Happy New Year!

So who isn't giving this one a listen this night?
Best wishes to all Eurocovers readers. May at least one of your dreams come true in 2014!

Jan

Goodbye, Farewell, Colin 'Bob Allison' Day

Colin Day, known as Bob Allison from the Allisons has passed away aged 72.
The Allisons scored an international hit with their U.K. Eurovision entry Are You Sure (2nd place in 1961)

Golden Oldie Are You Sure is one of the songs I knew by heart (although in my own invented variation on English) long before I found out it actually was a Eurovision tune.
The Allisons Brian 'John Allison' Alford and Colin 'Bob Allison' Day were childhood friends, not really brothers contrary to popular belief. They were more or less the U.K.'s answer to the Everly Brothers. They scored a European hit with their Eurovision runner up, the third U.K. entry in a row to finish 2nd.
The song sold over a million copies in the U.K. alone.

Despite their European hit, world domination didn't really happen for the Allisons. They managed to get two more top 40 hits and called it a day in 1963.
'Goodbye, Farewell.... Are You Sure?' they asked themselves. I guess they weren't, as the Allisons reunited on several occasions and in the 70's recruited some new brothers like Mike Allison and Tony Allison.
John White, earlier member who left in 1959 is the real composer of their Eurovision Song. (it's credited to The Allisons).

Colin Day also recorded a coverversion of Angelique, the Danish 1961 entry by Dario Campeotto. It was released as a b-side to his single Brasil (Parlophone R 4803).

Source: BBC entertainment
Parts of the above have been published the 2008 Eurocovers article Team GB 1961: Are You Sure?
List of versions of Are You Sure . This has release details on the Allisons versions and info on 42 coverversions of the song. (Word document, email me if you want it)
Discography: Colin Day and the Allisons at 45Cat,com

Another post: Jody Wayne (South Africa) - Are You Sure

Happy Birthday The Doctor

Doctor Who is 50 today! Not as old as Eurovision (or is he?), but a remarkable achievement.

Bang Bang A Boom is and Audio only (sadly) episode around the Intergalactic Song Contest.

It takes the micky, (of course, it's British), and not even Terry Wogan (Logan in this episode) is spared.

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.

Dum Dum Diddle, to be your fiddle

This week Orchestral genius André Rieu releases a double album with one disc dedicated to the ultimate legends of pop: ABBA.

It includes Eurovision winner Waterloo but the absence of Dum Dum Diddle is a missed opportunity of philharmonic proportions.

The ABBA CD includes the following tracks:

1. Chiquitita
2. Mama Mia
3. Fernando
4. Money, Money Money
5. The Winner Takes It All
6. Waterloo
7. I Have A Dream
8. Arrival
9. Dancing Queen
10. The Way Old Friends Do
11. Thank You For The Music
12. Thank You Abba

The other CD features timeless classics like Yesterday (Beatles), I Don't Know How To Love Him (Jesus Christ Superstar), La Vie En Rose (Edith Piaf, Grace Jones), Arriverderci Roma (Renato Rascel, Mario Lanza) and Hymne A L'amour (Edith Piaf)

More details at André Rieu's website or in a CD store near you.

André Rieu and his orchestra have recorded a few other Eurovision covers in the past.
Volare (Italy 1958, with Russel Watson) on CD Zauber der Musik 3 from 2003.
Zwei kleine Italiener (Germany 1962) on 2009 CD Ich hab mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren 
Puppet On A String (Details wanted)

Tar And Cement: Oh How Much I Love Verdelle Smith

I recently 'discovered' American 60's singer Verdelle Smith. Hadn't heard about her, but through my obsession with coverversions of Dio Come Ti Amo I stumbled upon her LP In My Room from 1966.
It includes her version of the Modugno/Cinquetti classic, titled Oh How Much I Love You.

After a bit of browsing I noticed she's qualified as a one hit wonder*, and the one hit is Tar And Cement.
Tar And Cement is a coverversion of Adriano Celentano's Il Ragazzo Della Via Gluck. The original song is from the 1966 Sanremo contest, and even though it didn't do very well there, it became one of Celentano's signature songs.
Where Verdelle Smith's version of Dio... is nice, Tar And Cement is a moving interpretation, and a wonderful piece of music history. I don't know if it's sacrilege to say, but she sometimes reminds me of Dusty Springfield.
Verdelle's Tar And Cement was a top 40 hit in the US, and even got to #1 in Australia.

The 2013 CD Tar And Cement: The Complete Recordings 1965-1967 (City Hall records, US) features both songs and Smith's take on some other classics like Catch A Falling Star (Perry Como, Francoise Hardy**), I Don't Need Anything (A minor hit for Sandie Shaw) and Autumn Leaves (Yves Montand).
Similar compilation CDs have been released earlier.

Both tracks and other Verdelle Smith songs are available through the Tunes and the likes, but you can already have a listen to the crackin' ol' records thanks to some tremendous Youtube people.

Oh How Much I Love You at Youtube
Tar And Cement at Youtube
Verdelle Smith is still around, but she hasn't been pursuing a career in pop since the 60's.

Tar And Cement was also recorded by Virginia Lee (South Africa), Joe Dolan (Ireland) and The Young Idea (ft Mott The Hooples Ian Hunter)

Anna-Lena Löfgren recorded it in Swedish (Youtube)

And here's a Finnish version I quite like, Asfalttia Ja Sementtia by Kari Kuuva.

* Actually a two hit wonder. Her first hit (Alone) In My Room was a US #62 in 1966.
** Hardy also recorded a version of Il Ragazzo... titled La Maison Où J'ai Grandi.

Release news: Monica Z. - The film and the music

This week, September 13,  sees the premiere of the Swedish film Monica Z., a biopic about the life of Monica Zetterlund, Swedens legendary queen of jazz. 
Eurovision fans know Monica Zetterlund best from her wonderful 1963 Eurovision song En Gång I Stockholm (Once upon a time in Stockholm).

The film focusses on the early career of Zetterlund, when she was a critically acclaimed jazz singer, working with some of the jazz greats like Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Louis Armstrong and Arne Domérius.

Edda Magnason takes up the challenge of portraying Monica Z. Not only does she play her in the film, but she also sings all the tracks in the movie and on the soundtrack herself.

The soundtrack  is released on CD and is out now. The musical score is arranged and produced by pianist Peter Nordahl. It includes En Gång I Stockholm and several other Zetterlund classics. (Universal 0602537-35291, tracklist below).   

You can watch another clip, Sakta Vi Gå Genom Stan,  here at Aftonbladtet tv.

Monica's Melodifestival

Monica Zetterlund’s first entered the Swedish national final in 1962 with the song När Min Vän (When my friend, also performed by Carli Tornehave) which ended 2nd behind the winner Sol Och Vår (performed by both Inger Berggren who took it to Eurovision and by Lily Berglund)

In 1963 En Gång I Stockholm was one of 12 songs in the national competition. It was performed with orchestra by Zetterlund and with a small combo by Carli Tornehave.

The music is by Bobbie Ericsson, who also wrote the 1961 Swedish entry April April for Siw Malmkvist. The lyrics were written by Beppe Wolgers, a.k.a as Efraim Långstrump (Longstocking), Pipi's Papa. 

In Eurovision the song ended last with 0 poing, possibly because the songs style, a very slow jazz ballad, didn’t fit the Eurovision mold.

Ending last didn’t hurt Zetterlunds career and En Gång I Stockholm became an evergreen that is still performed and recorded today. 

In 1972 Monica’s last Eurovision attempt, Krama Mig Och Dansa (Hold me and dance with me) ended 6th in the Swedish Melodifestival.

Monica Zetterlund died in 2005 in a tragic fire accident in her Stockholm home.

En Gång I Stockholm Discography

Monica Zetterlund

- on 7” Philips 350 224 1F, no picture sleeve

Lily Berglund

- Also perfomed in the Swedish NF, no studio recording was released.

Alice Babs

- on LP Alice Babs 67 (from 1966)' and VA EP Hjälp lions hjälpa (HMV 7EGS 344)

Margareta Bengtson

- on CD Margareta Bengtson (2009)

Monica Borrfors

- on CD Monica sjunger Monica

Helena Eriksson

- on CD Sjunger Monica Zetterlund (2007, CDA LBMZ 07)

Caroline Henderson

- on CD Don't explain (2003, Stunt records)

Margareta Jonth (Opera singer) with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

- on LP (1978, EMI 06235612)

Edda Magnason

- on CD Monica Z., OST (2013, Universal 0602537-35291)

Anna Norrby

- on CD Stockholmsbilder (1998, CDA-CAP - 21589)

The Real Group (acapella group)

- on CD Röster (1991)

Anne-Lie Rydé

- on CD Stulna kyssar  (1992, EMI 4750252)

Testbild!

- on CD Splendid Isolation (VA, Friendly noise FYN 68)

Svante Thuresson

- on LP Jag är hip baby (1995)

Grethe and Jørgen Ingmannn 
---- - So near, yet so far (English)

- on LP Winners and losers from European Television Song Contests (Metronome MLP 15267)

Sone Banger (Accordion)

- on LP Ett glatt humör (1976, Ljud-banger: lb 1004)

Arne Domnérus Orkester (Instrumental)     

- on EP (HMV. 7 EGS 270)

Bengt Hallberg (Instrumental)

 - on CD Improvisation (1989, Musik på Drottningholm MPD CD 1)

Georg Riedel, Arne Domnérus and Rune Gustafsson (Instrumental)

- on LP Vårat gäng (1979, Sonet SLP 2647)

These are the versions I know of, if you know more or have any corrections, please let me know.


Tracklist Monica Z. - Musiken från filmen

1. Sakta Vi Gå Genom Stan

2. Hit The Road Jack

3. Monicas Vals

4. O Vad En Liten Gumma Kan Gno

5. En Gång I Stockholm

6. It Could Happen To You

7. Gröna Små Äpplen

8. Trubbel

9. Du

10. Bedårande Sommarvals

11. I Can't Give You Anything But Love

12. I New York

13. Monica Z - Svit Ur Filmen - by Peter Nordahl

links and sources
Monica Zetterlund sällskapet website
Edda Magnason website
Stellanova film website
Eurovision Collectors Guide: 10000 coverversions project
Melodifestivalen Genom Tiderna - book by Leif Thorsson

Zaleilah on clogs: Dancing with Wesley Klein.

Dutch singer Wesley Klein has released a Dutch version of Zaleilah titled Samen Dansen (Everyday Everybody) (translates as Dancing Together) Released on June 28.
It's the first track on a 3-track cdsingle (Berk music 6017541)

Zaleilah is the Romanian entry from 2012 by Mandinga. Find out about all their versions and releases here at the Baku Collection.

Zaleilah is not the first Eurovision song covered by Wesley Klein. The Danish 2010 entry In A Moment Like This became Geen Dag Zonder Jou (Not a day without you) and was released on his CD Vandaag En Morgen (Today and tomorrow) and cdsingle. It scored a # 42 hit in the Dutch top 100.

Former construction worker Klein shot to fame in the Netherlands in 2010 when he won the 2nd edition of Popstars (Talent show on SBS channel). He followed up his victory with a #1 hit: a cover version of You Raise Me Up. He scored 10 top 100 hits in total.

Wesley Klein website
The cdsingle is available at SingleCDNL

CD Releases: Volare in the 10's

It's 55 years ago since Domenico Modugno's Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) conquered the world. You probably all know that Eurocovers loves a bit of history, so the Eurovision classic features in many posts, including the 2008 series Anno Domenico.

I hadn't looked into it much recently, but after a rainy morning browsing the net I noticed that the everblue evergreen is still being recorded in it's 7th decade.

Emma

Followers of the Italian Festival di Sanremo, the mother of all songcontests, know Emma.

Emma Marrone entered the 2011 Sanremo together with Modà and the song Arriverà.

In 2012 she went it alone and won Sanremo with Non è L’Inferno.

As a true Sanremo star, Emma knows her classics and she recorded Volare for the film Benvenuti Al Nord. It’s a comedy about the rivalry between the Italian North and the Italian South. Emma’s Volare accompanies the end credits. (video)

The track was released on the re-issue of her 2011 album Sarò Libera (2012) which also added the Sanremo winner in two versions. (Universal music Italy). 

Emma cites Gianna Nannini as one of her main inflences. She accompanied Gianna on her 2011 Io E Te tour (see below)
Emma's latest album is Schiena, released in April 2013.

2014: Emma Marone is selected to represent Italy in the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, Denmark. Read all about that here at the Copenhagen Collection.

Emma website

Chico and the Gypsies with Nana Mouskouri
Chico is Chico Bouchikhi, one of the founding members of the Gypsy Kings. in 2012 Chico and the Gypsies released an album with duets titled Chico and the Gypsies....and Friends.
Since the Gypsy Kings 1989 hit, Volare became a staple song for any self respecting Gypsy / Rumba outfit. So it's not unexpected the song found its way to this album. But the guest star on the song is a surprise: our Nana Mouskouri.

In Eurovision titles Nana Mouskouri would probably be the Grand Duchess of Eurovision or something.
In 1963 the Greek singer entered the Eurovision songcontest for Luxembourg with A Force De Prier (By the power of praying) and ended 8th.
No further explanation is needed, Nana Mouskouri continued to superstardom ever since and she is still touring the world with her emotional and uplifting encyclopedia of songs.

Other guests on the Chico CD include Charles Aznavour and Eurovision stars Gerard Lenorman and Patrick Fiori.
Here's a live video of Chico and Nana doing Volare

Chico and the Gypsies website

Gypsy Queens
U.K. based Gyspy Queens recorded Volare for their eponymous 2012 album. The band, led by Didier Casnati, presents a more jazzy style of gypsy music. Check out a BBC breakfast performance of the Queens' Volare here at their Youtube.

In 2010 Casnati already recorded Volare with Peruvian singer Jaime Cuadra for his album Latino (watch video)

Gypsy Queens just played the Isle Of Wight festival and you can also catch them at this years Glastonbury.
Their new single, also on the album, is a cover of L'Italiano, the Toto Cutugno classic. (video)

Gypsy Queens website

ケツメイシ
In Eurocovers Galaxy it's a small step from Gypsy music to Japan. Ketsumeishi is a Japanese hip-hop-pop boy/man band going since 2000. Their albums are simply titled Ketsunopolis (ケツノポリス) 1to 8.
1 was released in 2000 and 8 saw the light in 2012. Ketsunopolis 8 includes their coverversion of Volare in Japanese (ボラーレ).

Their 2012 hitsingle Love Love Summer includes two versions of Volare: The original album version and the FPM Everlust remix.
Volare is mostly a Gypsy Kings cover with some rappy bits thrown in, but still a great tune, especially the remix.

Ketsumeishi website

And some more

In 2010 actress / model / stylist / sex symbol Valeria Marini released Volare on a cdsingle with DJ Roberto Onofri. The cdsingle was only avalable with a magazine (Di Più) and allegedly sold 300.000 copies (of 500.000 pressed).

All proceeds were for the victims of the Abruzzo earthquake.

Source: ADNkronos

Vanessa Neigert recorded a German version of Volare fore her 2012 album also titled Volare. The album also includes a version of Piove (Ciao Ciao Bambina), the 1959 Modugno Eurovision classic. Vanessa Neigert specializes in the classics from the 50’s and 60’s. She recorded the German 1962 entry Zwei Kleine Italiener for her debut album Mit 17 Hat Man Noch Träume (Ariola, 2009).

Vanessa Neigert website

Gianna Nannini is a famous singer in Italy, but attempts to make her success global have not resulted in world domination. Pity, really as she made some incredible albums. Her biggest claim to international fame is probably Un Estate Italiana (with Edoardo Bennato), a theme tune to the 1990 football world cup. In the 80's she scored a few European hits with I Maschi and Bello E Impossibile.

She released Volare on her 2011 album Io E Te. (Sony Music Italy) The song was also included on the live edition of the same album. Nannini probably had no trouble remembering the lyrics as she was one of the singers who recorded Volare For Ethiopia back in 1985 (see this Eurocovers post)

Gianna Nannini website

Andrea Bocelli never recorded a real studio version of Volare except for a Barilla pasta commercial. But he has been performing the song live on many occasions. Live album One Night In Central Park, recorded in (you guessed it) Central park, New York features a live version with David Foster at the piano. (Sugar Music, 2011)

Other stars guesting are Tony Bennett and Eurovision Royal Celine Dion. 

Andrea Bocelli website

Francisco recorded a Spanish live version of Volare with Santiago Segura for his album La Voz. 

Now, many singers are named Francisco, so I don’t really know who this is. He must be someone, as the album has some impirtant guests.
Update: Francisco won the OTI contest (Spanish language Song contest) twice. (1981 and 1992) and is a well known singer in Spain. (Thanks José Antonio!)

Well worth mentioning is that La Voz also includes a version of Al Di Là  (Más alla in Spanish) the Italian 1961 Eurovision entry, as it's a duet with no one less than Pastora Soler of Baku Eurovision fame. 
And there's Dio Come Ti Amo (Dios como te amo in Spanish) performed with Paca Ribes. This is Domenico Modugno's 1966 Eurovision song.
Other people guesting are Julio Iglesias Jr. and Daniel Diges (Oslo 2010) (Warner music Spain).

Sex And Drugs and Eurovision: The Olsen Brothers Trippin' Road Movie

Gourmet film have released this lovely tribute to the Olsen Brothers (Jørgen and Niels Olsen). It's a funny movie revealing the secret of how the brothers got the inspiration for their 2000 Eurovision song Fly On The Wings Of Love.
The short film, carrying the title of the Eurovision winner, is set in the early 70's. The Brødrene are hitch hiking through the U.S. on their way to San Francisco to make it in America.
The road trip stars Allan Hyde, Aske Bang, Emma Bell and Hailey Boyle. Hyde and Bang directed and Nina Helveg produced. It features several Olsen Brothers songs including their 1978 Danish Melodi Grand Prix hit San Francisco. (see below)
The full 16 minute movie is in above youtube, the bits in danish are subtitled.

The Brothers in 2010

Fly On The Wings Of Love won the Stockholm Eurovision Song Contest for Denmark in 2000. Originally the song was performed in Danish as Smuk Som Et Stjerneskud (Beautiful as a shooting star) in the Danish national final.
Sweden has become lucky ground for the Danes, as this year Denmark won the contest in Malmö with Emmelie De Forest and her Only Teardrops.

The actors:
Allan Hyde is a familiar face (although well disguised), he's known as vampire Godric on HBO's series True Blood.
Emma Bell also has a horror past, she was Amy in the first season of The Living Dead (AMC). She's also cast in the Dallas revival as Emma Brown (TNT), daughter of an ex-wife of Bobby Ewing (or something like that)
Aske Bang has been in a several Danish movies and TV series including an episode of Borgen.
Hailey Boyle is a stand up comedian.

The Brothers in 1972

Warning: Probably a bit NSFW: it has some unidentified cigarettes and hippy sex on LSD.

Gourmet Film is Allan Hyde's and Aske Bangs film project/company.
The film is co-funded by gifts from the public through Kickstarter.com and other sources.
They love Eurovision, check out their new years video Save Your Kisses For Me (upd. heavily geoblocked now) starring Aske Bang, Nina Helveg, Allan Hyde and Julie Grundtvig Wester as the Mighty Brotherhood Of Man.

Some links and sources: Updated 2021
Gourmet film website and facebook
Olsen Brothers website and  facebook (new)
Allan Hyde website
Hailey Boyle facebook
Emma Bell website
The Olsen Brothers Eurovision cover album here at Eurocovers
Shop for The Olsen Brothers CDs at BeaRecords

The Brothers in the 50's

Songs featured in the film:

San Francisco

- 2nd place in the 1978 Danish national final

Marie Marie        

- single from 1982

One Woman, Two Lovers

- from their 2000 CD Wings Of Love

I Have To Dance

- Single from 2000, follow up to the Eurovison winner

Angelina

- Single from 1972, the first hit for the Bro’s

Fly On The Wings Of Love

- The performance at the Stockholm contest is featured, Terry Wogan famously commenting "I have a sneaky suspicion about that one."

Additional score by Djarn Kargin and Daniel Vognstrup