Editing Arabesque (group) (section)

== History ==

=== 1975–1978: Formation and early years ===

In 1975, [[schlager music]] singer [[Mary Ann Nagel]] proposed a girl group to producer [[Wolfgang Mewes]], who accepted. Two additional members were recruited through a [[singing competition]].<ref>[http://www.shakira.de/app/download/14437797/ARABESQUE+feat+Karen+Ann+Tepperis+-+Infomappe+Young+Star+Records.pdf ARABESQUE feat Karen Ann Tepperis - Infomappe Young Star Records] shakira.de</ref> A Brit (Karen Ann Tepperis), a German-Mexican ([[Michaela Rose]]), and a German ([[Mary Ann Nagel]]) comprised the initial group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discostars80.com/arabesque/mr_interview2018_e.html|title=Michaela Rose, the mysterious Lady from Arabesque (exclusive interview for www.Discostras80.com 2018)|website=discostars80.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.shakira.de/app/download/14437806/ARABESQUE+feat+Karen+Ann+Tepperis+Presse+Artikel.pdf ARABESQUE feat Karen Ann Tepperis Presse Artikel] shakira.de</ref>

After the first album, the band lineup changed by keeping only the original member Michaela Rose, while replacing the two other girls, Karen Ann Tepperis and [[Mary Ann Nagel]], with new members [[Jasmin Vetter]] and [[Heike Rimbeau]], respectively. Nagel was replaced due to family commitments and becoming tired of the long daily commute from [[Karlsruhe]] to [[Frankfurt am Main]], where the group was based. Tepperis was replaced shortly after the release of [[Friday Night (Arabesque song)|Friday Night]] in 1978, due to the fact that she was pregnant and could not go on tour. The surprising overnight success of [[Hello Mr. Monkey]] in Japan prompted the producers to schedule an immediate tour to [[Japan]]. The duration of [[Heike Rimbeau]] in the group was also short-lived; due to her pregnancy in 1978, she was briefly substituted with [[Elke Brückheimer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.mindal.mybb.ru/viewtopic.php?id=121|title=ДИСКОТЕКА 80-х гг.|website=en.mindal.mybb.ru}}</ref> This West German country singer appeared only in a few live performances during the year 1979. However, shortly afterward, she too was replaced by [[Sandra (singer)|Sandra Lauer]]. Lauer had previously attended the Young Star Music contest in 1975, where she achieved a record deal and released the song "[[Andy mein Freund]]" (''My Friend, Andy'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vyhodne-pojisteni.com/|title=Výhodné pojištění|website=Výhodné pojištění}}</ref> In 1979, at age 17, Lauer was invited to become the lead singer of Arabesque.

=== 1979–1984: Breakthrough ===

Arabesque became extremely popular in [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]], and also had success in the [[Soviet Union|USSR]] and the [[Eastern Bloc]]. The group first appeared in Japan in 1979 for a television special, performing [[Hello Mr. Monkey]] on the "11PM" TV show. Lauer even spent her 18th birthday in Japan while they were on tour there in May 1980. They later took part in the [[Seoul Song Festival]], in 1981. Further, the group performed a number of concerts in Japan between 1980 and 1982. During these, they released a live album, dubbed "Fancy Concert". All in all, Arabesque came to Japan on tours a total of 6 times during their career.

