British Eurovision pioneer Pearl Carr has passed away at the age of 98.
With her husband Teddy Johnson she represented the United Kingdom in 1959 with Sing Little Birdie and ended second behind the Dutch Teddy. Sing Little Birdie became an evergreen even though it only made it to #12 in the U.K. charts. It got to #8 in the Dutch charts and was a popular song in Scandinavian countries.
The oldest tracable record featuring Pearl Carr I could find is Blue For A Boy with Dick James (1951). Update: No it isn't, Lou Preager's Hang On The Bell Nelly from 1949 features Pearl Carr and Rusty Hurren on vocals.
Later Pearl Carr was a vocalist fore Dave King and the Keynotes. She was a frequent singer and comedian on various radio shows until she met her husband Teddy Johnson.
From then on they continued as a duo, performing on many British TV shows.
A rare record in picture sleeve was the EP Meet Teddy and Pearl which includes the 1957 single Tomorrow Tomorrow.
About a dozen singles followed up to 1965.
They only managed to score one more U.K. top 40 hit: How Wonderful To Know (#23 in 1961)
Teddy Johnson passed away in 2018 also at the age of 98.
Eurovision
Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson participated twice in the U.K. selection for Eurovision, each time with two songs.
Eurovision
Song Contest British Final 1959
- Sing Little
Birdie (finalist and winner)
- That’s It,
That’s Love (semi) unreleased
Eurovision
Song Contest British Final 1960
- When The Tide Turns (finalist)
- Pickin' Petals (semi)
Both songs
on U.K. 7” HMV 45-POP 697
It was Teddy's brother Bryan Johnson who took the trophy and ended up 2nd in the Eurovision Song Contest with Looking High, High, High.
Sing Little Birdie releases
U.K. 7” (Columbia 45-DB 4275), promos exist
U.K. 78 rpm
(Columbia DB 4275)
Netherlands
7” (Columbia 45-DB 4275)
Germany 7” (Columbia C 21166)
Norway 7” (Columbia 45 DD 697) Yellow vinyl
US 7” (Capitol F 4211) possibly promo only
Coverversions
Sing Little Birdie proved to be a popular tune in Scandinavia, with 11 listed coverversions in Nordic languages.
Cilla Black, British institution, I guess she needs no introduction to most Eurocovers readers.
Below (at the end of this post) you can hear her lovely coverversion of the Dutch 1984 entry Ik Hou Van Jou as A Dream Come True. (It's Rotterdam weeks after all).
Cilla Black released her version of the Dutch classic in 1993 on her album Through The Years. (CD, LP and MC) A Dream Come True also ended up as the b-side of the single Heart And Soul (recorded with Dusty Springfield). (7"inch and cdsingle)
You're Sensational!
The legendary singer, TVshow host and all round showbizz star passed away in 2015.
Now, for the first time, an unreleased song is released. On Valentines day! You're Sensational was recorded in the early 70's and only recently uncovered. The track is remixed by Matt Pop.
There are two versions: An extended remix and a radio edit.
It's a digital single (ltd cdsingles are sold out now) but let's all buy it or stream it and get Cilla back to #1. (I'm talking to you Brits here, make it happen!, Update: It didn't.).
You're Sensational at iTunes, Amazon and a link to all digitessen
A nice bit of Eurovision trivia about Cilla Black, who of course would have been the dream representative for the U.K.. In fact (or: allegedly, to be safe) she was asked if she was interested to do Eurovision in 1968. Cilla didn't think it was a good idea to have another female singer after Sandie Shaw's victory and she declined.
She ended up hosting the Song For Europe contest that year with Cliff Richard in her BBC TV Show Cilla and Cliff ended up with Congratulations and a 2nd place in the London Eurovision.
I Can't Go On Living Without You
In 1969 it was Lulu's turn to do A Song For Europe. One of the six songs she performed was I Can't Go On Living Without You written by then little known songwriter duo Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Hard to believe now, but the song came last.
Cilla Black recorded the song for her LP Sweet Inspiration (1970) and it was released as a single in Venezuela, New Zealand and as a b-side in Japan.
Here's a lovely videoclip of Piove by Diodato, the 2020 Eurovision singer for Italy.
Piove a.k.a. Ciao Ciao Bambina was 2nd the Sanremo winner for Domenico Modugno and also his 2nd Eurovision entry. The song ended (only) 6th in the contest and was another worldwide hit after the Grammy winning 1958 entry Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare).
Diodato's Piove is taken from the 2014 album A Ritrovar Bellezza including coverversions of several Sanremo and other Italian classics.
Diodato will perform Fai Rumore in the Rotterdam contest. You can read all about that and full Sanremo 2020 release stuff and more Diodato info here at the Rotterdam Collection.
40 years ago the Eurovision Song Contest was held in The Hague, Netherlands. Not because the Dutch had won but because Israel ran out of steam after two victories.
The Dutch entry, Amsterdam by Maggie MacNeal did well and ended 5th.
On the "Is it a classic meter" it scores about 8 I guess, it's one of those tunes many people can still sing along to after 40 years.
It has been covered a few times and remarkably half of those are in Finnish.
Here's one I didn't know about yet even though it's almost 20 years old.
Gerardo Rosales a.k.a. Señor Tambo is from Venezuela but he moved to the Netherlands in 1993.
He has recorded over 20 albums and worked as a percussionist for many artists and orchestras. Live and in the studio.
This track is from the CD La Salsa Es Mi Vida which was recorded in New York and released on the Dutch Jazz label Javaanse Jongens Tracks in 2001. (and even on SACD, I know some of you like that)
Vocals are by Astrid "La Holandesa" (Astrid Pulles)
It's a Salsa style Amsterdam for the dancefloor and I love it and so will you.
Italian coverversion of the first Dutch winner Net Als Toen by Corry Brokken (1957)
Originally released on a 78rpm (La Voce Del Padrone HN 3821)
Cristina Jorio only uses the refrain for her version, which is repeated as an instrumental part before she sings it again.
Find about more about the original song and singer Corry Brokken here at Eurocovers.
The updated 2016 post includes release info on Corry Brokken's own versions and a list of coverversions.
Udo Jürgens
would have been 85 last month. But he died. Five years ago.
He’s
probably the most prolific songwriter ever to appear on the Eurovision stage. He
wrote about a 1000 songs, sold 100 million records and represented his home
country Austria three times at the Eurovision Song Contest. The 3rd time
he won, with Merci Cherie (1966).
It is said
that even Sir Elton John has expressed his envy toward Jürgens’ songwriting
talent.
In 2007 his
songs were forged into a musical Ich War Noch Niemals In New York and your
Eurocovers wrote a bit about that here.
Now there’s
a movie of the musical, again drenched in Udo’s music. Ich War Noch Niemals In
New York the Movie is in German and now playing in theaters in Germany,
Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
The Philip
Stölzi directed movie stars Heike Makatsch, Moritz Bleibtreu, Katharina
Thalbach, Uwe Ochsenknecht, Michael Ostrowski, Pasquale Aleardi, Marlon
Schramm and Mat Schuh.
Reviews are mixed, from raving to raging.
I
haven’t seen it but I can’t wait for the DVD with subtitles (expected in June
2020, also on Blu Ray if you're into that).
The
Soundtrack
One Eurovision song made it to the film, Merci Cherie is performed by the ever gorgeous Moritz Bleibtreu. (but a very short version at 1.38).
The music
from the film is out on CD and deluxe 3CD set. Disc one has the songs from the
movie, the bonus discs have all kinds of tributes and coverversions featuring
artists like Pepe Lienhards orchestra (Jürgens’ touring band leader for 37
years!), Matt Monro (the amazing If I Never Sing Another Song), Nana Mouskouri, Heino, Caterina Valente, Milva and many
more. (see image below for tracklist)
Digital?, not so much, it seems Spotify doesn't want us outside the German speaking countries to hear it. Same for Apple music, maybe iTunes has it but it doesn't show up here.
You can find out about Udo Jürgens Eurovision entries and their versions on page three and four of the Eurovision Collectors Guide (via our facebook page, open to all).
Here's an older post that's popular again right now, so, worth moving it up. Did a bit of an update too, still completely and utterly awesome.
After Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son and L'Amour Est Bleu I really hope the band someday will discover the Gainsbourg Genius that is Boum Bada Boum by Minouche Barrelli.
(From 2012) Here's something completely and utterly awesome. Swedish Symphonic metal band Therion, formerly known as Megatherion, have released their 15th(!) album and it's a collection of French 60's and 70's songs including some well known classics (and quite a few obscure gems). The classiest of classics is of course Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son*.
The album is out in October 2012 and is titled Les Fleurs Du Mal (The flowers of evil).
There are two versions of the 1965 Eurovision classic on the CD along with unforgettables like La Maritza (Sylvie Vartan), Polichinelle (Another France Gall hit), Initials B.B. (Serge Gainsbourg) and Les Sucettes (One of the biggest hits for the Gall/Gainsbourg Tandem)**.
See below for the full tracklist and details on the singers who originally recorded the songs.
You can buy the album (and the 2016 EP below) through the Therion website here.
Therium founder Christofer Johnsson is taking a massive risk with this unusual clash of Metal, Opera and YèYe album by financing the project himself, so please support them and Buy It.
2016 update
Therion have also tackled L'Amour Est Bleu (Love is blue), the 1967 entry by Vicky Leandros.
It's on the EP Les Épaves, which was recorded in 2012, so I guess the tracks just didn't make it to the Fleurs album. But the tracks don't sound like leftovers. Go find it in you favorite record store or digitessen.
There are two versions of Vicky's Eurovision classic on the EP. Les Épaves was also released on limited edition vinyl 10 inch and cdsingle. Tracklist below. ---------- ----------
* You know by know: Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son is the 1965 Eurovision winner for Luxembourg performed by France Gall and written by Serge Gainsbourg ** Only the version of the album sold at the live shows and the Japanese edition have the bonus track Les Sucettes. - Thank you Gabriel, see comments
Therion website, Facebook
Also check out Lori Lewis (Therion singer) website.
And ABBA fans: here's a video of Therions take on Summer Night City from their 2001 album Secret Of The Runes. Special thanks to Olaf and Gabriel. Please see comments.
Les Tracks
Here’s the full tracklist
of the Les Fleurs Du Mal album. I did some digging on the net and found
most of the original singers.
1. Poupée De Cire,
Poupée The Son (France Gall, 1965)
2. Une Fleur Dans Le
Coeur (Victoire Scott, 1968)
3. Initials B.B (Serge Gainsborg, 1968)
- Of course the B.B. initials stand for Brigitte Bardot
4. Mon Amour, Mon
Ami (Marie Laforet, 1967)
- Written by legendary Eurovision winning songsmiths André Popp and Claude Marnay.
5. Polichinelle (France
Gall, 1967)
6. La Maritza
(Sylvie Vartan, 1968)
7. Soeur Angelique
(Annie Philippe, 1966)
8. Dis-Moi Poupée
(Isabelle, 1967)
9. Lilith (Léonie, 1972) - see comments, thank you Fabio
10. En Alabama
(Léonie, 1971)
11. Wahala Manitou
(Léonie, 1971)
- Both Leonie
tracks originally appeared on the same single. Source : discogs
12. Je N'ai Besoin
Que De Tendresse (Claire Dixon, 1967)
13. La Licorne D'or
(Victoire Scott, 1968)
14. J'ai Le Mal De
Toi (Betty Mars, 1974)
- Betty Mars is the French 1972 Eurovision singer. - This J'ai Le Mal De Toi is not the 1964 Colette Dereal song.
15. Poupée De Cire,
Poupée The Son
16. Les Sucettes (France
Gall, 1966)
Sources :Discogs,
Youtube and record collection of yours truly. Les Épaves
1. L'amour est
bleu (heavy version) (Vicky Leandros cover)
2. Nous ne sommes
pas des anges (France Gall cover) 3. La fermeture
éclair (Delphine cover) 4. Ah-Hem-Ho-Hu-Err
(Christine Pilzer cover) 5. L'amour est bleu
(mellow version) (Vicky Leandros cover)
