Amber

Biography

Marie-Claire Cremers (born 17 September 1969), known professionally as Amber, is a Dutch-born singer-songwriter, record label owner and producer. She is perhaps best-known for her 1990s dance-pop singles, "This Is Your Night×This Is Your Night25 November 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1This Is Your Night4:012Move Your Body3:283Colour of Love3:334You Are the One4:015One More Night3:306Push It to the Limit4:227Being With You4:168Hold My Body Tight3:259Can You Feel the Love3:5010Losing Myself in Your Love3:5011Let It Rain4:1712This Is the Right Time3:1813This Is Your Night (House mix)4:0114Colour of Love (House mix)3:32" (1996), "If You Could Read My Mind", and "Sexual (Li Da Di)×Sexual (Li Da Di)18 May 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Sexual (original radio edit)4:372Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 edit)3:463Sexual (Ripe & Juicy club mix)5:424Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 club mix)8:285Sexual (KLM vocal mix)9:006Sexual (KLM dub)7:06" (1999). In December 2016, Billboard ranked her as the 34th most successful dance artist of all time; the magazine later ranked her at No. 7 on the list of most successful artists on the Dance Singles Sales chart during the 2000s.
In the 2020s Amber's career experienced a resurgence, as Tommy Boy Records–the label she was originally signed to (owned by Reservoir Media)–began releasing previously vaulted remixes of her songs to digital platforms worldwide. Beginning in 2022, six of nine re-releases have been Top 3 hits on the iTunes US Dance Chart, with four being chart-toppers: "Above the Clouds×Above the Clouds1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Above the Clouds (Jonathan Peters’ Sound Factory mix)8:20B1Above the Clouds (Sal Dano and Brian K’s club mix)8:56B2Above the Clouds (original mix)4:22C1Above the Clouds (Jonathan Peters’ Velvet mix)8:26D1Above the Clouds (Ripe + Juicy club mix)6:06D2Above the Clouds (Sal Dano and Brian K’s hard dub)7:20" (remix), "Love One Another×Love One Another2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Love One Another (radio edit)3:242Love One Another (Snapshot 2 Step remix)4:163Love One Another (Steve D radio edit)3:394Love One Another (Kai Engel radio edit)4:00" (Remix), "Colour of Love×Colour of Love19 November 1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Colour of Love (Colourful Club mix)6:07A2Colour of Love (Berman 12˝ mix)6:39A3Colour of Love (Colour of Bass mix)6:59B1Colour of Love (AJ Trenergy Hard mix)7:08B2Colour of Love (Colourful radio edit)4:08B3Colour of Love (Pop mix)3:30" (Remix) and "If You Could Read My Mind" (25th Anniversary Edition). The success of these releases, roughly thirty years since her career began, sparked a renewed interest in Amber's catalog amongst listeners; her albums This is Your Night (1996), Amber (1999) and Naked×Naked20 August 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Yes!3:582The Need to Be Naked4:013Anyway (Men Are From Mars)4:074You're Sent From Heaven4:185Dirty Thoughts4:126He4:197Sex Without Sex3:508Love on You3:479If There Would Be No Tomorrow3:2910Heavenly Proximity4:0411Sex & The City3:5212Don't Say Goodbye3:2213Sexual (Li Da Di) (Afterlife Chillout remix)6:0414The Smile of My Child5:4615The Need to Be Naked (Thunderpuss mix)3:59 (2002) received a boost, and also charted on the Amazon Euro Pop and Dance Pop Bestsellers charts in 2023.

