Let’s talk Anniemal. Released in the US in December 2005 via Big Beat/Atlantic Records, this debut from Norwegian alt-pop queen Annie was the kind of record that didn’t scream for attention—it shimmered in the corner and waited for the cool kids to find it.
And we did.
Who’s Annie? Real name Anne Lilia Berge Strand, she’s Bergen-born, Madonna-raised, and bloghouse-approved. A DJ turned singer turned underground icon, Annie carved her own lane with whispery vocals, neon beats, and a wink of melancholy. Think: Scandinavian cool with a club kid’s heart.
While it never hit mainstream radar stateside, Anniemal became a nightlife cult classic—a glittery, melancholic dancefloor gem that pulsed through indie clubs from NYC to LA. It was the kind of album you heard at 1:30 a.m., just as the fog machine kicked in and someone spilled a vodka soda on your vintage boots.
The opener “The Greatest Hit” sampled Madonna’s “Everybody”, and that was the hook. For those of us who were babies during peak Madonna—or discovered her during the 2000s 80s revival—Annie’s nod felt like a wink across generations. Nostalgic, but never kitsch.
Then came “Chewing Gum,” “Heartbeat,” “Always Too Late”—each track a Scandi-synth cocktail of airy vocals, layered beats, and bittersweet sparkle. Annie’s voice was breathy, almost whispered, but the production (courtesy of Richard X, Röyksopp, and Timo Kaukolampi) hit like neon.
We lived this era. Our 20s were spent dancing, drinking, and dressed up from London to LA warehouse parties in Echo Park. Anniemal was the soundtrack to that glittery chaos—equal parts hopeful and haunted.
It didn’t chart big in the US, but it didn’t need to. It lived in blogs, message boards, that new website Pandora and DJ CDR crates. Still, it made a dent:
📈 Chart Performance
- Norway Albums Chart: #6
- UK Albums Chart: #101
- US Top Electronic Albums: #13
- Australian Dance Albums Chart: #25
- “Chewing Gum” reached #8 in Norway and #25 in the UK
- “Heartbeat” peaked at #18 in Norway and #50 in the UK
20 years later, Anniemal still sounds like a secret that we lived. Relive it or discover it below!
Quick Fact Box
- First release date: September 28, 2004 (Norway)
- International rollout:
- UK: September 27, 2004 (679 Recordings)
- Europe: Fall 2004
- Japan: October 2004
- US: December 20, 2005 (Big Beat / Atlantic)
- Label/distributor: 679 Recordings (Europe), Big Beat / Atlantic (US)
- Formats/variants: CD, LP, digital
- Collaborators/producers: Richard X, Röyksopp, Timo Kaukolampi
And where is Annie today you say? Visit her on her official website at Annie – New Album Dark Hearts 16 October
Did Anniemal soundtrack your indie club nights? Still spinning “Chewing Gum” in your head? Drop your fave track or memory below—let’s dance like it’s 2005.
