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.
Sad news
from the Netherlands, Corry Brokken, legendary singer and Eurovision star has
died at the age of 83.
Corry Brokken won the 2nd ever Eurovision Song Contest with her song Net Als Toen (Just like old times). She participated in 1956 with Voorgoed Voorbij (Over forever) and in 1958 with Heel De Wereld (The whole wide world).
In 1976 she was the host of the contest in The Hague. I remember she congratulated the winners as Happy England, and nobody complained...
Corry
Brokkens career started in the early 50’s, when she performed on many Dutch
radio shows. Eurovision followed three times but it was in the early sixties she
scored her biggest hits, Milord (The Edith Piaf song), Mijn Ideaal (Tu Te
Laisses Aller) and La
Mamma (both Charles Azanavour songs). She also recorded many songs in German and frequented many German TV shows in the 60's.
Corry Brokken continued recording critically acclaimed albums up to the mid 70’s.
After she was finished with music Brokken started a career in law at the age of 42, resulting in becoming a judge in 1991.
But music remained a part of her life, and following the success of the 1994 compilation a new album Nooit Gedacht (Never thought) was released in 1996.
Brokken disappeared from public life in 2008 after serious health issues.
Corry Brokken Eurovision discography.
1956 Voorgoed Voorbij
Each
country had two songs in the first Eurovision song contest. The second song for
the Netherlands was Voorgoed Voorbij by Corry Brokken. The song was never
released. Update 2017: A new 3CD titled Milord has been released featuring 75 tracks. It includes Voorgoed Voorbij for the first time on any record. The recording sounds like it's the Eurovision recording (it has the same arrangement and vocals) but it's remastered/patched up very well, sounding like a studio recording.
Corry’s
National Final songs from the same year, Ik Zei Ja (I said yes), De Telefoon
(The telephone) and ‘t Is Lente (It’s Springtime) were never released either.
She also
performed (and maybe even recorded?) Dutch and French versions of Refrain, Lys
Assia’s winning song.
1957 Net als toen
Corry
Brokkens second Eurovision appearance resulted in victory, she gathered 31
points, leaving France in second place with 17.
In the
National Final Corry also ended second with Iwan, (a.k.a. De Messenwerper, The
knife thrower). This was released as a b-side to Fascination (Philips 317 799
PF)
Net Als Toen, Ronnex single
Net Als Toen 1982 re-issue
Net als toen (Dutch version)
- single
Ronnex 1957x45, EP: Ronnex 008x45, 78RPM
Ronnex 5076, all made in Belgium, but released in the Netherlands.
- there’s
also a rare Dutch Philips issue, but I don’t have details. - The Ronnex single was re-issued in 1982
Damals war
alles so schön (German)
- single: Philips
317 797 PF (Netherlands), also on 78rpm from Germany. (Philips P
17797 H)
- the
German version is only 1:47 mins long, a long German version is supposed to
exist, but I’ve never seen or heard it.
Tout comme avant (French)
- on 1958 EP, see below
Net als toen (live in 1999)
- on AIDS charity concert CD Amsterdaverend (TMD Records BMG
731972).
Dutch Edition Dors Mon Amour EP
1958 Heel
De Wereld
The third
and last Eurovision adventure didn’t fare too well for Corry. Her Heel De
Wereld finished (shared) last.
In the
National Final she again finished first and second, the second song Weet Je (Do
you know) was released on the b-side of Heel De Wereld.
She also
recorded a coverversion of Goedenacht Marjolein, the song that ended 4th
in the Dutch final (sung by Bruce Low). Brokkens version ended up as the b-side
to her 1966 single Zo Gaat Het Met Meisjes Altijd (That’s how it goes with girls) (Philips JF 327 979)
French edition Dors Mon Amour EP
Heel De Wereld (Dutch)
- single Philips
318 078 PF
Toi, mon coeur tu
sais (French)
- EP Philips 422.257 PE
The 1957 and
1958 French versions can be found on the Corry Brokken EP Dors Mon Amour (A
cover of the 1958 French winner).
Both French and Dutch editions have the same label number
but different picture sleeves. 1959
In 1959 Corry Brokken entered the Dutch National Final again. Duet Mijn hart En Ik (My Heart And I, with
Bruce Low) finished third, Iedere Dag Met Jou (Every day with you) finished 4th
.
