Snap!

Snap! is a German Eurodance project, active since 1989 and founded in Frankfurt by producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. To distance themselves from stereotypes associated with German music, the duo adopted the pseudonyms Benito Benites and John “Virgo” Garrett III at the group’s formation. The lineup has changed repeatedly over the years.

Among the many members and singers who have collaborated are Thea Austin, Penny Ford, Niki Haris, Janice Robinson, Paula Brown, Loc, Durron Butler, Jackie Harris, Paulette Parker and Sarah Martin; the project also worked closely with American rapper Turbo B, who fronted the group during its biggest commercial success.

The first single, The Power (1990), blends house and hip-hop and uses several samples, including a drum loop from Mantronix and a vocal line from Jocelyn Brown; it reached number one in the United Kingdom and number two in the United States. The following album, World Power, sold over seven million copies worldwide.

In 1992 Rhythm Is a Dancer, co-written by Thea Austin, became the group’s most successful single, reaching number one in many European countries; the second album, The Madman’s Return, was also an international success.

After Turbo B’s departure, and later those of Penny Ford and Thea Austin, the project continued with new voices. The third album, Welcome to Tomorrow (1994), marked a shift toward a progressive house sound. The group split in 1996 and returned in 2000 with the single Gimme a Thrill.

In the 2000s Snap! released new tracks such as Beauty Queen and We Want Your Soul, along with remixes and updated versions of its earlier hits; in 2008 a British TV advertisement renewed interest in Rhythm Is a Dancer, which re-entered the charts.

The founding producers also developed other parallel projects under the names Power Jam, 16 Bit, Noys, Machineries Of Joy, Glas, Usp, Anzilotti & Münzing and Challenge (6). The group performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2010 with original singer Penny Ford.