Bif Naked

Bif Naked

Naked performing live in 2006
Background information
Birth name Beth Torbert
Also known as Beth Hopkins
Born (1971-06-15) June 15, 1971
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Origin Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres Rock, pop, pop punk
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, actress, motivational speaker
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active 1994–present
Labels International Arts Music, Her Royal Majesty
Associated acts Hedley
Moist
Will Blunderfield
Ryan Stewart
Website www.bifnaked.com

Bif Naked (born Beth Torbert on June 15, 1971) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, actress and motivational speaker.

Early life and education

Bif Naked was born in New Delhi to teenaged parents attending private school.[1] She was subsequently adopted by American missionaries.[2] She spent part of her childhood in Lexington, Kentucky, where her father was a professor at the University of Kentucky. She went to Kelsey Elementary School in The Pas, Manitoba for a couple of years. After living for a time in Dauphin, Manitoba, her family eventually settled in Winnipeg.[3][4] She graduated from John Taylor Collegiate and studied theatre at the University of Winnipeg.

The name Bif started as a nickname based on the mispronunciation of her real name, Beth.[5]

Music career

Solo albums include the self-titled album, Bif Naked, released in 1996, I Bificus in 1998 and Purge, released in 2001. A noted poet, she has also released a spoken word album called Okenspay Ordway: Things I Forgot To Tell Mommy. In 2005, after narrowing it down from over 50 songs, she released Superbeautifulmonster, which featured 13 tracks. The Promise, which was recorded while Bif was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, was released in 2009 and was dedicated to her fans. The album featured tracks mixed by Juno Award winner Mike Fraser. In 2011, after doing acoustic sets on tour, Bif released acoustic record on Her Royal Majesty's Records and in Canada Reliant Music late 2013, featuring acoustic versions of her past songs as well as four previously unreleased tracks. The Album is entitled BIF NAKED FOREVER: Acoustic Hits and Other Delights[6][7] Also due out, Bif's previously promised side project, Jakkarta.[8]

Prior to her solo career, Torbert played with punk bands Gorilla Gorilla and Chrome Dog.

She has toured Europe, the United States, and Canada as a headlining act, and has performed on bills with Snoop Dogg, Billy Idol, Dido, Devin Townsend, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Chrissie Hynde, Foo Fighters, The Cult and more.

Bif's music has been featured in and on soundtracks for shows including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, Moonlight, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven and Celebrity Deathmatch. She recorded a rendition of the Christmas classic, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" for MTV's Total Request Live CD MTV: TRL Christmas in 1999 and was also featured on the Ready to Rumble soundtrack with a cover of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It." The song "Dawn," taken from Purge, was featured in the movie American Psycho 2, starring Mila Kunis and William Shatner.

She made a guest appearance in the song "Fucker", on Strapping Young Lad's album The New Black in 2006. Bif Naked has also made guest appearances with artists such as SNFU on the songs "One Last Loveshove" and "You Make Me Thick". She also appeared on the Dead Celebrity Status album Blood Music on the track titled "In This Day And Age". In 2011, she recorded a duet with Vancouver yogi and Nettwerk recording artist Will Blunderfield for the international version of his album Hallelujah.

Bif Naked has also appeared in music videos for other artists including The Offspring's "The Kids Aren't Alright", "Believe Me" and "Silver" by Moist and Liveonrelease's "Get with It." In 2009, she appeared in the video for Simple Plan's "Save You" near the end along with other people (such as Sharon Osbourne and René Angélil) who have survived or have been treated for cancer.

Aside from her music career, Bif has also pursued acting. In 1990, she appeared in the film Archangel, where she was credited as "Bif Torbert," playing a Russian soldier. In 1997, she played a liquor store manager in The Boys Club. She appeared in the television series Once a Thief in 1998, playing Nastassja Momomame. In 2000, she voiced a character in the Daria movie, Is It Fall Yet?, playing a bisexual art camp attendee who attempts to seduce Jane Lane. She appeared in the Canadian indie films Lunch with Charles (2001) and Crossing (2005), the latter of which she recorded the song "My Greatest Masterpiece" for. She has done hosting work for the CBC Television series ZeD (becoming their first host in 2002), and for Bodog, hosting Bodog Fight in 2006 as well as a reality series chronicling the days leading up to her marriage with Vancouver Sun sports writer, Ian Walker, in 2007 called Bif Naked Bride.[9][10] She voiced the character Zoe Payne in the SSX videogame series. In 2003, she made a cameo appearance in the zombie horror film The House of the Dead. That same year, she appeared as a judge of a fictitious reality show in the TV series Cold Squad. In 2006, she guest starred on an episode of The L Word, playing a character named Cynthia. In addition, Bif Naked has appeared as herself in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven and The Chris Isaak Show. Bif Naked also narrated the TV series That's Art?! (2012).

Personal life

She is heavily tattooed, getting her first, an Egyptian Eye of Horus, when she was 16. Her tattoos include a symbol of the Tao, Japanese writing, Buddhist poetry and images (such as the Bodhisattva), and Hindu imagery; she has stated on MTV that her favorite tattoo, on her left arm, reads "Survivor." Bif identifies as straight-edge.[11][12] She is also a comic cartoonist.

Bif has always been frank about her bisexuality,[3] and the lyrics of her autobiographical songs (such as 1995's "Everything") detail her attractions to and relationships with women. She is also a strict raw food vegan for health (as opposed to ethical or religious) reasons.

She was diagnosed with a heart aneurysm, but corrective surgery was ruled out. Her song "Everyday," from her album Superbeautifulmonster, is in part a response to that experience. Bif's first marriage was to her drummer.

Bif married former Vancouver Sun sports writer Ian Walker in 2007, they divorced in 2011.[13]

In January 2008, she announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent a lumpectomy and chemotherapy.[14]

Bif Naked spoke at the University of the Fraser Valley for International Women's Day on March 8, 2013, at the Abbotsford campus in British Columbia, Canada; it was announced she would be awarded an honorary doctorate from the university in June 2013.[15]

In 2015, she became engaged to Steve Allen (not the comedian), a friend of her former bandmate Jacen Ekstrom.[16]

Band membership

Current lineup

Past members

Corrine Culbertson CoCo Bass

Political activism

On June 26, 2009, Bif Naked and Nazanin Afshin-Jam participated in the worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. They performed the song Someday.[17]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs and compilations

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
CAN
[21]
1995 "Tell On You" — Bif Naked
"Daddy's Getting Married" 12
"My Whole Life" —
"Everything" —
1998 "Spaceman" 1 I Bificus
"Chotee" —
"Lucky" 18
1999 "Moment of Weakness" 9
2000 "Twitch" — Another 5 Songs and a Poem
"We're Not Gonna Take It" —
2001 "I Love Myself Today" 5 Purge
2002 "Tango Shoes" 15
2003 "Leader" —
"Choking on the Truth" —
"Rich and Filthy" — Essentially Naked
2004 "Back in the Day" —
2005 "Let Down" — Superbeautifulmonster
"Nothing Else Matters" —
2006 "Everyday" —
2007 "My Greatest Masterpiece" — Crossing - Soundtrack
2009 "Fuck You 2" — The Promise
"Sick" —
"King of Karma" —
2012 "So Happy I Could Die" — Bif Naked Forever: (Acoustic Hits & Other Delights)
2014 "The Only One" —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "New tattoo and wedding vows for Bif Naked". CBC News. 2007-09-30. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  3. 1 2 Dudley Saunders (December 1999). "A Blast Called Bif". Interview (Interview). Retrieved 2006-09-10.
  4. ↑ "Bif Naked". The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia. Jam!. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  5. ↑ "Interview With Bif Naked". ShaveMagazine.com. External link in |publisher= (help)
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ Sandra Sperounes, "Indie artists have a new home in ZeD," Edmonton Journal, March 22, 2002, pg. E.4.
  10. ↑ Bodog bio for Bif Naked
  11. ↑ Hammett, Cait (2001-07-16). "Is That a Mic Between Bif Naked's Legs?". Chart. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  12. ↑ Miles, Kate (Fall 2003). "Giving Back". Faze. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  13. ↑ Bif Naked on surviving breast cancer and her... | Chatelaine.com
  14. ↑ Kerry Gold (January 2008). "Bif Naked diagnosed with breast cancer". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  15. ↑ "UFV to give honorary degree to Canadian rocker Bif Naked | UFV TodayUFV Today". Blogs.ufv.ca. 2013-03-12. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  16. ↑ Tereza Verenca (2015-08-05). "Bif Naked on finding new love, Pride and more!". New West Record. Retrieved 2015-08-07.
  17. ↑ Bif Naked and Nazanin Afshin-Jam sing "Someday"
  18. ↑ "Gold & Platinum Certification – January 2009". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Gold & Platinum Certification – May 2003". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  20. ↑ "New Bif Naked! So Happy I Could Die". nightMair Creative. 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  21. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 67, No. 1, March 30, 1998". RPM.

External links

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