Eurocovers

Irena Jarocka (1946 - 2012)

2012-01-22T14:20:00.000+01:00

Polish singer and actress Irena Jarocka passed away yesterday.

♫ Ty I Ja Wczoraj I Dziś is a Polish coverversion of Tu Te Reconnaitras, the 1973 Luxembourg Eurovision winner originally by Anne Marie David. It's from her first LP W Cieniu Dobrego Drzewa from 1974.

Special thanks to Łukasz.

Soluna Samay - Subterranean Homesick Blues

2012-01-21T23:16:00.001+01:00

Bob Dylan at Eurocovers, whatevers next? This is Soluna Samay, who just won a ticket to Baku to represent Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Should've Known Better.
Read all about the Danish entry and Soluna's amazing history at The Baku Collection.

Bob Jalil

2012-01-19T18:03:00.002+01:00

coming soon.....

Sébastien Tellier - Pépito Bleu (Official Music Video)

2012-01-18T15:54:00.000+01:00

Now that's an album I'm looking forward to. Bring on 2012!

CD news: Safura's Drip Drop gets a Lena Valaitis makeover

2012-01-07T11:38:00.006+01:00

1981 Eurovision singer Lena Valaitis has recorded a coverversion of Drip Drop, the Azerbaijan Eurovision entry from 2010. Original singer Safura took the song to fifth place at the Oslo contest.

The German version of Drip Drop is Ich Will Alles (I want everything). It's the title track of Valaitis' new CD which will be out on Januari 27.
The album also includes Lena Valaitis' new single Ein Schöner Frühlingstag (A beautiful spring day) which is a coverversion of the song best known as Mary Hopkins Those Were The Days (1968).
It is actually originally a Russian folk song from the 1920's (Дорогой длинною, Endless Road)

Lena Valaitis entered the 1981 contest with Johnny Blue, written by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger. She ended 2nd, only 4 points behind the mighty Bucks Fizzez (?) Making Your Mind Up.

thanks, links and sources:

Special thanks to Marion at Muziek en Media
Lena Valaitis homepage
In 2012 the contest will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, You can read all about the 2012 contest releases at the Baku Collection.
Here you can read extended release / versions info on all Azerbaijani entries so far.
Johnny Blues
Here you can find a lovely Chinese version of Johnny Blue by Annabelle Lui. A version by Swedish Thorleifs is here.

Happy New Year Cupcakes

2012-01-01T09:09:00.002+01:00

Eurocovers wishes all readers

a very Happy New Year.

And may your country win something this year......

and Godspeed to the people of Baku

Smurfular Eurocovers 2011

2011-12-18T13:49:00.000+01:00

Here's a shopping tip for the kids, just in time for the Christmasjul:
Having barely recovered from their multi million grossing movie theatre success the little blue guys (+1 girl) in the white pointy hats are at it again.
The Smurfs (or Smurfarna in Swedish) have recorded a Swedish version of Popular for their new album Smurfparty 3.
They call the song Populär. Also on the same album is a version of the Norwegian entry Haba Haba, now titled Bada Bada.
The album is out on Warner / Metronome on december 7. (WMS-5052498-980826)

The same two tracks can be found on their new Norwegian album Smurfeparty 3 (as Smurfene). Popular becomes Populær and Haba Haba is now Dans Meg Til Smurfeland. (Warner 5052498981021)

Since the little critters are cunning multilinguists they also recorded a Danish version Populær for their new Danish album Smølfeparty 3 (as the Smølferne) but that one doesn't have Haba Haba. (Warner Music Nordic)

Eric Saade's Popular and Stella Mwangi's Haba Haba were the 2011 Eurovision entries for Sweden and Norway respectively.
(links will take you to the Düsseldorf Collection pages)
Some Smurftastic Eurocovers of the 2009 and 2010 contest are documented here also featuring some smurfing oldies.

CD news: Young for 50 years: Dúo Dinámico

2011-12-10T11:49:00.007+01:00

Here’s some info on a new CD album by Dúo Dinámico, just released last week.
The duo are Manuel De La Calva and Rámon Arcusa from Spain and they have been at it for 50 years now, hence the albums title: Young for 50 years.
Somos Jovenes 50 Años is a collection of newly recorded duet versions of songs from the rich Arcusa / De La Calva vaults. Of course it includes their much debated 1968 Eurovision winner La La La in an interesting new version.

At Eurovision the song was performed by Massiel after the original choice singer Joan Manuel Serrat was axed for wanting to sing in Catalan. (more about that here).
Dúo Dinámico have now recorded La La La with Serrat. The first part of the song is Serrat singing in Catalan, the second part is the duo singing in Spanish.
Perhaps not the best version of the song, but an interesting version for the die hard fans and collectors.

The CD is out in Spain now and also available digitally at Los Tunos. The CD version comes with a DVD with a 'making of' the Somos Jovenes documentary and rare archive material in which they undoubtedly sport many of their attractive trademark sweater vests.

The full tracklist of the album:
01 Quisiera Ser - with Miguel Rios
02 Como Ayer - with Soledad Gimenez
03 Resistire - with Alaska
04 Perdoname - with Lolita
05 Eres Tu - with Andy y Lucas (not the Mocedades song)
06 Amor De Verano - with Carlos Baute
07 Quince Años Tiene Mi Amor - with Ana Torroja
08 Esos Ojitos Negros - with Diana Navarro
09 Somos Jovenes - with Los Pecos
10 Lolita Twist - with Leslie of Los Sirex and Santi of Los Mustang
11 Soy Un Truhan Soy Un Señor - with Julio Iglesias
12 La La La - with Joan Manuel Serrat

Title track Somos Jóvenes is a 1962 hit for the duo. Quisiera Ser is also the title of a 2007 musical built with 24 songs of the dynamic boys in Mamma Mia style.
Como Ayer from 1966 is one of their many contest winning hits, in this case the Mediterranean Song Festival.
In the early seventies they more or less stopped recording and focussed on writing and producing for other artists.
In 1968 the duo recorded and released La La La themselves (as Manolo y Ramon) ♫

Special thanks to José Antonio

Some older La La La posts at Eurocovers:
Norwegian with Kirsti, Oddvar and Arne.
Icelandic with the modern kids of Nútímabörn.
La La La and I'll Cry If I Want To with Lesley Gore.
Estonian with Leelo Karp.

It's blue and it's a single!

2011-12-08T16:22:00.007+01:00

German noisy jumpers Scooter recorded C'est Bleu for their new album The Big Mash Up. They got a little help of Eurovision Royal Vicky Leandros, the original singer of L'Amour Est Blue.

The 1967 song, a.k.a. Love Is Blue only ended 4th in the contest, but it became an evergreen. Although several other versions stole Vicky's thunder.
But she's making up for that with a vengeance: the Scooter/Vicky track is released as a cdsingle (and download of course) and ít will be a smash hit. It's out on the Sheffield/Edel label in Germany.
And above is the official video which is from the Scooter Youtube channel.

BeaRecords sells the 2-track cdsingle which also features the Dubstyle remix of the song.

Update: O.K. it's not # 1 yet, but C'est Bleu enters the German charts at a modest #77 (week 50)

Love Love Love
Eurocovers loves L'Amour Est Bleu a lot (and so do many of you) so there have been several posts since the very first Eurocovers piece on Paul Mauriat and his re-invented 2nd version of the same song.
Check out these:
10.000 coverversions: #2 most covered Eurovision song with The Dells, Liberace and the Amazing Dorothy Ashby.
Little Tempo ft Yoko Futita.
Love Is Blue special with The Pees, Moony and of course Barbara Y Dick.
Thank you India, versions in Hindi and Telugu
Ann Margret or not?
Funky bagpipes: Rufus Harley (if you only check out one....)
Rouge Hot from China
Yvetta Simonova
Åse Kleveland
Disco Colors (tubeclip only)

Poupée de cire, Poupée de son x 2

2011-12-03T11:57:00.003+01:00

Viva Niñas

Here's a lovely coverversion of Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son, the Luxembourg Eurovision winner originally by France Gall. Viva Niñas are Véronica Codesal, Soetkin Collier and Sophie Cavez, all members of Urban Trad of Sanomi fame (Eurovision 2003).

The girls love Eurovision and have performed many Eurovision hits in their live shows From Waterloo To Sanomi.
Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son was released as a digital single last year and is still available at your digital outlets.

Above audio is from the Viva Niñas Youtube channel.
Also check out.Vina Niñas Myspace.

Jean Cristophe

And here's another cover of the Serge Gainsbourg / France Gall classic. Less cheery-uppety than the Niñas, but equally lovely.

This track is from an album that is scheduled for release on Valentines day 2012: Ma Vie En Rose by Jean Cristophe.

Jean Christophe Ma Vie En Rose website.

Anggun - Puppet on A String - En Route Pour L'Eurovision

2011-11-29T14:43:00.003+01:00

Here's Anggun performing Puppet On A String in the 2011 Eurovision presentation show where the 2011 French entry Sognu by Amaury Vassili was introduced.
It was just announced that the same Anggun will represent France in the 2012 contest in Baku. Find out more about next years French bid here at the Baku Collection.

Some Indonesian Eurocovers at the following pages: Lilis Suryani, Hamidah Ahmad, Sandra Reemer

The Kids Are Alright 2011

2011-11-27T08:27:00.011+01:00

Avid contest fanatics know that next to the Eurovision Song Contest for the grups there's a version for the kids. The Junior Eurovision Song Contest is going into its 9th edition this year in Yerevan, Armenia.

Loads of fun to be had for the kids.
The kids of 13 countries will sing their pretty little hearts out for their homeland on the 3rd of December.

To celebrate, here's some kids covering some of your favorite Israeli Eurocovers.
The kids on the right are Ensemble Theila, a group of kids doing song and dance through their school (St. Petersburg School № 274 Yerushalayim, Russia).
The happy bunch made an album My Little Land (private issue) covering the classics from Israel, including some Eurovision songs. Some surprising choices and some obvious ones.

The Eurovision songs are:
A Ba Ni Bi, Israels first winner from 1978 (Izhar Cohen and the Alpha Beta).
Hallelujah, the follow up and a home win for Milk and Honey in 1979.
Kan, Duo Datzes #3 from the 1991 contest and still the best example of a classic Israel entry, choreography and all. Love.

Ze Rak Sport (The Theila's call it Rak Sport). This is a bit of a surprise, as I have never before come accross a coverversion of this 1992 entry. Ze Rak Sport was a sunny and poppy ode to the Olympics to be held in Barcelona, Spain that year. Dafna Dekel and her handsome conga boys reached 6th place at the Stockholm contest. The English version of the song was titled Viva Sport.
Amen, Liora's 1995 effort to make a new Hallelujah didn't quite achieve that, but still ended 8th.

Israel has never participated in the Junior, but they sent a 12 y.o. to the grown up contest back in 1989.
Russia has been doing Junior since 2005. They won in 2006 and ended 2nd in 2009 and 2010.

♫ all five songs in a zip.
Special thanks to StPeters78

A few years back Eurocovers featured some more kids stuff to celebrate the JESC: The Kids Are Alright 2007.
Part 1: The Girls - Marisol, Tatiana, Teresa Strobl
Part 2: The Boys - Robertino, Demis, Hákon Guðni Hjartarson
Part 3: The Angels - Little Angels of Korea, Les Petits Chanteurs A La Croix Du Boix, Les Petits Chanteurs D'Aix En Provence
Another wonderful kid is Jacques Aylestock in this Eurocovers post.

The 2011 Junior Eurovision CD (2CD with original an karaoke versions) will be available through BeaRecords. They also stock a host of other Junior ESC CDs and cdsingles of past contests.

Off Topic: Cœur De Pirate - Blonde

2011-11-20T18:16:00.009+01:00

Off Topic Topic alert! But here's a shopping tip for everyone who likes a bit of French Pop.
I just ordered the CD Blonde by Cœur De Pirate, because it's wonderful, lovely, gorgeous and all that.
I stumbled accross the Cœur De Pirate website landing on the Boutique page. Scroll down a bit you can listen to all tracks of the album. If you do just that I won't have to blab on about how lovely this album is.
I hadn't heard of Cœur De Pirate before (nobody told me) but it turns out it's a nom de plume for Béatrice Martin from Quebec.
She already has one hitalbum behind her with Cœur De Pirate, which spent over two years in the French charts (and still I missed it).
She had a #1 in France in 2009 too, a Duet with Julien Doré: Pour Un Infidèle, which also scored a top 10 hit in both Belgiums.

Blonde is CDP's second album and it just entered the Canadian album charts at #5.
It's poppy, romantic, sometimes emotional (Cap Diamant is goosebumps material) a bit retro and definitely sexy.
Of course there are some comparisons that pop up right away and it would be very easy to say Vanessa Paradis. Actually, if you like VP, you'll love CDP. There's also a hint of Lykke Li or Alizée or even Françoise Hardy from the olden days.

A la Boutique you can buy the digital download, CD or LP of the album. But if you buy any of the physical formats you get the digital version as well (and straight away, listening to it now). Very easy payments and worldwide distribution are available.

Now if only Switzerland would go back to scouting in Canada for their Eurovision entries....

Cœur De Pirate website
The clip below is the first hitsingle from the album titled Adieu.

Af álfum - Frostrósir 10 ára, Christmas is coming (updated!)

2011-11-13T17:23:00.022+01:00

Not a Eurocover and way early of course, but how many famous Icelandic Eurovision people do you recognise in this clip? (see below) What a wonderful christmas song. (and I don't do christmas songs very much thank you)
RÚV (Icelandic TV people) should consider sending this to Eurovision. I mean, it's wonderful, it's already finished, no hassle and costs of a multi-round preselection and even if some get the flu, there's enough singers here to do it. It would be the first Christmas song at Eurovision which would be in itself Eurovision History-Book-On-The-Shelf worthy. Consider it....

The Fróstrosir project celebrates 10 years of Christmas music this year.
Here's the Fróstrosir homepage where you can find out if you spotted all the stars. (under Flytjendur)

In the past Fróstrosir have Christmafied two Swedish Eurovision entries.
The 1996 entry Den Vilda (One More Time, 3rd place) became Dansaðu Vindur and was released on the CD Fróstrósir (2002) and compilation Fróstrósir - Best lögin' (2006).
1995's Se på mig (Jan Johansen, 3rd place) became Stjärnan Min and was released on the CD Heyr Himna Smiður (2008)
Update: Fróstrósir and Eurobandið singer Friðrik Ómar also gave a Swedish Eurovision track the Christmas Once Over: Tommy Körbergs majestic Stad I Ljus (Sweden 1988 by Tommy Körberg) became Vetrarnótt for the 2010 holiday season.
Another Update: Af Álfum, Vetrarnótt, Stjärnan Min and Dansaðu Vindur can all be found on the new album / 2CD Fróstrosir Fagna. (thanks Dominique!)

More Fróstrosir in this Eurocovers post.

