View source for C. C. Catch

{{Short description|Dutch-born German pop singer (born 1964)}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = C. C. Catch
| image             = C.C.Catch 2011 Russia.jpg
| caption           = C. C. Catch in 2011
| birth_name        = Caroline Catherine Müller
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1964|7|31}}
| birth_place       = [[Oss]], [[North Brabant]], [[Netherlands]]
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| origin            = [[Germany]]
| genre             = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[synthpop]], [[Euro disco]]
| occupation        = Singer
| instrument        = {{Hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| years_active      = 1983–present
| label             = [[Hansa Records]]
| website           = {{URL|www.cccatch.de}}
| associated_acts   = [[Dieter Bohlen]], [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]], [[Captain Hollywood Project]], Krayzee, Dave Clayton, Optimal, [[Joy (Austrian band)|Joy]]
}}

'''Caroline Catherine Müller''' (born 31 July 1964), known professionally as '''C. C. Catch''', is a German pop singer, also known for her collaboration with [[Dieter Bohlen]] (one half of [[Modern Talking]]) in the 1980s.<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cc-catch-mn0000943157/biography|title=Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)|publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="Stern.de: C.C. Catch">{{cite web |url=http://www.stern.de/lifestyle/leute/was-macht-eigentlich-cc-catch-72535.html|title=Stern.de: C.C. Catch|date=18 June 2001 |work=[[Stern (magazine)|Stern]] |accessdate=11 August 2013|language=de}}</ref>

==Early life==

[[File:CCCatch2.JPG|thumb|C. C. Catch in 1989]]

C. C. Catch was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a German father and moved to [[West Germany]] in the late 1970s with her family.<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)"/> She was supported by her parents from an early age, when they recognised her talent and encouraged her wish to be a famous singer. Her father was especially supportive and played a very important role in her successful career as her manager and tour-manager.<ref name="Stern.de: C.C. Catch"/>

From an early age, the up-and-coming singer took part in talent contests and was originally a member of the German girl quartet Optimal, which consisted of four female members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oyla14.de/userdaten/903/46955/bilder/OptimalDsseldorfBoot1984.jpg |title=Flotter vierer |year=1984 |publisher=Düsseldorfer EXPRESS |accessdate=20 April 2013|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://optimal.oyla14.de/cgi-bin/hpm_homepage.cgi?skip=90346955|title=Die Ultimative Optimal Homepage|publisher=optimal.oyla14.de |accessdate=16 June 2014|language=de}}</ref>

==Musical career==

[[File:2002 С.С. Catch.JPG|thumb|C. C. Catch in 2002]]

[[File:С.С. Catch 2002.JPG|thumb|C. C. Catch in 2002]]

[[File:CCCatch ChartShow2 face.jpg|thumb|C. C. Catch in 2006]]

Müller was discovered by [[Dieter Bohlen]] in one of her performances in [[Hamburg]].<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)"/> Bohlen signed her to BMG, effectively launching her solo career.<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)"/> Bohlen gave her the stage name '''C. C. Catch''',<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)"/> the two "C"s standing for the first initials of her two first names, and "Catch" which she thought was a good idea and looked great with the initials.

In the summer of 1985, Catch released her debut single "[[I Can Lose My Heart Tonight]]". The single entered the top 20 in some European countries, including Germany and [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://swisscharts.com/song/C.C.-Catch/I-Can-Lose-My-Heart-Tonight-1338 |title=Hitparade.ch: C.C. Catch (I Can Lose My Heart Tonight) |publisher=Schweizer Hitparade |accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref>

Bohlen and Catch worked together until 1989, during which time twelve singles and four albums were released.<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)"/> Eight of those singles entered the top 20, whereas one of the albums entered the top 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=C.C.+Catch&country=de|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140918030746/http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=C.C.+Catch&country=de|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2014|title=Charts.de: C.C. Catch (Discography) |publisher=Charts.de |accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref> Catch wanted to bring more personal input to her songs, but Bohlen refused. As a result, in 1989, she parted ways with him and BMG.<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)"/> However, it took some court hearings for her to win the rights to her stage name.<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)"/>

On a New Year's Eve television show in [[Spain]], Catch met [[Simon Napier-Bell]] (former manager of [[Wham!]]'s [[George Michael]]). Shortly thereafter, Napier-Bell became her manager and signed her to Polygram subsidiary Metronome. Her first (and only) album on the label, ''[[Hear What I Say]]'', was released at the end of 1989 and was Catch's last album to date. It was produced by [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]] (ex-[[Duran Duran]]), Dave Clayton (who has worked with George Michael and [[U2]]), and Jo Dworniak.<ref name="Allmusic: C.C. Catch (Biography)"/> Seven of the songs were co-written by her, in which Catch was able to collaborate more. It sold more than her previous two albums, ''[[Big Fun (C.C. Catch album)|Big Fun]]'' and ''Diamonds'', demonstrating her abilities as an artist working on her own terms.

