No Angels

This article is about the German pop group. For the British television series, see No Angels (TV series).
No Angels

Left to right: Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling and Jessica Wahls on-stage at the Kieler Woche on June 27, 2008.
Background information
Origin Germany
Genres
Instruments Vocals
Years active
  • 2000–2003
  • 2004
  • 2007–2014
  • 2015
Labels
Website NoAngels-Music.de
Past members Nadja Benaissa
Lucy Diakovska
Sandy Mölling
Vanessa Petruo
Jessica Wahls

No Angels were an all-female pop band from Germany formed in 2000. The group consisted of band members Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, Vanessa Petruo and Jessica Wahls. Originally a quintet, they originated on the international television talent show Popstars and was one of the first television-cast acts to achieve continued success throughout Central Europe in the early 2000s. Following a major success with record-breaking single "Daylight in Your Eyes" and debut album Elle'ments in 2001, a series of hit records established their position as one of the most successful female band vocalists to emerge in the early decade. With four number-one hits, three number-one albums and record sales of more than 5.0 million.[1][2] they became both the biggest-selling German girlband of all time and the most successful girlband of the 2000s in Continental Europe,[1] winning three ECHOs, a World Music Awards, a NRJ Music Award, two Comets, a Bambi and a Goldene Kamera.[3]

In fall 2003, the members went their separate ways due to lasting exhaustion, focusing on their individual solo careers in music, theatre, television and film.[4] In 2007, it was confirmed that four members of the original line-up had re-formed permanently and were set to record their first studio album in over four years, Destiny (2007). A year after, the group represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade, where they finished 23rd in the final voting.[5] After another musical hiatus, the band released a second post-reunion studio album titled Welcome to the Dance in 2009 which failed commercially.[6] In September 2010, Benaissa officially left the band due to private reasons, leaving No Angels as a trio. Contrary to previous statements, further projects failed to materialize and the group has split again since.[7]

History

2000: Formation on Popstars

The members of No Angels were selected on the RTL2 channel's first series of Popstars, a reality talent show which set about producing a five-piece girl group. Acquired by Tresor TV television producer Holger Roost-Macias at the MIPTV Media Market event in Cannes, France in 2000, the series was the third adaption of the format following both an Australian and a New Zealand version.[8] In August and September of the same year, over 4,300 hopefuls turned up to auditions in Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Cologne, Oberhausen, Stuttgart and Munich which required both singing and dancing experience.[9] The judges consisted of Dutch entertainer Simone Angel, concert booker Mario M. Mendryzcki and Rainer Moslener, an A&R director of Polydor Records.[9]

Thirty-two out of two hundred girls eventually made it from the local recall shows to Majorca, Spain to get trained in singing, dancing, and fitness. While the judges continued eliminating two or three girls each day with the help of choreographer Detlef Soost and British vocal coach Robert Bicknel, eleven finalists remained and were sent home to prepare.[10] After a final elimination round, Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, Vanessa Petruo and Jessica Wahls were chosen, and signed a recording contract with Polydor.[8] Managed by Joy Berhanu during their first year, the girls were named No Angels following a public televoting and moved in together near Munich.[10] With the final members of the group in place, the program followed the group during its recording sessions, photo and music video shoots and other promotional commitments such as showcases and instores. The show concluded with the band's first public live performance at The Dome at the Dortmunder Westfalenhalle in February 2001.[8]

2001: Commercial breakthrough with Elle'ments

After weeks of recording, No Angels released their debut single, "Daylight in Your Eyes" on 5 February 2001. The song instantly entered the top position on the Austrian, German and Swiss Singles and Airplay Charts, making it one of the most successful debuts of the year.[11][12][13] Selling over one million copies, the song also proved to be a hit outside German-speaking Europe when it entered the singles charts of France, Latvia, Poland and the United Kingdom, and even became a number-one success in Brazil, and Estonia.[14] Although an alternate version of the original music video was filmed for the North American market the following year, both the video and the song saw minor commercial success overseas. However, "Daylight in Your Eyes" peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart in June 2002.[15]
"Daylight in Your Eyes" (2001)
The first single from Elle'ments.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The band released their debut album, Elle'ments. Involving production by German producers Thorsten Brötzmann, Leslie Mandoki, and Peter Ries, Elle'ments also entered the Austrian, German and Swiss Albums Chart at number-one.[12][13][16] No Angels broke records for becoming the "first act to ever debut at the top position in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland with both its debut single and debut album."[17] The album would go on to sell more than one million copies worldwide, making it the biggest-selling German album of 2001.[18] Elle'ments was eventually certified triple platinum and septuplicate gold by the IFPI, and earned the band several internationally acclaimed prizes such as a Bambi, two ECHO Awards and a World Music Award.[18][19]