1996–1997: This is Your Night

Amber's music career took off when one of her demos, "This Is Your Night×This Is Your Night25 November 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1This Is Your Night4:012Move Your Body3:283Colour of Love3:334You Are the One4:015One More Night3:306Push It to the Limit4:227Being With You4:168Hold My Body Tight3:259Can You Feel the Love3:5010Losing Myself in Your Love3:5011Let It Rain4:1712This Is the Right Time3:1813This Is Your Night (House mix)4:0114Colour of Love (House mix)3:32", was released by Tommy Boy Records. The single was on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for an entire year, from 1996 to 1997. The song was also used in the film A Night at the Roxbury (1998) and has since appeared on many dance compilation records and in numerous films.
A full-length album of the same name soon followed, which spawned two additional hit singles, "Colour of Love×Colour of Love19 November 1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Colour of Love (Colourful Club mix)6:07A2Colour of Love (Berman 12˝ mix)6:39A3Colour of Love (Colour of Bass mix)6:59B1Colour of Love (AJ Trenergy Hard mix)7:08B2Colour of Love (Colourful radio edit)4:08B3Colour of Love (Pop mix)3:30" and the Hani remix of "One More Night×One More Night23 September 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1One More Night (Berman Brothers 12˝ mix)5:302One More Night (Hani’s club mix)6:583One More Night (Hani’s One More dub)6:044One More Night (Berman Brothers “ibiza” dub)6:065Being With You (Reel Soul club mix)8:436Being With You (Reel Soul dark club mix)7:597One More Night (Hani’s Num club mix)9:518One More Night (Fitch Bros. club mix)10:169One More Night (Fitch Bros. dub mix)7:0310One More Night3:28".

1998–1999: Amber

In 1999, Amber released her self-titled second album, which garnered the most mainstream attention thus far. The album was preceded in 1998 by the single "If You Could Read My Mind", both a cover version of the 1970 song of the same name by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot and a collaboration with Ultra Naté and Jocelyn Enriquez; the trio recorded and performed the track under the name Stars on 54 for the closing scene and end credits of the Miramax film 54.
The first official single from Amber was "Sexual (Li Da Di)×Sexual (Li Da Di)18 May 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Sexual (original radio edit)4:372Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 edit)3:463Sexual (Ripe & Juicy club mix)5:424Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 club mix)8:285Sexual (KLM vocal mix)9:006Sexual (KLM dub)7:06", which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Singles Sales Chart. The album also included the No. 1 dance hits "Above the Clouds×Above the Clouds1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Above the Clouds (Jonathan Peters’ Sound Factory mix)8:20B1Above the Clouds (Sal Dano and Brian K’s club mix)8:56B2Above the Clouds (original mix)4:22C1Above the Clouds (Jonathan Peters’ Velvet mix)8:26D1Above the Clouds (Ripe + Juicy club mix)6:06D2Above the Clouds (Sal Dano and Brian K’s hard dub)7:20" and "Love One Another×Love One Another2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Love One Another (radio edit)3:242Love One Another (Snapshot 2 Step remix)4:163Love One Another (Steve D radio edit)3:394Love One Another (Kai Engel radio edit)4:00". The former song, as well as the album cut "Object of Your Desire", later gained exposure when licensed for the television series Sex and the City (1998–2004).
In addition to four American singles, German label ZYX also released "Do That To Me One More Time×Do That to Me One More Time1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Do That to Me One More Time (video edit)3:152Do That to Me One More Time (Jiggy remix)3:033Do That to Me One More Time (radio cut)2:514Do That to Me One More Time (Snapshot remix)4:325Do That to Me One More Time (Brooklyn Funk Express)3:42" and "I Found Myself in You×I Found Myself in You2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1I Found Myself in You (original radio cut)3:192I Found Myself in You (Snapshot short cut)3:103I Found Myself in You (Snapshot extended)5:154I Found Myself in You (album version)4:18". The former single was recorded exclusively for the European market and issued with an accompanying video, shot in Manhattan.

