A NINETIES dance-pop superstar has barely aged a day since number-one dance floor hit Groove Is In The Heart.
American singer-songwriter and DJ Kierin Magneta Kirby is best known for being the vocalist for house and dance music group Deee-lite.
While the radiant star posts infrequently on social media, further adding to her mythical and mysterious persona, Deee-lite devotees often leave adoring comments under her most glamorous posts.
Supporters of the ageless star frequently swarm her Instagram account to comment on Lady Kier’s still youthful appearance.
One fan left a recent comment on her Instagram account: “Groove will always be in your heart, gorgeous forever.”
Another fan shared a similar sentiment, leaving the comment: “You are still stunning in all of these photos! The definition of talent, beauty and glamour all rolled into one. It’s time for a comeback!”
Groove Is in the Heart was taken from the three-piece groups 1990 debut studio album, World Clique, which was a worldwide top-ten hit in numerous countries, propelled by the success of their debut single.
In 1990, the iconic pop song reached number-two on the UK Official Singles Chart, number-one on the US Dance Club Songs Chart, number-four Billboard Hot 100 and number-one on both the Australian Singles Chart and Canadian Dance and Urban Chart.
EARLY BEGINNINGS
Deee-lite formed in 1986 in New York City, with Ohio-native, Lady Miss Kier on vocals and songwriting, Ukrainian-born Dmitry Brill, 60, and Korean-Japanese Jungle DJ Towa Tei, 59.
Lady Kier majored in textile design at New York’s Pratt Phoenix School of Design, but later dropped out to focus on songwriting.
The talented trio would spend the next three years performing in downtown house and hip-hop clubs in New York, and opening up for legendary rap groups such the Jungle Brothers and De La Soul.
Many outlets, including Rolling Stone magazine, have pinpointed Deee-lites initial success and appeal to the groups perceived inclusiveness, “they drew in vivid, pan-sexual and multi-racial crowds with their music.”
Their funk-techno innovators were early adopters of computer generated synth sounds, and jazz and funk samples. Lady Kier’s signature bell-bottom heels and retro-style caught the attention of many soon-to-be collaborators and fans.
Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins became a fan of the new group, and played the bass in many sessions after watching them perform. Bootsy would additionally help the young group assemble a touring band.
Under their production company, Sampladelic, Bootsy and Deee-lite would produce their first and second albums which Lady Kier wrote all melodies and lyrics for.
NINETIES POP FAME
In 1990, Deee-lite released their debut album, World Clique, which included their debut single, Groove Is in the Heart, became a global hit.
That same year, the late fashion designer Thierry Mugler, invited Lady Kier to walk in Mugler’s Paris Fashion week show after being inspired by her vibrant and colourful club fashion.
Groove Is in the Heart is largely recognised as being one of the 90s most influential electronic-dance tracks, relying heavily on samples across many genres.
This includes, a main riff from Herbie Hancock’s song Bring Down the Birds, and guest vocals from funk icon and bassist Bootsy Collins, 72, and a rap verse from US rapper Q-Tip from hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest.
While their politically-centred second album, Infinity Within failed to chart as high as their debut album, they still managed to secure two top-10 US Dance hits Pussycat Meow and Runaway.
At this time, group member Towa choose not to tour with the band, preferring to contribute his time to the group from home with the use of mixing the groups records and samples.
After an extensive tour for their first album, Lady Kier and Dmitry were allegedly not given touring funding by Warner music as they stated they were initially contractually due.
While recording what would be their third and final album, 1994’s Dewdrops in the Garden, Towa would abruptly leave the group after deciding to take a break. He would only appear on the albums lead single, Call Me.
Their third and final album moved away from their politically-charged sophomore effort, to a more psychedelic theme.
Towa would be replaced with DJ Ani, and in spite of group changes and limited record label support, Deee-lite would spend most of 1994 touring.
In 1995, the group disbanded after Lady Kier and Dmitry’s personal and professional relationship broke down.
SEGA DRAMA
In 2003, Lady Kier sued the video game company Sega, as she believed the character of Ulala in its popular Dreamcast game, Space Channel 5, was ‘created in her likeness’.
This stems from a July 2000 meeting, where a Sega affiliate allegedly contacted Lady Kier to ask whether she would be interested in promoting the game in England, using the song Groove Is in The Heart.
Lady Kier rejected the offer, and believed Sega used her likeness without her permission. She pointed out the characters name, Ulala, as a perceived reference to her trademark phrase, Ooh la la, which she often uses in performances.
During the lawsuit, Sega defended their company by showing evidence that the character and the game had been created and released in Japan long before the alleged contact, between 1997 and 1999.
The developers of the game further explained that they had never heard of Lady Kier, or of Deee-lite. The case ended in 2006, when the judge ruled in Sega’s favour, and Lady Kier lost her appeal.
The courts ruled that irrespective any perceived character similarities to Ulala, they believed the character did not bare much resemblance to Lady Kier. She was obligated to pay Sega’s legal fees of £480,046.
In 2008, Groove Is in the Heart was later licensed for use in Sega’s Nintendo Wii’s game, Samba de Amigo. The song was used in a section of the game where the Ulala character appears.
RECENT YEARS
In 2001, the group released a greatest hits albums. The timeless group, charted six number-one singles on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart over the short give years they were together.
In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked Deee-lite as the 55th most successful dance artists of all time.
Critics and fans alike have drawn a distinction between Lady Kier’s eccentric sound and fashion, and today’s new pop and disco inspired icons such as Dua Lipa, 28, Lady Gaga, 38 and Katy Perry, 39.
The original three members of the group have survived alleged bouts of financial issues relating to less than ideal contracts and management, through djing, Lady Kier’s continues to write songs and tour, which has allowed the talented artist to survive the industry.
Lady Kier reflected on her everlasting legacy in Vogue magazine back in 2016, telling the magazine: “I’m only 5’3, so I gravitated towards platform shoes. My style icons are Grace Jones and Eartha Kitt.”
She continued: “I’ve learned to create my own scene and path. I’m thrilled to hear house music revivals coming from London over the last five years. I’m thoroughly inspired by their take on the early 90s NYC/New Jersey house sound we were apart of.”
In 1995, Lady Kier left New York City for London where she learned she learned music engineering and became a DJ.
The singer-activist moved back to New York in the noughties where she currently resides, and regularly performs DJ sets internationally.
