Snap!
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| Snap! | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  Germany |
| Genre(s) | Electronic, Pop |
| Years active | 1989-present |
| Label(s) | Logic Records, Arista |
| Associated acts | 16 Bit, Off |
| Website | http://www.snap-world.com |
| Members | |
| Michael Münzing, Luca Anzilotti, Turbo B. | |
| Former members | |
| Jackie Harris, Penny Ford, Thea Austin, Niki Haris, Summer | |
Snap! is an electronic music project created by German producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti formerly known as "16 BIT". However, due to the general public's preconceived notions of German music, they decided to credit their work as Benito Benites and John "Virgo" Garrett III.
Contents |
[edit] History
Snap!'s first hit, "The Power" became an international global smash, thanks in part to the combination of house and hip hop elements, but a great deal in part to the unauthorized sampling of a track "Let the Words Flow" by US rapper Chill Rob G. On their first album, World Power, their vocalists were rapper Turbo B. (Born: April 30th, 1967 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]; real name: Durron Maurice Butler) and model/singer Jackie Harris, who was responsible for lip-synching the line, "I've got the power," on the song "The Power" to Jocelyn Brown's voice, though Penny Ford sang the rest of the female vocal on the song.
In 1990, more hits followed: "Ooops Up", "Cult of Snap", "Mary Had a Little Boy" and in 1991 "Snap - Megamix". Penny Ford was the sole female vocalist on the ensuing singles, as well as being the lead vocalist on the majority of the featured album tracks on Snap!'s debut album. Also in 1990, Snap! also introduced a new song to the Rocky V official movie soundtrack entitled "Keep It Up." In 1991, Snap!'s "The Power" was also included in The Fisher King official movie soundtrack.
Snap! returned to the charts in 1992 with The Madman's Return, which featured four more hit singles in Europe, "Colour of Love", "Rhythm is a Dancer", "Exterminate!" and the UK Top 10 Hit "Do You See The Light?". However, by this stage, a noticeable amount of friction had developed between the producers and the vocalists and eventually they would all leave the band. Thea Austin had already replaced Jackie Harris, though Penny Ford stayed on throughout the Madman recording sessions, (Ford sang the lead female vocal on the hit song, "Colour of Love", as well as the title track of the Madman album) but they too had left by the time the third album came along.
Niki Haris, who had sung "Exterminate" and "Do You See The Light?", was retained, alongside newcomer Summer, for the European hit single Welcome To Tomorrow the song was released in in 1994. An album of the same name was released the same year, but by now the songs had evolved into a more European progressive house sound. Without the stage presence and raps of Turbo B., Snap! continued receiving airplay, but the project's popularity was decreasing. "The First, The Last, Eternity", although a Top 10 hit in Germany, never enjoyed the same level of recognition as "The Power". Two more singles were released: "The World In My Hands" and "Rame" with Rukmani.
[edit] Disbanding
Snap! were officially disbanded after the release of the 1996 best-of album, Attack!. A significant portion of their decline had to do with an informal black-listing of the band in the club scene due to an unfortunate remark from a band member that was perceived to be anti-gay. This issue haunted them up till 2003 when an apology was issued and the club scene welcomed them back aboard. This opened the door for their best of/remix album which was promoted in Germany on several Christopher-street-prides and together with the in Berlin famous drag queen Krylon Superstar who also appeared on Television for Snap!.
[edit] Comeback
Münzing and Anzilotti tried a comeback in 2000, with Turbo B.'s return and a new vocalist, but the proposed album, One Day on Earth, was never released, due to various problems during production. Fortunately for Snap!, a few producers, such as Tom Novy from Germany and Motivo Productions from Italy, started remixing some of their old hits, which led to the release of a remix/greatest hits album, The Cult of Snap!, in 2003 . The album included some remix hits in Europe: "See the light" remixed by Plaything in 2002, the C.J. Stone remix of "Rhythm is a Dancer" which reached number 7 in Germany and number 17 in the UK in 2003. The C.J. Stone remix of "Rhythm is a Dancer" is still commonly played at nightclubs in the UK and Europe, often as the last track in a set, and has become somewhat of a dance anthem. And two more remixed hits: "The Power of Bhangra" (#21 in Germany and #34 in the UK, the video was filmed in Sri Lanka) and Ooops up! 2003 (feat. NG3) remixed by DJ Tomekk. In 2003, "The Power" was introduced into the trailers and official soundtrack of the movie "Bruce Almighty" starring Jim Carrey.
Throughout their career, they scored nine Top 10 singles, including two Number Ones in the United Kingdom ("The Power" and "Rhythm Is A Dancer"). 2006 with a brand new single called "Beauty Queen", but the single has never been released outside the clubs.
In 2008, an edited version of the original Rhythm is a Dancer appeared on a TV commercial in the UK for "Drench" spring water. This caused the song to return to the top 40 of the UK charts for the first time since 1992, entering at number 36. The song then climbed to number 32 a week later.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1990 World Power (#10 UK (gold), #7 Ger (platinum), #30 US (platinum)
- 1992 The Madman's Return (#8 UK (platinum), #3 Ger (gold) , #121 US (gold)
- 1995 Welcome To Tomorrow (#10 Ger), (#12 UK)
- 1996 Attack!
- 1996 Attack! - The Remixes
- 2000 One Day On Earth (unreleased)
- 2001 The Greatest Hits
- 2002 The Power - Best Of Snap!
- 2003 The Cult Of Snap! (US: The Power Of Snap!) (#43 Ger), (#49, Uk)
[edit] Singles
- 1990 "The Power" #1 UK (platinum), #2 Ger (platinum), #2 US (platinum), #2 France (2x platinum), #2, Australia (gold), #3 Japan (gold)
- 1990 "Ooops Up" #5 UK, (silver) #2 Ger, #35 US (gold)
- 1990 "Cult of Snap"(#8 UK, #3 Ger)
- 1990 "Mary Had a Little Boy" (#8 UK, #4 Ger)
- 1991 "Megamix" (#10 UK, #15 Ger)
- 1991 "Colour of Love" (#9 Ger, (gold), #6 France (gold), #53 UK)
- 1992 "Rhythm Is a Dancer", #1 UK (platinum), #1 Ger (platinum), #1, France (gold), #1 Australia (gold), #2, Japan (gold), #4 Switzerland (gold) #5 US (gold)
- 1992 "Exterminate!", #2 UK (silver), #3 Ger (gold), #9 Spain (gold), #15 Switzerland (silver), #18 France (silver)
- 1993 "Do You See The Light (Looking For)", (#10 UK, #13 Ger)
- 1994 "Welcome To Tomorrow (Are You Ready?)", (#6 UK (silver), #4 Ger (gold), #1 France (gold), #2 Switzerland (gold);
- 1995 "The First The Last Eternity (Till The End)" (#15 UK, #7 Ger)
- 1995 "The World in my Hands"
- 1996 "Rame"
- 1996 "The Power '96"
- 1996 "Rhythm is a Dancer '96"
- 2000 "Gimme a Thrill"
- 2002 "Do You See The Light 2002" vs Plaything
- 2002 "Rhythm is a Dancer 2002" vs CJ Stone, #7 (Ger), #17 (UK)
- 2003 "The Power (Of Bhangra)", #21 (Ger), #34 (UK)
- 2003 "Ooops up 2003"
- 2005 "Beauty Queen"
- 2006 "Excited"
- 2006 "We Want Your Soul"
- 2008 "Rhythm Is a Dancer" (re-issue) (#23 UK)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Snap! at danceartistinfo.com: more information in this page.