2000: The Hits Remixed

Amber's next album, The Hits Remixed×The Hits Remixed7 November 2000 · Album · Compilation,RemixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Taste the Tears (Thunderpuss Original mix)3:482Love One Another (Pathos Original mix)3:463Sexual (Li Da Li) (Deep Dish Cheez Whiz remix)4:124Above the Clouds (Eric Kupper remix)4:025If You Could Read My Mind (Hex Hector remix)3:366One More Night (Mousse T remix)3:437This is Your Night (Mousse T remix)4:208Colour of Love (Mousse T & Borris Dlugosh remix)4:099IIf You Could Read My Mind (Hex Hector Epic Piano mix)4:1310This is Your Night (Junior Vasquez Sunday Night Bump Extended mix)8:4511Above the Clouds (Thunderpuss remix)5:5612Taste the Tears (Thunderpuss remix)3:3813Love One Another (Mystica remix)3:3414Sexual (Li Da Di) (Plasma Trance remix)4:14, was released in 2000. The album included remixes of all of her singles to that time, including "If You Could Read My Mind", as well as the non-album track "Taste the Tears", which she recorded for the Sex and the City soundtrack. "Taste the Tears" was written by Diane Warren and produced by Thunderpuss.
Remixes of "Love One Another×Love One Another2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Love One Another (radio edit)3:242Love One Another (Snapshot 2 Step remix)4:163Love One Another (Steve D radio edit)3:394Love One Another (Kai Engel radio edit)4:00" and "Taste the Tears" were commissioned to promote the album. "Love One Another", which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Play Chart, thus became the fourth overall single from Amber and the first from The Hits Remixed.
In addition to her own recordings, Amber co-wrote "Bless You Child", which Bette Midler sang and recorded on her 2000 album Bette, along with Billy Steinberg and Rick Nowels. She also sang on Nile Rodgers' charity single "We Are Family"; Amber can be seen sharing the microphone with Dionne Warwick in the music video, directed by Spike Lee.
Another milestone was achieved in 2001, when Cher covered "Love One Another" for her album Living Proof (2001). In 2003, the song returned to No. 1 through Cher's release as a double A-side with "When the Money's Gone"), and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, an accolade that Amber shared as co-songwriter.

2001–2003: Naked and departure From Tommy Boy

Amber's third album, Naked×Naked20 August 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Yes!3:582The Need to Be Naked4:013Anyway (Men Are From Mars)4:074You're Sent From Heaven4:185Dirty Thoughts4:126He4:197Sex Without Sex3:508Love on You3:479If There Would Be No Tomorrow3:2910Heavenly Proximity4:0411Sex & The City3:5212Don't Say Goodbye3:2213Sexual (Li Da Di) (Afterlife Chillout remix)6:0414The Smile of My Child5:4615The Need to Be Naked (Thunderpuss mix)3:59, was released in early 2002. Musically, Amber continued the path she had started with: she continued to co-write her own songs and lyrics and attempted even more of a departure from her original Eurodance sound. Three singles were culled from the album.
The lead single "Yes" was written by Steinberg, Nowels, and Marie-Claire D'Ubaldo, who had previously penned Amber's "Above the Clouds×Above the Clouds1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Above the Clouds (Jonathan Peters’ Sound Factory mix)8:20B1Above the Clouds (Sal Dano and Brian K’s club mix)8:56B2Above the Clouds (original mix)4:22C1Above the Clouds (Jonathan Peters’ Velvet mix)8:26D1Above the Clouds (Ripe + Juicy club mix)6:06D2Above the Clouds (Sal Dano and Brian K’s hard dub)7:20" as well as Celine Dion's "Falling Into You". The track used lyrics from James Joyce's novel Ulysses, which were licensed from Joyce's estate; Joyce was credited as co-songwriter. Mainstream radio's reaction to "Yes" was reminiscent of the attitude towards "Sexual (Li Da Di)×Sexual (Li Da Di)18 May 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Sexual (original radio edit)4:372Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 edit)3:463Sexual (Ripe & Juicy club mix)5:424Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 club mix)8:285Sexual (KLM vocal mix)9:006Sexual (KLM dub)7:06" two years earlier. Programmers expressed concern about the perceived sexual subtext of the track and the use of the word "breast". It was suggested that Amber change the lyric from "breast" to "breath", which she refused to do.
Two further singles were released from the album: "The Need to Be Naked×The Need to Be Naked2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1The Need to Be Naked (original radio edit)3:542The Need to Be Naked (Thunderpuss radio edit)4:013The Need to Be Naked (Thunderpuss Stripped mix)8:524The Need to Be Naked (Thunderpuss Tridapella)6:165The Need to Be Naked (Guido Osorio’s Virgin mix)9:126The Need to Be Naked (original club mix)" and "Anyway (Men Are From Mars)×Anyway (Men Are From Mars)10 December 2002 · Single · RemixSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Anyway (Men Are From Mars) (Chris Cox radio edit)4:052Anyway (Men Are From Mars) (Al.B. Rich radio edit)3:543Anyway (Men Are From Mars) (DJ Encore radio edit)4:124Anyway (Men Are From Mars) (Al B. Rich club mix)10:205Anyway (Men Are From Mars) (DJ Encore club mix)7:256Anyway (Men Are From Mars) (That Kid Chris dub mix)9:12". The latter was Amber's first single written entirely on her own.
Amber bought out her contract with Tommy Boy Records after the promotional cycle for Naked, citing creative differences. According to Amber, she was unhappy with the direction of her career as well as how the label had handled the marketing of Naked.

