Showing posts sorted by relevance for query abba. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query abba. Sort by date Show all posts

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

10.000: # 4 - Waterloo - ABBA (1974)

In the Eurocovers countdown of most covered Eurovision songs of all time Waterloo is at # 4, but mostly thanks to a massive load of absolutely crappy try-a-likes from albums and projects imaginatively titled 'So and so sing the hits of ABBA, ABBA The Tribute'. Cheap cash-ins loaded with lame vomit-like versions of ABBA's hits. None of that here of course, but they're all in the list.

# 4
- Waterloo
- ABBA
- 328 versions listed


ABBA & Waterloo are Eurovision. The song won the ultimate (but flawed*) all time Eurovision thingy as the best song of 50 years Eurovision.
ABBA recorded Waterloo in Swedish, English, German and French.
* - The selection of 15 songs didn't have Ding A Dong.
The biggest 'stars' to cover the song are probably Bananarama, but not many famous singers dare to try touching an ABBA song unless it's Thank You For The Music.

Eurovision singers covering Waterloo are: Carola, Charlotte Nilsson, Mrs Einstein (again), Ami Aspelund, Seija Simola and Tanel Padar with Lenna (of Vanilla Ninja).
Most versions are in English but still the language count is 22.
And again Eurocovers presents a list with all versions of Waterloo. (Word.doc) (UPDATED 2-3-10). Get it, read it and let me know if there's anything to add.
EsperantoFirst up there's simpatico slaphead Ralph Glomp, German Esperantist renaming the song Gotenburg'. There's two hands full of Eurocovers sung in Esperanto, and Ralph Glomp takes care of six of them. Gotenburg' is on his CD Ĵus per kares´ from 2003.

To make a very long story short: Esperanto is a constructed language (like Sanomian, but then people actually are really serious about it) created as an ideal world language for all people of the world to understand.
In the early 20's it was even considered to be the official language used for the (pre) UN but we have to thank the French for stopping that, as they still thought French would be the one and only international language. (Wikipedia on Esperanto)
Hear some more of Ralph Glomps music here. Iom da paco (on the same page) is his version of Ein Bisschen Frienden (Germany 1982).
Down under
ABBA were hugely popular worldwide, only in the US sales were disappointing. (Only one # 1 hit there) but nowhere were the people so ABBA crazy as in Australia. So it's fitting to include an ABBA tribute from down under here. The track below is from a single by Norman Gunston (Actor Garry MacDonald). It's an ABBA medley with a bit of Waterloo at the end. Oh yeah, it's comedy, see it at Youtube.
For my favorite ABBA tribute album we remain in the area. In 1995 the Flying Nun label released a CD with ABBA covers by noisy New Zealand bands and almost every track is fantastic. Cloth (where are they now?) did Waterloo but if you like your ABBA tunes even louder, get the full CD which is still available in various internet shops.

GAbba GAbba - Hey
The ideal combination of ABBA songs + noise would have been the Ramones. Both quartets specialised in the perfect pop tunes, only the Ramones played a bit faster.
British Gabba noticed just that and they covered Waterloo on their CD with ABBA covers Leave Stockholm. In good Ramones tradition Waterloo is brought back to a neat 1 minute 36.
Hear more at their MySpace


If these versions didn't get rid of your unwanted guests you could play the version of Waterloo by The Yuri Honing Trio. Uncomfortable Jazz at its best and even though the track is like one big intro it's actually pretty cool. It's from the 1996 CD Star Tracks which also includes versions of Björks Isobel and Cyndi Laupers Time After Time.





BeaRecords ABBA pages

A really sick version is made by some knob twiddlers who call themselves the Sweet Little Band. Not worth listening to but it's a great picture sleeve. They even made a Hebrew version for the Israeli market. It's an instrumental CD titled Babies Go ABBA. The music is so tedious they guarantee that you baby will sleep in minutes. (Although I think it's bordering on child abuse).
It's not just your favorite Swedish popsters that have received the honour of seducing your cry-baby into a coma, you can also try out Babies Go Elvis, Babies Go Pink Floyd (original version will do wonders too), Babies Go Carpenters, Babies Go Coldplay, Babies Go Guns 'n'Roses (yeah that'll help) and probably the most effective of all Babies Go Bob Marley. No Babies Go Lordi yet…. The evil CDs are mady by RGS music in Argentina.
-
Parts of this article were already featured in the Eurovision Collectors Guide group (Yahoo)
Previous Eurocovers posts featuring Waterloo in Feathers & Spandex.
And a 'future' post is here

P.S. Couldn't squeeze it in, but don't let anyone tell you otherwise, Björn Again is the best ABBA tribute band in the world.

Friday, April 08, 2016

Judith Sings, ABBA Swings: A Jazz Tribute To ABBA

Digital Release Image
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.


Links and sources
Listen to Waterloo, Summer Night City and Lay All Your Love On Me through Judith Nijlands Tubestation.
Short clips of all songs are here
A Jazz Tribute To ABBA Website (English) and Facebook. (in Dutch)

ABBA posts at Eurocovers
Jazz posts at Eurocovers

Sunday, April 06, 2014

Happy ABBA Day!

Waterloo picture sleeve from Austria
It was 40 years ago today, ABBA won the Brighton Eurovision with Waterloo.
Four decades on ABBA's music is as relevant as ever.

1983 picture disc
 with French and German versions
ABBA - Waterloo 40 - releases.
We all have the songs, bought them several times on singles, LP's and CDs, but still the host of festive releases celebrating the 40 years of Waterloo are making me greedy.
Sadly there is no unreleased material included and of course the ABBAs have enough money, but I might just buy one or two items to celebrate.
Here's a few that might tickle your fancy.

Picture Disc
- A 7" inch picture disc with Waterloo in Swedish and English will be released on April 6 in Sweden. A similar issue will be released in other countries to celebrate Record Store Day (April 19)
Update: My Shiny Waterloo Picture Disc has arrived # 0701/7000

Netherlands sleeve
Waterloo: The Album
- April 6 is also the release date of the special edition of the Waterloo album. It will include 8 bonus tracks including all the versions of Waterloo that were ever released. Also the US and UK remixes of Ring Ring are included.
The set comes with a DVD featuring several TV performances including the two Eurovision versions, two MF versions, the preview version and two TOTP performances of Waterloo.
The infamous Finnish caviar sleeve




40 singles box
- If you really want to splash out there is a box with 40 vinyl 7 inch singles out on the 5th of May.
Next to the 31 singles that were originally released in Sweden there are 9 international singles including the German and French Waterloo’s, Spanish language Chiquitita and I Have A Dream, When All Is Said And Done (as released in Australia) and Lay All Your Love On Me, originally released on 12 inch maxi.
Yugoslavia
The sleeve and label of each single in the box set are exact replicas of the original issues. 
Only the 9 singles not originally released by Polar Music have been given new Polar labels, corresponding to the design used by Polar during the era when each single was released.
It's a severely limited edition, although no numbers are specified.
Retails at a mere € 220,- to 300, -. 
See full track list below.


ABBA Gold Superdeluxe
- April 6 also sees a 3 disc edition of ABBA Gold, featuring the original ABBA Gold and More Gold CDs plus a third disc with tracks that have appeared as b-sides to the various single releases. 59 tracks in all, but maybe the least interesting release of the bunch.

ABBA 40/40 Japan
ABBA's career in Japan, like many western popstars' was at least patchy. Some of the big international hits didn't do very well, while some others, some Japan only singles were more successful.
Björn and Benny also has some success in Japan before the girls were ven mentioned. She's My Kind Of Girl and Love Has It's Ways were hits in various Japanese charts in 1972. It resulted in the release of some very early ABBA singles like I Am Just A Girl and Another Town Another Train.
In Japan the Anniversary Of The Year is celebrated with a 2CD ABBA 40/40 with 40 songs selected by Japanese fans in a survey held last year. Out since March 26. Some surprising choices there, Tiger, Our Last Summer, Hey Hey Helen, Move On, but the pre-Ring Ring oldies are not included.

