Overground (band)

Overground
Origin Germany
Genres Pop, R&B
Years active 2003–2008
Labels Cheyenne / Polydor
(2003-2004)
Edel
(2005-2006)
Website Official site
Members Ahmet "Akay" Kayed
Ken Miyao
Marq Porciuncula
Meiko Reißmann

Overground, a boyband from Germany, was the result of the third season of the international television programme Popstars - Das Duell.

History

Formation

Overground were formed in September 2003 in front of millions of viewers on the ProSieben programme Popstars - Das Duell ("The Duel"). The concept of the programme was to produce a boy group and a girl group who would be rivals and compete for winning the third installment of the reality television program. Following the success of the No Angels and Bro'Sis, 12,000 applicants attended auditions in five German megacities in hopes of being selected for the show. Judged by rapper Sabrina Setlur, choreographer Detlef "D!" Soost, and producer Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, twently-seven out of forty-six contestants made it from the local recall shows to Orlando, Florida to get trained in singing, dancing, and fitness.

The judges continued eliminating two or three boys and girls each week, until a small group of finalists remained. In the end the four boys Ahmet "Akay" Kayed, Ken Miyao, Marq Porciuncula, and Meiko Reißmann were chosen to form the group Overground.

While the show continued tracking the development and struggles of the new boy group and the final four members of the similarly formed girl group Preluders, the judges decided to add a fifth member to both groups after failed recording sessions. Selecting from the semi-finalists, they chose Italian Fabrizio to 'complete' Overground.

Their promotional debut single was a remake of Color Me Badd's 1991 hit I Wanna Sex You Up. After three weeks of touring and promotional appearances across Germany, the season's finale was held on Wednesday, November 3, 2003 where the boys polled enough votes to win "the duel" against the girl group Preluders.

Career

After weeks of recording Overground released their debut single, German-sung Schick mir 'nen Engel on November 10, 2003. Produced by Triple M, the song entered the charts at number one on the German, Austrian and Swiss singles charts and became one of the most successful (German-speaking) songs of 2003. Their debut album It's Done saw similar success, eventually receiving two platinum certifications.

In 2004, the group followed-up with Der letzte Stern and Aus und vorbei, two further top 10 single releases. They also began recording their second album 2. OG, which spawned a collaboration with Montell Jordan and a remake of his 1995 hit This Is How We Do It. Both, the single and the album, failed to continue from the previous chart successes and the group was released from its label Cheyenne Records, which reserved the possibility to release another single.

After a longer absence the group returned in autumn of 2005 with their fifth single Hass mich.

After disbanding, Ken Miyao released a single Talk 2 Me with American rapper Fatman Scoop. This was regarded as a commercial failure, peaking at only #89 of the German charts.

Cast Members

Members 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Ahmet „Akay“ Kayed
(2003–2008)
Ken Miyao
(2003–2008)
Marq Porciuncula
(2003–2008)
Meiko Reißmann
(2003–2008)
Fabrizio Levita
(2003)

Discography

Albums

Year Album GER AT CH
2003 It's Done 1 13 1
2004 2. OG 41  –  –

Singles

Year Song GER AT CH Album
2003 I Wanna Sex You Up ¹ - - - It's Done
2003 Schick mir 'nen Engel 1 1 1
2004 Der letzte Stern 9 30 27
2004 Aus und vorbei 10 39 – 2. OG
2004 This Is How We Do It
(featuring Montell Jordan)		 19 53 -
2005 Hass mich 35 - - -
Notes:
  1. Used as a promotion single; sold at McDonalds restaurants only.

Awards

2003

2004

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