(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena

1985 song by Sandra Cretu June 2023 (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena.jpg Cover of the original 1985 release single Sandra The Long Play "Party Games" (instrumental) 15 July 1985 3:58 (7-inch single version) 7:07 (12-inch single version) 5:58 (album version) Virgin Hubert Kemmler Markus Löhr Michael Cretu Richard Palmer-James Michael Cretu Japan ist weit 1984 In the Heat of the Night 1985 single Johnny Wanna Live 1992 Maria Magdalena 1993 Nights in White Satin 1995 single Maria_Magdalena_93.jpg Cover of the 1993 re-release qwrrpBc7xWA "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena", also known simply as "Maria Magdalena", is a song recorded by German singer Sandra for her debut studio album The Long Play (1985). The song, written by Hubert Kemmler, Markus Löhr, Michael Cretu and Richard Palmer-James, was released as the lead single from The Long Play on 15 July 1985 by Virgin Records, and was a major chart hit in Europe, reaching number one in nine countries. It remains Sandra's signature song. Background and release The song was composed by Hubert Kemmler, Markus Löhr and Michael Cretu. Cretu also arranged and produced the song. The lyrics were written by Richard Palmer-James. The allusion to the biblical figure Mary Magdalene was Kemmler's ideahttp://www.sandranet.com/sandra/lauer.htm SANDRA sandranet.com 26 May 2019 2 June 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190602130930/http://www.sandranet.com/sandra/lauer.htm dead and came up when a name with seven syllables was needed for the chorus. However, only the German version of the name would be fit, because in English "Mary Magdalene" has six syllables. Kemmler also provided co-lead vocals on this recording and on a number of Sandra's subsequent songs. The song was first released on 15 July 1985 as the lead single from Sandra's debut album, The Long Play. It was her third single as a solo artist, but the first solo single to be released internationally. Initially unsuccessful in its bid to gain radio play, the label targeted DJs in Greece and their tourist audiences next, and the song subsequently became a big hit there, where it topped the singles chart. Returning tourists requested the song at home, and it eventually reached number one on the West German singles chart for four consecutive weeks, between 13 September and 4 October 1985. The single then peaked at number one in Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Finland. It also reached number one on the airplay chart in West Germany30 September 1985 European Playlist Reports https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1985/M&M-1985-09-30.pdf Eurotipsheet Amsterdam 2 39 4 26 May 2019 as well as the top five in Austria.23 September 1985 European Playlist Reports https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1985/M&M-1985-09-23.pdf Eurotipsheet Amsterdam 2 38 4 13 June 2019 On the pan-European charts, it was a top-10 and a top-20 hit on the airplay and sales charts, respectively.21 October 1985 European Airplay Top 50 https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1985/M&M-1985-10-21.pdf Eurotipsheet Amsterdam 2 42 10 13 June 2019https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1985/M&M-1985-11-04.pdf European Top 100 Singles Eurotipsheet 2 44 4 November 1985 12 29800226 3 March 2020 World Radio History Remixes and samples In 1993 the same background music in the song "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" was used for the song "Vino noći", which was performed by the Croatian singer Neno Belan, the lead vocalist of the band Đavoli. The song was re-released in a remixed version as a standalone single in 1993, but was not commercially successful, though it reached the top ten in Finland and the top twenty in Denmark. Music website AllMusic retrospectively rated it 2.5 out of 5 stars.https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0001013947 Maria Magdalena - Sandra 14 September 2012 AllMusic In 1999, another remix of the song was released only in France as a promotional single in support of Sandra's compilation album My Favourites. The track was interpolated again for her remix album Reflections (2006), and the original version was later sampled in the song "Kings & Queens" on her tenth album Stay in Touch (2012). Music videos A simple performance music video was filmed in 1985, which presents Sandra accompanied by a bassist/backing vocalist Peter Ries, a drummer Wolfgang Filz and a keyboardist Frank Peterson. It was directed by Mike Leckebusch. The music video was released on Sandra's VHS video compilations Ten on One (The Singles) and 18 Greatest Hits, released respectively in 1987 and 1992,http://www.sandranet.com/sandra/discography/tenononevhs.htm Ten on One (The Video) sandranet.com 24 May 2019 15 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211015233800/http://www.sandranet.com/sandra/discography/tenononevhs.htm dead http://www.sandranet.com/sandra/discography/18greatestvhs.htm 18 Greatest Hits (The Video) sandranet.com 24 May 2019 6 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190506061322/http://www.sandranet.com/sandra/discography/18greatestvhs.htm dead as well as the 2003 DVD The Complete History.https://www.discogs.com/Sandra-The-Complete-History/release/453563 Sandra - The Complete History (DVD, DVD-Video, PAL, Compilation, Stereo) 8 September 2003 discogs.com 24 May 2019 The industrial style video for the 1993 version was directed by Marcus Adams, and was also released on The Complete History