Baccara
| Company type | Vocal duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Mayte Mateos, María Mendiola |
| Headquarters | Spain |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Baccara was a Spanish female vocal duo established in 1977, comprising Mayte Mateos (born 7 February 1951) and María Mendiola (4 April 1952 – 11 September 2021). Their initial release, "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie", rapidly gained international acclaim, topping numerous European charts and becoming the highest-selling single by a female duo with over 16 million copies sold globally. Following this success, their next single "Sorry, I'm a Lady", combined with a European tour, led to several album launches, frequent television appearances, and their selection as Luxembourg's representatives for the Eurovision Song Contest 1978.
While enjoying popularity in countries such as Spain, Germany, and Japan, their blend of disco, pop, and Spanish folk music saw a decline by 1981. By 1983, both Mateos and Mendiola embarked on solo careers with modest outcomes. Subsequently, they each formed separate duos under the Baccara name: Mendiola fronted New Baccara, whereas Mateos continued using the original moniker. During the 1990s, New Baccara reverted to simply Baccara, resulting in two distinct ensembles operating under the same brand. Both artists sustained individual careers anchored in their earlier success.
Mendiola’s iteration of Baccara achieved international recognition with several Hi-NRG dance hits such as "Fantasy Boy", "Call Me Up", "Touch Me", and notably the UK club favorite "Wind Beneath My Wings" in the late 1980s. Meanwhile, Mateos’ version released fewer new tracks but remained active through television appearances and live shows in Spain and Germany—markets where the original Baccara had a dedicated following—performing classic hits alongside updated traditional Spanish compositions.
Formation
In 1976, María Mendiola, then prima ballerina with Alberto Portillo’s Spanish Television ballet company, suggested to colleague Mayte Mateos that they form a singing and dancing duo called Venus. After departing from the ballet troupe, they initially worked as variety show dancers. Their television debut occurred on the light entertainment program Palmarés, followed by a nightclub gig in Zaragoza that was cancelled because the manager considered them "too elegant" for the venue. They subsequently moved to the Canary Islands, where they adapted traditional Spanish music and dance styles for international audiences.
Leon Deane, manager at RCA’s German division, discovered them performing flamenco and Spanish songs for German tourists in Fuerteventura. Fluent in English, María facilitated communication during negotiations. Deane invited them to Hamburg for an audition and developed their act under the name Baccara—derived from the black rose symbolizing their dark Spanish image. He devised their trademark style: soft vocal delivery paired with rich orchestration, disco rhythms, and a visually striking dual image (Mateos dressed in black and Mendiola in white), merging flamenco influences with 1970s disco trends.
Baccara (1977–1981)
Collaborating with songwriter Frank Dostal and producer Rolf Soja, they recorded their debut single "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" in the Netherlands in 1977. The song became a widespread summer hit across Europe, reaching number one in Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Sweden, Belgium, and Switzerland; it peaked at number three in France. With sales exceeding 16 million copies worldwide, it earned Baccara a Guinness World Record as the best-selling female musical duo at that time and made them the first female duo to top the UK charts—a milestone unmatched by Spanish artists there until Julio Iglesias achieved similar success four years later.
Their self-titled debut album followed soon after and became Finland’s first foreign double platinum record while remaining one of its top-selling albums. The subsequent single "Sorry, I'm a Lady" also enjoyed widespread European success. Although most tracks were recorded in English, versions in Spanish, German, and French were produced to appeal to various markets.
Extensive touring throughout Europe helped establish a loyal fan base particularly in Germany and Scandinavia; their fusion of Spanish-influenced disco gained recognition also in Japan and Russia. Representing West Germany at the 1977 World Popular Song Festival with "Mad in Madrid," they placed 14th out of 37 participating countries.
In 1978 Baccara released their second album Light My Fire, which included "Parlez-vous français?", their entry for Luxembourg at Eurovision 1978; this single achieved commercial success especially in Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium. That year they were honored with Germany’s prestigious Bambi award and became frequent guests on European TV shows such as the UK’s Sacha Distel program and Germany’s Musikladen.
