Je suis tombé du ciel - David Alexandre Winter

David Alexandre Winter was born as Leon Kleerekoper on 4 April 1943 in Amsterdam. He and his parents – of Jewish background – survived different German concentration camps, and were reunited in 1945 at the war's end in the Netherlands. From 1966 to 1968 Winter was the lead singer for The Hague-based band Daddy's Act. Under the name Johnny van Dooren, he was a DJ at Radio Veronica and later at Radio 227. In early 1968 while living in London he represented England at the Innsbruck Song Festival in Austria, where he obtained first prize and the coveted prix de press. 

In 1970 he was asked to represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Je suis tombé du ciel'. The song wasn't exactly successful: it received no points at all and ended up in the last of 12 places. Listening to both sides of this single, I would have to say that the word 'subtle' isn't exactly in David Alexandre's dictionary. Both songs are quite loud, and mostly because of the vocals.

My collection: 7" single no. 6563
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 December 2021
Cost: €4
Tracks: 'Je suis tombé du ciel' / 'Isabelle mon amour'

Potpourri nr. 62 - The 3 Jacksons

When I mention this band named the 3 Jacksons, your thoughts immediately drift towards Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. But nothing could be further from the truth... Dutch accordion players Piet Koopmans, Harry van de Velde & Piet van Gorp met in 1940 and started this trio. They started releasing records in 1946 and continued right up until 1971. During this time they released no less than 65 different potpourri's, i.e. medleys of usually six different songs, performed on their beloved instruments. They were very successful in the Netherlands and also had many gigs abroad. Harry van de Velde died in 1970, which meant the end of the trio.

Their 62nd potpourri caught my eye and that's because of one reason only: the fact that it includes Marty Wilde's classic song 'Abergavenny'. As such, this single belongs in my ever growing collection of cover versions of Wilde songs. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6562
Found: De elpeezaak, Den Haag, 4 December 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Ich bau dir ein Schloss / Ik kan geen kikker van de kant afduwen / Moest dat nou' / 'Abergavenny / Costa Brava / Callow la Vita'

Never the end - Kari Kuivalainen

Kari Kuivalainen was primarily a composer rather than a singer, and in 1986 he submitted his song 'Päivä kahden ihmisen', which was originally intended for singer Kaija Koo. However, she declined the chance to participate, so Kuivalainen decided to perform the song himself at the Finnish national final, where he was the choice of the jury (by a margin of only one point over former Eurovision participant Kirka) to go forward to represent Finland at the 31st Eurovision Song Contest.

Prior to the contest, Kuivalainen changed some of the lyrics to the song, and although it was sung in Finnish, the title was changed to 'Never The End', which appeared on screen on the night of the contest and is the name by which the song is commonly known. The song finished in 15th place in a field of 20 competitors. This single features the English version of the song rather than the Finnish one, hence the title... 'Never the end'. Kuivalainen subsequently became a member of band Menneisyyden Vangit, alongside another Eurovision veteran, Vicky Rosti.

My collection: 7" single no. 6561
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Never the end' / 'Sailing away with my dreams'

Schon wieder macht mein Herz bump bump - Fredi & Friends

Earlier this year, on 23 April, Matti Kalevi Siitonen passed away. He was known professionally as Fredi and he represented Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest on two occasions. His second and last appearance happened as part of the group Fredi & Friends with the song 'Pump Pump' in 1976. 

When I bought that single, I didn't know there was also a German version of the song. I was only made aware of this a few weeks ago. And as luck would have it, I found this copy a few weeks after that. Admittedly the sleeve is a bit damaged (with a stamp on the front) but it doesn't detract from the vinyl itself. And so I am quite satisfied with this little addition.

My collection: 7" single no. 6560
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Schon wieder macht mein Herz bump bump' / 'Zeig mir bei Nacht die Sterne'

Brasil - Baby Doll

These days we've grown accustomed to people looking like Christmas trees, all dolled up and with bells and baubles on, but back in 1991 it was quite a shock to see a certain Baby Doll performing 'Brasil' on the Eurovision stage. 

She represented Yugoslavia, just before the country de facto ceased to exist later that year. The song only gained one point (awarded to the song by the Maltese jury), which saved her from last place and got her to the 21st position in a field of 22 competitors. Baby Doll (real name: Dragana Šarić) continued her career in music and certain reality television shows in Serbia. In 2015, she married American-born Serbian professor of philology and Russian language Aleks Todorović and has allegedly changed her name to Danica Todorović.

My collection: 7" single no. 6559
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Brasil' / 'Control'

 

Could it be - Georgina & Paul Giordimaina

Exactly twenty years after Joe Grech, who was responsible for Malta's debut at the Eurovision Song Contest with a jazzy, swinging song, Georgina & Paul Giordimaina were responsible for the return of Malta on the Eurovision stage after an absence of 16 years. And they came with a song that was the absolute opposite of 'Marija L-Maltija': a syrupy, sticky, almost nauseating ballad. At least, that's how I qualified this song back in 1991. 

Listening to it now, it is a bit of a middle of the road affair, but the nauseating effect has worn off a bit. Still, it wasn't the best of what that year had to offer - although I wasn't exactly thrilled by the winning song either ('Captured by a lovestorm' by Carola, that was). The duo recorded their song both in English and in Maltese, and both versions appear on this 7" single, which is a bit of a rarity too: after 1991, no Maltese songs would ever be released on 7" vinyl again.

My collection: 7" single no. 6557
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Could it be' / 'Sejjah u ssbni'

Marija L-Maltija - Joe Grech

Although I would have preferred to get a copy with the picture sleeve, this is impossible, and so I settled for this one in a generic white sleeve. And 'this one' is a single of Malta's first ever entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. 

Joe Grech was responsible for this debut performance, sung entirely in Maltese and ending up in last place. 'Marija L-Maltija' was composed by Joe Grech himself, and the lyrics were written by Charles Mifsud.Listen to it now and you're transported back to a time when chansons were popular and this jazzy, slightly noisy track probably fell out of place a bit. But it's not a bad track, I quite enjoyed listening to this one.

My collection: 7" single no. 6558
Found: Ebay, received 3 December 2021
Tracks: 'Marija L-Maltija' / 'In-Nassab'