View source for U96

{{short description|German Eurodance project}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background      = group_or_band
| name            = U96
| image           =
| caption         =
| image_size      = <!-- Only for images narrower than 200 pixels -->
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Hamburg]], Germany
| genre           = [[Eurodance]], [[techno]]
| years_active    = 1991–present
| label           = {{hlist|Cohiba|[[Polydor]]}}
| website         = {{url|u96-official.com}}
| current_members =
* [[Alberto Ingo Hauss|Ingo Hauss]]
* Hayo Lewerentz
| past_members    =
* [[Alex Christensen]]
* Stefan Hafelinger
* Helmut Hoinkis
* Skadi Lange
* Dorothy Lapi
}}
'''U96''' is a German musical project formed by [[Disc jockey|DJ]] and producer [[Alex Christensen]],<ref name="LarkinDM"/> and a team of producers named Matiz ([[Ingo Hauss]], Helmut Hoinkis, and Hayo Lewerentz). After a decade-long hiatus, the band returned in 2018 without Christensen and Hoinkis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mucke-und-mehr.de/musik/cd/u96-2018|title=U96 nehmen einen erneuten Anlauf, auch ohne Alex Christensen erfolgreich zu sein|date=3 July 2018|access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref>
==History==
===''Das Boot'': 1991–1992===
The name of the project comes from the film ''[[Das Boot]]'' about German submarine ''[[German submarine U-96 (1940)|U-96]]'' from [[World War II]].<ref name="LarkinDM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1998|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0252-6|pages=350/1}}</ref> The project's first hit, "[[Das Boot (song)|Das Boot]]" (1991), is a [[Techno music|techno]] adaptation of the film's title melody, which had been originally composed by [[Klaus Doldinger]]. An [[Das Boot (album)|album of the same name]] was also released.<ref name="LarkinDM"/>
===''Replugged'': 1993===
The band's next album, ''Replugged'' (1993), was inspired by the [[Electro music|electro]] sounds of the 1980s and by [[Ambient music|ambient]] and [[disco]] music themes. It was less commercially successful than its predecessor, but achieved three top-10 hits: "[[Love Sees No Colour]]", "[[Night in Motion]]", and "[[Inside Your Dreams]]", which peaked at number 1 in Finland. Although uncredited, Ingo Hauss provided most male vocals for this album.
===''Club Bizarre'': 1994–1995===
The follow-up album, ''Club Bizarre'' (1995), radically changed the group's sound. It was dominated by a fast-paced [[Eurodance]] sound with a significant [[rave]] influence. The hit single releases from this album were "[[Love Religion]]" (with [[Daisy Dee]]) as well as the title track "[[Club Bizarre]]", with [[harmony|harmonies]] that were reused later by [[Brooklyn Bounce]]. Motor Music also released the ''Club Bizarre Interactive CD-ROM''. The audio part of this CD included several music tracks and the multimedia part featured a discography, interviews with Alex Christensen, and a game for [[Mac OS]] and [[Windows PC]].
===''Heaven'': 1996===
In 1996, U96's fourth album, ''Heaven'', was released. It was highly commercial in sound, with greater emphasis on [[Eurodance]], despite retaining some electro and rave influences. On this album, a new singer, Dea-Li (Dorothy Lapi), was featured, who participated in the production of four titles. The chorus in the song "Heaven"—although with a faster pace and different text—closely resembles [[Cyndi Lauper]]'s 1984 hit "[[Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper song)|Time After Time]]". The second single, "[[A Night to Remember (U96 song)|A Night to Remember]]", was a top-20 hit in Austria and Finland. The final single, "[[Venus in Chains]]", peaked at number 7 in the Czech Republic.
===Hiatus, ''Reboot'': 1997–present===
After their fourth album, the group released the singles "Seven Wonders" (1997), "Energie" (1998), "Beweg Dich, Baby" (1998), and "Das Boot 2001" (2000), before issuing the compilation ''Best of 1991–2001'', which included a few songs from the unreleased album ''Rhythm of Life''. They returned to the German Top 30 in 2006 with "Vorbei", which featured vocals by [[Ben (German singer)|Ben]].
Another album, ''Out of Wilhelmsburg'', was released in 2007, albeit with a different group lineup, before the band went on an indefinite hiatus.
