Karen O

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Karen Orzolek)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Karen Lee Orzolek (born November 22, 1978)[1] is a South Korean-born American musician. She is noted for her ethereal and emotive vocals, as well as her energetic performances and eccentric fashion. In 2023, Karen O was included on Rolling Stone's list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time".

Karen O rose to fame as a member and lead vocalist of the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, whose hit singles include "Maps" and "Heads Will Roll". In her solo career, she has released two albums and composed several film soundtracks, often working with Spike Jonze, which netted her nominations at the Academy Awards and Grammy Awards.

Early life

Karen Lee Orzolek was born in Seoul, South Korea,[2][3] the daughter of a Korean mother and a Polish-American father.[4][5][6][7] The family moved to the United States in 1980,[8] living in Englewood, New Jersey, where she grew up[9] and graduated from Dwight-Englewood School.[10] About her childhood, she stated that "it's almost embarrassing how well-behaved I was, which is probably why I do things like spit water on myself on stage as an adult".[11] She attended Oberlin College before transferring to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Career

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Karen O is best known as the lead vocalist for the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, founded in 2000. Regarding the band's approach to music, Karen O told the Los Angeles Times in 2009 that, "We still have to grab people by the collar ... We put out a record every three years now; we could easily be forgotten. If you look at a lot of our peers that we came up with, a lot of them have disappeared."[12]

Solo career

File:OhanaSep18-124 (44501161754) (cropped).jpg
Karen O in 2018

On December 10, 2006, a home-recorded album titled KO at Home was leaked via an invite-only BitTorrent tracking site. The album, originally a personal gift to Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio, was discovered inside a suitcase that Sitek had left behind in a New York City apartment. The disc's 14 tracks and scan of the cover (a photograph of Karen O with a poem written by Oscar Wilde on the back side of the photo) quickly spread. News sites broke the story of the leak when Sitek lashed out at the fan who leaked the demos.[13][14][15] Eventually, Sitek followed up his comments with an apology letter.[16] In response to the leak, Karen O said that "shit happens", and although she was "a little grossed out", she offered commentary on which of the songs she liked the most.[17]

In 2004, Karen O, using the moniker Marshmellow, directed the music video for "We Fenced Other Gardens with the Bones of Our Own" by Liars, fronted by her then-boyfriend Angus Andrew.[18][19] The following year, she directed the "Blessed Evening" video for Foetus with her then-boyfriend Spike Jonze working as cinematographer.[20] In 2006, she directed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs video for "Cheated Hearts".[21][22]

Under the moniker Kids with Canes, Karen O and her now-husband Barnaby Clay directed the music video for the Tiny Masters of Today song "Hologram World", released in 2008. Karen O also contributed vocals to the song and served as choreographer of the video, in which she appears with Yeah Yeah Yeahs bandmates Nick Zinner and Brian Chase, as well as Mike D from the Beastie Boys, Gibby Haynes from the Butthole Surfers, Russell Simins from the Blues Explosion, and Sam James from The Mooney Suzuki.[23]

Karen O's debut solo album, Crush Songs, was released on September 9, 2014.[24] It was released on Cult Records via Kobalt Label Services.[25]

On February 17, 2015, Karen O released a live album titled Live from Crush Palace, recorded during three shows at Hollywood Forever Cemetery's Masonic Lodge in Los Angeles in September 2014. The album features live renditions of songs from Crush Songs, as well as "Hideaway" from Where the Wild Things Are and "The Moon Song" from Her.[26][27]

On January 11, 2018, Karen O released the song "Yo! My Saint", featuring guest vocals from Michael Kiwanuka, in support of Kenzo's Spring Summer 2018 collection.[28]

Collaborations

File:Karen O - ATP - 2009.JPG
Karen O at All Tomorrow's Parties festival, December 2009

In 2008, Karen O debuted a side project called Native Korean Rock with fellow New York City musicians, with two intimate performances at Union Pool in Brooklyn on July 21.[29][30] The following year, she contributed backing vocals, screaming animal sounds and noises to the songs "Gemini Syringes", "I Can Be A Frog" and "Watching the Planets" on The Flaming Lips' album Embryonic. In 2011, she contributed vocals on the song "Pinky's Dream" on the David Lynch debut album Crazy Clown Time. In 2012, she collaborated with experimental rock group Swans on the song "Song for a Warrior" on their album The Seer. She also lends vocals to the song "GO!" on Santigold's 2012 album Master of My Make-Believe.

