Soldiers of love - Liliane Saint-Pierre

Liliane Saint-Pierre was born as Liliane Keuninckx in Diest, Belgium on December 18, 1948. She started her career in music in the Sixties when she was just 13 years old. After this, she became acquainted with French singer and producer Claude François, who decided to promote her in France. He added the surname Saint Pierre because this sounded French.

In 1987, she represented Belgium with 'Soldiers of love', featuring a rather pacifist lyric. The song finished 11th in a field of 22 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 4612
Found: vinylroy.nl, received March 3, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Soldiers of love' / 'Soldiers of love (instrumental)'

De oude muzikant - Ben Cramer

This year's Dutch entry for the Eurovision Song Contest was written and composed by Pierre Kartner, a.k.a. Father Abraham. The resulting 'Ik ben verliefd Sha-la-lie' ('I'm in love Sha-la-lee') has already been criticised for being out of time and 'not good enough' for the Contest. Some have also questioned whether Kartner was the right person to compose a Eurovision song for the Netherlands.

Still, it's not the first time he did this. Ben Cramer's 1973 entry for Eurovision was also written and composed by Kartner. 'De oude muzikant' ('The old musician') used some of the same cultural references. Back then, the song finished 14th in a field of 17 competitors. If this year's entry also reaches this position, the Netherlands will be happy: after all, the country hasn't competed in the finals since 2004.

My collection: 7" single no. 4611
Found: Vinylroy.nl, received March 3, 2010
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'De oude muzikant' / 'Kom Sylvia dans met mij'

Lovesong - The Cure

This is a song title for nitpickers. It varies between 'Lovesong' and 'Love song' on many official Cure releases. The artwork for the album Disintegration uses both: 'Love song' on the tracklisting and 'Lovesong' on the lyrics sheet. When released as a single in 1989, the cover artwork displayed the title as 'Lovesong', while the printing on the disc itself read 'Love song' all three times. Subsequent releases of the albums 'Paris' and 'Galore' both use 'Lovesong' exclusively, whilst 2001's 'Greatest hits' compilation uses 'Lovesong' on the tracklisting and 'Love song' within the liner notes. 2004's 'Join the dots' also uses 'Lovesong' within the booklet presentation.

Whatever the title, this melancholy single reached number 18 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1003
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Lovesong' / '2 late'

Fingertips '93 - Roxette

Roxette recorded the song 'Fingertips' on their 1992 album 'Tourism'. When the track was chosen to be the third single from the album, it was re-recorded with a new arrangement.

The single was not released in all territories, but it did reach the top 50 singles chart in Sweden and Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 1868
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 13, 1993
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Fingertips '93' / 'Dressed for success (live)'

Be with you - The Bangles

After the huge success of the single 'Eternal flame', the Bangles had to come up with another single to reach the higher regions of the singles charts. The predictable choice would have been another ballad, but fortunately they chose to be original and release the uptempo 'Be with you'.

Released in the summer of 1989, the single couldn't match the success of its predecessor: it didn't chart in the Netherlands and got to number 23 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 970
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Be with you' / 'Let it go'

Voyage voyage - Desireless

Whenever you feel depressed, leave it to the French to push you over the brink of suicide. Desireless' 'Voyage voyage' sounds like an uptempo pop song, but the underlying message is less upbeat. The fact that I can't understand a word of French also helps, of course.

This 12" single features two remixes of the track. The 'Britmix' was created by Pete Hammond and Peter Waterman, whereas the Euro remix was created by Steve Prestage. Both remixes are quite good, actually.

My collection: 12" single no. 427
Found: Record Exchange, London, 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Voyage voyage (Britmix)' / 'Voyage voyage (Euro remix)', 'Destin fragile (instrumental)'

In too deep - Genesis

'In too deep' was recorded for Genesis' 1986 album 'Invisible touch'. It was released as the second single from the album in the UK and the fifth single in the USA. It was to be the band's final single in the USA until 'No son of mine' (1991).

The single peaked at number 19 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3241
Found: London, October 19, 2000
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'In too deep' / 'I'd rather be you'