DVD. Track listings 7-inch vinyl single A. "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" – 3:58 B. "Party Games" (instrumental) – 3:25 12-inch vinyl single A. "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" – 7:13 B. "Party Games" (instrumental) – 3:25 CD maxi-single (1993) "Maria Magdalena" (radio edit) – 3:58 "Maria Magdalena" (clubmix) – 6:01 "Maria Magdalena" (original version) – 3:58 12-inch vinyl single (1993) A. "Maria Magdalena" (clubmix) – 6:01 B. "Maria Magdalena" (Vega Sicilia mix) – 5:36 12-inch vinyl single (1999) A. "Maria Magdalena" (original version) – 3:58 B. "Maria Magdalena" (99 remix) – 3:59 Charts Weekly charts Original version Chart (1985–1986) PeakpositionAustria 1 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena true 3 March 2020Flanders 3 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena true 3 March 2020 Denmark (Tracklisten)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1985/M&M-1985-10-07.pdf Top 3 in Europe Eurotipsheet 2 40 7 October 1985 7 29800226 3 March 2020 World Radio History 3 Europe (European Top 100 Singles) 13 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-01-13.pdf Top 3 in Europe Eurotipsheet 3 2 13 January 1986 16 29800226 3 March 2020 World Radio History 1France 5 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena true 3 March 2020 Greece (IFPI) 1 Italy (Musica e dischi)26 October 1985 Hits of the World — Italy https://books.google.com/books?id=QyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT73 Billboard Nielsen Business Media 74 0006-2510 23 July 2020 2Dutch40 1 Sandra true 3 March 2020Dutch100 2 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena true 3 March 2020Norway 1 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena true 3 March 2020 Portugal (AFP)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/MM-1986-01-06.pdf Top 10 Sales in Europe Music & Media 3 1 6 January 1986 13 29800226 5 August 2021 World Radio History 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(S).html SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts S The South African Rock Encyclopedia 22 October 2015 2 Spain (AFYVE)Salaverrie Fernando September 2005 Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 es 1st Madrid Fundación Autor/SGAE 84-8048-639-2 2Sweden 1 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena true 3 March 2020Switzerland 1 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena true 3 March 2020 UK Singles (Official Charts)https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19860608/7501/ Official Singles Chart Top 100: 08 June 1986 – 14 June 1986 officialcharts.com 17 May 2019 87West Germany 1 1309 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena true 3 March 2020 "ger" Remix version Chart (1993) Peakposition Denmark (Tracklisten)Danish Singles Chart B.T. Copenhagen 19 March 1993 15 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-04-03.pdf Top 10 Sales in Europe Music & Media 10 14 3 April 1993 20 29800226 3 March 2020 World Radio History 8 Year-end charts Chart (1985) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1985 Jahreshitparade Singles 1985 austriancharts.at de 26 May 2019 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1985&cat=s Jaaroverzichten 1985 – Singles nl Ultratop 3 March 2020 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1985 Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985 nl Dutch Top 40 3 March 2020 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100)https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1985&cat=s Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985 dutchcharts.nl nl 26 May 2019 18 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1985 Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985 hitparade.ch de 3 March 2020 10 West Germany (Media Control)https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1985 Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1985 de Offizielle Deutsche Charts 22 December 2015 5 Chart (1986) Position Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-12-27.pdf European Hot 100 Singles – Hot 100 of the Year 1986 Music & Media 3 51/52 27 December 1986 28 29800226 30 April 2020 American Radio History 70 South Africa (Springbok Radio)http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1986.html Top 20 Hit Singles of 1986 The South African Rock Encyclopedia 3 March 2020 13 Certifications Certifications for "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" France 1985 1985 Sandra (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena Silver single 5 January 2022 infodisc Germany 1985 1985 Sandra Maria Magdalena Gold single 5 January 2022 References External links "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" at Discogs The official Sandra YouTube channel Category:1985 singles Category:1985 songs Category:1993 singles Category:Cultural depictions of Mary Magdalene Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles Category:Music videos directed by Marcus Adams Category:Number-one singles in Austria Category:Number-one singles in Finland Category:Number-one singles in Germany Category:Number-one singles in Greece Category:Number-one singles in Norway Category:Number-one singles in Sweden Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland Category:Sandra (singer) songs Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Cretu Category:Songs written by Hubert Kemmler Category:Songs written by Markus Löhr Category:Songs written by Michael Cretu Category:Songs written by Richard Palmer-James Category:Virgin Records singles