On the collaboration project with N.A.S.A. on The Spirit of Apollo, she appears on the track "Strange Enough", together with Ol' Dirty Bastard and Fatlip. Karen O has also collaborated with James Iha on his second solo LP, Look to the Sky, in 2012. In 2014, her cover of "A Marshmallow World" was featured in Target's holiday commercials.[31] In 2015, her cover of Animotion's "Obsession" was used as the opening theme for the Starz miniseries Flesh and Bone. On May 5, 2015, a song by Karen O in tribute to Nellie Bly was used as part of a Google doodle commemorating Bly's 151st birthday.[32] The same year, Microsoft approached Karen O to pen a theme song for Square Enix's game Rise of the Tomb Raider, which resulted in the song "I Shall Rise".[33]

Lux Prima is the collaborative album from Karen O and musician-producer Danger Mouse, released March 15, 2019. The two originally met to discuss collaboration in 2007 as mutual admirers, but did not collaborate until 2016 due to scheduling and availability, resulting in the album Lux Prima three years later.[34]

"An Encounter with Lux Prima"[35] was an immersive art piece and communal listening experience soundtracked by Karen O and Danger Mouse's collaborative album Lux Prima.[36] The installation premiered at Los Angeles' Marciano Art Foundation in April 2019, where it played to sold-out audiences.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The piece saw the duo collaborate with a number of artists, including creative director Barnaby Clay, sound designer Ren Klyce, lighting designer Tobias Rylander and visual artist Davy Evans, in collaboration with George Lucas' Skywalker Sound and Meyer Sound on audio design and build, as well as MSG's Obscura Digital on projection mapping.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Soundtrack work

File:Spike Jonze Her Premiere NYFF 2013 (cropped).jpg
Karen O often collaborates with Spike Jonze (pictured above in 2013)

Karen O was featured in the track "Cut Me Up" by Har Mar Superstar for the soundtrack to the 2005 horror film House of Wax. For the film Jackass Number Two, Karen O collaborated with electronic artist Peaches and Johnny Knoxville to record a track entitled "Backass"; for Jackass 3D, she covered Roger Alan Wade's "If You're Gonna Be Dumb" under the alternative title of "If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough". In 2007, she also contributed vocals to a version of Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" for the I'm Not There film soundtrack.[37] She performed a short song at the end of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! episode "Brothers Cinco". She also performed the track "Strange Love" on the album Frankenweenie Unleashed! (Music Inspired by the Motion Picture).

Karen O and Spike Jonze teamed on a 2005 Adidas commercial, Hello Tomorrow, after Jonze had directed the video for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 2004 single "Y Control". Karen O composed all songs on the soundtrack of Jonze's 2009 film Where the Wild Things Are (except a cover of the Daniel Johnston song "Worried Shoes") with Carter Burwell. She is listed on the soundtrack as "Karen O and the Kids".[38] The song "All Is Love", written by Karen O and Nick Zinner and included in this soundtrack, was nominated for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media at the 2010 Grammy Awards.[39] Karen O also contributed "The Moon Song" to Jonze's 2013 film Her,[40] which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.[41]

Karen O collaborated with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on a cover version of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" for the soundtrack to the 2011 film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, for which Reznor and Ross composed the score.[42] Jonze shot the video for Karen O & Danger Mouse's "Woman" live in one take as the duo performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Performance style

Karen O is well known for her energetic live performances,[5] and her vocals which have been described as "ethereal" and "yelping" at times.[43][44] Rolling Stone's journalist Rob Sheffield noted that Karen O "sings [...] like a mix of Sam Cooke and Siouxsie Sioux".[45] She is also noted for her fashion, often wearing outfits made by her friend, fashion designer Christian Joy. In 2007, she was placed at number three on Spinner's "Women Who Rock Right Now" list.[46] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Karen O at number 184 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[45]

Personal life

Karen O has dated Spike Jonze and Liars lead singer Angus Andrew, the latter of whom was the subject of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' song "Maps".[47] In December 2011, she married director Barnaby Clay.[48] Their son was born in August 2015.[49]

During a tour for the 2003 Livid Festival in Australia, at a sideshow at The Metro in Sydney, Karen O accidentally danced off the stage and was reluctantly taken to hospital. A few days later, at the Sydney leg of the Livid Festival, she appeared in a wheelchair pushed onstage by Angus Andrew.[50]

Discography

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[51] 		US
Indie
[52] 		US
Rock
[53] 		AUS
Hit.
[54] 		BEL
(FL)
[55] 		BEL
(WA)
[56] 		IRL
[57] 		SCO
[58] 		UK
[59] 		UK
Indie
[59]
Crush Songs
  • Released: September 5, 2014
  • Label: Cult
  • Format: LP, CD, MC, digital download, streaming
 44 10 14 6 81 184 72 63 61 11

Collaborative albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Sales
[60] 		US
Alt.
[61] 		US
Indie
[52] 		US
Rock
[53] 		AUS
DL
[62] 		BEL
(FL)
[55] 		FRA
[63] 		SCO
[64] 		UK
[59] 		UK
Indie
[59]
Lux Prima
(with Danger Mouse)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Released: March 15, 2019
  • Label: BMG
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
 25 18 4 39 28 104 173 17 35 7

Live albums

Title Details
Live from Crush Palace
  • Released: February 17, 2015
  • Label: Cult
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Soundtrack albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[51] 		US
Alt
[61] 		US
Rock
[53] 		UK
DL
[59] 		UK
OST
[59]
Where the Wild Things Are
(as Karen O and the Kids)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Released: September 29, 2009
  • Label: DGC, Interscope
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
 35 10 15 89 11

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Bub.
[65] 		US
Rock
[66] 		AUS
Hit.
[67] 		CAN
Rock
[68] 		FRA
[69] 		IRL
[57] 		JPN
[70] 		MEX
[71] 		UK
Sales
[72] 		UK
Indie
Break.
[73]
"All Is Love"
(Karen O and the Kids)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2009 —Template:Efn — — — — — 77 10 — — Where the Wild Things Are: Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Immigrant Song"[74]
(with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2011 8 —Template:Efn 8 43 — — — 49 — — The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
"The Moon Song"
(with Ezra Koenig)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2014 — 27 — — 194 88 — 34 — 13 Non-album single
"Rapt"[75] — — — — — — — — 6 — Crush Songs
"I Shall Rise"[76] 2015 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"Yo! My Saint"[77]
(featuring Michael Kiwanuka)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2018 — — — — — — — 41 — —
"Anti-Lullaby"[78] 2019 — — — — — — — — — — Hanna: Season 1 (Music from the Amazon Original Series)
"Bullet With Butterfly Wings"[79] — — — — — — — — — —
"Woman"[80]
(with Danger Mouse)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		— — — — — — — — — — Lux Prima
"Lux Prima"[81]
(with Danger Mouse)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		— — — — — — — — 3 —
"Turn The Light"[82]
(with Danger Mouse)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		— 40 — — — — — — — —
"Under Pressure"[83]
(with Willie Nelson)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2020 — — — — — — — — 18 — Non-album singles
"Super Breath"[84]
(with Danger Mouse)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2024 — —Template:Efn — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[85] 		MEX
[71]
"Hello Tomorrow" (Adidas version)[86]
(Squeak E. Clean featuring Karen O)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2005 85 — Non-album single
"Strange Enough"[87]
(N.A.S.A featuring Karen O, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Fatlip)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2010 — — The Spirit of Apollo
"Pinky's Dream"[88]
(David Lynch featuring Karen O)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2012 — 37 Crazy Clown Time
"Let It Grow"[89]
(Maximum Balloon featuring Karen O and Tunde Adebimpe)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		2015 — — Non-album single

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
MEX
[71]
"Strange Love" 2012 41 Frankenweenie Unleashed!

