ENIGMA

[Paulo]

For those who like ENIGMA, Record Collector Magazine brings a 1 page interview with MICHAEL CRETU. He talks about how he conceived Enigma's music, as well as Enigma's 2 latest releases: Greatest Hits and The Remix Collection. He also touches briefly on his 80's previous solo work and about SANDRA to whom he is married (they have finished a new album which will be out soon). Michael was born in Romenia.



Record Collecton nº 269 from january 2002 and has prgressive rock band YES on the cover

[Move2This]

Sandra certainly did some great Hi-NRG stuff in the 80s all, as far as I know, produced by Michael Cretu: Everlasting Love, We'll Be Together, Heaven Can Wait, Secret Land ... the list goes on and on.



I haven't actually caught up with her work with Enigma - is it a natural progression of the 80s sound, or something quite different?



How popular was her 80s music - they were all club hits in the UK though I think only Everlasting Love charted (and not very high at that). I understand she was more popular in mainland Europe; how did she fare in the US and Canada?

[usagi-san]

I saw Sandra in concert in America in 1987, she was great and signed autographs afterwards. I talked to Michael there too. Sandra never had more than a little club success in America. Does anyone here know of her previous group Arabesque? This trio were very disco and huge in Japan. I love(d) them.

[Paulo]

Here in Brazil Sandra had a huge hit around 1986 (Maria Magdalena). The 12" was even released here! For a country which NEVER releases 12"s, to do it means that the song is very succesful. The other ones Move2this mentioned did ok in discos, but nothing near Maria Magdalena. Yet she had success to the point where her albums were all released at a regular basis.



I think Enigma's music is very different from hers, not a natural progression. It's another style. I have already heard opinions that Enigma is as diverse and experimental as Peter Gabriel (mixing various kinds of music such as world music, gregorian chants, classical, strange rythmns, etc...) Enigma is taken more seriously than Sandra who was slashed here (in the 80's) as a Maddona clone by the press and the media. I particularly prefer Sandra. I am not a great fan of Enigma.

[Move2This]

Sandra a Madonna clone? No way! I think Sandra is miles better!!!

[Paulo]

I agree with you Move2this. I like Sandra and the production of Michael Cretu. Unfortunately the "clone" thing happened probably because Maddona came first and was already very successful when Sandra appeared. And while Maddona had too many hits, Sandra only had one here. It's a shame. This happens because, here in Brazil, if it is not rock and roll then it is a piece of shit... all other music which is not rock is the same thing (this is not my view of the music scene, it's the press view). Bye