Corry Brokken 1932 - 2016

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 4^th 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 4^th . 
Neither were released by Corry Brokken.

Eurocovers

1958 Dors Mon Amour - André Claveau (France, 1^st place)

Brokken recorded it in French, see 1958 above

Danswijsje / Ga Niet Weg single

1963 Dansevise - Grethe and Jörgen Ingmann 

(Denmark, 1^st place)

1963 T’En Va Pas - Esther Ofarim 

(Switzerland, 2^nd place)

- Danswijsje / Ga niet weg (both Dutch)

- both on single (Philips 327 528)

Here's a live performance clip of Danswijsje (Youtube)

1965 N’Avoue Jamais - Guy Mardel 

(France, 3^rd 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)

Here's a wonderful videoclip of the German version

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. 

It is still available at BeaRecords.

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)

Additions are always welcome!

Links and sources

Eurovision Collectors Guide 1956-1995
The 10.000 Coverversions project
Corry Brokken at Discogs
Corry Brokken at Muziekweb

Rotterdam Weeks: Cristina Jorio - Come una volta

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.

More Rotterdam Weeks Coverversions

- 바니걸즈 - 딩딩동,K-Pop avant la lettre

- Ragazzo di Piccola Città in una Grande Sala Giochi

- Penghibor Di Rantau by Rahimah Rahim

- Dutch entries get a makeover (CD release)

- Someday, Morgen, Y Fori with Mary Hopkin

- A Dream Come True for Cilla Black fans

- Una Salsa para Amsterdam

2020 The Rotterdam Collection is here

The Rotterdam 2.1. Collection is here

Géo Voumard 1920 - 2008

This week the Eurovision community says goodbye to Swiss composer, pianist and radio maker Géo Voumard, composer of 5 Eurovision songs including the first ever winner, Refrain from 1956.
With lyricist Emile Gardaz (1931 - 2007) Voumard is responsible for half of the first 10 songs that entered Eurovision for Switzerland. Three of them finished in the top three.
In 1967 Voumard co-founded* the world renowned Montreux Jazz Festival of which the 42nd edition took place last july.

Géo Voumard / Emile Gardaz Eurovision songs:1956 - Refrain - Lys Assia (winner)
1957 - L'Enfant Que J'Etais - Lys Assia (8th)
1961 - Nous Aurons Demain - Franca Di Rienzo (3rd)
1962 - Le Retour - Jean Philippe (10th)
1963 - T'En Va Pas - Esther Ofarim (2nd)

EurocoversRefrain, one of two songs** that entered for Switzerland in 1956 is the most covered of the Voumard/Gardaz songs, followed by Esther Ofarims runner up that almost won *** T'En Va Pas from 1963.
Of the other three songs I only know about an accordion cover of Nous Aurons Demain by André Verchuren. L'Enfant Que J'Etais and Le Retour still have a big 0 in the 10.000 coverversions list. The original artists records are (also) among the rarest Eurovision singles.

Refrain was recorded by Lys Assia in French, German and English (pictured). An Italian coverversion was recorded by Flo Sandon's (her Refrain is in this Eurocovers post). I know of three versions in Portuguese recorded in Brasil (Carlos Augusto, Araci Costa, Arthur Murat) (all wanted) and La Esterella recorded a Flemish version.
We're deep into 78rpm territory here and the covers of Refrain are not the easiest to find. About half of them are instrumental and of course quite a few in French.

Two 1956 Eurovision singers that have recorded Refrain in French are Corry Brokken (who went on to win in 1957) and Mathé Altery (France). Both recorded the winning song but neither released their own entry of that year.
My favorite coverversion is by Jula De Palma ♫, who slows the song down even further than the original.

T'En Va Pas
Esther Ofraim recorded her Eurovision entry in French, German and Italian (pictured). A lovely English version is recorded by Dana Valery ♫. She's an Italian born singer from South Africa.
Her version Would I Love You Again is the b-side to This Is My Prayer, an English version of the 1964 wonner Non Ho L'Eta (Gigliola Cinquetti). (Decca F 11881).
Other coverversions were rcorded in Finnish (by Olavi Virta), Dutch (Corry Brokken), Flemish (Jo Leemans), Swedish (Majbritt Persson) and Danish (Ellen Winther).
T'En Va Pas also found its way to Brasil, but so far I've only found details on instrumental versions (The Jordans ♫, The Bells, Os Carbonos)



* with Claude Nobs and René Langel
** Each country entered two songs in the first contest, 7 countries, 14 songs. The contest, held in Lugano, Switserland, was only aired on radio and only the winner was announced.
*** Esther Ofarim was pipped to the post only after Norway re-casted their votes which differed from their initial ones. It gave Dansevise by Danish Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann the final victory.

New Release: All That Dutch Jazz

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.

I haven't heard a note of any of the songs yet, but you can find more info and a tracklist at the links below.
http://www.janmenu.com/ also in English
http://www.digdizmusic.com/

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)

FINWEEKS: Eurocovers covers the classics in Finnish

Eurovision Week in Helsinki.
It's been said before, despite the lack of success Finland is a Eurovision Nation Extraordinaire. In no other country have so many Eurovision songs been covered and most of them were recorded in Finnish. Popular singers like Laila Kinnunen, Katri Helena and Marion Rung each have recorded 10 or more songs in Finnish.
In the 80's there were LP's featuring all songs of the yearly event getting the Finn-over and even in modern times, when not many coverversions are recorded, there's the odd Finnish version.

Here's some Finnish coverversions of the ancient Eurovision winners.
I don't know of any Finnish cover of the first Eurovision (Refrain by Lys Assia, 1956) but for almost every year after some Finnish artist has covered the Eurovision winner, and often several other entries too.
Netherlands 1957 - Net als toen - Corry Brokken
- Kalevi Tauru - Oispa unta se vain (7" Triola ts 356 & 78 RPM Triola t 4356, 1958)
France 1958 - Dors Mon Amour - André Claveau
- Leif Wager - Nukkuos rakas (EP Blu Master blu 122 & 78 RPM Blue Master blu 550) (Leif Wager pictured right)Netherlands 1959 - 'n Beetje - Teddy Scholten
- Seija Karpiomaa - Vain hiukan (Various artists EP Scandia SEP 99)


France 1960 - Tom Pillibi - Jacqueline Boyer
- Laila Kinnunen - Tom Pillibi (7" Scandia KS 358 & EP Eurovision Laulukilpailut, Scandia SEP 120)
Laila Kinnunen (1939-2000) is one of the great legendary singers in the history of Finnish popular music.
I'm working on a Eurocovers post detailing all her Eurovision covers to be featured here soon.

Luxembourg 1961 - Nous les amoureux - Jean Claude Pascal
- Leif Wager - Me rakastavaiset (7" Decca SD 5528)
France 1962 - Un premier amour - Isabelle Aubret
- Vieno Kekkonen - Ensimäinen rakkaus (7" Scandia KS 428 & EP Scandia SEP 162)

Finnish recordings are probably the best archived in the world. If you visit Database of The Finnish Institute of Recorded Sound you can find all documented records that were ever released in Finland from 1901 to 1999.
Not just Eurovision, but anything you need to find out. If anyone in Finland ever recorded a cover of your favorite song, it's there.



Above are featured vinyl recordings that mostly haven't been issued on CD.
A must have 2CD with Eurocovers from 1958 to the late 90's in Finnish is available in Finnish shops and at BeaRecords. You can find details in this Eurocovers post.