Valentino - Teen niin kuin teen

This Finnpick should have published yesterday, as a part of Frederik Friday -series. But I didn't have time to post it, so here it is somewhat belated. Frederik recorded "Teen niin kuin teen " (I'll do as I please) in 1978 for his album "Tuu jo tangoon". The Finniah lyrics - taylor-made for Frederik - were provided by Chrisse Johansson. The original song was also performed by Frederik, i.e. a Belgian–Italian singer Frederic Francois (b. Francesco Barracato), who wrote and sang "Valentino" in 1978. You can see him perform the song, here.

44 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

Brasilia Carnaval - Brasilian karnevaalit

We started this Finnpicks Disco Week from Africa and we end it in Brazil. Both locations have contributed a lot to development of disco music. Danny recorded "Brasilian karnevaalit" (The Brazilan carnaval) in 1976. It was released on his album "Elämän maku". The original song "Brasilia Carnaval" was a hit for disco group Chocolat's, whom we have met before, see here. Chocolat's (a.k.a Chocolate Boys) was a a latin-flavoured disco/soul/funk group originating from Belgium, I guess.

94 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

A-I-E-A-O-A - A.i.e

Well, here's another treat from Daniel Vangarde. Paula Koivuniemi recorded "A.i.e" in 1979. It was released as a single but it was not a hit. The nonsense lyrics were from the lyrics factory of Chrisse Johansson. The original song "A-I-E-A-O-A" was part of a project called "Yamasuki". It was the brainchild of French pop composers Jean Kluger and Daniel Vangarde. In 1971 they released a concept album "Le Monde Fabuleux Des Yamasuki". It included a renowned black-belt Judo master to introduce the tracks, which were all sung in Japanese by a school choir. This "A-I-E-A-O-A " -track was also released as a single. However, the song did not break through, until it was re-worked by Belgian disco group Black Blood in 1975, with Swahili lyrics and a more African vibe. In 1981, "Aie a Mwana" became the first single released by English girl group Bananarama.

Here's the triplet:

A quoi pensent les tziganes - Jostain vielä laulun kuulen

In our sporadic series of "Both Sides Now" we now present the A-side to yesterday's 1969 Finnpick "Armonaikaa". It was a song called "Jostain vielä laulun kuulen" (I still here a song from somewhere). It is one of the lesser known Carola songs, even if the melody line is beautiful, similar to the one of "Partisaanivalssi" (a popular song in Finland, telling about Polish partisans in WWII). The original song "A quoi pensent les tziganes" (What the gypsies think) has been labeled "traditional", but it was made to pop hit in French-speaking Europe in 1968 by the Belgian singer named Luigi. Luigi Verderame, usually known just as Luigi, was popular internationally in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He sang mainly in French, but made also a succesful career in Israel with Hebrew songs.

Here's the pair:

Kili watch - Kili watch

In the coming days I will present some finnpicks of the more obscure kind. By that I mean songs that you would never expect to be covered in Finland. Most of them were not big hits originally, nor in Finland. This first one however was a hit, albeit lesser one here in Finland. recorded "Per-Erik "Pärre" Förars recorded the cheerful "Kili watch" in 1961. He was quite popular singer in the turn of the decade 50/60. In addition to being a schlager singer, Pärre was also a competent violinist. He was often seen in the early TV Music Shows. The original "Kili Watch" was first recorded by a Belgian group called Les Cousins. It was a Shadows-like guitar group, who were among the first to successfully export rock & roll music from Belgium. The song "Kili Watch" of 1960 became an instant and huge hit in 1960. The song is an adaptation of an Indian warsong that the group's bass-player Gus Derese had picked up during his years as a boy-scout. The song was versioned in France by Johnny Hallyday, and you can see him perform it, here. In Finland the song re-surfaced in the 1994 Aki Kaurismäki movie "Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses". You can see hilarious version, performed by André Wilms & the Leningrad Cowboys, here.

Here's the pair:

Do You Love Me - Tule luoksein

Here's the 'smooch song' that was very popular in the 70's, but rarely heard anywhere nowadays. Anita Hirvonen recorded a version of it in 1976 with the title "Tule luoksein". For some reason it didn't gain much attention. Neither did the versions by Jukka Kuoppmäki and Danny in the previous year. The original was called "Do You Love Me" and it was written and performed by Algerian artist Sharif Dean. His real name was Sharafeddinne Kharroubi, and he was born in Casablanca, but soon moved to Paris and later to Brussels where he studied in university and started his singing career. This song was his second single and it became the first Belgian record to top the Dutch charts. The female vocals in the song are done by Belgian session singer Eveline D'Haese. You can see the song performed, here.