Fróstrosir 2011 features the following Eurovisiony people:
Eiríkur Hauksson - Three time Eurovision star (1986 with trio Icy, 1991 with quartet Just4Fun for Norway and his own fantastic Valentine Lost in 2007.
Hera Björk - Je Ne Sais Quoi was her Eurovision eruption in 2010, and she also had the fabulous entry Someday ending 2nd in the Danish 2009 final. She also recorded an Icelandic coverversion of Christine Guldbrandsens Alvedansen (Norway 2006)
Friðrik Ómar - Member of Eurocovers fabulous favorites Eurobandið, well know for This Is My Life (2008) also had some great solo tunes in the Icelandic preselections (Það Sem Verður 2006 and Eldur 2007)
Regína Ósk - Member of Eurocovers favorites Eurobandið, also had a great solo tune in the Icelandic preselection (Þér Við Hlið in 2007)
Guðrún Árný - Pre-selection singer in 2003 with Með Þér.
Eivør Pállsottir - Faroese singer participated in the Icelandic selection with I Nótt in 2003. She's the main singer on Dansaðu Vindur.
Heiða Ólafs - In 2009 pre-selection with Dagur Nýr.
Matti Matt - My favorite Sjonni Boy. Coming Home 2011. In 2010 he had a solo song in the selection: Out Of Sight.
Stefán Hilmarsson - Two time Eurovision singer Stefan out of Beathoven (1988) and Stefan and Eyfi.
Also appeared as backing singer and musician on various Icelandic entries.
Ína Valgerður - Eurocovers star recorded the Italian 1964 winner Non Ho L'eta in Icelandic. Entered the Icelandic selection in 2008 with Lullaby To Peace.
Jógvan Hansen - Preselection 2010 (One More Day) and 2011 (Ég Lofa)
Ragnar Bjarnason - Legendary Icelandic singer, recorded Eurocovers of Volare and Non Ho L'eta(Italy's 1958 and 1964 entries)
Sissel Kyrkjebø - Internationally acclaimed classical singer from Norway, was in the 1986 contest interval performance.
Ragga Gröndal - Two times national semi finalist (2003 with Ferrari and 2008: Wake Me Up), member of the Fancy Toys and a bestselling singer in Iceland.
Guðrún Gunnars - Judge on the Paul Oscars Eurovision previewTV show Alla Leið
The other singers without any Eurovision relation that I know of are: Ágúst Ólafsson, Björg Þórhallsdóttir, Erna Hrönn, Garðar Thór Cortes, Gissur Páll, Guðrún Gunnars, Hulda Björk Garðarsdóttir, Jóhann Friðgeir, Kolbeinn Ketilsson, Margrét Eir, Óskar Pétursson, Vala Guðna and Védís Hervör. Producers / arrangers Karl Olgeir Olgeirsson and Árni Harðarson also appear in the video.

Sha La Lie, Sha La La 11-11-11

2011-11-12T10:14:00.003+01:00

Sha La Lie, Sha La La, that song just keeps on giving.
11 - 11 - 11 sees another cover version of Sieneke’s Dutch schlager entry to the Oslo Eurovision Song Contest of 2010.
The song didn't reach the final but it's probably the most covered entry of 2010. (in fierce competition with the Danish entry In A Moment Like This)

The new release is from Germany. Cölln Girls have recorded Sha-La-Lie in Kölsh (the language / dialect spoken in Cologne) in time for the launch of Karneval season 2011/2012.
After Sebastian Charelle and Jäger DJ Alex / Matti Valentino this is the third German language version of the Father Abraham (Pierre Kartner) penned song.

A cdsingle by the Cölln Girls is released by Pavement records (4012122801669) and also has two other songs.

The track is also available through various digital sources and it can be found on the various artists CD Karneval Der Stars folge 41.

Cölln Girls website has a soundclip

Read all about the ongoing avalanche of Sha La Lie's here at the Oslo collection.
Here's an amateur live recording (the tube)

The Road To Baku - I Quattro

2011-11-11T16:41:00.016+01:00

Swiss TV have announced the line-up of their National Final to be held on December 10. Eurocovers already did a bit about la Grandmère D'Eurovision Lys Assia in this post, and I'm glad she's through to the final 14.

One act Lys Assia will have to compete against is I Quattro, not the sons of Suzi (unfortunately), but a group of four tenors Roger Widmer, Simon Jäger, Damian Meier and Matthias Aeberhard.
Their debut album Passione from 2009 reportedly shifted 30.000 copies in Switzerland. This album includes a coverversion of Io Senza Te (Me without you), the 1981 Swiss entry originally by Peter, Sue and Marc*.
The song ended in 4th place and was a hit in Dutch as Het Is Nog Niet Voorbij (It's not over yet) for Willeke Alberti in 1982 and for Gerard Joling in 2008. (Both are Dutch Eurovision singers). A Swedish version was recorded by Kicki Moberg (Leva Utan Dig).
The song was covered in Italian, French, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Spanish and Norwegian.
Below is the Io Senza Te video from the 2009 TV show Die Grössten Schweizer Hits, which was more or less the breakthrough moment for I Quattro.

Update: I Quattro ended 4th in the Swiss national final. Read all about the winner here at the Baku Collection.

On the second I Quattro album Emozioni two Eurocovers can be found. Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (Don't leave without me) is the Swiss 1988 winner by Celine Dion. Viver Senza Tei (To live without you) is the Swiss entry from 1989. It was performed by Furbaz, the group of Marie Louise Werth and the songs main claim to Eurovision History fame is that it's the only Swiss entry ever to be performed in Romansch, the language of the Graubünden area.
Emozioni also includes a coverversion of Lys Assia's Oh Mein Papa.
The third I Quattro album was their 2010 Christmas album Winterträume.

The I Quattro are sensitive boys: all their Eurocovers are about loneliness and stuff. So it's no surprise their Eurovision effort is titled Fragile. The song will be performed in English and is a big classical ballad you might expect from four tenors.

Peter, Sue and Marc.

* Eurovision anoraks already knew this but if you didn't: Peter Sue and Marc are in the Eurovision History-Book-On-The-Shelf for participating four times (quite a feat in itself) in four different languages.

Their first entry Les Illusions De Nos Vingt Ans which was in French (12th in 1971). 1976 song Djambo Djambo was in English (4th place).
In 1979 German language song Trödler Und Company took them to 10th place, albeit with the help of some blokes called Pfuri, Gorps and Kniri and their assortment of garden utensils. (Oh, those golden days when Eurovision was only about the music....).
The final and arguably best Peter, Sue and Marc effort was Io Senza Te, sung in Italian and reaching 4th place in 1981.

Listen to the 2012 Swiss final songs here at SF TV.
For more on Eurovision 2012 check The Baku Collection.
Some more Swiss Eurocovers: Swiss Lady from Kenya, 'T En Va Pas - Dana Valery, Refrain - Jula de Palma, Flo Sandon's.

Hablemos Del Awards: Manuel Alejandro

2011-11-09T12:24:00.009+01:00

Congratulations are in order: Composer Manuel Alejandro receives a lifetime achievement award at this years Latin Grammy Awards.
Eurovision fans know him from two of Spains classic songs Yo Soy Aquel and Hablemos Del Amor, both performed by Raphael at the contest. Alejandro composed many of Raphaels hits.

In his career spanning almost 50 years, Manuel Alejandro also wrote for artists like Julio Iglesias, Rócio Durado, Angelica Maria, Jeanette, Luis Miguel, Fangoria, Luz Casal, Marisol, Emmanuel and many others.

Yo Soy Aquel, Spains 1966 Eurovision song is a classic that is still being recorded in this millenium. Check out this Eurocovers post for some interesting new versions.
The song also features in many incarnations of the Monte Christo TV series.
One of the most recent coverversions of Yo Soy Aquel is recorded by this years Russian Eurovision singer Alexej Vorobyev/Alex Sparrow, who recorded it for the Russian version of Monte Christo.

Other artists that have recorded Yo Soy Aquel are Chayanne, Gerardo, Oscar Golden, Imelda Miller, Juan Legido, Ned Nelson, Kenny Damon, Portuguese Eurovision star Simone de Oliveira, Willy Alberti, Louis Ramirez, Ray Conniff, Paul Mauriat and Raymond Lefevre.

And a fantastic version (in English) of the 1967 Eurovision song Hablemos Del Amor by Dutch Eurovision singer Ben Cramer in a very early incarnation (with the Sparklings) is here.

The Road To Baku - Lys Assia

2011-10-23T14:52:00.010+02:00

I know, christmas is up first, but it’s already so busy on the Eurovision 2012 that Eurocovers will take an early peak on artists who are trying to get to Baku by means of their national finals.
Switzerland has a very extensive preselection (more info here) with well over 200 songs participating in various broadcasters pre-pre-pre voting extravaganzi.

One artist that of course caught everybody’s attention is Lys Assia, who enters the selection with C’était Ma Vie penned by 'Mister Eurovision' Ralph Siegel with lyrics by 'Mister L’Oiseau Et L’Enfant' Jean Paul Cara.
The song is a big orchestra driven ballad reminiscing of the olden days. It's Lys Assia's My Way or This Is My Life (The Shirley Bassey one). I don't know if there's a place for the rather old fashioned entry in todays Eurovision field, but it's great to see the old gal is still at it.

Update: Broadcaster SF has announced that Lys Assia will proceed to the Swiss National Final on December 10. Congratulations!
Another Update: Lys Assia ended 4th in the Swiss national final. Read all about the winner here at the Baku Collection.

Eurovision fans will of course know (and some even remember) the Grand Dame / Grand Ma of Eurovision as the first ever winner of our annual music fest. With the song Refrain, written by Geo Voumard and Émile Gardaz, Lys Assia won the initial edition of the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1956.

In 1956 each of the seven participating countries had two songs in the (radio only) competition. Switzerland selected former Miss France Lys Assia with Das Alte Karussell (The old Carousel) and the eventual winner Refrain.

The Swiss must have loved Lys a lot as she went on representing the country in 1957 with L'enfant Que j'Étais (The child that I was, 8th place) and in 1958 with her best effort Giorgio (2nd place, brilliant song).

Lys Assia’s biggest hit was not any of her Eurovision songs (although Giorgio did quite well in several pre historic charts) but her version the evergreen Oh Mein Papa (1950). Other hits include Arrivederci Roma (1956) Deine Liebe (1957), Ein Kleiner Gold'ner Ring (1961) and Die Sterne Von Syrakus (1962).

Eurocovers
In my book there are three Eurovision songs Lys Assia covered. There may be more, as Lys Assia must have recorded about a million songs in the 50’s and sixties.

Italy 1961: Al Di Là (Betty Curtis)
In Italian with the Dino Olivieri Orchestra
- on EP Philips 431 054, also LP San Remo's greatest hits 1958-1966

Denmark 1963: Dansevise (Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann)
Der Sommer ging voruber (German) ♫
- single Telefunken U 55705

U.K. 1963: Say Wonderful Things (Ronnie Carroll)
Zwei blaue Vergißmeinnicht (German) ♫
- single Telefunken U 55705
(Both 1963 songs were released on the same single)

Bonus ♫ Adorable Lys - A medley recorded in 1964 with the Addy Flor orchestra sung in English, German, French and Spanish including a bit of Refrain.

Related Eurocovers posts and links
Geo Voumard / Jula De Palma (Refrain), Flo Sandon's (Refrain)
Ralph Siegel: Dschinghis Khan (Moscow weeks) Dschinghis Khan (Korea) I Can't Live Without Music (Russia) Ein Bisschen Frieden (Korea, Norway, Korea II)
Jean Paul Cara: L'Oiseau style Zouk

Eurovision 2012 - The Baku Collection
Shopping: Lys Assia at BeaRecords

Absent Friend - Ingvar Wixell 1931 - 2011

2011-10-10T06:49:00.004+02:00

Swedish Opera singer and Eurovision star Ingvar Wixell died.

Wixell's place in Eurovision history is highlighted by the fact that he sung his entry (for Sweden) Absent Friend in English. No one* had done that before and it also caused the much debated language rule to be introduced where every artist must sing in his own countries' language.

* of course except U.K. entries and the first Irish one, on stage 7 songs before Wixell.

Absent Friend was originally Annorstädes Vals in Swedish. Ingvar Wixell sang six songs in the Swedish national final of 1965 (Svensk sångfinal). He never recorded any other Eurovision song.

Ingvar Wixell was a celebrated baritone who performed for many years with the Stockholm Opera and the German Opera of Berlin. Many of his classical performances were released on LP/CD.

He also recorded a popular christmas album Christmas Music In Sweden (1964).

Re-release news, not so historic B.O.M. album finally gets CD release.

2011-10-09T09:35:00.009+02:00

Brotherhood Of Man, you either love'em or adore'em.
The 1976 Eurovision winners (Save Your Kisses For Me) were quite succesful in the 70's.

The Eurovision line-up we all know and love had some international hits before the contest (1975 hit Kiss Me, Kiss Your Baby was the first B.O.M. single I bought).
They also managed to hold on to their success after Eurovision (Angelo, even though a blatant ABBA - Fernando rip-off, is totally brilliant).

An early incarnation of the band had also scored some hits in the U.S. in the early seventies, most notably United We Stand.

By the time the eighties came around, the stream of hits dried up and some clever people at B.O.M.s headquarters thought a greatest-hits-of-other-people LP would be a good idea.
And they were not wrong. The LP stayed on the U.K. charts for two months and achieved gold record status.

Brotherhood Of Man Sing Twenty Number One Hits features, well, 20 #1 hits. Most songs were hits in the 70's. The album includes one Eurocover: What's Another Year by Johnny Logan, the Irish winner of 1980.

Other tracks are ABBA's Dancing Queen, Boney M's Rivers Of Babylon and the Commodores' Three Times A Lady.

See tracklist below for all 20 #1 hits.

Da' Brotherhood tried to repeat the success with a similar double album with 20 disco hits and 20 love songs titled 20 Disco Greats / 20 Love Songs. but that failed to repeat the popularity of 20 #1 hits .
The Eurovision line-up of Brotherhood Of Man are still going strong and perform often on the Eurovision / nostalgia circuit, both with 70's tribute shows and their own material. A good time guaranteed for all. Respect!

The original Twenty Number One Hits LP was released in 1980 on the Warwick label, the CD re-issue is released on Northwold records. It's out 10-10-11.

Brotherhood Of Man Sing Twenty Number One Hits

We Don't Talk Anymore
Bright Eyes
When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman
Don't Give Up on Us Baby
Together We Are Beautiful
What's Another Year
I Will Survive
I'm Not in Love
Working My Way Back to You
Mull of Kintyre

Dancing Queen

When I Need You

Rivers of Babylon

If You Leave Me Now

Don't Go Breaking My Heart

Three Times a Lady

One Day at a Time

When Will I See You Again

Annie's Song

Sailing

A Norwegian version of Save Your Kisses For Me by the Bendik Singers can be found in this Eurocovers post. A Czech version by Helena Vondrackova and Jiri Korn is here.

Brotherhood Of man website

Schlager time: Elz Bakker revives Carola's Invincible

2011-09-17T10:26:00.016+02:00

I noticed this schlager ditty entered the Dutch single top 100 this week.

It's a coverversion of Carola's 3rd Eurovision entry Invincible (Evighet in the Swedish selection).

Carola's English version ended up 5th in the Athens Eurovision Song Contest of 2006.

Elz Bakker's Dutch coverversion Laat Mij Voor Jou De Laatste Zijn (Let me be your last one) is out now on the NRGY label.

Downloads are available at the tunes and other sources.

More Carola at Eurocovers in 2008.

