3rd_party

This article is about the band. For other uses, see third party.

3rd Party was a three-member dance-pop group that released a single album in 1997. They are best known for their dance hit "Can U Feel It," and for the song "Waiting for Tonight," which was remade by Jennifer Lopez.

Background

Lead singer Maria Christensen was a songwriter before the band, singing since the age of 5 and writing songs since she was 10. She has written songs for Nana Mouskouri, Eternal,[1] Allmusic.com review of Alive \'N Sync and Celine Dion.[2] "Maria Christensen Wishes You Happy Gay Pride!" - interview by Jed Ryan

Backup singers Karmine Alers and Elaine Borja filled out the racially-diverse group.

They formed in the wake of the mid-90s dance-pop movement, following such acts as the Spice Girls. They performed on the Today Show.

The band released their album Alive in 1997. The album was recorded on Long Island, New York, and produced by Rick Wake. Four of the songs were written by Christensen.

Sample from Alive

"Can U Feel It"

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Two singles were released from it. "Can U Feel It" (#43[3] Allmusic.com charts) was their highest-charting song. "Love is Alive" (#61) was a remake of the song by Gary Wright from his album The Dreamweaver. The album also contained the single "Waiting for Tonight," which was remade by Jennifer Lopez for her first album, On the 6, and charted at #8.

Other personnel in the band include:[4] CD Universe overview of Alive

• Gary Haase (various instruments)
• Tom Crapanzano (guitar)
• Mathew Scott Noble (keyboards, bass, drums, percussion)
• Rich Tancredi (keyboards, drums)
• LCD, Dave Scheuer (programming)
• Eric Kupper, Andy Marvel (keyboard programming)
• Audrey Martells (background vocals).

After the band

Maria Christensen

Maria Christensen independently released a solo album, Beautiful Now, in 2004. In contrast to 3rd Party\'s uptempo dance music, Christensen\'s music is more soulful and pensive, in the style of Norah Jones.[5] CD Baby: Beautiful Now She sang the song "Someone to Someone" on the show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". Song-writing proceeds from Lopez\'s remake of "Waiting for Tonight" allowed her the freedom to release her own CD.

Karmine Alers

Karmine Alers was raised in the Spanish Harlem, and has been acting and performing since she was a teenager.[6] Karmine Alers\' official website During college, she was a member of several bands.[7] CD Baby: For You... After leaving 3rd Party, she auditioned for the musical Rent in 2001. Like her older sister, Yassmin Alers, she took the role of Mimi. She released her solo album For You... in 2005, which was produced by Jimmy Greco. Like Beautiful Now, it is also soulful and melodic, and showed no trace of Alers\' 3rd Party past. A single, "It Matters To Me," was released with a music video. She still performes in Rent as the understudy to Tamyra Gray, the current Mimi, and Nicolette Hart, the current Maureen.

Alive

Alive
	Released: 1997 Running Time: 54:41 Producer: Ric Wake DV8 Records (now a division of A&M Records) Reviews: All Music Guide [8] Entertainment Weekly B [9] Track listing: Can U Feel It Love Is Alive Round & Round Waiting for Tonight Second Nature So Inspired One Night Step by Step Love and Emotion If My Heart Could Talk Listening to the Rain Can U Feel It (LCD Galactica Mix)

References

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia