Alcazar (band)
| Alcazar | |
|---|---|
Alcazar at Sommarkrysset 2016.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Sweden |
| Genres | Nu-disco, dance-pop, europop, eurodance, schlager |
| Years active | 1998–2011 2013-present |
| Labels | Universal, Sony, Edel |
| Website | |
| Members |
Andreas Lundstedt (1998–2005, 2007–2011, 2013-present) Therese Merkel (1998–2005, 2007–2011, 2013-present) Lina Hedlund (2007–2011, 2013-present) |
| Past members |
Annika Kjærgaard (1998–2005) Magnus Carlsson (2002–2005) |
Alcazar is a Swedish nu-disco group which has established themselves as one of Sweden's most successful music groups both nationally and internationally with a string of hits since their debut single in 1999. Worldwide, Alcazar sold over 12 million records between 2001 and 2004. Alcazar have also had success around the world with their song "Crying at the Discoteque", having charted in USA, Brazil, Australia, Japan and most countries in Europe.
Alcazar disbanded in August 2011 after a concert at . They reunited again in 2013 ahead of Melodifestivalen 2014.
The group formed in 1998 with three members: Andreas Lundstedt, Tess Merkel, and Annika Kjærgaard. Their first single, "Shine On", was a hit in Sweden, but it was with their second release, "Crying at the Discoteque" (which heavily sampled Sheila and B. Devotion's 1979 hit "Spacer"), that they achieved success across Europe.
Both singles appeared on their album, Casino, written and produced by fellow Swedes Alexander Bard and Anders Hansson.
Later editions of Casino contain a cover of The Human League's hit "Don't You Want Me", which also served as the third single off the album. In the United States, Alcazar gained moderate success. "Crying at the Discoteque" peaked at No. 44 and "Don't You Want Me" peaked at No. 30 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play.
In December 2002, Lundstedt's boyfriend at the time, Magnus Carlsson, joined the group. Their second album, Alcazarized, was released in Sweden in 2003 and became a big hit. It was released internationally in 2004 with new cover artwork and a slightly different track list. In September 2004, Alcazar released "This Is the World We Live In". The song samples Diana Ross's 1980 hit single "Upside Down" and re-uses the lyrics and melody from Genesis' 1986 single "Land of Confusion".
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