The Bumblebeez

The Bumblebeez
OriginBraidwood, Australia
GenresIndie
Occupation(s)Musicians, songwriters
LabelsBang Gang 12 Inches
MembersChristopher Colonna, Pia Colonna
Websitehttp://www.thebumblebeez.com[dead link‍]

The Bumblebeez (previously known as Bumblebeez 81[1]) was an Australian indie band, formed by Christopher Colonna and his sister Pia Colonna (AKA Queen ViLa). The band's music has been described as a "cut'n'paste collision of noisy hip-hop and rock."[2] Their full-length debut album was Prince Umberto & The Sister of Ill, released in 2007.[3]

History

The band was formed by Christopher Colonna and his sister, Pia, of Braidwood, New South Wales. The band was unearthed by the Australian radio station Triple J in 2002.[4] Around the same time, they won a competition run by the ABC's short-lived Fly TV, making them the first to sign to the Fly Records label.[5] In 2004, The Bumblebeez served as opener for Radiohead in Melbourne and Sydney.[6]

The band released White Printz and Red Printz EP's, before compiling them into one album called The Printz for release in 2004.[7]

The band released their first full-length album Prince Umberto and the Sister of Ill in September 2007, featuring the singles "Dr. Love" and "Rio". The album was selected as Triple J's "feature album,"[3] and nominated for a J Award on 28 November 2007. The album was mixed by Zdar of the French band Cassius.[6] In May 2011, the EP I'm a Cowboi was released.

Their new single "Summer Bum" was premiered by Richard Kingsmill on his '2011' triple j show on Sunday 18 September.

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[8]
Prince Umberto & The Sister Of Ill
  • Released: August 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Label: 81 Records, Modular (MODCD046)
 61

Compilation albums

List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
The Printz
  • Released: 2004
  • Format: CD
  • Label: 81 Records, Modular (B0002346-12)

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
White Printz E.P
  • Released: December 2002
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Fly Music (12662)
Red Printz E.P
  • Released: 2003
  • Format: CD
  • Label: 81 Records, Modular (MODEP007)

Charting singles

List of charting single, with Australian chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[8]
"Dr Love" 2007 79 Prince Umberto & The Sister Of Ill

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.[9]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2008 "Dr Love" (Christopher Colonna, Pia Colonna) Urban Work of the Year Nominated [10]

J Award

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
J Awards of 2007 Prince Umberto and the Sister of Ill Australian Album of the Year Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Bumblebeez 81". Triple J. 18 March 2004. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  2. ^ Phares, Heather. The Bumblebeez biography Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  3. ^ a b "Review for Prince Umberto and the Sister of Ill". Triple J. 17 August 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  4. ^ "The Bumblebeez – ACT Unearthed winner". Triple J. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  5. ^ Bumblebeez 81 – White Printz EP CD CDuniverse.com. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  6. ^ a b "The J Award Nominated Albums – Prince Umberto & The Sister of Ill / Bumblebeez". Triple J. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  7. ^ Phares, Heather. The Printz review Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  8. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 45.
  9. ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Urban Work of the Year nomination - 2008". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2010.