I Didn't Know That: Please Speak To Me Of Love

Pic nicked from the Bay

Please Speak To Me Of Love is the English version of Hablemos Del Amor, the 1967 Eurovision entry for Spain by Raphael.
The lyrics to the English version were written by Tony Hiller (I didn't know that), the man who gave us Save Your Kisses For Me (U.K. 1976) and a couple of hundred other Brotherhood Of Man songs.

The clip above is an audio of the coverversion by Earl Wilson Jr., there's also Raphaels own English version on Tony Hillers Youtube.
Earl Wilson Jr.'s version was released in 1968 on the LP This Is. Earl Wilson Jr. (Mercury SR 61147)

Another version of Please Speak To Me Of Love was recorded by the Dutch band Sparklings fronted by 1973's Dutch Eurovision singer Ben Cramer. (on LP ...... And The Sparklings (Kritos 130046, 1967) See discogs entry here)

Tony Hiller Website
New Yorker Earl Wilson Jr. from works as a composer / lyricist of musicals.
There's a good bio here at Don Cornell (it's a PDF file).
Earl Wilson Jr. Website
Raphael Website

Yo Soy Aquel - Montecristo goes Russia.

In this Eurocovers post from April 2007 you can read about the Spanish 1966 Eurovision entry Yo Soy Aquel originally by Raphael and all its 21st century revivals.
One main reason the Manuel Alejandro song is so alive after 40 years is the use in the TV series Montecristo first made in Argentina.
Now after adaptations from Chile, Mexico and Portugal there's a Russian version of the telenovela and they stuck to the same song.
Yo Soy Aquel becomes Ti I Ja and is sung by Alexej Vorobyov. (Алексей Воробьёв - Ты и я)

Singer, actor, X-factor contestant Vorobyov participated in the Russian preselection of 2008 and ended 5th with New Russian Kalinka, a song which surely wouldn't have stood the tests of plagiarism rules. He ended 5th (New Russian Kalinka Youtube) and of course Dima Bilan won with Believe, the song that takes Eurovision to Moscow this year.

At Vorobyov's website there's a list of downloadable songs (click АУДИО) and the last one in the list is Yo Soy Aquel.

МонтекристоThe Russian series was cast in Russia and Belarus and received good ratings since the start last summer. The original Argentine series was broadcasted in 45 countries including many CIS states.
Remakes of the series in Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey are currently in production or negociation, so maybe there will more Yo Soy Aquels to come

Special thanks to Nikolai!

Spain 1966: Yo Soy Aquel in the 21st Century

Here's a 1966 Eurovision classic that is doing good business this side of the millennium.
Originally Yo Soy Aquel, written by Manuel Alejandro, was performed by Raphael, Spanish legend and probably the biggest voice in Spanish Pop ever. He took Yo Soy Aquel to a 7th place and improved on that result a year later with Hablemos del Amor (6th).

Yo Soy Aquel's longevity is proven againby it's current successes in South America, where the song is hot and several artists have revived it for use in Telenovela's, Footie compilations and Idols performances.

The biggest success story is that of David Bolzoni (of AQM). He recorded Yo Soy Aquel for the Argentina soap (Telenovela) Montechristo and released it on his Best selling CD David Bolzoni. An airplay # 1 in several South American countries. With a modern pop arrangement this is how the song probably would sound if it entered Eurovision today.

In 2005 Gerardo recorded a latin hip hop version of Yo soy Aquel on his cd 180 °, using samples from the original orchestra. Gerardo is a popular rap-pop mega star in Latin America, who once crossed the Atlantic by scoring a European hit with Rico Suave. http://www.gerardomejia.com/

A personal favorite is by El Andy Club. This spotty Eminem lookylikey from Argentina is holding his instrument (What is it?) on the sleeve of his 2006 private issue CD Yo Soy Aquel and his version sounds a bit like a selfproduced cumbia in the bedroom version which makes it all totally fantastic!. The track is also on his first official CD Un montón de estrellas. http://www.elandyclub.com.ar/

Short stop in Chile for another telenovela: Longhi's big rock ballad version graced the soundtrack of the Chilean TV series Hippie from 2004.



Brasil delivers a version in Portuguese, Eu sou aquele, by Os Anjos, from the tv series Vingança. With a leading role for Love Actually actress Lúcia Moniz, better known as the singer with the best ever Eurovision result for Portugal (6th in 1996). Vingança is the Portuguese version of Montecristo, aired in Brasil and Portugal. I haven't found a studio version of the Os Anjos version in Portuguese yet but it's all over Youtoop.

Other versions of Yo Soy Aquel recorded this century are by Luis Ramirez y Ray de la paz, Sabroso (Argentina), Apnea (Spain), Horris Kamoi, El King (Argentina), Bambú (rap with samples), Cumbia Zero (Mexico), Juanon Lucero (Argentina), and the Orquesta Simfonica Barcelona I Nacional Catalunya.

LOOKING FOR:
There are three versions of Yo Soy Aquel I'm especially looking for, if anyone can help it would be wholeheartedly appreciated.
Manuel Alejandro - The version by the original composer that was released on a spanish EP Disco Sorpresa Fundador Canciones Favoritas.
Kenny Damon (UK) - Only your love - Could even be in Spanish and a minor airplay hit in the UK in the 60's.
Martha Strada (Cuba) - a 60's recording from the album Martha Strada - Las voces del siglo - Abrazame fuerte

bolzoni / bolzoni - gerardo / gerardo - el andy club / el andy club

- longhi / longhi