Riding a wave of publicity and hype, the group's second single, "Rivers of Joy", became a top ten hit, while third single, "There Must Be an Angel", a cover version of the 1985 hit by British pop duo Eurythmics, continued the group's high record sales by topping the charts once again in Austria and Germany.[11][12] The last single released from Elle'ments was a double A-side of album cut "When the Angels Sing", and "Atlantis", a duet with the song's original performer Donovan. The band had re-recorded the song for the closing credits of the Walt Disney Feature Animation picture Atlantis: The Lost Empire. It became a top five entry in Germany, and was subsequently certified Gold.[11][18][20] Following this and two encounters as the opening act for the German leg of both DJ Bobo and Westlife's 2001 concert tours, No Angels embarked on their first own concert tour in October 2001. Compiling more than thirty dates, the tour concluded in December 2001 with all shows reportedly being sold out.[21]

2002: Career development on Now... Us!

In June 2002, No Angels released their second album, Now... Us!, which featured co-writes by all members and received critical acclaim from many critics who believed the band would not last past their first album.[22][23] The album debuted at number one on the German Album Chart and at number two and four on the Austrian and Swiss albums chart respectively, and was eventually certified platinum and double gold by the IFPI.[18] Producers such as Mousse T. and Pontus Söderqvist consulted on Now... Us!, whose media-critical leading single "Something About Us", penned by band member Petruo, became the group's third non-consecutive number-one hit in Austria and Germany within a period of sixteen months.[24] Further singles released from the album included latin pop ballad "Still in Love with You", which reached the top five and was awarded a NRJ Music Award the following year,[25] as well as Mousse T.-produced funk track "Let's Go to Bed", the band's first release to miss the German top ten.[26]
"Something About Us" (2002)
The first single from Now... Us!.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Following an exclusive swing concert at the Berlin Tränenpalast in October, No Angels soon followed with a DVD and a live album, titled When the Angels Swing, featuring their biggest hits and selected songs from their first two albums, re-arranged by Grammy Award-nominated jazz musician Till Brönner.[27] Critically acclaimed by critics, the album reached number nine of the German Albums Chart, eventually going gold.[18] In November, the girls embarked on their second national concert tour, the Four Seasons Tour, playing sell-out shows in theatres across German-speaking Europe. Acts such as B3 and the Sugababes served as their support.[28]

Soon after the girls experienced a bit of turbulence when Jessica Wahls announced she was taking a break from the band to give birth to her first child. Although the girls agreed on Jessica's return the following year and Wahls was positive of a re-join after her daughter's birth in March 2003, No Angels' management eventually decided on her departure in July 2003 as the group had equally successful went on as a quartet.[29] While the singer accepted a recording contract as a solo artist with the group's label, Sandy Mölling later noted Jessica's pregnancy marked "the beginning of the end of No Angels."[29]

2003–04: Pure era and disbandment

In early 2003, the remaining four members of No Angels began intensifying work on their third regular album. Encouraged to exercise more self-control on the longplayer, the band took over responsibility in recording and selecting songs to guarantee a more personal effort — a step that challenged criticism and growing scepticism among the band's label Cheyenne Records and recording company Polydor.[20] Titled Pure, the album was eventually released in August 2003 and became the band's third number-one album in Germany.[30] Sporting a more mature side of pop music, it earned them their best reactions yet, drawing comparisons to Madonna's album Ray of Light (1998) as well as other female groups such as All Saints and the Sugababes.[31] With a total of about 150,000 copies sold however, it failed to achieve the success of its two best-selling predecessors, still going gold.[32] Rock pop-influenced leading single "No Angel (It's All in Your Mind)" became the group's fourth non-consecutive number-one single in Germany and seventh top ten hit in Austria,[33] while mediterran "Someday" and R&B-driven "Feelgood Lies" both reached the top five of the charts.[34][35]

