Ten Sharp is a Dutch musical group that became famous in the early 1990s with the track You, which was included in the debut album Under the Waterline. The composition became a real hit in many European countries. The track was especially popular in the UK, where in 1992 it hit the top 10 of the music charts. Album sales exceeded 16 million copies.
The founders and frontmen of the band are two Dutch musicians: Marcel Kaptein (vocalist) and Nils Hermes (keyboards).
Formation of Ten Sharp
The first team in which future celebrities began to collaborate was the Streets group. The team was created in 1982, the members of two competing ensembles Prizoner and Pin-Up gathered in the room. Thanks to the initiative of the Thin Lizzy group, the participants decided to write rock songs in the original symphonic arrangement.
The band's debut was a performance at the Huts Pop music festival. This event took place on March 3, 1982. After some minor success, the band began performing in Purmerende and its environs.
Then the musical ensemble included: Marcel Kaptein - vocals and guitar, Nils Hermes - keyboards, Martin Burns and Tom Groen, responsible for bass guitar, and drummer June Van de Berg. In the summer of 1982, Jun van de Bergh was replaced by Neon Graffiti's Wil Bove.
Streets group
In October 1982, members of the Streets recorded tracks for Vara's Popkrant, which were played on national radio stations. And already in April 1983, the musical ensemble performed live at KRO Rocktempel. Thanks to the concert, the young team hoped to interest the record company. Unfortunately, the hopes of the musicians did not come true.
The event that took place in the summer of 1983 can be called equally sad and happy. Then the good old Fender Rhodes of Nils Hermes and the ARP synthesizer were stolen by unknown intruders.
An unpleasant event forced the musicians to purchase new instruments - several Roland JX-3P and Yamaha DX7 stereo synthesizers. The quality of the devices was much higher than that of the stolen ones, which had a positive effect on the sound of the performed compositions.
Inspired and given an impetus for creativity, the musicians locked themselves in the garage with the desire to record new compositions. With their help, young people wanted to pleasantly surprise and make the right impression on record companies. The result was not long in coming - they managed to interest CBS Records with a new track.
"Rebirth" of the group
In the fall of 1984, the band, together with Michel Hugenbozem, recorded three new compositions at the Svalbard studio. The new album also includes a demo version of When the Snow Falls. Inspired by the success, the musicians began to plan the release of their debut album, Streets.
CBS Records has learned that there is already a band with the same name in North America. Therefore, the Dutch had to come up with a new name in a short time. Ten Sharp formed in October 1984.
In January 1985, the band wrote the single When the Snow Falls, which was released under a new name. The track aroused considerable interest in the band from radio and television. This allowed him to take 15th position in the Tip-parade.
The second single "Japanese Love Song" confidently took 30th position in the music charts. This gave impetus to an increase in the popularity of the team. After the release of Japanese Love Song, the schedule of live performances in clubs in Holland has increased many times over.
The composition Last Words could not repeat the success of previous singles. However, young people did not despair and were able to record and release the first video for a musical composition.
In 1985, the team spent traveling around the Netherlands, performing live in many cities of the country. And already in February 1987, the musicians recorded the fourth single Way of the West.
It differed from previous compositions - the usual arrangement was replaced by a heavy guitar. The bosses from CBS Records did not like this, they broke the contract with the Ten Sharp group. In the autumn of 1987, the musicians gave their last concert in Hazerswoude in the usual five-piece line-up.
The further fate of the Ten Sharp group
Having terminated the contract with CBS Records, the main line-up was reduced to two people - Niels Hermes, Ton Groen. Young people did not give up and continued to write music, however, already for other performers. In 1989, the musicians made a desperate but unsuccessful attempt to return to their former glory by presenting two new compositions for the National Song Contest.
Niels Hermes began performing in the group of Connie Van de Bos. Over the next two years, young people continued to write compositions for other musicians. This continued until Kapteyn was asked to perform several demos, which included You and Ain't My Beating Heart.
The compositions were heard by the bosses from the Sony Music label. They were so impressed with Marcel Kapteyn's vocals that they immediately offered to sign a contract. This is how the Ten Sharp band appeared with the usual line-up: Marcel Kaptein (vocalist), Nils Hermes (keyboardist). Ton Groen was responsible for writing the lyrics.
The fruitful work of Ten Sharp
At the end of 1990, the band recorded 6 tracks for the album Under the Water-Line. This name was not chosen by chance - as the young people assured, they preferred to work on the back line. The album, which included the famous song You, was released at the end of March 1991. The song, like the record, quickly gained popularity among music lovers, becoming a real national hit.
By the release of the track Ain't My Beating Heart, the seven-song album was expanded to 10 tracks. This allowed the group to reach the international level. After the recording of the single When the Spirit Slips Away and the re-release of When the Snow Falls in March 1992, the band released a new track, Rich Man. Thanks to the new compositions, the musicians also recorded another disc.
The success of the song You
The single You became mega-popular in all European countries. To promote the track and the new record, the team traveled all over Europe. He did not forget about appearances on radio and television. Due to the small composition of the concerts were held only to the accompaniment of the piano. Sometimes saxophonist Tom Barlage joined the line-up. This continued until the fall of 1992.
Ten Sharp's second album The Fire Inside
The second album was recorded with producer Michiel Hoogenboezem in 1992 at Wisseloord Studios. Compared to its predecessor, the disc has become more intimate, deep and rich.
In May 1993, the band released a new album, which included the composition Dreamhome (Dream On). The track quickly gained popularity among the "fans", entering several music charts in Holland.
In March, the band released the single Rumors in the City. The musicians were inspired to write the track and shoot the video in Argentina. The video was supported by Amnesty International and is based on footage shot by Amnesty himself.
Today, Ten Sharp is the epitome of laconic, intelligent and stylish pop music. Elements of electronics, soul, high-quality rock - the perfect "cocktail" to conquer the music charts and the hearts of numerous "fans".
