Justin Wellington
Justin Wellington | |
|---|---|
Justin Wellington 2022, at The Green Mango Club. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Justin Wellington |
| Origin | Papua New Guinea, Australia |
| Genres | Pop, reggae, R&B, dancehall, island music |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels |
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Justin Wellington is a Papua New Guinean singer, best known for his version of "Iko Iko" as "Iko Iko (My Bestie)", together with Small Jam. His style is a blend of pop, reggae, R&B, dancehall, and island music. He has released three studio albums.
Early life and education
Justin Wellington was born in Papua New Guinea to Australian-born parents who had immigrated to PNG.
He attended schools in Texas, US, and in Canada.
Career
Wellington began working as an R&B and reggae pop singer. Hit singles include "I Wanna Give You Some Lovin'", "Better Off", "One Night With You", "Much Love", "Fire", "In Love with U", "Runaway", "Tell Me", "Reminiscing", "Rain of Morobe", and others.[1][2] He has worked with many Papua New Guinea artists, such as AK-47, Tattz from NakaBlood, Jokema, O-Shen, Robbie T, Mekere Crew, Steven M, Gravity, and DJ Travy.[1]
His musical style is a blend of pop, reggae, R&B, dancehall and island music.
Wellington's international breakthrough came with a cover of "Iko Iko",[3] originally recorded by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford in 1953 and popularised by The Dixie Cups, and many covers from the 1980s onwards. Wellington's adapted version of the song, "Iko Iko (My Bestie)", was released featuring Solomon Islands group Small Jam in 2017. It received worldwide attention as part of the social platform TikTok challenge. As a result, the cover was released by Sony Music UK on 3 June 2019, and started to gain international popularity in 2021.[4][5] His version makes various changes to the lyrics of the verses, and has its own original sections, but keeps the chorus the same. It was later added alongside the TikTok dance into the video game Fortnite Battle Royale.
Recognition and awards
Wellington was nominated for "International Revelation of the Year" during the 2021 NRJ Music Awards.[6]
Discography
Albums
- 2005: Much Love (Mangrove Productions)
- 2008: JW (Mangrove Productions)
- 2010: Reign of Morobe (Mangrove Productions)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certification | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUT [7] |
BEL [8] |
FRA [9] |
DEN [10] |
GER |
ITA |
NED [11] |
SWE[12] | SWI[13] | UK | |||
| 2021 | "Iko Iko (My Bestie)" (feat. Small Jam) |
5 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 99 |
|
Other songs
- 2005: "I Wanna Give You Some Lovin'"
- 2005: "Much Love"
- 2008: "Madina"
- 2009: "In Love With U"
- 2011: "Run Away"
- 2011: "Island Girl"
- 2011: "Fire"
- 2011: "Your Love" (feat. Sharzy)
- 2011: "Rain of Morobe" (feat. O-Shen)
- 2011: "Island Sound" (feat. K & Nela Music & D-Witty)
- 2012: "Christmas Is Finally Here" (feat. LiveBoys)
- 2013: "Need You" (feat. Pou Jackson)
- 2014: "Reminiscin" (feat. Gravity and Funky)
- 2015: "Long Way Back (To Your Heart)" (feat. Jokema)
- 2017: "Iko Iko (My Bestie)" (feat. Small Jam)
- 2017: "Island Moon" (feat. Jahboy)
- 2018: "My Girl" (feat. Leebonz & K-Dawg)
- 2020: "Sweet Mama" (feat. Papa Cidy)
- 2020: "She Don't Know" (feat. Dezine)
- 2020: "Show Me How"
- 2021: "Iko Iko (Ryan Freeston Remix)"
References
- ^ a b "PNG New Update: Justin Wellington set to release new tracks (23 April 2021)". Pngnewsupdate.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "Justin Wellington ➤ Biographie". Nrj.fr. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "New Around the World: Justin Wellington & Small Jam Bring New Orleans Classic 'Iko Iko' to Global Charts". Billboard. 16 June 2021.
- ^ Ruelle, Yohann (11 May 2021). ""Iko Iko" : le tube phénomène de Justin Wellington fait danser TikTok et la France". Chartsinfrance.net (in French). Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Venegas, Ivi (19 May 2021). "'Iko Iko': esta es la canción de moda en TikTok que está basada en un clásico de los ãnos 50". Los40.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "NRJ Music Awards 2021 : Tous Les Nommés Par Catégorie - NRJ Music Awards 2021". Nrj.fr. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "Discography Justin Wellington". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Discography Justin Wellington". Ultratop. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Discography Justin Wellington". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Discography Justin Wellington". Danishcharts.com. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Discography Justin Wellington". Dutchcharts.com. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Discography Justin Wellington". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "Discography Justin Wellington". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 12 October 2021.