La Bouche
Encyclopedia
La Bouche was a Eurodance
/Dance-pop
duo formed by Frank Farian
in Germany
in 1994, originally consisting of Melanie Thornton
and Lane McCray
, scoring two major worldwide hits in the mid-1990s with "Be My Lover
" and "Sweet Dreams
".
when re-issued in that year.
While still with the group Thornton had some American
chart
success as featured vocalist on the Le Click
hit "Tonight Is The Night", which reached number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It was included on the U.S. release of La Bouche's album Sweet Dreams, which was released in 1996, and peaked at number 28 on the Billboard 200
. It was certified double-platinum by the RIAA and sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
"Be My Lover" went to number 1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
chart in 1995 and climbed to number 6 on the Hot 100 in early 1996. It was then re-released in the UK and reached a new peak of number 25. It went on to win the ASCAP
award for the "Most Played Song in America", and sold 6 million copies worldwide. "Sweet Dreams" also went to number 13 in the U.S. "Fallin' in Love", a cover of the 1975 Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds song, and "I Love To Love" were also hit singles taken from the album.
The first single from their second album S.O.S. was called "You Won't Forget Me". Released in 1998, it reached number 48 on the Hot 100.
In 1997 La Bouche recorded a cover version of the Elton John
song "Candle in the Wind 1997
" also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" for their album "A Moment Of Love" in a gospel version featuring guest vocalists Chilli
, Christin Sargent, Freda Goodlett, Rejime, The Jackson Singers, Joan Faulkner, Ma Belle & No Mercy
.
Towards the end of 2001, Thornton was asked to record "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)" for a Coca-Cola
Christmas TV commercial to be shown on German television. While promoting it, and a re-release of her solo album Ready To Fly
, she was killed in a plane crash
near Zurich
on November 24, 2001. After her death, the single went on to become her biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the German singles chart.
In April 2002, Farian compiled songs from Thornton's album along with selections from the first and second La Bouche albums into a best of collection entitled The Best of La Bouche (feat. Melanie Thornton).
In November 2002, one year following Thornton's death, Farian prepared a tribute single entitled "In Your Life", a song which had been previously unreleased. Farian combined her vocals with Kayo Shekoni
from Le Click
, who provided additional vocals to complete the mix. The single was released worldwide in 2002 and in the U.S. in 2003. It peaked at number 9 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.
In 2007 a 3-track EP
was released on iTunes under the name 'Le Click' titled "Let's Click: 90's Dance Classics." These are 3 tracks from the S.O.S & A Moment Of Love album recording sessions that didn't make the cut.
Eurodance
Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
/Dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
duo formed by Frank Farian
Frank Farian
Frank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1994, originally consisting of Melanie Thornton
Melanie Thornton
Melanie Janene Thornton was an American pop singer who found fame in Germany and fronted the Eurodance group La Bouche, who found success with the singles "Be My Lover" and "Sweet Dreams" in the mid-1990s. She forged a moderately successful solo career in Germany before her death...
and Lane McCray
Lane McCray
Lane McCray Jr. is a singer famous for the successful duo La Bouche. He was stationed in Germany and Turkey with the United States Air Force...
, scoring two major worldwide hits in the mid-1990s with "Be My Lover
Be My Lover
"Be My Lover" is a 1995 song by the band La Bouche. It is one of their biggest hits alongside their other major hit "Sweet Dreams". This song was dubbed into many megamix tracks and has had remix versions. It reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States...
" and "Sweet Dreams
Sweet Dreams (La Bouche song)
"Sweet Dreams " is a 1994 single by the band La Bouche. This song was a major dance hit.This song has been dubbed into several megamix tracks and has had a lot of remix versions of itself...
".
History with the original lineup
Primarily produced by long time friend, Frankfurt-based Techno DJ Ulli Brenner, their debut single "Sweet Dreams" was released in 1994 and was a pan-European and Australian hit. It was followed by "Be My Lover" in 1995, which peaked at number one in Germany and Australia, while also reaching the Top 10 in fourteen European countries. It also peaked at number 27 in 1995 and number 25 in 1996 in the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
when re-issued in that year.
While still with the group Thornton had some American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
success as featured vocalist on the Le Click
Le Click
Le Click was a Eurodance duo created in Germany by the record producer, Frank Farian. Le Click consisted of Swedish singer Kayo Shekoni and rapper/singer Robert Haynes. In the UK, Le Click are considered to be one-hit wonders.-Career:Le Click's U.S...
hit "Tonight Is The Night", which reached number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was included on the U.S. release of La Bouche's album Sweet Dreams, which was released in 1996, and peaked at number 28 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. It was certified double-platinum by the RIAA and sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
"Be My Lover" went to number 1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart in 1995 and climbed to number 6 on the Hot 100 in early 1996. It was then re-released in the UK and reached a new peak of number 25. It went on to win the ASCAP
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization that protects its members' musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, whether via a broadcast or live performance, and compensating them...
award for the "Most Played Song in America", and sold 6 million copies worldwide. "Sweet Dreams" also went to number 13 in the U.S. "Fallin' in Love", a cover of the 1975 Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds song, and "I Love To Love" were also hit singles taken from the album.
The first single from their second album S.O.S. was called "You Won't Forget Me". Released in 1998, it reached number 48 on the Hot 100.
In 1997 La Bouche recorded a cover version of the Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
song "Candle in the Wind 1997
Candle in the Wind 1997
"Candle in the Wind 1997" is a rewritten and rerecorded version of Elton John's own 1973 hit "Candle in the Wind" that was released as a tribute single to the late Diana, Princess of Wales....