Back at home, in West Germany in 1980, the single "[[Take Me Don't Break Me]]" became a hit, which only scraped the German Top 40. Their next single, "[[Marigot Bay (song)|Marigot Bay]]", would become their only Top Ten hit a few weeks later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Arabesque&titel=Marigot+Bay&cat=s|author=Steffen Hung|title=Arabesque - Marigot Bay|website=spanishcharts.com| accessdate=11 June 2022}}</ref> They made multiple TV appearances in Europe with this song about a lost love.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clear-spot.nl/|title=CLEAR SPOT|website=Clear Spot}}</ref> Arabesque never had the same level of success in [[West Germany]] than in the Far East. Albeit they were almost identical in appearance to other European disco trios (i.e. [[A La Carte (group)|A La Carte]] or [[Luv']]), their songs were mostly written to cater a Japanese audience, instead of the European [[discotheque]] scene. 5 albums were released in their entirety in West Germany. The group did release in some 20 other countries, such as [[Italy]], [[Mexico]], [[Scandinavian countries|Scandinavia]], and they had a Number 1 album in [[Argentina]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arabesque - Arabesque (1978) |website=NoNaMe |url=http://txapela.ru/blogs/PaNik/arabesque-arabesque-1978/ |access-date=2018-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525133443/http://txapela.ru/blogs/PaNik/arabesque-arabesque-1978/ |archive-date=2018-05-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="discostars80.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.discostars80.com/arabesque-index-e.htm|title=The World Of Arabesque |website=www.discostars80.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discosavvy.com/disco79.html|title=Disco Savvy: 1979 Disco hits and rarities |website=www.discosavvy.com}}</ref>

The group's two last singles, 'Ecstasy' and 'Time To Say Goodbye' became hits in various [[Europe]]an markets after they split, as they sounded very close to the [[Italo disco]] sound which was a very popular music genre in Europe in the mid-1980s. Those songs spread and gained success through LP compilations of dance/pop music and bootleg tapes, so the band could never take advantage of this success.

===1985–1989: Duo Rouge===

{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Rouge
| image           =
| caption         =
| image_size      =
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]], [[West Germany]]
| genre           = [[Euro disco]]
| years_active    = 1985–1988
| label           =
| associated_acts =
| website         =
| current_members =
| past_members    = Jasmin Vetter <br />Michaela Rose
}}

After they split up in 1984, Jasmin and Michaela continued on as the duo "Rouge". The duo aimed to continue the tradition and style of Arabesque, and surprisingly featured Jasmin Vetter as the lead singer.<ref name="discostars80.com"/>

===After split===

After split, Sandra embarked in a solo career becoming a successful singer worldwide. While Sandra's success spread worldwide, the interest on Arabesque raised as well. The last Arabesque singles also introduced the "[[Italo disco]]" sound to Japan, under the term "[[eurobeat]]", previously used in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] for the [[Stock Aitken Waterman]] productions.

=== 2006–present: Comebacks ===

*On 16 December 2006, Michaela Rose restarted the Group as „Arabesque feat. Michaela Rose“ with two new members, [[Sabine Kaemper]] and [[Silke Brauner]]) headlined the second "Legends of Retro FM" festival in Moscow.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://legendy.retrofm.ru/members/2006/msk|title=Суперзвезды музыки 70х, 80х и 90х — участники "Легенды Ретро FM"|website=«Легенды Ретро FM»}}</ref> Since then, they've performed in many countries worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sandra-cretu.com/infoline/161206_retro_rus.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221051519/http://sandra-cretu.com/infoline/161206_retro_rus.htm |url-status=dead|title=16.12.06 Retro FM (in Russian)|archivedate=February 21, 2007}}</ref>
*In 2008, Michaela Rose recorded a former Hit of Arabesque, “Marigot Bay 2008”, released by Monopol Records.
*In 2017, Michaela Rose re-recorded one of the Arabesque songs, "[[Zanzibar (Arabesque song)|Zanzibar]]", that was released with a support from Monopol Records<ref>https://www.amazon.de/Zanzibar-Arabesque-original-Michaela-Rose{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 
*Also in 2017, Jasmin Vetter launched her own reincarnation of the group (Jasmin Vetter of Arabesque and the City Cats), as part of a celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/rainbowentertainment|title=Rainbow Entertainment|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSpom_ua5Bo |title=YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rainbow-entertainment.com/team/jasmin-vetter-of-arabesque-and-the-citycats/|title = Jasmin Vetter of Arabesque and the CityCats – Rainbow Entertainment}}</ref>
*In 2018, Michaela Rose released the Album “The Upgraded Collection” with 13 renewed and refreshed Songs of “Arabesque” under “Arabesque original Michaela Rose” also at Monopol Records.
*2021 “Arabesque original Michaela Rose” released together with DJ NEJTRINO the new version of the Arabesque Hit “Friday Night” as “Friday Night the Oriental Night Mix” at the Label L Music.