Portugal No Coração: Dias Do Vinil

Portugal. the country, won Eurovision in 2017, you all know that and it goes to show that perseverance pays off. It took them over 50 years and almost as many entries to finally get the trophy.

Portugal's Eurovision history is a rich one. Some of the country's greatest singers have entered the contest, some entries are associated with political history and some have been total duds.
It didn't seem like Portugal was on a course to glory in recent years. Only four songs reached the final since 2004 and the last time they ended in the top 10 was in 1996.
And then came Salvador Sobral and the rest is history.

To celebrate the contest being held in Lisbon five classic entries are re-released on glorious vinyl on April 21. The re-issues are a part of the Dias Do Vinil (Days of vinyl), a yearly celebration of the black gold organized by FNAC.
Update: Three of the five re-issues have already been sold out in the online store, but copies are still available at the Fnac stores, so if you're heading to Lisbon....

The re-issued entries are
1974 E Depois Do Adeus - Paulo De Carvalho
1976 Uma Flor De Verde Pinho - Carlos Do Carmo
- His LP Uma Canção Para A Europa (with all preselection songs) also gets a vinyl re-issue.

1978 Dai Li Dou - Gemini
- Their 1977 LP Pensando Em Ti also gets a vinyl make-over. This includes their version of the 1977 entry Portugal No Coração. 
1982 Bem Bom - Doce
1985 Penso Em Ti, Eu Sei - Adelaide

All five have their original b-sides, so no other language versions on the b-sides. Bem Bom has the first version with drum intro, not the later recording that appeared on the other European releases.

Paulo's Duetos
E Depois Do Adeus was re-recorded in 2017 for Paulo De Carvalho's CD Duetos. The album features classic Paulo tracks re-recorded with a range of Portuguese singers including Eurovision singers Rita Guerra, José Cid, Carlos Do Carmo,
Paulo performs E Depois... with Marisa Liz.
The CD and 2LP were released in May 2017, a 2CD re-issue from November also includes a duet with Dulce Pontes.

Links and sources:
Paulo De Carvalho: Facebook
Adelaide Ferreira: Facebook
Carlos Do Carmo: Facebook
Related Eurocovers post:
E Depois Do Adeus - José Calvario (2009)

The Lisbon Collection

Our 2018 website, The Lisbon Collection,  has everything you need to know on the releases, versions and other trivia of this years Eurovision Song Contest.

Here are a few of the just updated pages
Belarus - Еўрабачанне-2018, Alekseev wins, new version out now, The Forever EP, remix
United Kingdom - Eurovision you decide, songs out! SuRie Storms to Lisbon. New version released, 7th Heaven remixes out now! calm after the Storm: Acoustic version out now
Let's Get Physical - Quick list of physical releases, Portuguese book and more stuff
Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitė wins Eurovizijos Atranka, English and Lithuanian versions released, Jovani remix out now
Hungary - A Dal 2CD out now, Let's get loud with AWS, Listen to the English version
Finland - Finland sends Monsters. Again! WWW album info, Remixes out now
Albania - The first song for Lisbon, new Eurovision version remains in Albanian, promo info update
Spain - Operación Triunfo revived, Alfred & Amaia to Eurovision, Eurovision Gala CD on February 23. New version of the Cancion and even more OT CDs, cdsingle(s) out now, updates

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.

Portugal No Coração: Namorados Da Cidade

Digital Release Image

It's the Portugal No Coração weeks at Eurocovers. With the impending Lisbon contest we'll take a look at some Portuguese classics, coverversions and all that. Browsing through my lists, records (and cassette tapes!) I'm sure there's enough to fill some Eurocovers pages, Portugal took their time....
Here's one that is as fresh as it can get though, it was released last February.

Namorados Da Cidade are a Lisbon rock band forged in 2015. I guess they named themselves after a well known Carlos Do Carmo song which translates as 'Boyfriends of the city' and is a lovesong to Lisbon life. (but I could be wrong of course).

The band have some tunes of their own but also play coverversions including some from your beloved Eurovision Song Contest (or rather the Festival da Canção).
If you check out their youtube you'll see live performances of songs like  Um grande Grande Amor (José Cid 1980), O Vento Mudou (Eduardo Nascimento 1967) and A Festa Da Vida (Carlos Mendes 1972).

But now the band have released their first album Namorados Da Cidade and three Eurocovers made it to the tracklist.
Silencio A Tanta Gente is the 1984 entry by Maria Guinot (11th place). It gets a gentle rock makeover and is actually quite fantastic.
There's also A Festa Da Vida but the main attraction is Desfolhada Portuguesa, the 1969 entry by Simone De Oliveira which ended at an inexcusable 15th place. Bad bad juries.
The legendary singer herself joins the band for this great version of her signature song which of course is a treat for Eurovision fans.
You can find the NdC album at your digital stores and streamers, a CD version is available in the Portuguese shops. I've seen it online at FNAC.
They have been touring the FNAC shops and you can still catch them there on March 30 (In Albufeira and Faro, check their facebook, links below)

The Namorados look like this: Picture taken from Namorados Facebook

Links and sources:
Namorados Da Cidade: Website, Facebook, Youtube channel
Other Portugal No Coração posts:
Dias Do Vinil - Some vinyl re-issues of Portuguese Eurovision classics.
Simone De Oliveira, Rainha do festivais has Simone's Eurovision/Eurocovers discography.

In the comments of the Dias Do Vinil post ERK gave us a link to a great list of coverversions of Portuguese entries he created at Discogs. Find it here. Thanks ERK!

An then there's this:

The Portuguese 2018 entry

The Lisbon Collection keeps track of the releases, versions and whathaveyou's of the 2018 contest, check it out.
These are a few of the latest updated pages:
Germany - Michael Schulte's Lied Für Lissabon. Dreamer album info
France - Destination Eurovision for Madame Monsieur, Mercy already a top 10 hit. Vu D'Ici album info
Estonia - Eurolaul goes Classic: La Forza to Lisbon, Remixes out now!
Israel - Netta Barzilai wins HaKokhav HaBa and comes a'cluckin'.  single version, remixes released.
Let's Get Physical - Quick list of physical releases
Portugal the country - Cláudia Pascoal wins Festival da Canção. FdC CD out now
Spain - Operación Triunfo revived, Alfred & Amaia to Eurovision, Eurovision Gala CD on February 23. New version of the Cancion and even more OT CDs, cdsingle on March 23
Poland - Gromee and Lukas win Krajowych Eliminacji Eurowizji 2018, CD Chapter One on March 16. promo info

C’était Ma Vie: Lys Assia (1924 - 2018)

Lys Assia, La Grande Dame De L'Eurovision passed away this weekend. She was of course the winner of the first ever Eurovision Song Contest, the Grand Prix Eurovision. She participated in three contests, had four entries and was a guest of honour at many Eurovision events in this millennium.

Below are some (edited) exerpts from a Eurocovers post from 2012 when she tried to get to the Eurovision Song Contest one more time with C’était Ma Vie, a song in the Swiss National Selection for Baku.

From 2012: C’était Ma Vie

Switzerland had a very extensive preselection for Baku with well over 200 songs participating in various broadcasters pre-pre-pre voting extravaganzi. (it was held in December 2011)
One artist that of course caught everybody’s attention is Lys Assia, who entered the selection with C’était Ma Vie penned by 'Mister Eurovision' Ralph Siegel with lyrics by 'Mister L’Oiseau Et L’Enfant' Jean Paul Cara.

The song is a big orchestra driven ballad reminiscing of the olden days. It's Lys Assia's My Way or This Is My Life (The Shirley Bassey one). I don't know if there's a place for the rather old fashioned entry in todays Eurovision field, but it's great to see the old gal is still at it.
C’était Ma Vie proceded on to the final and eventually ended 8th.

Eurovision fans will of course know (and some even remember) the Grand Dame / Grand Ma of Eurovision as the first ever winner of our annual music fest. With the song Refrain, written by Geo Voumard and Émile Gardaz, Lys Assia won the initial edition of the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1956.

In 1956 each of the seven participating countries had two songs in the (radio only) competition. Switzerland selected  Lys Assia with Das Alte Karussell (The old Carousel) and the eventual winner Refrain.

The Swiss must have loved Lys a lot as she went on representing the country in 1957 with L'enfant Que j'Étais (The child that I was, 8th place) and in 1958 with her best effort Giorgio (2nd place, brilliant song).

Lys Assia’s biggest hit was not one of her Eurovision songs (although Giorgio did quite well in several pre-historic charts) but her version of the evergreen Oh Mein Papa (First performed by Lys in 1950). Other hits include Arrivederci Roma (1956) Deine Liebe (1957), Ein Kleiner Gold'ner Ring (1961) and Die Sterne Von Syrakus (1962).
Probably Assia's oldest known record release is a 78rpm / Schellac disc from 1942 titled Ich Habe Heut' Ein Kleines Rendez-vous, so her recording career spanned 70 years, from Schellack to Digital and everything inbetween.

Lys Assia Eurovision Discography 

1956   

Das Alte Karussell (German)

-  Decca D18271  / 78RPM Telefunken F 46287

Refrain (French)  - Lys Assia 

- EP Decca 1861 (France) / 78RPM 22609 / 7" Decca 19265)

Last night (English version of Refrain)

- b-side to This is my boy (Decca D 18 535, Germany)

Refrain, du goldner Traum aus meiner Jugendzeit (German)

- 78 RPM Decca F 46 266/ 7": Decca 18265/18266 EP Telefunken DX 1861

- German 78 RPM Telefunken F 46287 features both songs in German.

Refrain (1964 recording in medley)

- Adorable Lys EP (DE:Telefunken UX 5193)

Refrain, du goldner Traum…. (2003 version, German)     

- CD Sehnsucht nach dir (Schloss records, CD 95-013)

Refrain (2008, German) & Refrain (2008, French)            

- on CD Refrain des Lebens (Cariblue 14030-2)

1957

L'enfant Que J'étais  (French) 

-  EP DucretetThomson 460 V 370 (France), 7: Telefunken U 55 039, EP: UX 4819 (Germany)

1958

Giorgio (German with Italian parts) 

-  Decca 18762 (Number for most international releases)

Giorgio (full Italian version)

-  Decca 45-C 16530 (Italy)

Giorgio (French)

- EP Duc.-Thomson 460V446 (France), EP Telefunken TFR 424 (Spain)

National Finals

1956 Sei doch nicht so eifersüchtig (German, probably unreleased)

1956 Le bohémien (French, probably unreleased)

1956 Addio bella Napoli (German)

- b-side to Refrain, Du goldner Traum…. (Decca 18266), and on EP Lys Assia International (Decca DX 1861)

Lys Assia also participated in the 1956 German selection, however, details on that selection have never been retrieved. We only know that the song was NOT Ein Kleiner Gold’ner Ring.

1957 Derrière la cathedrale (French, probably unreleased)

1957 Musst du schon geh'n (German, probably unreleased)

1957 Ein trautes lied vom turm herab (German, probably unreleased)

1957 Ça n'empechera pas (French, probably unreleased)

1958 There was a national final in Switzerland but no details have survived. We don’t know if Lys had other songs besides Giorgio in this selection.

2012 C’etait ma vie (French)

- Digital single, Chips records

- Can also be found on the 4CD Ralph Siegel: Die Autodiscografie - Meine Stars Für Euch

2013 All in your head (with New Jack, in English), didn’t make it to the final

- Digital single, Jupiter records

Eurocovers
In my book there are three Eurovision songs Lys Assia covered. There may be more, as Lys Assia must have recorded about a million songs in the 50’s and sixties.

Italy 1961: Al di là (Betty Curtis)
In Italian with the Dino Olivieri Orchestra
- on EP Philips 431 054, also LP San Remo's greatest hits 1958-1966

Denmark 1963: Dansevise (Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann)
Der Sommer ging voruber (German)
- single Telefunken U 55705

U.K. 1963: Say wonderful things (Ronnie Carroll)
Zwei blaue Vergißmeinnicht (German)
- single Telefunken U 55705
(Both 1963 songs were released on the same single)

Related Eurocovers posts and links
Lys Assia - The Road To Baku
Geo Voumard / Jula De Palma (Refrain)
Flo Sandon's (Refrain)

Hüpiknukk: Heli Lääts 1932 - 2018

This week, on February 16, Estonian singer Heli Lääts passed away.

Avid Eurocovers readers may have noticed I'm a bit of a fan since I discovered her impressive list of Eurocovers.

Most of this article is from Januari 2007 from the Year Of The Puppet series (About coverversions of Sandie Shaws Puppet On A String).
 I changed a few things and moved it up as a little tribute to the legendary Estonian singer.
Heli Lääts was 85.

from the 2007 post: 
Hüpiknukk
Puppet On A String comes with a variety of titles in different languages. There's Sprellemann and Sprattelgumma, Paprikajancsi and Sätkynukke, and they will all be featured here in the Year Of The Puppet.

My favorite title for Puppet On A String is Hüpiknukk. Try saying it 10 times in a row, and fast.

Hüpiknukk is the Estonian version of Puppet On A String and this one is by Heli Lääts, one of the most popular Estonian singers from the 60's and 70's.

Heli Lääts has recorded many coverversions of international hits since the late 50's and most of her work has been released on cd in the past years. Another singer that would have graced the Eurovision stage very well if only…..

So it's not a surprise some Eurovision songs found their way to Heli Lääts' repertoire. So far I have located 19:
Sweden 1962 - Keväd ja paike (Sol och vår)
United Kingdom 1967 - Hüpiknukk (Puppet On A String)
France 1968 - Allikas (La Source) - update: Thanks Frank
Germany 1969 - Kaunid Balleriinid (Primaballerina) *
Monaco 1971 - Tänav, pink ja puu (Un banc, un arbre, une rue)
Netherlands 1975 - Ding-dinge dong (Ding a dong)*
France 1977 - Lind ja laps (L'oiseau et l'enfant) *

These sevens song can be found on 3CD Heli Lääts - Eesti Kullafond (Hitivabrik, rel 2004), still available from Apollo.ee
Kaunid Ballerinid and Tänav Pink Ja Puu can be also found on the 1979 LP Поет Хели Ляэтс (Poet Heli Lääts) on the USSR state owned Melodia label (Мелодия label). I nicked the picture from discogs.
Allikas was released on a mixed artists 4-track EP (also on the Melodia label)

In addition to the ones mentioned above there are a few that have been released digitally in recent years.

Netherlands 1969 - Trubaduur (De Troubadour)
Luxembourg 1972 - Pärast sind (Après Toi)
UK 1974 - Maailm on suur  (Long Live Love)
Luxembourg 1974 -Head Teed!  (Bye, Bye, I Love You)

And these have been recorded but I haven't found many details yet
France 1958 - Valss kaunil kevadpäeval [kevad on käes] (Dors Mon Amour) (excerpt here)
Netherlands 1967 - Mu ümber on kevad (Ring Dinge Ding)
Germany 1971 - See maailm (Diese Welt)
Ireland 1971 - Ühe päeva armastus (One Day Love)
Finland 1973 - Päikese Trummid (Tom Tom Tom)
Spain 1978 -Tule, tantsime koos (Bailemos Un Vals)
Germany 1980 - Teater (Theater)
Germany 1982 - Et oleks rahu (Ein Bisschen Frieden)

Tracks marked * can also be found on the CD Unustamatu Eurovisoon, a compilation CD from 2002. It features 22 Eurovision songs covered in Estonian, dug up from the vaults to celebrate the Contest being held in Tallinn. (Hitivabrik, 2002)

Kaunid Balleriinid was also released in a remixed version by DJX on a 12"inch vinyl and DJX CD Tähesadu DJX Episood 1. He mixed the song with Spillers Groovejet minus Sophie Ellis Bextor

Links and sources
ERR/ETV news
Heldur Karmo net - A website which lists all songs translated by Estonian lyricist Heldur Karmo
Unfortunately no Heli Lääts at Spotify, but you can find some Audio's at Youtube.

Sanremo 65 - Tutte Le Vincitrici

Sanremo is 68 by now, but I just noticed this 4CD album with coverversions of all 65 winners from 1951 up to 2015 of the Mother Of All Songcontests, the Festival Della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo.

The first Sanremo festival was in 1951 and Nilla Pizzi won with Grazie Dei Fior.
Sanremo quickly became a successful stage for Italian singers and songwriters.
The Eurovision Song Contest which premiered in 1956 was modelled on the Italian music spectacular.
The Sanremo festival became closely connected to Eurovision straight away: The winner of Sanremo went on to be the Italian Eurovision entry from 1956 to 1966.

In 1967 things changed. Sanremo winner Non Pensare A Me by Claudio Villa was disqualified because the new Eurovision regulations ruled the song had been released too early. It was replaced by Non Andare Piu' Lontano after the Eurovision rehearsals started.
After that the actual Sanremo winner only went to Eurovision on four occasions.
Sometimes the Sanremo winning artists would pick another song or someone who ended lower on the Sanremo table represent Italy in Europe. In the 70's and 80's the Eurovision choice was often Sanremo unrelated.

To celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Sanremo contest a 4CD was released by Azzurra Music in 2016. It includes all Sanremo winners recorded by new, young and upcoming artists. 15 of the 65 songs are Eurovision entries.
The 4CD is still available at Azzurra Music, but for you digital youngsters, it's also available through your favorite mp3 outlets, or if you're broke, Spotify.

These are the Eurovision songs on the Sanremo 65 Tutte Le Vincitrici 4CD:
(For the full tracklist see picture below)
Year     Title  - original artist - artist on the Sanremo 65 4CD

1956 Aprite le finestre - Franca Raimondi - Serena Carpi

1957 Corde della mia chitarra - Nunzio Gallo - Marco Tascone
1958 Nel blu dipinto di blu - Domenico Modugno - Swinger Twinger
1959 Piove (Ciao ciao bambina) - Domenico Modugno - Blues Coffee Trio ft Teresa
1960 Romantica - Renato Rascel - Animarma ft. Eniko
1961 Al di là - Betty Curtis - Carlotta ft. Olly Vincent
1962 Addio... addio - Claudio Villa - Michael Vaiasinni
1963 Uno per tutte - Emilio Pericoli - Kabaré Voltaire
1964 Non ho l'età (Per amarti) - Gigliola Cinquetti - Francesca Beccaria
1965 Se piangi se ridi - Bobby Solo - Mercoledi Notte
1966 Dio come ti amo - Domenico Modugno - Luca Bui
1972 I giorni dell'arcobaleno - Nicola Di Bari - Errequatro

1997 Fiumi di parole - Jalisse - Ibrevidiverbi

2013 L’essenziale - Marco Mengoni - Proclama
2015 Grande amore - Il Volo - S.Ma.C.K (Stefania, Carlotta, Karol)

More at Eurocovers about: Aprite Le Finestre, Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu, Piove, Romantica, Al Di La, Addio Addio,  Uno Per Tutte,  Non Ho L'eta,  Se Piangi Se Ridi, Dio Come Ti Amo.

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

Kamferdrops - Ein Bisschen Frieden

Here's a cozy little weird video by Norwegian outfit Kamferdrops (Heidi Musum to her mom). It's a thoroughly modern take on the well known 1982 German Eurovision winner originally sung by Nicole.
The Kamferdrops have also released a Norwegian Swedish version  (see comments, Thanks Mikael!) titled En Liten Fågel (A little bird), you can find that video here.

Both versions are out through your local digitessen including your favorite streamers.

Kamferdrops will be participating in the Swedish Eurovision selection Melodifestivalen with the song Solen Lever Kvar Hos Dig.

The 2018 Eurovision Collectors Guide The Lisbon Collection is operational!, you can bookmark now.

Stranger in Paradise: Urban Turban & Shamim Naghedi

At Eurocovers we love something exotic. If you've perambulated through more than 10 years of Eurocovering you must have noticed some unusual coverversions from unexpected destinations.
Well, you can't get more exotic than this, from erm... Sweden.

Urban Turban and singer Shamim Naghedi released an album earlier this year titled Paradis. The Cd includes 12 Swedish classics* sung in Persian. It's not just Schlager with Persian lyrics, the music is filled with middle eastern mystique, hints of folk rock and all kinds of traditional instruments.

Now Urban Turban have been going for a few decades and it's mainman Peter Bryngelsson who remembers most of the tunes featured from his younger days. The Persian lyrics are by Shamim Naghedi and Safoura Safavi, both Iranian singers.

I'm not really an expert on the Swedish Classics outside Melodifestivalen, Abba and a bit of Cornelis, so I didn't recognise all the tracks on this album instantly.
But there are two Eurovision tunes that jump out. The closing track** is Det Börjar Verka Kärlek...Banne Mej, the 1968 Swedish entry by Claes Göran Hederström. (In Persian it's Engar Daräm Jedan Ashegh Mishäm)
The highlight is Ghäribe, Främling (Stranger), the 1983 Swedish entry by the High Priestess of Swedish Eurovision Carola.

The CD is out on Caprice records and of course also available through the digital platforms. Although not all may have the same tracklist (see below)
Here's the two Eurovision covers on Spotify, the full album is there too, just go check it out for yourself.

* I said Swedish classics, but there are a few that were already coverversion in their Swedish Classic disguise, more details below in the tracklist.

............
............
Tracklist Paradis

1. Sånt Ar Livet (Zendegi Iyne)

- A 1961 hit by Anita Lindblom, Originally You Can Have Her by Roy Hamilton.

2. Är Det Konstigt Att Man Längtar Bort Nån Gång (Vä äjibe deltang mishan adama)

- Lena Andersson hit from 1971, originally I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl Again by Buffy Sainte-Marie

3. Han Måste Gå (On bayäd bere)

- A 1960 hit for Gunnar Wiklund, originally He'll Have To Go by Jim Reeves

4. Gråt Inga Tårar (Gerye Näkon)

- A 1975 song by Pippis. (A Swedish original)

5. Flottarkärlek (Instrumental) (Eshghe doroghi)

- 1948 song which was a succes in 1952 for Gösta Nordgren

6. Du Ar Den Ende (Tou Tänha käsi hasti)

- The original is by Lill Lindfors, recorded in 1966

7. Jag Ger Dig Min Morgon (Subhe män male tou)

I Give You In The Morning by Tom Paxton, the Swedish version is by Fred Åkerström

8. Bygga Upp Ett Stort Berg (Besaz yek koohe buozuorg)

- 1974 song by Jan Malmsjö

9. Min Alskling Du Ar Som En Ros (Eshghe män tou mäsle goule sourkhi)

- 1943 song by Swedish legend Evert Taube

10. Främling (Ghäribe)

- Carola!!!

11. Jag Vill Ha En Egen Måne (Instrumental) (Män maahe khodamo mikhaam)

- 1972 song by Ted Gärdestad

12. Det Börjar Verka Kärlek... Banne Mig (Engar daräm jedan ashegh mishäm)

Above is the Spotify tracklist

**The original CD tracklist also includes Lyckliga Gatan (Il Ragazzo Della Via Gluck, a.k.a. Tar And Cement) but I'm not sure if it's on it, however, there is a Youtube.

I'm also not sure if Det Börjar... ended up on the CD, as there are conflicting tracklists.

Links and sources

Utter thanks go to Frederick who spotted this and alerted Eurocovers.
I haven't been able to find much in the form of websites or facebooks but there is a good article here at Musikverket.se  where I nicked some of the info.
Caprice records at Musikverket
I Wiki'd and such for the details on the songs, so you don't have to.
You'll find more Carola covers here at Eurocovers.
An article about Tar And Cement is here at Eurocovers

J'aime La Vie by Laurence

Here's a lovely coverversion of the 1986 Eurovision winner J'aime La Vie by Sandra Kim.

Remember the chirpy 13 year old bopping on the stage in her white and pink bellhop ensemble? Well, this version by Laurence is something completely different. Darker, moody even, but somehow still life affirming.

Laurence Plane Facebook