Tatjana Simić (born June 9, 1963, Zagreb, Croatia, is a Dutch-Croatian singer and actress. Better known as simply Tatjana, she moved with her mother and sister to Rotterdam in 1979. ¹

Early career

In the 1980s, having won a national modelling contest, she commenced work as an actress and model. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany today, she remains known for her portrayal of the character "Kees Flodder", daughter of a dysfunctional and anti-social family engaged in a constant battle with the authorities, in several Dutch comedy films and television shows featuring the Flodder family in the 1980s and 1990s. ² The original movie was extremely popular in the Netherlands with two and a half million viewers.

Breakthrough as singer

She started a recording career in 1987 with her first single "Baby Love". Her song "Chica Cubana" became a hit in Europe, followed a year later by "Awake Boy" in 1989. In 1992, she recorded a version of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" with Dutch singer Gerard Joling. Her first album was released in 1993 and included the hit "Feel Good" which reached #25 in the Netherlands Top 40. Her best known song "Santa Maria" was recorded and produced by Mike Stock and Matt Aitken of Stock Aitken Waterman becoming an international dance hit. ³ A follow up single "Calendar Girl" released in 1997 through Central Station failed to attract the same success. A full album produced by Rene Van Verseveld and Wendy Alane Wright called "Feel Good" was released in Japan and the Netherlands which produced the singles, "Feel Good", "First Time" and "Sweet Sweet Smile". Since then she has released a number of dance singles, with "Baila Baila" reaching the Dutch Top 40 at No 24 in 2001. In 2008 Tatjana has made a come back to the music scene with the Dutch language song "Ik Laat Je Gaan", which leaves her signature Disco sound for a more rock pop style. The track was Tatjana's biggest Dutch hit to date reaching No 11 in the Dutch Singles Charts.

References

1. ^ Tatjana Simic biography at the Internet Movie Database
2. ^ Tatjana Simic at the Internet Movie Database
3. ^ cafe80s: Tatjana "Santa Maria" press release

External links

• Official website (in Dutch)
• "Tatjana" at Allmusic.com