Modern Talking
Encyclopedia
Modern Talking was a German dance pop duo consisting of Thomas Anders
and Dieter Bohlen
. Their music has often been classified as Europop
. They have been referred to as Germany's most successful pop duo, and have had a number of hit singles, reaching the top 5 in many countries. Some of their most popular and widely known singles are "You're My Heart, You're My Soul
", "You Can Win If You Want
", "Cheri, Cheri Lady", "Brother Louie
", "Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love)
" and "Geronimo's Cadillac".
Modern Talking worked together from 1984 to 1987, when the band split up. In 1998 they reunited and made a successful comeback, recording and releasing music from 1998 to 2003. To accommodate central European music markets of the late 1990s, they changed their original 1980s mellow Europop
sound to up-tempo Eurodance
. The duo released singles which again entered the top 10 in Germany and abroad. Some of those singles were "You're My Heart, You're My Soul '98", "Brother Louie '98", and "You Are Not Alone
".
hit single "You're My Heart, You're My Soul
" with which they occupied top-10 positions in 35 countries including their homeland where the single perched at the top for six consecutive weeks, the single eventually went on to sell eight million copies world-wide. The track was then followed by another number one hit "You Can Win If You Want
" which was released in the middle of 1985 from the debut album The 1st Album. The album went on being certified platinum in Germany for selling over 500,000 units.
Soon after their second hit, Modern Talking released the single "Cheri, Cheri Lady" which also quickly climbed to the top of the charts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Norway, meanwhile entering the top-10 in Sweden and The Netherlands. The single, being the only track released from their second album Let's Talk About Love
, managed to push the album to a platinum status in Germany for sales of over 500,000. The success continued with two other number one singles such as "Brother Louie
" and "Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love)
" both from the third album Ready for Romance
. The duo also charted high with their sixth single "Geronimo's Cadillac
" from the fourth album In the Middle of Nowhere
and "Jet Airliner
" from their fifth album Romantic Warriors
.
During this era, Modern Talking were successful in Europe, Asia, South America, Middle East, particularly in Iran
, where all Western pop music was banned after the 1979 Islamic revolution. In the United Kingdom, they entered the top-5 only once, with the song "Brother Louie". They were almost unknown in North America, never appearing in the US charts, although they did become one-hit wonder
s in Canada when "Brother Louie" peaked at number 34 in 1987. They released two albums each year between 1985 and 1987, while also promoting their singles on television all over Europe, eventually selling 65 million records within three years.
" and enjoyed several high chart positions, with tracks like "Sorry Little Sarah", "My Bed Is Too Big", "Under My Skin", "Love Suite" and "Déjà vu". Meanwhile, Anders went solo, touring under the name of Modern Talking on several continents, such as: Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia until the beginning of 1989, when he started to record some of his new pop-like material in LA and London, and also in his native country. Anders recorded five solo albums in English Different, Whispers
, Down on Sunset
, When Will I See You Again
and Souled
and one of his album was also recorded in Spanish Barcos de Cristal
. He was more successful in foreign countries than his own country, yet he also reached several hits in Germany. Despite all the quarrels and disagreements that Bohlen and Anders experienced between themselves in the past, they began keeping in touch again after Anders moved back to Koblenz
, Germany in 1994.
. They released a re-packaged version of their '84 single "You're My Heart, You're My Soul '98". The single, however, no longer sounded like a mellow Europop track, instead it was a typical up-tempo Eurodance
number, featuring rapper Eric Singleton
on the rap vocals. Their first comeback album Back for Good
, which included four new tracks, as well as all of the previous hits redone with modern techniques, stayed at number one position in Germany for five consecutive weeks and managed to top the charts in 15 countries, eventually selling three million copies in Europe alone. The duo won the award at World Music Awards
for being the Best Selling German Band that year. The follow-up album Alone
which also went straight to number one in Germany was very successful elsewhere as well; the album managed to sell well over one million units in Europe alone.
Bohlen and Anders followed the 1980s Modern Talking pattern as they chose to release two singles from each album, as in the past. A series of singles and four more albums followed such as Year of the Dragon
, America, Victory
and Universe
. After reaching the point where they had already collected over 400 gold and platinum awards worldwide, Bohlen and Anders decided to split up again in 2003 just before the release of another of their album compiled of best-songs. The second break-up seemed to have been triggered mainly from the negative portrayal of Anders by Bohlen written in his autobiographical book published on October 4, 2003. In the course of all the disputes which eventually drove the duo to its break-up, Bohlen was involved in Deutschland sucht den Superstar
, the German edition of the UK's Pop Idol
. The compilation album was released in 2003 entitled "The Final Album
" which contained all of the duo's singles. Thomas Anders started another solo career immediately after the end of Modern Talking, while Bohlen had by now begun devoting most of his time to new talents, especially those he discovered on DSDS.
), as his inspiration for using falsetto
choruses. The studio vocal line up of Rolf Köhler
, Michael Scholz
, Detlef Wiedeke and (on early albums) Birger Corleis, in addition to Bohlen and Anders, produced the high choruses characteristic of Modern Talking. Köhler, Scholz and Wiedeke later went on to work with Bohlen in Blue System
, before joining with songwriter Thomas Widrat to form Systems in Blue
. Köhler, Scholz and Wiedeke were never credited on the Modern Talking albums, and eventually went to court over the matter. They received an out of court settlement and Bohlen published a sleeve note for his next release (Obsession
, by Blue System), acknowledging the trio's contribution.
Further influences include German-language Schlager
music, disco pop (Bee Gees
) and romantic English-language songs of Italian and French origin, like Gazebo
's "I Like Chopin". After the 1998 reunion, Bohlen produced eurodance
, as well as American-style MOR ballads.
Global sales of Modern Talking, after the duo's second and final break-up in 2003, had reached 120 million singles and albums combined, making them the biggest-selling German music act in history, so far outselling even Frank Farian
's projects Boney M. and Milli Vanilli
, Michael Cretu
's Enigma
, Sandra
as well as Scorpions
and Rammstein
.
Dieter Bohlen
also composed for other artists, during his Modern Talking time, like Chris Norman
and Smokie
, whose song "Midnight Lady" (1986) remains Bohlen's most popular composition. He also composed a large number of disco tracks for C. C. Catch, using an accelerated, less-romantic sound. Some English Bohlen songs such as "You're My Heart, You're My Soul
" were also recorded with German lyrics by Mary Roos
, using the same playback tracks. When Modern Talking split up in 1987, a number of tracks written for the last album were re-arranged and then transferred onto Dieter Bohlen
's first solo album by Blue System. Modern Talking's 6th album was released about the same time as the 1st single from Blue System, "Sorry Little Sarah", where Bohlen competed in the charts against Modern Talking's "In 100 Years" hit song.
in his song "Bizarre Bizarre" when played backwards: "There will never be an end to Modern Talking". Bohlen's response: "I meant to say that the music of Modern Talking will live forever".
Anders has kept the Modern Talking songs in his repertoire and produced songs in a similar vein for his solo records ("Independent Girl"). In 2006, he produced an album Songs Forever
of swing and jazz
versions of popular songs (including Modern Talking's first hit). Bohlen has written two autobiographical books about Modern Talking's history from his perspective. The first book sold a million copies in Germany. The sequel was heavily criticised for his unfairness towards the people he worked with. As a result of that, Bohlen withdrew from the public for a year until 2006, when he said he regretted putting out the second book. Anders had not been the only one pressing charges against Bohlen and demanding that sections of the book be modified. Frank Farian
was also angered by Bohlen's literary output and released a book in which he tried to expose Bohlen as a fraud. Bohlen's first book was the basis of an animated comedy film called Dieter - Der Film. The soundtrack of this film
contains the previously unreleased Modern Talking song "Shooting Star
" which had been written for the Universe
album.
Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:...
and Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg...
. Their music has often been classified as Europop
Europop
Europop refers to a style of pop music that first developed in today's form in Europe, throughout the late 1970s. Europop topped the charts throughout the 1980s and ’90s...
. They have been referred to as Germany's most successful pop duo, and have had a number of hit singles, reaching the top 5 in many countries. Some of their most popular and widely known singles are "You're My Heart, You're My Soul
You're My Heart, You're My Soul
"You're My Heart, You're My Soul" is the first single by German europop duo Modern Talking released off their debut album "The 1st Album". The single was released on 29 October 1984 but entered the top-10 in Germany on January 28, 1985, almost three months after its release date...
", "You Can Win If You Want
You Can Win If You Want
You Can Win If You Want is Modern Talking's second single released from their debut album The 1st Album. The single was released on March 13, 1985 but entered the top-10 in Germany on May the 13th, 1985, after spending three weeks within the top-5, the single reached the top eventually going gold...
", "Cheri, Cheri Lady", "Brother Louie
Brother Louie (Modern Talking song)
Brother Louie is Modern Talking's first single off the third album Ready for Romance. It is the fourth consecutive single to top the German Single Chart, after "You're My Heart, You're My Soul", "You Can Win If You Want" and "Cheri, Cheri Lady"....
", "Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love)
Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love)
Atlantis is Calling is Modern Talking's second single released from the third album Ready for Romance, and it's their fifth consecutive single to reach No. 1 on the German single chart. "Atlantis is Calling " was released in Germany and in other European territories on April 28, 1986, it peaked at...
" and "Geronimo's Cadillac".
Modern Talking worked together from 1984 to 1987, when the band split up. In 1998 they reunited and made a successful comeback, recording and releasing music from 1998 to 2003. To accommodate central European music markets of the late 1990s, they changed their original 1980s mellow Europop
Europop
Europop refers to a style of pop music that first developed in today's form in Europe, throughout the late 1970s. Europop topped the charts throughout the 1980s and ’90s...
sound to up-tempo Eurodance
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...
. The duo released singles which again entered the top 10 in Germany and abroad. Some of those singles were "You're My Heart, You're My Soul '98", "Brother Louie '98", and "You Are Not Alone
You Are Not Alone (Modern Talking song)
"You Are Not Alone" is Modern Talking's first single released off the eighth album Alone. "You Are Not Alone" was released in Germany and in other European Territories on February 1, 1999. In Germany, the single peaked at No. 7 on March 8, 1999, over a month after its release date...
".
The beginning
First formed at the end of 1984, they unexpectedly became immensely popular with their synthpopSynthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
hit single "You're My Heart, You're My Soul
You're My Heart, You're My Soul
"You're My Heart, You're My Soul" is the first single by German europop duo Modern Talking released off their debut album "The 1st Album". The single was released on 29 October 1984 but entered the top-10 in Germany on January 28, 1985, almost three months after its release date...
" with which they occupied top-10 positions in 35 countries including their homeland where the single perched at the top for six consecutive weeks, the single eventually went on to sell eight million copies world-wide. The track was then followed by another number one hit "You Can Win If You Want
You Can Win If You Want
You Can Win If You Want is Modern Talking's second single released from their debut album The 1st Album. The single was released on March 13, 1985 but entered the top-10 in Germany on May the 13th, 1985, after spending three weeks within the top-5, the single reached the top eventually going gold...
" which was released in the middle of 1985 from the debut album The 1st Album. The album went on being certified platinum in Germany for selling over 500,000 units.
Soon after their second hit, Modern Talking released the single "Cheri, Cheri Lady" which also quickly climbed to the top of the charts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Norway, meanwhile entering the top-10 in Sweden and The Netherlands. The single, being the only track released from their second album Let's Talk About Love
Let's Talk About Love (Modern Talking album)
Let's Talk About Love is the second album by Modern Talking which was released on 14 October 1985 in Germany and other territories. This album saw a release of only one single Cheri, Cheri Lady which is considered one of Modern Talking's smash hits to date...
, managed to push the album to a platinum status in Germany for sales of over 500,000. The success continued with two other number one singles such as "Brother Louie
Brother Louie (Modern Talking song)
Brother Louie is Modern Talking's first single off the third album Ready for Romance. It is the fourth consecutive single to top the German Single Chart, after "You're My Heart, You're My Soul", "You Can Win If You Want" and "Cheri, Cheri Lady"....
" and "Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love)
Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love)
Atlantis is Calling is Modern Talking's second single released from the third album Ready for Romance, and it's their fifth consecutive single to reach No. 1 on the German single chart. "Atlantis is Calling " was released in Germany and in other European territories on April 28, 1986, it peaked at...
" both from the third album Ready for Romance
Ready for romance
Ready for Romance is the third studio album by Modern Talking released on 26 May 1986. This album saw releases of two singles Brother Louie and Atlantis is Calling Ready for Romance is the third studio album by Modern Talking released on 26 May 1986. This album saw releases of two singles Brother...
. The duo also charted high with their sixth single "Geronimo's Cadillac
Geronimo's Cadillac (Modern Talking)
Geronimo's Cadillac is Modern Talking's first single released from the fourth album In The Middle Of Nowhere. This single is also the first one not to reach the top of the German singles chart. "Geronimo's Cadillac" was released in Germany and in other European territories on October 6, 1986. The...
" from the fourth album In the Middle of Nowhere
In The Middle Of Nowhere
In the Middle of Nowhere is the fourth studio album by Modern Talking, released on November 10, 1986 in Germany and in other territories...
and "Jet Airliner
Jet Airliner (Modern Talking song)
Jet Airliner is Modern Talking's first single from the fifth album Romantic Warriors. The single was released in Germany and in other European territories on May 18, 1987. "Jet Airliner" peaked at No. 7 in Germany on June 22, 1987, over one month after its release and spent four weeks within the...
" from their fifth album Romantic Warriors
Romantic Warriors
Romantic Warriors is the fifth studio album by Modern Talking, released on 8 June 1987 in Germany and elsewhere. It contains the single "Jet Airliner" which entered the top-10 in Germany and Austria while entering the top-20 in Switzerland and Sweden. Romantic Warriors, produced by Hansa Records...
.
During this era, Modern Talking were successful in Europe, Asia, South America, Middle East, particularly in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, where all Western pop music was banned after the 1979 Islamic revolution. In the United Kingdom, they entered the top-5 only once, with the song "Brother Louie". They were almost unknown in North America, never appearing in the US charts, although they did become one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
s in Canada when "Brother Louie" peaked at number 34 in 1987. They released two albums each year between 1985 and 1987, while also promoting their singles on television all over Europe, eventually selling 65 million records within three years.
Between 1987 and 1998
Immediately after the duo split in the mid 1987, Bohlen formed his own project called "Blue SystemBlue System
Blue System was a German pop group that was founded by Dieter Bohlen in 1987 after the break-up of Modern Talking.The group consisted of Dieter Bohlen , and hired backstage musicians Rolf Köhler , Michael Scholz , Detlef Wiedeke and other background and/or front female voices unknown to the...
" and enjoyed several high chart positions, with tracks like "Sorry Little Sarah", "My Bed Is Too Big", "Under My Skin", "Love Suite" and "Déjà vu". Meanwhile, Anders went solo, touring under the name of Modern Talking on several continents, such as: Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia until the beginning of 1989, when he started to record some of his new pop-like material in LA and London, and also in his native country. Anders recorded five solo albums in English Different, Whispers
Whispers (album)
Whispers is the title of the second studio album by singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders, released in 1991. The album was produced by Paul Muggleton & Mike Paxman and mixed by Stephen W Tayler. Some tracks for the album were provided by songwriters of Roxette and Jennifer Rush...
, Down on Sunset
Down on Sunset
Down on Sunset is the title of the third studio album by singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders. It was released in 1992, and was produced by Christian De Walden...
, When Will I See You Again
When Will I See You Again (album)
When Will I See You Again is the title of the fourth studio album by singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders. It was released in 1993, and was produced by Christian De Walden...
and Souled
Souled
Souled is the title of the sixth studio album by singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders. It was released in 1995, and was produced by Peter Wolf . The album featured covers of The Beatles' "Michelle", Stephanie Mills' "Never Knew Love Like This Before" and a duet with The Pointer Sisters on...
and one of his album was also recorded in Spanish Barcos de Cristal
Barcos De Cristal
Barcos de Cristal is the title of the fifth studio album by singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders. It is his first solo album to be sung in Spanish. It was released in 1994 in the USA for Latin America, and was produced by Christian De Walden . Some tracks were co-written by Thomas Anders aka...
. He was more successful in foreign countries than his own country, yet he also reached several hits in Germany. Despite all the quarrels and disagreements that Bohlen and Anders experienced between themselves in the past, they began keeping in touch again after Anders moved back to Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
, Germany in 1994.
The Reunion: 1998–2003
In the beginning of 1998 the duo reunited, and had their first performance together in March on Germany's biggest TV show Wetten, dass..?Wetten, dass..?
Wetten, dass..? is a long-running German-language entertainment television show. It is the most successful Saturday television show in Europe...
. They released a re-packaged version of their '84 single "You're My Heart, You're My Soul '98". The single, however, no longer sounded like a mellow Europop track, instead it was a typical up-tempo Eurodance
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...
number, featuring rapper Eric Singleton
Eric Singleton
Eric XL Singleton is an American rapper who has appeared on many dance music productions, significantly on Modern Talking songs, like "You're My Heart, You're My Soul '98" and "Brother Louie '98".- Biography :Singleton has worked since 1994 with different music producers...
on the rap vocals. Their first comeback album Back for Good
Back For Good (Modern Talking album)
-Chart position:-External links:*...
, which included four new tracks, as well as all of the previous hits redone with modern techniques, stayed at number one position in Germany for five consecutive weeks and managed to top the charts in 15 countries, eventually selling three million copies in Europe alone. The duo won the award at World Music Awards
World Music Awards
The World Music Awards is an international awards show founded in 1989 that annually honors recording artists based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show...
for being the Best Selling German Band that year. The follow-up album Alone
Alone (Modern Talking album)
Alone is the eighth studio album released by Modern Talking, and their second after their 1998 reunion. It was released on 19 February 1999 by Hansa Records, BMG. Two singles were released off this album "You're Not Alone" and "Sexy Sexy Lover", first one of which peaked at No. 7 and the second at...
which also went straight to number one in Germany was very successful elsewhere as well; the album managed to sell well over one million units in Europe alone.
Bohlen and Anders followed the 1980s Modern Talking pattern as they chose to release two singles from each album, as in the past. A series of singles and four more albums followed such as Year of the Dragon
Year of the Dragon (album)
Year of the Dragon is the ninth studio album released by the German europop duo Modern Talking. It was released on 28 February 2000 through Hansa Records and distributed by BMG. Year of the Dragon enter the German album chart at No...
, America, Victory
Victory (Modern Talking album)
Victory, released on 18 March 2002, is the eleventh studio album of Modern Talking and it is the fifth release since the duo's 1998 reunion. Two singles were released off this album "Ready for the Victory" and "Juliet", the first one of which peaked at No. 7 and the latter at No. 25 in Germany....
and Universe
Universe (Modern Talking album)
Universe released on 31 March 2003 is the twelfth and final studio album of Modern Talking and it is the sixth release since the duo's 1998 reunion. The album completely produced by Dieter Bohlen, landed on the German chart on 14 April 2003 entering the No. 2 position...
. After reaching the point where they had already collected over 400 gold and platinum awards worldwide, Bohlen and Anders decided to split up again in 2003 just before the release of another of their album compiled of best-songs. The second break-up seemed to have been triggered mainly from the negative portrayal of Anders by Bohlen written in his autobiographical book published on October 4, 2003. In the course of all the disputes which eventually drove the duo to its break-up, Bohlen was involved in Deutschland sucht den Superstar
Deutschland sucht den Superstar
Deutschland sucht den Superstar is a German reality talent show, also commonly known by its initials DSDS. Part of the Idol franchise, it was created by English media mogul Simon Fuller as a spin-off from the British show Pop Idol, of which two series were broadcast between the years of 2001 and...
, the German edition of the UK's Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
. The compilation album was released in 2003 entitled "The Final Album
The Final Album
The Final Album is the name of the last album of Modern Talking. It was released in 2003 by BMG International, and is a singles collection from 1984 to 2003.-Track listing:...
" which contained all of the duo's singles. Thomas Anders started another solo career immediately after the end of Modern Talking, while Bohlen had by now begun devoting most of his time to new talents, especially those he discovered on DSDS.
Production and sales figures
In 1984, Bohlen cited the hit single "Precious Little Diamond" (by Fox the FoxFox the Fox
Fox the Fox was a Dutch eurodisco group that was founded in 1981 by singer Bertrand Tamaela and Sylhoutte Musmin. They are best known for their hit single "Precious Little Diamond".- History :...
), as his inspiration for using falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
choruses. The studio vocal line up of Rolf Köhler
Rolf Köhler
Rolf Köhler was a German singer, musician and record producer.Rolf Köhler has been one of the most successful singers from Germany. His first success was on the 1970s under the Marc de Ville pseudonym...
, Michael Scholz
Michael Scholz
Michael Scholz is a German singer, composer and producer.Between 1984 and 2000 he collaborated with Dieter Bohlen for which he sang in the Modern Talking and Blue System choruses. Since 2003 he works on his music group, Systems in Blue....
, Detlef Wiedeke and (on early albums) Birger Corleis, in addition to Bohlen and Anders, produced the high choruses characteristic of Modern Talking. Köhler, Scholz and Wiedeke later went on to work with Bohlen in Blue System
Blue System
Blue System was a German pop group that was founded by Dieter Bohlen in 1987 after the break-up of Modern Talking.The group consisted of Dieter Bohlen , and hired backstage musicians Rolf Köhler , Michael Scholz , Detlef Wiedeke and other background and/or front female voices unknown to the...
, before joining with songwriter Thomas Widrat to form Systems in Blue
Systems in Blue
Systems in Blue is a German pop band, with the following band members, Rolf Köhler, Michael Scholz and Detlef Wiedeke. The band members started in the beginning of 60's, working in different bands in 60's and 70's, Rolf Köhler worked for several different artists such as Blonker, Uriah Heep, Blind...
. Köhler, Scholz and Wiedeke were never credited on the Modern Talking albums, and eventually went to court over the matter. They received an out of court settlement and Bohlen published a sleeve note for his next release (Obsession
Obsession (Blue System album)
Obsession is the fourth album of Blue System. Was published in 1990 by BMG Ariola and produced by Dieter Bohlen. The album contains 10 new tracks.- Track listing :- Charts :...
, by Blue System), acknowledging the trio's contribution.
Further influences include German-language Schlager
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
music, disco pop (Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
) and romantic English-language songs of Italian and French origin, like Gazebo
Paul Mazzolini
Paul Mazzolini , known as Gazebo, is an Italian musician. He has a legend status among the fans of the "Italo disco" music style, a variation of 1980s Eurodisco.-Biography:...
's "I Like Chopin". After the 1998 reunion, Bohlen produced eurodance
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...
, as well as American-style MOR ballads.
Global sales of Modern Talking, after the duo's second and final break-up in 2003, had reached 120 million singles and albums combined, making them the biggest-selling German music act in history, so far outselling even 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...
's projects Boney M. and Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most...
, Michael Cretu
Michael Cretu
Michael Cretu is a Romanian musician. He is known also as Curly, MC or Curly M.C. because of his fair curled hair . His peak musical activity was with the Enigma project, which was mainly based in Germany....
's Enigma
Enigma (musical project)
Enigma is an electronic musical project founded in Germany by Michael Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. The Romanian-born Cretu conceived the Enigma project while working in Germany, but has based his recording studio A.R.T. Studios in Ibiza, Spain, since the early 1990s until May...
, Sandra
Sandra Cretu
Sandra Ann Lauer, stage name Sandra is a German pop singer, who dominated European charts with eighteen top 20 hits during the 1980s and early 1990s, with the help of her then-husband and musical partner, Michael Cretu. During a brief height of popularity, she even outsold Madonna in a number of...
as well as Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
and Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
.
Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg...
also composed for other artists, during his Modern Talking time, like Chris Norman
Chris Norman
Chris Norman is an English soft rock singer. Norman was the lead singer of Smokie, an English glam rock band from Bradford, which found success in Europe in the 1970s....
and Smokie
Smokie (band)
Smokie is an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire who found success in Europe in the 1970s.-Early years:Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1964 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford as The Yen. The Yen's first gig was at Birkenshaw...
, whose song "Midnight Lady" (1986) remains Bohlen's most popular composition. He also composed a large number of disco tracks for C. C. Catch, using an accelerated, less-romantic sound. Some English Bohlen songs such as "You're My Heart, You're My Soul
You're My Heart, You're My Soul
"You're My Heart, You're My Soul" is the first single by German europop duo Modern Talking released off their debut album "The 1st Album". The single was released on 29 October 1984 but entered the top-10 in Germany on January 28, 1985, almost three months after its release date...
" were also recorded with German lyrics by Mary Roos
Mary Roos
-1949-1970:Schwab was born in Bingen. At the age of nine, she recorded her first song "Ja die Dicken sind ja so gemütlich" as Die kleine Rosemarie. It was no major commercial success. In 1958, she also appeared in the film Die Straße. Over the following years she would release many records and she...
, using the same playback tracks. When Modern Talking split up in 1987, a number of tracks written for the last album were re-arranged and then transferred onto Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg...
's first solo album by Blue System. Modern Talking's 6th album was released about the same time as the 1st single from Blue System, "Sorry Little Sarah", where Bohlen competed in the charts against Modern Talking's "In 100 Years" hit song.
Solo careers
In 2006, Bohlen included a secret messageBackmasking
Backmasking is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward on to a track that is meant to be played forward...
in his song "Bizarre Bizarre" when played backwards: "There will never be an end to Modern Talking". Bohlen's response: "I meant to say that the music of Modern Talking will live forever".
Anders has kept the Modern Talking songs in his repertoire and produced songs in a similar vein for his solo records ("Independent Girl"). In 2006, he produced an album Songs Forever
Songs Forever
Songs Forever is the title of the 2006 studio album by German singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders, consisting mainly of popular swing covers...
of swing and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
versions of popular songs (including Modern Talking's first hit). Bohlen has written two autobiographical books about Modern Talking's history from his perspective. The first book sold a million copies in Germany. The sequel was heavily criticised for his unfairness towards the people he worked with. As a result of that, Bohlen withdrew from the public for a year until 2006, when he said he regretted putting out the second book. Anders had not been the only one pressing charges against Bohlen and demanding that sections of the book be modified. 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...
was also angered by Bohlen's literary output and released a book in which he tried to expose Bohlen as a fraud. Bohlen's first book was the basis of an animated comedy film called Dieter - Der Film. The soundtrack of this film
Dieter: Der Film (soundtrack)
Dieter: Der Film is the soundtrack of the movie with the same name. The soundtrack was released the 3 March 2006, by Hansa Records. The soundtrack contains songs made exclusively by Dieter Bohlen, marking his comeback as singer, as since Here I Am , he didn't released a solo album...
contains the previously unreleased Modern Talking song "Shooting Star
Shooting Star (Modern Talking song)
"Shooting Star" is a song by Modern Talking, produced in 2006 by Dieter Bohlen, almost three years after the band's split. The song was published in Dieter: Der Film soundtrack...
" which had been written for the Universe
Universe (Modern Talking album)
Universe released on 31 March 2003 is the twelfth and final studio album of Modern Talking and it is the sixth release since the duo's 1998 reunion. The album completely produced by Dieter Bohlen, landed on the German chart on 14 April 2003 entering the No. 2 position...
album.
Members
| 1984–1985 |
|
|---|---|
| 1985–1987 |
Thomas Anders Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:... – lead voice, piano Dieter Bohlen Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg... – lead guitar, producer, composer, choruses Luis Rodríguez (producer) Luis Rodríguez Salazar is a Spanish producer, arranger, mixer and engineer, known by his role in the co-production of Modern Talking. He was also involved up to the 1990s in most of Dieter Bohlen's productions, for example, C. C. Catch and Blue System, working as co-producer.- Biography :Rodriguez... – co-producer 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... |
| 1998–2000 |
Thomas Anders Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:... – lead voice, piano Dieter Bohlen Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg... – lead guitar, producer, composer, choruses Luis Rodríguez (producer) Luis Rodríguez Salazar is a Spanish producer, arranger, mixer and engineer, known by his role in the co-production of Modern Talking. He was also involved up to the 1990s in most of Dieter Bohlen's productions, for example, C. C. Catch and Blue System, working as co-producer.- Biography :Rodriguez... – co-producer 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... Eric Singleton Eric XL Singleton is an American rapper who has appeared on many dance music productions, significantly on Modern Talking songs, like "You're My Heart, You're My Soul '98" and "Brother Louie '98".- Biography :Singleton has worked since 1994 with different music producers... – rap vocals Rapping Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”... |
| 2001 |
Thomas Anders Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:... – lead voice, piano Dieter Bohlen Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg... – lead guitar, producer, composer, choruses Eric Singleton Eric XL Singleton is an American rapper who has appeared on many dance music productions, significantly on Modern Talking songs, like "You're My Heart, You're My Soul '98" and "Brother Louie '98".- Biography :Singleton has worked since 1994 with different music producers... – rap vocals Rapping Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”... |
| 2002–2003 |
Thomas Anders Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:... – lead voice, piano Dieter Bohlen Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg... – lead guitar, producer, composer, choruses |
Discography
- The 1st Album (1985)
- Let's Talk About LoveLet's Talk About Love (Modern Talking album)Let's Talk About Love is the second album by Modern Talking which was released on 14 October 1985 in Germany and other territories. This album saw a release of only one single Cheri, Cheri Lady which is considered one of Modern Talking's smash hits to date...
(1985) - Ready for RomanceReady for romanceReady for Romance is the third studio album by Modern Talking released on 26 May 1986. This album saw releases of two singles Brother Louie and Atlantis is Calling Ready for Romance is the third studio album by Modern Talking released on 26 May 1986. This album saw releases of two singles Brother...
(1986) - In the Middle of NowhereIn The Middle Of NowhereIn the Middle of Nowhere is the fourth studio album by Modern Talking, released on November 10, 1986 in Germany and in other territories...
(1986) - Romantic WarriorsRomantic WarriorsRomantic Warriors is the fifth studio album by Modern Talking, released on 8 June 1987 in Germany and elsewhere. It contains the single "Jet Airliner" which entered the top-10 in Germany and Austria while entering the top-20 in Switzerland and Sweden. Romantic Warriors, produced by Hansa Records...
(1987) - In the Garden of VenusIn The Garden Of VenusIn the Garden of Venus is the sixth studio album by Modern Talking, released on November 30, 1987 in Germany and in other territories. The album's success, due to the lack of promotion, was rather moderate in comparison with the success that all the previous five albums experienced...
(1987) - Back for GoodBack For Good (Modern Talking album)-Chart position:-External links:*...
(1998) - AloneAlone (Modern Talking album)Alone is the eighth studio album released by Modern Talking, and their second after their 1998 reunion. It was released on 19 February 1999 by Hansa Records, BMG. Two singles were released off this album "You're Not Alone" and "Sexy Sexy Lover", first one of which peaked at No. 7 and the second at...
(1999) - Year of the DragonYear of the Dragon (album)Year of the Dragon is the ninth studio album released by the German europop duo Modern Talking. It was released on 28 February 2000 through Hansa Records and distributed by BMG. Year of the Dragon enter the German album chart at No...
(2000) - America (2001)
- VictoryVictory (Modern Talking album)Victory, released on 18 March 2002, is the eleventh studio album of Modern Talking and it is the fifth release since the duo's 1998 reunion. Two singles were released off this album "Ready for the Victory" and "Juliet", the first one of which peaked at No. 7 and the latter at No. 25 in Germany....
(2002) - UniverseUniverse (Modern Talking album)Universe released on 31 March 2003 is the twelfth and final studio album of Modern Talking and it is the sixth release since the duo's 1998 reunion. The album completely produced by Dieter Bohlen, landed on the German chart on 14 April 2003 entering the No. 2 position...
(2003)
See also
- Blue SystemBlue SystemBlue System was a German pop group that was founded by Dieter Bohlen in 1987 after the break-up of Modern Talking.The group consisted of Dieter Bohlen , and hired backstage musicians Rolf Köhler , Michael Scholz , Detlef Wiedeke and other background and/or front female voices unknown to the...
- Dieter: Der FilmDieter: Der FilmDieter - Der Film is a 2006 film, a satirical cartoon based in Dieter Bohlen's autobiography Nothing But the Truth . The main song, "Gasoline", and the rest of the soundtrack was composed and written by Bohlen.- Plot :...
- Nora BallingNora BallingNora-Isabelle Balling, also known as Nora Anders is a German fashion model, and was the first wife of the singer and former Modern Talking member, Thomas Anders, between 1985 and 1999....
- ex-wife of Thomas AndersThomas AndersThomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:... - List of best-selling music artists - World's top selling music artists chart.