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Despite selling over seven million albums worldwide and singing duets with Elton John and Paul McCartney, Anastacia remains virtually unknown in the United States, that is, outside of the club-going set and those who stumbled upon her thinking her singles were Taylor Dayne making a comeback. "People from the U.S. ask me what country I'm from," says Anastacia, who now lives in London. "I'm like, 'The country of Chicago.'"
Anastacia got her big break after making an appearance on MTV's short-lived talent show, The Cut. She didn't win but she found herself on the phone with newly won fan Michael Jackson, who encouraged her and helped her land a deal with Epic Records. Now, with a second album, Freak of Nature, already certified triple platinum overseas since its release last December and a spot on the latest edition of VH1's Divas show, Anastacia wants to spread her success to her homeland.
The U.S. edition of the album includes the bonus track, "I Thought I Told You That," a collaboration with R&B diva Faith Evans, who was one of the judges on The Cut. "I am still laughing that she liked me," Anastacia confesses.
Do most people assume you are European?
Totally. Even my fans! They think I'm from London or Argentina, but I'm homegrown right here in the States. I just happened to go overseas and blew up over there -- I think that's the confusion. I also have a name that's not Sally or Britney. People hear Anastacia and they just assume I'm this foreign chick that doesn't speak English.
It's a very exotic name.
I'm exotic on the D.L. [laughs]
Since U.S. listeners aren't as familiar with you, tell us some of your career highlights?
It's hard to put it all into perspective when my very first duet was with Elton John at Madison Square Garden. Then I think it was Pavarotti, Wyclef, Jamiroquai and then Paul McCartney. When you have a spectrum like that, how do you pick one? And the experience is different on all levels with such a variety of music. I was very grateful to be part of each one of their lives and their music. I've learned a lot by working with all of those artists and feel extremely blessed they wanted to work with me.
What do you like best about London?
It's got such a great city vibe. It's like there is a piece of New York in it, but they would never disrespect you by honking at you and then flipping you the bird. They'd be like [in a British accent], "It's OK, stay there for three hours. We've got time." And they'd sit there wanting to diss you but never yelling at you. God love them for that. They need to yell! I could deal with some London yelling, but they just don't do it.
A few weeks ago there was a private listening party for Freak of Nature. You weren't scheduled to sing, but you had them turn down the vocals and belted out a few songs. What motivates you to get up and sing?
I'm not really nervous about singing. And I don't think singing is about showboating. I don't believe in that. It's really about a wonderful way that you can express a feeling, and music is a such a tender way to do that. Sometimes words aren't even strong enough on their own. When you put a melody behind it, and sometimes a choir of musicians, the meaning of what you're saying has so much more depth. And that's what I love about music -- it's the truest sense of poetry.
How do you feel about being on Divas and the word "diva"?
I'm very excited to be on the show. I'm very intimidated by the word "diva" -- only because it has connotations of "Clap, clap, clap, where are my shoes?" I'm probably the most humble diva in the category. I can't give my underwear or dirty tissues to anyone. I have the success, but I don't wear it around my neck -- I wear it around my wrist! [holds up bracelet, laughing]. Just kidding! I have this success but it's not about reminding everyone about it every moment of the day. It's saying, "I was successful yesterday but I may not be successful today so let's just hold the boat there." The VH-1 project is a beautiful way to bring me out to America. In a way, no one will know who I am. I'll go out there in front of who knows how many people and who knows how many more watching at home, and be blessed to really enjoy performing in front of a shocked audience. They'll be saying "Who is that blonde girl? What's her name? Anamasia? Anatascia? Fantasia?" [laughs]
What is the significance behind the title Freak of Nature?
When I was starting this album, I thought it would be a great way of saying you don't have to be a beauty queen, you can be a freak of nature and still be popular and still be someone people can relate to. When I put all the songs for the album and lined them up, it was just the most enticing title. I also thought what a great way to make people who say, "Why is she calling herself a freak? Does she have low self-esteem? Is she unhappy with herself?" turn around and say, "Why does freak have to be negative?" People have been taught it's a negative thing. The same way Michael Jackson used the word "bad" and made it good, I use the word "freak" and make it a positive!