Towards late 1978 came the release of "The Devil Sent You to Lorado" backed by "Somewhere in Paradise"; both tracks became signature songs—adopted by Christian radio stations and embraced by LGBTQ+ audiences respectively. A Spanish-language version was also issued. These songs featured on their first greatest hits compilation marketed as Los Éxitos de Baccara across Spain and South America.
In 1979 they released Colours accompanied by the single "Eins plus eins ist eins," commemorating the UN International Year of the Child. Despite continued output, commercial performance declined relative to earlier achievements.
Their fourth album Bad Boys (1981) marked the conclusion of their original collaboration amid changing musical tastes favoring punk rock, new wave, and synthpop genres. This album was not released in either the UK or US markets where they struggled to gain significant airplay or popularity despite some radio exposure. Critics noted that although their formula had become overused and lacked artistic depth by then, it still maintained stylistic appeal compared to many Eurovision contemporaries’ performances. Some reviews also pointed out perceived anti-feminist undertones within certain lyrics.
In 2002 New Musical Express remarked that Baccara’s Eurovision performance from 1978 retained its style even when other competitors appeared outdated.
Split
The release of "Sleepy-Time-Toy" as a single in 1980 led to a disagreement within Baccara regarding the vocal arrangement. Mendiola contended that her vocals were underrepresented and initiated legal action against RCA for contract violation, asserting that the track was essentially a solo effort by Mateos. A court in Munich mandated the withdrawal of 250,000 copies and required a revised edition featuring balanced vocal contributions and a reduced duration (from 6:12 to 5:44). The single did not achieve chart success.
This dispute strained relationships, resulting in Soja and Dostal being excluded from Baccara’s final album. The duo worked with Bruce Baxter and Graham Sacher in the UK to produce Bad Boys, but neither the album nor its single "Colorado" gained commercial traction. After RCA opted not to renew their contract in 1981, Mateos and Mendiola parted ways to embark on individual careers.
By 1988, both artists had issued singles and one studio album each—Mendiola’s Born Again and Mateos’ Spanish Dreams (under the name Mayte Mathée)—garnering moderate recognition within Baccara’s original audience. Mateos’ album was later reissued on CD in Germany as Noche Latina, while Mendiola’s work has yet to be released digitally. Interest in Baccara’s repertoire remained strong across Europe, motivating both to establish separate Baccara ensembles with new collaborators. Despite changes in membership and branding, both line-ups continued touring throughout Europe and released fresh albums, often re-recording classic hits for smaller labels under the Baccara name. Nonetheless, Sony Music Entertainment retains ownership of the original recordings from 1977 to 1981, as holder of the RCA catalogue.
To commemorate Baccara’s 30th anniversary, Sony-BMG Germany issued an extensive three-CD collection on 31 August 2007, comprising 50 original RCA tracks. This release included several songs such as "Mad in Madrid," "Amoureux," and "Candido" making their CD debut. However, some US 12" versions and extended album tracks from earlier records were absent.
Following their separation, Mateos and Mendiola never reunited for performances.
Mayte Mateos' Baccara (1983–present)
After the original Baccara disbanded in 1981, Mayte Mateos launched three solo singles under RCA-Victor with production by Rolf Soja. In 1983, she revived Baccara by partnering with Marisa Pérez, a fellow member of a Spanish television ballet troupe, reintroducing the group into the European entertainment scene. Over subsequent years, Mateos worked with various partners and currently performs alongside Paloma Blanco. Although new chart-topping hits have eluded them, Mateos’ version of Baccara remains active on television and live stages, concentrating on their extensive back catalogue and lively Spanish-language songs.
In 1999, Mateos teamed up with Cristina Sevilla to release Baccara 2000 through RCA-Victor/Sony-BMG, which featured a modern dance rendition of "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie." The album's production was handled by Thorsten Brötzman, noted for his collaborations with Thomas Anders and Blue System.
