Whigfield
Encyclopedia
Sannie Charlotte Carlson (born 11 April 1970), best known as Whigfield and also as Naan, is a Danish
singer best known for the song "Saturday Night
", a hugely popular single during the summer of 1994.
, Denmark. She spent several years in Africa
as a child before returning to her native country. Before singing Sannie worked as a very successful model and studied music. When she met the producer Larry Pignagnoli
, who also produces Benny Benassi, Katla, In-Grid, Ally & Jo, Ann Lee, Spagna, J.K., Dhany and others, the artist "Whigfield" was born. The name "Whigfield" is a tribute to Sannie's piano teacher.
. Her music was also very successful in Australia
, Brazil
, Venezuela
, Canada
, France
, India
, the Netherlands
, the Nordic countries
, The Philippines where it became a hugely popular and smash hit summer song of 1994 gaining a very decent cult status in recent years along with the songs of Ace of Base and Los del Río
, and Spain
during the 1995 Eurodance
phenomenon. Her role in the Eurodance scene has been very significant and has played an important role in music coming from Italy and Scandinavia.
Later singles include "Think of You", "Close To You", "Last Christmas
", "Gimme Gimme" and "Sexy Eyes". "Gimme Gimme" and "Sexy Eyes" reached #14 and #6 in Australia, respectively, and they were the only two significant charting hits in that country.
Like the group Milli Vanilli
, Whigfield was accused of not singing her own songs. This was because she did all her live performances lip synching (miming to a backing track). "Saturday Night" was produced by Larry Pignagnoli
and Davide Riva, two Italian producers known for a variety of Eurodance projects, who usually worked with vocalists such as Daniela Galli (better known as Dhany
), Annerley Gordon (aka Ann Lee
) and Sandy Chambers. Another Pignagnoli project, Ally & Jo, featured a similar voice to Whigfield's but different faces in the CD cover and led to the accusations. Sannie has performed live more recently, therefore proving her voice is her own.
In October 2007, Whigfield released "All In One", a greatest hits album with past hits being resung with newer, modern beats. The album includes updated versions of "Think Of You", "Gotta Getcha", "Sexy Eyes", "Givin All My Love", "No Tears To Cry", "Was A Time", "Close To You", "Out Of Sight", "Another Day", and of course her biggest hit "Saturday Night". The album also includes 2 brand new songs titled "Rainbow" and "Right in the Night
", a cover version from Jam & Spoon
. On 18 December, she released her first single in 3 years, "Think of you", which contains mixes from Mathieu Bouthier & Muttonheads and Gabry Ponte. A second single Right In The Night was released in May 2008 which peaked at #4 on the Eurodance.com Interactive Chart. A third singles has been released "Saturday Night (Klm Mixes)" in late 2008 which contains 20 new mixes.
However successful Whigfield became on the international marketplace, the only place where she has yet to achieve major commercial success, like many European artists, is the United States
(Even though she placed both "Saturday Night" and "Another Day" on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1995, with "Night" peaking at #19 and "Day" coming in at #21, respectively). In the years 1994-1997 Whigfield sold more records than Oasis and Blur combined, although in a 1998 interview she accepted that she was not a bigger influence on mainstream music than either band.
In 2005, Sannie appeared on the Benassi Bros album 'Phobia' writing and singing on two songs, 'Feel Alive' and 'Rocket In The Sky'. Sannie choose to record these under the name Naan, and also used that name to record 'Come A Little Closer' with Malomodo, and 'Yes U R' and some vocals in 'People Of The Night' with European DJ 'Favretto'. Sannie also wrote the lyrics for 'It's Summertime' performed by Spanish singer Katla which was released in October 2005.
Sannie is still currently involved in writing, producing and recording. Most recently she wrote the lyrics for the hit 'Who's Your Daddy' performed by Benny Benassi. 'Feel Alive' was also released in Spring 2006 however the vocals on the single release are performed by Sandy. Also vocals were re-recorded by Dhany for the single release of 'Rocket In The Sky'. She also wrote "Put 'Em Up" for singer Edun
, which has gone on to become a major hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay
chart, where it peaked at number 3 in August 2007.
