100! Forces' Sweetheart Vera Lynn - This Is My Prayer

Happy 100th Birthday Vera Lynn!

Below is a Eurocovers post from 2009 about Vera Lynn who turned 100 on March 20..
A remarkable anniversary for a remarkable singer who means more to many people than I can ever imagine.

Vera Lynn, Dame Vera Lynn to the Brits, is internationally the best known Sweetheart Of The Forces.
As promised in the Eurocovers post about another Forces' Sweetheart, Anne Shelton, here's a Eurovision coverversion by the singer most identified with the Second World War and
all commemorative ceremonies ever since.

Vera Lynn was born in the First World War and started to record in 1935. Signature song We'll Meet Again was first recorded in 1939. It became a song of hope in the dark days of the war and later a song of remembrance. The song gave its title to the popular 1942 film starring Vera Lynn herself.

Vera Lynn sang for the British and Allied forces all over the world on many occasions during the Second World War and she had her own radio show in which she sang songs requested by British soldiers serving abroad and messages from their families were broadcasted.
Other popular Vera Lynn hits of the (pre charts) war years were The White Cliffs Of Dover, Yours and You're In My Arms. In the 50's she scored hits with Forget Me Not (a U.K. #1), Auf Wiedersehn, Homing Waltz and My Son My Son. Her last U.K. hit was Travelling Home in 1957.

Vera Lynns career started way before Eurovision and unlike Anne Shelton she didn't participate in any of the early British preselections for Eurovision. But she was on the selection committee of the 1959 U.K. selection.

Eurovision 2020: The Rotterdam Collection is (still) on!

Pic from Discogs

This Is My Prayer
As far as I know Vera Lynn recorded one Eurocover and it's the 1964 winner Non Ho L'eta (Italy, Gigliola Cinquetti). Vera Lynns English version, This Is My Prayer was released on a single in 1964 (HMV POP 1287). It didn't reach the charts and now is a hard to find collectors item. It was re-released in 2007 on the 2CD The Singles Collection (EMI Gold)
Here's an audio tube

This Is My Prayer was recorded by several artists in the 60's, but original singer Gigliola Cinquetti didn't release an English version until 1974, when she included a new recording on her album Si, coinciding with her second Eurovision appearrance. Cinquetti released Non Ho L'eta in Italian, French, German, Spanish and Japanese in 1964. Contrary to popular rumours, Cinquetti never recorded an English version in 1964, so her 1974 version is actually a coverversion of a coverversion of her own song. (...)

The Veterans Sweetheart
Vera Lynn never repeated her 40's and 50's hit successes but always remained a high profile guest on war remembrance ceremonies and TV shows. Her most successful albums later have always been reworkings of 40's songs like the 1962 LP Hits Of The Blitz.

For the largest part of her 70 year career, Vera Lynn has been a remembrance singer, always representing the good old days and the bad old days.
No disrespect intended, but it seems a bit sad that her career has always been stuck in the war. Record buying audiences just couldn't accept her work as that of a contemporary artist having a recording career with new songs.
In 1979 she has a go at ABBA's Thank You For The Music (released on single PYE N 108), which perfectly illustrates the mood of always looking back.


Update 14-09-09: Congratulations are in order. In the week that 11 Beatles albums enter the top 40, Dame Vera Lynn scores this weeks #1 in the U.K. Album Charts with the compilation We'll Meet Again - The Very Best Of Vera Lynn.
The new compilation (on Decca) has 20 tracks including all the evergreens. (but not This Is My Prayer)

The album is available in the U.K. shops and at all major internet outlets, including digital.

links and sources:
We'll Meet Again RAF performance (YouTube)
Vera Lynn at 92 article in The Guardian
This is my prayer at Discogs
Vera Lynn Wiki
Anne Shelton at Eurocovers.

Check this Eurocovers post for This Is My Prayer by Dana Valery and this post for more versions of Non Ho L'Eta, # 7 in the top 10 most covered Eurovision songs.



