Fiocco (band)
Encyclopedia
Fiocco was a Belgian dance act by DJ Producer
Jan Vervloet. What started as a studio project became the biggest Belgian dance sensation of 1997. In Belgium
their success and thereby popularity was comparable with dance acts as Technotronic
and 2 Unlimited
. Nearly all of their singles and full-album reached the Gold-status in Belgium. Jan Vervloet mostly worked with guest singers for Fiocco. But on stage the act consisted always of Ann Lomans (singer/frontwoman), Anja Maesen (dancer), Jan Vervloet (keyboards/MC/frontman) and Enzo Fumarola (keyboards),
The debut release "Afflitto" became a real club hit which was translated in a No. 1 position for 9 weeks on the Belgian Dance charts
. After its tremendous success Jan Vervloet decided to release “Afflitto” on cd-single which reached the top 5 in the Belgian Ultratop
.
” at No. 2. By the end of the year the single was the best selling Belgian production in 1997 in the Ultratop. It was the first release with full lyrics (“Afflitto” was more of an instrumental song), who were sung by Absolom
singer Pascale Feront.
“Spread The World Around” became the third single in 1998, another top 10 hit, and the album “Free” was also released on Eurodance label Antler Subway. Due to the success of Pascal Feront’s project Absolom
, Jan Vervloet had to find another singer. Lieve Verbeeck, a singer of The Golden Symphonic Orchestra, was contacted to do the vocals. In the fourth single “Straight Till The End” yet another singer was introduced (Nathalie Van Gronsveld).
In February 1999 Fiocco released the single “Miss You” as Fiocoo feat. Medusa. Medusa was a two-times alias by Evi Goffin
, known as singer of Lasgo
. The song was co-written by Absolom
producer Christophe Chantzis. “Miss You” did well on the charts, but wasn’t as big as its predecessors. In December 1999 Fiocco released their next single “The Music”, a more trance orientated song with a stirring up melody. As extra, a millennium countdown could be found on the cd-single. Remixes were done by The Oblique and Razzle Dazzle, two well-known underground aliases by Jan Vervloet. The last single charted was “The Crowd Is Moving” in November 2000. It reached to No. 6.
DJ Michael Nehrig a.k.a. Kosmonova
picked up the single in 1998 and reconstructed it for the German market as “Celebrate”. The single was co-produced by Andreas G. Schneider (Dos Or Die Recordings) and Kosmonova. The single entered the Dance charts in Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. In Belgium “Celebrate” was released as B-side on Fiocco's fourth cd-single “Straight Till The End”.
A music video was shot with front lady Ann Lomans lip-syncing the lyrics. Actual signing was done by Jamaica
n singer Maxine Harvey.
by producer Jan Vervloet is credited as a collaboration with Fiocco. Originally Scoop was a project by Daniel Maze. After its debut release “Wings Of Love” Jan Vervloet joined Scoop. What did not happen with Fiocco, happened with the second single by Scoop: topping the charts in Belgium and The Netherlands in 1999. The release “Drop It” was a No. 1 for several weeks in both countries. “Drop It’s cd-single included a Fiocco remix.
and Absolom
were facing the same problem. After the release of “The Music” in December 1999 Fiocco once again became a studio project. Two years later three remixes of Fiocco’s biggest hit were released by Jan Vervloet as “Afflitto 2003 (Remixes Part One & Two) ” for the Belgian market. In 2005 those same remixes were released in Spain, together with two songs co-written by Adam Olivier (Praga Khan
).
Bonus Remix CD:
“Free” is the only full-album produced by Fiocco. It did well on the Ultrap Top 50 Album Charts reaching No. 18 in 1998. A bonus CD with all the main remixes was included.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Jan Vervloet. What started as a studio project became the biggest Belgian dance sensation of 1997. In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
their success and thereby popularity was comparable with dance acts as Technotronic
Technotronic
Technotronic is a Belgian studio-based music project formed in 1988 by Jo Bogaert , who had already made his musical mark in the beginning of the 1980s as a part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various New Beat projects, including The Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo...
and 2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
. Nearly all of their singles and full-album reached the Gold-status in Belgium. Jan Vervloet mostly worked with guest singers for Fiocco. But on stage the act consisted always of Ann Lomans (singer/frontwoman), Anja Maesen (dancer), Jan Vervloet (keyboards/MC/frontman) and Enzo Fumarola (keyboards),
The debut release "Afflitto" became a real club hit which was translated in a No. 1 position for 9 weeks on the Belgian Dance charts
Ultratop
Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts...
. After its tremendous success Jan Vervloet decided to release “Afflitto” on cd-single which reached the top 5 in the Belgian Ultratop
Ultratop
Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts...
.
European Releases
For the second release Fiocco moved to a more commercial sound. With “The Spirit” the dance act was signed in the rest of Europe, including France, The Netherlands, Italy Spain, Scandinavia and Israel. The single became a bigger hit than “Afflitto”. With “The Spirit” they almost topped the Belgian Ultratop, only being stopped by Aqua’s “Barbie GirlBarbie Girl
"Barbie Girl" is a song by the Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua, who released the song in 1997 as their third single overall, and the first United Kingdom release...
” at No. 2. By the end of the year the single was the best selling Belgian production in 1997 in the Ultratop. It was the first release with full lyrics (“Afflitto” was more of an instrumental song), who were sung by Absolom
Absolom
Absolom was a Belgian dance project produced by Christophe Chantzis and DJ Jimmy Goldschmitz. The group was popular in Europe by the end of the 1990s...
singer Pascale Feront.
“Spread The World Around” became the third single in 1998, another top 10 hit, and the album “Free” was also released on Eurodance label Antler Subway. Due to the success of Pascal Feront’s project Absolom
Absolom
Absolom was a Belgian dance project produced by Christophe Chantzis and DJ Jimmy Goldschmitz. The group was popular in Europe by the end of the 1990s...
, Jan Vervloet had to find another singer. Lieve Verbeeck, a singer of The Golden Symphonic Orchestra, was contacted to do the vocals. In the fourth single “Straight Till The End” yet another singer was introduced (Nathalie Van Gronsveld).
In February 1999 Fiocco released the single “Miss You” as Fiocoo feat. Medusa. Medusa was a two-times alias by Evi Goffin
Evi Goffin
Evi Goffin was the vocalist of the Belgian musical group Lasgo. Also she was the vocalist for another Belgian group called Medusa, and featured on songs by Fiocco and 2 Fabiola....
, known as singer of Lasgo
Lasgo
Lasgo is a Belgian trio of dance music musicians. The group formed in 2000 and is composed of Jelle Van Dael as the vocalist, and Peter Luts and Jeff Martens as record producers. Peter Luts confirmed in 2008 that Evi Goffin was not returning to the band, after choosing to become a full-time...
. The song was co-written by Absolom
Absolom
Absolom was a Belgian dance project produced by Christophe Chantzis and DJ Jimmy Goldschmitz. The group was popular in Europe by the end of the 1990s...
producer Christophe Chantzis. “Miss You” did well on the charts, but wasn’t as big as its predecessors. In December 1999 Fiocco released their next single “The Music”, a more trance orientated song with a stirring up melody. As extra, a millennium countdown could be found on the cd-single. Remixes were done by The Oblique and Razzle Dazzle, two well-known underground aliases by Jan Vervloet. The last single charted was “The Crowd Is Moving” in November 2000. It reached to No. 6.
Fiocco vs Kosmonova
After the success of “Afflitto” in 1997, GermanGermany
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...
DJ Michael Nehrig a.k.a. Kosmonova
Kosmonova
Kosmonova is a DJ and music producer.-Discography:AlbumsSinglesRemixes-External links: ...
picked up the single in 1998 and reconstructed it for the German market as “Celebrate”. The single was co-produced by Andreas G. Schneider (Dos Or Die Recordings) and Kosmonova. The single entered the Dance charts in Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. In Belgium “Celebrate” was released as B-side on Fiocco's fourth cd-single “Straight Till The End”.
A music video was shot with front lady Ann Lomans lip-syncing the lyrics. Actual signing was done by Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n singer Maxine Harvey.
Fiocco vs Scoop
Sometimes the side project ScoopScoop (dance project)
Scoop was one of the many Belgian dance projects by the end of the 1990s. Originally it was a solo project by producer Daniel Maze. After the first release “Wings Of Love” in 1998 Fiocco producer Jan Vervloet joined Scoop...
by producer Jan Vervloet is credited as a collaboration with Fiocco. Originally Scoop was a project by Daniel Maze. After its debut release “Wings Of Love” Jan Vervloet joined Scoop. What did not happen with Fiocco, happened with the second single by Scoop: topping the charts in Belgium and The Netherlands in 1999. The release “Drop It” was a No. 1 for several weeks in both countries. “Drop It’s cd-single included a Fiocco remix.
Split
Bit by bit the general interest faded away. Other similar Belgian dance act like AstrolineAstroline
Astroline was a Belgian Eurodance project by DJ/producer Bart Smolders, Christophe Chantzis and Stefan Wuyts , who were together from the mid 90's to the mid 2000's. They are best known for their hit single "Feel The Fire". Vocals were done by Kathleen Goossens...
and Absolom
Absolom
Absolom was a Belgian dance project produced by Christophe Chantzis and DJ Jimmy Goldschmitz. The group was popular in Europe by the end of the 1990s...
were facing the same problem. After the release of “The Music” in December 1999 Fiocco once again became a studio project. Two years later three remixes of Fiocco’s biggest hit were released by Jan Vervloet as “Afflitto 2003 (Remixes Part One & Two) ” for the Belgian market. In 2005 those same remixes were released in Spain, together with two songs co-written by Adam Olivier (Praga Khan
Praga Khan
Praga Khan is a Belgian techno musician, primarily in the new beat style.-Overview:Praga Khan is one of the pioneers of the new beat / acid house / rave sound, and has contributed to the theatrical scene with his musical collaborations in The Next Dimension and Code Red.In the late 1980s, he...
).
Tracking list “Free”
- The Spirit (3:32)
- Celebrate (3:28) as Fiocco vs. Kosmonova
- Going On (3:33)
- Miss You (3:33) as Fiocco feat. Medusa
- Blue (5:02)
- Spread The World Around (3:20)
- At Night (4:18)
- Feel So Free (3:40)
- Travel (6:17)
- Afflitto (3:33)
- Rough (4:42)
- Straight Till The End (3:05)
- Shuttle-Run (3:43)
Bonus Remix CD:
- Spread The World Around (Pat Krimson Remix) (5:20)
- Afflitto ('97 Version) (6:12)
- The Spirit (KosmonovaKosmonovaKosmonova is a DJ and music producer.-Discography:AlbumsSinglesRemixes-External links: ...
Remix) (6:34) - Straight Till The End (AstrolineAstrolineAstroline was a Belgian Eurodance project by DJ/producer Bart Smolders, Christophe Chantzis and Stefan Wuyts , who were together from the mid 90's to the mid 2000's. They are best known for their hit single "Feel The Fire". Vocals were done by Kathleen Goossens...
Remix) (5:11) - The Spirit (Second Version) (4:54)
- Spread The World Around (French Speed Garage Mix) (5:23)
- Afflitto (D-Jay Luk Dub) (6:20)
- The Spirit (ChantzisAbsolomAbsolom was a Belgian dance project produced by Christophe Chantzis and DJ Jimmy Goldschmitz. The group was popular in Europe by the end of the 1990s...
Remix) (7:03) - Spread The World Around (AbsolomAbsolomAbsolom was a Belgian dance project produced by Christophe Chantzis and DJ Jimmy Goldschmitz. The group was popular in Europe by the end of the 1990s...
Remix) (6:33) - The Spirit (Wippenberg Remix) (6:42
- Celebrate (Extended Mix) (7:08)
“Free” is the only full-album produced by Fiocco. It did well on the Ultrap Top 50 Album Charts reaching No. 18 in 1998. A bonus CD with all the main remixes was included.
Fiocco (guest) singers
- Ann Lomans
- Pascale Feront (“The Spirit”)
- Lieve Verbeeck (“Spread The World Around”)
- Nathalie Van Gronsveld (“Straight Till The End”)
- Margit Loedts & Yoeri Loedts (“Afflitto”)
- Evy Goffin as Medusa (“Miss You”)
- Maxine Harvey (“Celebrate”)
External links
- Fiocco list of releases from the online music database Discogs
- “Celebrate” music video on YouTube
- “Afflitto” music video on YouTube