2004–2005: My Kind of World

Following her departure from Tommy Boy, Amber created her own label, JMCA Enterprises, through which she issued her fourth album, My Kind of World×My Kind of World5 October 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Crucified Solitude5:182You Move Me3:303Voodoo3:584Same Old Paradise4:395Sacrificial Lamb3:416Private War4:377When a Love Grows Cold4:308Just Like That (Romeo and Juliet)3:359City of Pain4:0610Your Kind of World3:3911More Time for a Child3:5712Don’t Follow Me Home4:32, in 2004. The album's moodier tone and more intimate songs were a departure from her previous uptempo dance music. Amber nevertheless released remixes for three singles: "You Move Me", "Voodoo", and "Just Like That×Just Like That10 January 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Just Like That (Jason Nevins radio remix)3:412Just Like That (Wolfram Dettki Birthday Girl Ballad)3:383Just Like That (Solar City vs. DJ Rico radio mix)3:504Just Like That (Sweet Rains main radio remix)3:465Just Like That (Jason Nevins club mix)9:546Just Like That (Solar City vs. DJ Rico anthem mix)9:447Just Like That (DJ Jeff Barringer ‘Dancing’ Club Anthem mix)8:178Just Like That (Belmares & Preve club mix)9:299Just Like That (Corbo & Atchison’s club mix)8:4310Just Like That (Solar City vs. DJ Rico Power dub)7:58".
The album featured guitarist Hendrik Helmer, who contributed to several tracks on the release.
The same year, she released Undanced, a collection of previously unreleased remixes.

2006–2011: Re-recordings and non-album singles

After promotion for My Kind of World had run its course, Amber collaborated with Sweet Rains on the stand-alone single "Melt with the Sun×Melt With the Sun2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Melt With the Sun (Sweet Rains original radio edit)3:562Melt With the Sun (Tracy Young’s Anthem radio)3:363Melt With the Sun (Hex Hector radio mix)4:054Melt With the Sun (Pathos V2 radio edit)4:125Melt With the Sun (Al B. Rich radio edit)4:016Melt With the Sun (Sweet Rains original mix)6:547Melt With the Sun (Tracy Young’s Anthem mix)9:478Melt With the Sun (Hex Hector club mix)9:169Melt With the Sun (AM Corona club mix)7:4710Melt With the Sun (Lance Jordan dub mix)8:23". The single was released on 12 December 2006, and was remixed by Tracy Young, Hex Hector, and Lance Jordan among others.
In 2007, Amber re-recorded many of the tracks from her second and third albums for digital release, as well as Undanced II×Undanced II31 January 2007 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1More Time for a Child (Pathos V2 mix)4:162He (original mix)4:163Anyway (dance mix)3:454You Move Me (Funkadelica mix)4:125Now Is the Time (original)3:576Above the Clouds (B-mix)4:077Voodoo (Orangefuzz Magical Anthem radio edit)4:038City of Pain (Pathos V2 mix)4:219Melt With the Sun (Pathos V2 Reactor mix)4:1410Taste the Tears (Ballad version)3:2911Grow Into Me (demo version)3:0612Anyway (2 Step mix)3:2013He (K-mix)4:1614Just Like That (Pathos V2)3:3315Don't Ask Why (original)3:4316The Need to Be Naked (demo version)3:4517Fontanel (original)3:4018Melt With the Sun (Hex Hector club mix), which included entirely unreleased songs as well as demos and remixes. The following year, she re-released her debut single "This Is Your Night×This Is Your Night25 November 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1This Is Your Night4:012Move Your Body3:283Colour of Love3:334You Are the One4:015One More Night3:306Push It to the Limit4:227Being With You4:168Hold My Body Tight3:259Can You Feel the Love3:5010Losing Myself in Your Love3:5011Let It Rain4:1712This Is the Right Time3:1813This Is Your Night (House mix)4:0114Colour of Love (House mix)3:32" with new remixes. She followed up by collaborating with Zelma Davis of C+C Music Factory fame on a cover of "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)×No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)12 August 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Pathos V2 Classic Mix)5:122No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Pathos V2 Kick Out Radio Edit)3:483No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Pathos V2 Kick Out Video Edit)5:114No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Solar City Radio Edit)3:535No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Solar City Album Edit)5:126No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Solar City Epic Mixshow)6:387No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Solar City Epic Club Mix)10:49". Both songs were accompanied by new music videos.
In 2009, she released "I Don't Believe in Hate (Drip Drop)" after discovering the track on the MySpace page of singer-songwriter Kelly Mueller. In 2011, she issued her final new recording to date, a remake of "One More Night×One More Night23 September 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1One More Night (Berman Brothers 12˝ mix)5:302One More Night (Hani’s club mix)6:583One More Night (Hani’s One More dub)6:044One More Night (Berman Brothers “ibiza” dub)6:065Being With You (Reel Soul club mix)8:436Being With You (Reel Soul dark club mix)7:597One More Night (Hani’s Num club mix)9:518One More Night (Fitch Bros. club mix)10:169One More Night (Fitch Bros. dub mix)7:0310One More Night3:28".

2022–present: Further reissues

In 2022, Tommy Boy Records, now under new ownership, began reissuing Amber's hit singles with previously unreleased remixes, including:

"Sexual (Li Da Di)×Sexual (Li Da Di)18 May 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Sexual (original radio edit)4:372Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 edit)3:463Sexual (Ripe & Juicy club mix)5:424Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 club mix)8:285Sexual (KLM vocal mix)9:006Sexual (KLM dub)7:06" (Plasma Trance Remix – Extended) (May 2022)
The Hits Remixed – Extended (June 2022)
"Above the Clouds×Above the Clouds1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Above the Clouds (Jonathan Peters’ Sound Factory mix)8:20B1Above the Clouds (Sal Dano and Brian K’s club mix)8:56B2Above the Clouds (original mix)4:22C1Above the Clouds (Jonathan Peters’ Velvet mix)8:26D1Above the Clouds (Ripe + Juicy club mix)6:06D2Above the Clouds (Sal Dano and Brian K’s hard dub)7:20" (July 2022)
"Love One Another×Love One Another2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Love One Another (radio edit)3:242Love One Another (Snapshot 2 Step remix)4:163Love One Another (Steve D radio edit)3:394Love One Another (Kai Engel radio edit)4:00" (August 2022)
"Colour of Love×Colour of Love19 November 1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Colour of Love (Colourful Club mix)6:07A2Colour of Love (Berman 12˝ mix)6:39A3Colour of Love (Colour of Bass mix)6:59B1Colour of Love (AJ Trenergy Hard mix)7:08B2Colour of Love (Colourful radio edit)4:08B3Colour of Love (Pop mix)3:30" (September 2022)
"This Is Your Night×This Is Your Night25 November 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1This Is Your Night4:012Move Your Body3:283Colour of Love3:334You Are the One4:015One More Night3:306Push It to the Limit4:227Being With You4:168Hold My Body Tight3:259Can You Feel the Love3:5010Losing Myself in Your Love3:5011Let It Rain4:1712This Is the Right Time3:1813This Is Your Night (House mix)4:0114Colour of Love (House mix)3:32" (Special Edition) (June 2023)
"If You Could Read My Mind" (25th Anniversary Edition) (July 2023)
"Being with You" (August 2023)
"Colour of Love", Part II (September 2023)
"One More Night×One More Night23 September 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1One More Night (Berman Brothers 12˝ mix)5:302One More Night (Hani’s club mix)6:583One More Night (Hani’s One More dub)6:044One More Night (Berman Brothers “ibiza” dub)6:065Being With You (Reel Soul club mix)8:436Being With You (Reel Soul dark club mix)7:597One More Night (Hani’s Num club mix)9:518One More Night (Fitch Bros. club mix)10:169One More Night (Fitch Bros. dub mix)7:0310One More Night3:28" (October 2023)
"Sexual (Li Da Di)" (February 2024)
On 31 May 2024, a 25th anniversary edition of Amber was released on CD and vinyl. The set includes the original album as well as remixes.

Compilation albums

Remixed (2000)
Undanced (2004)
Undanced II (2007)