Aneka
Aneka |
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Aneka (born Mary Sandeman, November 20, 1954) is a Scottish singer, who hit number one in the UK singles chart in August 1981 with her one hit wonder song, "Japanese Boy".
Career
The song only lasted a week at the top spot, but stayed in the chart for 12 weeks. This success was nearly mirrored by the song "Ooh Shooby Doo Doo Lang", that had certain references to the song "Japanese Boy" in it.
Aneka's other songs include "Little Lady", "Put Out The Light" and "Heart to Beat". Aneka has had a modest revival since "Japanese Boy" was featured in the videogame Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on Flash FM.[citation needed]
Under her own name, Mary Sandeman has achieved some success as a traditional Scottish folk singer/instrumentalist. Nevertheless, her moment of glory earned her alter-ego the unwanted label of a one-hit wonder.
Mary featured in a 2006 Channel 4 documentary titled 'Bring Back The One Hit Wonders'. Justin Lee Collins attempted to organise a one-off performance of as many 'one hit wonders' as possible but despite getting in touch with Mary, she declined to take part as she didn't want to travel to London (from her home in Scotland) and had 'no desire' to perform the hit that made her place in pop history. She revealed though that Japanese Boy sold 5 Million copies around the world.
Japanese Boy was certified Silver by the BPI.
Singles
UK singles
- (August 4, 1981) "Japanese Boy", Chart Run: 60-19-4-1-2-3-6-13-21-34-49-62->12 wks, #1 peak; #57 (Australia)
- (November 3, 1981) "Little Lady", Chart Run: 64-50-59-70->4 wks, #50 peak
Germany singles
- (September 24, 1981) "Japanese Boy", #3 Peak
- (December 31, 1981) "Little Lady", #10 Peak
- (June 3, 1982) "Ooh Shooby Doo Doo Lang", #18 Peak
Swiss singles
- (October 11, 1981) "Japanese Boy", #1 Peak
Sweden singles
- (September 25, 1981) "Japanese Boy", #1 Peak
- (January 12, 1982) "Little Lady", #14 Peak
Austrian singles
- (November 1, 1981) "Japanese Boy", #4 Peak
- (February 1, 1982) "Little Lady", #7 Peak
- (May 15, 1982) "Ooh Shooby Doo Doo Lang", #8 Peak
Norway singles
Album
Swiss Charts
- (February 9, 1982) #19 peak (3 Weeks in Charts)
Songs performed by Aneka
From her album
- "Ooh Shooby Doo Doo Lang" (Released as Single)
- "Tuwhit Tuwhoo"
- "Japanese Boy" (UK #1) (Canada #43) (US Dance #15)
- "Put Out The Light"
- "Come Back To Me"
- "Ahriman"
- "It'll Be Alright"
- "I Was Free" (Released as Single)
- "Be My Only Karma"
- "Little Lady" (Released as Single)
- "Japanese Boy - Longer version"
- "A Fond Kiss"
B-Sides
- "Alister McColl"
- "Starshine"
- "Could It Last A Little Longer"
- "Chasing Dreams"
Singles not put onto an album
- "Heart To Beat"
- "Rose, Rose I Love You"
- "Good Time Fanny"