Neither
were released by Corry Brokken.
Eurocovers
1958 Dors Mon
Amour - André Claveau (France, 1st place)
Two CDs with
her German recordings were issued in 1995 by the specialist label Bear Family (Milord
and La Mamma).
A third Bear Family release, Die Ronnex Aufnamen, feature songs
up to 1957 in German, English and Dutch and includes some previously unreleased tracks.
In 2000 a DVD Een Avond Uit Met Corry Brokken -Gouden Jaren was released featuring TV performances including Eurovision footage. Other compilations are Corry Brokken: De Keuze van Annie De Reuver (Nostalgisch Nederland, 2009) and Milord (Dutch songs) (Rotation, 2003)
France 1965 cover in German
Coverversions Net Als Toen (Updated 2020)
Ted de Braak (Dutch, in medley)
- LP Ted de Braak zingt van toen (Ariola 206 366)
Dolf Brouwers (a.k.a Sjef van Oekel, Dutch, in medley)
- LP Specialiteiten van de Sjef (Ariola 202 757)
André van
Duin (Dutch, in medley)
- LP An'dre André
NL Pop koor Vocal Society
(medley with Weet je + De warmte
van je hart (pre-songs))
- CD (VCD 199225)
Zangeres zonder naam (in Medley)
- LP 30 juweeltjes uit
45 jaar (1979) (EMI Bovema 058-26361, 1979)
Margot
Eskens - Damals war alles so schön (German)
- 7" b-side
to Auf der grossen Himmelstrasse (Polydor 23460)
Barbara Kist - Damals war alles so schön (German) - CD 50 grosse
Erfolge, recording from 50’s or 60’s, details wanted Cristina
Jorio - Come una volta (Italian)
- 78rpm
b-side (La voce del padrone HN
3822)
Licia
Morosini - Come una volta (Italian)
- 78rpm (Fonit
15735)
Van Wood
Quartet - Net als toen (Come una volta) (italian or instrumental?)
- 78rpm
b-side (Fonit 82507)
Peter Van Wood (1927-2010) was a Dutchman living and working in Italy in the 50s, his nickname is L’Olandese
Volante (The flying Dutchman)
Gunnar Thim
- Säg att jag drömt (Swedish)
- EP (Odeon
GEOS 71)
Birthe
Wilke - Vær som du var (Danish)
- EP (Philips
EP 421197 PE)
Kalevi
Tauru - Oispa unta se vain (Finnish)
- 7" / 78rpm (Triola
ts 356 and 78" RPM Triola t 4356 rel in 1958)
Benny Behr & Sem Nijveen (violin) - in medley (Instrumental)
- LP 40 jaar Stemra (Various artists) (Conamus COS 009)
- Sem Nijveen is the original violinist on Brokkens own
version of Net Als Toen
Jan
Corduwener (Instrumental in medley)
- EP (Philips
317765 PF)
De
Fellowfoons (Instrumental)
- 7" (Fellowfoon
FF 104)
Benoît
Kaufman (Instrumental)
- CD
Stef Meeder
(Organ instrumental in medley)
- CD 100
Hollandse Hits (1994) (Arcade CD 01.9350.6, 1994)
Jan Menu & Jasper Soffers (Jazz instrumental)
CD Dutch Songbook (Dig Diz Music, 2010)
Joris
Verlinde (Accordion instrumental
- LP Accordion
Festival (Interdisc 10022)
Coverversions Heel De Wereld
Joke Bruis,
Dick Doorn & Dick Rienstra (Dutch in medley)
ABBA, remember them? I guess you do.
Jazz singer Judith Nijland has just released an album with ABBA hits revamped into some delicious Jazz tunes.
There's shoobie doo wah swingy Jazz (I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do is Fab! ), some Samba and others are more smoky cocktail bar exercises.
I am a complete ignorant when it concerns jazz terminology, so I suggest you just have a listen (see links below).
The album A Jazz Tribute To ABBA features classics like Waterloo, I Have A Dream, Thank You For The Music, etc., twelve classic ABBA songs are there. Voulez-Vous gets a makeover in French, oui, Waterloo and One Of Us feature tenor saxist Yuri Honing, fan and no stranger to the ABBA cover himself (he recorded Waterloo for his 1996 Startrax album).
ABBA's 42 year old Waterloo single, NL edition.
The Judith Nijland album is out on iTunes, don't know about all territories though.
The CD word is mentioned at the website, but I haven't seen a physical release yet.
I'll keep you posted.
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).
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)
- 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
Tonight is the night. The 57th Eurovision final starts at, 24.00 local Baku time. 21.00 CET. My country didn't make it to the final for the 8th time in a row, which must be some sort of record.
We're used to it, sad, but we'll be having big fun anyway.
Update: It's done, What's Another Year and all that. I'll leave most of the pre-contest text here, with the additions from the day after below
And special congrats to Malta's Kurt Calleja for being so lovely and fun and making it to the final and to Albania's Rona for being such a stunning singer.
And final break a leg to wonderful legend Engelbert Humperdinck who has the ghastly task to open the contest, but can take a nap during the other performances.
Oh and Jedward are probably the nicest blokes in the world.
If you're not in Eurovision TV world you can follow the show here: Eurovision TV (Update: now the adress for re-watching!) Songfestival NL - also have a second screen
If you want to have a quick info-check of all entries from the final check them out at The Baku Collection:
Some Eurocovers posts feature: Anggun (France), Engelbert Humperdinck, Soluna Samay (Denmark), Trackshittaz and Jedward (Ireland).
And already some of the 2012 entries have been covered. Find out more here at Eurocovers.
Update: And this is what happened:
Latest updated: Sweden - Wins Eurovision 2012: Euphoria! for Loreen International hit, cds out now, remixes, Acoustic and Dansband Schlager coverversions Russia - Runner Up: Baku Babushka's win second semi, 10! Party versions of For Everybody released Serbia - 3rd place forŽeljko JoksimovićNije Ljubav Stvar, Download Spanish, Symphonic and new Trubači version Azerbaijan - 4th: Sabina Babayeva, remixes, New ethnic version, Remix competition winner, new Jazz version Albania - Best ever result for Albania:Rona Nishliu, New Suus, English version Estonia - 6th: Ott Lepland sings Kuula. English, Spanish and Russian versions, cdsingle Turkey - 7th: Can Bonomo Loves Us Back, promo update Germany - 8th: Roman Lob cds, new website, album out now Italy - 9th Nina Zilli, L'Amore È Femmina (Out Of Love) Spain - 10th Pastora Soler, digital EP, Quedate Conmigo. stunning coverversion, best result since 2004. 11 to 26: Moldova - Pasha Parfeny, Trumpet out for the girls Romania - Mandinga cds, pick up Club De Mandinga CD with Libertatea mag, tracklist CD Macedonia - KaliopiCrno i Belo, download Russian version Lithuania - WellDonny! Love Is Blind, Another version (French) and debut album tracklist, updates. Ukraine - Gaitana Be her guest to download, Special edition album details Cyprus - La La Love for Ivi Adamou, Euro Edition CD, remix, Kids: books are important Greece - Eleftheria EleftheriouAphrodisiac promo and cdsingle info. Bosnia Hercegovina - Maya Sar Korake Ti Znam. Italian, English versions, promo update Ireland - Jedward II cdsingle, Watershedline, Young Love in June. Iceland - Greta and Jónsi digital EP release Malta - What A (semi) Night for Kurt Calleja, cdsingle and new mixes France - Anggun updates, cds, duet versions Denmark - Soluna Samay, Around the world, Best Of the old stuff release Hungary - Compact Disco, 10 versions of SOOH, cdsingle United Kingdom- Engelbert Humperdinck,cdsingle Out Now!, Autobiography: What's in a name? Norway - Tooji wins battle with Sofi but tails at ESC final , Acoustic version released, coverversion, updates
Stranded in the 2nd semi: Bulgaria - Sofi Marinova just misses the final, download song, promo updates Croatia - Nina Badric Nebo remixes, cdsingle, Remix competition Portugal - Festival da Canção, CD! digital single for Filipa Sousa, promo Georgia - Anri Joxadze, no final for The Joker The Netherlands - Joan packs her feather, Dreamcatcher! #1 hit, promo updates Belarus - Litesound Heroes go home empty handed. Listen to new version and remixes. Slovenia - Eva Boto. EMA CD, versions update, cdsingle Slovakia - Miro Šmajda a.k.a. Max Jason Mai to Baku, Don't Close Your Eyes
Stranded in the 1st semi Switzerland - Unbreakable, CD info, Sinplus, 7th Heaven remix, 11th in semi Finland - UMK CD out now, Pernilla back to the handball competition Israel - Izabo to Baku, versions update, Album details, Time to go San Marino - Valentina Monetta Stock Exchange, 17 versions and counting, Social Network Song and the F-word song. MontenegroRambo Amadeus Not Last!' Brain Awareness, download Latvia - New Beautiful Song for Anmary, cdsingle promo updates Belgium - Iris' Would You cdsingle and album Seventeen Austria - Trackshittaz backside closes rear, cds out now, listen to the remixes And some other bits and pieces
Jazz. Many Eurovision songs have been given the jazz treatment over the decades and this week a new CD has been released with two Eurovision songs in a jazz makeover.
Jan Menu and Jasper Soffers have collected ten more or less classic Dutch songs on their Dutch Songboog (Dig Diz Music).
There's the first Dutch winner Net Als Toen (Corry Brokken 1957) but a more remarkable choice is Wat Een Dag from 1961.
Original singer Greetje Kauffeld, a commended jazz singer herself, didn't release the song back in 1961 and the only coverversions I know are at least 40 years old. Wat Een Dag was written by Dick Schallies with original lyrics by Pieter Goemans.
So well done gentlemen, for digging this little gem up.
The 'Dutch Songbook' quartet are
Jan Menu (Baritone sax)
Jasper Soffers (Piano)
Clemens van der Feen (Bass)
Hans van Oosterhout (Drums)
Wat Een Dag known coverversions:
Eddy Doorenbos
- on 7" (Delta DS 1001, 1961)
Letty De Jong
- on LP 14 Jaar Songfestival (Various artists, Philips 1970)
Peter Kreuder (Piano instrumental)
- on LP Piano Parade (Concert Hall SVS 2575, 1961)
The Divine Comedy
British band The Divine Comedy released their 10th album Bang Goes The Knighthood two months ago. It's worth checking out the limited edition of the album which includes an extra disc (if you can still find it).
The bonus cd Live at Cité de la Musique, Paris, features nine mostly French tracks.
Next to classics like Brels Amsterdam and Vanessa Paradis' Joe Le Taxi there are two Eurocovers: L'Amour Est Bleu and Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son, both songs need no further explanation methinks.
(Divine Comedy Records DCRL101DCD)
Kirkorov
Russian Eurovision singer and multi Eurocoverer Philippe Kirkorov (Фили́пп Кирко́ров) has recorded a version of the Swedish 2009 entry La Voix (Malena Ernman) He teams up with soprano Anna Netrebko (Анна Нетребко) for the quasi classical pop ditty and if you visit his website the song starts playing.
More Kirkorov Eurocovers in this post.
The russian version is titled Голос, but an English version is also recorded
Portugal Discographies
An highly recommended website for Portugal Eurovision history fans can be found at this Portuguese music history site.
The pages Os Reis Do Vinyl feature several interesting pages.
There are some very extended discographies with delicious picture sleeves including Eurovision legends Madalena Iglesias, António Calvario and Simone De Oliveira.
You will find their Eurovision sleeves and many of their Eurocovers.
You can also read about the Festival Da Canção Portuguesa before the country made its debut at Eurovision in 1964.
Lots of info new to me, there was already talk of a Eurovision appearance since 1961 (They finally made their debut in 1964). Really wonderful browsing.
I used google translate to navigate the site in English, but you'll get some funny translations. Antonio Calvario translates as Butch Moore, Madalena Iglesians becomes Dickie Rock and Maria Marize becomes Queen Mary. But it helps anyway.
Esta Balada Que Te Dou
To stick to the subject of Portugal, here is a great coverversion of the 1983 entry Esta Balada Que Te Dou (Armando Gama) .
This version by Os Pontos Negros was recorded last year for a Radio station and appeared on a compilation issued by Radio Antena 3: 3 pisata vol. 2.
I don't think it was released on a Pontos Negros record. Their 3rd CD Pequeno-Almoço Continental is out on Universal since last April
Esta Balada is a bit alternative (The Pontos are cited to be inspired by The White Stripes) and it's certainly a long way away from the sugar coated original, but it keeps the melancholy madrugada-feeling perfectly in tact.
If you want to hear a version of Esta Balada Que Te Dou a bit closer to Armando Gama's version there's a new recording by Marcelo Costa. His CD Marcelo Costa is out on Sony since april. It's available through most digital outlets. You can listen to Marcelo's Balada at his MySpace playlist.
And here's a bit of interesting trivia for the die hards. Esta Balada Que Te Dou broke the Eurovision rules back in 1983. Armando Gama had already released a version of the song on his 1982 LP Quase Tudo (RT records RT 10021). At the time the rules about songs being previously released were even stricter than today, but it seems nobody noticed and Gama got away with it. Esta Balada was the 5th Portuguese entry to end 13th at the contest.
More Portuguese Eurovision entries are covered on an eponymous album by Sons Do Tejo (Espacial records). The album includes Menina Do Alto da Serra (1970 originally by Tonicha) and Desfolhada Portuguesa (1969 by Simone de Oliveira).
You can listen to Menina at their MySpace along with some other tracks from the CD.
The album is available at most digital outlets. The CD is at CD.GO.
Jørgen Ingmann and poets
Mikael sent me this bit of info on an unusual version of Dansevise, the first Danish Eurovision winner.
The CD Jørgen Ingmann Og Digterne is a collection of tracks by Ingmann on guitar accompanied by poets who recite the lyrics of the songs. Dansevise is recited by Marianne Gerner over what is probably a 1976 instrumental recording of the song by Ingmann.
The CD comes with a book and is available in the Danish bookshops (Forlaget Vandkunsten ISBN 9788776951092, 2009). Read more (in Danish) at Forlaget Vandkunsten.
Ingmann is of course an acclaimed guitarist with several worldwide solo hits in the 60's (He scored a US #1 with the Shadows Apache). He was joined by his wife Grethe (1939 - 1990) for many singles including their Eurovision win in 1963.
And you can still check out the duo's sensational Winners and Losers coverversions LP feature in the second Eurocovers post ever.
Made In China
A 2009 CD by The Fake Orchestra - Made In China, is actually not fake, and not made in China, but the orchestra is from Slovenia. The jazz album features one Eurocover: Ne Prizigaj Luci V Temi which is a Slovenian version of Ne Pali Svjetla U Sumrak, the Yugoslavian entry from 1962, originally performed by Lola Novaković. The fakers have a MySpace, but sadly it doesn't feature the Eurocover. Excerpts are at Sternsmusic.
Elda Viler
Some more anoraky bits here: Yugoslavia's first two entries (including Ne Pali Svjetla U Sumrak) were actually submitted to the Yugoslavian selection by TV Ljubljana (Slovenian TV), but they had to be performed in Serbo-Croat in the selection and subsequently at Eurovision. The first time an entry sung in Slovenian entered Eurovision was in 1966 (Brez Besed by Berta Ambrož). Of the first ten Yugoslavian entries five were submitted by TV Ljubljana. Of the 17 entries that followed only one came from Slovenia.
Slovenian jazz legend Elda Viler popularized Ne Prizigaj Luci V Temi (in Slovenian) in the 70's. The clip below is a live recording from 2009 with the Goriski Pihalni Orkester (loving the outfits guys).
Eurocovers has not fully collapsed yet under the heat, but lazyness prevents indepth analysis of the high standards you are used to from yours truly. I didn't even tie in with the footie and the vuvuzela madness, for which you probably are thankful
But here's some found food and bits and pieces people have been sending.
Perla
Remember Perla? In this Eurocovers post (UPDATED in 2021) you can read all about the beautiful Brasilian pop singer and her covers of your favorite Eurovision songs. There was one version missing which now can be found in this YouTube. It's the Spanish language version of Mia Martini's 1977 entry Libera.
It's one of 90 Perla songs you can listen to on the Perla Radio Youtube channel. Thank you Perla Radio!
Leon Calvert
Easy listening blog Detour features an LP Captivation by Noel Trevlac including an instrumental version of Puppet On A String. Not only is this a must hear track because it is exceptionally good, it's also interesting because Mr. Trevlac is actually Leon Calvert, acclaimed British jazz trumpeteer who probably didn't want to have his name attached to some cheap covers LP. But the quality of the arrangement and the trumpetering betrays him. Thank You Detour Blog!
South Africa
Music news from South Africa is a bit slow at the moment. Several Eurocovers are on the brink of release (or not, as postponing is the word of the day). You can find one little teaser for a forthcoming release at the Jasmyn website.
You can hear a part of Iemand Soos Jy, a coverversion of the ill fated Barbara Dex song that ended last in 1993. Jasmyn will also have two other Eurocovers on her album, but there's not much info on her website yet.
Another anticipated but overdue album is Die Enigste Manier (The only way) by Lee Scott (of Hi-5). It includes Wonderland, an Afrikaans version of Fairytale, last years winner and Wens Ek Kon (2009 runner up Is It True? from Iceland). You can listen to excerpts from the album tracks including the Eurocovers at the Lee Scott website. update: There's also a cover of Chiara's Malta 2009 song titled Vandag. Moniqe Foxx tackles the forgotten Malta entry Believe 'n' Peace by Times 3 (1999) as Ek Glo for her new album.(very short clip at the Moniqe Foxx website). The album will also include a version of Secret Combination (Greece 2008). The album will be out on Markon records. Lea Le Roux covers the luscious Andorran 2009 entry La Teva Decisio (Susanna Georgi) as Ek Es Gereed on her album due in november. (small clip at Rea Le Roux website).
A lot of small excerpts which are of course useless to the Eurovers fan, so I'm pleased to end this shortlist of Afrikaans covers with two full versions:
It's Henk Grimsell with his interpretation of Soraya's La Noche Es Para Mi (Spain 2009). The song is titled Vanaand Is Net Vir My from his new album Dis Tyd (Southern Buzz records). And the girls love him!
South African Bachelor Of The Year Stefan Ludik also has an album out. Burn This Town is out on CD in South Africa and also digitally available at Play.com, We7 and MusicMe. It has one Eurocover, Lose Control, last years clubby Finnish entry by Waldo's People. It's in English and a bit louder than the original.
At MusicMe you can listen to the full tracks of the album.
Totally Off Topic Extra Bit Of Afrikaans Info Cooler As Ekke by Jack Sparow is heading for a massive hit in the Netherlands. It's a soft hippy hoppy track of which I don't understand a word (maybe just as well) but it can be considered quite cool in a Borat kind of way. It's the first Afrikaans language hit in the Netherlands since Thembi took a medley of discofied Afrikaans folksongs to the top 10 in 1976. (Take Me Back To The Old Transvaal)
2010 coverversions
Currently at #4 in the German charts is Schland O Schland by Uwu Lena. The football hymne to the tune of Lena's 2010 Eurovision winner Satellite was released on cdsingle after some initial hesitation. The number 4 is a lucky number for the Germans. #1 next week?. (update: erm, no , #5)
There's also a Finnish version of Satellite, it's called Kiertokuu by Charlotte Kero.
Read more about all the Satellite Eurocovers at Lena's page at the Oslo Collection. More news on the Keistad Street Organ CD (with a cover of the Dutch entry) can be found at the Oslo Collection Sieneke page.
More Mostly Off Topic Great News Samantha 'Touch Me' Fox and Sabrina 'Boys Boys Boys' Salerno have teamed up for an ace coverversion of Blondie's Call Me(Youtube). Welcome back girls, the world just wasn't the same without you.
The cdsingle is only released in Italy so far, but the digital release is widely available. I bought my cdsingle at favorite shop Juno, who also stock a picture disc 12" inch.
Sam Fox's old band Sox once tried to go to Eurovision with Go For The Heart, but they ended 4th and Love City Groove went on to the contest somewhere in Ireland.
O Vento Mudou - UHF
After all that schlager and pop it's time for a bit of Rawk. Portuguese rockers UHF have recorded the Portuguese 1967 entry O Vento Mudou (Eduardo Nascimento) for their new album. And it's great!
You can listen to the song at the UHF MySpace . Thanks Ed!
Perdon Cariño Mio
Two versions of the Italian 1971 entry L'Amore è Un Attimo can be found at the website of Pino Lucciano. One in Spanish (Perdon...) and one in Italian. Eurocovers loves that song, so that's why it's here. There's also a version of Volare if you scroll down a bit on the site.
Another Tex Mex version of the song by Los Reyes Del Camino can be found in this Eurocovers post from 2007.
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.
