Biography
Melissa Janis Lefton (born August 13, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois) is a singer, songwriter, and self-styled comedian. Her song "I Love Life" was on the the soundtrack album for The Princess Diaries movie, released in 2001. A cover song she did, He Blinded Me With Science appeared on the soundtrack to Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
Her debut major label album, with her punk rock band "Product," was slated to be released in 1999 but was shelved two weeks beforehand. Her second album, Melicious, for Jive Records, was slated for release on September 11, 2001 and (partially) because of the events of that day, was not released at all. In addition she was told by her label there was no viable single on the album.
In an attempt to salvage her career the label set her up with a manager who sent her to Los Angeles to become an actress. Discouraged with the vapid roles she was offered she returned to New York City. She spent several years working professionally as a commercial jingle writer; Lefton's vocals can be heard in the infamous commercial for Pepsi by Britney Spears as well as ads for T.J. Maxx and Chevy.1
Lefton has been compared to singers like Cyndi Lauper, Deborah Gibson and Julie Brown and was even critically referred to as the "anti-Britney." Combining an upbeat pop sound with breathy, little-girl vocals. Lefton writes satirical songs that often address very serious issues. Melicious took on topics like pollution, date-rape, occultism and murder, with tongue in cheek. In 2006 Lefton released the album Hello on an independent record label.
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