Dario G
{{Short description|UK musical group}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Dario G
| image = Dario G at the Big Weekend, Parker's Piece, Cambridge 2016 - geograph.org.uk - 5030576 (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 240px
| caption = Paul Spencer in 2016
| years_active = 1997–2024
| origin = Crewe, Cheshire, England
| label = Warner Bros, Mercury Records, Front of House
| genre = {{hlist|Dance|house|trance}}
| past_members = *Paul Spencer
- Scott Rosser
- Stephen Spencer
- Ingfrid Straumstøyl
}}
Dario G were an English dance music group formed in Cheshire, England, and consisted of three DJs and producers – Scott Rosser, Paul Spencer, and Stephen Spencer (no relation), and vocalist Ingfrid Straumstøyl. The group rose to prominence in the late 1990s following the release of their debut single "Sunchyme", which reached number two in the United Kingdom, Scotland, Denmark and Switzerland. It reached number one on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Charts,{{cite magazine |title=Dario G {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/dario-g/chart-history/hbu/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=19 June 2024}} as well as reaching number one in Hungary and the US Dance Club Songs Charts.{{cite magazine |title=Dario G {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/dario-g/chart-history/dsi/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=19 June 2024}}{{cite web |title=Music & Media - January 17, 1998 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-01-17.pdf |website=Music & Media |access-date=19 June 2024}}
The group released their debut album Sunmachine in 1998, and released a further two singles from the album – "Carnaval de Paris" and "Sunmachine". Following the release of the album, members Rosser and Stephen Spencer left to pursue other projects, leaving Paul Spencer to carry the Dario G name as a solo act.{{cite web |title='90s Music Star Dies of Rectal Cancer: Dario G Was 53 |url=https://popculture.com/music/news/90s-music-star-dies-of-rectal-cancer-dario-g-was-53/ |website=Music |access-date=19 June 2024 |language=en}} In 2000, Dario G recorded the song "Voices" which featured on the soundtrack to the 2000 movie The Beach.{{cite web |last1=Vuoncino |first1=Chris |title=Remembering the 10 most iconic tracks from Dario G |url=https://weraveyou.com/2024/06/dario-g-10-iconic-tracks/ |website=We Rave You |access-date=19 June 2024 |date=18 June 2024}}
In 2000, "Dream to Me" was released as the lead single from their second studio album In Full Colour, with Straumstøyl debuting on lead vocals. "Dream to Me" reached number one in Romania,{{cite web |title=2001 |url=http://www.rt100.ro/2001.html |access-date=19 June 2024 |date=9 December 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021209050311/http://www.rt100.ro/2001.html |archive-date=9 December 2002 }} and reached number four in Scotland,{{cite web |title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 28/1/2001 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20010128/41/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=19 June 2024 |language=en}} and nine in the United Kingdom and Germany.{{cite web |title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-4660 |website=www.offiziellecharts.de |access-date=19 June 2024}}{{cite web |title=Official Singles Chart on 28/1/2001 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20010128/7501/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=19 June 2024 |language=en}} Following a period of moderate success in various charts, Paul Spencer died in June 2024 following a diagnosis with stage four rectal cancer in 2023.{{cite web |title=Dario G, who made 90s dance anthem Sunchyme, dies aged 53 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy00dgr4yjvo |website=BBC News |access-date=19 June 2024 |date=17 June 2024}}
History
=Breakthrough (1997–2000)=
The group changed their name from Dario to Dario G after being threatened with legal action from an artist of the same name. Dario G was named after the then manager of Crewe Alexandra F.C., Dario Gradi, and the similarity to Gradi was not a complete coincidence.{{cite news |last1=Badshah |first1=Nadeem |title=Dance music producer Dario G known for No 2 hit Sunchyme dies at 53 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jun/17/dance-music-producer-dario-g-paul-spencer-sunchyme-dies-at-53 |access-date=18 June 2024 |agency=The Guardian |date=17 June 2024}} Paul Spencer also said they added the G in tribute to the American smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G.