C'est mon bateau - Jo Lemaire

Belgian singer Jo Lemaire released 'C'est mon bateau' ('It's my boat') in 1990. The accompanying music video was recorded in black and white.

The song was taken from the album 'Duelle', which was a record with French chansons. The album was awarded gold in Belgium and was also successful in France.

My collection: 7" single no. 4883
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 21, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'C'est mon bateau' / 'Jardin des délices'

La mémoire en exil - Jo Lemaire

The album 'Concorde' by Jo Lemaire, released in 1983, contained one side in English and one side in French. This single was taken from the album and contains two French-language tracks. Just like earlier single 'Parfum de rêve', I bought this single because of the beautiful sleeve, and again I was not disappointed: the single is a perfect example of Belgian melodious synthpop.

My collection: 7" single no. 3809
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'La memoire en exil' / 'Les ombres de la rue'

Tentations - Jo Lemaire

After her debut solo album 'Concorde' (1983) did fairly well in Belgium and France, Jo Lemaire released a self-titled album in 1984. From this album, the single 'Tentations' was taken, a swinging piece of pop pleasure. Unfortunately, this single and album signalled a few difficult years for Lemaire, as it yielded no commercial success.

I heard the single back in 1984 because my sister had bought it and played it a few times. A decade later, I bought my own copy. I didn't play it much, but recently I rediscovered it and I have to admit: it's a very good single. Even the B-side is pretty wonderful.

My collection: 7" single no. 1857

Found: Concerto, Amsterdam, January 30, 1993

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Tentations' / 'L'enfer à deux'

Parfum de rêve - Jo Lemaire

Jo Lemaire successfully continued her career after breaking up with her band Flouze. In 1983 she released her debut solo album 'Concorde'. One side of the record consisted of songs in French, whereas the other side contained songs in English.

'Parfum de rêve' was released as a single and did reasonably well in Belgium, although it failed to reach the charts in other territories. I bought this single because I knew of Jo Lemaire and because I liked the colourful sleeve. I was happily surprised when I heard the song: it's a cheerful popsong.

My collection: 7" single no. 1826

Found: Record palace, Amsterdam, January 13, 1993

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Parfum de rêve' / 'Ceremonial spring'

Download: here

Je suis venue te dire que je m'en vais - Jo Lemaire + Flouze

Jo Lemaire was born on January 5, 1956 in Gembloux, Namur (Belgium). She debuted in the late Seventies with her musical group, Jo Lemaire + Flouze. When they released the synthpop track 'Je suis venue te dire que je m'en vais', a moody uptempo track, they became instantly wellknown in Europe and Canada. A year later, in 1982, the group separated, and Lemaire divorced Philippe Depireux, a fellow former bandmember. She moved to Bilzen with her new partler, Fa Vanham, and started a solo career.

'Je suis venue te dire que je m'en vais' is still one of the great synthpop classics and personally it's one of my all-time favourites.

My collection: 7" single no. 667

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1988

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Je suis venue te dire que je m'en vais' / 'Escape'

Download: Album 'Pigmy world', including both tracks