25th anniversary CD-EP
The 40 Singles Box includes
1. People Need Love / Merry-Go-Round
2. He Is Your Brother / Santa Rosa
3. Ring Ring Swedish Version / Åh, vilka tider
4. Ring Ring English Version / She's My Kind of Girl
5. Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Isn't Hard Enough) / I Am Just A Girl
6. Ring Ring German Version / Wer Im Wartesaal der Liebe steht
7. Waterloo Swedish Version / Honey, Honey Swedish Version
8. Waterloo English Version / Watch Out
9. Waterloo German Version / Watch Out
10. Waterloo French Version / Gonna Sing You My Lovesong
Australia EP
11. Honey, Honey / King Kong Song
12. Honey, Honey German Version / Ring Ring (remix)
13. So Long / I've Been Waiting For You
14. I Do, I Do, I Do / Rock me
15. S.O.S / Man In The Middle
16. Mamma Mia / Intermezzo No.1
17. Fernando / Hey, hey Helen
18. Dancing Queen / That's Me
19. Money, Money, Money / Crazy World
20. Knowing Me, Knowing You / Happy Hawaii
21. The Name Of The Game / I Wonder (Departure)
U.K. promo EP
22. Take A Chance On Me / I'm A Marionette
23. Eagle / Thank You For The Music
24. Summer Night City / Medley: Pick A Bale of Cotton-On Top of.
25. Chiquitita / Lovelight
26. Chiquitita Spanish Version / Lovelight
27. Does Your Mother Know / Kisses of Fire
28. Voulez-Vous / Angel eyes
29. Estoy Sonando / Does Your Mother Know
30. Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) / The King Has Lost His Crown
South Africa
31. I Have A Dream / Take A Chance On Me (live)
32. The Winner Takes It All / Elaine
33. Super Trouper / The Piper
34. Happy New Year / Andante, Andante
35. Lay All Your Love On Me / On And On And On
36. One Of Us / Should I Laugh Or Cry
37. Head Over Heels / The Visitors
38. When All Is Said And Done / Soldiers
39. The Day Before You Came / Cassandra
40. Under Attack / You Owe Me One

Thanks to Jean-François and to Fernando. 
Parts of this article have been featured previously on our facebook page
Japan Anniversary 2CD

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Road To Malmö - The Bandaloop - Waterloo

The Bandaloop are in the race to become Austria's next Eurovision stars. Their song Back To Fantasy is one of the five songs competing in the Austrian National Final on Februari 15.
And Eurocovers is pleased to inform you all that the band have recorded ABBA's Waterloo after a 'meeting' with the Legendary Swedish band and made it available for you here, Yay! (more people should do that).
Credits: photo (c) Norbert Ivanek, wax figures (c) Madame Tussauds Wien

"Waterloo" is an exclusive gift for all the fans of The Bandaloop and is available until the 28th of February as free download here:
Download "Waterloo"  Hope you didn't miss it.

"Back To Fantasy" can be downloaded on iTunes:
"Back To Fantasy" on iTunes

The Bandaloop website, Also check out the Austria page at the Malmö Collection.

from their press message:
"Since this year's ESC finals will take place in Malmo, Sweden, the members of The Bandaloop - Barca Baxant, Justin Case and Mike Blitz - tried to gain some inspiration from the legendary Swedish band ABBA. Fortunately, they could easily "get in touch" with the most popular Swedish band in Vienna - for they are currently part of the exhibition at Madame Tussauds Wien, as a wax figure".

"ABBA used to give me a lot of inspiration when I was young. I was a huge fan of them!" so Barca Baxant, singer of The Bandaloop. Being able to represent Austria at the ESC, just like ABBA for Sweden did, is her greatest ambition for this Friday: "in 2013, we would like to reach what ABBA with 'Waterloo' did in 1974: the European crown of pop music!" Justin Case, bassist of The Bandaloop and king of the keyboards, loopers and all other electronic instruments in this project, spent the last few days working on their extraordinary cover version of the ABBA-hit: "with 'Waterloo', ABBA made Song Contest history at that time. On the one hand, it was an honour to work on our own interpretation of this song, and on the other hand, it was of course huge fun as well!" Finally, as Mike Blitz, drummer of The Bandaloop adds: "once we have performed our own version of 'Waterloo' this Friday and done our best at it, we hope to gain the sympathy of the audience. The song fits our style perfectly: electronic music with a touch of pop from the '70s and '80s, glowing in a new, fancy light!"

Special thanks to Marco

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

10.000 Eurocovers: Additions to ABBA's Waterloo

Here's some additions to Waterloo in the top 10 most covered Eurovision songs.

A rare version of the 1974 Eurovision classic I had been looking for for a long time is the Turkish version by Nilgün Atılgan. Most known as an actress, Atılgan released several records including this single Oldu mu? (Waterloo) on the Coskun label. (Coskun plak 1359)

Roymond.com presents an odd version of ABBA's Eurovision winner Waterloo features a mini Abba sample, cats and a disturbed vocal. Think The Colourblind James Experience meets Vincent Price. In a washing machine. You can get the track here.

