelly Key - Cachorrinho". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  15. ^ https://music.apple.com/us/album/remix-hits/1513868. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ^ Nobrega, Eliane (April 21, 2008). "Jornal do Brasil" (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  17. ^ "Kelly Key se lança no mercado internacional com Shaking". Fica Quietinho. August 17, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  18. ^ Okie, Susan (May 11, 2006). "Fighting HIV – Lessons from Brazil". The New England Journal of Medicine. 354 (19). Massachusetts Medical Society: 1977–1981. doi:10.1056/NEJMp068069. PMID 16687709.
  19. ^ "Kelly Key dubla áudio de Clei Ribeiro". Celebs. February 8, 2023.
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