Editing Snap!

{{short description|German Eurodance group}}
{{about|the Eurodance group|the block-based programming language|Snap! (programming language)|other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|background      = group_or_band
|name            = SNAP!
|image           = Snap!_2017.jpg
|image_size      = 250
|caption         = Penny Ford and Stoli Michaels, 2017
|origin          = [[Frankfurt]], Germany
|genre           = {{hlist|[[Eurodance]]|[[hip house]]|[[House music|house]]}}
|years_active    = 1989–1996, 2000–present
|label           = Logic, [[Arista Records|Arista]], Hard2Beat
|current_members =
* Michael Münzing
* Luca Anzilotti
* Stoli Michaels
* [[Penny Ford]]
* Jesse Kolb
|past_members    =
* [[Turbo B]]
* Jackie Harris
* [[Thea Austin]]
* [[Niki Haris]]
* Maxayn
* Summer
* Loc
|website         = {{Official website|https://bnmusic-artists.com/snap/}}
}}

'''SNAP!''' is a German [[Eurodance]] group formed in 1989 by [[Record producer|producers]] Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti.<ref name="Allmusic: Snap! (Overview)">{{cite web |title=AllMusic: SNAP! (Overview) |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/snap!-mn0000753347 |access-date=19 November 2012 |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> The act has undergone several lineup changes over the years, featuring American singers, songwriters, and rappers such as [[Thea Austin]], [[Turbo B]], [[Niki Haris]], and [[Penny Ford]]. Their most popular hits include "[[The Power (Snap! song)|The Power]]" and "[[Rhythm Is a Dancer]]", both of which achieved No. 1 status in multiple countries.

==History==
===Previous projects===
Luca Anzilotti and Michael Münzing began collaborating in 1985 in the group Off (Organisation for Fun), alongside [[Sven Väth]]. They recorded two albums, ''Organisation for Fun'' (1988) and ''Ask Yourself'' (1989), as well as a series of singles, including "[[Electrica Salsa]]", until 1990.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In 1986, the duo created the side project 16 BIT and found success with their first single, "Where Are You?"<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard |location=US |date=6 December 1986}}</ref> In 1987, they released the album ''Inaxycvgtgb'' for [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Eddy |first=Chuck |date=1997 |title=The Accidental Evolution of Rock'n'roll: A Misguided Tour |url=https://archive.org/details/accidentalevolut00eddy |publisher=Da Capo |isbn=9780306807411 |author-link=Chuck Eddy |url-access=registration }}</ref>

===Formation and first album===
Anzilotti and Münzing officially formed SNAP! in 1989, adopting the aliases Benito Benites and John "Virgo" Garrett III, as they believed the public harbored negative preconceived notions about German music.<ref name="Danceartistinfo.com: Snap! (Biography)">{{cite web |title=Danceartistinfo.com: SNAP! (Biography) |url=http://www.danceartistinfo.com/snapbiog.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126131833/http://www.danceartistinfo.com/snapbiog.htm |archive-date=26 January 2020 |access-date=19 November 2012 |publisher=Danceartistinfo.com}}</ref> Their debut hit, "[[The Power (Snap! song)|The Power]]", featuring American rapper [[Turbo B]] and singer [[Penny Ford]], peaked at No. 2 in Germany in April 1990 and remained in that position for five weeks, eventually earning Gold certification for sales of 250,000 units.<ref name="Allmusic: Snap! (Overview)"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.de/charts.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1990&date=19900409&x=20&y=10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105114039/http://www.officialcharts.de/charts.asp?cat=s&country=de&year=1990&date=19900409&x=20&y=10|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 January 2015|title=Charts.de: Top 100 Single Official Media Control (09.04.1990)|publisher=Charts.de |work=[[Media Control Charts|Media Control]]|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="Snap!'s German Certification(s)">{{cite certification|region=Germany|title=|artist=SNAP!|type=|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref> The single topped the charts in the United Kingdom, earning a Silver award for sales of 200,000 units.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!">{{cite web |date=12 February 2015 |title=The Official Charts Company – SNAP! |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/snap |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217170733/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/snap/ |archive-date=17 February 2011 |access-date=12 February 2015 |publisher=The Official Charts Company}}</ref><ref name="UK's Certification Database">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx|title=Certified Awards Search|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710164143/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the U.S., it reached No. 2 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and was certified Platinum for 1,000,000 units sold.<ref name="Allmusic: Snap! (Awards)">{{cite web |title=AllMusic: SNAP! (Awards) |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/snap!-mn0000753347/awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112075511/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/snap!-mn0000753347/awards |archive-date=12 January 2014 |access-date=19 November 2012 |website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref name="USA certification for The Power">{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22The+Power%22|title=RIAA: "The Power"|publisher=[[RIAA]]|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref>

Jackie Harris was employed to mime Ford's vocals in the "Power" music video and left the group shortly thereafter, leading Ford to become the full-time lead singer. She recorded the second single, "[[Ooops Up]]", a reworking of "[[Oops Up Side Your Head|I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Ooops!)]]", a 1980 hit by [[the Gap Band]], for which Penny had previously been a backing singer.<ref name="Allmusic: Snap! (Overview)"/> "Oops Up" also reached No. 2 in Germany, spending nine weeks in that position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Snap!&title=Ooops+Up&cat=s&country=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210164924/http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Snap%21&title=Ooops+Up&cat=s&country=de|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 December 2014|title=Charts.de: Ooops Up|publisher=Charts.de |work=[[Media Control Charts|Media Control]]|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref> The single entered the top five in the UK, earning another Silver award, and received Gold certification in the U.S.<ref name="UK's Certification Database"/><ref name="USA certification for Ooops Up">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Ooops+Up%22|title=RIAA: "Ooops Up"|publisher=[[RIAA]]|access-date=19 November 2012|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142701/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Ooops+Up%22|url-status=live}}</ref> Further hits followed, including the Middle Eastern-influenced "Cult of Snap", which reached No. 3 in Germany and No. 8 in the UK, and "[[Mary Had a Little Boy]]", which peaked at No. 4 in Germany and again No. 8 in the UK.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!"/><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!">{{cite web |title=Charts.de: SNAP! |url=http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Snap!&country=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105133345/http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Snap%21&country=de |archive-date=5 January 2015 |access-date=11 February 2015 |publisher=charts.de |language=de}}</ref> The band's debut album, ''World Power'', reached No. 7 in Germany, No. 10 in the UK, and No. 30 in the U.S.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!"/><ref name="Allmusic: Snap! (Awards)"/><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/> It achieved Platinum status in Germany and Gold in the UK and U.S.<ref name="UK's Certification Database"/><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/><ref name="USA certification for World Power">{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22World+Power%22|title=RIAA: "World Power"|publisher=[[RIAA]]|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref>

===Second album===
In 1991, American singer, composer, songwriter, and dancer Thea Austin joined SNAP!'s lineup and contributed to the writing of the song "[[Rhythm Is a Dancer]]". This track was initially intended to be the lead single from the group's second album but was postponed, resulting in "[[Colour of Love (Snap song)|Colour of Love]]" being released in its place. This single peaked at No. 9 in Germany but stalled at No. 54 in the UK.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!"/><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/> "Rhythm Is a Dancer", which sampled "Automan" by the early 1980s American electronic hip hop band [[Newcleus]], was eventually issued as the second single in July 1992. The song became SNAP!'s biggest hit to date, reaching No. 1 in Germany, the UK, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!"/><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Snap!&titel=Rhythm+Is+A+Dancer&cat=s|title=Gfk Dutch Charts: "Rhythm Is a Dancer"|publisher=GfK Dutch Charts (Hung Medien)|access-date=19 November 2012|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111184908/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Snap%21&titel=Rhythm+Is+A+Dancer&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> In the U.S., it peaked at No. 5, earning a Gold certification for sales of 500,000 units.<ref name="Allmusic: Snap! (Awards)"/><ref name="USA certification for Rhythm Is a Dancer">{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Rhythm+Is+a+Dancer%22|title=RIAA: "Rhythm Is a Dancer"|publisher=[[RIAA]]|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref> In Germany, the single achieved Platinum status for 500,000 units sold and received Gold certification in the UK for sales of 400,000 units.<ref name="Snap!'s German Certification(s)"/><ref name="UK's Certification Database"/> The third single, "[[Exterminate! (song)|Exterminate]]", charted at No. 3 in Germany and No. 2 in the UK, also earning a Gold certification in Germany.<ref name="Snap!'s German Certification(s)"/>

''[[The Madman's Return]]'', SNAP!'s second album, performed well in the charts, peaking at No. 3 in Germany and entering the top 10 in the UK, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. Around the time of its release, Turbo B decided to leave the project due to disagreements with the production duo.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!"/><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Snap!&titel=The+Madman%27s+Return&cat=a|title=Gfk Dutch Charts: "The Madman's Return"|publisher=GfK Dutch Charts (Hung Medien)|access-date=19 November 2012|archive-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131747/http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Snap%21&titel=The+Madman%27s+Return&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> The album was certified Gold in Germany and the UK, with sales of 250,000 units and 100,000 units, respectively.<ref name="Snap!'s German Certification(s)"/><ref name="UK's Certification Database"/>

Another single, titled "[[Do You See the Light (Looking For)|Do You See the Light]]", featuring [[Niki Haris]], was also released.

