Pop Idol Will Young 20 years 20 facts
Will Young, who grew up in Hungerford and attended Horris Hill prep school in Newbury, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his Pop Idol win with a new album and a tour.
As the first ever winner of Pop Idol in 2002, Will has gone on to become one of the most successful pop stars in Britain, with more than 10 million records sold, eight UK Top 3 albums, including his recent 2021 album Crying On The Bathroom Floor, and the No.1 best-selling single of the noughties, Evergreen/Anything Is Possible.
20 Years - The Greatest Hits spans his Pop Idol winner’s single Evergreen, the UK number ones Light My Fire and Leave Right Now, as well as two new songs and is available now on CD, deluxe signed CD and vinyl via Sony Music.
Will said: "I can’t believe it is 20 years since I turned up at London's Excel Centre with ripped jeans and egg stains on my jumper! To have done songs like You And I, Leave Right Now, Your Game, Changes, Grace, Jealousy, Joy etc. has just been more than I ever hoped for along with acting in films and theatre and writing and talking about mental health.
"These hits and my 20 Years tour are a thank you to all who had faith in me 20 years ago and picked up the phone to vote. Thank you.”
Alongside the 18 career-spanning classics, the new songs Why Does It Hurt and Breaking Free, sees Will wholly embracing his pop sensibilities. The deluxe edition of 20 Years - The Greatest Hits is packaged with a bonus disc including performances from live sessions over the years, with renditions of some of his biggest hits and classic covers brought together for the first time, as well as two exclusive demo recordings of Your Game and Jealousy.
Later this year, Will is set to embark on the Will Young - 20 Years Tour 2022 and will play New Theatre, Oxford on Wednesday, October 26.
20 YEARS: 20 FACTS
1. The original Pop Idol from the first-ever worldwide series, paving the way for artists including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Carly Rae Jepsen and Adam Lambert
2. Scored the #1 biggest selling single of the noughties with ‘Evergreen/Anything Is Possible’
3. Released FOUR number one UK albums and EIGHT top 3 UK albums in the twenty years since winning Pop Idol, including the recent 2021 album ‘Crying on the Bathroom Floor’
4. Achieved FOUR number one UK singles (including ‘Leave Right Now’ and ‘Light My Fire’) and more than TEN top ten UK singles
5. ‘Evergreen/Anything Is Possible’ officially the fastest-selling debut single of all time in the UK
6. Over 10 million records sold worldwide
7. 10 Brit Award nominations and 2 wins including ‘British Breakthrough Act’ and ‘British Single of the Year’ for ‘Your Game’.
8. Olivier Award nomination for his 2013 role as The Emcee in Cabaret in London’s West End
9. Performed at the opening of the Commonwealth Games, Nelson Mandela's Unite The Stars charity concert in South Africa in 2006 and at the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in 2007
10. Has performed live duets with Elton John, James Brown, Queen & Burt Bacharach
11. Starred in the critically acclaimed 2005 film ‘Mrs. Henderson Presents’ alongside Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins and, as a result, was voted ‘Young Actor To Watch’
12. Will is a mental health advocate, an official ambassador for Women’s Aid as well as an animal rights activist
13. Author of the acclaimed 2020 Sunday Times best-selling book on gay shame, ‘To Be A Gay Man,’ with several follow-up books in the works
14. Will regularly guest presents the Jo Whiley Show on BBC Radio 2
15. ‘Leave Right Now’ winner of an Ivor Novello award for ‘Best Song Musically & Lyrically’
16. Will has embarked on 8 x sold-out headline UK tours and performed at Glastonbury Festival three times
17. Successful podcaster who launched and was co-host of season 1 of hugely popular podcast ‘Homosapiens’, with new mental health podcast launching 2022.
18. Winner of Best Male Music Star at the Elle Style Awards, Best Newcomer at the GQ Awards and Culture Award from Attitude Magazine
19. Musically, Will has collaborated with Eg White (Adele), Sia, Steve Lipson (Annie Lennox), Burt Bacharach, Cathy Dennis (Britney Spears, Katy Perry) and Richard X (M.I.A, Roisin Murphy)
20. Visually, Will has collaborated with Wiz (Oasis), Michael Gracey (Greatest Showman) and Bailey Walsh (Massive Attack)
Associated @newbury today articles:
Will Will Young talks to Time to Talk West Berkshire about the importance of talking about one's feelings
Will becomes patron of newbury soup kitchen
20 Years - The Greatest Hits tracklisting
CD1
1. Evergreen
2. Light My Fire
3. The Long and Winding Road
4. You and I
5. Leave Right Now
6. Your Game
7. Friday's Child
8. All Time Love
9. Who Am I
10. Changes
11. Grace
12. Jealousy
13. Come On
14. Losing Myself
15. Love Revolution
16. Joy
17. All The Songs
18. Daniel (Radio Edit)
19. Why Does It Hurt – NEW TRACK
20. Breaking Free – NEW TRACK
CD2 (Deluxe)
1. Leave Right Now - Zoe Ball Radio 2 Session
2. What is Love? - Zoe Ball Radio 2 Session
3. Hanging on The Telephone - Dermot O'Leary Saturday Sessions
4. All Time Love - Recorded for BBC Radio 2
5. Hey Ya! - Jo Whiley's Live Lounge
6. Love Revolution - Radio 2 500 words St James Palace
7. Take My Breath Away - Dermot O'Leary Saturday Sessions
8. Your Game - Jo Whiley's Live Lounge
9. Golden Slumbers - Dermot O'Leary Saturday Sessions
10. How Will I Know - Radio 2 500 words St James Palace
11. Running Up That Hill - Dermot O'Leary Saturday Sessions
12. Your Game (Demo)
13. Jealousy (Demo)
