Walkin' in Lee Jeans - Claire Torry

In 1975 it was Ann Christy's turn to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest. She did this with the song 'Gelukkig zijn', written by Mary Bouduin. Ann also recorded the song in English, titled 'Could it be happiness'.

Those exact words also appear in the song 'Walkin' in Lee Jeans', a single that was also released in 1975 and a promotional vehicle for, you guessed it, Lee Jeans. Bouduin explained that she originally wrote the song for this commercial, and then wrote Dutch lyrics for Ann Christy. Since the Eurovision rules stipulate that songs need to be original in order to enter, one has to wonder if this entry was entirely in line with the regulations!

My collection: 7" single no. 7442
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Walkin' in Lee Jeans' / 'Mean jeans'

Nee, nee laat dat - The Strangers

In 1964 the Antwerp group The Strangers released this 4 track EP featuring a cover version of Gigliola Cinquetti's 'Non ho l'eta', the winning song of that year's Eurovision Song Contest. Titled 'Nee, nee laat dat', it was rewritten by Lex Colman in Antwerp dialect. 

As far as I can gather, this is the oldest Eurovision cover by the Strangers. The group started in 1952. Their first performance took place on 7 January 1953 in Hoboken. By 1965 they had already performed 1000 times. They owed their popularity mainly to the fact that everyone could hum along to the original melodies and their translations were more understandable to most Flemish people than the original languages ​​in which the hits were sung. Yet their songs were never literal translations, but always completely new lyrics about often completely different subjects.

My collection: 7" single no. 7441
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'De nieuwe tram', 'Nee, nee laat dat' / 'Reutenkenteut', 'Georgette'

Vaer som du var - Birthe Wilke

When Corry Brokken appeared on the Eurovision stage to perform 'Net als toen' in 1957, Danish singer Birthe Wilke was one of her fellow contestants. She sang 'Skibet skal sejle i nat' for Denmark. After returning to her home country, she recorded this EP, featuring a Danish version of 'Net als toen'. 

'Vaer som du var' was given Danish lyrics by Knud Pheiffer. The rest of the EP is interesting too: it presents a variety of styles, from ballads to poppy light music. Birthe went on, of course, to represent Denmark once again in 1959 with 'Uh jeg ville ønske jeg var dig'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7440
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Huset i Canada', 'Vaer som du var' / 'Hvide syrener', 'Chocolata'

Elle était si jolie - Rika Zaraï

Rika Zaraï was 25 years old when she recorded this EP. It features four tracks and it included a version of the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1963, 'Elle était si jolie'. 

The beautiful colour picture sleeve of this EP is intact, but unfortunately the disc comes with its flaws. Fortunately 'Elle était si jolie' can be played on this, otherwise I would have been very disappointed.

My collection: 7" single no. 7439
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Tournez manèges', 'Elle était si jolie' / 'Demain c'est dimanche', 'Pourquoi je t'aime'

Que bueno, que bueno - Los Sirex

Los Sírex is a Spanish rock band founded in 1959 in Barcelona and active until 1972. In 1977 they got together again and were active until 2012. It was initially formed by three members: Guillermo Rodríguez Holgado, Antonio Miers and Manuel Madruga (Manolo), then briefly joined by the vocalist Santi Carulla in 1960. By the end of 1960, the band consisted of Antoni Miquel Cerveró ("Leslie" or "L'Anxoveta") as lead vocalist, Lluís Gomis (Lluís Gomis de Prunera, 1944-2012) on the drums, Josep Fontseré Portolés (Pepe or Pep, Barcelona, 1945) on the rhythm guitar, Guillermo Rodríguez Holgado on the bass and Manolo Madruga on the lead guitar. They named the band after a component of eyeglasses: Guillermo worked at his father's glasses factory, where they used a filament called Sírex to adjust the lenses to the frames of the glasses.

In 1965 they recorded a version of that year's Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest: 'Que bueno, que bueno', originally performed by Conchita Bautista. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7438
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Que bueno, que bueno' / 'Chao chao (Downtown)'

Guarda tus besos para mi - Los Mismos

Brotherhood of Man won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976 with 'Save your kisses for me'. Two guys and two girls was a success formula introduced by Abba in 1974 and it would continue to be a success in later years as well (just think of Bucks Fizz, for example). 

Los Mismos was a Spanish trio, featuring two guys and one girl. (Perhaps they couldn't find a second girl!) They recorded a cover version of 'Save your kisses for me' in Spanish: 'Guarda tus besos para mi'.

My collection: 7" single no. 7437
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Guarda tus besos para mi' / 'Tiene tu cuerpo tres amantes'

Dès qu'un enfant chante - Bruno Guillain

Betty Missiego represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979 with 'Su canción'. It was a big success: the song finished in second place, behind Israel's 'Hallelujah'. 

The French singer Bruno Guillain (born 9 January 1961) was born in Tizi Ouzou (Algeria).After a childhood in the Parisian suburbs, in Savigny-sur-Orge, he enrolled in 1977 at the Cours Cochet. In 1978, he landed a role in Michel Lang's film L'Hôtel de la plage. At the same time, he performed the songs 'Génération 78' and 'Ça me fait rêver' as a duet with Dalida. In 1979, he began a solo career with Dalida's authors and composers (Michel Jouveaux, Jeff Barnel, Tony Rallo, etc.) and the Petits chanteurs d'Asnières. 'Dès qu'un enfant chante' was his version of 'Su canción'. 

Struck by lung cancer, he succumbed to the consequences of his illness on 14 December 2011, aged 50.

My collection: 7" single no. 7436
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Dès qu'un enfant chante' / 'Je leur dis'