Arabesque (group)

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Arabesque
The classic Arabesque lineup (1980): (From top) Jasmin Vetter, Sandra Lauer, Michaela Rose
The classic Arabesque lineup (1980): (From top) Jasmin Vetter, Sandra Lauer, Michaela Rose
Background information
OriginFrankfurt, West Germany (now Germany)
GenresEuro disco, pop, dance pop
Years active1977–1984, 2006-present
LabelsRCA/Victor
MembersMichaela Rose
Sabine Kemper
Silke Brauner[1]
Past membersSandra Lauer (1979-1984)
Jasmin Vetter (1978-1984)
Elke Brückheimer (1979)
Heike Rimbeau (1978-1979)
Karen Ann Tepperis (1977-1978)
Mary Ann Nagel (1977-1978)
Websitewww.arabesque-music.com

Arabesque are an all-girl trio formed at the height of the European disco era in 1977 in Frankfurt, West Germany. The group's changing lineup worked with the German composer Jean Frankfurter (Erich Ließmann).

Arabesque were especially popular in Japan.[2] Their songs began being aired on Japanese late-night radio shows in the late 1970s, and with support from groups such as the Takenoko-zoku, they became especially popular with teenagers and a driving force behind the popularity of Western music in Japan in the early 1980s. Their popularity also spread to South Korea, Chinese-speaking countries, and other parts of Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

History[edit]

1975–1978: Formation and early years[edit]

In 1975, schlager music singer Mary Ann Nagel proposed a girl group to producer Wolfgang Mewes, who accepted. Two additional members were recruited through a singing competition.[3] A Brit (Karen Ann Tepperis), a German-Mexican (Michaela Rose), and a German (Mary Ann Nagel) comprised the initial group.[4][5]

After the first album, the band lineup changed by keeping only the original member Michaela Rose, while replacing the two other girls, Karen Ann Tepperis and Mary Ann Nagel, with new members Jasmin Vetter and Heike Rimbeau, respectively. Nagel was replaced due to family commitments and becoming tired of the long daily commute from Karlsruhe to Frankfurt am Main, where the group was based. Tepperis was replaced due to the fact that she was pregnant and could not go on tour. The surprising overnight success of Hello Mr. Monkey in Japan prompted the producers to schedule an immediate tour to Japan. The duration of Heike Rimbeau in the group was also short-lived; due to her pregnancy in 1978, she was briefly substituted with Elke Brückheimer.[6] This German country singer appeared only in a few live performances during the year 1979. However, shortly afterward, she too was replaced by Sandra Lauer. Lauer had previously attended the Young Star Music contest in 1975, where she achieved a record deal and released the song "Andy mein Freund" ("My Friend Andy").[7] In 1979, at age 17, Lauer was invited to become the lead singer of Arabesque.

1979–1984: Breakthrough[edit]

Arabesque became extremely popular in Japan and South Korea, and also had success in the USSR and the Eastern Bloc. The group first appeared in Japan in 1979 for a television special, performing Hello Mr. Monkey on the 11PM TV show. Lauer even spent her 18th birthday in Japan while they were on tour there in May 1980. They later took part in the Seoul Song Festival in 1981. Further, the group performed a number of concerts in Japan between 1980 and 1982. During these, they released a live album, dubbed "Fancy Concert". All in all, Arabesque came to Japan on tours a total of 6 times during their career.

Back at home in Germany in 1980, the single "Take Me Don't Break Me" became a hit, which only scraped the German Top 40. Their next single, "Marigot Bay", would become their only Top Ten hit a few weeks later.[8] They made multiple TV appearances in Europe with this song about a lost love.[9] Arabesque never had the same level of success in Germany than in the Far East. Albeit they were almost identical in appearance to other European disco trios (i.e. A La Carte or Luv'), their songs were mostly written to cater a Japanese audience instead of the European discotheque scene. 5 albums were released in their entirety in Germany. The group did release in some 20 other countries, such as Italy, Mexico, Scandinavia, and they had a Number 1 album in Argentina.[10][11][12]

The group's two last singles, 'Ecstasy' and 'Time To Say Goodbye' became hits in various European markets after they split, as they sounded very close to the Italo disco sound which was a very popular music genre in Europe in the mid-1980s. Those songs spread and gained success through LP compilations of dance/pop music and bootleg tapes, so the band could never take advantage of this success.