Mateos and Sevilla participated in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen in 2004 with the song "Soy tu Venus," aiming to represent their country at Eurovision but were defeated by Lena Philipsson. That same year they issued the studio album Soy tu Venus via Lionheart Records.
In 2005, Paloma Blanco replaced Sevilla as Mateos’ partner. The duo released Satin... In Black & White in 2008, produced by original Baccara producers Rolf Soja and Frank Dostal. This album contained reimagined versions of classic songs alongside new material but saw limited commercial success.
In 2013, Mateos collaborated with London indie group Sala & The Strange Sound on a cover of "Yes Sir I Can Boogie." Later in 2016, her Baccara joined forces with Fundacion Tony Manera for a rendition of Juan Carlos Calderón’s "Dame un Poco de Tu Amor."
Following the COVID-19 pandemic hiatus, Mateos’ Baccara performed three times—once in Logroño and twice in Mallorca—with their New Year’s Eve show for 2023/2024 aired on local broadcaster Canal 4.
Maria Mendiola's Baccara (1985–2021)
Originally named New Baccara to differentiate from Mayte Mateos' revived Baccara, Maria Mendiola teamed up with singer Marisa Pérez. In 1987, they achieved a top five position in Spain and entered the top 40 in Germany with "Call Me Up," penned by Ian Cussick. The following year, they released Euro-inspired Hi-NRG dance tracks on Bellaphon, such as "Call Me Up," "Fantasy Boy," and "Touch Me," all produced by Luis Rodríguez (producer). These songs became popular in clubs across Europe. Mendiola contributed lyrics to "Talisman," the Spanish adaptation of "Call Me Up," which gained traction in Latin America. Their 1990 album F.U.N. was issued via Dureco.
During the early 1990s, New Baccara reverted to the original name Baccara and concentrated on limited-edition club singles. Their rendition of Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings" (initially released in 1993 and reissued in 1999) enjoyed success within UK clubs.
In 2000, Mendiola and Pérez released the album Face to Face and embarked on a UK tour alongside The Supremes and The Three Degrees, including a performance at Wembley Stadium. They appeared on the British reality television show Hit Me Baby One More Time in 2005, delivering renditions of "Yes Sir I Can Boogie" and "Hero."
That same year, they were honored with a commemorative spot on Vienna's "Musical Mile" Walk of the Stars.
In late 2008, Marisa Pérez was diagnosed with acute polyarthritis, leading to Mendiola’s niece Laura stepping in temporarily for live shows, including an appearance at Moscow's "Disco 80" festival. This arrangement enabled Baccara to meet their performance obligations through 2010.
From 2011 onward, Mendiola performed alongside Cristina Sevilla (formerly partnered with Mayte Mateos). In 2016, they collaborated with Plugin to produce a fresh version of "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie." The following year saw the release of the album I Belong to Your Heart, produced by Luis Rodríguez, which featured eleven new tracks along with updated versions of "I Belong to Your Heart" and "Fantasy Boy."
In November 2020, "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" re-entered the UK charts after being featured in videos celebrating Scotland’s football team qualifying for UEFA Euro 2020. The single peaked at number 57 on the UK singles chart and remained for two weeks on the Official Singles Sales Chart. Mendiola expressed enthusiasm about recording a new version for the tournament finals.
June 2021 brought a remixed dance rendition of "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" by Scottish DJ George 'GBX' Bowie, featuring new vocals from Baccara as an anthem for UEFA Euro 2020; this remix reached number 11 on the Official Singles Sales Chart.
Maria Mendiola passed away in Madrid on 11 September 2021 at age 69, surrounded by family members. Her stage partner Cristina Sevilla paid tribute via Instagram, sharing her grief. Mendiola had been living with blood deficiency complications for twenty years.
