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Santa Maria (Tatjana song)

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"Santa Maria"
Single by Tatjana
Released1995
GenreEurodance
Length3:18
Label
  • Mega
  • Love This
  • Popular
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Tatjana singles chronology
"Never Never"
(1993) 		"Santa Maria"
(1995) 		"Tatjana's Double Deal"
(1995)
Music video
"Santa Maria" on YouTube
"Santa Maria"
Single by DJ Milano feat. Samantha Fox
Released1997
GenreEurodance
Length2:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Lee Monteverde
  • Peter King
Samantha Fox singles chronology
"(Hurt Me! Hurt Me!) But the Pants Stay On"
(1991) 		"Santa Maria"
(1997) 		"Tomorrow (Is Another Day)"
(2009)
Music video
"Santa Maria" on YouTube

"Santa Maria" is a song originally released in 1995 by Croatian-Dutch artist and model Tatjana. It was written by Kirsti Johansen and Kjetil Røsnes of Norwegian disco and dance duo Avalanche with Mike Stock and Matt Aitken, two former members of the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. The song was recorded for the European market, although Tatjana's version was issued in the US on Popular Records as a CD maxi single. It was covered by DJ Milano and British singer Samantha Fox in 1997.

Critical reception

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John Bush from AllMusic described the song as a "house anthem".[1] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The Euro-NRG dance music invasion of stateside pop radio airwaves continues with the onset of this riotous anthem, which has already connected with kids everywhere else in the world. If you look beyond the "ya don't stop" rap cliches in the verses, you will encounter a wonder-fully peppy, sing-along chorus that is impossible to shake from the brain."[2]

British Music Week rated it four out of five, adding, "Vibe up your holday memories with this Euro-anthem from the Croatian, courtesy of the golden hands of Stock & Aitken."[3] The magazine's Alan Jones noted, "A Euro-style, instantly commercial, summery groove, it boasts a KLF-style rap and a bright pop/dance vocal, with the title phrase borrowing its musical notation from Zucchero's "Senza una donna"."[4] On the 1996 re-release, Music Week gave it five out of five and named it Single of the Week, describing it as "Euro disco at its very best with the fun factor in full effect."[5] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update deemed it "an infectious breezy Whigfield-ish jangling galloper".[6]

Chart hyping allegation

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The version of the song which was released on Mike Stock's Love This Records label in the United Kingdom was investigated by the BPI, as it was suspected that the company was involved in chart hyping in order to get the record into the UK Singles chart.[7][8] The single was excluded from the charts, whilst a number of other releases from Love This Records had sales deducted from their overall weekly totals. Nevertheless, "Santa Maria" reached number 40 in the UK charts for one week when re-issued in 1996,[9] with Stock going on to record a version of a 1970s hit "You Can Do Magic" in 1997, for an investigation on ITV programme The Cook Report to see how easy it was the rig the charts. [10][11]

DJ Milano/Samantha Fox version

[edit]

After Fox's five-year contract with Jive Records expired, the singer went to Ibiza, where she met DJ Milano, who decided to use her vocals on a cover of "Santa Maria" in 1997.[12] "Santa Maria" became a notable hit around Europe, peaking at number 14 in Denmark and had a music video was directed by Ben Hume-Paton.[13] In the United Kingdom, it charted higher in the Official Singles Chart than the version by Simić and when it got to number 31 in 1998, it became Fox's first chart entry under her own name since 1989[14] (as her 1995 Song For Europe entry "Go for the Heart" was credited under the group name Sox).[15] It was released as a single-only song and was later included on Fox's Watching You, Watching Me compilation. The song also appeared on her 2009 Greatest Hits compilation alongside her 1980s hits and "Go for the Heart".

Music Week gave the song two out of five, writing, "This Euro-dance tune could signal a return to the charts for the page three girl turned born-again Christian."[16]

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "Santa Maria" (Radio Edit) – 2:54
  2. "Santa Maria" (Open Arms Remix) – 6:19
  3. "Santa Maria" (Gio Remix) – 5:04
  4. "Santa Maria" (Original Version) – 6:11

Charts

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Tatjana version

[edit]
Chart (1995–1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17] 50
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[18] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 33
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 37
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 40

Samantha Fox version

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Chart (1997) Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[22] 14
Scotland (OCC)[23] 29
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 47
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 31

References

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  1. ^ Bush, John. "Tatjana – Santa Maria". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (28 October 1995). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 88. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Music Week. 12 August 1995. p. 15.
  4. ^ Jones, Alan (29 July 1995). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 37. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 24 August 1996. p. 23. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. ^ Hamilton, James (12 August 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Into the limelight by any means necessary". The Independent. 23 October 2011.
  8. ^ "The numbers game is up". The Independent. 23 October 2011.
  9. ^ "TATJANA | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  10. ^ "What's cookin'?". The Independent. 23 October 2011.
  11. ^ "MOJAMS FEATURING DEBBIE CURRIE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  12. ^ Samantha Fox Greatest Hits (2 CD) album booklet, page 5.
  13. ^ "Site Maintenance". www.mvdbase.com.
  14. ^ "SAMANTHA FOX | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  15. ^ "SOX | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  16. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 25. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Tatjana – Santa Maria". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  18. ^ "RPM Dance (May 13, 1996)". RPM. 13 May 1996. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Tatjana" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  20. ^ "Tatjana – Santa Maria" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  21. ^ "Tatjana: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  22. ^ Danish Singles Chart. 20 February 1998.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  24. ^ "DJ Milano feat. Samantha Fox - Santa Maria". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  25. ^ "DJ Milano - Santa Maria ft Samantha Fox". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
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