"Santa Maria" is a song originally released in 1995 by Tatjana.[1] The song was written by Kirsti Johansen and Kjetil Røsnes (of Avalanche)[1] with Mike Stock and Matt Aitken, two former members of the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. The song was originally recorded by Croatian-Dutch artist Tatjana Šimić primarily for the European market, although Tatjana's version was issued in the US on Popular Records as a CD maxi single. The song was covered by DJ Milano and British singer Samantha Fox in 1997.
John Bush from AllMusic described the song as a "house anthem".[2]Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The Euro-NRGdance music invasion of stateside pop radio airwaves continues with the onset of this riotous anthem, which has already connected with kids everywhere else in the world. If you look beyond the "ya don't stop" rap cliches in the verses, you will encounter a wonder-fully peppy, sing-along chorus that is impossible to shake from the brain."[3] British magazine Music Week rated it four out of five, adding, "Vibe up your holday memories with this Euro-anthem from the Croatian, courtesy of the golden hands of Stock & Aitken."[4] Alan Jones noted, "A Euro-style, instantly commercial, summery groove, it boasts a KLF-style rap and a bright pop/dance vocal, with the title phrase borrowing its musical notation from Zucchero's Senza Una Donna."[5]James Hamilton from the magazine's RM Dance Update deemed it "an infectious breezy Whigfield-ish jangling galloper".[6]
Chart hyping allegation[]
The version of the song which was released on Mike Stock's Love This Records label in the United Kingdom was investigated by the BPI, as it was suspected that the company was involved in chart hyping in order to get the record into the UK Singles chart.[7][8] The single was excluded from the charts, whilst a number of other releases from Love This Records had sales deducted from their overall weekly totals. Nevertheless, "Santa Maria" reached number 40 in the UK charts for one week when re-issued in 1996,[9] with Stock going on to record a version of an 1970s hit "You Can Do Magic" in 1997, for an investigation on ITV programme The Cook Report to see how easy it was the rig the charts. [10][11]
DJ Milano/Samantha Fox version[]
After Fox's five-year contract with Jive Records expired, the singer went to Ibiza, where she met DJ Milano, who decided to use her vocals on a cover of "Santa Maria" in 1997.[12] "Santa Maria" became a notable hit around Europe, peaking at number 14 in Denmark and had a music video was directed by Ben Hume-Paton.[13] In the United Kingdom, it charted higher in the Official Singles Chart than the version by Simić and when it got to number 31 in 1998, it became Fox's first chart entry under her own name since 1989[14] (as her 1995 Song For Europe entry "Go for the Heart" was credited under the group name Sox).[15] It was released as a single-only song and was later included on Fox's Watching You, Watching Me compilation. The song also appeared on her 2009 Greatest Hits compilation alongside her 1980s hits and "Go for the Heart".
