Their first single, the ambient house track "Der Erdbeermund", with a spoken vocal in German by Jo van Nelsen, peaked at number 11 on the German singles chart. Versions in English and French were also released (titled "Cherry Lips" and "Les lèvres cerises", respectively). An instrumental version was also a club hit in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 55.
Shortly afterwards, Culture Beat recruited New Jersey-born rapper Jay Supreme and singer Lana Earl to front the act. While the second single "I Like You" reached number 22 in the Netherlands, their fourth single "No Deeper Meaning" managed to reach as high as number 5 in the Netherlands and number 3 on the Canadian RPM Dance Chart. They released their first album, Horizon, in 1991 which went with only minor success.
Lana was replaced by British singer Tania Evans in 1993, and the act took a harder Eurodance sound. "Mr. Vain" became their biggest hit to date, reaching number-one in 13 countries including Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom. It was also their first mainstream hit in the United States, peaking at No.17 on the Hot 100. The single was certified three times Gold in Germany for selling over 750,000 units, it also managed to reach a Gold status in several other countries including US.
Subsequent singles "Got to Get It" and "Anything" were also pan-European hits, and their second album Serenity was awarded at the ECHO award for being the Best-selling German Act Abroad, with more than two million copies sold. This also got Torsten Fenslau nominated in the same year at the Echo for being the Best Producer of the Year, who also walked away as a winner.
On November 6, 1993, Culture Beat's founder Torsten Fenslau was killed in a car accident in Messel (district of Darmstadt) at age of 29. His brother Frank Fenslau took over the act as producer and manager.
The group returned the act in 1995 with a third album called Inside Out, preceded by a single of the same title "Inside Out" which reached number 5 in Germany and number 32 in the UK.
In 1997, Frank decided to take Culture Beat in a different musical direction diverging the act from the Eurodance sound into a more commercial pop sound. He also replaced Tania with Kim Sanders, who had previously scored a hit with "Impossible" by Captain Hollywood Project. Jay Supreme remained with the act for a short time after Tania's departure, but during recording of the next album he decided to leave the group and the Rap-vocals on the next album (only a few tracks contained Rap) were produced by rapper Next Up. Although, in 1998, the album Metamorphosis managed to reach No.12 at home, it was a minor chart success as it remained in the top-20 of the album chart for only four weeks, and spent overall 10 weeks appearing on the chart.
Three years later, Jacky Sangster replaced Kim as the fourth female lead singer for Culture Beat. The single called "Insanity" was released in 2001 which flopped in Germany; however, reached No. 1 in Israel. In 2003, to commemorate ten years since the release of the group's biggest hit, a new version of "Mr. Vain" was issued in Germany and reached No.7 in the singles chart. In 2004, a Greatest Hits package was released ahead of a planned new album with Jacky as vocalist, but was canceled before "Can't Go on Like This (No No)" was released. This single had minor success as well.
In January 2013, a compilation album was released, "The Loungin' Side of", which contains acoustic and lounge versions of hits taken from Inside Out and Metamorphosis.
Official website: http://www.culture-beat.com
Serenity
Culture Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the boundaries of conscious perception
Where trance and dance rule
An existence of power in Serenity
Yet to be emotionally connected to, by you
Beyond the intricate configuration of the mind
You are now grooving with the hypnotic sounds of Culture Beat
The lyrics of Culture Beat's song "Serenity" invite the listeners to enter a different dimension of consciousness, where trance and dance become the governing forces. It suggests that in this dimension, there is a unique existence imbued with power and serenity that has yet to be fully explored and connected to emotionally. The song goes beyond the complexities and intricacies of the human mind, allowing the audience to experience a groovy and hypnotic journey through the captivating sounds of Culture Beat.
