Michelle - Essentials (2018)

Hailing from the southwestern corner of Germany, not far from Switzerland and the Black Forest, the schlager singer Michelle has been scoring German hits since the mid-'90s. She specialises in big, clear-voiced pop ballads, frequently adorned with tastefully synthesised, ABBA-style arrangements. When she sings about silver moons and star fire, you might detect a pinch of Stevie Nicks, while other songs have a bounce recalling early Sheena Easton. Some of her more exotic numbers reference Celtic music or bossa nova. As she's matured, she seems to have put her early innocence behind her.