Marie-José van der Kolk, better known by her stage name Loona, hails from the picturesque Dutch town of IJmuiden, Netherlands. Her journey to stardom began with a passion for dance, theatre, and music that led her to pursue professional training in the arts. In the early 1990s, seeking new experiences, she decided to spend the summer working in Mallorca. Little did she know that this summer job would mark the start of a remarkable musical career.
On the island, Marie met DJ Sammy, a producer and DJ who shared her love for music. The two began collaborating, merging their talents and creativity to explore new musical ideas. Their early work leaned towards classical dance and techno, captivating audiences and laying the foundation for what would soon become a successful partnership.
Loona first rose to prominence in 1996, when she and DJ Sammy released dance hits like “Life Is Just a Game” and “You Are My Angel.” These tracks introduced their style to the European dance music scene, but it was in 1998 that the real breakthrough came. Marie adopted the stage name Loona, and the duo released the summer anthem “Bailando,” which became a massive hit. The song spent eight weeks at number one in Germany, topped the charts in Switzerland, and garnered numerous gold, platinum, and double platinum awards across Europe. This success earned Loona the prestigious ECHO Award for “Best Dance Single.”
She followed up this triumph with another chart-topper, “Hijo de la Luna,” a powerful reinterpretation of the Mecano classic, recorded with the 40-piece Orquestra de la Luna. The ballad sold over 1.5 million copies, becoming the most successful Spanish-language single in the history of the German charts. Her momentum continued with the release of “Mamboleo” in 1999, which also earned an ECHO Award for “Best Dance Single.”
Throughout the early 2000s, Loona’s dance-pop hits, including “Latino Lover,” “Viva El Amor,” and “Rhythm of the Night,” solidified her place in the international music scene, with over 10 million records sold worldwide. Her singles charted not only in Europe but also in the USA, Asia, Australia, and South Africa. In 2001, “Viva El Amor” became a number one hit in Spain, while Loona continued her string of successes with “Sunlight” in 2002 and a dance cover of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” in 2003, which reached number one in the UK, Australia, and South Africa.
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