OST : Possible ( เก๋า เก๋า ) - aibaa aibee aiboo aibee

Here's a video clip from last years The Possible post with the Thai version of the 1978 Eurovision winner A Ba Ni Bi (Izhar Cohen). Now try and sing along

Toldy Mária -Viaszbaba - Poupée de cire, poupée de son

Hungarian coverversion of the France Gall classic (Luxembourg 1965 winner written by Serge Gainsbourg)

2008: Anno Domenico - Jane Morgan

Selecting coverversions for Anno Domenico, the Volare year, isn't an easy task. Hearing the same song over and over again should come with a health warning. There's some hundreds lined up for re-listening and then I always like to find out some more about the artist and before I know it another few hours of my life have been whiled away on the world wide web trying to read languages I don't speak and decypher scripts I can't read . But I often end up concluding that most of the great and interesting Volares are made in America. Crooners, Moviestars and Blonde Bombshells with gorgeous picture sleeves do it for me all the time and so here's another one from that category.
And it's by an American singer who has some more Eurocovers to her name, so that's a bonus for all to be enjoyed.

Jane Morgan
Jane Morgan is an American singer born in 1924 whose first big hit was Fascination in 1957. The song, originally a French toujour-vert from 1932, featured in the Billy Wilder movie Love In The Afternoon (with Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper, Maurice Chevalier) and became a top 10 hit for Jane Morgan in the U.S.. The follow up hit The Day The Rains Came (Gilbert Becauds Le Jour Où La Pluie Viendra) ended just outside the top 20 in the States but was a #1 hit in the U.K.
Her fondness for reworking French classics is no surprise as her career started out in France where she toured and worked for four years prior to her American breakthrough.

The 1958 LP The Day The Rains Came (KAPP records KL - 1105) includes Jane Morgans version of Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare). A adequate version laced with sugary violins, sung in Italian and English.

The 2nd Eurocover Jane Morgan recorded was an English version of Romantica, the Italian entry from 1960 (6th place, originally by Renato Rascel). A much better effort than Volare with a wonderful orchestral arrangement. She even took the song to the UK charts (39/5) (UK single: London HLR 9120). It has also appeared on various Jane Morgan LP's.



Udo Jürgens' Walk Away (Warum Nur Warum, Austria 1964, 6th) (Extensively featured in this Eurocovers post) was the third Euro-classic on Morgans repertoire. The song was released on her 1969 LP Traces Of Love (RCA 4171).

But it's a less known song which is my top favourite from the Jane Morgan Eurocovers collection.


My Poor Heart Feels Like Breaking
The opening line of the debut entry for Ireland in 1965, Walking The Streets In The Rain by Butch Moore (what's in a name). It describes the sentiment of the indeed heartbreaking tale about rain and tears and streets very well. The Streets became a blueprint for many Irish entries to follow and it's one of the saddest songs in anyones Eurovision collection.
The song ended 6th in Eurovision and was an Irish #1 for the original singer, but it has only been covered a few times.
Jane Morgans version with the appropriate rain-droppy violin intro was released in 1965 on the EP Maybe (Epic 9008, Portuguese edition pictured above) and on her LP Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (Epic LN 24247). In the UK it was a b-side to the Maybe single (Columbia).

There have been several compilation CDs with Jane Morgans hits, but I haven't found a CD with any of the Eurovision covers.

Source: An extensive Jane Morgan biography is here at E-notes.



2008: Anno Domenico is a tribute to Domenico Modugno's Eurovision classic Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) which conquered the world 50 years ago. Eurocovers highlights half a century of remarkable coverversions of the Italian evergreen. Other American Volares already featured are by Doo-wop stars The Platters, gay basher Anita Bryant, James Dean love interest Pier Angeli, Box Tops hero Alex Chilton, Disco Crooner Al Martino, soul singer Jesse Belvin and from last year Jazz Legend Ella Fitzgerald.
And with this search link you'll get all the Volare posts.

Blog Tip: Merci Cherie - Mrs Caroline Robinson

So Oranje won't see Austria. I know Guus Hiddink is on a crash course to world domination but I had hoped he was saving it for South Africa's world cup in 2010. But he just had to destroy the Dutch team, brutally chopped off the hand that fed him etcetera. Anyway, good luck to the sweet boys of Russia, hope you'll win the whole blody thing now.

Blog Tip - Merci Cherie
Euro2008 co-host Austria opted out of Eurovision for 2008, but 30 years ago they had Mrs. Caroline Robinson by Springtime. A Eurovision entry so corny you'd almost think it was British. So now go to the Merci Cherie blog where a great Italian coverversion of the song is featured. It's by Corrado (who he?) and it's in this Merci Cherie Post.


Some More News Bits

Patricia Lewis, Queen of South African Eurovision premiered some songs of her forthcoming CD in a live show. The songs included Hero (Sweden 2008), Empty Room (Swedens # 2 in the national selection of 2008) both in English. But the prize song has to be Ek Sal Altyd Vir Jou Lewe, which is an Afrikaans version of Live Forever, Magnificent Magnus Carlssons 2007 Swedish preselection song that didn't make it to Eurovision but was one of the biggest Melodifestivalen hits of the year.
Special thanks to Roy, More Patricia Lewis in this Eurocovers post.

