Alex Christensen (born 7 April 1967), also known by his stage names Jasper Forks or Alex C., is a German dance music producer, songwriter, and
DJ generally known as the face and one of the founding members of
U96
U96 is a German musical project formed by DJ and producer Alex Christensen, and a team of producers named Matiz ( Ingo Hauss, Helmut Hoinkis, and Hayo Lewerentz). After a decade-long hiatus, the band returned in 2018 without Christensen and Ho ...
. Since 2002, he has been collaborating with
Yasmin K.
Music career
Christensen started in 1991 as a music producer and DJ, and had his first success in 1991 with the
U96
U96 is a German musical project formed by DJ and producer Alex Christensen, and a team of producers named Matiz ( Ingo Hauss, Helmut Hoinkis, and Hayo Lewerentz). After a decade-long hiatus, the band returned in 2018 without Christensen and Ho ...
single "
Das Boot
''Das Boot'' (, English: "The Boat") is a 1981 West German war film written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, produced by Günter Rohrbach, and starring Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, and Klaus Wennemann. It has been exhibited both as ...
". In several countries, this track was the first techno song to reach the number one position. Since 2002, Christensen also works under the name Alex C. and frequently collaborates with
Yasmin K., whom he met as a judge on the second season of ''
Popstars
''Popstars'' is an international reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Realit ...
''.
left, Christensen in 2002
As a producer and composer, Christensen has worked for artists such as
Right Said Fred
Right Said Fred are an English pop band formed by brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass in 1989. They are best known for the hit 1991 song " I'm Too Sexy". Their achievements include number 1 hits in 70 countries including one US number 1, o ...
,
Marky Mark
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971), former stage name Marky Mark, is an American actor, businessman, and former rapper. He has received multiple accolades, including a BAFTA Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards, three ...
,
Tom Jones,
*NSYNC,
Rollergirl
Nicole Safft (born 19 November 1975), known professionally as Rollergirl, is a German singer with a number of successful tracks such as "Dear Jessie (Rollergirl song), Dear Jessie" (a loose cover of the Dear Jessie, Madonna song) and "Love U Mo ...
,
Marianne Rosenberg
Marianne Rosenberg (born 10 March 1955) is a German Schlager music singer and songwriter.
Personal background
Rosenberg is of Roma and Sinti background. Her father, Otto, an Auschwitz death camp survivor, was an activist on Roma and Sinti i ...
,
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman (born 14 August 1960) is an English classical crossover soprano singer, actress and dancer.
Brightman began her career as a member of the dance troupe Hot Gossip and released several disco singles as a solo performer. In 1981, ...
, and
ATC.
Christensen represented Germany at the final of the
2009 Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Moscow, Russia, following the country's victory at the with the song " Believe" by Dima Bilan. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union ...
in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
together with
Oscar Loya
Joseph Oscar Loya (born June 12, 1979) is an American singer and Broadway musical theatre performer.
Biography
Loya was born in 1979 in Indio, California and grew up as the youngest of five children in California. He is openly gay and lives i ...
, performing the song "
Miss Kiss Kiss Bang
Germany participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang" written by Alex Christensen and Steffen Häfelinger. The song was performed by Alex Christensen, Alex Swings Oscar Loya, Oscar Sings!. The German entry f ...
", finishing in 20th place.
Christensen's song "Doktorspiele", which included additional vocals by
Y-ass
Yasmin Knoch (born 27 September 1976), known professionally as Yasmin K. and also using the name Y-ass, is a German pop singer. She is best known for appearing in 2001 on the second season of ''Popstars (Germany), Popstars''.
Life and career
...
, won the 2008 Eurodanceweb Contest, determined by points assigned by a professional jury of disc jockeys, journalists, music producers, webmasters, and radio speakers from all over the world.
One of the songs produced by Christensen, ATC's "
Around the World (La La La La La)
"Around the World (La La La La La)" is the debut single of German-based international Eurodance group ATC (also known as A Touch of Class). The song is a cover of the Russian hit "Pesenka" by Ruki Vverh! and uses the song's melody with addition ...
", was later sampled in Beat Ink's "Around the World" in 2008 and used in
Chris Webby
Christian Walcott Webster (born October 13, 1988), better known by his stage name Chris Webby, is an American rapper from Norwalk, Connecticut. Chris Webby has released many mixtapes such as the DJ Drama-hosted ''Bars On Me'' (2012) and his ...
's "La La La" in 2009.
In 2007, Christensen released the song "
Du hast den schönsten Arsch der Welt
"Du hast den schönsten Arsch der Welt" ( en, "You Have the Sweetest Ass in the World") is a German-language song by dance music producer and DJ Alex C. (Alex Christensen). It was recorded in cooperation with and featuring singer Y-ass. Also in ...
" in co-operation with Y-ass. It sampled The Soundlovers' "Run Away". This song marked an international breakthrough for Christensen and it was re-released in several other languages. In some countries, the melody was adjusted to local preferences.
Jasper Forks (2010–present)
In early 2010, Christensen adopted the name Jasper Forks to mark a move away from the dance productions he had previously been associated with. He began producing tech piano house, and his first single, "River Flows in You", made it to the top 10 of the airplay charts all across Europe. The track is composed by Korean pianist
Yiruma
Lee Ru-ma ( ko, 이루마; born 15 February 1978), better known by his stage name Yiruma ( ko, 이루마, links=no), is a South Korean pianist and composer.
Biography
Yiruma was born in Seoul to a pastor. At age five, he began learning the pia ...
. His follow-up single, "Alone", was released in January 2011.
Discogs bio
/ref> In 2013, he released "J'aime Le Diable".
Personal life
Christensen is married to Nicole Safft. They have a son, born in 2003.
Discography
Studio albums
Singles as Alex C.
Singles as Alex Swings Oscar Sings!
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christensen, Alex
1967 births
Living people
Musicians from Hamburg
Eurovision Song Contest entrants for Germany
Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2009
German male singers
German pop singers
German songwriters
German house musicians
German dance musicians
German DJs
Electronic dance music DJs