FANTASY EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 1966

EUROPEAN POP LYRICS

The Eurovision Song Contest should have taken place last week but it was cancelled this year. If you are having withdrawal symptoms, maybe you will enjoy my imaginary contest. There are 18 songs in the playlist above, one for each of the countries that participated in 1966. You can see my running order and comments below.

The mid-sixties was one of those rare times when cool music actually got into the charts, though Eurovision generally ignored this, preferring to stick to old fashioned MOR. What if things were different? What if, inspired by France Gall’s forward looking win in 1965, the contest suddenly got much hipper?

The songs are all from 1966 (bar two from 1965) and sung in the language of the participating country, though the artist wasn’t born there in several cases. However, my choice has been severely restricted by available YouTube footage. In three cases I have had to stick with the original entries.

If you enjoy this then send in your votes, ideally your top 10 (12 points for first place).

01: France: Jacques Dutronc – Les cactus

Who says French men can’t rock? A storming start to the show, but perhaps a bit too raucous for the judges. NB The song is from 1966, this clip was recorded a year later.

02: Germany: Hilgegard Knef – Ich bin zu müde, um schlafen zu gehen

A classy entry from Germany, but will Knef’s legendary charm win her votes?

03: Spain: Los Brincos – Mejor

Keen to show their modern side to encourage tourism, Spain give their own version of the Beatles a chance to shine on the international stage.

04: Sweden: Thore Skogman & Lill-Babs – Pop opp i topp

Cheese-tastic duet (actually from December 1965) that looks forward to the lyrical genius of “La La La” and “Boom Bang-a-Bang”. If only Thor(e) had remembered to pull Babs skirt off.

05: Luxembourg: France Gall – Les sucettes

Gall (the winner in 1965) defends her crown with another song by Serge Gainsbourg – I suspect this was Gainsbourg’s original dirty old man plan.

06: Netherlands: ZZ en de Maskers – Ik Heb Genoeg Van Jou

OK, this is actually from 1965, but it’s not easy to find vintage footage of Dutch beat groups. Moreover, these masked men have a Eurovision friendly gimmick.

07: Norway : Åse Kleveland – Intet Er Nytt Under Solen

Hard to believe, but I couldn’t find anything better to represent Norway than their original entry. Apparently Åse was the first woman to wear pants on Eurovision.

08: UK: The Kinks – Sunny Afternoon

Determined to win, the UK send in an established band. They are hot favourites to take the crown.

09: Italy: Mina – Se telefonando

Mina belts out this impressive tune which was written by Ennio Morricone. The multiple key changes will surely impress the judges.

10: Belgium: Jacques Brel – Le tango funèbre

Belgium go out on a limb with their favourite singer-songwriter. I fear that his sweaty melodrama won’t go down well with the voters.

11: Denmark: Ulla Pia – Stop, Mens Legen Er Go

This is another one where I was unable to find a replacement. It features the first ever dancers on Eurovision.

12: Finland: Muksut – Niinkuin vierasta maata

A slightly bizarre effort with a trumpet solo and a beautiful girl hanging around at the back.

13: Austria: Marion Maerz – Wie soll es weitergehn

Austria get bored with Udo Jürgens (who represented them for the previous two years) and enlist Marion, a German singer who has just had a massive hit in Austria.

14: Ireland: The Monks – How To Do Now

Ireland decide to move with the times and go rock. Unable to find a rock band in Ireland, they recruit the Monks who are American but based in Europe. They certainly have some Eurovision friendly gimmicks and a nice line in repetitive lyrics.

15: Switzerland: Stella – Cauchemar autoprotestateur

The Swiss, hoping to emulate the success of France Gall, get a French 15 year old to represent them with this track, a tongue in cheek protest song against protest songs.

16: Portugal: Edu Lobo – Upa, Neguinho

Portugal had a horrendous record in Eurovision. Here, in a brave move they invite the Brazilian Edu Lobo (who is on tour in Europe) to represent them. It will probably be too much for the voters, but what have they go to lose?

17: Yugoslavia: Berta Ambrož – Brez Besed

I couldn’t find an alternative song for Yugoslavia, so let’s stick with Berta from the original show.

18: Monaco: Françoise Hardy – Si c’est ça

Hardy returns to Eurovision, having previously represented Monaco in 1963. She hopes to improve on the 5th place she then achieved, but perhaps her style is just too downbeat for the competition. Whatever, this makes for a nice chilled out conclusion to the contest.

NB Eight of these artists have previously featured on this blog and translations are available for five of the songs (in red).

NE ME QUITTE PAS by JACQUES BREL

FRENCH POP LYRICS

The Songs Of Almodóvar: Part 5

Jacques Brel wrote “Ne me quitte pas“ in 1959, inspired by his relationship with Suzanne Gabriello. It has become his most popular song, covered by countless artists. The version above is Brel’s re-recording from 1972.

The English translation “If You Go Away“ has become popular in its own right, despite or because of the fact that the lyrics are rather bland in comparison to the original.

Maysa Matarazzo recorded the song in 1961 and her version is featured in Almodovar’s 1987 film “La ley del deseo“ (“Law of Desire“).

NE ME QUITTE PAS Ne me quitte pas Il faut oublier Tout peut s'oublier Qui s'enfuit déjà Oublier le temps Des malentendus Et le temps perdu A savoir comment Oublier ces heures Qui tuaient parfois A coups de pourquoi Le cœur du bonheur Ne me quitte pas… Moi je t'offrirai Des perles de pluie Venues de pays Où il ne pleut pas Je creuserai la terre Jusqu'après ma mort Pour couvrir ton corps D'or et de lumière Je ferai un domaine Où l'amour sera roi Où l'amour sera loi Où tu seras reine Ne me quitte pas… Ne me quitte pas Je t'inventerai Des mots insensés Que tu comprendras Je te parlerai De ces amants-là Qui ont vu deux fois Leurs cœurs s'embraser Je te raconterai L'histoire de ce roi Mort de n'avoir pas Pu te rencontrer Ne me quitte pas… On a vu souvent Rejaillir le feu De l'ancien volcan Qu'on croyait trop vieux Il est paraît-il Des terres brûlées Donnant plus de blé Qu'un meilleur avril Et quand vient le soir Pour qu'un ciel flamboie Le rouge et le noir Ne s'épousent-ils pas Ne me quitte pas… Ne me quitte pas Je n'vais plus pleurer Je n'vais plus parler Je me cacherai là A te regarder Danser et sourire Et à t'écouter Chanter et puis rire Laisse-moi devenir L'ombre de ton ombre L'ombre de ta main L'ombre de ton chien Ne me quitte pas…

DON'T LEAVE ME Don't leave me We must forget All can be forgotten That has already passed away Forget the time Of misunderstandings And the time lost Trying to know how Forget those hours That sometimes kill With slaps of why The heart of happiness Don't leave me… I will give you Pearls made of rain From countries Where it never rains I will work the land All my life and beyond To cover your body With gold and with light I will make a land Where love will be king Where love will be law Where you will be queen Don't leave me… Don't leave me I will invent for you Fanciful words That you'll understand I will tell you About those lovers Who have twice seen Their hearts set ablaze I will tell you The story of the king Who died of not having Ever met you Don't leave me… We've often seen Fire flowing again From an ancient volcano Considered too old It's said that there are Fire-scorched lands That yield more wheat Than the best April And when evening comes With a burning sky The red and the black Are they not joined together? Don't leave me… Don't leave me I won't cry anymore I won't talk anymore I will hide over there To watch you Dance and smile And to hear you Sing and then laugh Let me become The shadow of your shadow The shadow of your hand The shadow of your dog Don't leave me…

Z’AVEZ PAS LU KAFKA by SUZANNE GABRIELLO

FRENCH POP LYRICS

By far Jacques Brel’s most famous song is ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ (literally ‘Don’t Leave Me’ but translated as ‘If You Go Away’). The song was inspired by his relationship with Suzanne Gabriello, though ironically it was him who ended their relationship.
Her own songs were mainly comic, and they include this rather wonderful parody. It’s based on ‘Mirza’, a 1965 hit for Nino Ferrer, in which the singer searches for his dog.

Z’avez pas vu Mirza ? (Haven’t you seen Mirza? – the name of his dog)

In Gabriello’s version a yé-yé girl struggles to get to grips with Franz Kafka and finds him a bit more difficult than Asterix.
NB Nino is Nino Ferrer, the musician who co-wrote the song with Gabriello.
NB z’ont (instead of ils/elles ont) and z’avez (instead of vous avez) are humorous ways to write down French liaisons e.g. when the normally silent ‘s’ at the end of vous is followed by a vowel, making it turn into a ‘z’ sound.

Z'AVEZ PAS LU KAFKA Z'avez pas lu Kafka ? Oh la la la la la (x3) Je m'donne un mal de chien Mais je n'comprends pas tout Je m'donne un mal de chien Je n'en viens pas à bout A cause des musiciens Yeah yeah qui jouent près de moi Je n'peux pas lire ici Je n'le répéterai pas Je n'peux pas lire ici Hmmm, c'est bête ça Je n'peux pas lire ici Ça y est et c'est reparti Hey dis donc Nino, tu peux pas jouer moins fort ? Faut que j'me cultive Hey dis donc Nino, Kafka, c'est pas Astérix ! Moins fort, Nino, j'ai les nerfs qui lâchent ! Grâce à ces musiciens J'entrevois tout à coup L'univers kafkaïen Qui rend les hommes fous L'univers kafkaïen Oh yeah, moi je l'ai chez moi C'est bien le dernier mois Que je passerai là Je n'veux plus vivre ici Je ne resterai pas Car si je reste ici Oh yeah ça oui je le vois Car si je reste ici Je n'me cultiverai pas Je n'peux pas lire ici Car c'est très calé Kafka

YOU HAVEN'T READ KAFKA You haven't read Kafka? Oh la la la la la (x3) I'm putting myself through agony But I don't understand everything I'm putting myself through agony I don't get it Because of the musicians Yeah yeah, that are that playing around me I can't read here I won't do it again I can't read here Hmmm, it's stupid I can't read here It's over and it starts again Hey Nino Can't you play less loudly? I must cultivate myself Hey Nino Kafka is not Asterix! Less loudly, Nino My nerves are going Thanks to these musicians Suddenly I see The Kafkaesque universe That makes men mad The Kafkaesque universe Oh yeah , I feel at home That's OK, the last month I will go through it I won't live here anymore I won't stay Because if I stay here Oh yeah, yes I see it Because if I stay here I won't cultivate myself I can't read here Because Kafka is very clever

YO NO SOY ESA by MARI TRINI

Spanish Rock in the Seventies Part 7: Singer-Songwriters

For many Spaniards the Seventies was the decade of the singer-songwriter. Two of the best were women: Cecilia (previously featured on this blog) and Mari Trini. The latter had a huge hit in 1972 with ‘Yo No Soy Esa’ which became a kind of feminist anthem.

Like many Spanish singer-songwriters Mari Trini was heavily influenced by the French chanson tradition. She also sang in French, recording an acclaimed version of Brel’s ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ (see below).

YO NO SOY ESA Yo no soy esa Que tu te imaginas Una señorita tranquila y sencilla Que un dia abandonas Y siempre perdona Esa niña, sí.. no.. Esa no soy yo Yo no soy esa Que tu te creias La paloma blanca Que le baila al agua Que rie por nada Diciendo sí a todo Esa niña, sí.. no.. Esa no soy yo No podras presumir jamas De haber jugado con la verdad Con el amor de los demas Si en verdad me quieres Yo ya no soy esa Que se acobarda Frente a una borrasca Luchando entre olas Encuentra la playa Esa niña, sí.. no.. Esa no soy yo Pero si buscas Tan solo aventuras Amigos por guardia A toda tu casa Yo no soy esa Que pierde esperanzas Piensalo ya Yo no soy esa Que tu te imaginas Una señorita tranquila y sencilla Que un dia abandonas Y siempre perdona Esa niña, sí.. no.. Esa no soy yo

I'M NOT THAT ONE I'm not that one That you imagine A quiet and simple lady That one day you leave And she always forgives you That girl, yes.. no.. That's not me I'm not that one That you thought The white dove Which flatters him Who laughs easily Saying yes to everything That girl, yes.. no.. That's not me You can never boast Having played with the truth With the love of others If you really love me Now that I'm not the one That gets frightened Confronted with a thunderstorm Fighting between the waves Finding the beach That girl, yes.. no.. That's not me But if you are looking for Just an affair Friends to guard Your whole house I'm not that one That loses hope Think about it now I'm not that one That you imagine A quiet and simple lady That one day you'll leave And she always forgives you That girl, yes.. no.. That's not me

A CONNOISSEUR’S GUIDE TO JACQUES BREL IN ENGLISH

FRENCH POP LYRICS

Following on from the previous post here is some more information about Jacques Brel. He was one of the great singer-songwriters of the 20^th century, and though English translations can never compare to the real thing, they do give those of us who don’t speak French a chance to understand and enjoy his work. This is a brief survey of the best translated versions of his songs. I’ve included the videos in the form of a playlist below.

