Yvetta Simonová

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.

VII: Year Of The Puppet - Tatjana Hubinská

I'm off for a long weekend at the coast, but I have just enough time to present another promised puppet.
In Puppet History this was the week that Sandie Shaw reached the #1 spot in many European charts. Ireland was the first (22-04) with the U.K. following 5 days later. It took Sandie six weeks to get to the top spot.
Anyway, today's Puppet is from Czechoslovakia, but this time it's a version in Slovak. (read your history books).

Eurovision 2007 has a record number of countries participating this year. 42 to be precise, more countries than there even were in Europe 20 years ago.
Some countries haven't been tempted to re-join the Eurovision battlefield, even with the recent surge of new and returning countries. Italy and Luxembourg of course, but also Slovakia. Slovakia entered a few times in the 90's but never with a great result, 4 attempts, 3 times in the final and an measly 18th place in 1998 as the best result.
But now neighbour and friend, the Czech Republic, makes it's Eurovision debut, Slovakia TV may re-consider and join again for 2008.

The Slovak version of Puppet On A String is titled Ako malý psík. It's one of three Eurovision songs covered by singer and actress Tatjana Hubinská. It's my poor knowledge of Slovak and Czech that prevents me from telling you more about her.
There's a website about her here, where I got most of the details below. Unfortunately it's not in English, but it has an excellent discography.

UPDATE : Biography (Thanks to Lou Kash of Funky Czech-In)
As for Hubinská's web site:
She was born 1944 in Paris and returned to Slovakia with her parents in 1946. She studied piano at the Bratislava Conservatory. 1963-1967 she was singing with the Gustáv Offermann Combo. In the late 60s she often participated on the Czechoslovak song contest Bratislavská Lyra. 1968-1969 she sang with the famous Gustav Brom Orchestra with whom she recorded her only album. In the early 70 she began to fade into (C&W) obscurity, by the end of that decade she gave up singing completely. She passed away in 1999.

Tatjana Hubinská's Eurovision Covers
Puppet on a string - UK 1967 - Sandie Shaw
- Ako malý psík (Supraphon 130166)
Boom Bang A Bang - UK 1969 - Lulu
- Hľadám si cieľ (Supraphon 0430795)
Wunder gibt es immer wieder - Germany 1970 - Katja Ebstein
- Zázraky sa dejú stále (Supraphon 0431056)

Ako malý psík was also recorded by Jana Procházková
Many thanks to Rick!

The Year Of The Puppet celebrates the 40 year anniversary of Sandie Shaw's Eurovision victory with Puppet On A String. Introduction to the series in this Eurocovers post.
Other versions already featured are from France, Singapore (Mandarin-Chinese), Jamaica. Yugoslavia, Estonia, U.K. (Comedy), Iceland, Lithuania, USA (Musical), Spain, Brasil, UK punk, Norway (gloom) Norway, Turkey, Portugal, Basque country Organland, Tirol, Denmark, CzechoSlovakia (Czech), Hungary, Russia, Yugoslavia (Slovenia), Chile/Argentina/Mexico, Sweden, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Finland, Scotland, Poland
A list of all coverversions of Puppet On A String is in this word document.
Tip: Here you can watch a Y-tube performance of Lele by Violeta Riaubiskyte from the Lithuanian Puppet On A String post

VII: Year Of The Puppet - Loutka - Yvonne Přenosilová.

As promised here's the Czech version of Puppet On A String: Loutka. It's by Yvonne Přenosilová.
The recording is from the 60's but I have no details on the original release. It can be found on a CD titled Superhity století 1960-1969 2 (CZ Universal 0134372), a compilation with Czech 60's hits.

There is also a compilation CD by Yvonne Přenosilová, Roň slzy (Sony), but it does not feature Loutka. It has songs mainly in Czech and some in English, German and Italian, including cover versions of These boots are made for walking (Boty proti lásce), My Colouring Book, I'm sorry (Roň slzy) and A Lovers Concerto (Nikdo netusi).





 

At 60, Přenosilová is still active in the music business as a country singer.






Yesterday the Czech Republic chose it's first ever Eurovision entry. The song Mála damá by Kabat. It may be a slight shock for the average TV viewer as it's 'serious Lordi without the masks'. http://www.kabati.cz/

Also see this Eurocovers post for Eurovision covers by Helena Vondráčková , the singer who withdrew from the Czech Eurosong national final this year.

The Year Of The Puppet celebrates the 40 year anniversary of Sandie Shaw's Eurovision victory with Puppet On A String. Introduction to the series in this Eurocovers post.
Other versions already featured are from France, Singapore (Mandarin-Chinese), Jamaica. Yugoslavia, Estonia, U.K. (Comedy), Iceland, Lithuania, USA (Musical), Spain, Brasil, UK punk, Norway (gloom) Norway, Turkey, Portugal Basque country, Organia, Tirol, Denmark

VII: Eurovision - Czech this out - Helena Vondráčková.

Excusez the puns, but I've been brooding on them ever since I heard the Czech Republic would make their debut at this years Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki.
You can find the Czech list of national finalists at the usual places. (see links)
One of the participants is legendary Czech superstar Helena Vondráčková. It's rumoured she's been selected as a tv-crowd puller, but that doesn't matter, Eurocovers just loves the local legends.

Presenter of the Eurosong preselection show will be Jiří Korn and hey presto, a Eurocover is born.
Jiri and Helena recorded a Czech version of the Great British 1976 classic Save your kisses for me back in 1977 titled Já půdju tam a ty tam.

Another Eurocover by Helena was Jak mám spát, Après toi by Vicky Leandros (Luxembourgs 1972 winner).

Jak mám spát

- (7" - Supraphon 043 1399)

Já půdju tam a ty tam. w. Jiří Korn

- (7" - Supraphon 143 2059)

Helena Vondráčková has recorded about a million songs from 1964 to present day and at her excellent multilingual home page you can find very detailed discographies and songlists.
http://www.vondrackova.net/

Soon: The Czech version of Puppet On A String in the Year Of The Puppet

Update: Helena Vondráčková will be participating with the song Samba which is already available on her new album Zastav se (... a poslouchej) - (Universal 170 851-2)

Another Update: Samba has been removed from the participants list and will be replaced by another song by Helena Vondráčková.

Last Update: After presenting another song Ha Ha Ha Helena Vondrackova withdrew from the competition beacuse she couldn't agree on juries not playing a part in the decision for the first Czech Eurovision entry.