Alexandra Stan

Alexandra Stan

Alexandra Stan

Stan during a concert in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Background information
Birth name Alexandra Ioana Stan
Born 10 June 1989[1]
Constanța, Romania
Genres House, pop, dance, dubstep, electronic, reggae fusion
Occupation(s) singer, songwriter, model, dancer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2009-present
(hiatus: 2013)[2]
Labels Media Pro, Ultra, Roton Music, Fonogram, Ego Italy, AATW, Victor Entertainment
Website Alexandra Stan The Artist's website

Alexandra Stan (born 10 June 1989) is a Romanian singer, songwriter, model and occasional dancer. She released her debut single, "Lollipop (Param Pam Pam)", in late 2009, which peaked at number-eighteen in the Romanian Top 100. The song became known in her native country through the saxophone-dubb in its refrain, which was later used also in her next single, called "Mr. Saxobeat". It became her worldwide breakthrough hit, selling circa 10,000,000 copies in less than a year and reaching the charts' first position in nine countries, the top five in over thirty countries, such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and the top 10 in Australia, and top 30 in Canada and United States. She released her debut album in August 2011, titled Saxobeats, which sold in over four million shipments worldwide. The album spawned two more singles: "Get Back" and "1,000,000", featuring rapper Carlprit. The records were top-forty successes in more European countries like Italy or Bulgaria.

Stan released "Lemonade" as the lead single from the Japanese re-release of her debut album Saxobeats. The song charted majorly and was certified Gold in Italy by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry. She then released "Cliche (Hush Hush)" as the follow-up to "Lemonade" on 27 September 2012, and as the second single from the re-released album. The single failed to achieve the success of its predecessor. A collaboration with Manilla Maniacs for the song "All My People" was selected as the third and final single from the record. The song was released on 1 May 2013, with the latter two singles both receiving moderate success.

Stan's second studio album was released on August 27, 2014 exclusively in Japan, under the label Victor Entertainment. Dance and Cherry Pop are the record's lead singles. They became populary, when they both reached the first position in the Japanese iTunes Chart. Stan revealed the international release of her album, "Unlocked", on Facebook, already weeks before its worldwide release.[3] The album was released internationally on November 25, 2014 and it features a collaboration with Connect-R to the song Vanilla Chocolat. The record sold in over 3.000 shipments in its first days after the release.

Stan has been reported to have a net worth of 20,000,000 €. She is also currently one of the wealthiest musical artists in Romania and Eastern Europe.[4]

Early life and early career

Alexandra Ioana Stan was born in the city of Constanța, Romania. She studied at the Traian secondary school and became a student at the Faculty of Management Andrei Saguna. From a very young age, Alexandra showed a special interest in music, singing popular melodies and even writing her own songs. She participated in various music-related contests, including the Mamaia Music Festival, winning various awards. Alexandra became known in her native country with her first single "Lollipop (Param Pam Pam)".

Constanta

Shortly after launching her debut single, she appeared on many Romanian radio stations and television shows. Her second single, "Mr. Saxobeat", became a number-one hit and topped many international charts, staying on top many weeks. Her tour in France began in early 2011.[5] During an interview in November 2010, Stan stated that she believes in God and she has her own religious principles.[6]

Musical career

2009–14: Saxobeats

In 2009, Stan released her debut single, "Lollipop (Param Pam Pam)"[7] The song received heavy airplay on mainstream German radio stations in early 2010, with an addition to Germany's a-list in May 2010. During summer 2010, she released a promotional track "Show Me The Way", that sampled a Peter Frampton single. Stan then began to tour in Romania. In September 2010, Stan premiered her second release "Mr. Saxobeat". In less than two months, the song became her greatest hit in Romania, peaking at number-one on the Romanian Top 100 and defending the position for eight consecutive weeks.[8] The song was commercially successful worldwide. In early 2011, it entered the Spanish Singles Chart and debuted inside the top ten of the French Singles Chart, as well as in the Canadian Hot 100. It hit the No. 1 position in Italy and Denmark, and subsequently in Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. In late May, "Mr. Saxobeat" became the first Romanian song to reach No. 1 in Germany -since "Dragostea din Tei" (2004). It was a number-one in Austria, Germany and Switzerland for twenty weeks in total.

Alexandra Stan on the 2011- edition of Austrian Sports Personality of the Year

After the success of "Mr. Saxobeat", Stan released a follow-up "Get Back". It peaked at number-one in Slovakia, at number-four in the Romanian Top 100, at number-eight in Finland and inside the top twenty in over five countries. The song has two music videos: a official and a promotional, for the Maan-Studio Remix Version. In summer 2011, Stan released another single, 1,000,000, featuring rapper Carlprit. As of September 2011, the song has received airplay in France but missed the top forty.