Here's the pair:

Dominique - Dominicus

Marion released "Dominicus" as one of her first singles and it resulted a minor hit in 1964. The lyrics were done by old stalwart Reino Helismaa. The original "Dominique" (Dominique was "great singing traveller who talks only of the Good Lord") was written and recorded in 1963 by Belgian singer Jeanine Deckers. As she was a nun in the Dominican Fichermont Convent in Waterloo, Belgium, she actually was Sister Luc-Gabrielle. But she performed with the stage name of Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile). The song was an international hit and even reached the first place in the Billboard Top 100 chart after it was released in the USA with the artist name 'The Singing Nun'. In 1966, a movie called The Singing Nun was made about her, starring Debbie Reynolds. In 1967, Jeanine recorded a song entitled "Glory Be to God for the Golden Pill" - a pro-contraception song - under the name Luc Dominique. It is easy to understand that it was a commercial failure ...

Here's the pair:

Judy et Cie - Judy, Judy

The Eurovision Song Contest 1976, the 21st in the series, was held in The Hague, Netherlands. The Belgian entry was a song called "Judy et Cie" (Judy and company)and it was written and performed by Pierre Rapsat. Pierre was Belgian singer-songwriter who began his solo career in 1973. His powerful style, oscillating between rock and chanson, was quite original at the time. The song got 68 points and placed 8th. Finland's Fredi & Friends placed 13th with "Pump-Pump". Markku Aro (see previous entry), he himself a Eurovision participant (in 1971) recorded the Finnish version of the Belgian entry with the title "Judy, Judy". Four(!) other Finnish versions of the song were made in 1976, but Markku's was the most popular.

More Than Sympathy - Sait pelkkää sympatiaa

Petri & Petterson Brass was very popular Finnish pop group in the 70's. What made the group exceptional was the extensive use of horns - not quite common in those days. The lead vocalist was Petri Petterson (real name Ilkka Petterson) and the group included also three older Petterson brothers. Later in the 70's Petri went solo for awhile releasing highly acclaimed "Nuoruus" (The Youth) -album. In the 80's he left the stage and worked as an music editor in Finnish National Radio. Petterson Brass reunited in 2007 and made a new album. This "Sait pelkkää sympatiaa" was released in 1973 on the B-side of their cover of "Angie". The song originated from Belgium and was performed and written by a singer called Ignace (real name Ignace Baert). Ignace was lead singer in a band called Lilac Street Band, but this "More Than Sympathy" was his first solo effort in 1973. Ignace was at the time in love with a girl who studied violin at the Conservatory of Ghent, but they both wanted to keep that relationship secret, thus the lyrics "I can give you more than Sympathy - I can give it to you secretly".

Here's the pair:

Fanny Fanny - Fanny Fanny

This is the third (and final, for now) entry in our Finnpicks series of songs with titles of doubled female names. Juhamatti (real name Jussi Mäkelä) was at the peak of his popularity in the 80's. earning 4 gold records during that decade. In the 1977 he recorded his first great hit "Fanny Fanny". The original song was written and performed by Frederic Francois (real name Francesco Barracatto). He was born in Sicily, but soon emigrated in Belgium with his family. He started his first band at the age of 12, but he made his real debut in 1969 when recording whith his new nickname (taken from Fredric-Francois Chopin, I guess). Frederic had a charismatical success in France, but also in Canada, Belgium and the Switzerland. The name of Frederic Francois might be mostly related to the 70’s decade, he still has a great fame and success especially among the French music listeners.

Here's the pair:

Let Me Sing - Luotan sydämen ääneen

Next in Finnpicks Disco is Lady Paula. Paula Koivuniemi (see previous entry). She performed "Luotan sydämen ääneen" (I'll trust in the voice of the heart) in 1982. It was released as a single and became one her biggest hits. The original song was called "Let Me Sing" and came from Belgium. It was performed by Emly Starr, sometimes called "Disco Queen Of The Benelux". Emly started her career with artist name "Heidi", but changed it in 1975 when she met singer-composer-producer Tony Winter alias Kick Dandy. Later - in order to make Emly's stage-act visually more interesting - dancers were added, and Emly Starr Explosion or ESE was the new extended name. This song was released in 1981, in the year that Emly represented Belgium in ESC. And it's written - as most of her songs - by her producer Kick Dandy.

Here's the pair:

Nostalgia - Nostalgia

Kai Hyttinen recorded this beautiful tune 'Nostalgia' in 1976. It is one of those rare songs, in which the lyrics of the song don't mention the title of the song. I don't know any other vocal versions, but there might be some. The original performance was an instrumental, done by Belgian guitarist Francis Goya (real name Francis Weyer). In 1975 he released this tune as his first solo single and with it he rode to international fame. Originally this is his father's composition, rearranged by Francis and initially presented as a memory to father.

Here's the pair: