Mandy Moore's Early Life and Discovery:
Mandy Moore was born in Nashua, New Hampshire on April 10, 1984. However, she was raised near Orlando, Florida due to a move required by her father's job. Moore developed an interest in singing at an early age and was particularly encouraged to perform by her maternal grandmother who had an entertainment background. Young Mandy Moore became known as the "National Anthem Girl" in the Orlando area due to her performances at sports events. This exposure eventually lead to her signing to a recording contract by Epic Records while still a teen.
Quote from Mandy Moore:
From publicity material for the album Wild Hope:
"Teen pop was a great platform to start from; I'm not someone who regrets anything. But in those days, I was just given song and told to go into the studio and record them. Yet, I think that as you get older, you change and so do your musical tastes. And not to have those changes reflected in the music I was so involved with was very disheartening to me."
So Real:
Mandy Moore's first album So Real was released in December, 1999. She had gained public exposure touring with the Backstreet Boys. The album peaked at #31 and ultimately sold nearly 1 million copies in the US alone. The single "Candy," while missing the top 40 at home, was a top 10 pop hit in the UK.
The Mandy Moore Show and Early Films:
Mandy Moore began to build a strong fan base after hosting her own MTV talk show. She also appeared in a range of television commercials. Her acting career kicked into a higher gear after a key supporting role in the 2001 film The Princess Diaries. She sang the song "Stupid Cupid" in the movie.
The next movie role for Mandy Moore was a co-starring part in 2002's A Walk to Remember, an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Though the film was not a blockbuster, Moore received strong positive reviews of her performance.
Top Mandy Moore Songs:
- 1999 - Candy, #41 Pop
- 2000 - I Wanna Be With You, #24 Pop
- 2001 - In My Pocket
- 2003 - Have a Little Faith In Me
- 2007 - Extraordinary
I Wanna Be With You and Mandy Moore:
Disappointed with the sales of her debut album, Epic Records reshuffled the tracks, remixed some, and added a few new songs for I Wanna Be With You, Mandy Moore's second album. It was released in 2000, just 6 months after So Real. The title song became her biggest hit single to date, and the album sold over 800,000 copies.
The 3rd album, Mandy Moore, appeared in June, 2001. Reviews were mostly positive, but sales were poor. The album debuted at #35 on the album chart and sold only about half as many copies as her first album.
Film and TV Acting Roles:
While Mandy Moore's commercial success as a singer foundered, she struggled in films as well. Starring roles in How to Deal and Chasing Liberty failed to find a mass audience. Moore continued to receive positive comments from critics, but teen fans were unmoved.
Despite the rough commercial patches, Mandy Moore remains in demand as an actress. She appeared in 2 episodes of the popular TV comedy Scrubs in 2006 and played a key supporting role in Hugh Grant's American Dreamz. Moore has multiple film projects underway.
Coverage and a Change of Direction:
Mandy Moore's musical style abruptly changed direction in 2003. Working with producer John Fields, she put together a collection of cover versions of songs by some of the top pop songwriters of the 70's and 80's. The album had a distinctively adult sound to it. Unfortunately, despite a peak at #14 on the album chart, sales were poor and, following the release of a Greatest Hits album, Epic Records dropped Mandy Moore from their artist roster.
Mandy Moore Trivia Fact:
Mandy Moore has 2 siblings - brothers Scott and Kyle.
Wild Hope and Emergence As an Adult Performer:
In early 2007 Mandy Moore reappeared on the pop music scene. She told Star Pulse "I'm still figuring it all out, but I want to be extraordinary. I want to live up to my full potential." A new album titled Wild Hope is the result of 2 years of work with producer John Alagia, best-known for work with John Mayer and the Dave Matthews Band. The sound is an adult brand of folk-pop. Mandy Moore particpated in writing all of the songs along with other acclaimed songwriters including the Weepies, Lori McKenna, Rachael Yamagata, and Chantal Kreviazuk. Wild Hope was leaked early on the Internet well before its scheduled appearance in stores June 19, 2007.
