Down The Rabbit Hole:
Arabesque
Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.
Today, we learn all about the German euro pop trio, Arabesque.
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Arabesque was an all-girl trio formed at the height of the European disco era in 1977, in the West German city of Frankfurt. The group's changing lineup worked with the German composer Jean Frankfurter (Erich Ließmann).
Arabesque were especially popular in Japan. Their songs began being aired on Japanese late-night radio shows in the late 1970s. They were especially popular with teenagers and a driving force behind the popularity of Western music in Japan in the early 1980s. Their popularity also spread to South Korea, Chinese-speaking countries and other parts of Asia, Eastern Europe, the USSR, and Latin America.
Their initial breakthrough in Japan began in 1979 when the group appeared on a television special, performing Hello Mr. Monkey. While back at home, in West Germany in 1980, the single Take Me Don't Break Me became a minor hit. It was followed-up by their next single a few weeks late, Marigot Bay, which would become their only Top Ten hit.
For the rest of the mid 80s they would continue to make numerous television appearances while releasing new singles and albums. Yet they never attained the same level of success on the European charts again. Though they did remain popular in the Japanese market, which is where their music increasingly became targeted to maximize appeal. However, by the end of 1984, the group disbanded, with two of the members going on as the pop duo, Rouge.
The group's two last singles, Time To Say Goodbye (1985) and Ecstasy (1986), became hits in various European markets after the group split. The last Arabesque singles also introduced the Italo Disco sound to Japan, where they still enjoy a loyal following.
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Hello, Mr. Monkey - Arabesque
Take Me, Don't Break Me - Arabesque
Marigot Bay - Arabesque
Time To Say Goodbye - Arabesque
Ecstasy - Arabesque
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