Below are some (edited) exerpts from a Eurocovers post from 2012 when she tried to get to the Eurovision Song Contest one more time with C’était Ma Vie, a song in the Swiss National Selection for Baku.
From 2012: C’était Ma Vie
One artist that of course caught everybody’s attention is Lys Assia, who entered 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.
C’était Ma Vie proceded on to the final and eventually ended 8th.
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 Lys Assia with Das Alte Karussell (The old Carousel) and the eventual winner Refrain.
Lys Assia’s biggest hit was not one of her Eurovision songs (although Giorgio did quite well in several pre-historic charts) but her version of the evergreen Oh Mein Papa (First performed by Lys in 1950). Other hits include Arrivederci Roma (1956) Deine Liebe (1957), Ein Kleiner Gold'ner Ring (1961) and Die Sterne Von Syrakus (1962).
Probably Assia's oldest known record release is a 78rpm / Schellac disc from 1942 titled Ich Habe Heut' Ein Kleines Rendez-vous, so her recording career spanned 70 years, from Schellack to Digital and everything inbetween.
Lys Assia Eurovision Discography
1956
Das Alte
Karussell (German)
- Decca D18271 / 78RPM Telefunken F 46287
Refrain (French) - Lys Assia
- EP Decca 1861
(France) / 78RPM 22609 / 7" Decca 19265)
Last night
(English version of Refrain)
- b-side to
This is my boy (Decca D 18 535, Germany)
Refrain, du
goldner Traum aus meiner Jugendzeit (German)
- 78 RPM Decca F 46 266/ 7": Decca 18265/18266 EP Telefunken
DX 1861
- German 78
RPM Telefunken F 46287 features both songs in German.
Refrain
(1964 recording in medley)
- Adorable
Lys EP (DE:Telefunken UX 5193)
Refrain, du
goldner Traum…. (2003 version, German)
- CD Sehnsucht
nach dir (Schloss records, CD 95-013)
Refrain (2008, German)
& Refrain (2008, French)
- on CD Refrain des
Lebens (Cariblue 14030-2)
1957
L'enfant Que
J'étais (French)
- EP DucretetThomson 460 V 370 (France), 7: Telefunken
U 55 039, EP: UX 4819 (Germany)
1958
Giorgio (German
with Italian parts)
- Decca 18762 (Number for most international
releases)
Giorgio
(full Italian version)
- Decca 45-C 16530 (Italy)
Giorgio (French)
- EP Duc.-Thomson
460V446 (France), EP Telefunken TFR 424 (Spain)
National
Finals
1956 Sei
doch nicht so eifersüchtig (German, probably unreleased)
1956 Le
bohémien (French, probably unreleased)
1956 Addio
bella Napoli (German)
- b-side to
Refrain, Du goldner Traum…. (Decca 18266), and on EP Lys Assia International
(Decca DX 1861)
Lys Assia
also participated in the 1956 German selection, however, details on that
selection have never been retrieved. We only know that the song was NOT Ein
Kleiner Gold’ner Ring.
1957 Derrière
la cathedrale (French, probably unreleased)
1957 Musst
du schon geh'n (German, probably unreleased)
1957 Ein
trautes lied vom turm herab (German, probably unreleased)
1957 Ça
n'empechera pas (French, probably unreleased)
1958 There
was a national final in Switzerland but no details have survived. We don’t know
if Lys had other songs besides Giorgio
in this selection.
2012 C’etait ma vie
(French)
- Digital
single, Chips records
- Can also be
found on the 4CD Ralph Siegel: Die Autodiscografie - Meine Stars Für Euch
2013 All in
your head (with New Jack, in English), didn’t make it to the final
- Digital
single, Jupiter records
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)
Related Eurocovers posts and links
Lys Assia - The Road To Baku
Geo Voumard / Jula De Palma (Refrain)
Flo Sandon's (Refrain)
