Snap!

Michael Münzing (a.k.a. Benito Benites) and Luca Anzilotti (a.k.a. John 'Virgo' Garrett III), two producers from Frankfurt, Germany, hired Durron Butler (a.k.a. Turbo B.), a Germany-based squaddie from Pittsburgh and Jackie Harris, as well as Penny Ford. Their first single from their debut album 'World Power' named 'The Power' was originally released in the US and relied heavily on unauthorised samples: such as the the drum loop (from 'King of the Beats' by Mantronix), the the now classic hook 'I've got the power' (from 'Love's Gonna Get You' by Jocelyn Brown) and the rap (from 'Let the Words Flow' by Chill Rob G). While Jackie Harris appears in the video, the vocals were actually sung by Penny Ford. The track has seen many changes, because Chill Rob G threatened to sue for plagiarism and the production duo quickly recorded the rap bit with Turbo B. The Power eventually did fly and made it into the Top5 and Top10 in several countries worldwide.

Jackie left the group shortly afterwards and Penny became its vocalist, recording the follow ups 'Ooops Up', 'Cult of Snap' and 'Mary Had a Little Boy', famous for it's nursery rhyme line.
The album was certified platinum, both in the UK and the US. It sold more than 7 million copies worldwide, and to this day remains one of the best-selling dance albums of all time.
In 1991, 'Rhythm Is a Dancer' was planned to be the lead single from the second album 'The Madman's Return', but Turbo B. hated the track, particularly the famous line '...I'm as serious as cancer when I say rhythm is a dancer...'.
The album was another multi-million seller but Turbo B., who continued arguing with the producers, decided to leave the group shortly after its release. Both Penny Ford and Thea Austin followed suit, but Snap! was far from over. 'Exterminate!' was released with vocals by Niki Haris, formerly a backing singer for Madonna, as well as 'Do You See the Light'.
Now that all former members of the group had moved on, Münzing and Anzilotti moved towards a progressive house sound, but Snap! was disbanded in 1996. A few attempts to release Best Of albums failed.
In June 2010 Snap! performed at Glastonbury Festival. Original lead vocalist Penny Ford was joined by rapper Benjamin Lowe to do a 30 mins Live show. Festival-goers flocked to see them and numbers far outstretched the Wow! tent's capacity. Some were left disappointed when the famous rap 'I'm serious as cancer when I say rhythm is a dancer' was omitted from the track.
Despite their slow and visible decline, Snap! are remembered as one the the essential formations of the early 1990s.

Snap! - The Power (1990)
1990: UK#1, CH#1, NL#1, Euro Hot100 #1, DE#2, US#2, AT#3, FIN#2, NOR#3, SWE#3, IT#4, IRL#5, NZ#6, AUS#13, FR#15 1996: FIN#12, SWE#40
Certifications: Platinum: US, Gold: Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Silver: UK



Snap! - Ooups up (1990)
DE#2, AT#2, CH#2, NL#2, SWE#2, AUS#4, UK#5, FR#34, US#35



Snap! - The Cult of Snap (1990)
AT#2, DE#3, CH#5, NL#6, UK#8, SWE#12, AUS#27



Snap! - Mary Had a Little Boy (1990)
NL#3, DE#4, CH#4, SWE#7, UK#8, AT#9, AUS#18



Snap! - Rhythm is a Dancer (1992)
DE#1, AT#1, CH#1, UK#1, IRL#1, IT#1, FR#1, NL#1, SWE#2, AUS#3, FIN#3, NOR#4, US#5, NZ#11, DK#11



Snap! - Exterminate (1993)
CH#2, UK#2, IRL#2, DE#3, NL#4, SWE#7, AT#9, NOR#9, FR#18, NZ#25, US#29, AUS#50



Snap! - Do You See The Light (1993)
AT#8, NL#9, DE#13, CH#10, UK#10, SWE#20, FR#40



Snap! - The First The Last Enternity (1995)
NL#2, AT#3, DE#7, UK#15

No comments:

Post a Comment