Vengaboys is a Dutch Eurodance music group based in Rotterdam. The group was the brainchild of Dutch producers Wessel van Diepen and Dennis van den Driesschen and consists of lead vocalists Kim Sasabone and Denise Post-Van Rijswijk and male vocalists Robin Pors and Donny Latupeirissa. The group enjoyed commercial success in the late 1990s. They are best known for their hit singles "We Like to Party", "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!" and "We're Going to Ibiza", the latter two of which topped the UK Singles Chart. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide. On 2 May 2001, the World Music Awards awarded Vengaboys with the award for best-selling dance group of the year. In 2019, Dutch online newspaper Nu.nl declared Vengaboys as the most successful Dutch pop group in history.
History
1997–1998: Formation and ''Up and Down''
Dutch producers Danski and Delmundo initially found success organising illegal beach parties during the summers.
1998–1999: Second Line-up and ''The Party Album''
In 1998, with the addition of the three new members Denise Post-Van Rijswijk, Roy den Burger and Robin Pors and existing member Sasabone, the now four-piece entered the UK Singles Chart at number 4 with "Up and Down", and their follow-up "We Like to Party " peaked at number 1 in Belgium and was a Top 10 hit in other European countries, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Vengaboys released their second album, The Party Album. In June 1999, "Boom Boom Boom Boom" topped the charts in the UK, New Zealand and the Netherlands. In November of that year, "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!" was also used in an advert in Japan for Nissan for their Wingroad5-door estate. The Party Album! soared to the top of the charts in over 20 countries including the U.K., Canada, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Thailand, Poland, Australia, and Mexico. "We're Going to Ibiza", a reworking of Typically Tropical's 1975 number 1 hit "Barbados", also reached the top slot in the Netherlands in September 1999. The LP spent 30 consecutive weeks on the U.S. Billboard 200, and was certified gold in November 1999. The Party Album! was re-released as Greatest Hits - Part 1. The Remix Album, released in late 1999.
2000–2002: Departure of Pors, ''The Platinum Album'' and Hiatus
For their fourth single, the group gained a virtual member, the computer-animated Cheekah. The single "Cheekah Bow Bow " was not as successful as their previous singles. They released their single "Forever as One" in February 2001 with little promotion. The single charted at 28 in the UK, making it their worst-performing single. Shortly after this release, Denise Post-Van Rijswijk and Bakker left the group and were replaced by Lynn Bartels and Mark Jong a Pin. The group eventually disbanded for several years. During her departure, Denise Post-van Rijswijk gave birth to her first child.
2006–2009: Return on Stage and Line-up changes
In 2006, they returned to the club scene with new member Donny Latupeirissa a.k.a. Ma'Donny, replacing den Burger as Cowboy.
In 2010, The Vengaboys started a comeback. Their comeback single, "Rocket To Uranus", a collaboration with singer-songwriter Pete Burns and American celebrity Perez Hilton, was only released in their home country in June. The video premiered on 6 June at the Dutch television station TMF, and in 2D and 3D formats on their own website and YouTube channel. They were due to release a Best of in Australia on 9 December 2011.
2012–2013: Single releases
In 2012, Vengaboys began performing a cover of T-Spoons song "Sex On The Beach" in their live shows. In January 2013, the group first performed "Hot, Hot, Hot", a cover of the 1983 hit originally by 'Arrow' during their National Tour in Australia. The song was released in July 2013 as a single, containing 13 remixes. The single was released worldwide except France on iTunes. Around that time, Kim Sasabone got pregnant. The group continued to maintain a busy tour schedule, with most shows based in Europe and Australia.
2014–2015: ''X-mas Party Album''
On January 2014, Robin Pors mentioned in an interview in Dubai that the group will continue to tour in Europe and are currently working on future shows in the Middle East and India, along with performing their greatest hits, their latest single, "Hot, Hot, Hot", and reportedly new unreleased tracks. He also stated that releasing new material is on their agenda for 2014. In May 2014 a new Remix from their Single "To Brazil" re-titled "2 Brazil" has been released. In November 2014 a new album was released called The X-mas Party Album with all the Vengaboys classic hits with a Christmas sound. Also, the single "Where Did My X-mas Tree Go" was released together with a new music video. A tour to South Africa was scheduled for December.
In late February 2015, Denise Post-Van Rijswijk revealed that she was pregnant with her second child, a girl. In 2016, the group toured Australia and New Zealand. In June, the Vengaboys hosted MTV Pride, a pop-up channel in the UK, dedicated to the LGBT community. In November and December 2017, Vengaboys supported Steps at their Party on the Dancefloor Tour.
2019: 20th anniversary and ''Unplugged'' EP
In 2019, Vengaboys celebrated their 20th anniversary and released the songs "Boom, boom, Boom, Boom!! - Unplugged" and "We're going to Ibiza! - Unplugged" in June on an EP titled Unplugged #1's.