An even more impressive version in the weirdness stakes is the version by Phil Granville you can find at at Dictionaraoke.com. Loving the wow wow wow's at the end.
"This site features parodies of popular songs using karaoke-style backing music with vocals provided by audio pronunciation samples from online dictionaries". Many other great classics get the Dictionaraoke treatment.

And I didn't want to let you hear this one (for your own good), but I can't refuse a request that is accompanied with praise and kisses.

It's the Babies Go Abba Version by the Sweet Little Band (see original article).



Babies Go ABBA, Aerosmith, Bob Marley, Elvis, Madonna, Shakira, Coldplay, Oasis etc - more info at RGS music
The original Waterloo article is here.

BLOG TIP:
Funky Czech In has a nice feature about Blue Swede, band of Eurovision singer Björn Skifs (Swedish entries of 1978 & 1981). Blue Swede preceded Abba by being the first Swedish act to top the US charts (1974 - Hooked on a feeling).

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Perla Paraguaya do Brasil, A Eterna Pequenina

A 2008 Eurocovers post updated here and there with new links etc.

Brasil, Brazil, a famous one point song from the 1991 contest (Bebi Dol - Yugoslavia) but also the country with more Eurocovers recorded than any other non-Eurovision country.
I don't want to sell Football short, but music is probably the cornerstone of Brasilian life.
So it's not surprising that many Eurovision songs have found their way to Brasilian singers. From the first contest in 1956 (with at least 3 songs covered in Brasil) to well into the 70's Eurovision songs have been covered by artists from the home of Samba.
About every Italian entry, most of the songs from the U.K. and many of the winners and hits from other countries. Only Portuguese songs seem a bit underrepresented.

So here's a bit of Brasilian Pop History, mixed with a bit of Paraguay and a touch of Sweden and of course Eurovision songs.

Perla was born Ermelinda Pedroso Rodriguez d'Almeida in 1952. She was raised in a musical family in Caacupé, Paraguay but she left the family in the early 70's and headed to Rio where she started performing and was soon welcomed as an international attraction.
Appearances on popular TV shows got her a record deal soon and she released her first LP Perla* in 1972 with mainly Spanish language evergreens.

The first LP was in Spanish but her second album titled Perla was released in both a Portuguese language version and a Spanish language version, catering for the complete latin American market. It includes the first Eurovision cover, but I'll get to that later. It also includes her first hit Estrada do Sol.
Her 1976 album Palavras De Amor was also recorded in two languages and it includes what was probably her biggest hit Fernando, of ABBA fame.

Productive Perla released an album every year from 1975 to 1982 and sometimes even two, and the ABBA cover formula worked well for her. Chiquitita for example was another of her top hits as Pequenina. Later on she occasionally released an album, often sponsored by her fan club.
Most of her early songs are coverversions of popular hits and her popular ABBA covers were all re-issued on a 2002 CD 50 Perla Canta ABBA E Outros Hits (in Portuguese). Her version of S.O.S.: Paz De Um Grande Amor is as melancholy as the original and one of the best ABBA covers ever recorded (IMHO of course).
An extended version of the Canta ABBA album (also including Livre, see below) is on Spotify and other digital sources. 
Perla's more recent work is Perla, Nossas Canções from 2002 (Spanish version Perla, Nuestras Canciones was released in 2003)

PERLA EUROCOVERS
Italy 1966 - Dio Come Ti Amo

You may think Eurocovers is overdoing it a bit with this one, but it's Perla's first Eurocover recorded in 1975, so it's here. It's also the most covered Eurovision entry by Brasilian artists with almost half of the covers I know of it coming from Brasil.
Perla recorded three versions:
Deus Come Te Amo (Portuguese)
- on EP Perla (RCA 1010143, 1976) and LP Perla (RCA - 1030152, 1975)
Dios Como Te Amo (Spanish)
- on LP Perla en Espanol (RCA - 9910393, 1975)
Dio Come Ti Amo (Italian, recorded in 1999)
- on CD Especialmente Para Você (Brasidisc BRCD 1005, 1999) (also on digitalia)

Italy 1977 - Libera (Mia Martini)
A disco era Eurovision song that doesn't have many covers to its name, but Perla takes care of two.
Livre (Portuguese)
- on LP Perla (RCA 1030219, 1977) (song also on digitalia)
Libre (Spanish)
- on LP Perla, Para Los Que Han Amado (RCA 99111319)

