Labi Siffre

Labi Siffre (born June 25, 1945) is a British poet, pop singer, and songwriter.

Related Topics:
June 25 - 1945

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Born in London to an English mother and a Nigerian father, Siffre was brought up in Bayswater. In the early 1970s he had solo hits with "It Must Be Love" (1971) (later covered by Madness) and "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" (1972).

Related Topics:
London - Nigeria - Bayswater - 1970s - 1971 - Covered - Madness - 1972

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His poetry focuses on the plight of the marginalised and dispossessed. His first poetry book was Nigger in 1993. His poetry addresses wide ranging themes of childhood, sociology, theology, racism and homophobia and the methods by which the mainstream dismisses the marginalised and dispossessed.

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His song, "Something Inside So Strong" (which failed to be selected as the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest) has since become popular, and is used in a television advertisement.

Related Topics:
Eurovision Song Contest - Television

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Siffre is openly gay; ironically, Eminem's first hit single "My Name Is" sampled Siffre's song "I Got The ..." (from his 1975 album Remember My Song.)

Related Topics:
Gay - Eminem - 1975

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