CD Tip: Twangvision
Here's one I missed back in the days.
After (or rather before) Caramba Samba from Norway and Greek Bossavision from Brasil here's Twangvision. Twangy guitars, think Surfari's, Telstar, Apache.

Twangvision is a CD released in 2007, coinciding with the Helsinki contest.
It features instrumental guitar versions in Twang style of some popular Eurovision hits and a host of classic Finnish entries. All newly recorded by Finnish guitar bands.

I've been trying to find some audio clips on the net, but I haven't found any yet, so you'll have to make do with the tracklist.
The CD is available through many Finnish webshops including the recordcompanies own site Twangsville.


Twangvision: Instrumental guitars from Finland play Eurovision Song Contest. (Twangsville Productions TWGS 3466)
1 Te Deum (Eurovision hymn) - The Regents
2 Light In The Window (Valoa ikkunassa Finland 1961) - The Lunaters
3 Tipi-Tii (Finland 1962) - Honey B. & T-Bones
4 Sentimental Song (Muistojeni laulu Finland 1963) - The Webasto
5 Non ho l´età (Italy 1964) - The Aftons
6 Western Sunset (Aurinko laskee länteen (Finland 1965) - Pekka Tiilikainen & Beatmakers
7 Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son (Luxembourg 1965) - Waikiki Kuks
8 Playboy (Finland 1966) - The Spectre
9 Waterloo (Sweden 1974) - Kaapo & Zetor
10 I Will Follow Starlight (Katson sineen taivaan Finland 1979) - The Webasto
11 Fantasy Dream (Fantasiaa Finland 1983) - The Regents
12 Ein bißchen Frieden / Valo yössä: Hold Me Now (Germany 1982 & Ireland 1987) - Toptones
13 Eurovision Theme - The Silver Hawks

50 years: Revisit The Year Of The Puppet

C'mon sandie, give us a smile

Congratulations Sandie Shaw!
It's 50 years ago that Sandie Shaws Puppet On A String started popping up in various charts, ahead of the Eurovision victory in Vienna on April 8.
Puppet On A String was written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter who also gave us Cliff Richard's Congratulations a year later. (and Luxembourg 1975).
It also means that it's 10 years ago Eurocovers featured coverversions from all corners of the world in The Year Of The Puppet series.

Sandie Shaw didn't always have much love for the Puppet, understandable, as I can imagine she didn't want to be associated with just that one blody song all the time.
Plus it was Sandie's least favorite of her five "A Song For Europe" songs.
Before Eurovision Sandie had a good run of hits, including several Number 1's like (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me (1964) and Long Live Love (1965). And then there's her work from the 80's with The Smiths* and the acclaimed Hello Angel album.

Street Organs LOVE Puppet on a string

But Sandie got over it and she even recorded a new version of Puppet On A String to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the song.

*Actually, "with The Smiths" is a bit of a stretch, Sandie's Hand In Glove features the original Smiths backing track re-invented in the studio without the band's knowledge. Morrissey loved Sandie but hated what became of Hand In Glove. (I disagree, it's brilliant).
Later on Morrissey wrote Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness for her (with Stephen Street).

The Year Of The Puppet articles are still here, go here you'll get them all.

The Year Of The Puppet celebrated 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 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, Czechoslowakia (Slovak), Trinidad*, More Jamaica and more Singapore

Jamaica, can I have your votes please? pt. 2

Note: This is a Eurocovers post from 2006. I made some changes and added a bit and moved it to the top.
You'll find links to the Youtube (audio) versions of some songs uploaded by other people who I wish to send a big THANKS here.

Here's some more stuff from Jamaica.
Most Jamaican recordings I found are by male singers.

