Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Susan Jane "Suzie" McNeil is a Canadian (Toronto-based) pop rock recording artist.
Biography
Early life
McNeil was born in Mississauga, Ontario. She has two sisters, Laura Norris and Sarah McNeil, and a brother, Andrew McNeil.
Career
Rock Star: INXS
In 2005, McNeil was a contestant on the CBS reality show Rock Star: INXS, a televised competition to find a new lead singer for the band INXS. McNeil made it to the final four of the competition and was the last female singer to be eliminated.
During the competition, McNeil gained respect from the INXS band members and fans. She was nicknamed "Sweet Suzie McNeil" by host Dave Navarro. INXS were impressed by her talent and her tenacity. Despite her rave reviews, McNeil faced the Bottom Three six times during the competition, prompting her to create a hat which read "Queen of the Bottom Three." In the Bottom Three, contestants sang INXS songs, at which McNeil excelled, likely explaining her survival. Some standout performances throughout the show (excluding her INXS songs) were The Rolling Stones', "Start Me Up", R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." During the competition, McNeil performed an original song called "Soul Life" which she co-wrote with fellow Rock Star: INXS contestant Ty Taylor. McNeil was eliminated in the Final Four, where there was much speculation that INXS had finally agreed upon a male lead singer. On September 24, 2005, McNeil performed a sold-out show at the Revival Club in Toronto.
McNeil is featured on a few tracks on INXS' album Switch. Examples are "Us" and "God's Top Ten."
Post-Rock Star: INXS
In January 2006, McNeil moved to Los Angeles, to develop her music career. On January 26, 2006 she announced plans to record her first CD with Executive Producer John Kalodner and Producer Marti Frederiksen. In the summer of 2006, McNeil performed as a backup singer for Pink on Pink's North American tour.
McNeil's first single, "Believe", is available to download on iTunes. It has been featured on NBC's promo for "The Biggest Loser" reality weight-loss show as well as throughout season four of Beauty and the Geek. The song was exclusively debuted by "King Ben's Injection of Perfection" in Sydney on September 9, 2006, to positive reaction. The single was also used to raise funds for Own the Podium, an organization working to make sure that Canadian athletes win the most Olympic medals at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
McNeil appears on Matt Nathanson's album Some Mad Hope. She sings background vocals on the songs "Sooner Surrender" and "Bulletproof Weeks." She also appears on Clay Aiken's album A Thousand Different Ways as guest vocalist on "I Want to Know What Love Is", a cover of the Foreigner song.
McNeil's single "Hung Up" has gained significant radio airplay, especially in Canada, and it is also available on iTunes. The music video was released to MuchMoreMusic on the week of February 19, 2007 and was uploaded to YouTube on February 10, 2007.
McNeil appeared as the character Oz in the Canadian production of "We Will Rock You" at the Canon Theater in Toronto until August 1, 2007.
McNeil has sung several versions of Marineland ad jingles.
In May 2008, McNeil released her third music video, "Lonely (Are You Coming Home?)".
McNeil held a contest for all of her fans across Canada to sing her hit single "Believe" and post it on her website and viewers would vote for who shall win.
McNeil was one of the judges on the first four seasons of the children's Canadian reality TV show, The Next Star, on YTV, which premiered on July 18, 2008. She also recorded the theme song for the show, "Let's Go", and performed it on the show's first season finale at Canada's Wonderland in Toronto on September 28, 2008.
It was announced on October 13, 2008 during the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders football game, that she would be one of the musical acts to play during 96th Grey Cup halftime show along with Theory Of A Deadman and Andrée Watters. The Grey Cup aired live on November 23, 2008.
On November 4, 2008, McNeil released her second solo album Rock n Roller which featured her latest Top 20 hit "Let's Go". Re-released as a deluxe edition in 2009, Rock n Roller: Reloaded spawned two singles, Supergirl and Help Me Out.
On March 28, 2009, McNeil headlined a concert held at Nathan Philips Square in Toronto to celebrate WWF's Earth Hour.
McNeil appears in commercials for Thrive lozenges to help quit smoking.