On 29 August 2011, Stan released her début album, titled Saxobeats. It features eight tracks plus five remixes. The album was first released in France, then in Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Spain, Poland and Italy.[9][10] It was released in the United States and Canada on 25 October, through Ultra Records.Her fourth overall single has just been sent to mainstream radio stations in Belgium, France and Romania.[11]

Stan received multiple certification awards for "Mr. Saxobeat", including platinum in Australia[12] and Spain,[13]

Alexandra Stan at Eska Awards in Poland

Platinum in Denmark[14] and Sweden[15] and Multi-Platinum in Italy.[16] At the 2011 Romanian Music Awards, she received two nominations for "Mr. Saxobeat" ("Best Dance" and "Best Song", winning the latter) and two nods for herself "Best Female" and winning the "Borderbreaker Award". She was also nominated for Best European Act at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards, after winning Best Romanian Act where she was nominated alongside rapper Guess Who and Puya, singer Smiley and band Fly Project. On 6. November, Stan lost the Best European to Lena Meyer-Landrut from Germany. In June 2012, Alexandra Stan released a new single called Lemonade. Her music video was released on YouTube on 4 June. The video received over 29 million views on YouTube, and has charted in more European countries like Turkey, Bulgaria or Czech Republic inclusive Japan. A new song following up to her "hit" Lemonade was released 27 September 2012, titled "Cliche (Hush Hush)", but with no big success. Before the scandal with her Manager Prodan, Stan released the single "All My People", a massive radio hit in Italy.

In 2012, Alexandra Stan, won an EBBA-award. Every year the European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA) recognise the success of ten emerging artists or groups who have reached audiences outside their own countries with their first internationally released album in the past year. Follow Your Instinct features her for the single "Baby, It's OK!". It charted only in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Romania. It samples "Give It Up" by KC and the Sunshine Band.[17]

2013: "Marcel Prodan case" and hiatus

In June 2013, Stan was hospitalised and concerts were cancelled. While her staff initially claimed she was involved in an accident,[18] she later accused her manager, Marcel Prodan, of physically assaulting her, when she wanted her share of money from the concerts.[19] On 18 June, Alexandra Stan filed a criminal complaint against Prodan for blackmail.[20] Her new album was supposed to be released in September 2013, but due to the incident with her manager, the release had been postponed. She was interviewed by the police a day after the attack, while still being in hospital.[21] According to Romanian sources, she decided to take a musical hiatus. Later, Alexandra has decided to dismiss the complaint. Following this, Stan was sued by Prodan, for using her songs that were made in collaboration with him, without having any rights. On 15 May, the singer had finally won the right to interpret songs and have consecrated it, call before the agent is considered as unfounded by the court . Thus, Marcel Prodan can no longer collect money from Alexandra nor the copyright on any of those parts and related rights.[22] But Stan can`t use her photos made by Andrei Nemirschi. He's the copyright holder. Later, she created and joined the anti-violence Campaign "Stop Violent, Start Singing". Stan was replaced by Prodan's Maan Studio with the Ukraine-origin, Romanian singer Kaiia.

2014- present: Return and Unlocked

Alexandra Stan performing in Japan

After she lost her old Facebook account, Stan first concerted Sibiu in the night between 2013 and 2014. Thanks For Leaving, was released on 28 April 2014 as a promotional single from her second album, and was the first song they would hear following her reissues album Cliché (Hush Hush) in 2013. She said to the video:

“ "When the song was wrriten, I realised that people would understand what I have been through, and my power to go on. I wished Thanks for Leaving to be my first single after the hiatus, and I`m very happy about it. I'm of course glad that I could express all those feelings and emotions through the song and the music video.[23][24]" ”

Alexandra then released Cherry Pop and the accompanying music video on 28 May 2014. The song went number one on the iTunes dance chart in Japan within 2 hours.[25] It was directed by Khaled Mokhtar. The song entered the Japanese chart, where it stayed one week at No.64, while in Romania logging the No.71 in its third and last week. Her third single Dance was released 18 July 2014, it reached number one on the iTunes dance chart. The music video was filmed in three places in Bucharest. The choreography is by Emil Rengle.[26] On 21 August, she released the fourth single Give Me Your Everything and the cover of her album Unlocked.[27] The album contains 13 songs and two remixes and was released firstly only in Japan, where it sold in million of shipments, just few days after its release. Its release internationally was on 25 November. On 28 September, Stan started her "Unlocked-Tour" in Japan and Turkey where she performed in the tour's second day on the famous Japanese Girls Awards in Tokyo.[28] "Vanilla Chocolat" featuring rapper Connect-R was released on November, 5. The song is accompanyated by a selfie-video, showing Stan singing the song at different events. She sung Cher's single Strong Enough, translated in Catalan, for the Spanish event, called "La Marató", which collects annual money for reliable causes,[29] and she was an honor guest on the also Spanish carnival "Las Palmas.