Further planned single releases off the album never materialised. On September 7, 2003, the quartet announced that they would not come together for a new No Angels project in 2004 due to lasting exhaustion and instead were preparing their official disbandment towards the end of the year.[36][37] While the media began a never-ending speculation about the reasons for their split and the pro and contra of a "creative pause," the girls and their management arranged the cancellation of all dates of their scheduled 2004 Pure Acoustic Tour.[38] Even so, the band agreed on releasing a final album, The Best of No Angels, in December 2003. Apart from a collection of all singles, the band had released between the years of 2001 and 2003, the compilation album also contained a reworked version of one of the debut album tracks, "Reason". Involving a re-joined Jessica Wahls, it was released as the band's final single before their split and became another top ten success for the group.[39][40] A charity single featuring the band's vocals, "Do They Know It's Christmas?", was released simultaneously and reached number three on the German Singles Chart.[41]

After a farewell concert in the Munich Olympiahalle on November 28, several promotional television appearances, and a private unplugged performance in the Munich P1 club on 12 December 2003, No Angels each went their separate ways, concentrating on their individual solo careers in music, theatre, television and film.[39] A live compilation of their P1 concert, titled Acoustic Angels, would become their final release on the Cheyenne label in July 2004.[42]

2006–08: Reunion and ESC participation

After listening to a few old recordings, Lucy Diakovska approached her former bandmates in mid-2006 to arrange a first meeting with all original band members for years.[43] While Vanessa Petruo refused to re-join the band in favour of an independent solo career in music and film,[37] all other members of the original line-up agreed upon Diakovska's request to reunite for a musical comeback, and the band eventually took action to prepare their next album in secrecy from public.[43] Following weeks of public rumors about a reunion of the band, an official press conference on January 31, 2007 announced that No Angels had reformed and were working on a new studio album with producers Boogieman, Tobias Gustafsson, Steve Mac, Adrian Newman, and the Redfly team.[44]

No Angels during their performance at the Eurovision Song Contest finals on May 24, 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Although acclaimed and distinguished by the media, the reunion widely failed to link previous successes. The band's first commercial release in years, Destiny, received a lukewarm reception from music critics,[45] and debuted at number 4 in Germany, number 14 in Austria and number 22 in Switzerland, making it the band's first regular studio album release neither to reach the top position on the German Media Control Charts nor the top ten in Austria and Switzerland respectively. It eventually sold 30,000 copies domestically during its run on the charts, also making it No Angels' lowest selling album to date.[46] While the album's lead single "Goodbye to Yesterday" still made it to the top five, follow-up "Maybe" and double A-single "Amaze Me"/"Teardrops" became No Angels' lowest-charting singles to date, never making it to the top 20 of any chart. In March 2008, the album was re-released as Destiny Reloaded, including previously unreleased songs, remixes and b-sides. In fall 2007, No Angels produced the theme song, "Life Is a Miracle" and a music video for the Warner Bros. animated feature Kleiner Dodo.[47]

In January 2008, it was announced that the group had qualified for the Grand Prix Vorentscheid, the German national pre-selection of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.[48] Following several weeks of promotional appearances, No Angels entered the competition in March with Remee-and-Troelsen-produced "Disappear", competing against all-male groups Marquess and Cinema Bizarre, and singers Tommy Reeve and Carolin Fortenbacher. Widely considered as early favourites by the media, the band eventually finished first, having earned tight 50,5% of the audience vote over Fortenbacher in the second and final election round.[5][48] Released on February 29, 2008, "Disappear" reached number four in Germany, where it became the band's biggest-selling single in years.[49] With Germany being one of the biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union, No Angels were allowed to skip the contest's semi-finals and automatically qualified for competition with 24 other countries in the finals of the ESC in May 2008.[50] An estimated 100 million fans watched the final contest, and viewers from all 43 participating nations voted for their favourite performers via text message and telephone.[51] No Angels eventually ranked 23rd place out of the 25 countries that participated with a total of 14 points – taking 12 points from Bulgaria, band member Lucy Diakovska's native country, and 2 points from Switzerland only. Only the United Kingdom and Poland placed below the four-member female band.[51][52]

