U96 is a German musical project formed by DJ and producer Alex Christensen,and a team of producers named Matiz. After a decade-long hiatus,the band returned in 2018 without Christensen and Hoinkis.
"Das kleine Krokodil",also known under the title "Schnappi",is the debut single of animated cartoon crocodile Schnappi from his first album,Schnappi und Seine Freunde. The voice of Schnappi is provided by Joy Gruttmann,a child singer. Joy's aunt,Iris Gruttmann,originally wrote the song in 1999 without the "Schni-Schna-Schnappi,Schnappi Schnappi schnapp" refrain,but when the song was uploaded to the internet,this hook was added in without the Gruttmanns' or Universal Music Group's knowledge. The song quickly became a viral hit,and it was released as a single on 6 December 2004—Joy's ninth birthday.
"Let the Beat Control Your Body" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It was released by various labels in January 1994 as the fifth and final single from the band's second album,No Limits (1993). The album version is largely instrumental and contains just a few spoken words from bandmembers Ray Slijngaard and Anita Doth. The single version contains full verses rapped by Slijngaard and a new chorus sung by Doth,which were co-written by them both. The song enjoyed chart success in many European countries,peaking at number two in the Netherlands and within the top 10 in Belgium,Finland,France,Germany,Ireland,Spain and the United Kingdom. It was nominated in the category for Best Song on MTV Awards. Nigel Simpkiss directed the music video for "Let the Beat Control Your Body".
"Twilight Zone" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance act 2 Unlimited. It was the second single released from their debut studio album,Get Ready! (1992). The UK release of the single was the first 2 Unlimited single to include the vocals of Anita Doth,as they had not been featured on their breakthrough hit "Get Ready for This". However,Ray Slijngaard's rap verses were once again removed. The instrumental "Rave" version of the song sounds different from the original "Not Enough" version,with a more hi-NRG style with more bass and added cowbells.
"The Magic Friend" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It was released in August 1992 as the fourth and final single from their debut album,Get Ready! (1992). The UK release once again omitted Ray Slijngaard's rap,which lasted for 16 bars three times through,but did include some of the vocals from Anita Doth,with the "mocking chorus echoes" being abandoned as only Ray's part remains,thus leaving Anita's sole vocals as "disembodied whispers" during the middle eight. The single experienced chart success in many European countries,including Finland,where it topped the chart. The Dutch leading afternoon radio program on national pop outlet Radio 3 FM/Hilversum renamed itself "The Magic Friend",after the single.
"The Real Thing" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited,released in May 1994 as the first single from their third album,Real Things (1994). The song is co-written by bandmembers Ray Slijngaard and Anita Dels,and scored chart success in many European countries. It topped the charts in Finland and the Netherlands,while peaking at number two in Denmark,Sweden,Belgium and Switzerland. The song also was a top 10 hit in Austria,France,Germany,Norway,Scotland,Spain and the UK. It entered the Eurochart Hot 100 on 28 May at 30 and peaked at number-one three weeks later. Outside Europe,it peaked at number two in Israel and number 39 in Australia. A music video was produced to promote the single,directed by Nigel Simpkiss.
"Tribal Dance" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It was their sixth single,released in April 1993 from the band's second album,No Limits! (1993). The UK release omitted the main rap,but left in more vocals from Ray Slijngaard than any of their previous releases. The single scored chart success in many European countries topping the charts in Finland,Portugal and Spain. Outside Europe,the song topped the chart in Israel and the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart,while peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. "Tribal Dance" also peaked within the top 5 in Australia,Austria,Belgium,Denmark,France,Germany,Ireland,Netherlands,Norway,Sweden,Switzerland,the UK and Zimbabwe. Its music video was directed by Nick Burgess-Jones.
"U Got 2 Let the Music" is a song by Italian Eurodance group Cappella,released in 1993 as the fourth single from their second studio album,U Got 2 Know (1994). The track samples "Sounds Like a Melody" by German musical group Alphaville and charted in various countries around the world,including the UK,where it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart,becoming the 36th-best-selling single of 1993 in the UK. In Austria,Finland and Switzerland,the song peaked at number one. Its accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe in January 1994. "U Got 2 Let the Music" was re-released in 1998,2004 and 2006,in remixed versions.
Das Boot is the first album by German dance group U96,released in 1992. The track "Das Boot" is a cover version of the title theme of the 1981 German film Das Boot,composed by Klaus Doldinger. The name of the group (U96) is a reference to the film.