United Kingdom 1978 - Bad Old Days (Coco)
Meu Querido Pai (Portuguese)
- On LP Perla (RCA 103.0266, 1978)
Viejo Papa (Spanish)
- on LP Perla* (RCA Victor ILP 015 (Bolivia) & RCA 1836 (Venezuela)

Israel 1979 - Hallelujah (Milk and Honey, 1979 winner)
Alegria (Portuguese)
- on LP Pequenina (RCA Victor 1030309, 1979)

* As you may have noticed, several (different) LP's are just called Perla


Links and Sources:
Perla, A Eterna Pequenina is a biography from 2021 by Marinaldo Da Sila E Silva (in Portuguese)
  Perla website - This site has an extensive discography and also Perla CDs for sale. And of course pictures, lyrics and videos.
Clique Brasil and Special Thanks to João.

In previous Brasil posts you can find Puppet On A Strings and Eurocovers by My New Favorite singer Leny Eversong.


Saturday, March 08, 2014

Even Horses Love ABBA

ABBA cover albums come in all tastes and flavors. Until now the daftest one was Babies Go ABBA, music to make your little one sleep. But now we have ABBA re-recorded for your equestrian friends. 
Championed by Isabell Werth (who is someone very important in the dressage world), an album full of ABBA covers (instrumentals) was released in Januari to use for horse ballet. You've seen it at the Olympics.
The performing artist is Richard Rossbach who has released many dressage albums.
There are some clips at Amazon

Recently André Rieu and his orchestra released an album full of hits by the Swedish foursome. More ABBA related Eurocovers posts are here.


Saturday, May 15, 2010

The Olsen Brothers New Album, updated

Is It A Bird?, Is It A Plane?

Three week ago Eurocovers reported (here) on the forthcoming album by 2000 Eurovision winners the Olsen Brothers. There is a new tracklist now and it turns out to be more exiting than the original announced tracklist did imply.

Less great news is that the release date is now set to the end of june, while Eurovision week probably would have been better publicity wise.

Here's the full new tracklist of Wings Of Eurovision (My Way Records):
1 - Bang A Boomerang
Not a Eurovision song, but a Swedish preselection song from 1975. ABBA's Björn & Benny penned it for Svenne & Lotta and it ended 3rd in the Swedish final. ABBA themselves recorded it for the 1975 ABBA LP.
The Olsens have also recorded ABBA's Fernando which can be found on the 2003 album More Songs.
2 - Love Shine A Light
The U.K. 1997 winner by Katrina and The Waves
3 - Hallelujah - Featuring Lill Babs
Israels second winner in a row from 1979. The Olsens team up with Swedish songstress superstar Lill Babs for a jazzy interpretation. Her own April April was 14th in the 1961 contest.
4 - What's Another Year
The Irish 1980 winner you can read all about in the post below.
5 - Rock 'n' Roll Kids
The original grey-power winner, Irelands 1994 entry by Paul Harrinton & Charlie McGettigan.
6 - Waterloo
ABBA's 1974 winner for Sweden
7 - Ein Bisschen Frieden - featuring Nicole
The bro's team up with the original singer Nicole for this version of the schmaltzy German 1982 winning song.
8 - Save Your Kisses For Me
Brotherhood Of Man won in 1976 for the United Kingdom
9 - Let It Swing And Let It Rock 'n' Roll
Norway's 1985 winner by Bobbysocks! (Elisabeth Andreasson and Hanne Krogh) now sung in English.
10 - Non So Che Darei - featuring Alan Sorrenti.
Alan Sorrenti, original singer of this Italian 1980 entry guests on this new version of his Italian #1 hit.
11 - Congratulations
The song by Cliff Richard that was allegedly robbed of its victory by Franco, dictator.
It's not the first Cliff cover for the Olsen Brothers: on their 2008 album Respect you can find Livin'Doll.
12 - Fly On The Wings Of Love 2010
13 - Smuk Som Et Stjerneskud 2010

The last two tracks are new versions of the Olsen Brothers winning song from 2000. The song was performed in English at the contest, but at the national final it was in Danish.
They also recorded the song in German as Weil Nur Die Liebe Zählt. This can be found on the German language album with the same name which was released in 2002.

Volare (Italy 1958) and Främling (Sweden 1983) seem to have disappeared from the tracklist, but according to the Olsen Brothers website at least Volare was recorded.
http://www.olsen-brothers.dk/  has more information on the recording of the new album.

Shop for The Olsen Brothers CDs at BeaRecords
Digital versions of the album have a bonus track: Fly On The Wings Of Love (Remix)


Stay Tuned For The Oslo Weeks
Trains and Boats And Planes, the 2010 Eurovision stars are heading to Norways capital city to sing their little hearts out for all the world to witness and win the much coveted Eurovision trophy.
Tradition dictates that Eurocovers will celebrate the event with The Oslo weeks. in the coming two weeks there's be articles on the best loved Norwegian Eurovision stars, the Norwegian classics and interesting / odd Eurovision hits covered by Norwegian artists.
For all the news on the 2010 entries, their versions, chart adventures and of course details on CD shopping must haves there's The Oslo Collection.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Free at last, Costume Drama at Eurocovers

This week we are saying our sad goodbye's to John Inman, alias Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries.
The British actor who has done more for 'costume drama' in the classic sitcom Are You Being Served? than any other actor or fashion designer. Always camp but never vulgar, always with a big heart, Mr. Humpries' role in Grace Brothers involved a lot singing and dancing and taking dressing-up to absolute perfection.
My favorite moments are the dancing shows, where the show would finish with a big number all the Grace Brothers employees had practiced hard for, only to be outshined by Mr. Humpries extravagant entrance.


Eurovision 2007: Ukraine picked their entry last night and they chose Verka Serduchka (Верка Сердючка) with the song Dancing Lasha Tumbai. Serduchka is the drag tzarina, owing more to Mrs Doubtfire than to RuPaul. Her song, careless as it may sound, is some sort of finger to Russia. Fabulous is the word of course. and Tanzen!
Serduchka is already the second drag act to be selected for Helsinki as Denmark chose DQ with the song Drama Queen.


But we're at Eurocovers here, so let's get some dragqueens doing coverversions. Eurovision Diva's are of course the perfect subject for any costume change and then there's ABBA, probably imitated more than any Judy, Yma or Shirley.

ABBAlicious (FigJam entertainment) is a show by 9 New York drag acts. Their CD features 14 versions of ABBA songs and Waterloo, featured here, is sung by Edie.
ABBAlicious should not be confused with the New Zealand ABBA tribute band of the same name.

On a more local level there's Wintersport by Amsterdam talkshow host and superstar Sally Bowles (with Claudette Ball in this song). Their wintersports version of the 1969 Spanish winner Vivo Cantando was released on a CD by the Gaiety Bar, where Sally frequented with her shows. (1992, Een avond at the Gaiety)

Paco Clavel may not be a drag queen per se, but has been know to dress up occasionally. One occasion was an exposition in Madrid 'Exposition Eurovision 2000' for which he recorded a special issue cdsingle. The song featured here is a medley of Spanish entries: Eurovision Cañi includes Que Bueno, Que Bueno, La La La, Vivo Cantando & Quien maneja mi barca







related post: If you're really hard and totally non-gay you can find a AC/DC style spandex version of Waterloo in this Eurocovers post.

Monday, January 01, 2007

AB/BA - AC/DC style


First of all, a great big happy VII to all Eurocovers readers, let's make it a good one!

Now to more urgent matters.

RIFF RAFF From AC/DC to ABBA

2006 was a good year for Eurovision metal. The mighty mighty Lordi won the Eurovision songcontest, and Berlin AC/DC tribute band RIFF RAFF released a CD full of abba covers.
Waterloo isn't an unexpected choice for a rock/metal band to cover, it has been done before for example by Black Ingvars (Sweden), Cloth (New Zealand), Gabba (in Ramones style), Los Enemigos (Spain) and Nation (Sweden) but it's 'interesting' to hear what AC/DC's version of I have a dream and Chiquitita would sound like.
Voicewise the bands singer Steve sticks close to the original, not ABBA, but AC/DC, and after a song or 5 it makes you wonder, why didn't AC/DC have any songs as good as this? (Just kidding guys) In all, great fun for all to be had, now all sing along: Mamma Mia, here you go to Hell....