1985–1989: Duo Rouge[edit]

Rouge
OriginFrankfurt, West Germany
GenresEuro disco
Years active1985–1988
Past membersJasmin Vetter
Michaela Rose

After they split up in 1984, Jasmin and Michaela continued on as the duo "Rouge". The duo aimed to continue the tradition and style of Arabesque, and surprisingly featured Jasmin Vetter as the lead singer.[11]

After split[edit]

After split, Sandra embarked in a solo career becoming a successful singer worldwide. While Sandra's success spread worldwide, the interest on Arabesque raised as well. The last Arabesque singles also introduced the "Italo disco" sound to Japan, under the term "eurobeat", previously used in the UK for the Stock Aitken Waterman productions.

2006–present: Comebacks[edit]

  • On 16 December 2006, Arabesque (featuring Michaela Rose and two new members, Sabine Kaemper and Silke Brauner) headlined the second "Legends of Retro FM" festival in Moscow.[13] According to Russian press at the time, they were planning a tour in Japan and possibly releasing a new album.[14] The current trio has been performing across many of the former Eastern Bloc countries, as of 2018.
  • In 2017, Michaela Rose re-recorded one of the Arabesque songs, "Zanzibar", that was released with a support from Monopol Records[15] Also in 2017, Jasmin Vetter launched her own reincarnation of the group (Jasmin Vetter of Arabesque and the City Cats), as part of a celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the group.[16][17][18]

Discography[edit]

Main article: Arabesque discography
  • 1978 – Friday Night (also called Arabesque I)
  • 1979 – City Cats (also called Arabesque II)
  • 1980 – Marigot Bay (also called Arabesque III)
  • 1980 – Midnight Dancer (also called Arabesque IV)
  • 1981 – In for a Penny (also called Arabesque V or Billy's Barbeque)
  • 1982 – Caballero (also called Arabesque VI)
  • 1982 – Why No Reply (also called Arabesque VII)
  • 1983 – Loser Pays the Piper (also called Arabesque VIII)
  • 1984 – Time to Say Goodbye (also called Arabesque IX)
  • 2018 – The Up Graded Collection

References[edit]

  1. ^ ARABESQUE original Michaela Rose (17 January 2018). "ARABESQUE original Michaela Rose "Hello Mr Monkey" (Moldova, Orhei)". Archived from the original on 12 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (18 November 1995). Billboard Nov 18, 1995. p. 78. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ ARABESQUE feat Karen Ann Tepperis - Infomappe Young Star Records shakira.de
  4. ^ "Michaela Rose, the mysterious Lady from Arabesque (exclusive interview for www.Discostras80.com 2018)". discostars80.com.
  5. ^ ARABESQUE feat Karen Ann Tepperis Presse Artikel shakira.de
  6. ^ "ДИСКОТЕКА 80-х гг". en.mindal.mybb.ru.
  7. ^ "Výhodné pojištění". Výhodné pojištění.
  8. ^ Steffen Hung. "Arabesque - Marigot Bay". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  9. ^ "CLEAR SPOT". Clear Spot.
  10. ^ "Arabesque - Arabesque (1978)". NoNaMe. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  11. ^ a b "The World Of Arabesque". www.discostars80.com.
  12. ^ "Disco Savvy: 1979 Disco hits and rarities". www.discosavvy.com.
  13. ^ "Суперзвезды музыки 70х, 80х и 90х — участники "Легенды Ретро FM"". «Легенды Ретро FM».
  14. ^ "16.12.06 Retro FM (in Russian)". Archived from the original on 21 February 2007.
  15. ^ https://www.amazon.de/Zanzibar-Arabesque-original-Michaela-Rose[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Rainbow Entertainment". www.facebook.com.
  17. ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  18. ^ "Jasmin Vetter of Arabesque and the CityCats – Rainbow Entertainment".

External links[edit]

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