For Real, the cool ska punk Eurovision entry by Athena (for Turkey, 4th in 2004) has received the dubious honour of being covered by Jochem van Gelder, Dutch kiddy TV host. His version is called Kamelentrein (Camel train). As kids are considered stupid but rich by the music industry it's lame and nothing is left of the greatness of the original.

You can see the Video at Jochem's website. The original is at this YouTube.

I got the news from: http://songfestival.web-log.nl

Rendez-Vous in Belgium
Belgium's premier alternative radio station Studio Brussel (StuBru) celebrates their 25th anniversary with a coverversions CD. The best and others from Belgiums alternative music scene each cover a song for each year that StuBru has been on air. The Album is titled Rendez-Vous, which is the song by Pas De Deux that almost divided Belgium after is was chosen as the Eurovision entry for München (1983). The new wave band presented a minimal song with just one line of silly lyrics and an even more silly dance routine and the country was in a state of shock.

The song is still one of the best Belgium ever sent (IMHO) and you can see the original Youtube here, booing included.

The StuBru CD features the Eurovision classic in a new version by the equally great Vive La Fête. Full tracklist of the StuBru CD is here.
(sources: http://www.eurosong.be/, VRT StuBru)

Totally Off-Topic Blog Tips
I'm having great fun with a Czech coverversion of The Best Disco In Town (Ritchie Family hit from the late 70's) Žiješ v éře diskoték by Bezinky & Pražské smyčce. It's featured at the one and only Funky Czech-In.
And Global Vintage has two coverversions of Venus, the Shocking blue hit. One's in Turkish and the other one is in Greek. The latter is by Pascalis & the Olympians of Mathema Solfege fame.
(see this Eurocovers post for more about Mathema Solfege by Pascalis and his mates)

2008: Anno Domenico - Volare meets The Beautiful Game (2)

With the Euro 2008 well underway, (we're talking football here, or soccer if you must) here's a second bunch of coverversions of Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare), revamped to celebrate Football.
Germany's second game is tonight against Croatia, so here's a few football adaptations of Volare from a German perspective.

Finale (Ooh Ooh) by Buffalo Ball is a version of Volare from 2004. Zum siegen geboren (born to win) they brawl, but the Mannschaft had to leave the Portugal 2004 European Cup games after the first round. The song features a lot of football audience and TV style comments. Greece won the tournament and repeated that feat in Eurovision 2005.
In 2006 the World Cup was in Germany and another Volare was made, also titled Finale. DJ Schnippes surely listened to the Gipsy Kings for his version,. A new version is made and it's currently in the German top 100. Germany made it to the semi final in 2006, losing to eventual (now crushed) winners Italy.




In this post there's some Oranje Volares

2008: Anno Domenico is a tribute to Domenico Modugno's Eurovision classic Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) which conquered the world 50 years ago. Eurocovers highlights half a century of remarkable coverversions of the Italian evergreen. With this search link you'll get all the Volare posts.

2008: Anno Domenico - Volare meets The Beautiful Game (1)

After Eurovision there's another event that enjoys some popularity in the European communities this year, the European Cup Football, Euro 2008. Similarities enough: It attracts colourful fans waving flags and what have you, there's joke entries, Diva's and Drama Queens and whole hordes of people migrate across Europe to catch their favorites in action.
There's some leg action, opening ceremonies and people drink a lot. It has all the ingredients of Eurovision except maybe neighbourly voting.
Tonight it's Oranje against the Azzurri in the Group of Death (a bit like Belgrades second semi final this year) and here's a little tribute to Dutch Football squads from the past. Oh, and it's Volare, Song #1 if it comes to Football related coverversions.

1990 Oranje Sjampagne
------ Duo de PelikaanDutch comedy version for the World Cup in Italy when the Dutch were kicked out in the second round by Germany.
1998 Oranje Oh Oh Oh
---- - Danny Lukassen
This was for the World Cup in France where the Dutch made it to the semi finals, but got out-penaltied by Brasil after a 1 all draw. In the match for third place Holland lost to Croatia.



More Volare meets The Beautiful Game coming soon

Eurovision 2008 - Saturday Final Dinner Suggestion

Eurovision 2008: Belgrade Weeks: Ljubim Te Pesmama

Ljubim Te Pesmama (I love you in my songs) by Belgrade born Extra Nena was the last Eurovision entry for Yugoslavia.
But when the song was selected in the national final Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Macedonia* had already declared independence. So the national final was organized by Serbian TV only, even though some Bosnian artists and songwriters participated. (see the first Belgrade weeks post for some more info).
Ljubim Te Pesmama starts as a melancholy ballad but bursts into full blown Balkan Schlager in the refrain. Extra Nena recorded it in Serbian, English, French and Italian. The song finished 14th in the competition in Malmö, 1992.
http://www.extra-nena.com/
* later officially known as Former Yugoslavian Republic Of Macedonia, I know….