===Third album===
Münzing and Anzilotti recruited [[Washington, D.C.]]-born singer Summer (Paula Brown) to front the act for their third album.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} SNAP! shifted towards a [[progressive house]] sound and released the first single, titled "[[Welcome to Tomorrow (Are You Ready?)]]", in September 1994. The track peaked at No. 4 in Germany and No. 6 in the UK and was followed by the album, also titled ''[[Welcome to Tomorrow]]''.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!"/><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/> The second single, "[[The First the Last Eternity (Till the End)]]", achieved moderate success in the UK but reached No. 7 in Germany.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!"/><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/> SNAP! released two more singles from the album: "[[The World in My Hands (song)|The World in My Hands]]" and "[[Rame (song)|Rame]]" (featuring Rukmani), both of which experienced moderate chart entries.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

===Breakup and return===
In 1996, the group officially disbanded after releasing a greatest hits compilation titled ''[[Snap! Attack: The Best of Snap!|SNAP! Attack: The Best of SNAP!]]''. This album included new versions of their two biggest hits, "The Power '96" and "Rhythm Is a Dancer '96".

The act made a comeback in 2000 with a track entitled "Gimme a Thrill", featuring rap lyrics performed by Turbo B and vocals from the band's newest singer, Maxayn. However, it did not garner much attention, peaking only at No. 11 in the German dance charts. A new album, titled ''One Day on Earth'', was planned for release around this time but was ultimately canceled.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In 2002, a new version of "Do You See the Light", remixed by Plaything, was released. The following year, a remix album titled ''[[The Cult of Snap!|The Cult of SNAP!]]'' was issued, featuring reworked singles. "Rhythm Is a Dancer 2003" peaked at No. 7 in Germany and No. 17 in the UK, while "The Power (of Bhangra 2003)" achieved moderate success in Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!" /><ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Snap!+vs.+Motivo&titel=The+Power+%28Of+Bhangra+2003%29&cat=s|title=Gfk Dutch Charts: "The Power (of Bhangra 2003)"|publisher=GfK Dutch Charts (Hung Medien)|access-date=19 November 2012|archive-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026124357/http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Snap%21+vs%2E+Motivo&titel=The+Power+%28Of+Bhangra+2003%29&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> The act also released a reworked version of "Oops Up!", featuring vocals by NG3, which managed to enter the Swedish charts at No. 40 and the German top 100 singles chart at No. 69.<ref name="Germany's positions for Snap!"/>

Buoyed by the success of the remixes, Münzing and Anzilotti returned to the studio with singer Damien Behanan, also known as Loc, and released the single "Beauty Queen" in September 2005 through Luma Music. This single peaked within the top 10 of the German dance charts but failed to enter the official charts.{{citation needed |date=August 2023}} The band released another digital download single in 2008, featuring Loc, titled "Jumping!", but this also failed to chart.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 August 2008 |title=Jumping – Single by SNAP! |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/jumping-single/id288103183 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214104418/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/jumping-single/id288103183 |archive-date=14 February 2017 |access-date=4 October 2018 |website=[[iTunes]]}}</ref>

On 16 June 2008, a new version of "Rhythm Is a Dancer '08" was released as a CD single in the UK, peaking at No. 23.<ref name="UK's Singles/Albums Positions for Snap!" />

In 2018, the rights to all recordings of Snap!, previously owned by Münzing and Anzilotti, were transferred to [[BMG Rights Management]], a current incarnation of [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]].<ref>{{cite web |title=BMG increases stake in the power of SNAP! |url=https://www.bmg.com/de/news/BMG-increases-stake-in-the-power-of-SNAP.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815144424/https://www.bmg.com/de/news/BMG-increases-stake-in-the-power-of-SNAP.html |archive-date=15 August 2023 |access-date=7 October 2024 |publisher=BMG}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Snap! discography}}
* ''[[World Power]]'' (1990)
* ''[[The Madman's Return]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Welcome to Tomorrow]]'' (1994)

==See also==
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart]]
* [[Centory (pop band)|Centory]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://bnmusic-artists.com/snap/}}
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Snap! SNAP! discography at discogs]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/16+Bit 16 Bit discography at discogs]
{{Snap!|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Snap}}
[[Category:1989 establishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:20th-century American musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:Arista Records artists]]
[[Category:German electronic music groups]]
[[Category:German Eurodance groups]]
[[Category:German house music groups]]
[[Category:German trance music groups]]
[[Category:Hip house music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1989]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Frankfurt]]