Waarom - Bonnie & José

The recently deceased Ron Brandsteder introduces 'Waarom' ('Why'), a sombe lyric about people making war, not love. It seems awfully current, but this single was released 40 years ago. The song was based on the Abba song 'Move on', and Brandsteder also wrote the Dutch lyrics of this version.

Like the singles 'Cassandra' and 'Zoals vrienden doen' this single was taken from the Abba-themed album Herinnering, which was actually released on CD for the first time in 2020, as I found out when I recorded this purchase in my Discogs collection. To my surprise, the duo released two more singles from this album, although only the two previously mentioned made it into the Dutch Top 40. 'Waarom' only managed a few weeks in the Tipparade.

My collection: 7" single no. 7689
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 15 June 2025
Tracks: 'Waarom' / 'Ligt dat aan jou of aan mij' 

Zoals vrienden doen - Bonnie en José

'Zoals vrienden doen' was released as the follow up to Bonnie & José's 1984 single 'Cassandra'. It was a translation of the Abba track 'The way old friends do', featured on their 1980 album 'Super trouper'.

The Dutch duo had a minor hit with this single, peaking at number 36 in the Dutch Top 40 in the summer of 1985. The album 'Herinnering' ('Memory'), released almost at the same time, featured more Abba covers translated into Dutch.

My collection: 7" single no. 4722
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Zoals vrienden doen' / 'Vandaag of morgen'

Cassandra - Bonnie en Jose

Dutch singers José Hoebee and Bonnie St. Claire got together in 1984 to record a Dutch language cover of the Abba track 'Cassandra'. The two were friends and apparently thought it would be a good idea to do this. The lyric was translated by Benny Neyman, another Dutch singer. The single reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40.

The single got a couple of sequels: the duo were involved in the project 'Abbacadabra', a TV musical for children based on songs of Abba, featuring more Dutch celebrities. In 1985 the duo recorded 'Herinnering' ('Memory'), a whole album of Abba covers.

My collection: 7" single no. 4518
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Cassandra' / 'Ik blijf wachten'