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Rozalla
The Argos version of Desree, Zambian born Rozalla moved to London in 1988 after playing with a band while growing up in her native country. Apparently, she's known as the "Queen of Rave" and is a national treasure. In Zimbawe, obviously.
In 1991, in the wake of the Dance Music boom of the early-mid nineties, Rozalla's anthem "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" was a UK Top 10 hit. It might not be the last time it's mentioned here. The parent album "Everybody's Free" went modestly silver, and there were more singles - "Are You Ready To Fly" and "Faith (In The Power of Love)" went Top 20. Rozalla also toured with Michael Jackson on his "Dangerous" tour, as many did back in the day.
The many faces of Rozalla. All of them hitless.
Hmmm. Rozalla's second album
didn't appear until 1995 which doesn't bode well (what's known in the
business as "doing a Neneh Cherry"), but the gap was padded out with the
"Everybody's Free" Remix album. In 1999, bits of "Everybody's Free" were used by conceptual trickster Baz Lurhmann on his number 1 single "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)".
Lots of versions of "Everybody's Free", yesterday.
In 2002, Rozalla decided that what the world really, REALLY needed was a new version of "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)". So she teamed up with Aquagen, re-recorded the vocals and had a surprise hit. In Germany. They buy anything there. In 2003 she collaborated with
Plastic Boy on a track called "Live Another Life" and had a minor UK hit. She's also apparently done recent covers of "Dancing Queen" and "Diamonds are Forever" but no-one cared. She'll do them live and people will say "when are you going to do that one about being free to feel good?"
This sexy Best Of features "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" and all the hits. There's a ropey cover of "Losing My Religion" by REM on it, of which one Amazon reviewer comments "There's no reason why this underwhelming song even exists." Her debut album is also available for 15p if you want it.
"When visualizing the house, rave and club/dance music culture one would not immediately identify it with a raven-haired beauty from Africa" says her website, www.rozalla.com. It's right.
Rozalla, today. Oi, love! We can see yer tits in that!
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