Two artists covered Yugoslavia's swan song. (as far as I know)
A Finnish version Miksi Luokesi Jäänyt En was recorded by Paula Koivuniemi who released the song on a single (Fazer Finnlevy 100302) and on the LP/CD Rakkaudella Sinun (Fazer finnlevy 200311/312, 1992)

Earlier Paula Koivuniemi recorded Switzerlands 1980 entry Cinema in Finnish as Sunnuntainäytös (for a 1980 LP Eurovisio Special 80)

http://www.paulakoivuniemi.fi/

Eurovision star Siw Malmkvist recorded Ljubim Te Pesmama in German and in Swedish.
The German version Ein Hauch Von Florenz can be found as an extra track on cdsingle Geh Nicht In Den Rosengarten and on CD Musik Ist Wie Ein Freund. The title track of the album is a German version of the Croatian 1995 entry Nostalgija. (by Magazine & Lidija). (Both cdsingle and album on the Funny Artists label, 1999)
Swedish version Ge Mej En Doft Ifrån Rom was released on a very rare cdsingle by Siwan & Sivan (Siw Malmkvist & Siv Wennerberg) issued on the Debit & Kredit label (DK-001). This cds also includes a cover of Nostalgija (as: Musik Är Ingenting För Dej, in Swedish)
Siw Malmkvist represented Sweden in 1960 with Alla Andra Får Varann (10th place) and Germany in 1969 with Primaballerina (9th). You can read more about Siw Malmkvist and her Eurocovers in the Year Of The Puppet Post Siw Malmkvists Sprattelgummas



ANNO DOMENICO meets BELGRADE WEEKS
I've been trying to locate a Serbian version of Volare to tie in with the Domenico Modugno year, but I haven't found any sung in Serbian which is actually by an artist from Serbia. But here's an interesting one in Italian. Multi instrumentalist Slađan Jovanović recorded a mellow bossa-version of the song as a bonus track for his album Ginko.
And you can listen to / download all tracks from the album at his website at http://sladjan.net/. Volare is track 14.

Eurovision 2008: Belgrade Weeks - Đorđe Marjanović

Đorđe Marjanović is a Serbian pop singer, who was and is one of the most popular singers in Yugoslavia. Đorđe was also very popular in the USSR where he released many of his songs (On Melodia of course).
Big hits were Zvižduk U Osam, Romana and , Devojko Mala.
He recorded many international hits in Serbian ranging from Italian classics like Quando Quando Quando, Roberta and Lazarella, Rock'n'roll hits like Speedy Gonzales, Hello Josephine and If I Had A Hammer to to pop hits like Bang Bang, Sympathy and Emma (the Hot Chocolate song).
In 2004 he said goodbye to the stage with a farewell concert in Belgrado in the Sava Centar, now home to the Eurovision 2008 press center.

I know of two Eurocovers Đorđe Marjanović recorded in Serbian, both are Italian entries from the early 60's.
1962 - Adio, adio - Addio Addio by Claudio Villa (written by Domenico Modugno) - on EP Igrajmo Twist (= let's twist again) (RTB PGP EP50103)
1963 - Jedan za sve - Uno Per Tutte by Renato Rascel - original release details wanted
Both songs can also be found on a 3CD K'o nekad, collecting Đorđe Marjanović's work including many coverversions of international hits.



In the 60's Đorđe Marjanović participated in the Yugoslavian National Finals with at least 5 songs, representing TV Beograd (Serbian TV) except.
His best result was a 3rd place in 1968 so he never made it to the Eurovision stage.
Đorđe Marjanović National selection songs:1961 - Reč Il' Dve
1965 - Stari Kraj
1965 - Proletni Vetre
1966 - Najlepši Dan
1968 - Ne Verujem Ti Više
(Beograd is Belgrade, Serbia)

http://www.djordjemarjanovic.com/ is a good website about the singer. It's in Serbian but still worthwhile even if you don't read the lingo. Great pictures and some nice audio's.

Eurovision 2008: Belgrade weeks - Senka and Bisera Veletanlić

In the weeks leading up to the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia Eurocovers digs deep to find some related Eurovision coverversions.
I must confess it's not easy to find many Eurocovers linking to Serbia. The Serbian entries from Yugoslavia have hardly been covered and my collection has many gaps (see below).
But here's a sweet one from the 70's. The song Mi Znamo Sve is by sisters Senka & Bisera Veletanlić and it's a coverversion of the Netherlands 1972 entry by Sandra & Andres: Als Het Om De Liefde Gaat (When it concerns love). The chirpy nanana song was a popular hit back then and was covered in at least 10 languages.
Mi Znamo Sve was released on the b-side of the Senka Veletanlić single Tražiš Oproštaj. (Jugoton SY 22066)


Bisera Veletanlić appears on the single Dan Ljubavi, which is a coverversion of Yugoslavia's 1975 entry Dan Ljubezni, originally by Pepel In Kri (Ashes and Blood on their English releases). That entry is of Slovenian origin and is sung in Slovenian, but a Serbian version was recorded by Bisera Veletanlić, Nada Knežević, Beti Đorđević and other singers. (RTB S 52 659).





WANTED
There's probably a lot more Serbian coverversions than I know about, but here are a few I'd really like to hear. If anyone can help Eurocovers with any of these songs or other surprises I'd be ever so happy.

Tom Tom by Daliborka Stojšic. It's a version of the 1973 Finnish entry which was released on a b-side of a single (Jugoton SY-22536). Daliborka was Miss Yugoslavia 1968 and reached the semi final of Miss Universe that year (pictured left).

Mirjana Beširević - Jos Sam Mlada, a cover of the Italian 1964 winner Non Ho l'eta (Gigliola Cinquetti) released on single (RTB EP 50181).

Filip Zmaher - Moja Generacija - This is one of the very few covers of the Serbian Yugoslavia entries I know of. It was only released on a cassette (MC) dedicated to original composer of the song; Kornelije Kovac. The MC is titled Kompozicije Kornelija Kovaca iz TV "Zvucna Viljuska".

Yep, Eurobandið time again, This Is My Life, album out now!!

Eurocovers favorite Eurobandið* have released their debut album and it's a real treat for Eurocovers fans. The Second Best Band In The World (after BWO of course) release their CD This Is My Life with 11 tracks including the Eurovision 2008 entry with the same title.

The album also has a remix of the Icelandic contender, some great Eurocovers and other songs of interest.

Don't leave without me now = Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, Celine Dion's winner from 1988 (for Switzerland).
A ba ni bi - Israels 1978 winner.
Hold me Now - Johnny Logan's second victory for Ireland in 1987
By Your Side = the english version of Regína Ósks Þér við hlið, preselection song from 2006
Fire = Eldur, Fridrik Omárs solo pre-song from 2007
Thinking of you = Fridriks solo song from 2006 Það Sem Verður
Við sigrum að ári! - Making your mind up, Tha' Fizz's winner (U.K. 1981).
In My Dreams is the most interesting cover of all . The Norwegian rockers' Glam hit (9th in the 2005 contest) now is a smoochy love ballad.

Unfortunately, the Icelandic version of This Is My Life is not on the tracklist. So no perfect 10 then.

Excerpts and full tracklist of the album here at Tónlist. And you haven't seen the official video yet, there's a YouTube here, and it's fab.

Eurobandið featured in this and this and this and this Eurocovers post (a lot I know, maybe they'll send some competition giveaway CDs by now), for some sounds go to their MySpace.
* I keep calling them Eurobandið, Euroband sounds so tacky.

2008: Anno Domenico - The Platters

I noticed that the Platters entered the U.K. album top 10 this week with a Best Of compilation. And as I had prepared a bit on their Volare anyway, what better time to post it than now.
I don't know what triggered this new interest in the U.S. vocal group, but it's remarkable for a group that was founded 55 years ago that people still go to the shop and buy their records.
Their most known hits Only You, The Great Pretender, My Prayer and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes were all recorded in the 50's but their version of Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) is recorded in 1964. It was released in Januari 1965 on the LP The 10th Anniversary Album.

The Platters had numerous line up changes and by 1964 they had run out of hits. The 10th Anniversary Album didn't change their fortune.

Volare doesn't feature all members from the early golden era; Buck Ram, female singer Zola Taylor and lead singer Tony Williams had left by then and each formed their own Platters.
Later even more ex-members toured with groups under the Platters banner
It was the Buck Ram Platters with a new line up that had a short run of hits with their 1966 & 1967 revival.

The line-up on Volare and The 10th Anniversary Album includes Sonny Turner, David Lynch, Paul Robi, Herb Reed and Barbara Randolph. Herb Reed, the only original member still tours as Herb Reed and the Platters. Herb Reed is the only member who features on all official Platters recordings. The LP includes The Great Pretender and covers of hits like Love Me Tender, Don't Be Cruel, Rock Around The Clock and Song From Moulin Rouge.
The Platters' Volare is a light cha cha exercise with a little parlando intro treasure.

The new compilation The Very Best of Platters is out on Universal Music TV (UMTV 7944) in the U.K. and features 20 tracks. Other albums have been released in the past with the same title.

Sources: A lot more on Platters line ups, Platters groups and discography is at the Platters Info Site or check out the Herb Reed & The Platters homepage.



2008: Anno Domenico is a tribute to Domenico Modugno's Eurovision classic Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) which conquered the world 50 years ago. Eurocovers highlights half a century of remarkable coverversions of the Italian evergreen. Other American Volares already featured are by gay basher Anita Bryant, James Dean love interest Pier Angeli, Box Tops hero Alex Chilton, Disco Crooner Al Martino, soul singer Jesse Belvin and from last year Jazz Legend Ella Fitzgerald.
And with this search link you'll get all the Volare posts.

Richard De Bois (1949 - 2008) - Ik Hou Van Jou

Another sad passing. Richard de Bois died two weeks ago in LA, where he lived since the early 90's.

