Club Bizarre

"Club Bizarre" is a song performed by the German musical project U96, created by record producer Alex Christensen. It was released in February 1995 by labels Guppy and Motor as the second track from the album of the same name (1995), which was U96's third album. "Club Bizarre" was co-written by Christensen with Helmut Hoinkis, Ingo Hauss, Hayo Panarinfo and he also co-produced it. It features vocals by singer Skadi Lange and a sample from Alannah Myles' 1992 song "Song Instead of a Kiss". "Club Bizarre" peaked at number one in Finland as well as becoming a top-20 hit in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. Its accompanying music video was directed by Paul Morgans. In 2001, Brooklyn Bounce released a cover version of the song, which also became a European hit.

"Club Bizarre"
Single by U96
from the album Club Bizarre
B-side	"Remix"
Released	17 February 1995
Recorded	1994
Genre	Eurodance[1] trance[2]
Length	5:00
Label	Guppy Motor
Songwriter(s)	Helmut Hoinkis Alex Christensen Ingo Hauss Hayo Panarinfo
Producer(s)	Matiz Alex Christensen
U96 singles chronology
"Love Religion" (1994) "Club Bizarre" (1995) "Heaven" (1996)
Music video
"Club Bizarre" on YouTube

Critical reception

In his review of the Club Bizarre album, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine said the song "shows it successfully trying smoother keyboard sounds that complement the simple, but cute hooks anchoring each cut."^[3] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "So unlike anybody else in Euro, the childlike songstress, the melody and the airy sample from Alannah Myles' 'Song Instead of a Kiss' add up to music that's a new nursery rhyme for '90s kids."^[1] Head of music Bernd Albrecht by German radio station ORB Fritz/Potsdam enthused, "What a classic melody. You can hear at once that this song stands out off the whole Euro pack."^[1] In his 2020 book Move Your Body (2 The 90's): Unlimited Eurodance, Juha Soininen commented, "It mixed strangely ethereal trance sound and strings and added filtered vocals. In addition to that, it was released with a weird music video."^[2]

Chart performance

"Club Bizarre" was a major hit in several European countries, peaking at number-one in Finland. It became a top-20 hit in Austria (14), Germany (19), the Netherlands (11) and Sweden (16). Additionally, the single was a top-30 hit in Belgium (30), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number 28 in April 1995, in its fourth week on the chart.^[4] On the European Dance Radio Chart, it reached number eleven four weeks later, becoming the eleventh most-played dance song on European radio that week.^[5] In the United Kingdom, "Club Bizarre" was a smaller hit, peaking at number 70, but on the UK Dance Singles Chart, it reached number 25 on its first week in June 1996.^[6][7] Outside Europe, the song charted in Israel, peaking at number 16.

Music video

The music video for "Club Bizarre" was directed by Paul Morgans.^[8] The video includes Skadi Lange as the female singer in a cage and also features performance artists on stilts.^[9]

Track listings

CD single "Club Bizarre" (airplay version) — 5:00 "Club Bizarre" (club mix) — 5:15 CD maxi / 12" maxi "Club Bizarre" (airplay version) — 5:00 "Club Bizarre" (club mix) — 5:13 "Club Bizarre" (helium mix) — 4:54 "Club Bizarre" (bizarre) — 5:10 12" maxi - UK "Club Bizarre" (the Candy Girl mix) — 6:10 "Club Bizarre" (extended mix) — 6:28 "Club Bizarre" (club mix) — 5:14 "Club Bizarre" (Ken Doh mix) — 6:25 "Club Bizarre" (acid dub mix) — 5:14 "Club Bizarre" (acido mix) — 5:14

12" maxi - Remixes / CD maxi - Remixes "Club Bizarre" (Mandala remix) — 5:23 "Club Bizarre" (Perplexer remix) — 5:17 "Club Bizarre" (DJ Tom and Norman remix) — 4:45 "Club Bizarre" (Steve Baltes remix) — 4:58

Credits

• Artwork by H. Hoffman
• Sleeve design by D. Rudolph
• Produced by Matiz and AC 16

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 37 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10] 30 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] 28 Europe (European Dance Radio)[5] 11 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 1 France (SNEP)[10] 44 Germany (Media Control Charts)[12] 19 Israel (IBA) 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 11 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 12 Scotland (OCC)[15] 68 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 16 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] 32 UK Singles (OCC)[16] 70 UK Dance (OCC)[7] 25

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 86 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 95

Brooklyn Bounce version

"Club Bizarre"
Single by Brooklyn Bounce
from the album Restart
B-side	"Remix"
Released	5 November 2001
Recorded	2000
Genre	Progressive house, progressive electronic dance music
Length	3:46
Label	Epic, Dance Division
Songwriter(s)	Helmut Hoinkis, Alex Christensen, Ingo Hauss, Hayo Panarinfo
Producer(s)	Dennis Bohn, Matthias Menck
Brooklyn Bounce singles chronology
"Loud & Proud" (2001) "Club Bizarre" (2001) "Loud & Proud" (2002)

German house music duo Brooklyn Bounce covered the song on its 2001 album, Restart. The song was released the same year and achieved some success, particularly in Austria and the Netherlands where it was a top ten hit.

Track listing

• CD single

1. "Club Bizarre" (single edit) — 3:46
2. "Club Bizarre" (DJs @ work remix) — 6:33
3. "Club Bizarre" (Headhunterz & Noisecontrollers RMX)

• CD maxi

1. "Club Bizarre" (single edit) — 3:46
2. "Club Bizarre" (club mix) — 7:39
3. "Club Bizarre (reprise) — 2:10
4. "Club Bizarre (classic mix) — 3:53
5. "Superassbassmother" — 6:32

• 12" maxi

1. "Club Bizarre" (DJs @ work remix) — 6:33
2. "Club Bizarre" (club mix) — 7:39
3. "Club Bizarre" (DJ Scot Project remix) — 8:55
4. "Club Bizarre" (Tomcraft remix) — 7:02

Credits

Brooklyn Bounce version

• Produced by Dennis "Bonebreaker" Bohn and Matthias "Double M" Menck
• Recorded by Christoph Brüx
• Recorded, arranged, mixed, engineered, performed by Dennis "Bonebreaker" Bohn, Matthias "Double M" Menck and Christoph Brüx
• Vocals by Alexandra Cuevas-Moreno and Ulrica Bohn

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001–02) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 9 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 16 Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 20 Germany (Media Control Charts)[19] 12 Hungary (Mahasz) 14 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 3 Spain (AFYVE)[22] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 41

Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 56 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 31