Invincible coverversions discography

Sonja Aldén (English)
- This is the orginal demo which was released on the CD collection Melodifestivalen 10 År På Turné 2002-2011. (only on the Gold edition with 7CDs)

Tomas Andersson Wij (Swedish)

- on CD En Introduktion Till Tomas Andersson Wij (Sonet/Universal)
This acoustic ballad version was first performed at the 2007 Melodifestivalen final.
Popkidz (Swedish)
- on CD Number One (Ariola)
Alain Morisod and Sweet People - J’ai rendez-vous (French)
- on CD A Chacun Son Etoile (Tricycle) (update thanks Jef!)
Marcelle Alexis (French, Canadian singer)

- French version on website, on forthcoming CD

Elz bakker - Laat Mij Voor Jou De Laatste Zijn (Dutch) - digital single (NRGY)

Aistė Pilvelytė - Su Tavimi (Lithuanian)

- on CD Meilė Dar Gyva (Monaco records)
DNE feat. Manika - Nepremagljiv (DJT by DNE rmx, Slovenian)
- on CD Dee Jay Time: Beli album 16 (VA, Menart records) (update, thanks Miha!)
Hi-5 - 'n Ewigheid (Afrikaans)
- on CD Versoeking (Select Music)
Juanita Du Plessis - 'n Ewigheid (Afrikaans)
- on CD 10 Jaar Platinum Treffers (Maroela Musiek)

Details on all Carola's entries and their coverversions are here in this document. (Word doc, updated september 2011)

My Hart Het Klaar Besluit and more from South Africa

2011-09-14T10:11:00.022+02:00

Here's the official videoclip of My Hart Het Klaar Besluit by David Fourie and Monique.
It's of course the Afrikaans coverversion of Running Scared, this years Eurovision winner by Ell and Nikki (Eldar and Nigar) who took the trophy for Azerbaijan.
The song is released on the forthcoming David Fourie compilation album Die Eerste Dekade (the first decade) and will also be on Moniques forthcoming album.
The duo is also said to have recorded a cover of the English version for release on the Tunes, but I have no further details on that.

David Fourie has recorded other coverversions of Eurovision songs: Germany 1989, Norway 2003, Estonia 2002 plus a host of National final songs.

Monique had a hit in South Africa with rapper Snotkop and their Afrikaans version of the Finnish 2009 entry Lose Control titled Ek Val Vir Jou.

Some more South African covers.
It's no secret South African singers have been recording many Eurovision songs in the past few years.
Here's a few you can actually listen to a full version of a song. (more to come?...)

Haba Haba
Arista Paxton has finished her new album including no less than eight Eurocovers.
You can listen to two of the songs: Haba Haba (Norway 2011) is here at reverbnation.
Laat My Leef is a cover of Moldova's 2010 entry Run Away (originally by Olia Tira and Sunstroke Project), and it's also at Arista's Reverbnation page.
I don't know anything about the title of the CD or it's availability yet, but it is released through the Cape Town based record company Southern Buzz. Hopefully more details later.
The album has tracks in English and Afrikaans but all Eurocovers are in Afrikaans.
Among the covers on the album there is a version cover favorite Sha La Lie (Netherlands 2010) and the 2011 winner from Azerbaijan which Arista recorded with Hugo Nieuwoudt.

Peace Please
Colé van Dais has recorded several Eurocovers on her album Dink Aan My (private pressing).
One interesting track is a 4-language coverversion of Peace Will Come, the corny peace-loving ditty the Georgians unleashed upon the unsuspecting masses back in 2008. Colé van Dais' version is a duet with Marc Rantseli and is sung in English, Afrikaans, Spanish and Zulu. You can Listen to the full version at Colé's Reverbnation, which also has some of her other songs.

Not So Stupid Cupid

So Henri Alant missed out on Believe Again, the Danish 2009 hit that became the most covered song of the year. (more here at Eurocovers) but I noticed a 2010 videoclip of Cupid, a coverversion of Once In A Lifetime by Ines.

OIAL is a crafty top pop song from the days when Estonia was still whipping out quality entries every year. It was #4 in the Stockholm contest in 2000.
Henri Alants version, in Afrikaans, is from the album also titled Cupid, but I haven't found any international online shop that sells it yet.
Anyway, You can watch the official full video of Cupid here at ye olde tube.

Love Shine A Light
André Huysamen recorded the 1997 Eurovision winner Love Shine A Light (Katrina and the Waves) for his album. The hymn about love is supported by a childrens choir courtesy of the Generaal Beyers primary school. It's Liefde Skyn 'N Lig in Afrikaans and can be found on the album Imperfek.
Title song Imperfek is a coverversion of Temple Of Love, Swedish pre-song by the fab pop trio BWO (Bodies Without Organs)
I didn't find any details on the album or its availability but you can listen to both songs in full at André's Reverbnation.

Home Is Where The Heart Is
Elizma Theron has released her second CD album Oppad Na Jou (On my way to you) which includes an Afrikaans version of the German 2008 entry Disappear (by No Angels). It's titled Maak My Hart Jou Huis (Make my heart your home) and you can listen here at the tube.
The CD is available at Kalahari.

Special Thanks to Roy.

Links and sources:
Read all about the 2011 Eurovision winner versions and releases here at the Düsseldorf Collection.
The 2012 edition: The Baku Collection is materializing here.
A new website for David Fourie will be launched here soon and you can already check out a picture of him with his shirt sort of off.
This video is uploaded through the Select Musiek Youtube channel.
The Fourie CD is available at Kalahari who ship internationally.
You can buy the digital version at iTunes, Amazon, Deezer and other sources.

A selection of Eurocovers posts about South African singers: Sunette Bridges, Andriette Norman and Heinz Winkler, Jay and Lianie (with video), Dewald Louw, Jasmyn, Mariska and Rian Ungerer (with video), Monique and Snotkop (with video), Dominec, various 2009 releases.
And some from the olden days: Dana Valery, Jody Wayne.

12points TV party
New Eurovision website 12points.tv formerly known as 3minutes.me has been launched with a Eurovision party in Rotterdam.
On 7 October 12points.tv was kicked off officially with an all Eurovision evening in cafe Keerweer in downtown Rotterdam.
The new 12points.tv website is here.

Chup Chup Chup

2011-07-31T06:48:00.001+02:00

Chup Chup Chup by Karachi singer Shehla Gul is a coverversion of the 2009 Eurovision entry Düm Tek Tek by Hadise (Turkey). It's sung in the Sindhi language.
Thanks to Umut for the tip!

Wolter Kroes - Laat de zomer in je hart

2011-07-16T11:37:00.002+02:00

Dutch schlager singer Wolter Kroes is showing off his new flip flops to the tune of Lass Die Sonne In Dein Herz, the German 1987 entry already featured here a few posts ago.
This new Dutch version is currently a top 10 hit in the Dutch top 100 and a cdsingle is out now and available at BeaRecords.

(Disco colors) Love is blue - Colors 【ツ】

2011-06-25T09:24:00.000+02:00

Sven-Olof Walldoff 1929 - 2011

2011-06-09T21:57:00.000+02:00

Sven-Olof Walldoff, Conductor, Producer, Eurovision Icon died this week at the age of 82.

His unforgettable appearance as the Napoleon dressed Maitre d'Orchestre at the 1974 Eurovision helped propell ABBA into the worlds minds forever.

Before ABBA he worked with Agnetha on her solo hits and albums and he has also worked with Frida (Anni-frid Lyngstad) and Björns band the Hootenanny singers.

Waterloo at Eurocovers: here and here

The Eurovision Collectors Guide - 50 years of Eurovision records - Clear Out Sale.

2011-06-02T11:41:00.001+02:00

Some of you will probably know this already, but here's a plug of my core activity: the Eurovision Collectors Guide.

The Eurovision Collectors Guide is a small booklet (A5) featuring all information on Eurovision records that were released from 1956 up to 2005.
in 2006 the latest edition spanning 50 years of Eurovision recording history was issued.
The booklet has been a usefull source of information on records and recordings for Eurovision collectors, professionals and fans for many years.

50 years of Eurovision records
This 9th edition is, like always, a handy A5 booklet, 80 pages full of information for the Eurovision record collector.
It's in Black and White, has listings by country and some picture sleeves for your entertainment, but most of all it is a book so stuffed with information for the Eurovision collectors and fans it almost bursts out of its staples.

Features:
- All points and places of all entries 1956 - 2005.
- Titles, original artists and all recorded versions (languages, remixes etc.)
- Record company label info + 7", 12", EP, 78rpm, cds, LP & CD details
- Entries that didn't make to the Eurovision stage
- Chart details in the homecountries of many entries

New in the 9th edition:
- Symbols for demo versions and instrumental/karaoke versions
- A special Missing Versions section
- Multiple entries EP's and singles

Many newly discovered versions and re-recordings and have been added since the successful edition from 2002. Plus of course all entries from 2003, 2004 and 2005, including all the new countries and all semi-finalists.

The 9th edition '50 years of Eurovision records' is still avaliable ~~at 10,- euro + postage~~, if you want more info feel free to ask

NOW CLEAROUT SALE via e-Bay
or just send an e-mail. Now at € 6,- including postage (Europe)

As an addition to the booklet there's my Yahoo group. The Baby Baby Eurovision Collectors Guide group. (It's a long title and a tribute to St. Nicole and St. Hugo of Belgium.)

Here you will find some update files to the Collectors guide booklet, the latest release news and links including all there is to know about the youngest Eurovision releases and versions.
If you want to be kept up to date with the latest release news and trivia I invite you to join. You will need a (free) Yahoo ID.

Kathy Kirby (1938-2011)

2011-05-26T12:53:00.001+02:00

Eurocovers bids a sad goodbye to Kathy Kirby, Eurovision singer and a True Pop Star.

Kathy Kirby Official website

CONGRATULATIONS AZERBAIJAN - TEBRIK EDIRIK AZƏRBAYCAN

2011-05-15T12:21:00.001+02:00

Eldar and Nigar a.k.a. Ell and Nikki have won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest with Running Scared written by Stefan Örn, Sandra Bjurman and Iain Farquharsondur.

Raphael Gualazzi finished 2nd for Italy with Madness Of Love and Sweden took 3rd place with Eric Saades Popular.

Check Out The Düsseldorf Collection for all the release news of the 2011 Eurovision entries.

Updated with all the points and places, the latest news in order of results.

Sjonni's Friends - What's Another Year

2011-05-09T16:49:00.006+02:00

This years Icelandic Eurovision singers Sjonni's Friends have recorded a version of the 1980 winner What's Another Year (Johnny Logan for Ireland).
You can download the song here at the Sjonni's Friends website and watch the videoclip.

Their Eurovision song Coming Home was written by the late Sjonni Brink and his wife Þórunn Erna Clausen and will be performed in the Tuesday May 10 semi final.
Update: Til Hamingju Ísland!
Sjonni's Friends made it to the Eurovision final on March 14! After an exiting result-draw the last finalist announced was Iceland. Congratulations guys!

source: Coming Home - Sjonni's Friends website
More about Sjonni's Friends here at the Düsseldorf Collection.
More about Johnny Logans first winner at the Eurocovers post What's Another 30 Years: Here.

Ready Steady Girls

Yours truly is a guest editor at Ready Steady Girls, the website about all the gorgeous sixties girls singers.

With Eurovision round the corner I was invited to select my pick of the pops, six sixties girl tracks with a Eurovision connection. And write a bit about them too.

Please take a look here at Ready Steady Girls and vote for your favorite.

Düsseldorf 2011

For all release info, versions and chart adventures of the 2011 Eurovision stars, please check the Düsseldorf Collection.

Blog Tip
A personal favorite blog of mine is Finnpicks. They're in the Eurovision spirit too with a bunch of Finnish Eurovision covers from the 70's.

German Classics - Die Gruppe Wind - Astrid & Kingston

2011-05-07T14:04:00.009+02:00

Wind, die Gruppe Wind, entered Eurovision three times.

Twice they ended up in second place but their third effort didn't really go anywhere.

Featured here is Alleen Bij Jou ♫ (Only with you), a dutch coverversion of the first Wind song Für Alle (For Everyone) by Astrid.

The second entry by Wind was Lass Die Sonne In Dein Herz (Let The Sun In Your Heart) in 1987. The summery reggae-lite feel of the song is a departure of the schlager ballad from 1985. Lass Die Sonne even became a minor hit in several countries, and a Eurovision hit was quite an achievement in the 80's.
Here's a Slovenian version by Kingston titled Pusti Soncu V Srce ♫ (Let The Sun In The Heart).

The third Wind song was titled Träume Sind Für Alle Da (Dreams are there for everyone) in 1992 which ended 18th. I don't know of any coverversion of that song.

Ready Steady Girls

Yours truly is a guest editor at Ready Steady Girls, the website about all the gorgeous sixties girls singers.

With Eurovision round the corner I was invited to select my pick of the pops, six sixties girl tracks with a Eurovision connection. And write a bit about them too.

Please take a look here at Ready Steady Girls and vote for your favorite.

Düsseldorf 2011

For all release info, versions and chart adventures of the 2011 Eurovision stars, please check the Düsseldorf Collection.

Hungary - Kati Wolf,Gábor Deutsch remix, Story CD
Moldova - So Lucky, listen to 6 versions
Slovenia - NoOne promo tracklist
Cyprus: Christos Mylordos, promo updates
Denmark - A Friend In London, promo updates
Poland - New english version, promo updates
Norway - Stella Mwangi updates, versions
France - Sognu cdsingle out now.
U.K. - Blue release updates, UK Top 10 Hit ???
Iceland - Coming Home, Website launched
Croatia : Celebrate 10 versions on cdsingle
Azerbaijan - Download Remix and Acoustic versions.
Italy: versions updated
Turkey: cdsingle in the shops, tracklist. - Belarus - Мая Беларусь, updates

German Classics - Theater - Karel Gott

2011-05-04T15:23:00.005+02:00

Another German Classic, here’s a coverversion of the 1980 song Theater. Fabulous Katja Ebstein scored her third top three result for Germany with the song.

The version here is by popular Czech singer Karel Gott, a Eurovision star in his own right. He participated for Austria in 1968 with the Udo Jürgens penned Tausend Fenster (Thousand windows), a song which Gott recorded in German, Czech, French, English and Italian.

Karel Gott is no stranger in Eurocovers world, he recorded German coverversions of Wunder Gibt Es Immer Wieder (Germany 1970) and Ein Lied Kan Eine Brücke Sein (Germany 1975) plus Czech versions of Se Piangi, Se Ridi (Italy 1965) and Eres Tu (Spain 1973).

Žít Stokrát ♫, the Czech version of Theater wasn’t released at the time of recording but it appeared later on a re-issue of Gotts 1980 LP Dnes (Supraphon).

German Classics - Die Zeiger Der Uhr - Reggy van der Burgt

2011-05-03T15:52:00.006+02:00

I remember having this Reggy van der Burgt single in my collection for many years before I found out that the b-side is an actual Eurovision cover.
Teddybeer, the a-side, I remember from my childhood. A much told tale about a young girl whose hormones are raging and she's ready to trade her stuffed cuddly for a real man.

The b-side is De Tijd Staat Niet Stil ♫ (Time doesn't stand still) which is a coverversion of the 1966 German entry Die Zeiger Der Uhr (The hands of the clock) by Margot Eskens. She ended 10th.

Reggy van der Burgt also covered the 1967 Eurovision winner Puppet On A String. Find out more about that one in this 2007 Year Of The Puppet post at Eurocovers.

Düsseldorf 2011

For the latest news on the releases, versions and charts of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, please check out The Düsseldorf Collection.

German Classics: No No Never - Päris Anny

2011-04-24T15:18:00.002+02:00

No No Never, the 2006 German entry by Texas Lightning finished rediculously low in the Athens contest.
The song is a fine slice of Perfect Pop Country which would have been a world wide #1 hit if it was by Katy Perry and about oral sex. The Texas Lighting boys and girl had to make do with a German charttopper. No No Never sold over 300.000 cdsingles in Germany and also was a top 10 hit in Austria and Switzerland.
Päris Anny from Estonia recorded a quite straightforward version of the song. Except it is in Estonian and titled See On Tema. ♫

Special thanks to Margo.