{{cite web |title=Dario G's Paul Spencer, electronic musician behind 'Sunchyme' and 'Carnaval de Paris', dies |url=https://djmag.com/news/dario-gs-paul-spencer-electronic-musician-behind-sunchyme-and-carnaval-de-paris-dies |website=DJ Mag |access-date=19 June 2024 |language=en |date=17 June 2024}} Rosser and Stephen Spencer later left to pursue other projects, leaving Paul Spencer to perform in a solo capacity under the Dario G name. In 1997, they reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart with "Sunchyme", a song built around a sample of "Life in a Northern Town", a number 15 hit for the Dream Academy in 1985. "Sunchyme" also hit number 1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Party chart. The single sold over 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom alone, earning it a Platinum certification from the BPI, {{cite web |title=Tears For Fears, Elememtal, Album |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/6370-2553-1 |website=BPI |access-date=19 June 2024 |language=en}} and was only kept from the top spot in the United Kingdom by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind", his 1997 tribute to Princess Diana. Internationally, "Sunchyme" sold over 1.5 million copies and was described as a "surprise" after the trio had initially hoped for "modest UK and Mediterranean success".{{cite web |title=DARIO G: Recording SunMachine |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/dario-g-recording-sunmachine |website=www.soundonsound.com |access-date=19 June 2024}} It was also nominated for the Brit Award for British Video of the Year at the 18th Brit Awards ceremony, eventually losing to "Never Ever" by All Saints.{{cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK {{!}} Nominations for 1998 Brit Awards |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/46902.stm |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=21 June 2024}}
After signing with Warner Bros Records, the group were under pressure from the record label in order to record and release a debut album. Initially, the working title for their debut album was Super Dario Land. Band member Scott said that "they got together a plan for one, to be called Super Dario Land, and for three or four weeks, we thought we'd go for it as well – we actually started work on it on the day after the commercial release of 'Sunchyme' went into the charts, in mid‑September." In 1998, they released their debut album, Sunmachine, with their second single peaking at number five in the United Kingdom, the football inspired "Carnaval de Paris" which was released to coincide with the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. The song has since become frequently used during football events worldwide and at international football tournaments. The group were keen to record an album which was different from "Sunchyme". Their record label at that time, Warner Bros, were said to have also expected their debut album to be based around the sound which lead to their breakthrough with the single. However, Paul Spencer recalled that "record companies like to cash in on a big hit. They think 'OK, these guys can probably get another sample together quickly and churn out another record that sounds like the first one'". He also recalled that "Warners did that with us too, at first, but we didn't want to do lots of little soundalike follow‑ups, we have got more depth than that".
Following the release of Sunmachine, Scott Roser and Stephen Spencer left in order to pursue other projects, leaving Paul Spencer to continue as a solo artist under the Dario G name. In March 2000, their third single, "Voices", featuring vocals from Vanessa Quiñones and produced by Peter Oxendale, was used for the film The Beach.
=''In Full Colour'' (2000–2006)=
In 2000, Dario G released "Dream to Me", with Straumstøyl making her debut as lead vocalist, which is based on the song "Dreams" by the Cranberries. "Dream to Me" reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart and number 9 in Germany. The release of "Dream to Me" is said to have "solidified his reputation as a master of euphoric dance music".{{cite web |title=Dario G passed away |url=https://maxazine.com/2024/06/18/dario-g-passed-away/ |website=Maxazine.com |access-date=19 June 2024}} November 2001 saw their next release, "Say What's on Your Mind". The song had club mixes from Almighty Records and Stonebridge. In early 2003, Dario G released "Heaven Is Closer (Feels Like Heaven)", being the second song with Straumstøyl on lead vocals, which is a remake of the 1980s hit "(Feels Like) Heaven" by Fiction Factory. It reached number 39 on the UK Singles Chart. Dario G released their second album, In Full Colour, in 2001.
A new version of "Carnaval de Paris" was released in 2002, for the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.{{cite web |title=Dario G, 'Sunchyme' and 'Carnaval de Paris' hitmaker, has died aged 53 |url=https://mixmag.net/amp/278117 |website=mixmag.net |access-date=19 June 2024}} A new single, "Ring of Fire", was promoted throughout Europe in 2006. It borrowed the main trumpet melody from the Johnny Cash recording of the same name. The single itself was released in September 2006.
=Further projects (2006–2023)=
In 2010, Dario G recorded a new song, "Game On", along with rapper Pitbull, for the Official FIFA 2010 World Cup soundtrack. On 23 February 2014, Dario G's single "We Got Music" was released. The song featured Shirley Bassey and got its first play on BBC Radio 2 on The Paul O'Grady Show.