Guest appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Cut Me Up" 2004 Har Mar Superstar The Handler[90]
"The DNA Will Have Its Say" 2005 Some Girls The DNA Will Have Its Say
"Hologram World" 2007 Tiny Masters of Today Bang Bang Boom Cake[91]
"Highway 61 Revisited" The Million Dollar Bashers I'm Not There: Original Soundtrack[92]
"Strange Enough" 2009 N.A.S.A., Ol' Dirty Bastard, Fatlip The Spirit of Apollo[93]
"Watching the Planets" The Flaming Lips Embryonic
"Communion" 2010 Maximum Balloon Maximum Balloon[94]
"If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough" None Jackass 3D: Music from the Motion Picture[95]
"Go!" 2012 Santigold Master of My Make-Believe[96]
"Song for a Warrior" Swans The Seer[97]
"Strange Love" None Frankenweenie Unleashed![98]
"The Moon Song" (studio version duet) 2014 Ezra Koenig "The Moon Song (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture Her)" (single)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".[99]
"The Moon Song" (end title credit) None
"Rattlesnakes" Walter Martin, Nick Zinner We're All Young Together[100]
"Sing 2 Me" Walter Martin
"Living in a Trance" 2017 None Resistance Radio: The Man in the High Castle Album[101]
"Talisa" Daniele Luppi, Parquet Courts Milano[102]
"Flush"
"Pretty Prizes"
"The Golden Ones"
"Sorrow Is My Name" None Vanity of Vanities: A Tribute to Connie Converse[103]
"Dial D For Devotion" 2020 The Avalanches We Will Always Love You

Awards

In 2006, Karen O was nominated for the GAFFA-Prisen Award for Best Foreign Female Act.[104]

Karen O was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for co-writing "The Moon Song" with Spike Jonze for the film Her.[41]

Notes

Template:Notelist-ua

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Template:Quote
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ La Gorce, Tammy. "Success Stories In New Jersey Rock: The Un-Springsteen" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, November 16, 2003. Accessed January 2, 2008. "All of which is fine by Ms. O, 24, an Englewood native who still lives in Bergen County but declined to say where. Any rock star who struts around in outfits made specifically for her by the designer Christian Joy can expect some of that, she said."
  10. ↑ Kleimann, James. "Englewood Native's Band First in History to Perform on Empire State Building; Indie darlings the Yeah Yeah Yeahs filmed the music video "Despair" in April on top of the famous building." Template:Webarchive, Englewood-Englewood Cliffs Patch, June 26, 2013. Accessed June 14, 2018. "Karen O, the stage name of Karen Lee Orzolek, a Dwight Englewood grad, kept the filming a secret for logistical and creative reasons, she told the Times."
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Karen O is releasing her first vintage solo album Template:Webarchive June 27, 2014
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  55. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ a b c d e f Peaks in the UK:
    • Karen O: Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
    • Karen O & The Kids: Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
    • Karen O with Danger Mouse: Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Peaks in UK Physical Singles Chart:
    • "Rapt": Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
    • "Lux Prima": Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
    • "Under Pressure": Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  83. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  84. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  85. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  87. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  88. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  89. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  90. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  91. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  92. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  93. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  94. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  95. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  96. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  97. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  98. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  99. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  100. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  101. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  102. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  103. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  104. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

  • Script error: No such module "Official website".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Script error: No such module "Navbox".

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Karen_O&oldid=5506642"