German Classics : Ein Bisschen Frieden - Jeon Young

2011-04-23T13:38:00.004+02:00

Pic nicked from Maniadb.kr

A German classic for Easter couldn’t be any other song than Nicole’s 1982 winner Ein Bisschen Frieden (A Little Peace). It was Germany’s first winning song and the song became an almost worldwidehit, a U.K. #1 even.

Nicole recorded the song in a variety of languages herself, but since she didn’t do Korean here’s a version by Jeon Young titled Jag Eun Pyeong Hwa. The song was recorded in 1983.

♫ 전영-작은평화

More Ein Bisschen Frieden at Eurocovers:
Norwegian at The Oslo Weeks, and a Korean dance version at the Eurocovers Summer Break.

Düsseldorf 2011

For all your release news, versions info and chart updates on the 2011 contest, please check out The Düsseldorf Collection.:

U.K. - Yes Blue Can! Tracklist
Recommended: Handbook for Düsseldorf
San Marino - Stand By in German and Russian
Germany: TBAS coverversions to avoid.
Croatia : Listen to German, Russian, French versions
Austria: Nadine Beiler, remix out now
Cyprus: Listen to the song now! Updates
Sweden - Eric Saade new digital releases
Latvia - Musiqq cdsingle out now, remix.
Macedonia - update, more versions recorded.

Bulgaria - Poli Genova updates.

Finland - Paradise Oskar single and album

German Classics: Zwei Kleine Italiener - Lauku Muzikanti

2011-04-17T12:39:00.003+02:00

Todays German Classic is a Latvian coverversion of Zwei Kleine Italiener, made famous by Conny Fröboess in 1962.

Lauku Muzikanti (Country Musicians) are a Schlager band from Latvia founded in 1987. They have recorded hundreds of songs since then and are still going strong, although the line up has changed on many occasions.

Zwei Kleine Italiener becomes Vecie Draugi (Old friends) ♫ in the hands of the Muzikanti and it is from the 1997 album Šeit Un Šonakt (And here tonight).

Latvian coverversions of Eurovision songs seem almost non-existant. There's not even a hand full and most (2) are by this band. They also recorded Julie (Yugoslavia 1983 ♫)

More Zwei Kleine Italiener at Eurocovers:

Norwegian, and at Conny's Birthday post.

I have also updated the Zwei Kleine Italiener document.

You can find all info on Conny's own versions and 120 coverversions here (word document).

German Classics: Dschinghis Khan - The Royal Sprites

2011-04-16T09:24:00.007+02:00

With Eurovision 2011 in Düsseldorf, it's time for some more German Classics at Eurocovers.

This is a version of the 1979 German entry Dschinghis Khan (เจงกิสข่าน) by legendary Thai band The Royal Sprites (รอยัล สไปรท์ส) They made the song popular in Thailand in 1981. ♫

Older Eurocovers post with Dschinghis Khan:

Joshua (Chinese)

Vladimir Devyatov and Amarhuu Borhuu (Russian)

and some animated Dschinghis Khan offspring (Korean / Finnish).

I have also updated the document on Dschinghis Khan.
Find out all about Dschinghis Khan's own versions and 128 coverversions in this word document.

For all your release news, versions info and chart updates on the 2011 contest, please check out The Düsseldorf Collection.

and... HAPPY RECORD STORE DAY

The One That Got Away - Jamala

2011-04-02T09:30:00.018+02:00

I know it's a bit off topic as there's no Eurovision cover in sight, but below is the videoclip of the Ukrainian pre-selection song Smile by Jamala (Джамала). Y'all probably know that already and how she was robbed etcetera and how it would have won Eurovision and all that.

This is just a plain advertisement for Jamala's fantastic new album For Every Heart which is out now.

Jamala is a multitalented superstar who just as easily covers Yma Sumac or Shirley Bassey as well as leaving her mark on melancholic classics and her own new tunes.

For Every Heart is a coherent collection of new songs, mostly in a pop / soul vein.

There are two minor concerns: The album doesn't even start to show Jamala's broad talents: The Yma Sumac like stuff isn't there and only a few times she gives us the high octaves. It probably is best for the album to stick to one style here, but I would have certainly wanted more.

I'm also having a bit of a task grasping Jamala's English, which is sometimes hard to understand. But I'm sure she can work on that before the next opportunity for Eurovision comes along.

The album includes Smile and previous singles It's Me Jamala (I am not Gaga....) and the wonderful You're Made Of Love. There's also a few bonus tracks including a coverversion Shirley Bassey's Propellerheads hit History Repeating. Highly recommended!

The album is out on Moon Records (MR 5117-2)
I bought mine at UMKA who ship internationally and have very decent prices.

Jamala website in English and Russian

Jamala's Youtube Channel
Listen to various Jamala songs at her MySpace

Jamala's hits feature in English on the CD, but at the website and youtube you can also find the original versions of It's Me Jamala and You're Made Of Love. As far as I know Smile has only been recorded in English.

You can catch Jamala live in Kiyv (April 12), Moscow (April 15) and Singapore (May 25)

Here's a live clip of Jamala doing Yma Sumac's Gopher. A-Ma-Zing!

Düsseldorf 2011
For all details on the songs, versions and releases of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, please check out The Düsseldorf Collection.

Addio a Nilla Pizzi

2011-03-26T09:06:00.011+01:00

Nilla Pizzi, Italian singing legend has died two weeks ago at the age of 91.

Nilla Pizzi is of course the winner of the first Sanremo festivals, 1951 with Grazie Dei Fiore (Thank you for the flowers) ♫ , 1952 with Vola Colomba (Fly Dove) ♫.

Pizzi’s career started way before Sanremo, after winning a beauty pageant in 1939, her first singing trophy she collected was Voci Nuove in 1942, organised by what soon was to be RAI. (Italian national TV)

In 1944 Pizzi cut her first record, Valzer Di Primavera with Bruna Rattani. Later that year she was deemed unfit for the fascist Italian regime, her voice being to exotic and sexual.

After the war Pizzi’s career took off, performing with the all of the best Italian orchestra’s. Record companies Cetra and HMV fought over her contracts and she was one of the few stars who easily moved along with the fast changing music landscape of the early 50’s.

In 1951 she took both first and second place at the Sanremo festival. Winner Grazie Dei Fiori also broke the record for most sold disc at the time (they had 78rpm discs in those days).

Vola Colomba, the 1952 winner was even more successful and the song also travelled across the world. In 1953 she only ended second with Desiderio ‘e.

Nilla Pizzi participated in six Sanremo festivals as a solo artist. 1958’s L’Edera being one of her biggest hits.

In 1994 she performed with Una Vecchia Canzone Italiana (An old Italian song) with Squadro Italia, a group of veteran Italian singers gathered for this performance only. The song ended only 19th.

Next to all her own Sanremo songs Pizzi recorded many of the other contestants entries, including 5 songs that eventually entered Eurovision. Pizzi sang mainly in Italian but also recorded some songs in Spanish and English.

Here’s a short discography of Nilla Pizzi’s Eurocovers. All are coverversions of Italian entries.

1956 Aprite Le Finestre ♫.

- On EP and 78 rpm (RCA A25V 0452)

1956 Amami Se Vuoi ♫

- 78 rpm (RCA LPM 1378) and other releases

Both tracks also on LP San Remo 1956, where Pizzi sings ten Sanremo songs from 1956. (RCA A10V 0080) (Whole LP in zip)

1957 Corde Della Mia Chitarra ♫
- on US LP Rendez-vous With Nilla (RCA) and other releases

1958 Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) (see comments)
- b side to L’Edera (RCA 45-N 0647)

1961 Al di la
- on 7”, also on LP Recital De Nilla Pizzi (Durium)

Find out more about Aprite Le Finestre and Nilla Pizzi's hit version in the Eurocovers post Holy Priest, Open The Stained Glass Window.

Sources: Nilla Pizzi Wiki, Sanremo historia.

Jasmyn

2011-03-13T10:17:00.006+01:00

Here’s a CD I received already a few weeks ago, but with all the hassle of the 2011 preselection madness I hadn’t come around to reviewing it yet.

(Singende) Jasmyn is a sweet voiced singer from South Africa, who recorded several Eurovision songs, so Eurocovers ears were pointed of course.

Jasmyns first album Jy Wens Jy Kon Sê is a collection of songs both in Afrikaans and English. Most songs are ballads and that’s just as well, as Jasmyn soothing voice really carries the slow songs beautifully.

The soft, sometimes spiritual music may not suit all hours of the day and the music surely demands attention from the listener. Jasmyn appears to be fully in control of her voice throughout the whole album and never needs to regress to vocal acrobatics or overstretching her voice.
When I heard a few of her songs a year or so ago I commented along the lines of 'Jasmyn sings like an angel' and that is true for most of her debut album.

The Eurocovers
One of the Eurovision songs Jasmyn recorded that ended up on the album is the 2010 Irish entry It's For You. 1993 winner Niamh Kavanagh returned to Eurovision in 2010 with the song written by Niall Mooney, Mårten Eriksson, Jonas Gladnikoff and Lina Eriksson. It’s this Eurocover that gets a remarkable Afrikaans makeover by Jasmyn.
The song is now titled Dit Is Vir Jou and is sung in Afrikaans with a part in Zulu. She is helped by vocal group Impulse whose imprint helps make it a wonderful spiritual song.

The second Eurovision song is an Afrikaans cover of I Don’t Wanna Leave, the Polish 2009 entry originally by Lidia Kopania. Now titled By Jou Will Ik Bly (I want to stay with you).

Tracklist Jy Wens Jy Kon Sê

1. Awaiting
2. Bly Staan
- The only more or less uptempo song written by Steve Hofmeyer
3. Sonder Jou - Wat Nou?
4. Brief Oor Die See
- A traditional folk song with a male choir
5. I Always Knew You
- Written by Afrikaans singer/songwriter Catherine Jones
6. Whisper Of Angels
- Sounds like a classical song, wonderful vocal arrangement with Voices+
7. Jy Wens Jy Kon Sê
- Wonderful song, highlight of the album.
8. Hy Is Daar
- The 2nd Catherine Jones song is an esoteric but uplifting religious hymn
9. I Will Pray For You
- I know this one by Katherine Jenkins, but I don’t know if it was written for her. The chorus melody is a bit Fairytale Of New York. Another album highlight for Jasmyn. With the help of vocal group Voices+
10. Dit Is Vir Jou
- The Irish Eurovision entry It’s For You
11. Letting Go
- A cover of Christian singer Nikki Leonti
12. By Jou Wil Ek Bly
- I Don’t Wanna Leave, the Polish 2009 entry
13. Celebrate Spring

You can listen to the songs at Jasmyns Reverbnation.
Also check out Jasmyns official website.

The CD Jy Wens Jy Kon Sê is available at Kalahari (who sell internationally) and also at several digital outlets like Amazon.

Jasmyn has also recorded the 1993 Belgian entry Iemand Zoals Jij (Iemand Soos Jy) and I Evighet (Norway 1996) as Tapeserie, but these haven't made it to the album. She's currently working on some other Eurovision songs for future releases.

Die Autobahn To Düsseldorf: Linda Bengtzing, Alexsey Vorobyov.

2011-03-06T10:38:00.003+01:00

The Swedish Melodifestivalen Final on March 12 is the last national selection of 2011. Eurocovers is of course very pleased to see Linda Bengtzing still in the running with her song E De Fel På Mig.

In 2008 Linda B. made it to the Melodifestivalen final with her 3rd attempt Hur svårt kan det va?.

Will she be able to take it that one step further this time.

In this Road To Belgrade style Eurocovers post you can find out about her MF songs and especially her Eurovision coverversions she recorded when she was only 12.

Update: All four Linda Bengtzing MF hits are now available on her new compilation CD Min Karusell - En Samling. It features 10 Bengtzing hits and four karaoke tracks (3 MF songs in Karaoke)

Other Swedish MF finalists are the Playtones who feature in this Autobahn to Düsseldorf post.

Russia have selected Alexey Vorobyov to represent the country at the 2011 contest.

Eurocovers reported on Vorobyev in 2009 when he participated in the Russian national final.

In the Eurocovers Road To Moscow post you can find his coverversion of the Spanish 1966 entry Yo Soy Aquel, originally by Raphael.

Read all about Get You, the Russian 2011 entry composed by RedOne here at the Düsseldorf Collection.

For the latest news on the 2011 Eurovision releases check out the Düsseldorf Collection.

Mariska & Rian Ungerer - Ons Liefde is Vir Ewig

2011-03-01T16:10:00.003+01:00

Have a listen to this charming coverversion of the Croatian 2004 entry You Are The One For Me originally by Ivan Mikulic. It's the second duet for young singer Mariska and Rian Ungerer after Alles Vir Liefde. It's from Mariska's own Youtube channel.

also check http://mariskamusic.co.za/#

Die Autobahn To Düsseldorf - The Playtones

2011-02-19T10:35:00.024+01:00

Rock 'n' Roll dansband The Playtones are in the third heat of the Swedish pre-selection Melodifestivalen with their song The King.
(update: Yay!, they made it to the Final)
(another update: The King ended 5th in the final, but the Rock 'n' Roll is King album enters the Swedish album charts at #1 in week 11)
-

Below video is The Playtones’ live coverversion of the 2009 Eurovision winner Fairytale (Alexander Rybak).

The Playtones released their Fairytale on the CD Rock 'n'Roll Dance Party which is the best selling album of 2010 in Sweden.
-

Their next album Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King will be out on March 9 and will of course include their Melodifestivalen entry.

The Playtones website
SVTs Melodifestivalen pages

That Dansband schlager is extremely popular in Sweden today is confirmed again by this week’s #1 on the album charts: Elisa’s debut album Det Här Är Bara Början
It features a feisty coverversion of Tusen Och En Natt, Swedens 1999 winner Take Me To Your Heaven by Charlotte Nilsson (Perrelli)

Elisa‘s website

The King
Brylcreem and Eurovision, do they gel?
The last time someone 'slightly' referred to Elvis it was a bit of a total disaster.
Read about that one (Copycat) and other Eurovision Rock 'n' Roll efforts here at Eurocovers.

More Autobahn stars:
Turkey - Yüksek Sadakat
Lithuania - Mino
Finland - Milana Misic

DÜSSELDORF EUROVISION 2011

For the latest on the 2011 songs and releases please check out the Düsseldorf Collection.

Latest news: Russia: Alexey Vorobyov and RedOne *** Portugal Homens Da Luta *** Armenia - Armenia picks Boom Boom for Emmy *** Croatia : Break A Leg by Daria Kinzer *** Iceland - Songvakeppni CD out now *** Slovakiia - Liisten to the Twiins. *** Netherlands: 3JS Never Alone *** Slovenia - Vanilija - EMA CD out now *** Greece - Watch My Dance *** Italy: English version out now *** Israel: Songs online *** Belarus: Born In The USSR?

Cyprus: Listen to the song now! *** Macedonia - Download Rusinka *** Latvia - Musiqq - Angel in disguise *** Ukraine - Mika Newton it is *** Moldova - Zdob Şi Zdub: Lucky Twice! *** Denmark - A Friend In London *** Serbia - Nina - Čaroban *** Estonia - Getter Jaani - Rockefeller street *** Ireland - Jedward cdsingle, charts. *** Austria: Nadine Beiler beats Trackshittaz *** Turkey: Song presented, watch video. *** Lithuania: Evelina Sašenko wins. *** Bulgaria - Poli Genova to Düsseldorf. *** Germany: Lena cdsingle info. *** Bosnia Hercegovina: More versions announced for Dino. *** Switzerland: In Love For A While, New version out now.

