Rotterdam Weeks 2.1: Dutch entries get a makeover

Eurovision Rotterdam is happening, pandemic or not. We all can use a bit of cheering up, I know I do.
You probably already know our Rotterdam 2.1 pages with all the things you need to know about the music and stars of Eurovision 2021, but here’s the link anyway.

A nice album release to coincide with this year’s spectacular is Songfestival: Nederlands trots in een nieuw jasje (Dutch pride in a new jacket) with nine coverversion of Dutch Eurovision hits. (Well, one is Belgian, (see below).
The album is out on CD on May 12 but also (already) available through you favorite digital music providers. And Spotify. 

Released by Cloud 9, they also posted a Youtube playlist.
 
Most tracks are quite different from the original (which is good) by current artists even today’s youngsters can relate too (i.e: not old)

If I had to give one 12 Poing it would be for Deborah Parlor’s soft country version of Ik Hou Van Jou / In Love With You. It shows a new side of the 1984 classic which as far as I know has only been covered as a (big) ballad.
 
1. Paul Sinha & Fleur – De Eerste Keer
- 1996, original by Maxine & Franklin Brown
2. Samantha Steenwijk – Vrede
- 1993, Ruth Jacott
3. Lisa Lois – Hemel en Aarde
- 1998, Edsilia Rombley, one of this year's hosts.
4. Pommelien Thijs – Door De Wind
- The Belgian entry of 1989 written by Dutch singer Stef Bos.

5. BENR – Je Vecht Nooit Alleen
- 2011, 3JS, performed it in English as Never Alone at Eurovision.
6. Deborah Parlor – In Love With You
- 1984, Maribelle as Ik Hou Van Jou
7. Danique – Arcade
- 2019, Duncan Laurence
8. René Karst – Ik Zie Een Ster
- 1974, Mouth & McNeal
9. Unity – Ding-A-Dong
- 1975, Teach In

 

Last year, before Rotterdam 2020 was cancelled, I posted a few bits and pieces about Dutch classics in The Rotterdam Weeks. Still worth a listen and a read.

- Someday, Morgen, Y Fori with Mary Hopkin

- A Dream Come True for Cilla Black fans

- Una Salsa para Amsterdam

- Cristina Jorio - Come Una Volta

And here are some more related pages
Ik Hou Van Jou - Richard De Bois (1949-2008) - Engelbert Humperdinck - LeChelle (Afrikaans)
Ding A Dong - The Moscow Weeks - Nicki French - Colé van Dais - They Can't Stop The Spring
Door De Wind - Justice for a classic (Miss Montreal, with playlist)

Rotterdam 2021 + Rotterdam 2020

Colé and her mates sing Eurovision tunes.

South African singer Colé Van Dais has been featured at Eurocovers before as she created several interesting coverversions of Eurovision tunes.

Now there’s a new album for all to enjoy. 

Colé and Friends collects ten Eurovision tunes old and young plus two national final gems. Colé's Friends include the mighty Katrina and Great Latvian Bake Off Joran from Aarzemnieki. 
Among the others are some well known African artists like Marc Rantseli of 80's hitsters MarcAlex and up and coming singer Sisana Kubheka.

Next to Afrikaans you get to hear some languages not often (never) associated with Eurovision: Tsonga, Thai, Xhosa, Yoruba and Zulu.

Colé and Friends is available from iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

Here's a track-by-track of the album.

1. Love Shine A Light (Africa Version, in English) with Katrina Leskanich.

The 1997 Eurovision winner by Katrina and The Waves gets a sunshiny makeover and Katrina guests on her own classic. The pair met at the 80's Rewind Festival South Africa in 2015.
This track was already released as a digital single in 2016.

2. Kom Saam Met My (Come with me) with Righardt Greyling (in Afrikaans)

The original, Dziesma Par Laimi (Latvia 2004) gained fame for being released in nine languages by the originals artists Fomins and Kleins. 

3. Spirit Of The Night with Sergey Sysuev (English/Russian)

San Marino 2017 by Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson. Sergey is from Ukraine.

4. Op Die Dansvloer (On the dancefloor) with Lia Chabane (Afrikaans/Tsonga)

Glorious by Cascada (Germany 2013)

5. Dear Friend with Organ Prawang (English/Thai)

Nostalgia by Magazin and Lydija (Croatia 1995). Organ Prawang is a classical singer from Thailand.
Colé and Organ made a videoclip of this one.

6. One Gift Of Love with Keith McFarlane (English)

Runner up U.K. national final song by Dear John from 1995. Keith McFarlane was a member of Dear John when they entered the U.K. competition.

7. City Lights with Wendy Oldfield and Sisana Kubheka (English/Xhosa)

Belgium 2017 by Blanche, the biggest European hit of the Kyiv contest.

8. Molayo (I have joy) with Gbenga Adenuga from Nigeria (Afrikaans/Yoruba)

Solayo (Belarus 2013 by Alyona Lanskaya) This version was already released as a digital single in 2015. It apparently won The Voices for Charity Award for Best International Collaboration. (but I have no clue what that is...)

9. Ek’s So Lief Voor Jou (I'm in love with you) with actor Emmanuel Castis (Afrikaans)

U.K. 2015 Still In Love With You by Electro Velvet. This one didn’t fare too well at the contest but it's a typical guilty pleasure tune: You think it's not very good but when you hear it makes you happy. This could well be my favorite track on the album.

And Electro Velvet had a #1 hit on the physical singles chart in the U.K.. So there!.

10. Dinge Dong with Joran  (Afrikaans/Latvian)

Joran was the Cake Baking singer from Aarzemnieki who represented Latvia in 2014. But the tune is Ding A Dong, the Dutch 1975 winner by Teach In.

11. Peace Will Come with Marc Rantseli (English/Afrikaans/Zulu/Spanish)

Georgia’s entry by Diana Gurtskaya (2008). Colé also recorded a full Afrikaans version which can be heard here at Colé's Youtube channel.

12. Ware Vriend (True friend) with Yolundy Amanzi (Afrikaans)

Heaven by Contrazt, a 2015 song from the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix.

Links and sources

Thanks to Roy and to Colé.

Find out about more Colé van Dais Eurovision covers in these Eurocovers articles

Colé van Dais: Facebook, Youtube channel (updated links 2020)

Support the artists: buy Colé and Friends from iTunes or Amazon.

Some other Eurocovers by Colé van Dais are:

You Don't have To Say You Love Me is a coverversion of Dusty Springfields famous hit which is originally Io Che Non Vivo from the 1966 Sanremo contest. 

Wanneer Die Musiek Verdwyn is a cover of Azerbaijan 2012. (When The Music Dies by Sabina Babayeva) (digital single)
Dink Aan My is a coverversion of Haegt Og Hljot (Halla Margret, Iceland 1987) (Album Daai Tipe Meisie)
Glans Prinses (Shiny Princess) is Danish 2007 entry Drama Queen. (Album Daai Tipe Meisie)
Die Eiland (The island) is Aspro Mavro (Άσπρο-μαύρο), Cyprus 1987 entry by Alexia. (Album Daai Tipe Meisie)
Waar In My Wereld Is Jy (Where are you in my world) is the 2013 winner Only Teardrops by Emmelie De Forest. (Digital single)
The album Daai Tipe Meisie (That kind of girl) was released in 2013.

Karin Bekker's Without You

Digital Release Image Sonder Jou.

Here's a lovely new release from South Africa. For her new album Sonder Jou (Without you) Karin Bekker recorded six songs from the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. Four songs are in Afrikaans, two in English.

Sonder Jou is available now through iTunes, Amazon, 7digital and Spotify to name a few digitessen.
A CD release is expected soon. (More details when I have them...)

Below is a list of the Eurocovers on Sonder Jou but the whole album is worth your while. The album also includes last summer's single Vriendskap (Friendship)

Karin Bekker's Eurocovers

Klaar met jou (Finished with you)

- Apollo -Timebelle, Switzerland

Nuwe Begin (New beginning)

- Perfect Life - Levina, Germany

Sparkle (in English)

- Occidentali’sKarma - Francesco Gabbani, Italy

Jy’s Die Een (You’re the one)

- Hey Mamma- Sunstroke Project, Moldova

Genoeg (Enough)

- Dying ToTry - Brendan Murray, Ireland

Lionheart (in English)

- Requiem -Alma, France

Links and sources:

Thanks to Roy

Karin Bekker Website, Fan-Facebook

Some more:
If you can't get enough, Frikkie Van Biljon recorded the 2017 Slovenian entry.
On My Way by Omar Naber becomes Elke Tree (Every step). Out on iTunes, Spotify and what have you. Frikkie's Facebook
And one more for the road: Hanco recorded the Australian 2017 song (Don't come easy by Isaiah Firebrace) in Afrikaans. His version Dis Nie Maklik Nie (It's not easy) is also out on all important digital sources. Hanco's Facebook

Kenneth McKellar - 1927-2010

Please note, this article is from 2010, I just moved it up and made some adjustments.

Scottish singer Kenneth McKellar has left us this week. The singer of the 1966 U.K. Eurovision entry A Man Without Love died after a short illness.

The 1966 British Eurovision entry was chosen in a national final where Kenneth McKellar sang all the songs, 5 in total. All songs were released on the EP Songs For Europe, pictured above. The EP spent 9 weeks on the EP charts.
McKellar performed at the Luxembourg Eurovision in full Scottish regalia, kilt and all, and ended 9th.

His most acclaimed works are the early sixties albums The Songs Of Robert Burns and Songs Of The Hebrides which have been re-issued on CD in 2004.

A lesser known collection of songs come from his two South African releases. The EP In die skadu van Ou Tafelberg (Decca 1966) and the LP Kuier By Ons (Decca 1970) contain songs sung in Afrikaans, mostly Afrikaans evergreens.
As with many releases from South Africa, these records now are impossible to find. (anyone?)
Find tracklists and more about these at Vetseun. (scroll a bit for English text).
Here are two recordings via Youtube:
My hut aan die vlakte se soorn
Trekker Vaarwel

A Man Without Love
A Man Without Love, written by Peter Callander and Cyrel Ornadel, scored a #30 hit in the U.K. charts and was only covered a few times.
The song should not be confused with the song of the same titled made famous by Engelbert Humperdinck, which is a coverversion of Quando M'innamoro (SanRemo 1968).

Coverversions of A Man Without Love
1. Dale Adams (with Chris Allen and his Orchestra)
- on VA EP (Populaire Platen Kring HPK 757)
2. Harry Secombe
- on CD Abide with me & The Very Best Of
3. Kai Hagen - Ein Mann der nicht liebt ist ein halber Mann
- in German, on 7" (Vogue DV 14504)
4. Ronnie Tober (NL 1969 singer) - Een hart is geen hart
- in Dutch on 7" also including Austria 66 (Philips JF 333 511)
5. The Film Festival Orchestra (instrumental)
- On CD Love & Romance (Galaxy records 1999)
I'm sure there could be more, if you know any, please let me know.


2010 The Oslo Eurocovers
Here's some 2010 Eurocovers news.
Swedish dansband Scotts (I don't think they are Scottish though) have recorded a coverversion of the Danish 2010 entry In A Moment Like This to be included on their forthcoming album Vi Gör Det Igen (out April 21, Mariann records). The female vocalist on the track is Erika Sjöström (from dansband Drifters).
Scotts have previously recorded coverversions of Sweden 1968 and U.K. 1981.
Denmark 2010 at The Oslo Collection - Scotts website
You can already have a listen at Mariann records Youtube channel.
Thanks to Marcin for the tip!

Lena Meyer-Landruts German entry Satellite was, as you will probably already know, performed twice at the National final. The runner-up singer Jennifer Braun has released her slower version of the song on a cdsingle. Germany 2010 at the Oslo Collection has more info and release details on both versions.

The Dutch entry by Sieneke has sparked some controversy but also spawned many coverversions. Now there's interest from Austria and Sweden to record the song, so Pierre Kartner can be happy, Sha La Lie.
(Netherlands 2010 at The Oslo Collection.)
Other 2010 news: Sweden: Anna Bergendahl Signing Tour *** Belarus: 3+2 Website launched *** Switzerland: CDsingle out now *** Malta: Maltese version of My Dream *** Serbia: Spanish version.
All the latest release news on the 2010 contest can be read at The Oslo Collection Blog. Please tell your friends.

Die Oue Musikant (Afrikaans) - Marnie

Oh well, the video is removed, but I'll leave the rest here anyway...

Someone uploaded this to the Tube and made me very happy.
It's the Afrikaans coverversion of the Dutch 1973 entry De Oude Muzikant by Ben Cramer.
This version was released on a single in 1974 (Philips TOS 1010, South Africa).
I'm quite sure this version uses the original backing track.

Marnie is an early artists name of Manuel Escorcio. Under his own name he (later) recorded coverversions of Volare, Piove, All Kind Of Everything, Halleluja, Ein Bisschen Frieden and Io Senza Te.
See full Eurocovers discography below.

Still looking for the b-side though (well, and the actual vinyl single). The b-track Sylvia Kom Dans Met My is a coverversion of one of Ben Cramers National Final songs that was also the flipside to his own releases.

Marnie / Manuel Escorcio Eurocovers Discography

Italy 1958 Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno

- Volare (Portuguese) on CD Iets Vir Almal (Select SELBCD 154)

Italy 1959 Piove (Ciao Ciao Bambina) - Domenico Modugno

- Italian on CD Iets Vir Almal (Select SELBCD 154)

Ireland 1970 - All Kinds Of Everything - Dana

- Soveel Herinner My (Afrikaans) on LP Hei Monique

Netherlands 1973 - De Oude Muzikant - Ben Cramer

- as Marnie - Die Oue Musikant, single (Philips TOS 1010)

- Single also has Ben Cramer pre-song Kom Sylvia Dans Met My,
Israel 1979 - Halleluja - Milk And Honey
- on LP Manuel Escorcio With The Drakenberg Seunskoor (1984 Transistor CBK 7031)

Switzerland 1981 - Io Senza Te - Peter, Sue and Marc.

- Me Without You (English) on LP Musica (1983,Transistor  CBK 7011)
Germany 1982 - Ein Bisschen Frieden - Nicole

- A Little Peace (English) on LP Romance (Select SEL 106)

Links and Sources:
Manuel Escorcio website and Facebook
If you want to find out more about Eurocovers in Afrikaans, just follow this link and you'll get the posts with South African stars doing your favorite Eurovision tunes
Also check out our Facebook page and the Vienna Collection

Le-Chelle - Ek Hou Van Jou

Picture from Le-Chelle's Soundcloud

A wonderful coverversion of Ik Hou Van Jou, the Dutch 1984 entry by Maribelle. This one is sung in Afrikaans.
It's so lovely that I'll forgive her for thinking it's a Dana Winner cover.

More music at Le-Chelle's soundcloud. And she has a Facebook too.

Tanya V - Euphoria in Afrikaans

Here's the new video of the Afrikaans coverversion of Loreens 2012 Eurovision winner Euphoria.
The Afrikaans lyrics are written by Chrissie Rossouw.
Tanya V's facebook


Mia - Eufooria
Estonian singer Mia recorded a version in her own language. It uses the original backingtrack so it's not an official release. But it's fun and can listen to it here and there you'll also find a download link (for a wave file).
You may know Mia from her 2012 Eurolaul entry Bon Voyage.

Quédate Conmigo, Euphoria and When The Music Dies covers

Here is a coverversion of this years Spanish Eurovision Song Quédate Conmigo which will be performed in the Eurovision final on May 26 by Pastora Soler.
I don't know who is behind this (please tell me), but it is wonderful. Singers from all over the world (well, mostly Eurovision world) cover the classic Eurovision ballad and it is very well put together.
I've spotted a few pre-selection singers (ooh, Rui Andrade) and Eurocovers favourite Lianie May from South Africa.

Update: I just read at Eurovicio, who already posted it a week ago, that the idea from this clip is from Antonio (Tony) Sanchez, one of the composers of the song. It's a tribute to Pastora in support of her Eurovision adventure. You can also find the full list of participating singers at the Eurovicio link.
So: Thank you Eurovicio!

You can find out everything about Pastora Solers own version and releases here at The Baku Collection, the place for all info on the releases of the Baku 2012 Eurovision Song Contest.

Euphoria!
And while we're in the business of 2012 covers, an acoustic coverversion of Swedish entry Euphoria well worth checking out is released by Gavin Mikhail.
Gavin Mikhail recorded his acoustic version of Euphoria for a digital release with five acoustic versions of current hits (+ five instrumental versions).
Mikhail's coverversions are a bit of an internet phenomenon and his version of the Swedish entry shows us why. I think MF 2013 may have their intervalact sorted with our Gav'.
Listen to Gavins Euphoria here or buy here at itunes or amazon.


Euphoria will be performed in the second semi-final on May 24 by Loreen. (and hopefully also in the final). Find out everything about Loreen, Euphoria, chart success, remixes and Melodifestivalen 2012 here at the Baku Collection.




Wənneer Die Musiek Verdwijn

A third coverversion worth checking out is Wanneer Die Musiek Verdwyn (When the music disappears) by Colé Van Dais. 
It's an Afrikaans version of When The Music Dies, Azerbaijans home entry by Sabina Babayeva (Səbinə Babayeva).
You can listen to Colé version through her Reverbnation and it's also for sale at RhythmMusic store (South Africa).

Colé Van Dais has recorded several Eurovision coverversions recently for her album Dink Aan My (Think of me). For example titletrack is a cover of Haegt Og Hljott, the 1987 Icelandic entry by Halla Margret.
She also recorded a duet version of Georgia's Peace Will Come (Diana Gurtskaya 2008) with Marc Rantseli. This one is sung in Afrikaans, Spanish, English and Zulu.
Afrikaanse Meissies (African girls or probably Afrikaans girls) is The Balkan Girls (Romania's Elena Gheorge, 2008) and Die Eiland (The island) is 1987 Cyprus entry Aspro Mavro by Alexia.
Listen to some of the tracks here at Reverbnation

Of course you can find out everything about the original entry by Sabina Babayeva at the Baku Collection. There are details about the remixes, the Azerbaijani version Gəl and more at this page.

Schlager time: Elz Bakker revives Carola's Invincible

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

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.

Jasmyn

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.

Release news: Steven Sterlings Beautiful Maria.

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

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

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.

Sunette Bridges - Let The Music Play

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.