Monrose was a German pop girl group, first established in November 2006. Formed on the fifth installment of the German adaption of the international television talent show Popstars, the trio consisted of singers Mandy Capristo, Senna Gammour, and Bahar Kızıl. They were signed to Starwatch Music and released their debut album Temptation in December 2006. It achieved major success throughout Central Europe, selling more than a 600,000 copies combined and produced two singles, including number-one breakthrough hit "Shame" and "Even Heaven Cries".
"Pure and Simple" is a song by British pop group Hear'Say, the winners of the UK version of Popstars. It was a cover of the original version recorded three years earlier by English-Dutch girl group Girl Thing, who were dropped from BMG before the song was given to Hear'Say. It was written by Pete Kirtley, Tim Hawes, and Betty Boo. The song was released on 12 March 2001 as the lead single from Hear'Say's debut studio album, Popstars (2001). The B-side is a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water".
"No Angel (It's All in Your Mind)" is a song by German pop band No Angels. It was written by Pete Kirtley, Tim Hawes and Liz Winstanley for the group's third studio album, Pure (2003), while production was helmed by Nik Hafemann along with Arno Kammermeier, Peter Hayo, and Walter Merziger who are credited under their production moniker Perky Park. The mid-tempo pop track incorporates minor pop rock and soft rock elements; the song's instrumentation includes drums and guitars. Lyrically, it deals with picture-perfect illusions in a relationship.
"Shame" is a song by all-female German pop group Monrose, recorded for the band's debut studio album, Temptation (2006). It was written by Christian Ballard, Tim Hawes, Pete Kirtley and Andrew Murray, while joint production was helmed by British production teams Jiant and Snowflakers. Set against a heavy drum pattern and computerized synths sounds, "Shame" is a piano ballad arranged as a mid-tempo with pop and R&B influences. The song's lyrics are about the breakdown of a relationship with a man, with the protagonist blaming her own mistakes, including her ongoing call for independence, for their separation.
Temptation is the debut studio album by German girl band Monrose. It was released by Starwatch Music on 8 December 2006 in German-speaking Europe, following the band's formation on Popstars – Neue Engel braucht das Land, the television talent show's fifth season. Pre-recorded with all six Popstars finalists throughout October and November 2006, the majority of the album was produced by Popstars jury member Dieter Falk. Additional collaborators include Jiant, Jonas Jeberg, Toni Cottura and Mozart & Friends.
"Even Heaven Cries" is a song by all-female German pop trio Monrose. It was written by Robbie Nevil, Jens Lumholt, Lauren Evans, Philip Denker, and Jonas Jeberg and recorded for the band's debut studio album, Temptation (2006), while production was overseen by Jeberg. Built upon a boom clap percussion and a strummed-harp sample, reminiscent of other Jeberg productions, the sentimental midtempo R&B ballad contains lyrics about personality and body-image issues as well as self-esteem and insecurity.
"Hot Summer" is a song by German pop group Monrose. It was written and produced by Danish musicians Remee Sigvardt and Thomas Troelsen and recorded by the trio for their second studio album, Strictly Physical (2007). A dance-pop song with heavy elements of electropop, house and sprechgesang, it was selected out of sereral hundreds of songs and set much of the tone of its parent album, which was chiefly produced by Remee and Troelsen. "Hot Summer" also introduced a stronger dance pop edge to Monrose's overall sound. Lyrically, it features a female protagonist expressing her desire for her love interest.
Strictly Physical is the second studio album by all-female German pop trio Monrose. It was released by Starwatch Music in association with Cheyenne Records and Warner Music on 21 September 2007 in German-speaking Europe and on 8 October 2007 in parts of Eastern Europe. Released only nine months after its best-selling predecessor Temptation (2006), the album took Monrose's work further into dance and electro music, featuring main production by Danish producers Remee, Thomas Troelsen, and Peter Biker, as well as British composers from production collectives Jiant, and Snowflakers.
"What You Don't Know" is a song by all-female German pop band Monrose. It was written by American songwriter Billy Mann along with Swedish musicians Mattias Lindblom and Anders Wollbeck and recorded for the band's second studio album, Strictly Physical (2007). Production on the track was helmed by Christian Ballard, Tim Hawes, Pete Kirtley, Obi Mhondera, and Andrew Murray from British production teams Jiant and Snowflake. A guitar-led pop ballad was released as
"Strike the Match" is a song by German pop trio Monrose. It was written by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder and singer Deborah "SoShy" Epstein and recorded for the group's third studio album I Am (2008). Production on the track was helmed by Tedder, with additional production provided by Christian Ballard, Pete Kirtley, and Andrew Murray.
I Am is the third studio album by German pop trio Monrose. It was first released by Starwatch Music, Cheyenne Records and Warner Music on 26 September 2008 in German-speaking Europe. The band reunited with frequent contributors Jiant and Snowflakers and Danish producer Jonas Jeberg to work on the bulk of the album, though several new collaborators were consulted to hand in music, including Ronny Svendsen and Nermin Harambasic from Norwegian music collective Dsign Music, Oscar Gorres, Didrik Thott, Carl Björsell, JoelJoel, Guy Chambers, and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder.
Jiant was a British record production and songwriting team, headed by Tim Hawes and Pete Kirtley, working in the genres of pop, R&B and dance. Following their formation in 1999, the team collaborated with other composers and performers, including Alison Clarkson.
Tim Hawes is an English born songwriter, record producer and music publisher who has achieved in excess of ten million record sales including five number one singles. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Ivor Novello award for songwriting. Hawes is known for his work with the Spice Girls, Five, Hear'Say, Sugababes, Mutya Buena, Monrose, Aaron Carter, No Angels, Cinema Bizarre, Aggro Santos, Jimmy Blue and Stefanie Heinzmann.
Peter Edward Kirtley is an English songwriter, record producer and music entrepreneur. He has produced over 200 records worldwide with sales exceeding 15 million and 100 million streams, including seven number-one hit singles worldwide, tracks on seven number-one albums, eight UK top-ten hits and thirty-five top-forty hits in Europe. He has written and/or produced for artists such as Tiësto, the Sugababes, Armin Van Buuren, Hear'Say, Newton Faulkner, Mutya Buena, Boyzone, Peter Andre, Lee Ryan, Heather Small, Kim Wilde and Alexander O'Neal. His production collaborations include Ryan Tedder, Guy Chambers and Stargate and metaverse music collaborations include Izzy Bizu and Nina Nesbitt.
"Why Not Us" is a song recorded by German pop trio Monrose. It was written by English songwriters Alexis Strum and Guy Chambers and produced by the latter along with frequent Monrose collaborator Pete Kirtley for the band's third studio album I Am (2008). A midtempo contemporary R&B-pop ballad with soft electro pop elements, "Why Not Us" is about a tumbling relationship which ultimately breaks up.
Volume I is the debut studio album by German girl group Queensberry. Released by Starwatch Music, Cheyenne Records, and Warner Music on 12 December 2008 in German-speaking Europe, a week prior to the announcement of the fourth member of quartet line-up on the show's finale, the album produced three versions, each featuring a different Popstars – Just 4 Girls contestant competing to become part of the Queensberry group, including Katharina "KayKay" Kobert, Patricia Ivanauskas or eventual band member Antonella Trapani.
Obi Simbarashe Mhondera is a songwriter, producer and re-mixer responsible for many major releases worldwide, particularly in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
Ladylike is the fourth and final studio album by German pop trio Monrose. It was released by Starwatch Music in association with Cheyenne Records and the Warner Music Group on 11 June 2010 in German-speaking Europe. Conceived during a hiatus which allowed each member to launch solo projects, production of the album began in mid-2009. Unlike their previous material, recording of Ladylike was not rushed, with sessions also taking place in New York City. Monrose reteamed with frequent collaborators Pete Kirtley, Tim Hawes, and Obi Mhondera to work on the album, while upcoming producers such as Tuneverse and Alexander Geringas were also consulted.
"This Is Me" is a song performed by German girl band Monrose. It was written by Mich Hansen, Jonas Jeberg, Paul Barry and All Saints band member Shaznay Lewis and recorded for the trio's fourth studio album Ladylike (2010). Production was overseen by Pete Kirtley, Christian "TheFatRat" Buettner and Marcello "Cello" Pagin. Introduced by an a cappella solo by band member Mandy Capristo, who also serves as the song's leading vocalist during its chorus, "This Is Me" is a pumping dance-pop song with heavy elements of synthpop and electronic music; its lyrics explore themes of self-confidence, independence and stamina.
"Breathe You in" is a song by German girl group Monrose. It was written by Thanh Bui, Rodney Mark Davies, and Gary Pinto and recorded by Monrose for their fourth studio album Ladylike (2010), while production was helmed by frequent collaborators Pete Kirtley as well as Andrew Murray and Christian Ballard from production duo Snowflakers. An uplifting piano-led ballad with minor contemporary R&B elements, "Breathe You In" is built upon a harp motif. Lyically, it chronicles a woman's love for a man.