Die Autobahn To Düsseldorf: Yüksek Sadakat

2011-02-12T08:56:00.008+01:00

Turkish singer Nilüfer (Nilüfer Yumlu) who we all of course remember from the 1978 Eurovision entry Sevince by Nazar (group, she was in it) has released a new album titled 12 Düet.

It means 12 Duets and it features 12 songs Nilüfer recorded with Turkish rock singers and bands.

Track 2 on the album is Göreceksin Kendini featuring Yüksek Sadakat.

Yüksek Sadakat is of course the 2011 Turkish entrant and Göreceksin Kendini is a coverversion of Tu Te Reconnaitras, the 1973 Eurovision winner by Anne-Marie David (for Luxembourg).

It is the third time Nilüfer recorded Göreceksin Kendini.
It first appeared on a single (CBS 1646 ♫, pic left) and a later recording was released on the Various artists album Bak Bir Varmış Bir Yokmuş 3 (Odeon Koleksiyon ♫)

Nilüfer also recorded Greek entry Socrates (by Elpida, 1979) as Beyaz Mendil which was a b-side to single Oh Oh (Burç 3511 ♫).

On her album Sen Mühimsin Nilüfer released a wonderful version of the Turkish 1990 entry Gözlerinin Hapsindeyim originally by Kayahan Açar. (Yasar YCD 90007 ♫)

As far as I know Göreceksin Kendini is the first ever Eurocover for Yüksek Sadakat.

Read more about Yüksek Sadakat here at The Düsseldorf Collection.

Nilüfers 12 Düet album is out now in the Turkish shops.

Other artists duetting on the album are Şebnem Ferah, Malt, Teoman, Gece Yolcuları, Hayko Sepkin and many others.

Estando Contigo
Sadly it's the end of The Autobahn for David Sancho.
The actor and big band style singer was axed in yesterdays Spanish pre-thing round.
But let's pay him a visit at his website where you can listen to a highly enjoyable version of Estando Contigo, Spains first ever entry.
There's also some other songs in audio or video (Click Saber first, then canciones).

Jody Wayne - Are You Sure

2011-02-06T09:43:00.001+01:00

This coverversion of the 1961 U.K. entry Are You Sure is in the list of coverversions from South Africa. But that’s just because it was recorded when the singer, Jody Wayne lived there.

He’s a bit of a global person, our Jody. He was born in Bangalore, India from Canadian parents. He moved to England at three and to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at 5, Back to England at 10 and back to Rhodesia where he formed the Diamonds with Mike Shannon.

A move to South Africa was followed by TV jobs as actor and behind the scene. It sounds a bit Motown, but it was while singing while he worked, Jody was discovered by his boss; Little Joe and the Travellers were born and they had their own TV show for two years.

After winning the Durban Song Festival with A Voice In The Dark (his first single) he scored his first hit with Tell Laura I Love Her.

Are You Sure was Jody’s third single in 1966 (PYE records) and many would follow, including # 1 hits like Patches, Sixteen Candles and The Wedding.

Jody Wayne released nine studio albums and about 20 singles. He also played Joseph in a 1975 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

From the 70’s on he focussed more on producing other artists' records.

Jody Wayne’s most recent project is the Smokie Jo tour and album. It’s a tribute to 70’s band Smokie, known from international hits like Living Next Door To Alice, Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone and Oh Carol.

Jody Wayne’s Smokie Jo album features hits of Smokie and some of his own platinum selling hits (Regala records 2009 on CD and DVD)

Two CDs have been issued featuring many of Jody Wayne’s older recordings. The Heart And Soul Of Jody Wayne and Send Me Some Loving. But neither has Are You Sure.

Are You Sure ♫

You can find more about 1961 U.K. Eurovision entry and world wide hit Are You Sure in the Eurocovers post Team GB.

Sources:

Rock Co Za - Jody Wayne official site - Regala records

Yvetta Simonová

2011-01-22T07:34:00.001+01:00

Yvetta Simonová is a singer from the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia in the olden days). After a start in classical music she became hugely popular with pop songs when she began working with the Karel Vlach Orchestra in the late 50s.
(Karel Vlach (1911 - 1986) later became her third husband)
Today she still is one of the treasured icons of Czech music.
She recorded over 500 songs in her career, including many with Milan Chladil (1931-1984).

Here's Yvetta Simonová's Eurocovers Discography

1965 France - N’Avoue Jamais
- Říkal, že ne - on LP Ať hudba dále zní (1969 Supraphon 013 0664)

1967 Luxembourg - L’Amour Est Bleu ♫
- Má Láska Je Bílá - on LP At Hudba Dale Zni (Supraphon)

1968 Germany - Ein Hoch Der Liebe ♫
- A Tak Té Vitám, Lásko - on CD Jaké By To Bylo Stěstí (a další nahrávky z let 1969-1972), recording from 60’s

1969 France - Un Jour, Un Enfant
- Snad Jednou
1969 Spain - Vivo cantando
- Užívej tance
both on 7” (Supraphon 0 43 0776)

1973 Finland - Tom Tom Tom

- 7” (Supraphon 1 43 1638)

1975 Netherlands - Ding A Dong ♫
- duet with Milan Chladil - on CD O Nás Dvou (1999, recording possibly from 70’s)

1976 France - 1,2,3 ♫
- Já Tě Znám - on CD Dárek Na Památku (2008) recording from 70's.

Special thanks to Milan.

Die Autobahn To Düsseldorf: Mino

2011-01-11T17:22:00.011+01:00

Not a new article here in Die Eurocovers Autobahn, but a re-hash of a Eurocovers post from four years ago.
Lithuanian singer Mino is one of the many hopefulls giving it a try in what is always a highlight in the Preselection season, the Lithuanian National Finals.
Mino's song in the multi-night selection is Don't Go. The song was originally recorded in Lithuanian as Angelai.
Below is a reworking of the original Mino post.

Mino - Be meilės mirt galiu
Lithuania are relative newcomers to the Eurovision stage and I haven't been able to find any old coverversions of Eurovision songs made in Lithuania.

But they are catching up with several versions recorded in recents years.
(Check out the Christmas Presents post for one of them)

So it's good to find a new CD which features three covers at once.
The CD in case is by Mino (Mindaugas Mickevičius), who is another Lithuanian talent show star (”Kelias į žvaigždes”.)

The album was released last november and is titled Be Meilės Mirt galiu. I don't know what it means, but the title track is a cover version of Die For You, the Greek 2001 entry by Helena Paparizou before she got rid of the bloke.
The album opens with Gitaras, which is Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu), made famous by Domenico Modugno and about a 1000 others. In fact it is more a Gipsy Kings coverversion and on the edge of slightly annoying.

Third and best Eurocover is Noriu Turet Tave (track 3) a duet with the ever fantastic Alanas Chošnau. It's Shame On You the Danish 2004 entry by the guy in that bad red suit Thomas Thordarsson.

Other songs on the album sometimes sound familiar too, but I haven't got a clue what they are although some sound Italian and others sound like 'Die for you' part 2, so they could be any Philippe Kirkorov cover.

Since then Mino has released three more albums Bravo from 2007 and Italiano from 2008 both feature Lithuanian versions of Italian songs. You can listen to several Mino songs here at Music.lt
In 2010 the album Dainos, Kurios Kvepia Braškėmis (Songs that smell like strawberries) was released. It features songs from previous albums in duet versions.

♫ Italy 1958 - Greece 2001 - Denmark 2004

New Mino Website
Don't Go Youtube - Angelai Youtube
As usual http://www.eurodiena.lt./ has all the latest news on the Lithuanian selection and also sounds as soon as they're there.
P.S. Don't go is fab!

The Düsseldorf Collection has the latest on the 2011 songs.

Release news: Steven Sterlings Beautiful Maria.

2011-01-08T09:24:00.007+01:00

South African singer Steven Sterling has released his new album Mooie Maria (Beautiful Maria) and it includes several tracks of interest to the Eurocovers fans.
It's safe to say Mooie Maria is a joyous Schlager album with a nice collection of coverversions of Germans schlagers as well as international pop songs.
It also includes some self penned songs and Steven Sterling wrote all the Afrikaans lyrics himself.

Tracklist Mooie Maria

Gummi Bears - Temalied (Themesong)

Mooie Maria (Youtube video)

Kaapse Meisies

Umhlanga Rocks!

- Coverversion of the Dutch 2010 song Sha La Lie (Ik Ben Verliefd). The Father Abraham penned song performed by Sieneke didn't make it to the final in Oslo, but it turns out to be the most covered track of the 2010 contest. This version is about top South African holiday destination Umhlanga Rocks and having fun in the summer season.

Piña Colada
- Albert Hammonds 1975 hit Down By The River.

Boere Barbie

Engel Hier Op Aarde
- The first of the tracks written by Sterling himself is a poppy ballad.

Glimlag
- This is a coverversion of Under Your Spell, a track from the Swedish Melodifestivalen 2006 originally by Evan.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
- The Simon and Garfunkel hit, in English.
Mama Afrika
- The Afrikaans version of Mama Corsica, the French entry of 1993 by Patrick Fiori
Dissie Liedjies (Op Die Radio)
- Another self penned song.
To Love You More
Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You
- Originally a hit for Glenn Medeiros
Somer 2010 - remix
- A bonus remix of Mooie Maria, Kaapse Meisies, Umhlanga Rocks, Piña Colada and Boere Barbie.

Mama Afrika and Glimlag appeared earlier on the album Steven Sterling III which also includes a re-recording of Sterlings version of Lief Vir Alles Hier (Für Alle, the German 1985 entry by Wind).

An alternate version of Lief Vir Alles Hier was included on the album Steven Sterling recorded with his brother, panflutist Ryan Walt. The title track of the CD Take My hand (2009) is the CANSA theme song (The Cancer association of South Africa).
Take My Hand was recorded in English, Afrikaans (Vat My Hand) and Italian (Vieni Qui). These versions can be found on the edition Take My Hand Forever (2010) which does not include Lief Vir Alles Hier but a very interesting ABBA cover Klein Pik Soentjies (Hey gamle Man).

Mooie Maria and other Steven Sterling albums are available at Kalahari, or you can contact EZpromotions.

Steven Sterling Links

Reverbnation: Listen to some Steven Sterlings songs including Mama Afrika and Lief Vir Alles Hier.

Steven Sterling Homepage.
Steven Sterling Youtube channel
Sha La Lie, All covers and releases

2011 is here!

2011-01-01T11:45:00.001+01:00

"
http://www.thesmilies.com/

Die Autobahn To Düsseldorf: Milana Misic

2010-12-11T10:58:00.012+01:00

Eurovision 2011. Pre-selections are in full swing (well, almost) and it’s time to check out if the zillions of national hopefuls are Eurocovers worthy.

First up is Eurocovers repeat offender Milana Misic from Finland.
Milana Misic will be in the Finnish preselection with Sydämeni Kaksi Maata (listen to the song here at YLE). It’s bit of an odd mix of a song. It starts as a sort of gipsy tango, then segues into heavy oriental mode to be followed by a bit of loveboat style tv glam disco.

You’ll probably already know that Milana Misic is the daughter of Finnish Eurovision legend Laila Kinnunen and Kroatian musician Milan Mišić so below is just a discography to freshen up. And some links.

Update: Hurray! Milana Misic has qualified for the Finnish final.
She has also recorded an English version of Sydämeni Kaksi Maata titled The Two Lands Of My Heart.
Finnish and English are available through various download shops like Meteli, Playcom and Music Me. (English version available from januari 24 on Columbia)

Albums
Milana Misic has released six albums since 1991 and the last three include some Eurocovers of interest.

Laulumme (2008)
This includes 14 coverversions of songs made popular by Laila Kinnunen.
- Kaikkialla (Al di la, Italy 1961 - Betty Curtis)
- Tanssilaulu (Dansevise, Denmark 1963 - Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann)

Valoa Ikkunassa (2009)
This includes 12 coverversions of Laila Kinnunen songs including her own entry Valoa Ikkunassa.
- Valoa Ikkunassa (Finland 1961)

Jos Itken, Jos Nauran (2010)
- Jos Itken, Jos Nauran (Se Piangi, Se Ridi, Italy 1965 - Bobby Solo)
- I don’t think this was ever released on record by Mama Laila, but there’s a lovely clip to be found on Youtube. (thanks Juha)
- Muistojeni Laulu (Finland 1963 - Laila Halme)

There's also a compilation album Käy Tanssimaan (2010) with 17 songs including Valoa Ikkunassa and Kaikkialla.

Milana Misic Homepage
Milana Misic at Eurocovers (here and here)
Laila Kinnunen Eurocovers discography and songs
Laila Kinnunen Boxset info.
Milana's cds are available at shops like CDON or digitally at Playcom and other sources.

Eurovision 2011
The Düsseldorf Collection blog with all info on 2011 Eurovision releases is already slowly materialising here. Bookmark now.

New Release: All That Dutch Jazz

2010-11-25T12:47:00.003+01:00

Jazz. Many Eurovision songs have been given the jazz treatment over the decades and this week a new CD has been released with two Eurovision songs in a jazz makeover.

Jan Menu and Jasper Soffers have collected ten more or less classic Dutch songs on their Dutch Songboog (Dig Diz Music).
There's the first Dutch winner Net Als Toen (Corry Brokken 1957) but a more remarkable choice is Wat Een Dag from 1961.
Original singer Greetje Kauffeld, a commended jazz singer herself, didn't release the song back in 1961 and the only coverversions I know are at least 40 years old.
Wat Een Dag was written by Dick Schallies with original lyrics by Pieter Goemans.

So well done gentlemen, for digging this little gem up.

I haven't heard a note of any of the songs yet, but you can find more info and a tracklist at the links below.
http://www.janmenu.com/ also in English
http://www.digdizmusic.com/

The 'Dutch Songbook' quartet are
Jan Menu (Baritone sax)
Jasper Soffers (Piano)
Clemens van der Feen (Bass)
Hans van Oosterhout (Drums)

Wat Een Dag known coverversions:
Eddy Doorenbos
- on 7" (Delta DS 1001, 1961)
Letty De Jong
- on LP 14 Jaar Songfestival (Various artists, Philips 1970)
Peter Kreuder (Piano instrumental)
- on LP Piano Parade (Concert Hall SVS 2575, 1961)

Jay en Lianie - In A Moment Like This

2010-11-16T07:15:00.002+01:00

A coververversion of the 2010 Danish entry In A Moment Like This is recorded by Jay with Lianie May (South Africa).
It's on Jay's new solo album (He is a member of boyband Eden) and the track is getting a lot of airplay in South African radio. The album titled Solo is in the South African shops now.

The duet can also be found on the hits compilation 2CD Sokkie Is Groot.
Solo at the Kalahari shop.

Blog tips: More A Ba Ni Bi's from Thailand

2010-11-10T20:07:00.005+01:00

I was just blogging around a bit and found two great blogs each featuring an amazing Thai version of A Ba Ni Bi, The Israeli Eurovision winner of 1978. I nicked the pics, but you'll just have to pay the blogs a visit yourself. And have a great browse while you're there.

New blog StereoMono features this great album by Hongtong Daoudon (หงษ์ทอง ดาวอุดร). Title track ฮ่วย อะบานิบี (Huai Abanibi) is the Eurocover.

The other blog tip is Monrakplengthai. This one has been going since 2008 and has loads of great Thai treats and guarantees some nice browsing hours. The A Ba Ni Bi Cover อรอุมา อะบานิบี is by Onuma Singsiri (อรอุมา สิงห์ศิริ).

