Elle était si jolie - Les Djinns

Les Djinns arrived in my collection with their version of 'Oui, oui, oui, oui', the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959. 'Elle était si jolie' was originally performed by Alain Barriere in 1963 at the same event. And this song was recorded by Les Djinns as well. It appears on this EP, which features four tracks by the choir.

Les Djinns recorded two more Eurovision songs: 'Le chant de Mallory' and 'Tom Pillibi'. I'm sure those versions will eventually end up in my collection as well. It's just a matter of finding them for cheap as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 7261
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 July 2024
Tracks: 'Elle était si jolie', 'Voila, voila' / 'Voila le carnaval', 'Son vent ma jolie'

Oui oui oui oui - Les Djinns

This EP actually features four different songs, but it is their cover of 'Oui, oui, oui, oui' (originally performed by Jean Philippe) that caused this particular purchase. Upon playing the entire EP, I had to conclude that I wouldn't probably listen to all the other tracks much. 

Les Djinns were a French choir with a distinctive singing style, composed of sixty girls between the ages of nine and eighteen years, conducted by Paul Bonneau. In 1959, the French government organized a 'Master School' for the instruction of girls in musical subjects in order to ensure a supply of performance talent for the country's radio and television industry. The Master School set a course of study where the girls followed a curriculum of standard academic subjects in the morning hours, then musical courses in the afternoons consisting of scales, vocal techniques, harmony and choral vocalizing. Upon graduation, each girl was accepted into Les Djinns. Within six weeks of the group's founding, Les Djinns were awarded the Grand Prix of the Academy of Records in France, and their popularity began to proliferate with stage appearances in France and tours in other European countries. Eventually, a total of 88 tunes were recorded, including a Christmas album and an album of American favorites sung in French, and released on the ABC-Paramount label. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6532
Found: Marktplaats.nl, received 30 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Une rose rouge', 'Oui, oui, oui, oui' / 'Balade Irlandaise', 'L'ames des poètes'