"C'est Cool" (which is French
for "It's Cool") released in June 2011 is Whigfield's most recent/successful single reaching no.9 in Denmark.
There are over 50 official remixes of "Saturday Night".
Under the name Naan
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
singer best known for the song "Saturday Night
Saturday Night (Whigfield song)
"Saturday Night" is a song by Danish singer Whigfield, released to huge success in 1994.-Background:Italian producer Larry Pignagnoli had already had success with Spagna in the late 1980s and early 1990s before he produced "Saturday Night" with Danish former model Sannie Carlson aka Whigfield...
", a hugely popular single during the summer of 1994.
Biography
Whigfield was born in SkælskørSkælskør
Skælskør is a town in Slagelse municipality on the Danish island of Zealand. The town has a population of 6,358 . Administratively, the town is in Region Sjælland and is home to one of Denmark's largest breweries, the Harboe Brewery....
, Denmark. She spent several years in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
as a child before returning to her native country. Before singing Sannie worked as a very successful model and studied music. When she met the producer Larry Pignagnoli
Larry Pignagnoli
Alfredo "Larry" Pignagnoli is a well-known Italian producer and is behind several international dance hits. He runs the production unit Off Limits in Italy...
, who also produces Benny Benassi, Katla, In-Grid, Ally & Jo, Ann Lee, Spagna, J.K., Dhany and others, the artist "Whigfield" was born. The name "Whigfield" is a tribute to Sannie's piano teacher.
International success
She rose to prominence when her single "Saturday Night" became the summer smash hit of 1994, thanks to extensive play in the clubs of the Mediterranean and the fact that it had a dance which many found easy to learn. It was also the single which prevented Wet Wet Wet from reaching a record-equalling 16th week at number 1 in the UK. She became the first ever non-UK or American artist to debut at No.1 in her first week in the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Her music was also very successful in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, The Philippines where it became a hugely popular and smash hit summer song of 1994 gaining a very decent cult status in recent years along with the songs of Ace of Base and Los del Río
Los del Río
Los Del Rio, also known as "The Del Rios," was a Spanish Latin dance group formed in 1992 and broke up in mid-2007. They were best known by their smash-hit and hot dance single Macarena originally released in early 1994. The song peaked at the Hot Dance Singles and Billboard 200 by mid-1994. The...
, and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during the 1995 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...
phenomenon. Her role in the Eurodance scene has been very significant and has played an important role in music coming from Italy and Scandinavia.
Later singles include "Think of You", "Close To You", "Last Christmas
Last Christmas
"Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1984, on a double A-side with "Everything She Wants". It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo...
", "Gimme Gimme" and "Sexy Eyes". "Gimme Gimme" and "Sexy Eyes" reached #14 and #6 in Australia, respectively, and they were the only two significant charting hits in that country.
Like the group 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...
, Whigfield was accused of not singing her own songs. This was because she did all her live performances lip synching (miming to a backing track). "Saturday Night" was produced by Larry Pignagnoli
Larry Pignagnoli
Alfredo "Larry" Pignagnoli is a well-known Italian producer and is behind several international dance hits. He runs the production unit Off Limits in Italy...
and Davide Riva, two Italian producers known for a variety of Eurodance projects, who usually worked with vocalists such as Daniela Galli (better known as Dhany
Dhany
Dhany is an Italian dance music vocalist. She is most known for her work with Italian dance music producers Alessandro and Benny Benassi.-Albums:* Quiero Respirar #Quiero Respirar 4:01#Shut Up 3:35...
), Annerley Gordon (aka Ann Lee
Ann Lee (singer)
Ann Lee is a British Electropop/Eurodance singer, who rose to fame in the late 1990s.-Career:...
) and Sandy Chambers. Another Pignagnoli project, Ally & Jo, featured a similar voice to Whigfield's but different faces in the CD cover and led to the accusations. Sannie has performed live more recently, therefore proving her voice is her own.