Richard de Bois is most known for founding Dutch girl band The Dolly Dots who enjoyed huge succes in the late 70's and early 80's, and who can still pack a large arena for their reunion concerts today.
De Bois worked with Maggie MacNeal, Willeke Alberti, Lemming and girl trio Centerfold. He also produced several albums of the cast of the U.S. Soap series The Bold And The Beautiful including solo work by John McCook.
He had been fighting with cancer for over eight years.

Ik Hou Van Jou
The name Richard De Bois may not instantly ring a bell for non Dutch Eurocovers readers, but he is one of the writers of Ik Hou Van Jou, the Dutch Eurovision song from 1984 he wrote together with Peter van Asten.
The big orchestral ballad by Maribelle only ended 13th in the contest but received a standing ovation from the orchestra. Maribelle recorded the song in Dutch, English, French and German.

After 1975 winner Ding A Dong, Ik Hou Van Jou (I love you) is the most covered dutch Eurovision entry. Even though none rivals the monumental original (see this YouTube for a national final performance) it's a fair tribute to this now classic Dutch evergreen.

Ek Hou Van Jou
The youngest version recorded is by South African singer André Smit, who just released his version (in Afrikaans) on his new CD André Smit. Ik Hou Van Jou is the song with the most versions recorded in Afrikaans (as Ek Hou Van Jou) . Ik know of nine versions: they are by Toni Andrea, Karin Cox & Janine Stein, boyband Eden, Endia, Danie Jansen, Johnny & Vivian, Gé Korsten, Jannie Moolman (with Gé Korsten) and now André Smit.

The song is also the only Eurovision song I know that is covered in Papiamento, the language of the Netherlands Antilles. This version Bo Ta Mi Amor by Dhaddy Brokke and Tony Sherman was already featured in this Eurocovers post. (and it's still there). A version by child singer Demis is featured in the post The Kids Are Alright part 2.

Cilla and Engelbert

And then there's some well known singers who recorded the song. Engelbert Humperdinck released it on his CD A Little In Love (as In Love With You). Cilla Black recorded it as A Dream Come True on her CD Through The Years (1993) and earlier mentioned soap actor John McCook released In Love With You on his CD Bold And Beautiful Lovesongs.


Update 2012: Engelbert is going to Eurovision. Here's a new post with all his Eurovison connections.
Or check out Engelberts Baku Collection post for all about his entry Love Will Set You Free

Monna Bell (1938 - 2008)

Chilean singer Monna Bell has died last week at the age of 70.
Monna Bell rose to international fame with the song Un Telegrama, the song that won the 1959 Benidorm International Song Festival which was her first hit in Europe and Latin America.

After she left the Hispavox label in the late 60's she signed with Musart and later Orfeon for which she mostly recorded coverversions of international standards. Even though it initially brought her some success she wasn't very happy and retired from the music business in 1980. A 1977 disco version Un Telegramma didn't make her happy and flopped miserably.

It was Mexican singer Juan Gabriel who revived Monna Bell's career by inviting her along on his live tours. It didn't bring back the success of the olden days and the album Monna Bell Ahora received mixed reviews, even though vocally it's among Monna Bell's best work ever.

I know of two Eurocovers by Monna Bell in Spanish and they're both here. The first one is a song you may have heard of before.
Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno's evergreen
- En El Azul Del Cielo - on EP (Hispavox HH-17-89)
Un Premier Amour - France 1962 winner by Isabelle Aubret
- Un Primer Amor - on EP (Hispavox HH17-203)

Un Primer Amor can also be found on a great Eurocovers compilation that was released in 2006 Los Exitos De Eurovision, Cantados en Español (Rama Lama music RM 53592) which includes 27 Spanish coverversion of Eurovision hits.
The same record company Rama Lama Music also released two Monna Bell CDs with her Hispavox recordings from 1959 to 1965. En El Azul Del Cielo is on Vol 1. (1959-1961), Un Primer Amor is on Vol 2. (1961 - 1965)

Eva Kostolanyiová - Keď si sám

Slovak singer Eva Kostolányiová (1942 - 1975) covers Luxembourgs 1972 winner Après Toi (Vicky Leandros). (Audio and slidehow only)

Hana Zagorová - Telegram

More 70's fashion: Czech singer Hana Zagorová performs the 1977 German entry Telegram. Originally by the Silver Convention.

Jadranka Stojakovic - Ja vidim sjaj...

Bosnian Singer with a cover version of I See A Star (Netherlands 1974). 70's fashion goes never out of fashion.

Anno Domenico in Russia - Who is it? and some more bits and pieces

Here's a Russian version of Volare I have no clue about.

The song is probably titled Letayu (Летаю) and it sounds like an old recording, really old.
The second part of the song is Casetta in Canada, a 1957 San Remo song.But it doesn't really sound like a medley, so I'd like to find out if there's a full version of Volare and who actually sings this song.


If you know, please leave a comment or send a message.-------♫ Летаю / Летаю


2008 Release News: Jennifer Zamudio
An interesting coverversion will be released at the end of this month. It's the Norwegian entry of this year Hold On Be Strong, originally by Maria Haukaas Storeng (Youtube here). This very early coverversion is by Jennifer Zamudio from South Africa. The song is titled Ek Wag Op Jou (I wait for you) and can be found on Jennifers new CD Hier's My Hart. Find out more at Jennifers thuisblad (in Afrikaans).
On her previous CD Hoor Hoor she covered the Eurovision entries of Romania & Lithuania 2005 plus the Spanish 1991 ballad Bailar Pegados.