=Spencer's health and death (2023–2024)=
In June 2023, Paul Spencer announced that he had been diagnosed with stage IV rectal cancer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1783354/90s-pop-Dario-G-stage-4-cancer-diagnosis|title=90s pop icon Dario G diagnosed with stage four cancer|first=Kathryn|last=Ingate|date=22 June 2023|website=Express.co.uk|access-date=22 June 2023}} He died on 17 June 2024, at the age of 53.{{Cite web|url=https://crewe.nub.news/news/local-news/famous-crewe-musician-paul-spencer-dies-aged-53-232619|title=Famous Crewe musician, Paul Spencer, dies of cancer aged 53|first=Ryan|last=Parker|date=17 June 2024|website=Crewe Nub News|access-date=17 June 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy00dgr4yjvo|title=Dario G, who made 90s dance anthem Sunchyme, dies aged 53|date=17 June 2024|website=BBC News}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|UK ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|GER ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|SWI ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|AUT ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|UK Dance ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|SCO |
|---|
| scope="row"| Sunmachine
| |{{center|26}} |{{center|59}} |{{center|43}} |{{center|—}} |{{center|—}} |{{center|25}} |
| scope="row"| In Full Colour
|
|{{center|—}} |{{center|58}} |{{center|66}} |{{center|41}} |{{center|—}} |{{center|—}} |
| scope="row"| Hola
|
|{{center|—}} |{{center|—}} |{{center|—}} |{{center|—}} |{{center|17}} |{{center|—}} |
| colspan="20" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or was not released in that country or territory. |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications ! rowspan="2"| Title ! rowspan="2"| Year ! colspan="10"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications ! rowspan="2"| Album |
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| AUS
! width="35"| AUT ! width="35"| BEL ! width="35"| FRA ! width="35"| GER ! width="35"| IRE
|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know |publisher=IRMA |access-date=12 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5hFf8iFDu?url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=3 June 2009 |df=dmy }} Search for "Dario G".
|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dario+G |title=irishcharts.com - Discography Dario G |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=12 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112145558/http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dario%20G |archive-date=12 January 2015 |df=dmy }} ! width="35"| NLD ! width="35"| SWE ! width="35"| SWI ! width="35"| UK |
| scope="row"|"Sunchyme"
|1997 |align="center"| 22 |align="center"| 4 |align="center"| 5 |align="center"| 28 |align="center"| 3 |align="center"| 3 |align="center"| 17 |align="center"| 41 |align="center"| 2 |align="center"| 2 |
|rowspan="3"|Sunmachine |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Carnaval de Paris"
|rowspan="2"|1998 |align="center"| 90 |align="center"| 24 |align="center"| 10 |align="center"| 26 |align="center"| 2 |align="center"| 4 |align="center"| 7 |align="center"| 36 |align="center"| 7 |align="center"| 5 | |
| scope="row"|"Sunmachine"
|align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 98 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 17 | |
| scope="row"|"Voices"
|2000 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 37 | |
| scope="row"|"Dream to Me"
|rowspan="2"|2001 |align="center"| 96 |align="center"| 8 |align="center"| 38 |align="center"| — |align="center"| 9 |align="center"| 16 |align="center"| 50 |align="center"| — |align="center"| 15 |align="center"| 9 | |rowspan="2"|In Full Colour |
| scope="row"|"Say What's on Your Mind"
|align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 68 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 100 |align="center"| — | |
| scope="row"|"Carnaval 2002"
|2002 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 36 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 96 |align="center"| 34 | |rowspan=3| Non-album singles |
| scope="row"|"Heaven Is Closer (Feels Like Heaven)"
|2003 |align="center"| — |align="center"| 42 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 57 |align="center"| 46 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 87 |align="center"| 39 | |
| scope="row"|"Ring of Fire"
|2006 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| 100 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |
| scope="row"|"Game On" (with TKZee and Pitbull) |2010 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |
| scope="row"|"We Got Music" (with Shirley Bassey) |2014 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |Non-album single |
| scope="row"|"Cry"
|2018 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |rowspan="2"|Hola |
| scope="row"|"Hola"
|2019 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |
| scope="row"|"Real Love x Sunchyme" (with Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne) |rowspan=2|2020 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |rowspan=6| Non-album singles |
| scope="row"|"You Make the Sunrise" (with Leslie P George) |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |
| scope="row"|"Keep On Lovin" (with Sonique){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/keep-on-lovin-single/1572260895|title=Keep On Lovin - single on Apple Music|date=25 June 2021|access-date=27 June 2021}} |2021 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |
| scope="row"|"Mi Rey (My King)"
|2022 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |
| scope="row"|"Come Alive (Carnaval de Paris)" (with Thomas Irwin)
|rowspan="2"|2023 |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |
| scope="row"|"Savour the Miracle of Life"
|align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — | |
| align="center" colspan="25" style="font-size: 85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
!Year !Category !Recipient/Work !Result !Winner |
| 1998
|"Sunchyme" |{{nom}} |"Never Ever" by All Saints |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs artist|Dario G}}
- {{imdb name|3170134}}
{{Dario G}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:English electronic music groups
Category:English dance music groups
Category:British Eurodance groups
Category:British musical groups
Category:English record producers
Category:Musical groups from Cheshire
Category:Musical groups established in 1997
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2024