Anne Lilia Berge Strand (born November 21, 1978 in Trondheim, Norway), better known by her stage name Annie, is a pop artist and DJ from Bergen, Norway. She made her recording debut with the single "The Greatest Hit" (1999), which features a sample from Madonna's "Everybody" and became an underground club hit in Norway and Britain after its release. Her debut album Anniemal (2004) created a buzz among music bloggers that brought her into the international spotlight.
While Anniemal did not achieve major commercial success, the album received widespread critical acclaim and was awarded Best Pop Album at the Spellemannsprisen, an annual Norwegian music award ceremony, where Annie also won Best Newcomer. The album's second single "Heartbeat" was chosen as Pitchfork Media's #1 Single of 2004 before it was officially released.
Annie has been praised for bringing credibility to pop music, a genre that is criticized as lacking subtance. She has been described as "the Kylie it's cool to like" and "a pop singer with credibility, an indie artist with one eye on the dancefloor". Her second album Don't Stop is scheduled for release in September 2008 on Island Records.
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