2009–present: Welcome to the Dance and line-up changes

Having managed themselves since their reformation, the band signed a deal with Khalid Schröder's Kool Management in mid-2008, and started work on their fifth studio album Welcome to the Dance, involving a smaller team of North American musicians such as The Writing Camp, Adam Messinger, Nasri Atweh, Bill Blast, and Aaron Pearce.[6][53][54] Taking the group's work further into the dance and electronic genres, it was released on September 11, 2009, following band member Nadja Benaissa's charge of grievous bodily harm and temporary imprisonment in April 2010.[55] Released to generally negative reviews by critics, who criticized the band for their missing individuality,[56] the album debuted at number twenty-six in Germany where it became both the band's lowest-charting and -selling album to date. Its first and only single "One Life," however reached number fifteen on the German Singles Chart.[57][58] Plans for a second single, "Derailed," were eventually scrapped for unknown reasons.[49][59]

In May 2010, the band began their five-date acoustic "An Intimate Evening With" tour in Munich, their first concert tour in eight years. The stripped-down club tour was inspired by a 2003 special acoustic concert, and saw the band performing songs from all of their five studio albums.[60] Band member Benaissa did not take part in the tour as she had called in sick a week before, prompting the remaining trio to re-arrange their set at the last minute.[61] Generally well received by the media,[61] the tour was initially said to be extended in 2011.[62] In September 2010, it was announced that Benaissa had left following her two-year suspended sentence and 300 hours of community service a month before, leaving the band as a trio.[7] Currently pausing, the remaining three members of the band were said to released a live album in 2011.[63] This project and other plans announced for the tenth anniversary of the band failed to materialize in favor of individual solo project however[64][65][66] In 2014, Diakovska confirmed, that the band had dissolved again with no new commercial projects planned.[67]

Members

Member 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Vanessa Petruo
2000–2004
Nadja Benaissa
2000–2004 2007–2010
Lucy Diakovska
2000–2004 2007–2015
Sandy Mölling
2000–2004 2007–2015
Jessica Wahls
2000–2002 2004 2007–2015