From this album, "[[Big Time (C. C. Catch song)|Big Time]]" was released as a single in 1989, and peaked at No. 26 in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=C.C.+Catch&title=Big+Time|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141018152327/http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=C.C.+Catch&title=Big+Time|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2014|title=Charts.de: C.C. Catch (Big Time) |publisher=Charts.de |accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref> During this time, BMG also released the single "Baby I Need Your Love", along with the compilation ''Classics''.

==Hiatus==

Afterwards, C. C. Catch parted with Metronome on good terms to take time out from the music industry. During this time, she focused on her spiritual growth, practicing yoga and a form of meditation; she also started writing her own songs.

At the beginning of the 1990s, C. C. Catch worked on a project by [[Peter Gabriel]] from which the song "Harmonix" emerged. It appeared on Jam Nation's 1993 album "''Way Down Below Buffalo Hell''". In 1998, she returned to Germany, released the single "Megamix '98" and appeared on the [[BBC]] music television program ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' with rapper Krayzee.

In 2003, her single "Shake Your Head" reached the top 12 sales charts in Spain in 2003 and developed into a summer hit in southern Europe. In 2004, Catch took part in the ProSieben show ''Comeback - Die Big Chance''. From this show emerged the single "Survivor" and the album ''Comeback United'', on which the participating artists such as C. C. Catch, [[Limahl]], [[Chris Norman]], [[Benjamin Boyce]], [[Coolio]], Jazzy von [[Tic Tac Toe (band)|Tic Tac Toe]], [[Haddaway]], Emilia and [[the Weather Girls]] contributed various songs. In the same year, she appeared on the US tour of pop duo Modern Talking.

In September 2010, the single "[[Unborn Love]]" was released, a collaboration with Spanish music producer [[Juan Martínez (music producer)|Juan Martinez]].

In 2015, Catch toured the [[United States]], including [[Los Angeles]], [[Dallas]] and [[Chicago]], followed by the first major concert in [[Toronto]], [[Canada]] in 2016, followed by a concert tour of [[South America]] in 2017 ([[Argentina]], [[Peru]], [[Chile]], [[Brazil]], and [[Bolivia]]).

In July 31 2024, she released a new single, "Heal Me" (produced by Luis Rodriguez), as a tribute to her father Peter Müller who died in April.

== Discography ==

===Studio albums===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="7" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[GfK Entertainment|GER]]<br/><ref name="German peaks">{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche?artistId=C.C.%20Catch|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts: C.C. Catch |work=[[GfK Entertainment]]|publisher=Offizielle Deutsche Charts|language=German|accessdate=4 December 2018}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br/><ref name="Austria's peaks">{{cite web|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=C.C.+Catch|title=C.C. Catch in der Österreichischen Hitparade|publisher=austriancharts.at. Hung Medien|language=German|accessdate=17 May 2013}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Official Finnish Charts|FIN]]<br/><ref name="Finland's peaks">{{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=43|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=C. C. Catch|pages=43–44|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=24 August 2022|language=fi}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[VG-lista|NOR]]<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=C.C.+Catch|title=C.C. Catch in Norwegian Charts|publisher=norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien|accessdate=17 May 2013}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Productores de Música de España|SPA]]<br/><ref name="Spain's peaks">{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}<!--|accessdate=26 January 2011--></ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=C.C.+Catch|title=C.C. Catch in Swedish Charts|publisher=swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien|accessdate=17 May 2013}}</ref>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Schweizer Hitparade|SWI]]<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=C.C.+Catch&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts|title=Hitparade.ch: C.C. Catch (Albums)|publisher=swisscharts.com. Hung Medien|language=German|accessdate=17 May 2013}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Catch the Catch]]''
|
* Released: 1986
* Label: [[Hansa Records|Hansa]]
* Formats: CD, [[LP record|LP]], [[Compact Cassette|Cassette]]
| 6 || 24 || 17 || 6 || 21 || 25 || 8
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Welcome to the Heartbreak Hotel]]''
|
* Released: 1986 
* Label: Hansa
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| 28 || — || 40 || — || 22 || 44 || —
|
*[[Productores de Música de España|SPA]]: Gold<ref name="Spanish certifications 1979-1990">{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/?x263f6daopkswo8|title=Solo Exitos 19592002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1979–1990|publisher=Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Like a Hurricane (album)|Like a Hurricane]]''
|
* Released: 1987
* Label: Hansa
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| 30 || — || 2 || — || 25 || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Big Fun (C.C. Catch album)|Big Fun]]''
|
* Released: 1988
* Label: Hansa
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| 53 || — || 31 || — || 22 || — || —
|
*SPA: Platinum<ref name="Spanish certifications 1979-1990"/>
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Hear What I Say]]''
|
* Released: 1989
* Label: Metronome Musik
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| 75 || — || 35 || — || 46 || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Album (Remastered)''
|
* Released: 10 August 2017
* Label: Italo Box Music
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|
|-
| colspan="11" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
|}

