Los Del Río are a Spanish Pop and dance duo who formed in 1992. They are best known for their smash-hit dance single “Macarena”, originally released in early 1994. The song went on to become a worldwide success.
The single “Tengo, Tengo” was released on February 18, 1996, and appeared later that year on the album Fiesta Macarena. The group ultimately released six albums: A Mi Me Gusta, Macarena Non Stop, Fiesta Macarena, Colores, Rio y Guestano and Alegria y Cosabuena. Five of the albums featured versions of “Macarena”, in different styles and remixes.
Los Del Rio collaborated with Bahama pop rap group Baha Men on the 1997 single “Car Loca Rosa”, which featured the group and hip hop musician MC Hammer.
Its been nearly 10 years since Marie-José van der Kolk alias Loona arrived at the studio to record Bailandoand she knew then that an amazing career was about to be launched. The pop industry welcomed this new girl on the scene and witnessed itself, following the release of Bailando the phenomenal rise to success of Loona and knew then that she was never going to be a “one hit wonder”. No one was prepared for the level of success that followed. Bailando stormed the German charts and climbed quickly to capture top slot.
Germany’s highest music prize the “Echo” was awarded to Loona for her interpretation of “Bailando”.
But this was not the end but the beginning. Gold, Platinum and double Platinum honours from Germany, Austria and Switzerland were thrust upon her. It was clear to Marie at this point in her career, that she didn’t want to be the same as other artists in the industry. Pop stars if you like.
It was so important to her that Bailando should be a song and style in its own right and that any new recordings should be different and individual in their own way. I didn’t want to record a Bailando 2 recalls Loona. I wanted people to see something that was real. Something that was a first.
Soon after Loona teamed up for a joint venture with the newly formed Orchestra De La Luna, a 40 man ensemble of Germanys finest musicians, presenting LOONA with the imposing and very emotional ballad Hijo de la Luna.
Pole position in the German charts swiftly followed and with sales exceeding 1 million Loona once again carried off Gold and Platinum honours. The debut album Lunita together with the third single Donde Vasfully confirmed Loona’s top standing in the charts. The smash hit single Mamboleo which reached number 3 in the German Singles chart enabled Loona to receive the second Echo’s award of her career.
To know Loona is to know Marie- José. Such is the power and belief of this self confident young woman that to listen to her music ensures that you are listening to the very thoughts and soul of the heart of this amazing performer. All the emotions she feels for any one thing can be translated into the dreams and feelings of all her listeners. They relate to the very truth of what is being said and ensures that the courage of those beliefs are transmitted to each and everyone of her fans. Loona safely but wantonly brings these emotions and beliefs to her amazing shows to such a level that you come away feeling like you have been individually chosen by Loona to become an ambassador of music and happiness. This is so apparent in her image and passion on her many live performances and numerous award ceremonies.
She radiates the whole ethos of what she delivers. She lifts us up wherever we may be.
Whatever happened to LondonBeat? That’s a question lots of people must have asked lately. The answer? … LONDONBEAT IS STILL HERE! And now they are back with the new upbeat single Where Are U. The new album, their first in the new millennium, carries the perfect programmable title Back In The Hi-Life. That was the very first song that we wrote after we had decided ‘We will do it again!’ says Jimmy Helms, lead vocalist of the quartet. It’s about reaching for that Higher Love, that illusive muse again. It’s about LondonBeat.
Reaching! Perhaps that’s why they haven’t disappeared into oblivion, like so many other bands of their era. Reaching for the stars, but with their feet planted firmly on the ground. These days they find themselves doing concerts in far-flung places like Volgograd, Russia, for 250,000 fans, not to mention more luxurious locations. We’ve just come back from a weekend trip to Nice. Last year we gave a concert there on the Yacht Christina of the Onassis family. The organizers asked us back again this year because they know: the people like our sound. In territory after territory we are happy to learn that our fans have never forgotten us.
I’ve Been Thinking About You was their big hit – THE world-wide smash hit. At the beginning of the 1990’s it was No. 1 in Germany, No. 1 in the U.S.( No. 2 in Great Britain)… In fact, No. 1 in 27 countries. One of those magical songs that makes the sun rise on your face. You listen to it just once and you never forget it. It is wonderful a song can keep you in the mind of so many millions of people , says Helms, I think that a lot of people connect the memory of their lives at that time with Thinking About You’. They still remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard it for the first time. You can never plan something like this. It just happens or not. More than 5 million copies were sold of the single and suddenly the guys of Londonbeat were gobal pop-superstars. Their videos were on high rotation all around the world.
After their very first album, Speak, they recorded the In The Blood LP which spawned Thinking About Youand A Better Love. Then came a third album with You Bring On The Sun and they had another Top Ten hit. After a fourth LP the original line-up split.
Prior to forming Londonbeat, original members Jimmy Chambers and George Chandler had done backing vocals for Paul Young, helping him to achieve hits like Come Back And Stay. Later, Jimmy Helms made the backing unit a three-some and together they helped make hits for most of the major artists of the late-1980’s and early 1990’s. Their own first chart success came with the late 1980’s ballad 9 a.m. (The Comfort Zone) from their debut album Speak. Then, after an impressive list of hits, they all went separate ways. Helms co-wrote a few songs and devoted himself again to his lifework – writing a trilogy – a myth-historical novel about the conquest of America by the Europeans. He has worked on it for more than 10 years now. But now the book will have to wait a little longer. Because together with another original band member Jimmy Chambers, as well as new members Myles Kayne and Marc Goldschmitz, Helms is now doing what he does best: Londonbeat.
