Hawaii - PiL

The annual disappointment of an undeserving winner - in my opinion and most of the televoters I could say this year - has happened last night and the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is history. But the whole thing actually already started with a disappointment!

It was announced, some months ago, that Public Image Limited, the band of ex-Sex Pistol John Lydon, would participate in the Irish national final. 'Hawaii' was a song dedicated to Lydon's wife who was suffering from Alzheimer's. It would have been quite fabulous to see PiL representing Ireland this year, but somehow the Irish chose for a middle of the road, 'once heard quickly forgotten' song by a young band. Well, at least there's this 7" single which presents the song in two versions. I didn't know Lydon was also a visual artist, but it was he who created the artwork. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6988
Found: Amazon, received 11 May 2023
Tracks: 'Hawaii' / 'Hawaii (edit)'

Because of you - Gustaph

Somewhere in the next few days (well, Thursday actually), Gustaph will perform in the second semifinal of this year's Eurovision Song Contest with 'Because of you'. Overused James Brown-samples aside, this is a decent song that deserves a place in the final, if you ask me.

I'm also impressed that finally, after many years, a Belgian entry has been released on a vinyl single again. It's time that record companies realize that Eurovision fans will buy any Eurovision track on a physical medium, and although only a handful of singles are being released these days, it is a promising sign that the Netherlands (yes, the Dutch song will also be released on 7"!) and Belgium are doing what they should. Hopefully there's more to come.

My collection: 7" single no. 6986
Found: Official website, received 4 May 2023
Tracks: 'Because of you' / 'Because of you (DJ edit)'

Caracola - Los TNT

During the Eurovision Song Contest 1964, Spain was represented by Italian-Uruguayan band Los TNT with the song 'Caracola', written by Fina de Calderón. The song was chosen through a national final, while the performers were chosen internally by TVE. They received a single point from Italy, coming 12th in a field of 16 competitors.

It's not easy to find a copy with a picture sleeve for a reasonable price. This single is the next best thing: a single in an official Belter record company sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 6987
Found: Discogs.com, received 6 May 2023
Tracks: 'Caracola' / 'Camino de la felicidad'

Non ho l'eta per amarti / Près de ma rivière

This single could only be bought by those who bought Expo Bread, in Belgium during the Sixties. This combination of music and bread is one I didn't know before, but apparently it was quite successful, as this single was number 45 in a series. Without exception the singles contained cover versions of existing songs, and in the case of this single both are Eurovision tracks from 1964: the winning song and the runner-up. 

'Non ho l'eta' was the Italian winning song, and the Belgian entry 'Près de ma rivière' ended up just behind it. On this single the songs are performed by Patricia Smith and Eric Richard respectively, together with Jack Say's orchestra. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6984
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 May 2023
Tracks: 'Non ho l'eta per amarti' (Patricia Smith) / 'Près de ma rivière' (Eric Richard)

Walking the streets in the rain - Butch Moore

If you want to buy singles of Irish Eurovision entries, you're likely to find lots of Dana, Linda Martin and the unavoidable Johnny Logan. The really good songs are much harder to find. The very first Irish Eurovision song from 1965, for example, is almost impossible to find. A copy with a picture sleeve will set you back €75, apparently, so you're lucky to find a disc in a generic disc for a lower price. And so, that's what I did.

'Walking the streets in the rain' is one of the best Irish Eurovision entries ever: a ballad with lyrics that set a scene almost immediately. You can almost picture the singer walking in the rain and crying. There was fierce competition that year, but the song still ended up in sixth place in a field of 18 competitors. Butch Moore (10 January 1938 - 3 April 2001) enjoyed a successful career in Ireland until he emigrated to the USA in 1970. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6983
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 May 2023
Tracks: 'Walking the streets in the rain' / 'I stand still'

Old man fiddle - Pihasoittajat

Finland has regularly stunned Eurovision audiences with eccentric entries. This year's 'Cha cha cha' is reasonably modern, but I wonder if Pihasoittajat wasn't totally out of step when they performed this in 1975. 

'Od man fiddle' is the English version of 'Viulu-ukko', the song they won the Finnish national final with. Thanks to the relaxed language rules that year they could at least perform in English, and so they didn't totally bewilder the juries. 'Old man fiddle' reached seventh place in a field of 19 competitors.

My collection: 7" single no. 6982
Found: Discogs.com, received 2 May 2023
Tracks: 'Old man fiddle' / 'Summer call'

Don't give in - Snow Patrol

Sometimes when you wait long enough records become affordable. Take for instance this 10" single from Snow Patrol, released on Record Store Day in 2018. It features only two tracks, but it was pressed on off black colour recycled vinyl in commemoration of International World Earth Day 2018. Hence the price target of almost 20 euros. 

However, during the last record fair I visited, a stack of these records were on sale for only 5 euros. Obviously that was what I was waiting for. I like Snow Patrol, but not so much that I am willing to shell out 20 euros for two tracks. 5 euros? Better.

My collection: 10" single [unnumberd]
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 22 April 2023
Tracks: 'Don't give in' / 'Life on earth'