Si - Gigliola Cinquetti

After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 with 'Non ho l'eta per amarti', Gigliola Cinquetti competed again in 1974. The live broadcast of the song was banned in her home country by the Italian national broadcaster RAI as the event partially coincided with the campaigning for the 1974 Italian referendum on divorce which was held a month later in May.
RAI censored the song due to concerns that the name and lyrics of the song (which constantly repeated the word 'Si') could be seen as being a subliminal message and a form of propaganda to influence the Italian voting public to vote 'yes' in the referendum. The song remained censored on most Italian state TV and radio stations for over a month.

Cinquetti ended as number two in the Contest, just behind the legendary 'Waterloo' by Abba.

My collection: 7" single no. 3127

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 24, 1999

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Si' / 'Il pappagallo verde'

Download: here

Blue flame (Melt the ice) - Rupert Hine

Rupert Hine released 'Blue flame (Melt the ice)' as a single in 1985. It was in the year that he was also involved in the soundtrack of the movie 'Better off dead'. This single was never included on any album, although the 2001 cd release of his 1983 album 'The wildest wish to fly' includes this single as a bonus track.

I found this single in my local record shop and got curious. I'd become interested in Rupert Hine's production work for Howard Jones and his solo single 'Eleven faces'. When I played this single for the first time, I knew I'd found a great song.

My collection: 7" single no. 770

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 16, 1989

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Blue flame (Melt the ice)' / 'Yellow flame'

Download: here

Voetbalknieën - Ton Lebbink

Dutch poet and former nightporter Ton Lebbink released his debut album 'Luchtkastelen' in 1982. His debut single 'Voetbalknieën' was lifted from this album. Although it never made the charts, the album and single are a bit of a cult favourite these days. With nonsensical lyrics and quite danceable music, 'Voetbalknieën' is an astonishing piece of work.

I bought the single in 1989, seven years after I first heard it thanks to my sister, who'd bought the single - and later even the album - because she thought it was a funny track. It stuck in my mind, somehow. I'm still glad it did.

My collection: 7" single no. 891

Found: All that music, Leiden, June 16, 1989

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Voetbalknieën' / 'Donker is de Kalverstraat'

Download: here

Good life - Inner city

'Good Life' is a 1988 single by the US techno group Inner City, featuring vocals by Paris Grey. It was their second single and biggest hit, peaking at number 4 in the UK singles chart. In 1999, the song was rerecorded and remixed by producer Tommy Onyx and a Spanish language version was also released. The 1999 version hit number 10.

The track stuck in my mind for its utter simplicity. Lyrically the song doesn't have much more to say than 'Good life good life good life good life in the good life / Good life'. And ridicule is sometimes a reason to want to have something.

My collection: 7" single no. 2825
Found: House of rhythm, London, February 1, 1997
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Good life' / 'Good life (instrumental)'
Download: here

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

In a manner of speaking - Martin L. Gore

After having worked in Depeche Mode for almost a decade, the group went on hiatus and Martin L. Gore used his free time to record the 'Counterfeit e.p.': a disc with six covers of old songs. Among them was 'In a manner of speaking', originally performed by Tuxedomoon, a new wave group from San Francisco.

I'd bought the e.p. soon after it was released, then came across this promotional 7" single a year later. Since no songs from the e.p. were released as a single, I was very happy to get my hands on this promotional disc: a collector's item.

My collection: 7" single no. 1481

Found: Breda, July 3, 1991

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'In a manner of speaking' / 'In a manner of speaking'

Download: Album 'Counterfeit e.p.', including this track (password: stanley01 )

Love's not for me - Graham Gouldman

'Love's not for me' was taken from the soundtrack of the movie 'Animalypics'. The music was written and performed by Graham Gouldman, without the aid of his counterpart in 10CC, Eric Stewart. The backing musicians on the record were involved with the band 10CC at that time.

The song was promoted with a beautiful animated video, taken from the movie. The song itself became a personal anthem for many years.

My collection: 7" single no. 522

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Love's not for me' / 'Bionic boar'

Download: here