L'enfant que j'étais - Lys Assia

The legendary Lys Assia won the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, but she returned the next year, representing Switzerland again with 'L'enfant que j'étais'. I was quite surprised to find this EP with a picture sleeve, featuring not only that song but also three others. Picture sleeves weren't all that usual back in the 1950's. 

'L'enfant Que J'étais' ('The Child I Was') was written by Émile Gardaz and composed by Géo Voumard, the same duo who wrote the previous year's Swiss entry and Eurovision winner. The song is about looking back at childhood.

My collection: 7" single no. 7038
Found: Discogs.com, received 5 October 2023
Tracks: 'Histoire d'un amour', 'L'enfant que j'étais' / 'Buenas noches mi amor', 'Scusami'

International - Lys Assia

When Lys Assia won the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 it wasn't immediately clear that she'd performed a classic song, but 'Refrain' has definitely acquired the title 'legendary'. I was happy to buy the German version 'Refrain, du goldner Traum aus meiner Jugendzeit' two years ago, but I was still searching for this EP. Mainly because it's the only version I know that actually has a picture sleeve. 

This EP features 'Refrain, du gold'ner Traum', as well as three other songs also performed in German. I think my collection of 'Refrain' singles is complete now - although you never know!

My collection: 7" single no. 7020
Found: Discogs.com, received 31 August 2023
Tracks: 'Jolie Jacqueline', 'Blaue Veilchen, weisser Flieder' / 'Refrain, du gold'ner Traum', 'Nachts in Paris'

Refrain, du goldner Traum aus meiner Jugendzeit - Lys Assia

Only two years ago I was able to buy Refrain, the 7" single of the first ever winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest. The song made Lys Assia part of history. She would continue to be a special guest in the audience of the Contest even in recent years, until she passed away in March 2018. 

I was always aware that she recorded a German version of her winning song, but like the original single it wasn't easy to get hold of a copy. After all, this is a single that is hunted after by many Eurovision fans and it's 75 years old. But I was quite surprised two weeks ago when I saw one on Ebay for a few euros. I placed my bid and waited until last Saturday, when the auction would end. As usual, the bidding went crazy in the last few minutes, but I was successful in the end - even if I had to spend just a little more than I really wanted to. Never mind - now that record fairs are a thing of the past and the next one won't happen until 2025, probably, I have some budget to spare. I am grateful to the Austrian seller of this little piece of history.

My collection: 7" single no. 6372
Found: Ebay.co.uk, received 15 April 2021
Cost: 13,20 euro
Tracks: 'Refrain, Du Goldner Traum Aus Meiner Jugendzeit' / 'Addio, Bella Napoli'

Giorgio - Lys Assia

A day before another edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, let's go back in time - way back, in fact. Lys Assia was the Contest's first winner, back in 1956 and she reappeared on that stage two times: in 1957 and 1958. While I haven't found a single of her 1957 entry yet, I did find another copy of her 1958. Yes, I already owned a single of 'Giorgio', but the one I found recently comes with a picture sleeve and two more tracks. Obviously I had to have this one.

My collection: 7" single no. 6061
Found: Record fair, Den Haag
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Giorgio', 'Du gabst mir ein paar Blumen' / 'Louella', 'Die Sterne von Venezia'

Refrain - Lys Assia

It doesn't happen very often that I buy a single that I have been looking for for years, but today is such a day. I started collecting Eurovision Song Contest winners a few years ago, and I managed to buy them all on vinyl - at least until they stopped releasing winning songs on vinyl in 1995. The only one I was still missing was the very first winner of the Contest: Lys Assia's legendary 'Refrain'.

That is, until today. I found a copy on Discogs from a Belgian dealer, and after haggling just a little bit I managed to get my hands on this one. It may not be the best copy ever - the pushout centre is missing and there is no picture sleeve, although I suspect this one was released in a record company sleeve anyway - but it is mine.

My collection: 7" single no. 6021
Found: Discogs.com, received March 21, 2019
Tracks: 'Refrain' / 'Arrivederci Roma'

Der Sommer ging vorüber - Lys Assia

Although the 7" single of Lys Assia's winning Eurovision number 'Refrain' still eludes me, I did find another treasure today: her German version of the 1963 winning song 'Dansevise'. Entitled 'Der Sommer ging vorüber', the song lyric was translated into German by Ralph Siegel, another Eurovision legend.

The B-side is another cover: it's a German translation of the 1963 English contestant 'Say wonderful things to me'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4982
Found: Flea market, Leidschendam, January 2, 2011
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Der Sommer ging vorüber' / 'Zwei blaue Vergissmeinnicht'

Giorgio - Lys Assia

I wonder if I'll ever find out if there's a 7" single of Lys Assia's winning Eurovision song 'Refrain' from 1956. I'm still looking for it and it's the only Eurovision winner that's missing from my collection!

Lys Assia returned to the Contest in 1957 and 1958, and this is her entry from 1958: 'Giorgio'. Representing Switzerland, she very nearly won the Contest again, earning 24 points, but finished second behind Andre Claveau with 'Dors mon amour', who earned 27 points. It's surprising that a 52 year old single can still be in such pristine condition.

My collection: 7" single no. 4865
Found: Da Capo, Utrecht, May 14, 2010
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Giorgio' / 'Louella'