The role of women in the music business has changed significantly. Madonna celebrated her 50th birthday with a No. 1 hit on the charts, Cher, at 60 years old, became one of Las Vegas’ biggest headliners, and Tina Turner committed to a sold-out world tour at the age of 70. “The careers of these women are an inspiration for me—absolutely!” Sandra expressed. “I was also wondering if I could continue in this dream job, staying true to my own voice and my outlook on life, which has given me absolute certainty. I can still sing ‘Maria Magdalena’ in the studio just as I did 25 years ago. It seems as though time is on my side.”
The view from her spacious terrace in Ibiza offers a stunning horizon, Sandra’s adopted home. She smiles as she shares her goals: “I just want to continue doing what I do today—just like in ‘Back to Life.’ And I want this dream life to allow me the freedom to go in any direction!”
Sandra Ann Lauer, known by her stage name Sandra, is a German pop singer who dominated European charts with eighteen top 20 hits during the 1980s and early 1990s, with the support of her then-husband and musical partner, Michael Cretu.
Sandra married Michael Cretu in 1988, and they were together until 2007. In 1985, Sandra achieved worldwide fame with “Maria Magdalena,” though she had already experienced a career as a “megastar” in Japan. Born on May 18, 1962, in Saarbrücken to her German mother, Karin, and French-origin father, Robert Lauer, Sandra shared a room as a child with her older brother, Gaston. The walls were decorated with posters of stars like David and Shaun Cassidy, and they spent their five-dollar allowance on singles they loved playing.
At age 10, Sandra received a basic guitar and music lessons from her class teacher, who lived on the same street. By 12, she knew she wanted to become a singer. At a children’s song contest, she surprised the audience with a perfect rendition of an Olivia Newton-John song.
Producer George Roman discovered Sandra in 1976 and recorded her first single, “Andy Mein Freund.” At that time, Sandra was also training in classical ballet twice a week, performing at the Saarbrücker city theater. In 1979, her parents signed a contract allowing 16-year-old Sandra to join the girl group “Arabesque” as the lead singer. From 1979 to 1985, Arabesque was enormously popular in Japan, with around 15 LPs, 30 singles, and one CD released. However, despite appearances on major German TV shows, they did not find the same success in Germany, although they released 6 LPs, several 12″ records, and 13 singles.
Sandra became the eye-catcher of Arabesque, often dressed in tight shirts, mini skirts, or sultry suits. She later reflected, “No girl feels comfortable going on stage dressed like that, but it was part of the show. I wouldn’t do it now.”
After Arabesque disbanded in early 1985, Sandra launched a solo career with the German-language single “Japan Ist Weit” (a cover of Alphaville’s “Big in Japan”). Despite its lack of success, her boyfriend Michael Cretu took over her management. With years of experience working with major artists in Germany, he formed a solid team around her.
In the summer of 1985, their first single under the “Sandra” name, “(I’ll Never Be) Maria Magdalena,” was released. Hubert Kemmler, of the band Hubert KaH, came up with the song’s biblical theme and sang the male vocals on the track. The song became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 in 21 countries from South America to Egypt and securing top 10 positions in five others.
In 1986, Sandra achieved second place at the Tokyo Song Contest with “In the Heat of the Night.” The following year, she appeared in an episode of the German crime series Tatort, performed concerts in Eastern Europe, and was the center of the German TV game show Die Pyramide on June 17, 1989.
Sandra married Michael Cretu on January 7, 1988, and they relocated to Ibiza, bringing along their recording studio and team. Success continued, and on July 6, 1995, Sandra gave birth to twins, Nikita and Sebastian. Just before their birth, she released her single “Won’t Run Away” from her ninth album, Fading Shades, and contributed vocals to Enigma’s Enigma 3 album.
By the end of 1997, rumors emerged about a new album. In May 1999, she released the 2-CD album My Favourites, which included a remix of “Secret Land” titled “Secret Land ’99 Remix.”
Updated list of Sandra’s discography, including her old and most recent releases:
The Long Play (1985)
Mirrors (1986)
Ten on One (The Singles) (1987)
Everlasting Love (1988)
Into a Secret Land (1988)
Paintings in Yellow (1990)
18 Greatest Hits (1992)
Close to Seven (1992)
Fading Shades (1995)
My Favourites (1999)
The Wheel of Time (2002)
Reflections – The Reproduced Hits (2006)
The Art of Love (2007)
Back to Life (2009)
Stay in Touch (2012)
The Very Best of Sandra (2016)
Recent Updates
In recent years, Sandra Cretu has remained active in the music scene, captivating audiences with both live performances and occasional new releases. She has continued to perform in various European venues, with notable appearances in Poland, Germany, Romania, and Kazakhstan in 2024, including high-profile concerts in cities like Warsaw, Gdansk, and Prague. These shows have been part of larger 80s-themed events, often alongside other prominent 80s pop icons, where Sandra performs her classic hits such as “(I’ll Never Be) Maria Magdalena,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and “Everlasting Love”.
Sandra recently revisited her classic tracks through remixes and reinterpretations, such as a refreshed remix of her song “Son of a Time Machine” released in 2024. This track exemplifies her interest in updating her music to blend the nostalgic synth-pop sounds of the 80s with contemporary electronic elements, keeping her sound relevant for both longtime fans and new listeners.
In terms of personal updates, there was a recent false rumor about Sandra’s health, which was addressed on her official website, confirming that she was not hospitalized and that the report was unfounded. Her team emphasized that official updates would only be shared through her verified platforms, reassuring fans of her well-being. Sandra remains in touch with her audience via social media, where she shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life and interactions with fans.