Tell me - Dulce

Dulce José Silva Pontes was born on 8 April 1969 in Montijo, near Lisbon. She trained as a pianist, and started a career in singing after entering a competition in her hometown at the age of 18. She soon became an actress on Portuguese television and theatre. In 1991 she won the national music festival with her song 'Lusitana Paixão', which led her to represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest. She finished 8th in the competition, which is to date the fourth-best finish for a Portuguese performer

Dulce Pontes started her career as a mainstream pop artist, but over the years she has evolved to become a world music singer. She blends traditional fado with contemporary styles and searches out new forms of musical expression. Her career continues to this day.

My collection: 7" single no. 6389
Found: Bea Records, received 27 May 2021
Tracks: 'Tell me' / 'Lusitana Paixão'

 

Krasi, thalassa ke t'agori mou - Marinella

Marinella was born as Kyriaki Papadopoulou on 20 May 1938 in Thessaloniki. She released her first song 'Nitsa Elenitsa' ('Little Helen') in 1957. Her early career was marked by her collaboration with singer Stelios Kazantzidis. Together they managed to become the greatest duet of Greece, unsurpassed even today. Starting at the night club "Luxembourg" in Thessaloniki where they enjoyed great success, they later moved to Athens, the capital, where they became widely known. Marinella married him on 7 May 1964 and they toured together in Germany and the United States. They divorced in September 1966. 

Marinella then began a solo career. In 1974 she represented Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Krasi, thalassi ke t'agori mou' ('Wine and sea and my boyfriend and me'). It was the first time Greece competed. Originally the Greek rock band Nostradamos would have had the honour but due to a scandal they were embroiled in, Marinella was sent instead. She ended up in 11th place in a field of 17 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 6388
Found: Discogs.com, received 27 May 2021
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Krasi, thalassi ke t'agori mou' / 'Xipna feggari mou'

Onde vais rio que eu canto - Sergio Borges

After the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest was won by four different artists - a result of a lack of rules in case of a tie - five countries decided not to participate in the 1970 edition. Portugal was one of them, but bizarrely enough, they had already selected a song and participant before they decided not to enter. And so Sergio Borges released 'Onde vais rio que eu canto' without actually going to the Netherlands, where the Contest was to be held.

The song is interesting enough, with its up-tempo ending and its pensive melody. This single was one of three I received from Portugal this month - proof that collecting Eurovision singles is truly an international endeavour these days.

My collection: 7" single no. 6385
Found: Discogs.com, received 25 May 2021
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Onde vais rio que eu canto', 'A voz do chao' / 'Velho Sonho', 'Raining in my heart'

Save your kisses for me / Fernando

So who performed these two cover versions? There's no information on the sleeve or label. All we know is that this single was released in Portugal and there's a decidedly seductive sleeve on this one.

'Save Your Kisses For Me' is, of course, a cover version of Brotherhood Of Man's winning Eurovision song from 1976, whereas 'Fernando' was originally recorded by Abba in the same year (and by Frida from that band a year earlier). The Eurovision cover sounds a lot like the original, the other one... well, not so much. Still, it is an interesting rarity that I ordered together with two Portuguese Eurovision songs.

My collection: 7" single no. 6386
Found: Discogs.com, received 25 May 2021
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Save Your Kisses For Me' / 'Fernando'

Desfolhada Portuguesa - Simone

Simone de Oliveira was born on 11 February 1938 and raised in Lisbon. Her Portuguese mother had black African roots in São Tomé and Príncipe (then a Portuguese territory), and her father was Belgian. She started singing in high school. She first represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965 with 'Sol de inverno'. 'Desfolhada Portuguesa' was her second attempt, in 1969.

The song deals with the love of Portugal - the first occasion on which this was the theme of the Portuguese entry, but far from the last. The song compares the love from the conception of a child to patriotic love. At the close of voting, it had received 4 points, placing 15th in a field of 16 competitors. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6384
Found: Discogs.com, received 25 May 2021
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Desfolhada Portuguesa', 'Cinco quadras cinco pedras' / 'Avé-Maria do Povo'

Shine - Five Star

Like many other acts, Five Star had trouble maintaining their success when the Eighties ended and the Nineties began. House and techno music were ruining the charts and pop stars were not as popular as before, audiences opting for anonymous acts and DJ's instead. Having said that, in the case of Five Star their material was becoming a bit bland too. Having made exciting pop hits in the mid-Eighties and a more aggressive style during their Another Weekend phase, 'Shine' (1991) sounded slightly bland.

As a result, 'Shine' did not chart and the accompanying album didn't either. It took them four years to return into the UK charts, although '(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons' and 'I Give You Give' would only reach number 84 and 83 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 6375
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 May 2021
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Shine' / 'Feelings'

Come back to stay - Dickie Rock

Richard Rock, nicknamed 'Dickie' was born in the North Strand, Dublin and raised in Cabra on Dublin's Northside. Between 1963 and 1972 he was one of the frontmen of the Miami Showband. (The two tracks on the B-side of this EP are actually with that band.) 

In 1966 he represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Come Back to Stay'. A number one hit in Ireland, it finished in fourth place in the Contest. Rock went solo in 1973, although still performed occasionally with the Miami Showband after this. He continues to tour in his eighties (as of 2020), after a career spanning almost sixty years. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6382
Found: Discogs.com, received 15 May 2021
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Come back to stay', 'Can't make up my mind' / 'One by one', '(I lost my heart) In San Francisco'