Fantasy dream - Ami Aspelund

Ami Aspelund represented Finland in 1983 with the song 'Fantasiaa'. It was written Kaisu Liuhala and composed by Kari Kuusamo. According to some, Kuusamo had listened well to Kim Wilde's hit 'Cambodia' and based the melody of the chorus on the verses of Kim's song. If you listen to 'Fantasiaa' (or the English version, 'Fantasy dream', which is on the A-side of this single) you can certainly hear a certain reminiscence, but no claim has ever been made and the song went on to become reasonably successful. 

'Fantasiaa' ended up on 11th place in the Eurovision Song Contest, in a field of 20 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 6904
Found: Discogs.com, received 8 March 2023
Tracks: 'Fantasy dream' / 'Fantasiaa'

Arrivederci Franz - Birthe Kjaer

Although Danish singer Birthe Kjaer didn't get to represent her country at the Eurovision Song Contest until 1989 with the classic 'Vi maler byen rød', her interest in the competition started a lot earlier. It is evidenced on this single from 1968. 

Although 'Arrivederci Franz' is an original song, the B-side is actually a cover version of the Eurovision song 'Ein Hoch der Liebe', performed for Germany by Wencke Myhre. Thøger Olesen provided the Danish lyrics for Birthe's version.

My collection: 7" single no. 6902
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 March 2023
Tracks: 'Arrivederci Franz' / 'Sig ja til kaerlighed'

Everything's coming up roses (remix) - Black

Generally speaking, Australians aren't exactly good in preserving old records. There are several cd-singles and singles from Australia in my collection that look quite battered and worn, and in the case of this single by Black, the sleeve actually looks quite nice but the music is barely audible from the noise in the grooves on this disc. I wonder why.

I got this single from a dealer in Australia because it is quite rare and through the years I hadn't been able to find a copy. I had to have it, mostly because of the sleeve which is a variation on sleeves from that period. The remix, of course, appears on this promotional single from the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 6899
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 March 2023
Tracks: 'Everything's coming up roses (remix)' / 'Ravel in the rain'

Ime anthropos ki ego - Evridiki

The big mystery of Eurovision Song Contest is why sometimes crap songs win while really beautiful songs are less successful. Case in point: 'Ime anthropos ki ego' ('I'm human too') by Evridiki. It's a beautifully composed song, performed with lots of emotion by Evridiki. A plea for worldwide peace, it was performed fourth on the night, following Ireland and preceding Iceland. At the close of voting, it finished in 11th place in a field of 25 competitors.

The winning song that year wasn't exactly awful, but certainly not the best song of the night: 'Rock 'n' Roll kids' by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan. It was the third consecutive time that Ireland won the competition, during a decade in which jurors were unduly biased towards Irish entries. Of all the songs that were performed during the 1994 edition, 'Ime anthropos ki ego' has aged the best of them all. Finding this 12" single was a great catch.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 7 March 2023
Tracks: 'Ime anthropos ki ego' / 'Fenetre sur cour'

Why do you always haunt me - Radio Java

There's a record-breaking 38 years between me buying the two Radio Java singles that exist. I bought 'Fool' back in 1985, one of my total favourites from that year, and now, just recently, I found the other single online. 

'Why do you always haunt me' was released on blue vinyl and with a colourful picture sleeve that features the band. They only ever released two singles and one album, and none of them charted. On the basis of these two singles I have become rather curious about that album, but it would be great if that got a CD release one day. I keep dreaming for now.

My collection: 7" single no. 6898
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Why do you always haunt me?' / 'Radio Java'

White wedding - Billy Idol

'White wedding' was originally released as the second single from Billy Idol's self-titled studio album in 1982. Although not Idol's highest-charting hit, it is often considered one of his most recognizable songs. In the US, it reached number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 after it was re-issued in 1983. 

This clear vinyl edition was released in 1985, when the Vital Idol remix album had to be promoted. This is also why a 'Mega-Idol mix' appears on the B-side. It was a successful re-release: it peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6897
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'White wedding' / 'Mega-Idol mix'

Sweet memory - Belle Stars

After the Belle Stars had a big hit with 'Sign of the times', they released this single: Sweet memory. They put 'Sign of the times' on the B-side for some reason, but it's just the regular version of that track.

The single reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in Ireland, but didn't achieve any chart success in Europe. In fact, only the 1989 re-release of 'Iko Iko' would bring them success outside of the UK again.

My collection: 7" single no. 6896
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'Sweet memory' / 'Sign of the times'