===Compilation albums===
<!-- Commented out: [[File:C.C. Catch Diamonds CD.png|alt=C.C. Catch – Diamonds - Her Greatest Hits|thumb|C.C. Catch – Diamonds - Her Greatest Hits - CD{{deletable file-caption|Thursday, 13 April 2023|PROD}}]] -->
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]]
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[GfK Entertainment|GER]]<br/><ref name="German peaks"/>

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Official Finnish Charts|FIN]]<br/><ref name="Finland's peaks" />

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Productores de Música de España|SPA]]<br/><ref name="Spain's peaks"/>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Diamonds: Her Greatest Hits''
|
* Released: 16 May 1988
* Label: Hansa
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| 43 || 23 || 25 
|
*SPA: Gold<ref name="Spanish certifications 1979-1990"/>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Super 20''
|
* Released: 2 January 1990
* Label: [[Ariola Records|Ariola Express]]
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Backseat of Your Cadillac''
|
* Released: 1991
* Label: Ariola Express
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Super Disco Hits''
|
* Released: 2 May 1994
* Label: Ariola Express
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Best of '98''
|
* Released: 1998
* Label: Hansa
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
| 76 || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Heartbreak Hotel''
|
* Released: 3 July 2000
* Label: Ariola Express
* Formats: CD, Cassette
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Best of C. C. Catch''
|
* Released: 18 September 2000
* Label: Ariola Express
* Formats: CD, Cassette
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''In the Mix''
|
* Released: 12 May 2003
* Label: Hansa
* Formats: CD, Cassette
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Catch the Hits''
|
* Released: 16 September 2005
* Label: [[Edel AG|Edel]]
* Formats: CD, Cassette
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''The 80's Album''
|
* Released: 28 October 2005
* Label: Edel
* Formats: CD
| — || — || —
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Maxi Hit Sensation-Nonstop DJ''
|
* Released: 12 May 2006
* Label: Edel
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Ultimate C. C. Catch''
|
* Released: 23 November 2007
* Label: Edel
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''25th Anniversary Box (5 CD)''
|
* Released: 11 November 2011
* Label: 4ever Music
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Hits & More''
|
* Released: 4 December 2017
* Label: Frontline Productions & Records
* Formats: CD
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Greatest Hits''
|
* Released: 5 October 2018
* Label: Ear Music, Ear Music Classics
* Formats: CD, FLAC
| — || — || — 
|
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Best''
|
* Released: 5 August 2022
* Label: Ear Music, Еdel
* Formats: CD, LP
| 63 || — || — 
|
|-
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
|}

===Singles===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" colspan="7" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album
|-
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| [[GfK Entertainment|GER]]<br/><ref name="German peaks"/>

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br/><ref name="Austria's peaks"/>

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| [[Ultratop|BEL (FLA)]]<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?lang=nl&cat=s&artist=C.C.+Catch&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts|title=Ultratop: C.C. Catch (Singles)|publisher=ultratop.be/nl. Hung Medien|language=Dutch|accessdate=17 May 2013}}</ref>

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"| [[Official Finnish Charts|FIN]]<br/><ref name="Finland's peaks" />