Both coverversions appear to be from the late 70's / early 80's. Eurocovers already featured an Abanibrilliant Thai version of the song from 2006 (or 2549) in the Eurocovers post OST The Possible.

update Please see comments for yet another A Ba Ni Bi from Thailand, thanks Peter!.

ANOTHER COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC RECOMMENDATION FROM EUROCOVERS.

Here’s a completely off-topic CD tip for you.

A few weeks ago I bought the CD Another City, Another Plan by Riviera F..

And the brilliant electropop album hasn’t been off my speakers ever since. And since they're not #1 in the world yet I decided spend a bit of Eurocovers space on this fantastic band.
The London based Riviera F. duo are Russian born singer Alexa Marlen and Dutch guitarist Kairo. A quotation from their bio explains it all: "Talking Heads vs. Modern Talking, Kraftwerk vs. Abba, High Heels vs. Highlights, Euro Boys vs. West-End Girls, Blue Veins vs. White Skin".

Another City, Another Plan is electro at its best, not too polished, sometimes noisy (they even have some guitars) but also Pop with a big P.

Being electronically inclined, it is of course gloriously 80’s and the album has one coverversion of a favorite classic of the decade : Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins.

Euro / Melodifestifans, it’s a bit like the mighty PayTV, but without the attitude.

If you’re not Euro / MF inclined, think Miss Kittin’s Batbox.

The album is out on their own Germ Free label; listen to some tracks at the Riviera F. Website where you can also order the CD at a snip. (or digital of course).

Highly Recommended.

It's 林育群's Time Now

2010-11-04T16:02:00.003+01:00

Taiwanese singer Lin Yu Chun, (林育羣) participant of the One Million Stars talent show recorded It's My Time for his debut album also titled It's My Time. (Sony Taiwan 7685927)

There are two editions of the album, one entirely in English and another one with 8 tracks in Mandarin. It's My Time is in English on both albums though.

It's My Time is the U.K. entry for the 2009 contest, written by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren. The song was performed by Jade and finished 5th in Moscow.

Lin Yu Chun website has audio excerpts of his album.

More about Jade's It's My Time releases, covers and charts here at the Moscow Collection.

Special thanks to Joris for posting.

Release news: Simple Little Songs by Anne Herdorf

2010-10-31T07:29:00.010+01:00

In May Eurocovers reported about Wings Of Eurovision, the album with Eurovision tunes by the 2000 winner the Olsen Brothers. (This post). The album did fairly well in several charts so Eurocovers is happy to report about another Danish Eurocovers project that has just been released.

Anne Herdorf - Lad Det Swinge

Anne (Cathrine) Herdorf, 1987 Eurovision star, has released her collection of Eurovision favorites and a handful of National Final treasures on the album Lad Det Swinge. There's some interesting guests helping along, and for the completists, there's also a new recording of her Eurovision entry En Lille Melodi (see below).

With a few exceptions Anne Herdorf didn't go for a collection of big hits, but the album includes some lesser known songs. Unge Dag is a great choice and it's also nice to hear the Tommy Seebach tunes in a new setting.

Tracklist
1. En Lille Melodi (Denmark 1987)
- Anne Herdorfs own Eurovision entry in a new version
2. Sikken Dejlig Dame (Danish NF 1981)
- 3rd place in the National Final. Originally by Anniqa. The song is about Mae West.
3. Hva' Du Ude På (Danish NF 1987)
- Originally by Birthe Kjær, who would represent Denmark one year later.
4. Under Stjernerne På Himlen (Denmark 1993)
- One of Tommy Seebachs Eurovision songs, Lyrics by Keld Heick
5. Ud I Det Blå (Danish NF 1979)
- #3 in the National final, originally by Kim Larsen.
6. Det' Lige Det (Denmark 1984)
- The first of three Kirsten and Søren (Hot Eyes) Eurovision entries.
7. Kloden Drejer (Denmark 1983)
- Originally by Gry Johansen.
8. To Lys På Et Bord - with Tommy Kenter (Danish NF 1960)
- Otto Brandenburg only took it to 4th place, but the song remains one of the best known songs from the early years of Danish Melodi Grand Prix'. Tommy Kenter is a Danish actor, who's Eurovision claim to fame is a last place in the 1985 Danish Melodi Grand Prix.
9. Dansevise - with Jørgen de Mylius (Denmark 1963)
- The 1963 winner by Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann. Jørgen de Mylius is the godfather of modern Danish Eurovision, writer an TV personality.
10. Skibet Skal Sejle I Nat - with Dario Campeotto
- Skibet, the song with thát kiss (see this Eurocovers post) is performed here with Dario Campeotto, the Danish 1961 entrant (read more about his song Angelique here at Eurocovers)
11. Disco Tango - with Keld Heick (Denmark 1979)
- Another Tommy Seebach classic. Keld Heick is one of Denmarks most prolific songwriters whose credits include 9 Eurovision entries and innumerable National Final songs. With his wife Hilda and his band Donkeys he also recorded countless Eurocovers.
12. Unge Dag - with Hilda Heick (Germany 1973)
- Junger Tag, the German 1973 entry by Gitte Hænning. Danish born Gitte recorded the song in several languages including Danish, and this is a coverversion of that one.
13. Lad Det Swinge - with Birthe Kjær (Norway 1986)
- The first Norwegian winner by Bobbysocks!. Here Anne duets with Birthe Kjær, the 1988 Danish entrant, multi NF singer who also has over two dozens of Eurocovers to her name.

Lad Det Swinge is out on My Way Music (M 20206-2)

A Simple Little Song
En Lille Melodi (A little melody/song) by Anne Cathrine Herdorf and her chums Drengene (a.k.a. Bandjo) was the Danish Eurovision entry in 1987. It ended fifth in an era the Danish schlager tunes did quite well at Eurovision.
In good tradition the song was recorded in a few exotic languages like English (A Simple Little Song), German (Eine Kleine Melodie) and Dutch (Je Leven Lang Verliefd).
The song was also re-recorded by Fenders, who were more or less Bandjo, band of the composer Helge Engelbrecht. The original Danish lyrics were written by Jacob Jonia.

At the Danish Melodi Grand Prix show of 2002 Anne Herdorf performed a medley of Danish Eurovision entries with Gry Meilstrup and Anders Frandsen. This medley also ended up on the 2002 DMGP CD (Universal)

Special Thanks to Rick and Heine.

Sha La Lie - Another CD tip.

While we're in the Schlager realm, here's another release that may be interesting to the avid Eurocovers adept.
You know all about Sha La Lie, the chirpy but ill fated Father Abraham penned Dutch 2010 entry and all its incarnations. (If not check it out here).
Spoofs, Street Organs and regional versions galore, but not all have had an official release.
The Drents studio version by Janneke De Roo is out now officially.
Her new CD Onvergetelijk (unforgettable) features highlights from her five year solo* career. The album also includes some new tracks and one of them is Sha La Lie sung in the Drents regional language. (Wiki).

The CD is available through the Janneke De Roo website or digitally from Zazell and other sources.
Janneke De Roo also recorded a coverversion of the 1972 Eurovision winner Après Toi on her 2007 CD Gewoon JR (Just JR). That one's in Dutch (as Toen Kwam Jij) and does not feature on the new collection.

* Janneke de Roo was in the popular sister trio Zusjes De Roo who scored a big hit in the Dutch charts with Blauwe Korenbloemen (Blue Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus) in 1971.

Catch Inculto in London (Oct 31)

2010-10-30T11:55:00.000+02:00

Lithuanian Youth Association in the UK (JKLJS) & Culture Jam presents: “Eastern European Funk” pre-launch of new ska/funk INCULTO album “Closer Than You Think” & Halloween party 31 October 2010 8pm The Queen of Hoxton London, 1 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX

“Eastern European Funk" is a ska-styled song performed by InCulto which represented Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The meaning of the song is basically compressed in these two sentences: "Yes Sir we are legal we are, though we are not as legal as you/No Sir we're not equal no, though we are both from the EU". The ska rhythm hides a protest at the Western World for forgetting Eastern Europe, Lithuania included.

If you are Eastern European or know someone who is join us at the Halloween party and pre-launch of the new INCULTO album “Closer Than You Think” at The Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX on 31st October 2010. The Queen of Hoxton is legendary bar, club and art collective in the heart of the East End. It is the house of “Washroom Galleries” that showcase some of the best up-and-coming artists from the East End, keeping you entertained while you sit. Each cubicle has been lovingly decorated along different themes.

Tickets
Inculto website
Inculto at the Oslo Collection

Japan Jamaica Popp! (and a bit of Ronan Keating)

2010-10-23T10:44:00.008+02:00

Here’s a fab Japanese cover of André Popp’s classic Eurovision songs L’Amour Est Bleu (Love is blue).

Japanese reggae dubsters Little Tempo mix with Yoko Fujita (藤田陽子) and Ao Inoue (of Dry & Heavy, another Japanese reggae outfit).

It’s from some undergroundish dub remix compilation I didn’t find many details on, but it’s just plain great.

Koi Ha Mizuiro (恋は水色)

L’Amour Est Bleu was 4th in the 1967 contest representing Luxembourg. The original French lyrics were written by Pierre Cour.

The song was featured many times at Eurocovers. Here's the song as the 2nd most covered Eurovision song and here's another Love Is Blue Special.
Here's some from India and one from China, one by Ann Margret and a groovy Bagpipe version by Rufus Harley. The first ever Eurocovers post features Paul Mauriats 12"inch disco version.

And a bit of Ronan Keating news.
Ronan Keating will release Believe Again as his next single in Australia and New Zealand. Believe Again is the Keating co-penned* 2009 Eurovision entry for Denmark.
Original singer Brinck finished 13th with the song at the Moscow contest, but the song proved to be a popular tune and was covered several times (See below)

Believe Again will be a duet with an as yet unrevealed artist (My bet is on Orianthi, but Olivia would be great). It will be included on the album Duet, especially created for the Australian/New Zealand market.
update: The singer is Paulini Curuenavuli. (website)
You can listen to the song at Soundfiend.

The album will include some previously recorded duets (Lulu, Elton, Cat) alongside new songs with antipodean artists.
The single will be out on November 12. Both album and single will be released exclusively in Australia and New Zealand, so rekindle your contacts with those long lost pen pals. (Or wait for the'Bay).
Keatings most recent album is Winter Songs from 2009, a christmassy album which is also almost appropriate again.

Source: Ronan Keating website
Believe Again at The Moscow Collection has all the details on the coverversions. Or check this Eurocovers post.
See an Afrikaans version by Heinz Winckler here at Eurocovers.

* Keating wrote Believe Again with Lars Halvor Jensen and Martin Møller Larsson. In 2010 the trio wrote All About A Girl for Joakim Tranberg for the Danish selection.

Lena Zavaroni - What's Another Year

2010-10-19T16:30:00.001+02:00

Here's Lena Zavaroni performing What's Another Year (The Irish 1980 winner), which I think is rather lovely.
Read more about this Lena at http://www.lena-zavaroni.co.uk/

Thin Slices Of Siw Malmkvist (Not Gunther von Hagen related)

2010-10-09T19:02:00.008+02:00

It’s been a bit quiet at Eurocovers lately. Too much work, recession depression, some PC problems and all kinds of personal excuses, you know the tune.

But I received a bit of release news from Erik of Sweden I didn’t want to keep from you as it includes the magic words ‘Previously Unreleased’ and ‘Italian Version’.

Siw Malmkvist, Eurovision singer, Swedish National Final repeat offender and beloved Eurocovers artist has given her memoires to the world in a Swedish book called Tunna Skivor Av Mig.
It was written with Carl Magnus Palm who is most known as the best ABBA historicus. (His fantastic ABBA - The Complete Recording Sessions (1994) is unrivalled).

Tunna Skivor Av Mig (Thin slices of me) is a take on her 1960 single Tunna Skivor which is a coverversion of Connie Francis’ Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool. Skivor is also Swedish for records.

Siw Malmkvist entered Eurovision in 1960 with Alla Andra Får Varann (for Sweden) and in 1969 with Primaballerina (for Germany) and she recorded coverversions of several Eurovision songs (see * below). This new release adds two more to the list.

Augustin, April April
Siw Malmkvist also entered (and won) the Swedish national selection several times and two of those appearances are linked to the Eurocovers on the Tunna Skivor bonus CD.

In 1959 Siw Malmkvist sang Augustin in the Swedish selection even though it was already known that Brita Borg would represent Sweden at Eurovision.
Siw recorded Augustin in Swedish, German, Danish, Norwegian and Italian and it’s the Italian version that is released here for the first time.

In 1961 Siw won the Swedish selection with April April, but Swedish TV decided that Lill Babs would go to Eurovision because Siws performance wasn’t quite satisfactory. **
April April features on the CD in a previously unreleased Danish version.

The CD included with a limited number of the book includes 17 tracks of which only the last one was previously released. One track is a new recording; Du bist der Anfang und das Ziel, recorded with her son Henrik. The other 15 tracks are mostly different language recordings of well known Siw songs.

Less great news is that the CD is only available with the first 1000 copies of the book, which is of course not a very fan-friendly marketing strategy.
The Tunna Skivor Av Mig edition with the CD is only available at Bokus, who dont ship to everywhere, but to most European countries and some beyond. (Best inquire first to get the right edition)

Tunna Skivor tracklist:
1 Ten Thousand Miles - 1965
2 Am Platz von Tegelbacken - 1964
3 Amore Scusami (German) - 1964
4 Augustin (Italian) - 1959
5 Bring Back My Love - 1965
6 Du spricht immer von Paris - 1959
7 Du är bäst - 1964
8 Frosty der Schneemann - 1964
9 Goodbye Charlie - 1965
10 Hej Mr Banjo - 1955
11 Lejonburen - 1964
12 Någon gång någonstans - 1964
13 Rosorna i Portugal - 1959
14 April april (Danish) - 1961
15 Du bist der Anfang und das Ziel - with Henrik Ohlsson - 2010
16 Introduction recorded in the studio for Vackraste paret i världen
17 Vackraste paret i världen - Duett med Svante Thuresson - 1968

Special thanks to Erik for the news and the pic below.
Other sources: Bokus bookstore and Carl Magnus Palm Website

* Sprattelgumma, Puppet On A String at Eurocovers has a discography of Siws Eurocovers
** I haven’t read the book yet, so I don’t know if there’s anything about this historic Swedish Eurovision debacle in it.

Sunette Bridges - Let The Music Play

2010-09-12T13:21:00.003+02:00

Being the offspring of a celebrated superstar must be a daunting job. On the one hand people are interested in you because of your famous parent, on the other hand the press will scrutinize every move you make and compare it to your mom or dad. (and hope you fail...)

Either if you want to go your own way, or follow in the footsteps of your ancestor, you can never really do it the right way (well, except Enrique maybe). There's always the accusations of capitalizing on the success of the ones that came before you.

Sunette Bridges is no exception. In the past she has been given a hard time in the South African tabloid press, who measured out every move she made, good or bad.

Sunette Bridges has to fill the shoes of her father Bles Bridges (1947-2000), who is one of the great legends in Afrikaans schlager / pop music history.

After an absence of almost six years Sunette is back with a vengeance.

She released her 6th album Let The Music Play and the album was well received by the critics of Afrikaans music.
It's a wonderful collection of songs; coverversions and a few self penned ones, that reflect a coming to terms, a coming of age even, for the South African singer.

Here are the tracks on Let The Music Play.
1. Girl Without Love
The album opens with a version of A Man Without Love. Not the U.K. 1966 Eurovision song, but a cover of the San Remo song Quando m'innamoro from 1968. But most people know it as the Engelbert Humperdinck's world hit.
2. I've Never Been To Me
Remember Charlene? Her original is one of the most unlikely Motown hits ever. It's raunchy and at the same time almost religious and one of the timeless pop classics. Sunette's version is an uptempo affair without losing the essence of the original song.
3. You Are
A duet with Xavier
4. Solitaire
5. Story Of A Life
6. Shallow
Shirley Clamp's Min Kärlek (from Melodifestivalen 2004) in an English version with lyrics written by Sunette herself.
7. Il Mondo
Another Italian classic, performed in Italain by Sunette
8. If I Give My Heart To You
A Petra Frey (Eurovision 1994) Song
You can watch this one at YouTube. With bits from her Let The Music Play Theatre tour.
9. Andante, Andante
Frida sang it on Abba's Super Trouper LP, a timeless song from Abba's 'lighter' collection.
10. Wanted
The Dooley's! remember them,? Wanted was a 1978 hit, #1 in Japan even. Sunette does a delightful pop version and for me one of the top tracks of the album.
11. L'amour Ca Fait Chanter La Vie
The only real Eurocover on this album is the #2 from 1978, Jean Vallée's song is the the typical 70's ballad only to be found at Eurovision. Sunette recorded it in French.
12. You Don't Bring Me Flowers
The Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond classic in an uptempo version.
13. A Mi Manera
Sinatra's My Way in Spanish and English
14. Mano
One of the hits by Maywood, the Dutch duo who failed to re-ignite their career with a miscalculated Eurovision appearance 10 years after Mano was a hit. Outside the Netherlands Maywood enjoyed some success in Spain, Germany and South Africa and just about every non-anglo country in the music world..
15. Broken Heart
Thomas G:Son written preselection song from Finland song Who Cares About A Broken Heart originally by Johanna.
16. Get The Party Started
At first I though it silly to end an album with a track about getting started, (The 1 Non Blonde Linda Perry penned Pink hit) but I was wrong. After getting all this out in the world, it's the dawning of a new era for Sunette.

Sunette Bridges album discography:
Vrou Alleen (2001)
- This includes the duet with her Father Bles Bridges Glo In Die Lewe, a coverversion of the 1972 Eurovision winner Après Toi. The original Afrikaans version was recorded by Bles Bridges in 1997.
Dit Is My Lewe (Vat Musiek 2001)
- Featuring Siek En Sat, a coverversion of Javiera's Varje Timma Var Minut, a hit from the 2000 Swedish national final. (Melodifestivalen)
Opskop Treffers En Ander (EMI 2003)
Kan Jy dans (EMI Capitol 2003)
Sprokie (Hartman 2004)
Let The Music Play (Markon 2009)

Sunette Bridges has also been working on Afrikaans versions of the Maltese and Albanian 2005 Eurovision entries, but they remain unreleased.

In 2007 Sunette issued the book Gister, Vandag en Môre (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) in which she recounts her life story .
How is it to be raised in the a family with a famous father, how she made her choices in life, both bad and good, and how she dealt with the media attention, wanted and unwanted.
The book is in Afrikaans and is still available at graffitibooks.co.za.

Let The Music Play is available at Kalahari who sell internationally. You can listen to excerpts of all tracks at Sunettes website.

Elaine Baker, where are you now?

2010-07-27T15:46:00.003+02:00

Here's a sweet 'n' lovely version of Sandie Shaw's Puppet On A String. I bought this curiosity via the bay on a whim because it had some strange appeal with hardly anything being known about it.
In my imagination it could have been an undiscovered recording of a mega famous superstar, but I'm not recognizing any pre-fame voice here.

Elaine Baker, who is she? The name is common enough to hit 25.000 at google, and that didn't lead to anything conclusive. There's an opera singer, an actress or radio DJ with the same name here and there, who knows....
The single has no recordcompany label on it. All the label reads is monaural (= mono), the artists name, the composers and some numbers.

So dating the record is up to us. It must be later than 1967, the original puppet year, as the other track My Love, My Love's The Same has a distinctive early disco feel about it. 1972?
The version of Puppet On A String is a bit of an odd blend of romantic Jamaican rhythms and horns with the singer taking a few detours in the original melody and lyrics. Puppet could easily be one of the many versions recorded in Jamaica, but the other track is so un-Jamaican that it makes it a bit doubtful.
Another fact that could point to Jamaica is the misspelling of songwriter Coulter as Coulteer. That occurs on a few other Jamaican coverversions.
The fact that there's no record label is also a point towards Jamaica.
I discarded the possibilty of the record being a cheap pop-tops style copy as the other song is composed by the singer herself and Puppet is far from a plain copy.

A romantic idea that appeals to me is that Elaine Baker just wanted to make a record, spent a few pennies / cents on it and 23 copies were pressed for friends and family. Elvis did it, so why can't Elaine?

All in all, I know nothing, which is great really. So, Elaine Baker, wherever you are, if you read this, just drop us a comment. (anyone else that knows something more is very welcome too)
♫ Puppet On A String
♫ My Love, My Love's The Same.

Puppet On A String was already featured a zillion times at Eurocovers in 2007. If you use this link you get the posts which feature versions from all over the world.

Summertime Bits and pieces part 2.

2010-07-25T09:17:00.014+02:00

The Divine Comedy
British band The Divine Comedy released their 10th album Bang Goes The Knighthood two months ago. It's worth checking out the limited edition of the album which includes an extra disc (if you can still find it).
The bonus cd Live at Cité de la Musique, Paris, features nine mostly French tracks.
Next to classics like Brels Amsterdam and Vanessa Paradis' Joe Le Taxi there are two Eurocovers: L'Amour Est Bleu and Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son, both songs need no further explanation methinks.
(Divine Comedy Records DCRL101DCD)

Kirkorov
Russian Eurovision singer and multi Eurocoverer Philippe Kirkorov (Фили́пп Кирко́ров) has recorded a version of the Swedish 2009 entry La Voix (Malena Ernman) He teams up with soprano Anna Netrebko (Анна Нетребко) for the quasi classical pop ditty and if you visit his website the song starts playing.
More Kirkorov Eurocovers in this post.
The russian version is titled Голос, but an English version is also recorded

Portugal Discographies

An highly recommended website for Portugal Eurovision history fans can be found at this Portuguese music history site.
The pages Os Reis Do Vinyl feature several interesting pages.
There are some very extended discographies with delicious picture sleeves including Eurovision legends Madalena Iglesias, António Calvario and Simone De Oliveira.
You will find their Eurovision sleeves and many of their Eurocovers.
You can also read about the Festival Da Canção Portuguesa before the country made its debut at Eurovision in 1964.
Lots of info new to me, there was already talk of a Eurovision appearance since 1961 (They finally made their debut in 1964). Really wonderful browsing.

I used google translate to navigate the site in English, but you'll get some funny translations. Antonio Calvario translates as Butch Moore, Madalena Iglesians becomes Dickie Rock and Maria Marize becomes Queen Mary. But it helps anyway.

Esta Balada Que Te Dou
To stick to the subject of Portugal, here is a great coverversion of the 1983 entry Esta Balada Que Te Dou (Armando Gama) ♫.
This version by Os Pontos Negros was recorded last year for a Radio station and appeared on a compilation issued by Radio Antena 3: 3 pisata vol. 2.
I don't think it was released on a Pontos Negros record. Their 3rd CD Pequeno-Almoço Continental is out on Universal since last April

Esta Balada is a bit alternative (The Pontos are cited to be inspired by The White Stripes) and it's certainly a long way away from the sugar coated original, but it keeps the melancholy madrugada-feeling perfectly in tact. ♫

If you want to hear a version of Esta Balada Que Te Dou a bit closer to Armando Gama's version there's a new recording by Marcelo Costa. His CD Marcelo Costa is out on Sony since april. It's available through most digital outlets. You can listen to Marcelo's Balada at his MySpace playlist.

And here's a bit of interesting trivia for the die hards. Esta Balada Que Te Dou broke the Eurovision rules back in 1983. Armando Gama had already released a version of the song on his 1982 LP Quase Tudo (RT records RT 10021). At the time the rules about songs being previously released were even stricter than today, but it seems nobody noticed and Gama got away with it. Esta Balada was the 5th Portuguese entry to end 13th at the contest.

More Portuguese Eurovision entries are covered on an eponymous album by Sons Do Tejo (Espacial records). The album includes Menina Do Alto da Serra (1970 originally by Tonicha) and Desfolhada Portuguesa (1969 by Simone de Oliveira).
You can listen to Menina at their MySpace along with some other tracks from the CD.
The album is available at most digital outlets. The CD is at CD.GO.

Jørgen Ingmann and poets

Mikael sent me this bit of info on an unusual version of Dansevise, the first Danish Eurovision winner.
The CD Jørgen Ingmann Og Digterne is a collection of tracks by Ingmann on guitar accompanied by poets who recite the lyrics of the songs.
Dansevise is recited by Marianne Gerner over what is probably a 1976 instrumental recording of the song by Ingmann.
The CD comes with a book and is available in the Danish bookshops (Forlaget Vandkunsten ISBN 9788776951092, 2009). Read more (in Danish) at Forlaget Vandkunsten.

Ingmann is of course an acclaimed guitarist with several worldwide solo hits in the 60's (He scored a US #1 with the Shadows Apache). He was joined by his wife Grethe (1939 - 1990) for many singles including their Eurovision win in 1963.
And you can still check out the duo's sensational Winners and Losers coverversions LP feature in the second Eurocovers post ever.

Made In China
A 2009 CD by The Fake Orchestra - Made In China, is actually not fake, and not made in China, but the orchestra is from Slovenia. The jazz album features one Eurocover: Ne Prizigaj Luci V Temi which is a Slovenian version of Ne Pali Svjetla U Sumrak, the Yugoslavian entry from 1962, originally performed by Lola Novaković. The fakers have a MySpace, but sadly it doesn't feature the Eurocover. Excerpts are at Sternsmusic.

Elda Viler
Some more anoraky bits here: Yugoslavia's first two entries (including Ne Pali Svjetla U Sumrak) were actually submitted to the Yugoslavian selection by TV Ljubljana (Slovenian TV), but they had to be performed in Serbo-Croat in the selection and subsequently at Eurovision. The first time an entry sung in Slovenian entered Eurovision was in 1966 (Brez Besed by Berta Ambrož). Of the first ten Yugoslavian entries five were submitted by TV Ljubljana. Of the 17 entries that followed only one came from Slovenia.

Slovenian jazz legend Elda Viler popularized Ne Prizigaj Luci V Temi (in Slovenian) in the 70's ♫. The clip below is a live recording from 2009 with the Goriski Pihalni Orkester (loving the outfits guys).

All In The Family: Lola & Rosario Flores

2010-07-17T12:38:00.003+02:00

Here's Julio Iglesias 1970 Eurovision entry Gwendolyne in two versions. First is a sensational version by Spanish Flamenco Legend Lola Flores (also see video below). She recorded the song in 1970 but I only know of a Various artists MC release Exitos Modernos En Flamenco. ~~I don't know if it was released on LP or single.~~ see comments

The second version is by Rosario Flores who is the daughter of Lola and Antonio Gonzalez Flores. She recorded Gwendolyne for the soundtrack of Spanish TV series Cuéntame Cómo Pasó (11th season, 2009).

♫ Lola - Rosario

Below is a fab clip of mama Lola doing Gwendolyne with papa Antonio on guitar.

MoniQue & Snotkop - Ek val vir jou

2010-07-10T14:32:00.005+02:00

Here's another cover from South Africa. MoniQue and Snotkop (yep, Snothead) cover the Finnish 2009 entry Lose Control (Waldo's People) as Ek Val Vir Jou (I fall for you) in Afrikaans. You can find the track on MoniQue's album with the same title. The album also includes an English version of the song.
The CD is out now on Select music and is available at Kalahari. It's also digitally available at Rhythm Music Store and some international digital stores.

Summertime bits and pieces part 1.

2010-07-04T12:25:00.026+02:00

Eurocovers has not fully collapsed yet under the heat, but lazyness prevents indepth analysis of the high standards you are used to from yours truly. I didn't even tie in with the footie and the vuvuzela madness, for which you probably are thankful
But here's some found food and bits and pieces people have been sending.

Perla
Remember Perla? In this Eurocovers post you can read all about the beautiful Brasilian pop singer and her covers of your favorite Eurovision songs. There was one version missing which now can be found in this YouTube. It's the Spanish language version of Mia Martini's 1977 entry Libera.
It's one of 90 Perla songs you can listen to on the Perla Radio Youtube channel. Thank you Perla Radio!

Leon Calvert
Easy listening blog Detour features an LP Captivation by Noel Trevlac including an instrumental version of Puppet On A String. Not only is this a must hear track because it is exceptionally good, it's also interesting because Mr. Trevlac is actually Leon Calvert, acclaimed British jazz trumpeteer who probably didn't want to have his name attached to some cheap covers LP. But the quality of the arrangement and the trumpetering betrays him. Thank You Detour Blog!

South Africa
Music news from South Africa is a bit slow at the moment. Several Eurocovers are on the brink of release (or not, as postponing is the word of the day). You can find one little teaser for a forthcoming release at the Jasmyn website.
You can hear a part of Iemand Soos Jy, a coverversion of the ill fated Barbara Dex song that ended last in 1993. Jasmyn will also have two other Eurocovers on her album, but there's not much info on her website yet.
Another anticipated but overdue album is Die Enigste Manier (The only way) by Lee Scott (of Hi-5). It includes Wonderland, an Afrikaans version of Fairytale, last years winner and Wens Ek Kon (2009 runner up Is It True? from Iceland). You can listen to excerpts from the album tracks including the Eurocovers at the Lee Scott website. update: There's also a cover of Chiara's Malta 2009 song titled Vandag.
Moniqe Foxx tackles the forgotten Malta entry Believe 'n' Peace by Times 3 (1999) as Ek Glo for her new album.(very short clip at the Moniqe Foxx website). The album will also include a version of Secret Combination (Greece 2008). The album will be out on Markon records.
Lea Le Roux covers the luscious Andorran 2009 entry La Teva Decisio (Susanna Georgi) as Ek Es Gereed on her album due in november. (small clip at Rea Le Roux website).

A lot of small excerpts which are of course useless to the Eurovers fan, so I'm pleased to end this shortlist of Afrikaans covers with two full versions:

It's Henk Grimsell with his interpretation of Soraya's La Noche Es Para Mi (Spain 2009). The song is titled Vanaand Is Net Vir My from his new album Dis Tyd (Southern Buzz records). And the girls love him!

South African Bachelor Of The Year Stefan Ludik also has an album out. Burn This Town is out on CD in South Africa and also digitally available at Play.com, We7 and MusicMe. It has one Eurocover, Lose Control, last years clubby Finnish entry by Waldo's People. It's in English and a bit louder than the original.
At MusicMe you can listen to the full tracks of the album.

Totally Off Topic Extra Bit Of Afrikaans Info
Cooler As Ekke by Jack Sparow is heading for a massive hit in the Netherlands. It's a soft hippy hoppy track of which I don't understand a word (maybe just as well) but it can be considered quite cool in a Borat kind of way. It's the first Afrikaans language hit in the Netherlands since Thembi took a medley of discofied Afrikaans folksongs to the top 10 in 1976. (Take Me Back To The Old Transvaal)

2010 coverversions
Currently at #4 in the German charts is Schland O Schland by Uwu Lena. The football hymne to the tune of Lena's 2010 Eurovision winner Satellite was released on cdsingle after some initial hesitation. The number 4 is a lucky number for the Germans. #1 next week?. (update: erm, no , #5)
There's also a Finnish version of Satellite, it's called Kiertokuu by Charlotte Kero.
Read more about all the Satellite Eurocovers at Lena's page at the Oslo Collection. More news on the Keistad Street Organ CD (with a cover of the Dutch entry) can be found at the Oslo Collection Sieneke page.

More Mostly Off Topic Great News
Samantha 'Touch Me' Fox and Sabrina 'Boys Boys Boys' Salerno have teamed up for an ace coverversion of Blondie's Call Me (Youtube). Welcome back girls, the world just wasn't the same without you.
The cdsingle is only released in Italy so far, but the digital release is widely available. I bought my cdsingle at favorite shop Juno, who also stock a picture disc 12" inch.
Sam Fox's old band Sox once tried to go to Eurovision with Go For The Heart, but they ended 4th and Love City Groove went on to the contest somewhere in Ireland.

O Vento Mudou - UHF
After all that schlager and pop it's time for a bit of Rawk. Portuguese rockers UHF have recorded the Portuguese 1967 entry O Vento Mudou (Eduardo Nascimento) for their new album. And it's great!
You can listen to the song at the UHF MySpace . Thanks Ed!

Perdon Cariño Mio
Two versions of the Italian 1971 entry L'Amore è Un Attimo can be found at the website of Pino Lucciano. One in Spanish (Perdon...) and one in Italian. Eurocovers loves that song, so that's why it's here. There's also a version of Volare if you scroll down a bit on the site.
Another Tex Mex version of the song by Los Reyes Del Camino can be found in this Eurocovers post from 2007.

Spain 2003: Silvia Swart - Laat me Leven

2010-06-19T12:24:00.002+02:00

The new single by Dutch singer Silvia Swart, Laat Me Leven (Let me live) is a coverversion of the Spanish Eurovision entry Dime (By Beth who ended 8th in 2003).
http://www.silviaswart.nl/
The cdsingle is now available at BeaRecords. It has the Dutch version plus the karaoke.

Tom Kruse - Wunder gibt es immer wieder ( Der WM Song 2010 )

2010-06-10T17:18:00.000+02:00

Another World Cup classic in the making

Spot The Eurocover

2010-06-05T16:31:00.000+02:00

Douze poing for you if you can find the Eurovision song hidden in this great summer soundtrack. Mama Yé by Nazareken ft. Dady.

2010-05-30T01:54:00.002+02:00

More About The 2010 Eurovision winner Lena At The Oslo Collection

2010 The Oslo Weeks - Part 6 And then some...

2010-05-29T08:18:00.005+02:00

Tonight is the night, the final of the 55th Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Some of Eurocovers favorites made it, but of course many were slaughtered. Why Finland didn't make it is beyond me and pet favorites like Inculto from Lithuania and sweet Sieneke will be sorely missed. Some that made it are completely useless, others are great, but you can decide that for yourself.
I have to get cooking in a moment, you gotta eat at the yearly Eurovision dinner party, but I'll leave you with just another handful Norwegian artifacts in the last instalment of The Oslo Weeks.

For the latest release news on the CDs of this years entries please visit The Oslo Collection. Who has a proper cdsingle out (not the U.K., that's for sure) and which 17-copies-promo-only-cdr will be the unobtainable holy grail this year?.
Read about the recordings in all kind of languages and remixes by the great local djs. You can also find the latest information on chart movement from all your favorite 2010 songs.

Norwegian Eurocovers, you gotta love 'em, here's a few more:
1975 U.K. - Let Me Be The One (The Shadows)
- La Det Vaere Mig by Staccato ♫
1976 U.K. - Save Your Kisses For Me (Brotherhood Of Man)
- Du Får Det Beste By the Bendik Singers ♫ on 7"(Triola TN 701)
1977 Switzerland - Swiss Lady (Pepe Lienhard Band)
- By The Four Jets ♫ on LP Four Jets' Langspillplate (Arctic ARC 8616).
The Four Jets were a Norwegian band who recorded many coverversions of popular hits from 1963 to 1989. Several guest singers appeared on their records. The recorded this Swiss Lady but also Bad Old Days (U.K. 1978), Boom Boom (Denmark 1978), Making Your Mind Up (U.K. 1981), Dag Efter Dag (Sweden 1983), Det Lige Det (Denmark 1984), Sku Du Spørg Fra No'n (Denmark 1985) and Für Alle (Germany 1985)
1979 Israel - Hallelujah (Milk and Honey)
- by Lilian (Askeland) & Big hand ♫
1982 Germany - Ein Bisschen Frieden (Nicole)
- Litt Mere Frihet by Jenny Jenssen ♫
1993 France - Mama Corsica (Patrick Fiori)
- Mama Korsika by Nattsvermerne ♫

The Oslo Weeks - Laat Het Swingen

2010-05-29T07:28:00.002+02:00

Now here's a video and a half. The Norwegian winner La Det Swinge in a Dutch version by girl duo Fifty Fifty. Remember the 80's?. I'd like to dedicate this one to the people of the TROS.

Simo ft. Hasna - Dum tek tek

2010-05-25T12:08:00.000+02:00

Coverversion of last years Turkish entry Düm Tek Tek by Hadise.

2010 The Oslo Weeks - Part 5: The Classics

2010-05-24T09:36:00.010+02:00

Just one day until the first semifinal of the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.

If you are one of the unlucky Eurocovers readers without any TV channel broadcasting the contest onto your couch, no problem. It's quite easy to catch the broadcasts this year. Just go to the Streaming TV page of the official Eurovision site. There you will be able to catch all three evenings of Eurovision extravaganza. Needs an octoshape install, but that doesn't hurt.

In the meantime here's just a few of the golden oldies recorded in Norwegian over the years. Some by Norways greatest stars and others by the lost and forgotten. And there's some links to Norwegian treasures featured previously at Eurocovers.

1958 Italy - Volare (Domenico Modugno)

Already featured in 2008: Anno Domenico, Norwegian versions of the Italian Classic by Nora Brockstedt ♫ and by Inger Jacobsen with the Monn Keys ♫ (Original post)
1959 Netherlands - 'n Beetje (Teddy Scholten)
- Det Kommer En Sommer - The Monn-Keys ♫ - 7" (Triola TN 165) & EP

The Monn Keys were a Norwegian vocal outfit founded by Egil Monn Iversen and Sølvi Wang. In fact it was some kind of supergroup with different well known Norwegian vocalists joining the group off and on. (including Eurovision singers Inger Jacobsen, Nora Brocktedt & Arne Bendiksen).

Their recording career started way before Eurovision was invented but they picked up on a few of your favorite Eurovision tunes, dressed them up in Norwegian sweaters and even scored a few hits with them. The Monn Keys lasted from 1948 to 1964. They toured Scandinavia, most of western Europe and also America.

The b-side to the Det Kommer… single is Syng Lille Sangfugl, a cover the the U.K. entry Sing Little Birdie. (Still looking for that one though)

source: More about the Monn Keys (in Norwegian) at Balade.no where I also nicked this picture sleeve.

1960 France - Tom Pillibi (Jacqueline Boyer)
- by the Monn Keys with Sølvi Wang ♫ - on 7" (Triola TN 202)
1962 Germany - Zwei Kleine Italiener (Conny Froboess)
- Anita Thallaug - Tina Og Marina ♫ - on 7"(NorDisk NOR 67)
Anita Thallaugs place in Eurovision history was earned in 1963. In Eurovision she performed Solhverv (Solstice) which became Norways first nil-pointer. Thallaug was appointed to go to Eurovision even though two other artists had performed the song in the national final (Jan Høiland & Nora Brockstedt). Anita Thallaug never released the song.
Zwei Kleine Italiener, probably the biggest hit from the 1962 contest, was already widely covered in this Eurocovers post.
1962 Finland - Tipi Tii (Marion Rung)
- by Jan Høiland ♫, release details wanted
1966 Yugoslavia - Brez Besed (Berta Ambroz)
- Uten Ord - Karin Winje ♫ on 7" (Triola TN 487)
1967 U.K. - Puppet On A String (Sandie Shaw)
- Sprellemann - Benthe Aaseth ♫.
Already featured in The Year Of The Puppet post Sprellemann
1967 Luxembourg - L'Amour Est Bleu (Vicky)
- Blå, Blå, Min Kjærlighed - Åse Kleveland ♫ - on 7" (Polydor NH 66 814)
1969 U.K. Boom Bang A Bang (Lulu)
- Anne Mette ♫ in this post.
1973 Spain - Eres Tu (Mocedades)
Inger Lise (Rypdal) - I Mitt Liv ♫ on 7" (Talent TS 009). See comments

Finnpicks
Eurocovers is not the only blog with Eurovision fever, personal favorite Finnpicks is also at it again with some great Finnish Eurocovers, go check it out.

2010 The Oslo Weeks - Part 4: Intet Er Nytt Under Solen

2010-05-23T06:23:00.010+02:00

More never than often I get the question: 'Dear Eurocovers, What's the best Norwegian entry ever?'

Well, there's an easy answer, but it's not very nice to name a song that is decades old while the Norwegians have done their utmost best ever since with some amazing winners and fantastic plonkers. But for me it must be the 1966 song Intet Er Nytt Under Solen (Nothing is new under the sun) by Åse Kleveland. (YouTube)

It's a jazz-folky repetitive tune in the vein of Danish 1963 winner Dansevise and it clocks in at 1 minute 41 which of course adds to the fabulousness of the song. It has a chirpy sadness with gives it the Je Ne Sais Quoi (to coin a popular Icelandic phrase) that makes it the intriguing classic it still is.

Åse Kleveland ended 3rd at the contest, a result Norway didn't come close to anymore for almost 20 years.
She went on to host the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest in Bergen and was the Minister of Culture in the Norwegian government from 1990 to 1996.

The Arne Bendiksen penned song was performed twice in the Norwegian preselection. Åse Kleveland did the 'small combo' version and Grynet Molvig sang the song with the grand orchestra. Both versions were released on single. It's the only time both singers released the song in all 13 occasions Norway did the double-artist-each-song-twice-selection thing.

Åse Kleveland recorded the song in Norwegian, Swedish and German and I know of just a handfull of coverversions (see the full list below)
She also recorded the 1967 smash L'Amour Est Bleu, Love Is Blue on single
Blå, Blå, Min Kjærlighed ♫ (Polydor NH 66 814, 1968)

Intet Er Nytt Under Solen
Originals and Eurocovers Discography
xx
Intet Er Nytt Under Solen (norwegian) - Åse Kleveland
- on 7" (Polydor NH 66774)
Alles War Schon Einmal Da (german) - Åse Kleveland
- on 7" (Germany: Polydor 59 040)
Intet Är Nytt Under Solen (swedish) - Åse Kleveland
on 7" (Sweden: Polydor NH 59713)
Inter Er Nytt Under Solen - Grynet Molvig ♫
- on 7" (Triola 434) Grynets version is only 1 minute, 32 seconds long!

- coverversions -
Janh Teigen Experience (norwegian)
- on cdsingle Are you Teigened? (AMI 866038) ♫
The Janh Teigen Experience does not involve any real Jahn Teigen involvement. Their Are You Teigened? cdsingle includes three other Eurocovers A Ba Ni Bi (Israel 1968), Vi Gratulerer (U.K. 1968) and Jengis Khan (Germany 1979). Their Intet… is a fantastic bit of hypno-rock, what ever happened to them?
Pitsj (Acapella femtet, norwegian)
- on CD Pitsj from 2006 (Grappa 2006)
---Pitsj Website & MySpace. (MySpace has their Voi Voi)
The Vineyards (norwegian)
- new digital release, see below Norwegian digi 2010, on album later
Oscillate? (norwegian)
- on cd EP Sønbreak (2002)
Jette Ziegler (danish)
- Intet Nyt Under Solen on 7" (Life NP 1533)
I like to think there are more coverversions, do you know any that's not mentioned here?

Intet Er Nytt I 2010?
Intet Er Nytt Under Solen also happens to be the new single of noisy Norwegian Guitar wielding alternative rock band The Vineyards and the digital release is this week.

Their version with bluesy space twang guitars and some staple groovy 60s organs is very 2010 and recommended listening to any music adept.

Go on, have a listen to the song at the Vineyards website or MySpace. You won't be disappointed.

Wot! No Sha La Lie?
The Puma Hardchorus European Song Contest.
There's always some smug grumpies inventing an alternative contest in the Eurovision weeks because they think Eurovision is crap but this years Puma Hardchorus European Song Contest is something different.

Golden voiced friendly football supporters from four countries give the Eurovision songs of their country the Wiener Sängerknaben makeover. Two even have a go at their 2010 entry.
Eurovision relic Terry Wogan introduces the competition of which you can find the clips at the Puma Youtube channel and you can vote until May 29.

1982 Germany - Ein Bisschen Frieden
1997 Italy - Fiumi Di Parole
2010 France - Allez Ola Olé. The best one of the lot!
2010 U.K. - That Sounds Good To Me
There's another one, but it doesn't seem to be in the competition.
2008 Ukraine - Shady Lady has an appearance by the original singer Ani Lorak.

2010 The Oslo Weeks - Part 3: Småting

2010-05-22T08:56:00.009+02:00

Old Norwegian vinyls are not easy to find. I'm sure many Eurovision collectors have, like me, some ugly gaps in their collections. Especially 60's singles are hard to come by, and even 70's and 80's vinyls fetch rediculous prices at your average auction site.

Same story goes for the coverversions of Norwegian entries. There aren't many around, and most of them are in Norwegian by local artists, and a fair amount of songs covered in Swedish.

But every once in a while a song was picked up outside Scandinavia and here's one of them. And a lovely one it is.

I Love The Little Things

Småting (Small things) by Benny Borg & Grethe Kausland ended 14th in 1972.
The song was performed in the Norwegian selection by the mentioned duo and also by later Bobbysock! Hanne Krogh. But Hanne Krogh didn't release the song and that leaves us with only one coverversion of the song and it's in Dutch, language of Sieneke.

The song, now titled Zomer (summer) was recorded by The Luckberries, most known by Eurovision fans for their Dutch National final evening back in 1966. Five artists including The Luckberries each had their own three song preselection evening and they all took one song to the final.

The (not yet back then) husband and wife duo took their Dromen Zijn Bedrog to the final and they ended 2nd behind Milly Scotts Fernando & Filipo.

The Luckberries weren't named after some small sort of exotic chance enhancing fruit, but after Lucas (a.k.a. as Luck) and Berrie, the names of the singers.

Their most active career was in the sixties, when they toured many countries in Europe and recorded most of their singles.

Berrie passed away in 2003 and Luck is now active as an artistic painter.

Zomer, the Dutch coverversion of Småting, was released in 1972 as a b-side to Er Is Nog Hoop (Zilvervloot records 154739) ♫

Only Dromen Zijn Bedrog ever made it to CD as far as I know (A Eurovision/National final compilation) but it's high time some dedicated oldies re-issue company would delve into the Luckberries archives and release the whole lot on a CD. The Luckberries collection captures the Dutch spirit of the sixties so well: the typically Dutch careful 60's behavedness as well as the penchant for a fabulous tune.

Grethe Kausland, one half of the Småting duo, passed away in 2007. You can find out more about her and her career as best selling child star Lille Grethe in this Eurocovers post.

sources:

Read more on The Luckberries (in Dutch) at Koppop,

Het Nationaal Songfestival 1956-1999 (BabyBaby booklet 1999)

Thanks to Frans.

The Oslo weeks part 1 - Nora Brockstedt

The Oslo weeks part 2 - Kirsti Sparboe
The Oslo Collection has all the Eurovision 2010 release info.