The album is titled AB/BA - Rock'n'Roll Mutation vol. 1. (the / being a little electric flash sign thingy)

Tracklist:
Money, Money, Money
I Have A Dream
Super Trooper
Mamma Mia
Take A Chance On Me
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Winner Takes It All
Chiquitita
Dancing Queen
Waterloo

Riff Raff have their own homepage and also a My Space with music.
The CD is available from international selling Rock shop http://www.musicbuymail.com/

Monday, October 28, 2013

Dum Dum Diddle, to be your fiddle

This week Orchestral genius André Rieu releases a double album with one disc dedicated to the ultimate legends of pop: ABBA.
It includes Eurovision winner Waterloo but the absence of Dum Dum Diddle is a missed opportunity of philharmonic proportions.
The ABBA CD includes the following tracks:

  1. Chiquitita
  2. Mama Mia
  3. Fernando
  4. Money, Money Money
  5. The Winner Takes It All
  6. Waterloo
  7. I Have A Dream
  8. Arrival
  9. Dancing Queen
  10. The Way Old Friends Do
  11. Thank You For The Music
  12. Thank You Abba
The other CD features timeless classics like Yesterday (Beatles), I Don't Know How To Love Him (Jesus Christ Superstar), La Vie En Rose (Edith Piaf, Grace Jones), Arriverderci Roma (Renato Rascel, Mario Lanza) and Hymne A L'amour (Edith Piaf)
More details at André Rieu's website or in a CD store near you.

André Rieu and his orchestra have recorded a few other Eurovision covers in the past.
Volare (Italy 1958, with Russel Watson) on CD Zauber der Musik 3 from 2003.
Zwei kleine Italiener (Germany 1962) on 2009 CD Ich hab mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren 
Puppet On A String (Details wanted)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

4 X 40 - Madrid 1969 - extra: The Losers

1969 is one of my favorite years in Eurovision history. Not just because of the multitude of great songs, but also from a collectors point of view. Many singles were released in stunning picture sleeves all over Europe (I'm getting all nostagic here) and most artists released their song in different languages.
Here, in an extra 4 X 40 post, is a quick run-by of the songs that didn't win, and a few coverversions for your entertainment.

Opening the contest was Yugoslavia. Pozdrav Svijetu (Dobar Dan) by Ivan & the M 's was a language marvel in itself, as the lads wished us all a good day in our own language. The multi language trick has been repeated often in Eurovision.
Ivan & the M's recorded also recorded their song in Spanish.
I don't know about any coverversion of this song though, if you do, please let me know.

Romuald recorded his Luxembourg entry Catherine in French, Spanish, German and Italian. The song was written by no-one less than Paul Mauriat, featured in the very first Eurocovers post with lyrics by André Borgioli. Paul Mauriat recorded an instrumental of the song with his orchestra.


Monaco's Maman by Jean Jacques was recorded by the 12 year old singer in French, Spanish and German. It's a tale about a young boy wanting to be a soldier but then he sees it upsets his mum he decides never to take up arms. This simple receipe for world peace was covered a few times, but I have only found covers in Spanish (and some instrumentals). Here's one by Los Olivers from the LP Hits In España.

Third up was Spains home entry Vivo Cantando by Salomé - (4 X 40 Vivo Cantando )

Muriel Day´s The Wages Of Love (Ireland) was only recorded in English and I don´t know of any coverversions.

The entry for Italy Due Grosse Lacrime Bianchi by Iva Zanicchi was covered two times once in Spanish and one instrumental.
Surprising as most Italian entries of the era easily clock up 30, 50, or even 100 coverversions. Michael Holm wrote German lyrics for Iva Zanicchi´s own version, but even if it was recorded, it remains unreleased. Here´s the Spanish coverversion Solo Dos Lagrimas by Gelu.

After Italy two winners in a row: United Kingdom (4 X 40 - Boom Bang A Bang) and The Netherlands - (4 X 40 De Troubadour)

My personal favorite of 1969, Swedens Tommy Körbergs Judy Min Vän (Judy My Friend), was oddly translated as Dear Mr. Jones for his English version released on the European market. Great song and a great singer who shot to world fame with the recording of the musical Chess written by Tim Rice, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. In 1988 he tried again at Eurovision with Stad I Ljus and today he is a celebrated star in Sweden performing regularly with BAO (Benny Anderssons Orchester)
Tommy Körberg defeated two pre-ABBA efforts on his way to Madrid. Hej Clown by Jan Malmsjö (Written by ABBA's Benny Andersson) ended 2nd and Anni-Frid Lyngstadts (ABBA's Frida) solo song Härlig Är Vår Jord ended 4th.
I only know of only two coverversions of Judy Min Vän, one in Norwegian by Per Müller (Judy Min Venn, still looking for that one) and one in Finnish by Johnny Liebkind: Judy-Ystäväni (Scandia EP)

Louis Neefs (1937-1980) second entry for Belgium Jennifer Jennings is another fine pop tune. Neefs recorded it in Dutch (Flemish), French, German, English, Italian and Spanish.
I know of seven coverversions of which 5 are more or less instrumental.
A cool one is by the 50 Foot Combo, a ska-punk outfit who recorded the song for their 2003 CD Jennifer Jennings.