“ "The public was truly amazing. It was evident, that the people comed here to have fun. They sung and danced with me. I've seen only people full of creativity and colour and I'm very happy that they have choosed me as their main act.”[30] ”

Discography

Studio albums

Re-issues

Tours

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2011 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards "Best Romanian Act" Alexandra Stan Won
"Best European Act" Alexandra Stan Nominated
Romanian Music Awards[34] "Best Song" Mr. Saxobeat Won
"Best Dance-Song" Mr. Saxobeat Nominated
"Border Breaker" Alexandra Stan Won
"Best Female" Alexandra Stan Nominated
"World Top DJs Awards" "Middle East's Most Favorite" Alexandra Stan Won
"European Border Breakers Award[35] "European Border Breakers Award" Alexandra Stan Won
Los Premios 40 Principales 2011 Best International Song Mr. Saxobeat Nominated
2012 RRA Awards "Best Pop-Dance Song" Get Back (ASAP) Won
Balkan Music Awards[36] "Best World Breakthrough of an Balkan Artist" Alexandra Stan Won
Romanian Music Awards[37] "Best Female" Alexandra Stan Won
"Best Album" Saxobeats Nominated
2013 27th Japan Gold Disc Award[38] "Best 3 New Artists International" Alexandra Stan Won

References

  1. ↑ allmusic.com Alexandra Stan profile
  2. ↑ http://dance.fusion.fm/news/2013/10/alexandra-stan-taking-break/
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ http://www.radio21.ro/muzica/stiri-din-muzica/alexandra-stan-in-topul-incasarilor-credidam
  5. ↑ "Artist | Alexandra Stan". alexandrastan.ro. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Scris de Valy (15 November 2010). "Making of "Mr. Saxobeat" video". Urban.ro. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  7. ↑ "Video | Alexandra Stan – Part 3". alexandrastan.ro. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Top 29 piese romanesti (saptamana 8 – 14 noiembrie)" (in Dutch). urban.ro. 16 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Saxobeats - Alexandra Stan - empik.com". Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "L'ALBUM DI ALEXANDRA STAN SARA' IN TUTTI I MIGLIORI NEGOZI DI DISCHI DAL 27 SETTEMBRE 2011!!!!". Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  11. ↑ Monden: Alexandra Stan si a lansat single ul 1000000 in premiera la Pro FM » Monitorul de Suceava – Joi, 6 Octombrie 2011. Monitorulsv.ro (6 October 2011). Retrieved on 10 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Top 50 Singles Chart – Australian Record Industry Association". Ariacharts.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  13. ↑ "Top 50 Canciones – Week 21, 2011" (PDF) (in Spanish). PROMUSICAE. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  14. ↑ "Certificeringer | ifpi.dk" (in Danish). IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  15. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar – Vecka 27". Sverigetopplistan. GLF. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  16. ↑ "FIMI certifications" (PDF). fimi (in Italian). FIMI Italy. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  17. ↑ http://www.tape.tv/follow-your-instinct/videos/baby-its-ok
  18. ↑ https://twitter.com/StanAlexandra?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fde.musicplayon.com%2Fplay%3Fv%3D904033&profile_id=205846939&tw_i=346213528211976192&tw_p=embeddedtimeline&tw_w=344777804258349056/
  19. ↑ http://www.mediafax.ro/life-inedit/alexandra-stan-desfigurata-dupa-ce-ar-fi-fost-batuta-de-manager-foto-10977576
  20. ↑ http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/alexandra-stan-il-acuza-pe-marcel-prodan-de-santaj-in-plangerea-depusa-la-parchetul-din-constanta.html
  21. ↑ http://www.click.ro/vedete/romanesti/alexanndra-stan-audiata- spital_0_1635436453.html#
  22. ↑ http://www.realitatea.net/alexandra-stan-data-in-judecata-de-marcel-prodan_1374591.html
  23. ↑ http://www.libertatea.ro/detalii/articol/alexandra-stan-videoclip-thanks-for-leaving-490403.html
  24. ↑ http://www.click.ro/comunitate/romanesti/video-revenire-forta-cat-de-bine-arata-alexandra-stan-noul-ei-videoclip
  25. ↑ http://eurodance4ever.blogspot.de/2014/06/alexandra-stan-hits-japan-market.html
  26. ↑ http://www.hitfire.eu/blog/news/321/videopremiere-alexandra-stan-mit-ihrer-naechsten-single-dance/
  27. ↑
  28. ↑ http://www.facebook.com/AlexandraStanTheArtist/photos/a.1433668020194049.1073741828.1432222547005263/1619919801568869/?type=1&theater/
  29. ↑ http://www.ccma.cat/tv3/alacarta/La-Marato-de-TV3/Alexandra-Stan-interpretant-Soc-forta-per-a-La-Marato-de-TV3/video/5396956/
  30. ↑ http://www.radio21.ro/zona-de-distractie/alexandra-stan-invitat-de-onoare-la-carnavalul-las-palmas-din-spania/
  31. ↑ "Cherry Pop Tour".
  32. ↑ "Unlocked Tour Japan".
  33. ↑ "Unlocked Promo Tour Turkey".
  34. ↑ http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Music_Awards_2011
  35. ↑ "Another Border Breaker...". Alexandra Stan's Official Page. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  36. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkan_Music_Awards
  37. ↑ <http://1music.ro/news/afla-ce-au-votat-peste-1-milion-de-oameni-la-rma-2012/
  38. ↑ http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/data/gdisc/2013.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexandra Stan.
Awards
Preceded by
Inna		 MTV Europe Music Awards winner
2011
Served alongside: Best Romania Act		 Succeeded by
Vunk
Preceded by
Inna		 EBBA winner
2012
Served alongside: Romania		 Succeeded by
Unsurpassed