Jacques Aylestock
Oh, well, let's do another song then. Here's a charming unusual version of the French 1960 winner Tom Pillibi (Jacqueline Boyer). This sweet version is by Jacques Aylestock and what I know is that he was a 10 year old multi octave child prodigy soprano singer from Quebec who was launched as the next big thing in 1963. He eventually released two albums simply titled Jacques Aylestock Vol. 1 & Vol. 2. Tom Pillibi is on the first one (Select 298.066). Whatever happened to Jacques?


The Belgrade Collection
If you're interested in finding out about the cdsingles, versions and promo's of the 2008 contest you can get the Belgrade Collection File, a word doc. with all the info you need. (updated 2009)
If you haven't got a clue, Eurovision 2008, a three-nighter for the first time, is on May 20, 22 and 24 in Belgrade, Serbia. More about that later in the Serbweeks*

* Last year we had the Finweeks and I know Serbweeks doesn't sound as catchy, I tried Belgraweeks but that's too Belgium. Any suggestion for a good title?
The Helsinki File word doc., with all the details on last years Eurovision releases is still here.

Anno Domenico: Volare International - Denmark

Here's a Danish version of Volare by The Defenders. The song Vi Har Det Åh, Åh was recorded in 1967 and released on single (Sonet T 8271).

The song features in the movie Jeg Er Sgu Min Egen, a musical comedy about a young girl (played by Daimi) who is torn between a prissy life with her devout christian foster parents or a life with boys and music. The Defenders play themselves.

Special Thanks to Mikael.



There's a bit about The Defenders in Danish here.

2008: Anno Domenico is a tribute to Domenico Modugno's Eurovision classic Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) which conquered the world 50 years ago. Eurocovers will feature half a century of remarkable coverversions of the Italian evergreen. Other Scandinavian Volares featured at Eurocovers (so far) are from Norway and can be found in this post. And with this search link you'll get all the Volare posts.

Caracola Cover by Jette Ziegler

Another Quicky. Here's a coverversion of the 1964 entry from Spain.
Caracola by Nelly Tim & Tony (a.k.a. Los TNT) was covered by Jette Ziegler in Danish, English and German.
Here are the English and Danish versions, I'm still looking for the German one (or any details on it).
Jette Ziegler - Vi to (Danish) - on 7" (Triola TD 230)
Jette Ziegler - I need you my love - on 7" (Triola TD 234)

1972 - Lola Novaković - Posle Tebe (Après Toi)

Here's one I had lying about. Yugoslavia's second Eurovision singer Lola Novaković (4th in 1962 with Ne Pali Svetla U Sumrak (Don't turn the lights on in the twilight)) covers Vicky Leandros' 1972 Eurovision winner Après Toi in Serbo-Croat as Posle Tebe on this sweet EP (RTB EPF 52 003) --- 

Crash Course In Eurovision: Don't Forget To Mention Norway

I'm very pleased to say that Eurocovers attracts visitors from all over the globe and understandably not every unsuspecting passer-by instantly gets what the fuss is all about. You may know the familiar songs, or even some of the artists, but what in Agnetha's name are these euro people on?
How ludricous is the idea to send songs to a competition? Why do some countries send the same song every year? Can three minutes really last that long? Why do the gays always get the most beautiful women?, Why does Ireland send a turkey?.
Well for those confused and all others, here's a crash course to Eurovision in three songs.

1. What are the rules
It's Only A Wind Up by Brown Ale is a coverversion of the winning song from 1981, Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz. Tha Fizz enjoyed their bit of fame with some great hits like Land Of Make Believe, Piece Of The Action and the truly brilliant My Camera Never Lies.
Over the years the band has changed members more often than the average Eurovision act changes clothes but in Eurovision terms Bucks Fizz are a successtory of the quite successful category.

Brown Ale explain the rules of Eurovision in 2.36 minutes. How to write the song, how to form a group and how to not 'let the other artists take you from behind'.
Brown Ale was a project of Stephanie De Sykes, writer of arguably two of the worst UK entries of the last century Bad Old Days (Coco 1978) and Love Enough For Two (Primadonna 1980)
The Brown Ale single was withdrawn from the shops. (Radioactive RAD502)


2. What to do to get points
Marty Feldman (1934 - 1982) is a British comedian who probably needs no other introduction than his face. His Eurovision Song cunningly explains in one and a half minute how to suck up to the other countries and collect as many Douze Poings as possible*. Although had he lived and recorded an up to date version he would have needed more time with 43 countries and all that.

Like with Brown Ale, if you want to make a Eurovision spoof, you must mention Norway.

Eurovision Song is from his LP I Feel A Song Going Off (1969 Decca LP LK/SKL 4983) later re-issued as The Crazy World of Marty Feldman.
Special Thanks to Jim for this one!
(Sorry no Youtube link anymore)

3. What if you're pissed off with the results.
Taxi - EBU
There's only one winner (except in 1969, bless those days) and if you're hitch hiking home facing an angry mob with only trois poing to show for all the taxpayers money you spent, you have to take action.
You can blame the Diaspora, sue the camera people for not zooming in on your essentials, or accuse the winner of having raided your dressing room. Or you can write a song about it.
Romania sent a serious rock group to the 2000 Stockholm contest. The guys were called Taxi and their Song The Moon (Luna in it's Romanian version) bombed and reached 17th place. Every one is to blame except the Taxi drivers themselves and they vent their frustration at the E.B.U. (European Broadcasting Union, The Big Giant Head of Eurovision) in their song smartly titled E.B.U.. They threaten to send Dracula! but gracefully bleeped the F-word. You may need to listen a few times to understand the lyrics, but they are in English.


Links updated 2016
- Formerly of Bucks Fizz Website  -Taxi home page
- Stephanie De Sykes Wiki - Marty Feldman Wiki
And in this Eurocovers post you can see the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's take on Eurovision from a tartan perspective.

Other recommended study material: (all youtubes)
Gimme Gimme Gimme - Party with Bucks Fizz
My Lovely Horse - from the Father Ted series
Papa Bendi - Steve Coogan

* Yes I know, The Douze Poing system wasn't introduced at the time of this recording.

Some Eurocovers CD tips

Kraljevi Ulice (Kings of the street) are this years Croatian entrants to the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade. They team up with 75 year old 'rapper' 75 cents on their song Romanca.
The song mixes the sentiments of and old Russian folksong with the coolness of the Buena Vistas. See the video here.

Romanca can be found on their new album Zemlja pleše which also includes a coverversion of Bila Je Tako Lijepa, originally Elle Etait Si Jolie, Alain Barrieres 1963 entry for France.
The Kraljevi Ulice album is distributed by MenArt records.
In the Eurocovers post about Pekinška Patka & Dragan Stojnić you can find find out more about Bila Je Tako Lijepa and hear two older Balkan covers of the song.

Maia Hirasawa
In Sweden Maia Hirasawa has reissued her acclaimed CD Though, I'm Just Me. The new version has some bonus tracks including a stunning coverversion of last years Swedish glam entry by The Ark: The Worrying Kind.
She performed the song in the interval of this years Swedish Melodifestivalen final.
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(CD on BAM / Razzia-0-77)
You can see Maia 'rocking' the Globen with the song at this Youtube.
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http://www.maiahirasawa.com/
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Berryz 工房And with Maia Hirasawa being from Japan and all, a bridge to Berryz Koubou is quickly made. The Hello! Project group (a girl group with ever changing members) has released a new single and it's a Japanese version of Dschinghis Khan, Germany's and Ralph Siegels best ever entry (from 1979).
The single is released in Japan on three formats. A regular cdsingle which also includes the instrumental version, a DVD single and a limited edition CD with two versions and a making of video. (Piccolo Town records)
It's available from CDJapan
See Berryz Koubou's fun version in this Youtube

2008 - Anno Domenico: Volare International - Norway

With Eurovision 2008 on track with all entries chosen it's a long wait until the big nights. Instead of speculations, fan polls and betting odds, Eurocovers goes on about their regular business: 50 years of Volare.

I have updated the list with coverversions of Volare with the latest finds and corrections added. You can find it  here.
The Word Document features details on Domenico Modugno's own recordings of the song plus 1100 coverversions. There's some picture sleeves too for your entertainment.

In the previous Volare file, listing over 1000 coverversions of the Italian 1958 classic there were versions in about 25 languages but not in Norwegian. Thanks to Erik that has changed and here's two versions of the song in that language.

The first one is already mentioned in the Eurocovers post about Birthday Girl Nora Brockstedt. You can find her complete Eurocovers discography in the same post, just below the bit about Alex Chilton. Her Volare is titled I Dine Blå Øynes Blå.

Vi Svever Høyt I Det BlåThe second and quite different Norwegian version is by Inger Jacobsen (with the Monn Keys), another Eurovision singer who ended 10th in the 1962 contest with Kom Sol, Kom Regn (Come sun, come rain).
Kom Sol, Kom Regn can be found on the CD Diamanter - Presang Til Mor, one of two CDs collecting her most known work. (The other CD is just titled Diamanter and features a remastered Volare). Both CDs are on EMI Norway.

National selection regular Inger Jacobsen (1923 - 1996) also recorded the first two Norwegian entries Voi Voi and Sommer I Palma. Jacobsen had sung Voi Voi in a semi final.
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The above Dameblad picture of Inger Jacobsen is stolen from an article / discography (in Norwegian) which you can find here at MIC Norsk Musikinformasjon.
Although the site being in Norwegian doesn't make it easy, it's a fantastic browse for discography's, picture sleeves and bio's on many Norwegian artists.


Details on original vinyls wanted.

Thanks Erik!

2008: Anno Domenico is a tribute to Domenico Modugno's Eurovision classic Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) which conquered the world 50 years ago. Eurocovers will feature half a century of remarkable coverversions of the Italian evergreen.
Other International Volares featured at Eurocovers are from Japan + Texas and Brasil.
And with this search link you'll get all the Volare posts.

Charlotte Perrelli née Nilsson goes for second Victory

With the victory of Charlotte Perrelli in yesterdays Melodifestivalen final the Preselection season is now officially over. 43 songs have been chosen and it's over two months before they all take to the Eurovision stage in Belgrade (20, 22 and 24 May).

Charlotte's song Hero won thanks to the jury votes as the people of Sweden preferred Empty Room my Sanna Nielsen, but hey, that's a mistake SVT allows to happen every now and then (remember Grönval vs Stenmark anyone?).
They didn't pick my favorite Upp O Hoppa by Frida and Headline either, which of course was last with only 6 points (compared to Charlottes 224)

Charlotte Perrelli is Charlotte Nilsson, who already has one victory to her name: In 1999 she beat Iceland in Jerusalem with Take Me To Your Heaven (or: Tusen Och En Natt in Swedish). Classic Swedish Schlager by numbers elevated by a fantastic performance, an amazing backing choir and a stunning presence of the singer.

Take Me To Your Heaven was a minor hit in a few European countries and is also one of the most covered Eurovision songs of the last 20 years. (See list below)
The days of songs being covered by anyone and everyone in any language are long gone so if a modern Eurovision song gets over 10 versions recorded it's quite an achievement.

Wizex Charlotte first rose to fame as a singer of über Dansband Wizex, who have a million albums to their name and entertained the Swedish masses since 1973.

With Wizex Charlotte recorded one Eurocover Blå, Blå, Är Kärleken (L'Amour Est Bleu, Love Is Blue, you know it) which was released on the 1999 CD Tusen Och En Natt, also including the Swedish original of the 1999 Eurovision winner. pffff.... (CD Mariann MLPCD 3095)
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Some coverversions of Take Me To Your Heaven
In a earlier post I already featured Tahitian singer Maruia. She recorded a straightforward copy of TMTYH for her CD Te ora hau (Maruia Vol. 11).
A version for the kids Ta Mig Upp På Berget (Take me up the mountains) was recorded by Bamse (Stefan Nyquist) a toy bear with quite a few Eurocovers to his name. (From CD Bamses Dunderfest, 2004, BAM 7097)
A techno stomper by Ms. Dawn completes the trio. It's from the CD Absolute Schlager Mania (2005) with loads of mindless dance covers of Swedish Eurovision and MF songs.


http://www.charlotteperrelli.com/ (In Swedish)
http://www.wizex.se/ (in Swedish)
10.000 coverversions: L'Amour Est Bleu / Love Is Blue
More Swedish preselection fun at Eurocovers with Carola and Linda Bengtzing
Get the CD Melodifestivalen 2008 with all Swedish entries (32!) and/or most of the songs on CDsingle at BeaRecords, your #1 Eurovision shop.

Most covered Eurovision songs of the last 20 years 43 versions - Nocturne - Secret Garden (Norway 1996, winner)
- Many instrumental versions including some by classical artists and a few techno versions.
34 versions - Fly On The Wings Of Love - Olsen Brothers (Denmark 2000, winner)
- A techno version by Annia & XTM was a bigger hit in Europe than the original and was xeroxed by all kind of DJ's and other knob twiddlers.
25 versions - Diva - Dana International (Israel 1998, winner)
- Including several spoof versions ridiculing the transgender nature of the original singer.
24 versions - Take Me To Your Heaven - Charlotte Nilsson (Sweden 1999, winner)
- Mainly versions made in Sweden and by imaginary friends like the Smurfs*, toy bear Bamse and Barbie the doll.
21 versions - Stad I Ljus - Tommy Körberg (Sweden 1988, 12th)
- Operatic style original by Chess singer Tommy Körberg inspired many to belt out a cover.
19 versions - Bailar Pegados - Sergio Dalma (Spain 1991, 4th)
- Sugarsweet Smoocher covered in Mexico, Argentina, Dominican republic, Chile, Cuba, Peru, Uruguay, USA, South Africa, Italy and Sweden
18 versions - Ooh Aah, Just A Little Bit - Gina G (U.K. 1996, 8th)
- Arguably the biggest modern Eurovision hit (a US # 12 hit) has many anonymous followers .
18 versions - Se På Mig - Jan Johansen (Sweden 1995, 3rd)
- Mainly versions from Sweden and a few from South Africa.
16 versions - Love Shine A Light - Katrina & The Waves (U.K. 1997, winner)
- It's no Walking On Sunshine but it comes close.

The most covered songs of modern Eurovision (with semi's and all) are Para Llenarme De Ti by Ramon (Spain 2004) and Lane Moje by Zeljko Joksimovič (Serbia-Montenegro 2004) with respectively 12 and 11 cover versions to their name (at least). More about Zeljko soon at Eurocovers.

Info taken from the 10.000 coverversions project.
* Congratulations: The Smurfs are 50, expect a Eurocovers celebration soon!