In June 2018, U96 came out with the double album ''Reboot''. Two years later, in collaboration with [[Wolfgang Flür]], they released another double album, titled ''Transhuman''.<ref>{{cite web|title=U96 & WOLFGANG FLÜR - Transhuman |url=https://www.electricityclub.co.uk/u96-wolfgang-flur-transhuman/ |website=electricityclub.co.uk |date=2 September 2020 |access-date=18 March 2021}}</ref>
Helmut Hoinkis died on 19 February 2021.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
==Band members==
'''Current'''
* [[Alberto Ingo Hauss|Ingo Hauss]] (aka Bela Lagonda)
* Hayo Lewerentz (aka Harry Castioni / Hayo Panarinfo)
'''Past'''
* Helmut Hoinkis (aka Jeff Wycombe)
* [[Alex Christensen]] (aka AC 16, AC Beat, Alex C.)
* Stefan Hafelinger
* Skadi Lange
* Dorothy Lapi
==Discography==
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="7" | Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[GfK Entertainment Charts|GER]]<br /><ref name="GER Albums">{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche |title=German Albums |publisher=offiziellecharts.de |access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[ARIA Charts|AUT]]<br /><ref name="AUT Albums">{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/search.asp?cat=a&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Austrian Albums |publisher=austriancharts.at |access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[The Official Finnish Charts|FIN]]<br> <ref name="FIN Albums">{{cite book | first=Timo | last= Pennanen |year= 2006 | title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 | edition= 1st | publisher=Tammi | location= Helsinki| isbn= 9789511210535| language= fi }}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[MegaCharts|NED]]<br /><ref name="NED Albums">{{cite web|url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?cat=a&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Dutch Albums |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[VG-lista|NOR]]<br /><ref name="NOR Albums">{{cite web|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Norwegian Albums |publisher=norwegiancharts.com |access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br /><ref name="SWE Albums">{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Swedish Albums |publisher=swedishcharts.com |access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Sverigetopplistan|SWI]]<br /><ref name="SWI Albums">{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?cat=a&from=&to=&artist=u96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Swiss Albums |publisher=hitparade.ch|access-date=9 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Das Boot (album)|Das Boot]]''
|
* Released: March 1992
* Label: [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
* Category: Studio album
| 11
| 5
| 19
| —
| —
| 26
| 9
|
* SWI: Gold<ref name="U96 SWI">{{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=u96 |title=Swiss Certifications |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Replugged''
|
* Released: June 1993
* Label: [[Urban Records|Urban]]
* Category: Studio album
| 21
| 5
| 22
| —
| —
| 33
| 18
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Club Bizarre''
|
* Released: March 1995
* Label: Polydor
* Category: Studio album
| 22
| 23
| 9
| 24
| —
| 19
| 37
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Heaven''
|
* Released: June 1996
* Label: [[Motor Music]]
* Category: Studio album
| 30
| 19
| 20
| 77
| 35
| 22
| 23
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Best of 1991–2001''
|
* Released: May 2000
* Label: Urban
* Category: Compilation
| 34
| 36
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Out of Wilhelmsburg''
|
* Released: March 2007
* Label: Centaurus Records
* Category: Studio album
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Dark Matter''
|
* Released: 4 December 2015
* Label: UNLTD Recordings
* Category: EP
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Reboot''
|
* Released: June 2018
* Label: UNLTD Recordings
* Category: Studio album
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Transhuman''
|
* Released: September 2020
* Label: UNLTD Recordings
* Category: Studio album
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''20.000 Meilen Unter dem Meer''
|
* Released: September 2022
* Label: Motor Entertainment (Edel)
* Category: Studio album
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|
|-
|align="center" colspan="10" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
|}
===Singles===
{|class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title
!colspan="10"| Peak chart positions
!rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
!rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"|Album
|-
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[GfK Entertainment|GER]]<br><ref name="GER">{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche |title=German Singles |publisher=Charts.de [[GfK Entertainment]]|language=de |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br><ref name="AUT">{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/search.asp?cat=s&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Austrian Singles |publisher=austriancharts.at |language=de |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Ultratop|BEL]]<br><ref name="BEL">{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?lang=nl&cat=s&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Belgian Vlaanderen Singles |website=[[Ultratop]] |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[The Official Finnish Charts|FIN]]<br><ref name="FIN">{{cite book | first=Timo | last= Pennanen |year= 2006 | title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 | edition= 1st | publisher=Tammi | location= Helsinki| isbn= 9789511210535| language= fi }}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|FRA]]<br><ref name="FRA">{{cite web|url=http://lescharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=French Singles |publisher=The Official Charts Company UK |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Single Top 100|NED]]<br><ref name="NED">{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp? |title= Dutch Singles |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[VG-lista|NOR]]<br><ref name="NOR">{{cite web|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title= Norwegian Singles |publisher=norwegiancharts.com |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br><ref name="SWE">{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Swedish Singles |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]<br><ref name="SWI">{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?cat=s&from=&to=&artist=u+96&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts |title=Swiss Singles |publisher=hitparade.ch |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="UK">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28006/u96/ |title=UK Singles |publisher=The Official Charts Company UK |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
