Overground
Encyclopedia
Overground, a boy group from Germany
, was the result of the third season of the international television sensation Popstars - Das Duell
, a precursor to the Idol shows.
(The Duel). The concept of the programme was to produce a boyband and a girlband who would be rivals and compete for winning the third installment of the reality television program. Following the success of the No Angels
and Bro'Sis
, 12,000 applicants attended auditions in five German megacities in hopes of being selected for the show. Judged by rapper Sabrina Setlur
, choreographer Detlef "D!" Soost, and producer Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
, twently-seven out of forty-six contestants made it from the local recall shows to Orlando, Florida
to get trained in singing, dancing, and fitness.
While the judges continued eliminating two or three boys and girls each week, a small group of finalists remained, and in the end four boys were chosen to make the band: Ahmet "Akay" Kayed, Ken Miyao, Marq Porciuncula, and Meiko Reißmann eventually formed the Overground. While the show continued tracking the development and struggles of the new boyband and the final four members of Preluders
, the judges decided to add a fifth member to both groups after failed recording sessions. Selecting from the group of semi-finalists, they chose Italian
Fabrizio to 'complete' Overground – and their promotional debut single, a remake of Color Me Badd
's 1991 hit "I Wanna Sex You Up
".
After three weeks of touring and promotional appearances across Germany, the season's finale was held on Wednesday, November 3, 2003. However, the boys polled enough votes to won the competition.
n and Swiss
singles charts and became one of the most successful (German-speaking) songs of 2003 there. Their debut album It's Done saw similar success, eventually receiving two platinum
certifications.
In 2004 the group followed-up with "Der letzte Stern" and "Aus und vorbei", two further top 10 single releases. They also began recording their second album 2. OG, which spawned a collaboration with Montell Jordan
and a remake of his 1995 hit "This Is How We Do It
". Nevertheless both the single and the album failed to link on previous chart successes and the group received a release from its label Cheyenne Records, scorning the possibility to release another single.
After a longer absence the band returned in autumn 2005 with their fifth single "Hass mich".
After disbanding, Ken Miyao released a single Talk 2 Me with American rapper Fatman Scoop
. However, it showed no success whatsoever, peaking at only #89 of the German charts
.
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...
, was the result of the third season of the international television sensation Popstars - Das Duell
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
, a precursor to the Idol shows.
Formation
Overground were formed in September 2003 in front of millions of viewers on the ProSieben programme Popstars - Das DuellPopstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
(The Duel). The concept of the programme was to produce a boyband and a girlband who would be rivals and compete for winning the third installment of the reality television program. Following the success of the No Angels
No Angels
The No Angels are an all-female pop trio from Germany, consisting of band members Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, and Jessica Wahls. Critically acclaimed, the band has won dozen of awards and prizes since their establishment in the early 2000s, including three ECHOs, a World Music Awards, a NRJ...
and Bro'Sis
Bro'Sis
Bro'Sis were a multicultural R&B group from Germany, formed in 2001 in the second installment of the television talent show Popstars. Originally a sextet, the group eventually became a quintet, selling more than 2.2 million albums and singles worldwide...
, 12,000 applicants attended auditions in five German megacities in hopes of being selected for the show. Judged by rapper Sabrina Setlur
Sabrina Setlur
Sabrina Setlur , formerly known as Schwester S., is a German rapper, songwriter, Hebbar Iyengar and occasional actress...
, choreographer Detlef "D!" Soost, and producer Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen is a keyboard player and songwriter, known for his work with the German rock group Nena.Born in Berlin he first played in a band called "Vanguard"in 1977 - 1979 with bassist Sven Bode, Guitarist Fritz... and drummer Didier, composing an amazing Rock Opera. Concerts...
, twently-seven out of forty-six contestants made it from the local recall shows to Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
to get trained in singing, dancing, and fitness.
While the judges continued eliminating two or three boys and girls each week, a small group of finalists remained, and in the end four boys were chosen to make the band: Ahmet "Akay" Kayed, Ken Miyao, Marq Porciuncula, and Meiko Reißmann eventually formed the Overground. While the show continued tracking the development and struggles of the new boyband and the final four members of Preluders
Preluders
The Preluders were an all-female band from Germany and Albania, formed in 2003 during the third season of the international television talent show Popstars - Das Duell. Originally a quintet and later a quartet, the group eventually became a trio...
, the judges decided to add a fifth member to both groups after failed recording sessions. Selecting from the group of semi-finalists, they chose Italian
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...
Fabrizio to 'complete' Overground – and their promotional debut single, a remake of Color Me Badd
Color Me Badd
Color Me Badd was an R&B vocal group that was formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. The original members of the group were Bryan Abrams ; Mark Calderon ; Sam Watters and Kevin Thornton...
's 1991 hit "I Wanna Sex You Up
I Wanna Sex You Up
"I Wanna Sex You Up" is a hit single for R&B group Color Me Badd in 1991, released as the first single from their debut album C.M.B.. It achieved a huge success in the U.S., UK and New Zealand, where it reached #1 on the charts. It spent four weeks at No...
".
After three weeks of touring and promotional appearances across Germany, the season's finale was held on Wednesday, November 3, 2003. However, the boys polled enough votes to won the competition.
Career
After weeks of recording Overground released their debut single, German-sung "Schick mir 'nen Engel" on November 10, 2003. Produced by Triple M, the song entered the charts at number one on the German, AustriaAustria
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...
n and Swiss
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....
singles charts and became one of the most successful (German-speaking) songs of 2003 there. Their debut album It's Done saw similar success, eventually receiving two platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
certifications.
In 2004 the group followed-up with "Der letzte Stern" and "Aus und vorbei", two further top 10 single releases. They also began recording their second album 2. OG, which spawned a collaboration with Montell Jordan
Montell Jordan
Montell Jordan is a former American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. Jordan became the main solo male artist on its Def Soul imprint until leaving the label in 2003. Of his live performances it is often regarded that he is a rock oriented musician, with Jordan even going as far as to...
and a remake of his 1995 hit "This Is How We Do It
This Is How We Do It
"This Is How We Do It" is a 1995 song by American R&B singer Montell Jordan. This song, Jordan's first single, is representative of the new jack swing style popular at the time, featuring Jordan singing over an enhanced sample of Slick Rick's "Children's Story." "This is How We Do It" was...
". Nevertheless both the single and the album failed to link on previous chart successes and the group received a release from its label Cheyenne Records, scorning the possibility to release another single.
After a longer absence the band returned in autumn 2005 with their fifth single "Hass mich".
After disbanding, Ken Miyao released a single Talk 2 Me with American rapper Fatman Scoop
Fatman Scoop
Isaac Freeman III, better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop is a hip hop promoter and radio personality famed for his on-stage rough, raw, loud voice....
. However, it showed no success whatsoever, peaking at only #89 of the German charts
Media Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
.
Albums
- It's Done (2003) #1 GER
- 2. OG (2004) #41 GER
Singles
| Year | Song | GER 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... |
AT 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... |
CH 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.... |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "I Wanna Sex You Up I Wanna Sex You Up "I Wanna Sex You Up" is a hit single for R&B group Color Me Badd in 1991, released as the first single from their debut album C.M.B.. It achieved a huge success in the U.S., UK and New Zealand, where it reached #1 on the charts. It spent four weeks at No... " ¹ |
- | - | - | It's Done | |
| 2003 | "Schick mir 'nen Engel" | 1 | 1 | 1 | It's Done | |
| 2004 | "Der letzte Stern" | 9 | 30 | 27 | It's Done | |
| 2004 | "Aus und vorbei" | 10 | 39 | – | 2. OG | |
| 2004 | "This Is How We Do It This Is How We Do It "This Is How We Do It" is a 1995 song by American R&B singer Montell Jordan. This song, Jordan's first single, is representative of the new jack swing style popular at the time, featuring Jordan singing over an enhanced sample of Slick Rick's "Children's Story." "This is How We Do It" was... "(featuring Montell Jordan Montell Jordan Montell Jordan is a former American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. Jordan became the main solo male artist on its Def Soul imprint until leaving the label in 2003. Of his live performances it is often regarded that he is a rock oriented musician, with Jordan even going as far as to... ) |
19 | 53 | - | 2. OG | |
| 2005 | "Hass mich" | 35 | - | - | - | |
Notes:
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