McNeil's song "Believe" was originally recorded and released on her debut CD, Broken & Beautiful. The Olympic inspired video for "Believe" was recorded with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and released on September 17, 2007. The video stars Canadian Olympians Steve Omischl (freestyle skiing - aerials), Joannie Rochette (figure skating), and Clara Hughes (speed skating).
McNeil appeared on Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo's second album The Truth.
McNeil's new album is possibly being released in 2012 and called Dear Love, with a live version of the title track off the album being performed on YouTube as a special Valentine's Day gift Possible singles off the album include Drama Queen and Merry Go Round, which have charted in Canada.
Personal life
In March 2008, MTV Cribs in Canada featured a segment on the house McNeil shares with friend and fellow Rock Star: INXS contestant Tara Slone.
McNeil announced nationally her recent engagement to We Will Rock You cast mate, Scott Walters, July 3, 2008 on ET Canada. They were engaged July 1, 2008.
Rock Star: INXS performances
"Remedy" – In the first performance, McNeil missed her cue and then switched the first and second verses. Despite this, her vocal performance was praised, and she narrowly escaped elimination.
"Call Me" – McNeil's rendition of Blondie's "Call Me" was considered "a ballsy choice," and INXS thought she "nailed it." Still she was in the Bottom Three.
"Roxanne" – Again, the judges felt McNeil "nailed it", and her performance was enough to garner the votes to evade the Bottom Three.
"Superstition" – Stevie Wonder's hit was met with positive reviews; she began with a harmonica riff.
"Get Back" – The first Beatles song in the competition, McNeil expressed an honor in performing it. INXS felt that her dropping back while band members did instrumentals was "a joy to watch."
"Losing My Religion" – Going into this week, McNeil originally planned to go into the song a capella. Her actual performance followed the advice of J. D. Fortune with a steady rock beat in the background. This was called "a brilliant move" by INXS, as it highlighted McNeil's voice. She landed in the Bottom Three.
"Bring it On Home to Me" – After landing in the Bottom Three the previous week, McNeil hoped to escape it this week. Having never heard the song before, she was unsure of how to approach it. Her final product was called "fantastic," prompting a band member to tell McNeil her voice was "one of the best in the competition." Despite her effort, she was again placed in the Bottom Three.
"Start Me Up" – McNeil truly hoped to nail this performance, as she no longer wanted to be in the Bottom Three. Her performance had high energy, ending with a mosh pit. Her comments from INXS were especially encouraging. "I am in total shock that you've ever been in the bottom three," host Dave Navarro said. A band member agreed, "Tonight was exceptional." A second added "Looked like you meant business, and you sounded like you meant business." Not only did she escape the Bottom Three, but it was revealed that she was the only contestant not to be in the bottom three at any moment in the voting process. She won her first encore performance.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" – Considered by some to be the pinnacle performance of McNeil's in the competition, the Queen classic proved to be quite a success for McNeil. INXS continued to give shining feedback. "That was one of the most spectacular things I think I've ever seen...That was a show!" ... "That's gotta be the best performance I've seen through the whole show -- ever." ... "I'm so proud that you want to be part of our band." This comment, in particular, caused McNeil to "faint" in joy. She again evaded the Bottom Three and won the encore performance.
"I Can't Make You Love Me" and "Soul Life" – INXS claimed the first song was a test of her power. Immediately following her performance, they claimed that she "sold it." The second part of her performance—"Soul Life"—was an original song of McNeil's, and it met with good reviews, but some minor questions. One member of the band was unsure of whether the song could ever be played by INXS; another argued that, with some tweaking, it could. McNeil was—once again—in the bottom three, but was not eliminated.
"Interstate Love Song" and "What's Up?" – McNeil's performance of the two songs were back-to-back, and both met with positive reviews. INXS stated that McNeil had "the best voice in the competition." They called the performance "fantastic." Fans were not so positive, however; the Interstate Love Song was called "less than stellar" and "What's Up?" included a vocal glitch, particularly on the word "revolution." McNeil was in the Bottom Three for the final time this week, eliminated.