| 1991
| "[[Das Boot (song)|Das Boot]]"
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 11
|align="center"| 9
|align="center" rowspan="2"| 9
|align="center"| 3
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 5
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 18
|
* AUT: Gold<ref name="U96 AUT">{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin |title=Austrian Certifications |access-date=3 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701062753/http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin |archive-date=1 July 2013 }}</ref>
| align="left" rowspan="4"| ''Das Boot''
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1992
| "[[I Wanna Be a Kennedy]]"
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| 6
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 18
|align="center"| 40
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 32
|align="center"| 3
|align="center"| 77
|
|-
| "Come 2gether/Der Kommandant"
|align="center"| 38
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| "Ambient Underworld"
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 36
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1993
| "[[Love Sees No Colour]]"
|align="center"| 6
|align="center"| 3
|align="center"| 39
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| 20
|align="center"| 17
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| —
|
| align="left" rowspan="3"| ''Replugged''
|-
| "Love Sees No Colour" <small>(remix)</small>
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 38
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| "[[Night in Motion]]"
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"| 50
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"| 29
|align="center"| 38
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 10
|align="center"| 18
|align="center"| 134
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1994
| "[[Inside Your Dreams]]"
|align="center"| 12
|align="center"| 10
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 24
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 19
|align="center"| 9
|align="center"| 44
|
| {{N/A|Non-album single}}
|-
| "[[Love Religion]]"
|align="center"| 5
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"| 27
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| 15
|align="center"| 10
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| 10
|align="center"| —
|
* GER: Gold<ref name="U96 GER">{{cite web|url=http://www.musikindustrie.de/no_cache/gold_platin_datenbank/#topSearch |title=German Certifications |access-date=3 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202022835/http://www.musikindustrie.de/no_cache/gold_platin_datenbank/ |archive-date=2 December 2013 }}</ref>
| align="left" rowspan="5"| ''Club Bizarre''
|-
| "Love Religion" <small>(remix)</small>
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 23
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1995
| "[[Club Bizarre]]"
|align="center"| 19
|align="center"| 14
|align="center"| 37
|align="center"| 1
|align="center"| 44
|align="center"| 12
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 16
|align="center"| 32
|align="center"| 70
|
|-
| "Movin'"
|align="center"| 91
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| "[[Das Boot (song)|Boot II]]"
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 10
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 53
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1996
| "[[Heaven (U96 song)|Heaven]]"
|align="center"| 4
|align="center"| 2
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 7
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 15
|align="center"| 5
|align="center"| 5
|align="center"| 16
|align="center"| 87
|
* GER: Gold<ref name="U96 GER"/>
| align="left" rowspan="3"| ''Heaven''
|-
| "[[A Night to Remember (U96 song)|A Night to Remember]]"
|align="center"| 25
|align="center"| 18
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 11
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 37
|align="center"| 44
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| "[[Venus in Chains]]"
|align="center"| 75
|align="center"| 18
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 54
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| 1997
| "Seven Wonders"
|align="center"| 40
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 52
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
| rowspan="10" {{N/A|Non-album single}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1998
| "Energie"
|align="center"| 29
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| "Beweg dich Baby"
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| 2001
| "[[Das Boot (song)|Das Boot 2001]]"
|align="center"| 16
|align="center"| 12
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| 41
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| 2003
| "We Call It Love"
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| "Vorbei" <small>(featuring Ben)</small>
|align="center"| 28
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| "Mr. DJ Put on the Red Light" <br /><small>(featuring Das Bo)</small>
|align="center"| 77
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| 2020
| "Let Yourself Go"
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| 2021
| "Das Boot (V2)"
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
| 2023
| "Dance Hall Days"
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|align="center"| —
|
|-
|align="center" colspan="15" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
* {{official website|u96-official.com}}
* [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p22065|pure_url=yes}} AllMusicGuide profile]
{{U96}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1991]]
[[Category:German electronic music groups]]
[[Category:German Eurodance groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Hamburg]]
[[Category:Polydor Records artists]]