Listen to your heart - Roxette

According to Per Gessle, 'Listen to your heart' was conceived as 'The Big Bad Ballad. This is us trying to recreate that overblown American FM-rock sound to the point where it almost becomes absurd. We really wanted to see how far we could take it.'

They took it very far, all the way to number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart to be exact. When released in the UK in October 1989 it only reached number 62, but a re-release took it to number 6. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 3.

My collection: 7" single no. 1072
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Listen to your heart' / '(I could never) give you up'

19 (The final story) - Paul Hardcastle

'19 (The Final Story)' was the second 12" single to be released by Paul Hardcastle as a result of the success of his single '19'. The new remix features new spoken material and samples, as well as a totally different sleeve.

It's uncanny how catchy this collection of soundfiles about the Vietnam war is still after two decades. It's also strange how such a serious subject becomes danceable.

My collection: 12" single no. 521
Found: Record fair, 2000
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: '19 (The Final Story)' / 'King Tut (US remix)', 'Fly by night'

Can you forgive her? - Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys followed up the two singles from their compilation album 'Discography' with the dramatic and impressive single 'Can you forgive her?'. It was a remarkable comeback for the duo, complete with a rather ridiculous space age image and a computer animated music video.

The lyrics describe a young man's humiliation when his girlfriend accuses him of having gay tendencies – even though he does in fact have them. The title of the song is taken from the Anthony Trollope novel of the same name. 'Can you forgive her?' reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1919
Found: Record fair, June 5, 1993
Cost: 7 guilders
Tracks: 'Can you forgive her?' / 'Hey headmaster'

Bopper en larmes - Laurent Voulzy

'Bopper en larmes' is a rather straightforward pop song, not one of the things Laurent Voulzy specialized in during the Eighties, when he was predominantly releasing ballads and well thought out album tracks.

Still, it was a hit for Voulzy in France, where he has always had a big fan following. Outside of France, he remained virtually unknown.

My collection: 7" single no. 4199
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Bopper en larmes' / 'L'Océane'

My number one - Luv'

After Patty Brard left Luv', it seemed like the girl group had reached the end of their tether. But this wasn't necessarily true: with a new girl, Ria Tielsch, they record their fourth studio album 'Forever yours'. The first single, released in advance of the album, is 'My number one'.

This single is their last top 10 hit in the Netherlands, peaking at number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 4184
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'My number one' / 'The show must go on'

One more time - Fay Lovsky

Another single from Fay Lovsky's 1983 album 'Origami', 'One more time' is a ballad with a very intimate instrumentation. It's another single by Lovsky that didn't make the Dutch charts, although it was heavily promoted at the time as the follow-up to 'Ramon'.

I found this single together with three other Fay Lovsky releases in Belgium, which is quite extraordinary since they are so hard to find in Lovsky's native Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4178
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'One more time' / 'Sugar me Sam'

Hero takes a fall (remix) - The Bangles

'Hero takes a fall' is a single from the Bangles' debut album 'All over the place'. The song was written by Susanna Hoffs and Vicki Peterson from the band.

The single did not chart, but it did give the band some exposure. So much so, that they performed as an opening act for Cyndi Lauper and Huey Lewis and the News in 1984. It also won the attention of Prince, who would write their first hit: 'Manic Monday'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4197
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 8, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Hero takes a fall (remix)' / 'Tell me'