Magic Affair

Magic Affair

Magic Affair (2009)
Background information
Also known as M.A.
Origin Frankfurt, Germany
Genres Electronic dance music (EDM)
Years active 1993–1999, 2004, 2008-present
Labels
  • CDL
  • EMI
  • Nosferatu
Associated acts Mysterious Art, Blaxone, The Clarkettes, E-Rotic, S.E.X. Appeal
Website www.magic-affair-music.com
Members Franca Morgano
(1993-1994, 2004, 2008-Present)
Nitro
(2013-Present)
Past members Burnell Keith Herring
(1993-1994, 2008-2013)
Anita Davis
(1995-1997)
Jannet Schüttler
(1995-1996)
Richard Michael Smith
(1996-1997)

Magic Affair is a German dance group. The band originally consisted of the duo, the lead singer Franca Morgano and the American rapper A.K.-S.W.I.F.T. (Burnell Keith Herring). They were founded and produced by Mike Stabb.

Band history

1993–94: Formation and Omen (The Story Continues...)

Main article: Mysterious Art

Magic Affair were founded as a Mysterious Art spin-off and produced by Mike Stabb, a band where Stabb himself was a member. The original band members of Magic Affair are the lead singer Franca Morgano and the rapper A.K.-S.W.I.F.T. (Burnell Keith Herring, born in 1969 in Chicago). The group's first single Omen III has been first introduced and released in 1993 under the shortened artist name M.A., which initial letters refers to both, the originated band name Mysterious Art and the upcoming spin-off band name Magic Affair. Also the singles' name "Omen III" and the debut album title Omen (The Story Continues...) are references to Mysterious Art's 1989er debut album "Omen - The Story" and its first two hit single releases "Das Omen (Teil 1)" and "Carma (Omen 2)". "Omen III" achieved success in Europe and worldwide, reaching #1 in the German Single chart and sold gold and platinum in Germany and Austria, and peaked #17 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] "Omen III" was followed in 1994 by the debut studio album Omen (The Story Continues...) and the three singles "Give Me All Your Love", "In the Middle of the Night", and "Fire", which peaked #6, #16 and #20 in the German single chart respectively. Due to a dispute between Herring and Morgano, who wouldn't bear his macho temper, Herring was briefly replaced by rapper Alfonso Daniel Morgan. Because of no success and no material been released, Herring soon returned a few months later. That's a reason why Morgan has never been officially recognized as a former Magic Affair member.

1995–97: Departure of Morgano and Herring and Phenomenia

In February 1995 both, Morgano and Herring were controversially fired and replaced with two female singers, Anita Davis and Jannet De Lara (Jannet Schüttler). Along with the new line-up and a new musical direction to a more pop sound including female verses and excluding male raps, Magic Affair subsequently released their first single "The Rhythm Makes You Wanna Dance" in 1995 of their upcoming second studio album. "The Rhythm Makes You Wanna Dance" was followed in 1996 by the second studio album "Phenomenia" and the two singles "Energy of Light", co-written by Daisy Dee, and "World of Freedom", which became moderate hits and peaked #37 and #15 in the Swizz and Finnish Single Chart respectively. Singer Lori Glori provides guest vocals on the album track "Magical Love Affair". In September 1996, Schüttler was fired and replaced by the rapper Raz-ma-Taz (Richard Michael Smith), previously of E-Rotic and S.E.X. Appeal fame. With the third line-up, the group also appeared on the Queen tribute compilation album Queen Dance Traxx, with the song "Bohemian Rhapsody", which also saw a single release. The tribute album also featured another Queen song "We Are The Champions", recorded with all artists, who participated on Queen Dance Traxx as a supergroup labeled as "Acts United". Meanwhile, Morgano and Herring formed their own band called Blaxone and released one single "Good times" in 1996, which has been later in 2008 credited as a Magic Affair song and been included on Magic Affair's remix album series "Remixcollection I-III". In 1997, two more singles have been released, the fourth and final single of "Phenomenia", called "Break These Chains", in a different single edition with additional raps by Smith, and the new song "Night Of The Raven", being the first single released on the new Dutch label CNR and the first single for the planned but yet never materialized third studio album. "Night Of The Raven" became a minor hit, peaking #54 in the Swedish Single Chart respectively. After this release, Davis and Smith both left the band. In 1997, Herring launched his solo career.

1998–99: Single releases and hiatus

In 1998 and 1999, the promotional singles "Sacrifice", an instrumental trance track without any vocalists, and "Miracles" have been released, both without any charting success. After these single releases, Magic Affair went on hiatus. Meanwhile, Davis went on to launch her solo career, released some solo singles, and to form her girlgroup The Clarkettes, alongside singers Brenda Hale and Brooke Russell.

