Natasja’s Calabria / Booty Cologne & Mapei
As I was listening to Z100 in the cab on the way to the airport this summer, I was more than surprised to hear the song that would become everyone’s favorite summer jam, Enur & Natasja’s “Calabria”. While it was great to see this tremendous song, re-executed perfectly by two of Denmark’s finest, reach the 13 year olds who make up Z100′s base, it makes me sad that not many people know the bitter side of the success of this song.
Originally released by Rune Reilly Kølsch (aka RuneRK) and his half brother Johannes Torpe in 2003 as an instrumental house song, that signature saxophone line slowly but surely began invading dance floors from Ibiza to Paris and eventually to us isolated Americans. As the song grew and grew in popularity, a variety of remixes and mashes were made which allowed the synth sax to reach the ears of all different sorts of music fans. In early 2007, Rune (now calling himself Enur) spared down the original, preserving the best parts, and added a ragga beat. He called on one of the brightest stars in Denmark, Natasja Saad, to provide those whoopwhoop vocals. At the time, Natasja was primed to become the biggest international success out of Denmark since Aqua. Her immense talent and glowing personality would most likely have become a fixture in reggae & popular music for years to come. Unfortunately this dream would never come to fruition. While on a trip to Jamaica that summer to record with legendary producers like Sly & Robbie, Natasja was tragically killed in a car accident. She was only 32. She is buried alongside H.C. Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard, & Niels Bohr, among others, in Assistens Kirkegård, Copenhagen’s cemetary for influential artists and visionaries. Next time you find yourself stumbling over the lyrics to Calabria, take a moment to think about Natasja and her friends & family.
Natasja – “Long Time” (Sly & Robbie’s Dark Shade Riddim)
On another note, Natasja had recorded with like half of the talented producers in Denmark, including the super group that is Booty Cologne. These guys manage to combine slow simple hip hop & ragga rhythms with the best of London heavy bass, and German industrial. Not only that, but they have knack for picking guest vocalists. Besides Natasja, Booty Cologne tapped Palms Out’s favorite, Mapei, for 5 songs on their stellar album 2007BC. They also ripped up the Cosmopol Stage at Roskilde this summer, right before Mapei went on and changed the way I experience live music forever. Grab these very fine selections from 2007BC and then hurry up and cop the album!
Booty Cologne – “Wut Jungle” ft. Mapei & Natasja
Booty Cologne – “8 Drunk Gods” ft. Top Cat
[natasja myspace]
[booty cologne myspace]
[enur myspace]
[mapei myspace]
[top cat myspace]
[sly & robbie myspace]
1:55 pm on January 17th, 2008
wow, i was just reading about natasja and the making of “calabria” yesterday. great post, man.
3:01 pm on January 17th, 2008
I never knew about Natasja. I’ve been singing that song all year, and had no idea who the singer was at all. So sorry to hear about the loss of such an obvious star. Thanks for enlightening us, and also thanks for the really bangin Booty Cologne tracks. Is the album available stateside?
5:52 pm on January 17th, 2008
wut jungle is wicked! is the whole album this good?? definitely gonna buy
5:53 am on January 18th, 2008
thanks for spreading natasjas legacy…! she was awsome, saw her at roskilde festival ’06 when she had just won the Irie FM contest on jamaica as the first foreigner ever – she was on fire! natasja stands for love, the right to be different, and of course having a good time!
5:01 pm on January 19th, 2008
wow, I didn’t know any of this and calabria has become like a staple riddim in 5 or so versions. thanks for this post, very educating.
2:27 pm on January 20th, 2008
Holy crap. I never knew that… That’s very sad news. That song was so huge over the summer in Greece.. It’s a shame her talent is gone.
great post and you have a great site.
Thanks!!
5:07 pm on January 21st, 2008
first time i heard the tune was in drunkenmunkeys version. thought that was the orig. interesting article.
8:34 am on January 25th, 2008
my condolences to the family of natasja. the first time i heard this song i was blown a way i looked for the video and it was great then i decided to research more about natasja coz i wanted to get hold of her other songs, i was so shocked an dsaddened by her death i still find it had to believe that a person with such talent is gown. will definitely miss her ut im also gald that she is a blessing in my life coz im filled with happiness and joy everytime i listen to her songs. RIP Natasja. will miss you dearly.
11:14 pm on February 12th, 2008
If you want to find more great indie artists check out woozyfly.com. I went there for the first time last night and found two awesome bands = http://woozyfly.com/hastetheday and http://woozyfly.com/gwenstacy
8:42 am on March 1st, 2008
Natasja’s death was a great loss to the Danish music scene (and to her family and friends of course). I followed her career, and was quite happy to see how she was finally breaking through, and then that stupid senseless accident happened.
What might be of interest to people here, is that there is a last album, in English, planned. Should come out within the next few months.
1:10 am on March 19th, 2008
I was unaware that Enur actually put out the original under “Rune – Calabria”. I remember buying the record back in 2003. It’s been destroying the floor since then and I still play it to this day. Amazing original…a must have.