Discography

Further information: No Angels discography

Studio albums

Tours

Awards

2001

2002

2003

2007

2009

2010

References

  1. 1 2 ots. "BLITZ Spezial über die No Angels". Presseportal (in German). Retrieved 5 April 2007.
  2. ↑ "Scooter erfolgreichste deutsche Band aller Zeiten". Kontor Records (in German). Presseportal. 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  3. ↑ Oberwittler, Jörg (2007-03-19). "Mädchen-Handel, Runde zwei". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  4. ↑ "No Angels - Popband". NDR.de (in German). Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  5. 1 2 uq/dpa. "No Angels singen für Deutschland". FOCUS Online. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  6. 1 2 mut. "Annemarie - Erster roter Teppich nach Rauswurf bei DSDS". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  7. 1 2 Benaissa, Nadja. "Offizielle Bekanntmachung auf meiner Seite..." (in German). MySpace. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  8. 1 2 3 Schaertl, Marika (2001-02-19). "Holger, der Engel-Macher". Focus (in German). Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  9. 1 2 Lachnit, Katja (2000-08-26). "Diese Mädchen wollen Popstars werden". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  10. 1 2 Fischer, Marc (2001-02-01). "Popstar ist auch nur ein Job". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  11. 1 2 3 "Chartverfolgung / No Angels / Single" (in German). musicline.de PhonoNet. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  12. 1 2 3 "Austrian Charts > No Angels" (in German). austriancharts.at Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  13. 1 2 "Swiss Charts > No Angels" (in German). Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  14. ↑ "No Angels > Biography". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  15. ↑ "Billboard Hot Singles Sales (2002-06-01)". Billboard. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
  16. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / No Angels / Longplay" (in German). musicline.de PhonoNet. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  17. ↑ HA/dpa (2001-11-15). "Die neuen No Angels". Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (No Angels)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 2007-01-31.
  19. ↑ dpa (2009-04-21). "Die Popband No Angels". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  20. 1 2 Peitz, Dirk (2001-11-23). "Mit Atlantis aus der Versenkung". Rhein Zeitung. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  21. ↑ "No Angels starten Tour". Stern. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  22. ↑ Gauger, Joachim. "Now... Us! review". laut.de (in German). Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  23. ↑ Eisen, Matthias. "No Angels - Now... Us! (review)". CDStarts.de (in German). Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  24. ↑ "Now... Us!". Austriancharts. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  25. ↑ "NRJ Music Award für die No Angels" (PDF). Nacktmulle. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  26. ↑ "Chartverfolgung - No Angels/Mousse T.: Let's Go to Bed". Media Control. Musicline. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  27. ↑ "No Angels go Big Band". ots (in German). Presseportal. 2002-10-02. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  28. ↑ cs (2002-11-23). "Es war eine kunterbunte Party". Hamburger Abendblatt. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  29. 1 2 WE LOVE No Angels documentation. PRO Sieben. Retrieved on 2007 April.
  30. ↑ "No Angels/Pure - Produkt Infos". Media Control (in German). Musicline. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  31. ↑ Reichel, Matthias. "Pure review". CDstarts. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  32. ↑ "Jahrescharts 2003". Music-Central. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  33. ↑ "Chartverfolgung - NO ANGELS: No Angel (It's All in Your Mind)". Media Control. Musicline. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  34. ↑ "Chartverfolgung - NO ANGELS: Someday". Media Control. Musicline. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  35. ↑ "Chartverfolgung - NO ANGELS: Feelgood Lies". Media Control. Musicline. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  36. ↑ "Natürlich sind auch Tränen geflossen". Der Spiegel. 2003-09-07. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
  37. 1 2 Schulte am Hülse, Jessica (2007-07-29). "Popstar sein ist ein Pakt mit dem Teufel". Die Welt. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  38. ↑ Gauger, Joachim (2003-09-10). "Pure-Tour definitiv abgesagt". laut.de. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
  39. 1 2 Gauger, Joachim (2003-11-20). "No Angels: Da waren's wieder fünf". laut.de. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  40. ↑ "Chartverfolgung - NO ANGELS: Reason". Media Control. Musicline. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  41. ↑ "Chartverfolgung - Do They Know It's Christmas?". Media Control. Musicline. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  42. ↑ Gauger, Joachim. "Acoustic Angels review". laut.de. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  43. 1 2 "No Angels @ Viva Live". Youtube. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  44. ↑ "Alles über 'No Angels'". Webkatalog. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  45. ↑ "Destiny review". CDStars. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
  46. ↑ "Die Popstars gehen am Donnerstag bei ProSieben in die sechste Runde". Sat & Kabel. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  47. ↑ Out Now Music - Productions
  48. 1 2 "Grand-Prix-Kandidaten 2008". Bild-Zeitung. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  49. 1 2 "European Hot 100". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  50. ↑ "Germany's No Angels on the way to heaven?". Eurvision.tv. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  51. 1 2 "Germany's No Angels tank at Eurovision". The Local. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  52. ↑ "Germans fear no one likes them after Eurovision dud". Reuters. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  53. ↑ "No Angels nehmen Songs in USA auf". Sueddeutsche.de. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  54. ↑ "'Wir feiern auf jeden Fall' - Die No Angels wollen beim Eurovision Song Contest gut punkten". ddp. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  55. ↑ "No Angels star released on bail after ten days". Bild-Zeitung. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  56. ↑ Dobler, Eberhard. "No Angels - Welcome to the Dance review". laut.de (in German). Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  57. ↑ "No Angels mit neuen Plänen". Münchner Merkur. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  58. ↑ "No Angels super gelaunt beim VOL Live Interview". Voralberg Online (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  59. ↑ "Nadja Benaissa im d@h_blog-Interview: 'Ich war wie die WM'". Deutsche Aids Hilfe (in German). 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  60. ↑ "Exklusive Akustik-Clubtour im Mai 2010 mit Konzerten in München, Frankfurt, Köln, Hamburg & Berlin" (in German). Online-Artikel.de. 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  61. 1 2 "No Angels: Da Waren’s Nur Noch Drei" (in German). Frankfurter Neue Presse. 2010-05-20. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  62. ↑ "Bleibt Nadja Benaissa Ein No Angel?" (in German). Bild.de. 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  63. ↑ "Ein Engel im Cockpit". Fascination Speed (in German). ImageShack.us. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  64. ↑ Rosendorff, Kathrin. "Vom Fußballplatz nach Afrika". Prinz.de (in German). Retrieved 2012-06-16.
  65. ↑ Stihler, Carolin (2012-07-04). "Kandidaten müssen alles geben". Stuttgarter Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  66. ↑ Stihler, Carolin (2013-05-27). "Wir rocken den Leinewebermarkt". Westfalen-Blatt (in German). Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  67. ↑ Riepe, Constantin (2014-06-21). "Kein Kontakt mehr zu Nadja!" (in German). Bunte.de. Retrieved 2014-06-28.

External links

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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Roger Cicero
with Frauen regier'n die Welt		 Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
2008 		Succeeded by
Alex Swings Oscar Sings
with Miss Kiss Kiss Bang
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