The lyrics convey a sense of escapism and liberation, as the boundary between the conscious and subconscious is transcended. It implies that within this alternate realm, a state of blissful tranquility can be achieved through the rhythm and energy of trance and dance music. The words evoke a feeling of surrendering to the captivating power of the music, allowing oneself to be carried away by its hypnotic beats and melodies. Overall, "Serenity" encourages the audience to let go of their worries and immerse themselves in a blissful, otherworldly experience where the only rule is to feel and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
You are now entering a dimension
At this moment, you are embarking on a journey into a new realm of experience
On the boundaries of conscious perception
This place exists at the limits of our awareness
Where trance and dance rule
A domain where the forces of mesmerizing music and rhythmic movement hold dominion
An existence of power in Serenity
A state of being filled with strength and tranquility
Yet to be emotionally connected to, by you
Still awaiting your personal attachment and emotional engagement
Beyond the intricate configuration of the mind
Transcending the complexities of thought and mental processes
You are now grooving with the hypnotic sounds of Culture Beat
Presently, you are delighting in the captivating melodies produced by Culture Beat
Writer(s): Peter Zweier, Torsten Fenslau, Jay Supreme
Contributed by Sebastian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andreasnyman2839
@Jonny B And more or less 100% of the artists you mention are a pure product of diffrent songwriters who needed a face outward (like Spice Girls, but worse... sort of)
Culture Beat --> Torsten Fenslau, who auditioned singers & rappers over and over again, Tania who sings 'mr. vain' or 'anything' wasn't part of the original setup
Capella --> Gianfranco Bortolotti, had lots of frontfigures.. LOTS, "U got to the let music" singer Kelly Overett wasn't part of the original setup
Haddaway --> mostly Junior Torello & Dee Dee Halligan, Nestor had VERY VERY little to do with it, beside the singing.
Ice MC --> Roberto Zanetti, he's NOT the person you think is Ice MC, he's a producer & businessman
2 Unlimited --> Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde, they DID make "Get ready for this", which was an instrumental version of the megahit..... then they hired a singer and rapper.
Snap! --> Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti, They didn't even hire singers & rappers and even got sue'd for stealing from "Chill rob g - let the words flow"
Real McCoy --> Juergen Wind , Frank Hassas & Olaf Jeglitza... George Shampro Mario who did the most of the livegigs & videos... yea, he was lipsyncing.
Bonus : Labouche --> Frank Farian, A.K.A Boney M
@bakinec3443
Я улетаю от этой музыки Как жаль что это время не вернуть одни воспоминания💥🤙👏
@gdragonstan
The 90s were a wonderful time thanks to Culture Beat. I absolutely love this album so much. It is not only fantastic techno trance music, but it is also a message to the planet. I can listen to this album every day and never get sick of it. It is a very well-made album. I love how it begins with Serenity and the eerie sounds of a train travelling on the tracks. It's incredible turned up really loud. I love how the band members Jay and Tania leave a message right at the end.❤❤❤
@user-jh2re4so6s
Классно!!! Слушаешь и возвращаешься в 93 когда первый раз услышал 2песню в альбоме а тогда купил кассету друг и принес послушать а тогда появился телевизионный канал MTV и тогда я услышал во второй раз и увидел клип !!! Вообщем с тех времён и посей день я всегда слушаю Евродэнс Веть он навсегда!!!
@TamerAbukhalil
One of the best music albums ever..
@Sinister80
Альбом,огонь,как будто побывал в девяностых, захлестнули воспоминания....Спасибо...
@pcorf
This album contained their two iconic hits Mr. Vain and Anything which I heard many times in the 1990's and are sometimes still played on the radio today. But my favourite track is Rocket to The Moon.
@arkeliosepia2365
One of the Grandest albums that projected me into Trance and Techno music! Long Live Culture Beat!
@vernonmeadows9117
The greatest euro dance music and the remixes are the best. Hands down.
@Ivan_Afanasev1974
Fuckin yeah
@frankross8202
For sure dude.. one of those special albums that are awesome every track.... no limits is another imo...