Cristina Sevilla's Baccara (2022–present)
After María Mendiola’s death, Cristina Sevilla took over the Baccara name and its rights to honor Mendiola’s legacy. On 26 January 2022, Sevilla announced Helen De Quiroga as the new member. De Quiroga is an experienced vocalist who has worked with Miguel Bosé and Alejandro Sanz and performed in productions such as "Cats (musical)" and Spanish-language Disney projects like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King. The duo made their stage debut as Baccara in February 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Throughout that year, they appeared at prominent events including Seville’s Christian Dior fashion show, Madrid Pride celebrations, London’s Guilfest, Scotland’s Doune the Rabbit Hole festival, and Estonia’s Kuuslagufestival.
In September 2022, their label "Team 33" released the digital single "Don't Let This Feeling Go Away," produced by Luis Rodríguez. October included performances at a flower and garden exhibition in Brandenburg, Germany; November featured two concerts in California alongside Gina T.
The international touring schedule expanded in 2023 with appearances at Bolivia’s Oruro carnival in February and a vinyl maxi-single release of "Don't Let This Feeling Go Away" through In Out Record in May. This release contained extended mixes plus re-recorded versions of "Call Me Up" and "Fantasy Boy," featuring Sevilla and De Quiroga.
Later that year, they performed at Latvia’s Nostalgia Fest, the US-based New Wave Fest, held a solo concert in Kazakhstan, participated in Romania’s Arts & Culture festival, appeared at Paris’ Etam Live Show, and took part in a wine festival in Moldova.
November 2023 saw 'Team 33' digitally release a new single titled "When I'm with You." In January 2024, Sevilla and De Quiroga performed live in London.
Cristina Sevilla's iteration of Baccara maintains officially registered rights through both the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), establishing it as the legitimate continuation of the brand rather than merely a tribute ensemble.
Studio albums
| Release Year | Album Name | Highest Chart Rankings | Record Label | Sales Certifications | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | AUT | FIN | GER | NLD | NOR | SWE | UK | ||||
| 1977 | Baccara | 35 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 26 | RCA Victor |
|
| 1978 | Light My Fire | — | — | 1 | — | — | 11 | 10 | — | RCA Victor |
|
| 1979 | Colours | Did not chart | RCA Victor | ||||||||
| 1981 | Bad Boys | Did not chart | RCA Victor | ||||||||
Compilation albums
- 1978: The Hits of Baccara (RCA Victor)
- 1990: The Original Hits (BMG-Ariola)
- 1991: Star Collection (BMG-Ariola)
- 1993: The Collection (BMG-Ariola)
- 1994: Yes Sir, I Can Boogie (BMG-Ariola)
- 1994: Star Gala (BMG-Ariola/Spectrum)
- 1995: Golden Stars (BMG-Ariola)
- 1998: The Collection (BMG-Ariola)
- 1999: Woman to Woman (BMG-Ariola/Disky Communications)
- 2001: The Best of Baccara – Original Hits (BMG-Ariola/Hot Town Music-Paradiso)
- 2005: The Best of Baccara (Sony BMG/Camden UK)
- 2006: The Very Best of Baccara (Sony BMG)
- 2007: 30th Anniversary (Sony BMG)
Singles
| Release Year | Single Title | Top Chart Positions Achieved | Certifications Earned | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | AUT | BEL | GER | IRE | NLD | NOR | SWE | SWI | UK | |||
| 1977 | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" / "Cara Mia" | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
| 1977 | "Sorry, I'm a Lady" / "Love You Till I Die" | 96 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | |
| 1977 | 'Darling' / 'Mad in Madrid' | '—' | '7' | '14' | '6' | '—' | '17' | '1' | '5' | '9' | '—' | |
| 1977 | 'Koochie-Koo' / 'Number One' | '—' | '—' | '28' | '—' | '—' | '21' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | |
| '1977' | 'Granada' / 'Sorry, I'm a Lady' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | |
| '1978' | 'Parlez-Vous Francais?' / 'Amoureux' | '—' | '18' | '7' | '21' | '—' | '30' | '—' | '8' | '—' | '—' | |
| '1978' | 'The Devil Sent You to Lorado' / 'Somewhere in Paradise' | '—' | '4' | '18' | '4' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '15' | '5' | '—' | |
| '1979' | 'Body-Talk' / 'By 1999' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '26' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | |
| '1979' | 'Ay, Ay Sailor' / "One, Two, Three, That's Life" | '—' | '—' | '—' | '39' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | '—' | |
| '1979' | "Eins Plus Eins Ist Eins" / "For You" | colspan=10 align=center|"Did not chart" | ||||||||||
| '1980' | "Sleepy-Time-Toy" / "Candido" | colspan=10 align=center|"Did not chart" | ||||||||||
| '1981' | "Colorado" / "Mucho Mucho" | colspan=10 align=center|"Did not chart" | ||||||||||
| '1987' | "Call Me Up" (New Baccara) | colspan=10 align=center|"Did not chart" | ||||||||||
| '1999' | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie ’99" (Baccara 2000) | colspan=6 align=center|"Did not chart" | 42 | "Did not chart" | ||||||||
| '2004' | "Soy Tu Venus" (Baccara 2000) | colspan=7 align=center|"Did not chart" | 49 | "Did not chart" | ||||||||
| '2005' | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 2005" (Baccara) | — | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| '2021' | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" (Paul Keenan Remix) (GBX featuring Baccara) | colspan=10 align=center|"Did not chart" | ||||||||||
Albums
- 1994: Our Very Best (Includes re-recorded tracks alongside five brand-new songs)
- 1999: Baccara 2000
- 2004: Soy tu Venus
- 2008: Satin ... In Black & White
Maxi singles
- 1999: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie '99"
- 2004: "Soy tu Venus"
- 2008: "Nights in Black Satin"
Singles
- 1994: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" (Italo Disco Mix)
- 1994: "Sorry, I'm a Lady" (Italo Disco Mix)
- 1999: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie '99"
- 2011: "Christmas Medley" (Radio Edit) [Digital single]
- 2013: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 2013" (featuring Sala & the Strange Sounds)
- 2016: "Dame un Poco de Tu Amor" (collaboration with Fundacion Tony Manero)
Albums
- 1990: F.U.N.
- 1999: Made in Spain
- 2000: Face to Face
- 2002: Greatest Hits (Re-recorded material plus four new compositions)
- 2006: Singles Collection (Compilation with two additional tracks)
- 2017: I Belong to Your Heart (Contains eleven new songs along with extended and edited versions)
Maxi singles
- 1989: "Fantasy Boy"/"Touch Me" (Loading bay Records UK)
- 1989: "Call Me Up"
- 1990: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie '90"
- 2002: "Wind Beneath My Wings"
- 2005: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 2005"
- 2018: "Gimme Your Love" (Bobby To Extended Mix)
Singles
- 1987: "Call Me Up" / "Talismán"
- 1988: "Fantasy Boy"
- 1989: "Touch Me"
- 1990: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie '90"
- 1999: "Sorry, I'm a Lady" (Dance Version)
- 2000: "I Want to Be in Love with Somebody"
- 2000: "Face to Face"
- 2002: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" (Copa Remix)
- 2005: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 2005"
- 2008: "Fantasy Boy 2008" [Digital single]
- 2016: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" (Plugin & Baccara) [Digital single]
- 2017: "I Belong to Your Heart"
- 2017: "Super Sexy Baby"
- 2021: "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" (Paul Keenan Remix)
- 2021: "No Sir, Don't Say Goodbye"
Singles
- 2022: "Don't Let This Feeling Go Away" (available on digital platforms)
- 2023: "When I'm with You" (digital release)
- 2024: "Vamos al Cielo" (digital release)
- 2025: "The Power of Love" (digital release)
Maxi singles
- 2023: "Don't Let This Feeling Go Away" (includes extended versions of “Call Me Up” and “Fantasy Boy”)
- 2024: "Vamos al Cielo" / "When I'm with You"