2004–07: Return of Morgano and brief comeback

After a short absence, Magic Affair briefly returned in 2004 with the single release "Fly Away (La Serenissima)" alongside a music video. This single also marks the return to Magic Affair of original lead singer Morgano. "Fly Away (La Serenissima)" reached #13 in German DJ Playlist and peaked #70 in the Swiss Single Chart. In 2007, former member Schüttler has been featured on guest vocals on Raul Rincon & Coronabros's single "La Verdad".

2008–12: Return of Herring and comeback

In 2008, a remix album series entitled "Remixcollection I - 1993-1994", "Remixcollection II - 1995-1996", "Remixcollection III - 1996-1998" has been digitally released, containing most remixes of the mentioned periods of that eras. Also in 2008, the single "Stigmata (Of Love)", originally an unreleased song recorded back in 2003, has been released. "Stigmata (Of Love)" marks the return to Magic Affair of original rapper Herring, but who has been only credited as a featured artist on the single as the narrator. Alongside the single, a promotional single of Magic Affair's very first hit "Omen III" has been released in 2008 with new mixes by The Nightshifterz, Pussylickerz, Dirty Boyz and Blackzone. Next to these Magic Affair releases, Morgano released her first solo album titled "Bleeding Love Songs (Italian American Songbook)". In 2009, Morgano and Herring performed "Omen III" live at RTL Ultimative Chart Show for the first time in ages. Since 2009, Magic Affair started working on their upcoming third studio album, which will be produced by Mike Staab, Rainer Kempf and Bernd Waldstadt. In 2010, Morgano released her second studio album "You Want It" and the compilation album "Remember Me". In 2012, Morgano released her first holiday album "Christmas Part I".

2013–Present: Second departure of Herring and third album

In 2013, Herring again left Magic Affair and has been replaced by German rapper Nitro, previously of hip hop collective Brothers Keepers fame. Meanwhile, Morgano released her third, fourth overall, and first German language studio album "...Nach Dem Sturm" (...After The Storm). In 2014, Morgano and Nitro introduced the single "Hear The Voices" along with another new song, the B-Side "We're Insane", both eventually for their upcoming third studio album.

Members

Member 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2004 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Franca Morgano
(1993-1994, 2004, 2008–Present)
Anita Davis
(1995-1997)
Jannet Schüttler
(1995-1996)
Burnell Keith Herring
(1993-1994, 2008-2013)
Richard Michael Smith
(1996-1997)
Nitro
(2013–Present)

Other Members:

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
AUT FIN
[2]		 GER NED SWE SWI
Omen (The Story Continues...)
  • Release date: 16 May 1994
  • Label: CDL
  • Formats: CD
 11 9 8 71 18 7
Phenomenia
  • Release date: August 1996
  • Label: CDL
  • Formats: CD
 — — 99 — — —
TBA
  • Release date: TBA
  • Label: TBA
  • Formats: CD
 To be released
"—" denotes studio album that did not chart.

Remix albums

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)		 Album
AUT
[3]		 FIN
[2]		 FRA
[3]		 GER
[4]		 IRE
[5]		 NED
[3]		 SWE
[3]		 SWI
[3]		 UK
[3]
1993 "Omen III" 2 2 12 1 14 7 3 3 17 Omen (The Story Continues...)
1994 "Give Me All Your Love" 13 3 20 6 24 9 8 8 30
"In the Middle of the Night" 14 10 26 16 — 29 16 — 38
"Fire" 17 9 — 20 — — 34 23 —
1995 "The Rhythm Makes You Wanna Dance" 32 17 — 54 — — 36 — — Phenomenia
1996 "Energy of Light" — — — 54 — — — 37 —
"World of Freedom" — 15 — — — — — — —
1997 "Break These Chains" — — — — — — — — —
"Night of the Raven" — — — — — — 54 — — N/A
2004 "Fly Away (La Serenissima)" — — — — — — — 70 —
2008 "Stigmata (Of Love)" — — — — — — — — —
2014 "Hear The Voices" — — — — — — — — — TBA
"—" denotes single that did not chart.

Promotional singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
GER
[4]
"Good Times"[lower-alpha 1] 1996 — N/A
"Bohemian Rhapsody" — Queen Dance Traxx
"Sacrifice" 1998 — N/A
"Miracles" 1999 —
"Omen III (2008 version)" 2008 —
"—" denotes promotional single that did not chart.

Other appearances

Notes

  1. ↑ "Good Times" has been released in 1996 by Morgano and Herring as Blaxone, but later in 2008 credited as Magic Affair and included on Magic Affair's remix album series "Remixcollection I-III".

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 343. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. 1 2 Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 9789511210535.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Intl. peaks Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 10, 2008)
  4. 1 2 German peak positions
  5. ↑ Search for Irish peak positions
  6. ↑ "Gold & Platin". IFPI (Austria). Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  7. 1 2 "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Magic Affair)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 2011-06-09.

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