There are hardly any versions by female singers and I think this reflected the state of the Jamaican music business in the 60s and 70s.
And if I find something with a girly name (Lynn, Ambelique) they turn out to be men too.

pic from discogs

A popular record is 'All kinds of everything' by Peggy and the Cimmarons. Her version of the 1970 Irish winner by Dana  has a sort of upbeat feel which is both charming and innocent. (Youtube audio)

I think it's at least as good as the original.
The original 7"inch single features the vocal version and an instrumental (Dub) version by Carl Levey (Levy) and the Cimmarons  (Dub Youtube Audio)
(Trojan TR 7752, Jamaica 1970)
The single was released in several other countries too, sometimes only mentioning Peggy or spelling Cimmarons as Cimarrons.

Another Irish winner that got the reggae makeover is Johnny Logans 1987 song 'Hold Me Now' by Tanya Stephens. (Youtube audio). Again, the b-side is a dub version of the song.
(BMR records 7024, made in Jamaica, 1987)
I found this track on a compilation album 'Pure Lovers' (Jetstar Phonographic records) and it was also released on a Tanya Stephens 12"inch single.

Fermena Edwards
Fermena - Come what may (Après toi, Luxembourg 1972)
 + b-side dub version by Fermena and Ranny

- 7"inch single (PAMA PM 839, UK) (Youtube Audio)

Fermena - Wonderful Dreams (Tu te reconnaitras, Luxembourg 1973)
 + b-side dub version by Ranny Williams All Stars
- 7"inch single (PAMA PM 879 UK)
The subtitle is Erestu (on the label), which is odd, as that was another song from the 1973 contest.
Fermena is Fermena Edwards from Jamaica. Only three singles are known, and two are Eurocovers of Luxembourgian winners.

P.S. A

Here's some more versions by female singers from Jamaica.
A full post on elusive Jamaican singer Elaine Baker and her Puppet On A String is here.
Plus on LP Soul And Ska (Island ILP 968) by Joyce Bond there's a 'Puppet on a string', the 1967 winner orginally by Sandie Shaw.

Also check out:
Jamaica can I have your votes please part 1
Year Of The Puppet: Ken Boothe
Year Of The Puppet: More From Jamaica
Elaine Baker, Where are you now?
John Holt Obituary

P.S. A Jamaican interpretation of Riki Sorsa's Reggae O.K. still has to be found………

Eurovision 2017: The Kyiv Collection

It's in the trees, It's coming!

Eurovision 2017: The Kyiv Collection

Bookmark now....

Laura Lynn has the rhythm

Popular Belgian schlager singer Laura Lynn has released her 9th album Een Nieuwe Dag (A new day) which includes some interesting Eurocovers.
The album includes many Dutch classics and some other unexpected coverversions. (Vreemde Vogels is a wonderful cover of Rhinestone Cowboy by Glenn Campbell)
And for the Dutchies: it also has Dokter Bernhard!

For the Eurocovers fans these are included:
Rechtop In De Wind (Originally by Marcha, a.k.a. Marga Bult, Netherlands 1987)
De Eerste Keer (Maxine and Franklin Brown, Netherlands 1996)
Je Ogen Hebben Geen Geheimen Meer (Främling by Carola, Sweden 1983)
- Carola recorded her 1983 entry in Dutch herself and scored a top 10 hit in the Netherlands. The Dutch version has since been covered by a number of Dutch singers including Gerard Joling.
Alles Heeft Ritme (Frizzle Sizzle, Netherlands 1986).
- Of the Eurovision covers this is my favorite on this album. It's a sweet samba-ish track perfect for summer. This is also released as a digital single.

The album is available on CD and as a digital release.
Laura Lynn website

Corry Brokken 1932 - 2016

Sad news from the Netherlands, Corry Brokken, legendary singer and Eurovision star has died at the age of 83.

Corry Brokken won the 2nd ever Eurovision Song Contest with her song Net Als Toen (Just like old times). She  participated in 1956 with Voorgoed Voorbij (Over forever) and in 1958 with Heel De Wereld (The whole wide world).
In 1976 she was the host of the contest in The Hague. I remember she congratulated the winners as Happy England, and nobody complained...

Corry Brokkens career started in the early 50’s, when she performed on many Dutch radio shows. Eurovision followed three times but it was in the early sixties she scored her biggest hits, Milord (The Edith Piaf song), Mijn Ideaal (Tu Te Laisses Aller) and La Mamma (both Charles Azanavour songs).
She also recorded many songs in German and frequented many German TV shows in the 60's.

Corry Brokken continued recording critically acclaimed albums up to the mid 70’s.
After she was finished with music Brokken started a career in law at the age of 42, resulting in becoming a judge in 1991.
But music remained a part of her life, and following the success of the 1994 compilation a new album Nooit Gedacht (Never thought) was released in 1996.
Brokken disappeared from public life in 2008 after serious health issues.

Corry Brokken Eurovision discography.

1956 Voorgoed Voorbij

Each country had two songs in the first Eurovision song contest. The second song for the Netherlands was Voorgoed Voorbij by Corry Brokken. The song was never released.
Update 2017: A new 3CD titled Milord has been released featuring 75 tracks. It includes Voorgoed Voorbij for the first time on any record. The recording sounds like it's the Eurovision recording (it has the same arrangement and vocals) but it's remastered/patched up very well, sounding like a studio recording. 

Corry’s National Final songs from the same year, Ik Zei Ja (I said yes), De Telefoon (The telephone) and ‘t Is Lente (It’s Springtime) were never released either.

She also performed (and maybe even recorded?) Dutch and French versions of Refrain, Lys Assia’s winning song.

1957 Net als toen

Corry Brokkens second Eurovision appearance resulted in victory, she gathered 31 points, leaving France in second place with 17.

In the National Final Corry also ended second with Iwan, (a.k.a. De Messenwerper, The knife thrower). This was released as a b-side to Fascination (Philips 317 799 PF)

 

Net Als Toen, Ronnex single

Net Als Toen 1982 re-issue

Net als toen (Dutch version)

- single Ronnex 1957x45,  EP: Ronnex 008x45, 78RPM Ronnex 5076, all made in Belgium, but released in the Netherlands.

- there’s also a rare Dutch Philips issue, but I don’t have details.
- The Ronnex single was re-issued in 1982

Damals war alles so schön (German)          

- single: Philips 317 797 PF (Netherlands), also on 78rpm from Germany. (Philips P 17797 H)
- the German version is only 1:47 mins long, a long German version is supposed to exist, but I’ve never seen or heard it.

Tout comme avant (French)             

- on 1958 EP, see below

Net als toen (live in 1999)

- on AIDS charity concert CD Amsterdaverend (TMD Records BMG 731972).

Dutch Edition Dors Mon Amour EP

1958 Heel De Wereld

The third and last Eurovision adventure didn’t fare too well for Corry. Her Heel De Wereld finished (shared) last.

In the National Final she again finished first and second, the second song Weet Je (Do you know) was released on the b-side of Heel De Wereld.

She also recorded a coverversion of Goedenacht Marjolein, the song that ended 4^th in the Dutch final (sung by Bruce Low). Brokkens version ended up as the b-side to her 1966 single Zo Gaat Het Met Meisjes Altijd (That’s how it goes with girls) (Philips JF 327 979)

French edition Dors Mon Amour EP

Heel De Wereld (Dutch)     

- single Philips 318 078 PF

Toi, mon coeur tu sais (French)

- EP Philips 422.257 PE     

The 1957 and 1958 French versions can be found on the Corry Brokken EP Dors Mon Amour (A cover of the 1958 French winner). 

Both French and Dutch editions have the same label number but different picture sleeves.

1959

In 1959 Corry Brokken entered the Dutch National Final again. Duet Mijn hart En Ik (My Heart And I, with Bruce Low) finished third, Iedere Dag Met Jou (Every day with you) finished 4^th . 
Neither were released by Corry Brokken.

Eurocovers

1958 Dors Mon Amour - André Claveau (France, 1^st place)

Brokken recorded it in French, see 1958 above

Danswijsje / Ga Niet Weg single

1963 Dansevise - Grethe and Jörgen Ingmann 

(Denmark, 1^st place)

1963 T’En Va Pas - Esther Ofarim 

(Switzerland, 2^nd place)

- Danswijsje / Ga niet weg (both Dutch)

- both on single (Philips 327 528)

Here's a live performance clip of Danswijsje (Youtube)

1965 N’Avoue Jamais - Guy Mardel 

(France, 3^rd place)

- Als je maar nooit bekent (Dutch) - single (Philips 327 868 1.F)

- So ist die liebe , mon ami (German) - single (Philips 318 955 PF, Germany)

Here's a wonderful videoclip of the German version

1967 Il Doit faire Beau La Bas - Noëlle Cordier

 (France, 3rd place)

- Ik Weet Hoe Mooi Het Is (Dutch) - on LP Kleine Cantates (Polydor 184 119, 1967)

Corry Brokken Compilations

In 1994 a 2CD Net Als Toen (top picture) was released with the best songs of her career. 

It is still available at BeaRecords.

Two CDs with her German recordings were issued in 1995 by the specialist label Bear Family (Milord and La Mamma). 

A third Bear Family release, Die Ronnex Aufnamen, feature songs up to 1957 in German, English and Dutch and includes some previously unreleased tracks.
In 2000 a DVD Een Avond Uit Met Corry Brokken - Gouden Jaren was released featuring TV performances including Eurovision footage.
Other compilations are Corry Brokken: De Keuze van Annie De Reuver (Nostalgisch Nederland, 2009) and Milord (Dutch songs) (Rotation, 2003)

France 1965 cover in German

Coverversions Net Als Toen (Updated 2020)

Ted de Braak (Dutch, in medley)

- LP Ted de Braak zingt van toen (Ariola 206 366)

Dolf Brouwers (a.k.a Sjef van Oekel, Dutch, in medley)

- LP Specialiteiten van de Sjef  (Ariola 202 757)

André van Duin (Dutch, in medley)

- LP An'dre André

NL Pop koor Vocal Society  (medley with Weet je  + De warmte van je hart (pre-songs))

- CD  (VCD 199225)

Zangeres zonder naam (in Medley)

- LP  30 juweeltjes uit 45 jaar (1979) (EMI Bovema 058-26361, 1979)

Margot Eskens  - Damals war alles so schön (German)

- 7" b-side to Auf der grossen Himmelstrasse (Polydor 23460)

Barbara Kist -  Damals war alles so schön (German)
- CD  50 grosse Erfolge, recording from 50’s or 60’s, details wanted
Cristina Jorio - Come una volta (Italian)

- 78rpm b-side  (La voce del padrone HN 3822)

Licia Morosini - Come una volta (Italian)

- 78rpm (Fonit 15735)

Van Wood Quartet - Net als toen (Come una volta)  (italian or instrumental?)

- 78rpm b-side  (Fonit 82507)

Peter Van Wood (1927-2010) was a Dutchman living and working in Italy in the 50s, his nickname is L’Olandese Volante (The flying Dutchman)

Gunnar Thim - Säg att jag drömt (Swedish)

- EP (Odeon GEOS 71)

Birthe Wilke - Vær som du var (Danish)

- EP (Philips EP 421197 PE)

Kalevi Tauru - Oispa unta se vain (Finnish)

- 7"  / 78rpm    (Triola ts 356 and 78" RPM Triola t 4356 rel in 1958)

Benny Behr & Sem Nijveen (violin) - in medley (Instrumental)

- LP 40 jaar Stemra (Various artists) (Conamus COS 009)

- Sem Nijveen is the original violinist on Brokkens own version of Net Als Toen

Jan Corduwener (Instrumental in medley)

- EP (Philips 317765 PF)

De Fellowfoons (Instrumental)

- 7" (Fellowfoon FF 104)

Benoît Kaufman (Instrumental)

- CD   

Stef Meeder (Organ instrumental in medley)

- CD 100 Hollandse Hits (1994) (Arcade CD 01.9350.6, 1994)

Jan Menu & Jasper Soffers (Jazz instrumental)

CD      Dutch Songbook (Dig Diz Music, 2010)

Joris Verlinde (Accordion instrumental

- LP Accordion Festival (Interdisc 10022)

Coverversions Heel De Wereld

Joke Bruis, Dick Doorn & Dick Rienstra (Dutch in medley)

- LP

Enny Denita (Belgium)

- EP (BRT 117)

Additions are always welcome!

Links and sources

Eurovision Collectors Guide 1956-1995
The 10.000 Coverversions project
Corry Brokken at Discogs
Corry Brokken at Muziekweb

The One That Got Away - Jamala

Please note: this article is from 2011, I just moved it up on the Eurocovers ladder to celebrate Jamala getting the ticket to Stockholm.

Update: Jamala Wins Eurovision 2016

2011: 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 and Soundcloud

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. totally 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.

Jamala to Stockholm 2016

This article is from 2011, I just moved it up on the Eurocovers ladder to celebrate Jamala getting the ticket to Stockholm.

The Stockholm Collection 2016

The Stockholm Collection features everything you need to know about this years songs, releases, versions, chart activity and other what have you's. Here are the links to the participating country's pages.

Semi final 1

Finland - Greece - Moldova - Hungary - Croatia - Netherlands - Armenia - San Marino - Russia - Czech Republic - Cyprus - Austria - Estonia - Azerbaijan - Montenegro - Iceland - Bosnia & Herzegovina - Malta

Semi final 2

Latvia - Poland - Switzerland - Israel - Belarus - Serbia - Ireland - Macedonia - Lithuania - Australia - Slovenia - Bulgaria - Denmark - Ukraine - Norway - Georgia - Belgium - Albania - Romania (OUT)

Already in the final

France - Germany - Italy - Spain - Sweden - United Kingdom

Eurometal alert! Psyckadeli set Sergey's You Are The Only One on fire.

Unfortunately the video has been deleted now but you can still listen at Psychadi's Soundcloud.

Here’s the first Eurocover of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest worth mentioning. 
You all know Sergey Lazarev’s Russian entry You Are The Only One and we’re all expecting it to do very well.

Picture from Psyckadeli's Facebook

The song inspired Psyckadeli from Kristianstad (Sweden) to record this fantastic coverversion.

It’s Rock, it’s Pop, it’s Energy,  Psyckadeli basically took the original and set it on fire!

Psyckadeli is based around Max Haze and Chris Crash and they work with different singers an musicians (their PsyckE’s).

The singer electrifying You Are The Only One is Maria Storck (What. A. Voice!).

You should also check out new single Leaving My Soul (with Elin Vikner).

Links And Sources:

Special thanks to Christian

You can find more Psyckadeli music at their Website and Tubestation

Psyckadeli Facebook, Soundcloud, Instagram
Shop for Psyckadeli on The Tunes.
Sergey Lazarev at The Stockholm Collection

More Rock And Metal At Eurocovers You Might Like
Therion - Alestorm - SławekWyłup and Mateusz Trojak - Riff Raff

The Stockholm Collection has all info on this years Eurovision releases (CDs, digital), versions and charts. Check out the links below to find your favorites.

Semi final 1

Finland - Greece - Moldova - Hungary - Croatia - Netherlands - Armenia - San Marino - Russia - Czech Republic - Cyprus - Austria - Estonia - Azerbaijan - Montenegro - Iceland - Bosnia & Herzegovina - Malta

Semi final 2

Latvia - Poland - Switzerland - Israel - Belarus - Serbia - Ireland - Macedonia - Lithuania - Australia - Slovenia - Bulgaria - Denmark - Ukraine - Norway - Georgia - Belgium - Albania - Romania (OUT)

Final

France - Germany - Italy - Spain - Sweden - United Kingdom

Dami Im - (They Long to Be) Close to You

Dami Im, Australia's Eurovision singer for Stockholm was busy with something completely different when she was asked to do Eurovision. An album with covers by the magic duo The Carpenters.
Above is the wonderful Close To You,   Why do birds... fall out of the sky...

Classic Carpenters is on schedule for an April 22 release (so: Out Now!) and includes classics like Yesterday Once More, We've Only Just Begun, There's A Kind Of Hush and (They Long To Be) Close To You. (Sony Music Australia).
See full tracklist with track by track details below.

Update: The CD has arrived at Eurovers HQ and it has been playing ever since (just a little break for some contests and what have you).
I'm not a very good reviewer, but I'll just have to tell you it is utterly lovely. 
Dami has a beautiful voice which suits the gentleness of the songs very well. All arrangements stay true to the Carpenters spirit and the musicians are amazing. The subdued flugel bits (Danny Laboyrie) send chills down my spine. In a good way.
You just feel that Classic Carpenters is made of love. 
Highly recommended,even if (dare I say it) Sound Of Silence is not your cuppa.
Let the long overdue Carpenters revival start with this wonderful album.

And for you youngster out there: The Carpenters were American brother and sister duo Karen and Richard Carpenter who scored many hits (and hitalbums) in the 70's. 12 top 10 hits in the U.S, many of them classics now. 
Karen Carpenter is no longer with us. Go and do your Wiki's and Youtubes, be amazed and get their music.

One recommended Carpenters track you won't find on many compilations or playlists (nor Dami Im's album) is their majestic hifi cover of Klaatu's Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (1977). 

Dami Im's Eurovision single The Sound Of Silence and other adventures are explored here at The Stockholm Collection, your place for all info on this years Eurovision releases.
Dami Im's Vevo has some more Classic Carpenters videos: Yesterday Once More and There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World).

Oh, and then there's this gem, The Carpenters doing a signature tune from some long forgotten Eurovision act.

Dami Im's Classic Carpenters Track By Track

01. (They Long to Be) Close to You 

- 1970 single from the LP Close To You, a No. 1 hit in the U.S., Australia and Canada. No. 6 in the U.K.

02. There’s a Kind of Hush (All over the World) 

- 1976 single from the LP A Kind Of Hush, originally a 1967 hit for Hermans Hermits

03. Yesterday Once More 

- 1973 single from the LP Now And Then, one of their two No. 2 hits in the U.K.

04. Superstar

- 1971 single from the LP Carpenters

05. Rainy Days and Mondays

- 1971 single from the LP Carpenters

06. This Masquerade

- For the Carpenters it was a b-side to Please Mr. Postman (1974), the original is by Leon Russell but the biggest hit was for George Benson in 1976.

07. A Song for You

- Title track of the 1972 LP A Song For You, also originally by Leon Russell

08. I Won’t Last A Day Without You

- 1974 single from the 1972 LP A Song For You

09. I Need To Be In Love

- 1976 single from the LP A Kind Of Hush

10. Hurting Each Other

- 1972 single from A Song For You

11. We’ve Only Just Begun

- 1970 single from Close To You

The Carpenters weren’t considered cool by everybody (i.e. the serious music press) at the time and 12 of their hits that went to No. 1 on the Cashbox charts only made it to No. 2 or (much) lower on the leading Billboard top 100.

The Stockholm Collection 2016

The Stockholm Collection features everything you need to know about this years songs, releases, versions, chart activity and other what have you's. Here are the links to the participating country's pages.

Semi final 1

Finland - Greece - Moldova - Hungary - Croatia - Netherlands - Armenia - San Marino - Russia - Czech Republic - Cyprus - Austria - Estonia - Azerbaijan - Montenegro - Iceland - Bosnia & Herzegovina - Malta

Semi final 2

Latvia - Poland - Switzerland - Israel - Belarus - Serbia - Ireland - Macedonia - Lithuania - Australia - Slovenia - Bulgaria - Denmark - Ukraine - Norway - Georgia - Belgium - Albania - Romania (OUT)

Already in the final

France - Germany - Italy - Spain - Sweden - United Kingdom