In October 2007, Whigfield released "All In One", a greatest hits album with past hits being resung with newer, modern beats. The album includes updated versions of "Think Of You", "Gotta Getcha", "Sexy Eyes", "Givin All My Love", "No Tears To Cry", "Was A Time", "Close To You", "Out Of Sight", "Another Day", and of course her biggest hit "Saturday Night". The album also includes 2 brand new songs titled "Rainbow" and "Right in the Night
Right in the Night
"Right in the Night " is a song by German trance duo Jam & Spoon. It was released in 1993 on the German label Dance Pool....
", a cover version from Jam & Spoon
Jam & Spoon
Jam & Spoon was an electronic dance duo from Frankfurt, Germany, that consisted of composers and producers Rolf Ellmer and Markus Löffel . They also worked under the pseudonyms Tokyo Ghetto Pussy, Storm and Big Room...
. On 18 December, she released her first single in 3 years, "Think of you", which contains mixes from Mathieu Bouthier & Muttonheads and Gabry Ponte. A second single Right In The Night was released in May 2008 which peaked at #4 on the Eurodance.com Interactive Chart. A third singles has been released "Saturday Night (Klm Mixes)" in late 2008 which contains 20 new mixes.
However successful Whigfield became on the international marketplace, the only place where she has yet to achieve major commercial success, like many European artists, is the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Even though she placed both "Saturday Night" and "Another Day" on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1995, with "Night" peaking at #19 and "Day" coming in at #21, respectively). In the years 1994-1997 Whigfield sold more records than Oasis and Blur combined, although in a 1998 interview she accepted that she was not a bigger influence on mainstream music than either band.
Recent works
Whigfield has since written and performed many dance songs for groups like Benny Benassi, changed her performance name to Naan, and is still involved in the industry.In 2005, Sannie appeared on the Benassi Bros album 'Phobia' writing and singing on two songs, 'Feel Alive' and 'Rocket In The Sky'. Sannie choose to record these under the name Naan, and also used that name to record 'Come A Little Closer' with Malomodo, and 'Yes U R' and some vocals in 'People Of The Night' with European DJ 'Favretto'. Sannie also wrote the lyrics for 'It's Summertime' performed by Spanish singer Katla which was released in October 2005.
Sannie is still currently involved in writing, producing and recording. Most recently she wrote the lyrics for the hit 'Who's Your Daddy' performed by Benny Benassi. 'Feel Alive' was also released in Spring 2006 however the vocals on the single release are performed by Sandy. Also vocals were re-recorded by Dhany for the single release of 'Rocket In The Sky'. She also wrote "Put 'Em Up" for singer Edun
Alice Edun
Alice Edun is a singer who is of Nigerian-Russian descent but makes her home in Milan, Italy. Her musical fortes are in the area of dance and gospel...
, which has gone on to become a major hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay
Hot Dance Airplay
Dance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it...
chart, where it peaked at number 3 in August 2007.
"C'est Cool" (which is French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for "It's Cool") released in June 2011 is Whigfield's most recent/successful single reaching no.9 in Denmark.
Albums
- Whigfield (1995)
- Whigfield IIWhigfield IIWhigfield II is the second studio album by Danish artist Whigfield, released in 1997.-Tracklist:#Givin' All My Love 3:34#No Tears To Cry 3:47#Baby Boy 3:39#Tenderly 4:01#What We've Done For Love 3:47#Lover 3:56...
(1997) - Whigfield IIIWhigfield IIIWhigfield III is the third studio album by Danish eurodance musician Whigfield, released in 2000.-Tracklist:#Be My Baby#Much More#Unbelievable#Lost in You#Makin' My Day#Outside#Upon A Star#All Your Love#Mi Amor#Waitin' For Saturday...
(2000) - Whigfield 4Whigfield 4Whigfield 4 is the fourth studio album by Danish eurodance musician Whigfield, released in 2002.The album was re-released in 2004 after the release of "Was a Time" in Germany and was called Was A Time - The Album. The album contains the single "Was a Time", as well as the tracks previously on...
