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)
Brokken
recorded it in French, see 1958 above
 |
| Danswijsje / Ga Niet Weg single |
1963 Dansevise
- Grethe and Jörgen Ingmann
(Denmark, 1st place)
1963 T’En Va Pas
- Esther Ofarim
(Switzerland, 2nd place)
- Danswijsje
/ Ga niet weg (both Dutch)
- both on single (Philips 327 528)
1965 N’Avoue
Jamais - Guy Mardel
(France, 3rd place)
- Als je maar nooit bekent (Dutch) - single (Philips 327 868 1.F)
- So ist die
liebe , mon ami (German) - single (Philips
318 955 PF, Germany)
1967 Il Doit
faire Beau La Bas - Noëlle Cordier
(France, 3rd place)
- Ik Weet Hoe Mooi Het Is (Dutch) - on LP Kleine Cantates (Polydor
184 119, 1967)
Corry Brokken Compilations
In 1994 a
2CD Net Als Toen (top picture) was released with the best songs of her career.
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)
- LP
Enny Denita
(Belgium)
- EP (BRT
117)
Links and sources
Eurovision Collectors Guide 1956-1995
The 10.000 Coverversions project
Corry Brokken at Discogs
Corry Brokken at
Muziekweb
