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Europop refers to a style of pop music that first developed in today's form in Europe, throughout the late 1970s. Europop topped the charts throughout the 1980s and '90s. Some Europop stars came from France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands and United Kingdom; but most^{[citation needed]} were Swedish in origin.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, such groups were primarily popular in continental countries, with the exception of ABBA (1972 - 1983); the Swedish four-piece band achieved great success in the UK, where they scored nineteen top 10 singles and nine chart-topping albums, and in North America and Australia.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Roxette and Ace of Base led Europop in American and British mainstream audiences. In the 1990s, pop groups like the Spice Girls, Aqua, Backstreet Boys and singer DJ BoBo were strongly influenced by Europop. In the 2000s, one of the most popular representatives of Europop music is Swedish pop group Alcazar.

One of the main differences between American and European pop is that Europop is generally more dance and trance oriented. In central Europe Italo disco (a.k.a. '80s Eurodisco) and Euro house (a.k.a. ’90s Eurodance) (later) are the predominant attempts by young musicians to have a hit record in and beyond the borders of their own country.

[edit] See also

• Europop (album)
• Euro disco
• Eurodance
• Eurobeat
• Italo disco
• Vocal trance

[edit] References

• Paul Simpson: The Rough Guide to Cult Pop: The Songs, the Artists, the Genres, the Dubious Fashions. Rough Guides 2003, ISBN 1-84353-229-8, p. 56 (restricted online version (Google Books))
• Europop - entry at the Encyclopædia Britannica

This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (January 2007)

Jessica Folcker born July 9, 1975, is a Swedish singer.

[edit] Biography

Folcker was born as Jessica Elisabeth Angelique Folcker in Täby, a Stockholm suburb, on July 9, 1975. Her mother is Swedish and her father is from Senegal.

Jessica attended a music school for six years until she was 17. Her big dream of becoming a singer, was fulfilled when she was engaged as a backing singer for the Ace of Base and Dr. Alban. She also performed the chorus in Leila K's hit "Electric" and did background vocals for E-Type.

In 1994 Jessica was selected to represent Stockholm in the Miss Sweden competition.^{[citation needed]}

On Jessica's debut album, named simply Jessica and released in the autumn 1998, she worked with composer and producer Max Martin, known for having written Britney Spears' Baby One More Time. The album was an instant hit, and Jessica became an international star overnight. As a result, Jessica travelled to Asia for a six week long promotional tour across Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, resulting in high sales in the region, including selling gold. In South Korea, her remake of David Foster classic Goodbye was used as the theme ballad for the movie A Promise, and rapidly became the most frequently played song on South Korean radio.

In Sweden, Jessica peaked the top of the single charts with two singles from the album; How Will I Know Who You Are and Tell Me What You like, both selling platinum. She also won two prizes at the awards show of Sweden's major pop radio station, NRJ: New Artist of the Year as well as Swedish Female Artist of the Year. No artist before her had won more than one award until then.

In 2000, two years after releasing her debut album, Jessica Folcker's second album came out, called Dino, nicknamed after one of her producers. Besides Europe and Asia, Jessica wanted to conquer the USA as well this time around. However, since many Americans pronounced her surname similar to "fucker", she decided to change her name to Folker instead, without the c. Jessica's first single from the album, To Be Able To Love, became a minor hit in the states thanks to a remix by DJ Jonathan Peters, and soon Jessica went on a club tour to New York and New Jersey.

Another of Jessica Folcker's songs - Lost Without Your Love - once again became the theme tune of another Korean film, Indian Summer. Again, Jessica reached the top of the South Korean airplay chart. In April 2001, Jessica's song Miracles was chosen as the theme melody for the Dutch Fame Academy replica, Starmaker. Due to this, she decided to release the song as her second single from the album, her sixth in total.

Jessica debuted in the Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. In Melodifestivalen 2005, she performed Om natten. 2006 she tried again, participating in the third semi final heat of Melodifestivalen 2006 on March 4 with the song When Love's Comin' Back Again. She failed, however, to qualify for the semi final.

[edit] Comeback 2007

Jessica worked in the studio on her fourth album since 2006. After being at several labels she is now signed to the Indie Label Cosmos Records. The album was released in 2007 under the title Skin Close and had an Electronic/80's Pop-sound. It was her first English-record since 2000. The only song of the record that was released as a single was Snowflakes. The album failed to make an impact on the public.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

• 1998: Tell Me What You Like
• 1998: How Will I Know (Who You Are)
• 1998: I Do
• 1999: Tell Me Why
• 1999: Goodbye
• 2000: To Be Able To Love
• 2000: Crash Like A Wrecking Ball
• 2000: Miracles
• 2000: Trehundra Dar (Blues featuring Jessica Folcker)
• 2001: Lost Without Your Love
• 2002: (Crack It!) Something Goin' On (Bomfunk MCs featuring Jessica Folcker)
• 2005: Du Kunde Ha Varit Med Mig
• 2005: Om Natten
• 2005: Vad Gör Jag Nu
• 2005: En Annan Sång
• 2006: When Love's Comin' Back Again
• 2007: Snowflakes
• 2007: Hot Night

[edit] Studio albums

• 1998: Jessica
• 2000: Dino
• 2005: På Svenska
• 2007: Skin Close

[edit] See also

• Melodifestivalen 2005 (semifinals)
• Melodifestivalen 2006 (semifinals)

[edit] External links

• Jessica Folcker fan site
• Myspace site
• Jessica Folcker - Booking and events