"Love Sees No Colour" is a song recorded by German act U96. It was released in May 1993 as the first single off its second album,Replugged (1993),on which it appears as second track. It added sung male vocals,which was also going to be one of the distinctive marks of the project. The words contained in the title are the only lyrics of the song. It achieved success in many countries,including Austria,Denmark,Finland,Germany,Spain,Sweden and Switzerland where it reached the top 10. On the Eurochart Hot 100,"Love Sees No Colour" peaked at number 10. German band Bass Bumpers participated in several remixes of the song.
"Love Religion" is a song recorded by German dance music act U96,released by Guppy label in October 1994,as the lead single from the act's third album,Club Bizarre (1995). Unlike their previous songs,"Love Religion" is more trance-oriented techno and pop. It takes its main melody from Giorgio Moroder's 1978 instrumental "The Chase". The background vocals are performed by Dutch singer,actress and TV host Daisy Dee. It peaked at number two in Finland and Sweden,and was also a top 10 hit in Austria,Denmark,Germany,the Netherlands and Switzerland. The music video for the song was directed by Nico Beyer.
"Club Bizarre" is a song recorded by German dance music act U96,released in February 1995 as the second single from the album of the same name (1995). It was a hit in several countries,although it was not as successful as the act's previous single,"Love Religion",but became a top twenty hit in the Netherlands,Sweden and Austria. On the Eurochart Hot 100,the single peaked at number 28 in April 1995. It features uncredited vocals by Skadi Lange.
"I Wanna Be a Kennedy" is a song recorded by German dance music project U96,released as the second single from their debut album,Das Boot. Musically,the song is very similar to the 1980 song "Fade to Grey" by British new wave band Visage,in which its similarity can be clearly heard in the main synthesizer riff. It was successful in Germany,Switzerland and Austria where it was a top ten hit.
"Swamp Thing" is a song by British electronic music group the Grid,released on 23 May 1994 by Deconstruction as a single and is included on the group's third album,Evolver (1994). The song peaked at number three on the UK,Australian,and Danish singles charts and reached the top five in an additional seven countries,including Finland and Norway,where it reached number two. It was later sampled in "Banjo Thing" by Infernal and "Swamp Thing" by Pegboard Nerds. British magazine NME ranked it number 41 in their list of the 50 Best Songs of 1994.
"Heaven" is a song recorded by German dance act U96,released in April 1996 as the lead single from their fourth album by the same name. The song reached the top 10 in Austria,Finland,Germany,Hungary,Norway and Sweden. The vocals are sung by singer Dea-Li. The song has a similar chorus to Cyndi Lauper's song "Time After Time",in which she was given a writing credit.
"Love U More" is a song by British techno group Sunscreem,released as a single in July 1992. It was written by band members Paul Carnell and lead singer Lucia Holm. The single is a track off the group's 1993 album O3 and was one of the first techno songs to make the American top 40,where it peaked at No. 36. "Love U More" reached No. 23 in the United Kingdom in July 1992 and went to number one on the American dance chart for two weeks in March 1993,making it their first of three number-one hits there.
"In the Middle of the Night" is a song by German Eurodance band Magic Affair,released in July 1994 as the third single from their debut studio album,Omen (1994). The raps are performed by American rapper AK Swift,and the lead vocals are sung by German singer Franca Morgano. The song peaked at number 10 in Finland,number 14 in Austria,and number 16 in both Germany and Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100,it reached number 34 in September 1994.
"Night in Motion" is a song recorded by German act U96,released in 1993 as the second single from their second album,Replugged (1993). It was successful on the charts in Europe,peaking within the top 10 in Austria,Finland,Germany,Lithuania and Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100,it reached number 25 in October 1993. Outside Europe,the song was a huge hit in Israel,peaking at number-one in August 1993.
"Inside Your Dreams" is a song recorded by German act U96,released in 1994 by various labels as a non-album track. It was a major hit on the charts in Europe,peaking at number-one in Finland. Additionally,it was a top 10 hit in Austria and Switzerland,and a top 20 hit in Denmark and Germany. On the Eurochart Hot 100,it reached number 29 in May 1994. Outside Europe,the single was a huge hit in Israel,peaking at number four. The accompanying music video was directed by Swedish director Fredrik Boklund,known for his videos for Army of Lovers. It was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in April 1994.
"Venus in Chains" is a song recorded by German dance act U96,released in 1996 as the third and last single from their fourth album,Heaven (1996). It features vocals by German singer Dorothy Lapi and peaked at number seven in the Czech Republic. Additionally,it was a top 20 hit in Austria and a top 60 hit in Sweden. A music video was produced to promote the single,directed by German music video and film director Martin Weisz.