Bonjour, Bonjour by Paola (del Medico) is yet another great song from the 1969 contest. It was the song that ended 5th after the four winners. Paola's original version was in German but she also recorded the song in French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Coverversions were recorded in English, Swedish, Dutch, Estonian and Czech (by Jamilá Vesela, details wanted). Paola represented Switserland and tried her luck again in 1980 with Cinema, which did slighly better and ended 4th.
-
-Once a long time ago an early edition of the Eurovision Collectors Guide booklet got a book review in Record Collector Magazine. Of course the piss was taken: "people getting their ears insulted once a year" and "translated into exotic languages like English" but the critic ended with referring to the fantasticness of the Norwegian 1969 entry Oj Oj Oj Så Glad Jeg Skal Bli by Kirsti Sparboe, which had been haunting him ever since. And it shifted some copies of the book anyway.
The 1969 song from Norway only got one point and ended last but the Norwegians were getting used to that. I think it's just as lovely and as catchy as Boom Bang A Bang. Kirsti recorded the song in Norwegian, Swedish, German and French.
A Dutch/Flemish version by Danyel Dirk was titled Oi, Oi, Oi, Mijn Hart Staat Op Springen (My heart is about to jump/explode).
Danyel Dirk had it all, good looks and a promising start to his career with a few popular singles. But it wasn't meant to be as just a few months after releasing his debut LP Danyel Dirk he died in a tragic single car accident at the age of 22. Oi Oi Oi can be found on that debut LP (Regal records) re-issued in 1975 on Columbia. It's also the b-side to Er Stond Een Regenboog. http://www.danyeldirk.net/

Swedish Siw Malmkvist already sang for Sweden in 1960 but with Primaballerina she represented Germany. Siw recorded Primaballerina in German, Swedish and Spanish.
It's one of the 18 Eurovision songs that was covered by Estonian legend Heli Lääts. More about Heli Lääts in this Eurocovers post and more Siw here and here

14th (out of 16) in line was the winner from France (4 X 40 Un Jour, Un Enfant)

Desfolhada Portuguesa, (a.k.a. Desfolhada) Simone de Oliveira's second Eurovision entry (after 1965's Sol De Inverno) for Portugal is probably the second most remembered Portuguese Eurovision evergreen (after 1974's E Depois Do Adeus, I should do a post about that one too some time).
It's in the same league as The Troubadour, folk-ish with a passion and it's still a fan favorite too. So why Lenny Kuhr won and Simone only ended 15th is a mystery to me.
The song has been covered several times in Portuguese and is still a popular song at Simone's live performances. She recorded the song in French, Spanish and of course Portuguese.

Patricia Cruz
A new version of Desfolhada Portuguesa can be found on the CD Recordação by Patrícia Cruz. The 2008 CD also includes coverversions of the Portuguese entries of 1985 (Penso em ti, eu sei) and 1991 (Lusitana Paixão). Watch a live performance
-
-
The last country to perform in the 1969 contest was Finland. And odd duo, a weird hat and a revue song just different from anything else on offer. Kuin Silloin Ennen by Jarkko & Laura ended 12th, which with hindsight was a good result for Finland pre-Lordi.
Many Eurovision songs were covered in Finland, more than in any other country, but Finnish songs were mainly covered by Finnish artists. Kuin Silloin Ennen has a few covers in Finnish, one in related language Estonian and one in Spanish. (Las Llamas Crecen by Los Dos)

Austria opted out of the contest because of Franco's dictatorship, and Denmark was in year 2 of their 11 year Eurovision drought. Liechtenstein was also rumoured to have participated in 1969, but it was a hoax, even though there is a EP by singer Vetty including Liechtensteins so called Eurovision entry Un Beau Matin. The song drops all the countries names and by todays standards it would probably be a parody .