(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 in March 1985, by Virgin Records, and was a major chart hit in Europe, reaching number one in multiple countries. It remains Sandra's signature song.

"(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena"
Cover of the original 1985 release
Single by Sandra
from the album The Long Play
B-side"Party Games (instrumental)"
ReleasedMarch 1985
Recorded1985
Genre
Length3:58
5:55 (album version)
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Cretu
Sandra singles chronology
"Japan ist weit"
(1984)		 "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena"
(1985)		 "In the Heat of the Night"
(1985)
"Johnny Wanna Live"
(1992)
"Maria Magdalena"
(1993)
"Nights in White Satin"
(1995)
Alternative cover
Cover of the 1993 re-release
Music video
"(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" on YouTube

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 idea[1] and came up when a name with seven syllables was needed for the chorus. Only the German version of the name would suffice, though, „Mary Magdalene“ has five. Kemmler also provided backing vocals on this recording and a number of Sandra's subsequent songs.

The song was first released in March 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 in Greece, where it topped the singles chart. Returning tourists requested the song at home, and it eventually reached number one on the official 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 and Finland. It also reached number 1 on the airplay chart in Germany[2] as well as the top 5 in Austria[3] and the Netherlands.[4] In the pan-European charts, it was a top 10 and a top 20 hit on the airplay and sales charts, respectively.[5][6] The song was also a popular radio hit song in Brazil, the Middle East, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe.

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.[7] In 1999, another remix of the song was released only in France as a promotional single in support of her compilation album My Favourites. The track was remixed 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, a percussionist and a keyboardist. 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 in 1987 and 1992, respectively,[8][9] as well as the 2003 DVD The Complete History.[10]

The industrial style video for the 1993 version was directed by Marcus Adams, and was also released on The Complete History DVD.[10]

Track listing and formats
  • 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
  1. "Maria Magdalena" (Radio Edit) – 3:58
  2. "Maria Magdalena" (Clubmix) – 6:01
  3. "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

Certifications and sales
Region Certification
France (SNEP)[36] Silver
Germany (BVMI)[37] Gold

Cover versions
  • The song was covered by Belgian singer Wendy Van Wanten on her 1994 album Blijf nog 1 nacht.
  • Spanish singer Soraya Arnelas recorded a cover of the song on her 2007 album Dolce Vita.
  • Metal band Visions of Atlantis released their cover in 2011.[38]
  • In 2013, the song was covered by German singer Sarah Carina.[39]

References
  1. "SANDRA". sandranet.com. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  2. "European Playlist Reports" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 39. Amsterdam. 30 September 1985. p. 4. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  3. "European Playlist Reports" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 38. Amsterdam. 23 September 1985. p. 4. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  4. "European Playlist Reports" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 43. Amsterdam. 28 October 1985. p. 8. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  5. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 42. Amsterdam. 21 October 1985. p. 10. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  6. "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 44. 4 November 1985. p. 12. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 3 March 2020 – via World Radio History.
  7. "Maria Magdalena - Sandra". allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  8. "Ten on One (The Video)". sandranet.com. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  9. "18 Greatest Hits (The Video)". sandranet.com. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  10. "Sandra - The Complete History (DVD, DVD-Video, PAL, Compilation, Stereo)". discogs.com. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  11. "Austriancharts.at – Sandra – (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  12. "Ultratop.be – Sandra – (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  13. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 40. 7 October 1985. p. 7. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 3 March 2020 – via World Radio History.
  14. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 3 no. 2. 13 January 1986. p. 16. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 3 March 2020 – via World Radio History.
  15. "Lescharts.com – Sandra – (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  16. "Hits of the World — Italy". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 26 October 1985. p. 74. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Sandra" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sandra – (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  19. "Norwegiancharts.com – Sandra – (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena". VG-lista. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  20. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts S". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  21. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  22. "Swedishcharts.com – Sandra – (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  23. "Swisscharts.com – Sandra – (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 08 June 1986 – 14 June 1986". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sandra – (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  26. "Danish Singles Chart". B.T. Copenhagen. 19 March 1993.
  27. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 20. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 3 March 2020 – via World Radio History.
  28. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1985". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  29. "Jaaroverzichten 1985 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  30. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1985" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  31. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  33. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  34. "European Hot 100 Singles – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3 no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 28. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 30 April 2020 – via American Radio History.
  35. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1986". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  36. "InfoDisc : Les Certifications Officielles des 45 T. / Singles / Titres (Depuis 1073)" (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  37. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank" (in German). musikindustrie.de. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  38. "Visions of Atlantis Maria Magdalena CD". napalmrecords.com. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  39. "Sarah Carina - (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" (in German). germancharts.de. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
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