Snap!

Snap! is a German eurodance project formed in 1989 by Frankfurt-based producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. The act has been through a number of line-up changes over the years, but was most successful when fronted by rapper Turbo B, who performed on the UK number 1 singles "The Power" and "Rhythm Is a Dancer".

The group's first hit "The Power" was a combination of house and hip hop elements and contained a number of unauthorised samples. It was initially released in the United States, but after Chill Rob G threatened legal action, the rap was re-recorded by Turbo B and additional vocals were recorded by Penny Ford (though the woman in the video is Jackie Harris), Jocelyn Brown's vocals were replaced by a female studio singer in 1999. The single rocketed to number 2 in Germany in March 1990, and spent two weeks at number 1 in the United Kingdom, becoming the first rap single to top the chart. It later reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified platinum.

Jackie left the group shortly afterwards and Penny became its full-time lead singer, recording the second single "Ooops Up". Further hits followed with the oriental-sounding "Cult of Snap", which charted at number 8 in the UK and number 3 in Germany, and "Mary Had a Little Boy", which also charted at number 8 in the UK, and reached number 4 in Germany. Their first album World Power reached #10 in the UK where it was certified Gold, #30 in the U.S. where it was also certified Gold, sold in excess of 7 million copies worldwide.

"Colour Of Love" was the first single for their second album and was released in December 1991. "Rhythm Is a Dancer" was released as the second single in July 1992 and went on to become their biggest hit yet, spending six weeks at number 1 in the UK and peaking at number 5 in the U.S. in early 1993.

The second album The Madman's Return was another multi-million seller but Turbo B but decided to leave the group shortly after its release to pursue a solo career. Both Penny Ford and Thea Austin followed suit. The third single "Exterminate!", with vocals by Michigan-born Niki Haris, formerly a backing singer for Madonna, soared to number 2 in the UK in January 1993, and "Do You See the Light (Looking For)" reached number 10.

Münzing and Anzilotti recruited Washington DC-born singer Summer to front the act for the third album. Snap! moved towards a progressive house sound and a new single called "Welcome to Tomorrow (Are You Ready?)" was released in September 1994. It peaked at number 6 in the UK and was followed by the album, Welcome to Tomorrow. The second single "The First The Last Eternity (Till The End)" was a moderate hit but "World in My Hands" and "Rame" struggled to attract airplay due to their less commercial sound.

In 1996, the group was officially disbanded, with a greatest hits compilation called Snap! Attack: The Best of Snap! released, preceded by a new version of their first hit "The Power". However they made a surprise return in 2000 with "Gimme A Thrill", complete with a rap from Turbo B and vocal from the band's newest addition Maxayn.

A new version of "Do You See the Light" remixed by Plaything was released in 2002, peaking at number 14 in the UK. A new remix album called The Cult of Snap! was released in 2003 and further singles were issued, updating them for a new generation of clubbers.

Münzing and Anzilotti went back into the studio with male singer Damien Behanan, also known as Loc, and released the single "Beauty Queen" in September 2005. "Excited" and "We Want Your Soul" were both released on vinyl in July 2006.