Twilight's highlight

US singer-songwriter Christina Perri, who wrote ballad A Thousand Years, is 'so grateful for the song'

Jan 28, 2015 06:00 am

She penned the perfect anthem for one of the world's most beloved vampire film franchises.

Three years on, US singer-songwriter Christina Perri still views the success of her ballad, A Thousand Years - written specially for the soundtrack of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011) - with wide-eyed awe.

"I don't want to sound cheesy, but A Thousand Years keeps my career alive," Perri told M in a phone interview last week from her home in Los Angeles.

"I am so grateful for the song. Whenever I sing it, something magical happens in my heart.

"To hear everyone in the room singing along with me, you cannot imagine how wonderful that feels like."

The 28-year-old, who was working as a cafe waitress before her 2010 debut single Jar Of Hearts found its way onto an episode of reality TV dance series So You Think You Can Dance and turned her into a breakout star, acknowledged the karaoke-esque quality of A Thousand Years.

"I've watched really amazing, impressive covers of it on TV, some sung by children," she recalled.

"A few even sung the song better than me, it's just so neat!"

A Thousand Years has also gained immense popularity as a must-play track on wedding playlists, an observation that hasn't escaped Perri.

"It's funny how it has become a wedding song," she mused.

"So many people, including my friends, have covered it at their weddings.

"Literally everyone sends me videos of their rendition."

LATEST STUDIO ALBUM

Perri, known for her soul-baring, deeply confessional lyrics, is headed here next month for a one-night concert, as part of her ongoing tour to support her latest studio album Head Or Heart, which was released last year.

She last performed in Singapore in June 2012. The memories she has of her brief visit are cute - albeit a little odd.

"Unfortunately, back then, I had time only for my show, I didn't get to see much of the city," she said.

"I remember biting into a pear when I arrived in Singapore.

"I have no idea what type of pear it was, but it was definitely giant and delicious. It was a magical pear."

Local fans will get to see Perri's fresh new hairdo on stage too.

Earlier this month, she bid farewell to her signature brunette look, adding striking blonde highlights.

"I've had dark brown hair with short bangs for a while and I was getting bored, I'm a very normal girl," she said with a laugh.

"These blonde streaks are refreshing. New year, new tour, new look."

FYI

WHAT: Christina Perri Head Or Heart Tour

WHEN: Feb 27, 8PM

WHERE: The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa

TICKETS: $118 and $138 from Sistic (www.sistic.com.sg or 6348-5555)

She's a Fifty Shades Of Grey fan

HOT: Irish model-turned-actor Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades Of Grey. - PHOTO: UIP

Guess who's super psyched about the upcoming release of erotic thriller Fifty Shades Of Grey?

The much buzzed-about movie definitely has a fan in Christina Perri, who said she "has already watched the trailer".

"It opens during the Valentine's Day weekend and I'll be home (in Los Angeles) then, so I'm probably going to see it," she said.

Based on British author E.L. James' New York Times-best-selling novel of the same title, Fifty Shades Of Grey chronicles the sadomasochistic relationship between billionaire bad boy Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and unassuming college graduate Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson).

It opens here on Feb 12.

With regard to Irish hunk Dornan filling the shoes of Grey, she had nothing but praise for the model-turned-actor.

"I love him. He was in one of my favourite TV shows," said Perri, without specifying whether it was fantasy series Once Upon A Time or acclaimed crime drama The Fall that caught her eye.

"I'm sure he will do a great job in Fifty Shades Of Grey."

In an interview with The New Paper in May 2012, Perri had gushed about her obsession with the novel, as well as its sequels Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

Apparently, she was so enamoured with the character of Grey that she had even "written a couple of songs about him".

But when M quizzed her about that last week, Perri denied penning anything and did not lobby to be on the film's soundtrack.

The official soundtrack of Fifty Shades Of Grey includes 16 tracks from stars such as The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Annie Lennox and pop diva Beyonce, whose haunting remix of her 2003 hit Crazy In Love is featured in the trailer. It also includes new, previously unreleased material from The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Sia and Jessie Ware.