" also known as "Goodbye England's Rose" for their album "A Moment Of Love" in a gospel version featuring guest vocalists Chilli
Rozonda Thomas
Rozonda Ocelean Thomas , best known by her stage name Chilli, is a four-time Grammy Award–winning American R&B singer and actress who rose to fame as one third of the successful R&B/Hip-Hop/Pop girl group TLC.-Early life:...
, Christin Sargent, Freda Goodlett, Rejime, The Jackson Singers, Joan Faulkner, Ma Belle & No Mercy
No Mercy (band)
No Mercy is an American pop and dance music group formed by Frank Farian in Florida in 1995, consisting of Marty Cintron , and twin brothers, Ariel and Gabriel Hernández , from Miami, Florida.-Career:In 1996, No Mercy released their debut album titled No Mercy, later re-released in Europe retitled My...
.
Breakup, a new lineup, and a 'continuation' of the original lineup
In 2000, Thornton left the group to pursue a solo career. She was replaced by singer Natacha Wright and a single was released entitled "All I Want" in April of the same year. It failed to chart, and Farian decided to put the group to rest. During this time Thornton as a solo singer was climbing the German charts with her hit, "Love How You Love Me".Towards the end of 2001, Thornton was asked to record "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)" for a Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
Christmas TV commercial to be shown on German television. While promoting it, and a re-release of her solo album Ready To Fly
Ready To Fly
Ready to Fly is a term used to describe radio controlled airplanes or radio-controlled helicopters that are supplied fully built with no assembly required....
, she was killed in a plane crash
Crossair Flight 3597
Crossair Flight LX 3597 was an Avro RJ100 regional airliner, registration HB-IXM, on a scheduled flight from Berlin, Germany to Zurich, Switzerland that crashed during its approach to land at Zurich Airport on 24 November 2001...
near Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
on November 24, 2001. After her death, the single went on to become her biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the German singles chart.
In April 2002, Farian compiled songs from Thornton's album along with selections from the first and second La Bouche albums into a best of collection entitled The Best of La Bouche (feat. Melanie Thornton).
In November 2002, one year following Thornton's death, Farian prepared a tribute single entitled "In Your Life", a song which had been previously unreleased. Farian combined her vocals with Kayo Shekoni
Kayo Shekoni
Kayode Maria Söderberg Shekoni , better known as Kayo Shekoni, or just Kayo, is a Swedish pop/dance singer, TV personality and actress of Nigerian descent.-Career:...
from Le Click
Le Click
Le Click was a Eurodance duo created in Germany by the record producer, Frank Farian. Le Click consisted of Swedish singer Kayo Shekoni and rapper/singer Robert Haynes. In the UK, Le Click are considered to be one-hit wonders.-Career:Le Click's U.S...
, who provided additional vocals to complete the mix. The single was released worldwide in 2002 and in the U.S. in 2003. It peaked at number 9 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.
In 2007 a 3-track EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
was released on iTunes under the name 'Le Click' titled "Let's Click: 90's Dance Classics." These are 3 tracks from the S.O.S & A Moment Of Love album recording sessions that didn't make the cut.
Albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Sweet Dreams |
| 1996 | All Mixed Up |
| 1997 | "A Moment Of Love" |
| 1998 | S.O.S. |
| 2002 | The Best of La Bouche |
| 2007 | Greatest Hits |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
United States Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
Austria Austria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
||
| 1994 | "Sweet Dreams Sweet Dreams (La Bouche song) "Sweet Dreams " is a 1994 single by the band La Bouche. This song was a major dance hit.This song has been dubbed into several megamix tracks and has had a lot of remix versions of itself... " |
63 | — | 8 | — | 13 | 3 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 32 | 31 |
| 1995 | "Be My Lover Be My Lover "Be My Lover" is a 1995 song by the band La Bouche. It is one of their biggest hits alongside their other major hit "Sweet Dreams". This song was dubbed into many megamix tracks and has had remix versions. It reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States... " |
27 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 3 |
| 1995 | "Fallin' In Love" | 43 | — | 13 | 39 | 19 | 13 | — | 13 | — | 15 | 24 | 15 |
| 1995 | "I Love to Love I Love to Love "I Love to Love" is an eurodance song recorded in 1994 and released in 1995 by the band La Bouche. It was the fourth and last single of their album Sweet Dreams... " |
— | — | 21 | 6 | 42 | 19 | — | — | — | 18 | 27 | 30 |
| 1996 | "Be My Lover Be My Lover "Be My Lover" is a 1995 song by the band La Bouche. It is one of their biggest hits alongside their other major hit "Sweet Dreams". This song was dubbed into many megamix tracks and has had remix versions. It reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States... " (re-mix) |
25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996 | "Sweet Dreams Sweet Dreams (La Bouche song) "Sweet Dreams " is a 1994 single by the band La Bouche. This song was a major dance hit.This song has been dubbed into several megamix tracks and has had a lot of remix versions of itself... " (U.S release/U.K Re release) |
44 | 13 | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996 | "Bolingo (Love Is In The Air)" | — | — | 26 | — | 23 | 19 | — | 15 | — | 15 | — | — |
| 1997 | "You Won't Forget Me" | 9 | 48 | 10 | 6 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 7 | — | 18 | 9 | 6 |
| 1998 | "A Moment Of Love" | — | — | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — |
| 1999 | "S.O.S." | — | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | "All I Want" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | "In Your Life" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |