La Balanga - La Balanga

This is most suitable obscure song for the Eve of The First of May. This day has always been the ultimate Party Day in Finland. So here's some party music. Päivi Paunu (see earlier entry) recorded "La Balanga" in 1975. It was released on the B-side of her cover of Carpenters' "Only Yesterday". In the recording she was joined by a mysterious "Talonmies" (Janitor), who provided most of the partying effects. The original "La Balanga" was the follow-up single of mega hit "El Bimbo" (featured in Finnpicks, here) for the French studio group Bimbo Jet. It tried quickly to cash-in on the huge success of it's predecessor, but failed. As you can hear, the tune has some similarities to "El Bimbo", and the man behind the music was again Claude Morgan.

Here's the pair:

Tanha Shodam Tanha - El Bimbo

"El Bimbo on vain mies ..." - I guess every Finn knows the beginning for the song "El Bimbo". This outcome of the 70's disco boom has stuck firmly in our memories. Marion (real name Marion Evi Rung) recorded the song in 1974. Marion has twice represented Finland in Eurovision Song Contest - in 1962 and 1973. In 1974 Marion won the Grand Prix in Sopot Song Festival and the German record producers became interested in her and subsequently she recorded "El Bimbo" that became hit in Germany selling nearly 100 000 copies. The Finnish version did also very well in Finnish charts. I was really amazed in learning that the song originates from Afghanistan(!). It was written and performed by legendary Afghan singer Ahmad Zahir in 1971 on his album 'Lylee' and called "Tanha Shodam Tanha" (I'm Lonely). Ahmad was shot dead (some say assassinated) in 1979, being only 33 years old. His song became a huge disco hit in Europe in 1974 when performed by French group called Bimbo Jet. This group was actually two guys called Claude Morgan and Laurent Rossi who recorded the tune with studio musicans. The song broke out all over Europe and even charted in the USA. The songs popularity was due to it's specific dance coreography and to the slang word "Bimbo" (aka "Bitch"). More then 1,3 million units where sold in France alone. Bimbo Jet's Claude Morgan has been registered as composer of the song. I wonder if Ahmad Zahir ever got any royalties ...

Updated on 03.02.2010: added the rare English language version by Marion.

Here's the bunch: