Sandra Ann Lauer (born 18 May 1962), later known as Sandra Cretu and commonly referred to mononymously as Sandra, is a German pop singer who achieved widespread popularity in Europe during the 1980s and early 1990s. Many of her recordings were produced by her then-husband and musical collaborator Michael Cretu. Her best-known singles include "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" (1985), "In the Heat of the Night" (1985), "Everlasting Love" (1987), "Secret Land" (1988), "Hiroshima" (1990), and "Don't Be Aggressive" (1992). Her albums "Into a Secret Land" (1988) and "Close to Seven" (1992) received positive critical reception. Before beginning her solo career, Sandra was a member of the all-female disco group Arabesque, serving as its lead singer. The group achieved particular popularity in countries such as Japan and the Soviet Union. After leaving the group, Sandra began her solo career in the mid-1980s with productions by Michael Cretu. Between 1990 and 2003 Sandra also contributed vocals to recordings by the musical project Enigma, which achieved international commercial success, including top ten chart positions in the United States and the United Kingdom. Sandra became one of the prominent European pop performers of the 1980s, particularly in continental Europe. Several of her singles achieved significant chart success in multiple countries during that period. Her recordings have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide. Studio albums The Long Play (1985) Mirrors (1986) Into a Secret Land (1988) Paintings in Yellow (1990) Close to Seven (1992) Fading Shades (1995) The Wheel of Time (2002) Reflections (2006) The Art of Love (2007) Back to Life (2009) Stay in Touch (2012)
