La Bouche () is a German-American music duo. Formed by music producer Frank Farian in 1994, the duo originally comprised Lane McCray and Melanie Thornton.
The duo began their musical career as part of Groovin' Affairs, a German band. After years of limited success, McCray and Thornton were signed to Frank Farian's music label MCI Records, distributed by Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG). After gaining recognition with the top-charting single "Sweet Dreams", they released their best-selling album Sweet Dreams (1995), which spawned the international Top 10 single "Be My Lover". Friction between Farian and the distributor label BMG resulted in La Bouche's follow-up album, A Moment of Love (1997), performing less successful than its predecessor, respectively. After the poor performance of the second album, Thornton embarked on a solo career and was briefly replaced by Natascha Wright in 2000.
Thornton's debut solo album, Ready to Fly, was released in May 2001 on X-Cell Records. However several months later in November 2001, Thornton was killed in a plane crash in Bassersdorf, Switzerland. Following the news of Thornton's death, McCray stopped performing and went on a musical hiatus. In 2007, McCray reformed La Bouche with several female counterparts including Kayo Shekoni, Dana Rayne, Deidra Jones, Sophie Cairo, Belle Johnson, and Melissa Bonilla.
La Bouche has sold over 12 million records worldwide. La Bouche has received several accolades, including a Echo Award, a Goldene Europa, and three MTV Video Music Awards nominations.
History
1992–1994: Early beginnings and Groovin' Affairs
After traveling to Germany to pursue a music career February 1992, Melanie Thornton formed a R&B band called Groovin' Affairs. The group began performing locally in various parts of Germany. After McCray became a permanent member of the band, Thornton began doing studio session work for several production companies including Click Productions. After Thornton later brought in Lane McCray, the group was signed to Farian's music label MCI Records as La Bouche. The album's second single, "Be My Lover" became international success, selling over six million copies worldwide and peaking at number one in various European countries including Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, and Sweden. "Be My Lover" also won an ASCAP award for the "Most Played Song in America", as well as an Echo Award for "Best National Dance Single" in 1996.
La Bouche's success continued with the release of the singles "Fallin' in Love" and "I Love to Love"; the latter of which earned a certified gold record by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
1996–2003: A Moment of Love, Melanie Thornton's departure, and aftermath
Frank Farian began to shift his focus away from La Bouche to concentrate on his other music acts including No Mercy. Wright was later dismissed from La Bouche after due to her limited vocal ability and work ethic. She was replaced by Sweden singer Kayo Shekoni, a familiar singer from Le Click. While promoting her album on tour, she made her final performance in Leipzig on 24 November 2001. Several hours later, Thornton took a flight from Berlin to Zürich, Switzerland on Crossair Flight #3597 for upcoming nightclub performances and television appearances, however she was among several passengers killed when the plane crashed into a hill in a local forest in the town of Bassersdorf, Switzerland. In May 2002, Frank Farian released a compilation album titled Best of La Bouche feat. Melanie Thornton. The compilation album spawned a single "In Your Life", an previously unreleased song featuring Thornton's vocals, which was released on anniversary on her death. Shortly after, McCray disbanded La Bouche and went on hiatus.
2007–present: Lineup changes and recent projects
thumb|right|Lane McCray and Sophie Cairo performing in 2019.
In 2007, McCray attempted to return to music and reformed La Bouche. After reaching out to management who told him that La Bouche had died with Melanie Thornton, he reunited his former manager Ruben Martinez and began performing again. "Rhythm of Love", "Ringing the Bells of Christmas". In 2022, Cairo left the group and was replaced by Belle Johnson, who performed with La Bouche until 2024. In December 2023, Kayo Shekoni rejoined and toured with the group throughout 2024. In 2025, Dana Rayne and Melissa Bonilla began alternating as the female vocalists of La Bouche.
Legacy
La Bouche has sold over 12 million records worldwide.
- ARIA: Platinum
- BVMI: Gold
- MC: Gold
- SNEP: Gold
- IFPI FIN: Gold
- IFPI SWI: Gold
|-
! scope="row"| A Moment of Love<br />S.O.S.
|
- Release date: 17 November 1997
- Label: MCI
- Formats: CD, cassette
| —
| —
| 21
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 40
| 194
| align=left|
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes studio albums that did not chart.
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Remix albums
- All Mixed Up (1996)
Compilation albums
- Best of La Bouche feat. Melanie Thornton (2002)
- Greatest Hits (2007)
Singles
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications<br /><small>(sales threshold)</small>
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! scope="col" width="35"| GER<br />
! scope="col" width="35"| AUS<br />
! scope="col" width="35"| AUT<br />
! scope="col" width="35"| NLD<br />
! scope="col" width="35"| UK<br />
! scope="col" width="35"| US<br />
|-
| 1994
! scope="row"| "Sweet Dreams (Ola Ola E)"
| style="text-align:center;"| 8
| style="text-align:center;"| 8
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 32
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 31
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| 13
| style="text-align:center;"| 44
| style="text-align:center;"| 13
|
- BVMI: Gold
- ARIA: Gold
| rowspan=5| Sweet Dreams
|-
| rowspan=3| 1995
! scope="row"| "Be My Lover"
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
|
- BVMI: Gold
- ARIA: Platinum
- IFPI AUT: Gold
- RIAA: Gold
- SNEP: Silver
|-
! scope="row"| "Fallin' in Love"
| style="text-align:center;"| 13
| style="text-align:center;"| 39
| style="text-align:center;"| 13
| style="text-align:center;"| 24
| style="text-align:center;"| 13
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 19
| style="text-align:center;"| 13
| style="text-align:center;"| 43
| style="text-align:center;"| 111
|
|-
! scope="row"| "I Love to Love"
| style="text-align:center;"| 21
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
| style="text-align:center;"| 19
| style="text-align:center;"| 27
| style="text-align:center;"| 19
| style="text-align:center;"| 30
| style="text-align:center;"| 42
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
- ARIA: Gold
|-
| Breakthrough Artist
| La Bouche
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |Goldene Europa
| Best Duo/Group
| La Bouche
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |MTV Video Music Awards
| rowspan="3"|
| Best Dance Video
| "Be My Lover"
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |Echo Awards
| Best National Dance Single
| "Be My Lover"
|
|