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Productores de Música de España|SPA]]<br/><ref name="Spain's peaks"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/song/C.C.-Catch/Shake-Your-Head-2003-9347|title=Hitparade.ch: C.C. Catch (Shake Your Head)|publisher=Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien|language=German|accessdate=29 August 2018}}</ref>

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Schweizer Hitparade|SWI]]<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&artist=C.C.+Catch&artist_search=starts&title=&title_search=starts|title=Hitparade.ch: C.C. Catch (Singles)|publisher=swisscharts.com. Hung Medien|language=German|accessdate=17 May 2013}}</ref>

!style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/cc%20catch|title=The Official Charts Company – C. C. Catch|date=10 July 2013|publisher=The Official Charts Company}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | "[[I Can Lose My Heart Tonight]]"
| rowspan="1" | 1985
| 13 || 24 || — || — || 7 || 19 || —
|rowspan=3|''[[Catch the Catch]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "[['Cause You Are Young]]"
| rowspan="4" | 1986
| 9 || 28 || — || — || 6 || 8 || —
|-
! scope="row" | "[[Strangers by Night]]"
| 9 || 15 || 33 || 11 || 10 || 11 || —
|-
! scope="row" | "Heartbreak Hotel"
| 8 || 22 || 23 || — || 3 || 13 || —
|rowspan=2|''[[Welcome to the Heartbreak Hotel]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "Heaven and Hell"
| 13 || — || — || — || 2 || 19 || —
|-
! scope="row" | "Are You Man Enough"
| rowspan="2" | 1987
| 20 || — || — || 21 || 5 || 28 || —
|rowspan=3|''[[Like a Hurricane (album)|Like a Hurricane]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "Soul Survivor"
| 17 || — || — || 12 || 1 || — || 96
|-
! scope="row" | "[[Good Guys Only Win in Movies]]"
| rowspan="4" | 1988
| — || — || — || — || 6 || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "House of Mystic Lights"
| 22 || — || — || — || 7 || — || —
|rowspan=1| Non-album single
|-
! scope="row" | "Backseat of Your Cadillac"
| 10 || — || — || 23 || 6 || — || —
|rowspan=4|''[[Big Fun (C.C. Catch album)|Big Fun]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "Summer Kisses"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "Nothing but a Heartache"
| rowspan="4" | 1989
| 39 || — || — || 10 || 14 || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "Baby I Need Your Love"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "[[Big Time (C. C. Catch song)|Big Time]]"
| 26 || — || — || 22 || — || — || —
|rowspan=2|''[[Hear What I Say]]''
|-
! scope="row" | "Midnight Hour"
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "C. C. Catch Megamix '98"
| rowspan="2" | 1998
| 33 || — || — || — || — || — || —
|rowspan=3|''Best of '98''
|-
! scope="row" | "Soul Survivor '98"
| — || — || — || — || 8 || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "I Can Lose My Heart Tonight '99"
| rowspan="1" | 1999
| 72 || — || — || — || 12 || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "Shake Your Head"
| rowspan="1" | 2003
| — || — || — || — || 12 || — || —
|rowspan=4| Non-album singles
|-
! scope="row" | "Silence" <br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring Leela)</span>
| rowspan="1" | 2004
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "Unborn Love"
| rowspan="1" | 2010
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "Another Night in Nashville"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(with [[Chris Norman]])</span>
| rowspan="1" | 2014
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row" | "Heal Me"
| rowspan="1" | 2024
| — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
|}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|C. C. Catch}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090218010526/http://cccatch.rbah.co.uk/ CC Catch Official UK site]
* [http://www.cccatch.de/ Official German site]
* {{Facebook | officialcccatch | Official Page }}
* [http://www.cc-catch.blogspot.com/ CCCatch Official Spanish Fanclub]
* [http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/C/Catch,_C.C./ C.C.Catch] at MusicMoz
* {{musicbrainz artist|id=4434b7dd-0bc6-4d01-952a-f60a60e464d0|name=C.C.Catch}}
* {{discogs artist|C.C. Catch}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}

{{C. C. Catch}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Catch, C. C.}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English-language singers from Germany]]
[[Category:English-language singers from the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Eurodisco musicians]]
[[Category:People from Oss]]
[[Category:Dutch women singers]]
[[Category:Dutch people of German descent]]
[[Category:German women pop singers]]
[[Category:Hansa Records artists]]