/Was A Time - The Album (2002/2004) - All In OneAll in One (Whigfield album)All In One is a 2007 album released by Whigfield, her first music project in 3 years. This album serves as a Greatest hits album, although all the tracks have been re-recorded with new sounds. It also includes two new tracks: Rainbow and Right in the Night, the latter being a cover of Jam & Spoon's...
(2007)
Compilations
- Mega MixesMega Mixes (Whigfield album)Released after Whigfield's debut album. It was released in Germany and later Australia. This compilation contains 13 tracks which have been mixed together and four bonus tracks.-German Tracklist:#Intro#Saturday Night...
(1996/1998) - Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Whigfield album)A Whigfield compilation released in South America in 2001. The compilation contains most of Whigfield's previous singles, as well as track Making My Day from the Whigfield III album...
(2001) Mexico Release only - EurodanceEurodance (Whigfield album)A compilation of tracks from the Whigfield II and Whigfield III albums, as well as the David's Epic Edit of Sexy Eyes. The compilation was released in 2001 in Canada on Popular Records Inc...
(2001) Canada Release only - Dance With Whigfield/X-Tremely Fun - Workout With Whigfield (2004)
- Waiting For Saturday Night - Her Greatest Hits (2004)
- Greatest Remix HitsGreatest Remix Hits (Whigfield album)Greatest Remix Hits is acompilation released in 2005 by Rajob Music/Toco Australia featuring a selection of remixes featured on some of Whigfield's previous singles...
(2005) - Saturday Night - The Greatest Hits (2006)
- Whigfield's Complete Greatest Hits (2008)
Singles
Singles released at different times in different countries - these are the main release years- "Saturday NightSaturday Night (Whigfield song)"Saturday Night" is a song by Danish singer Whigfield, released to huge success in 1994.-Background:Italian producer Larry Pignagnoli had already had success with Spagna in the late 1980s and early 1990s before he produced "Saturday Night" with Danish former model Sannie Carlson aka Whigfield...
" (1994) - "Another DayAnother Day (Whigfield song)"Another Day" was the second single by the Danish singer Whigfield from the album of the same name, first released on 19 January 1995 and in the UK in December 1994 peaking at #7. Upon its release, the song drew accusations of plagiarism because the melody was very similar to the 1970 song "In the...
" (1994) - "Think Of YouThink of You (Whigfield song)"Think of You" is a song from Whigfield. The EP was released on May 8, 1995 in Australia. A single was released on May 29, 1995 in the UK, where it reached number 7 in the singles chart. It was also released in the U.S. and Italy...
" (1995) - "Close To YouClose to You (Whigfield song)"Close to You" is a song by Whigfield that was first released on 4 September 1995. A 12" Vinyl release has a track titled "Close To You " however this track appears to be "Think of You."- Track listings :UK: CD-Maxi 1: Systematic...
" (1995) - "Big TimeBig Time (Whigfield song)"Big Time" is a song by Whigfield, and the single was released on July 13, 1995, by X-Energy Records. It peaked at #21 in the UK charts, giving her another big hit in that country.-Releases:*Mexico: CD-Maxi: Musart#Big Time 3:21...
" (1995) - "Last ChristmasLast Christmas"Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1984, on a double A-side with "Everything She Wants". It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo...
" (1995) - "I Want To Love" (1996) [Malaysia & Canada]
- "Sexy Eyes" (1996)
- "Gimme GimmeGimme Gimme (Whigfield song)"Gimme Gimme" was the first single released by Whigfield in 1996 from her second studio album Whigfield II. It reached the Top 20 on the ARIA Charts, peaking at #14.-Track listings:Mexico CD-Maxi #Gimme Gimme...
" (1996) - "Baby Boy" (1997)
- "No Tears To Cry" (1997)
- "Givin' All My LoveGivin' All My Love (Whigfield song)"Givin' All My Love" is a song by Whigfield, and was released in 1998 from her 2nd studio album Whigfield 2.-Track listing:*Holland: CD-Maxi: Danza/Germany: CD Maxi: ZYX Music/Australian EP#Givin' All My Love 3:36...
" (1998) - "Be My BabyBe My Baby (Whigfield song)"Be My Baby" is a song by Whigfield, and was released in 1999 from her 3rd studio album Whigfield 3.-Releases:*Germany: CD-Maxi: ZYX Music#Be My Baby #Be My Baby #Be My Baby #Be My Baby "Be My Baby" is a song by Whigfield, and was released in 1999 from her 3rd studio album Whigfield...
" (1999) - "Doo-WhopDoo-Whop (Whigfield song)"Doo Whop" is a song by Danish eurodance musician Whigfield from the album Whigfield III. The EP was released in 2000 in Spain, Canada, Germany and The Netherlands.-Official Remixes:#ABM Edit - Original 3:22#ABM Extended Original 5:06...
" (2000) - "Much MoreMuch More (Whigfield song)"Much More" is a Whigfield song released in 2000 and it was released from her 3rd studio album Whigfield III. In 2002, it was re-released as a Golden Dance Classic.-Releases:*Germany: CD-Maxi: ZYX Music#Much More...
" (2000) - "Gotta GetchaGotta Getcha (Whigfield song)"Gotta Getcha" is a Whigfield song, and was the last to be released from the album Whigfield 4 in 2002. Whigfield also returned to the United Kingdom for the first time in a number of years to perform the song on the TV chat show Trisha...
" (2002) - "Amazing & Beautiful" (2002)
- "Saturday Night 2003" (2003)
- "Was A TimeWas a Time (Whigfield song)"Was A Time" is a Whigfield song which had a new sound from her other music. It was a summer single in 2004, and was included on the re-release of her fourth album 'Whigfield 4' but was entitled 'Was A Time - The Album' to coincide with the single.-Releases:...
" (2004) - "Think Of YouThink of You (Whigfield song)"Think of You" is a song from Whigfield. The EP was released on May 8, 1995 in Australia. A single was released on May 29, 1995 in the UK, where it reached number 7 in the singles chart. It was also released in the U.S. and Italy...
" (2007) - "Right In The Night" (2008)
- "Saturday Night (KLM Music Remixes)" (2008)
- "No Doubt" (2009)
- "To Feel Alive (With Oral Tunerz)" (2010)
- "C'est Cool (2011)
There are over 50 official remixes of "Saturday Night".
Under the name Naan
- 2005 : Malomodo feat. Naan - Come a Little Closer
- 2005 : Favretto Feat. Naan - Yes U R
- 2005 : Benassi Bros feat. Naan - Rocket in the Sky
- 2005 : Benassi Bros feat. Naan - Feel Alive
- 2006 : Benny BenassiBenny BenassiMarco Benassi , better known as Benny Benassi, is a Grammy Award winning Italian disc jockey and record producer of electro house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction"...
feat. Naan - Who's Your Daddy - 2007 : Favretto feat. Naan - People of the Night 2007
- 2007 : Pochill feat. Naan - Nothing but the Hill (Album)
- 2008 : Kurz feat. Naan - Sugar
- 2008 : Benny Benassi - Rock 'n' Rave
- 2008 : Lefavre feat. Naan - Bombero
- 2008 : Favretto & Naan - Heaven
- 2008 : Favretto & Naan - Follow Your Heart
- 2008 : Favretto & Naan - Hello
- 2008 : Favretto & Naan - Heaven Is Here
- 2008 : Favretto & Naan - Never Enough
- 2008 : Favretto & Naan - What's Your Name?
- 2009 : Oral Tunerz feat. Naan - 'till You Drop
- 2009 : D-bag feat. Naan - Up to the boy
- 2009 : Monofono feat. Naan - u wanna have it
- 2010 : Auxman feat naan - can't touch
- 2010 : Adam K ft Naan - Wake up
External links
- http://www.whigfield.eu/
- Sannie's Official Website
- Discogs Profile