1. IF YOU GO AWAY – DUSTY SPRINGFIELD

By the early sixties Brel was a star in France and he began to attract the interest of translators. Rod McKuen’s version of ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ remains the most popular Brel translation, despite or because of the fact the lyrics are rather bland compared to the original. It has been recorded by countless artists, but you can’t go wrong with Dusty Springfield’s version.

2. SEASONS IN THE SUN – BLACK BOX RECORDER

In general I think McKeun took far too many liberties with the original Brel lyrics, in fact sometimes he ignored them completely. His own album ‘Rod McKuen sings Jaques Brel’, sung in the manner of a hammy actor, is only recommended to masochists (though ‘The Women’ will certainly raise a few eyebrows). His adaptation of ‘Seasons In The Sun’ was a huge hit for Terry Jacks, and is similarly painful. Much more palatable is this tongue in cheek cover by Black Box Recorder.

3. THE DOVE – JUDY COLLINS

A superb version of this anti-war song, translated by Alasdair Clayre in the mid-sixties. Sadly this was his only Brel adaption.

4. FUNERAL TANGO – MORT SCHUMAN

This is from ‘Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris’, a plotless musical from 1968 made up completely of translated Brel songs. All the songs were adapted by Mort Schuman, and they certainly catch the spirit of Brel better than Rod McKuen did.

5. JACKIE – SCOTT WALKER

Clearly inspired by the above musical, Scott Walker included nine Brel adaptions on his late sixties albums. It’s a cliché, but they probably are the best English versions ever recorded.

6. AMSTERDAM – DAVID BOWIE

Clearly inspired by Scott Walker’s version. It’s also interesting to note Brel’s influence of Bowie’s own songs, particularly ‘Rock & Roll Suicide’.

7. NEXT – ALEX HARVEY

Covering Brel seemed to be cool in the early seventies when this wonderfully OTT single was a hit.

8. SEE A FRIEND IN TEARS – MOMUS

By the eighties covering Brel was not so fashionable. This adaption by Momus from a 1986 EP is superb. More please Momus, it’s not too late!

9. THE BULLS – MARC ALMOND

Marc Almond is another one who has tried to keep the Brel torch burning in the UK. Unfortunately his 1989 LP ‘Jacques’ is very disappointing, though ‘I’m Coming’ is an unintentional comedy classic. ‘The Bulls’ is my pick as the best track, a song he had also recorded earlier in the eighties with Marc & The Mambas.

10. YUPPIE SCUM – TOM ROBINSON

A spirited live track from the early nineties.

11. IT SNOWS – PETER OSTROWSKI

Peter Ostrowski has translated and recorded 41 of Brel’s less well known songs. My pick would have been his version of ‘Jaures’, one of Brel’s last songs. However, that isn’t on YouTube, so I’ve gone for another track. http://www.peterostrowski.co.uk/brel.htm

12. MY DEATH – SCOTT WALKER

Let’s end with perhaps the cream of the crop, another from Scott Walker. Arguably this is the one Brel song that actually sounds better in English. Update(2019) – RIP Scott Walker.

GRAND JACQUES by LAÏS

FRENCH POP LYRICS

Laïs are a femal vocal trio who have recorded some stunning a cappella material. They are Flemish but they occasionally sing in French. This track is from their debut album, released in 1998.
‘Grand Jacques’ is a cover of a Jacques Brel song that originally appeared on his first album in 1954. The title is a reference to his childhood nickname (he was the tallest in his class at school).

GRAND JACQUES C'est trop facile d'entrer aux églises De déverser toute sa saleté Face au curé qui dans la lumière grise Ferme les yeux pour mieux nous pardonner Tais-toi donc, grand Jacques Que connais-tu du Bon Dieu ? Un cantique, une image Tu n'en connais rien de mieux C'est trop facile quand les guerres sont finies D'aller gueuler que c'était la dernière Ami bourgeois vous me faites envie Vous ne voyez donc point vos cimetières Tais-toi donc grand Jacques Laisse-les donc crier Laisse-les pleurer de joie Toi qui ne fus même pas soldat C'est trop facile quand un amour se meurt Qu'il craque en deux parce qu'on l'a trop plié D'aller pleurer comme les hommes pleurent Comme si l'amour durait l'éternité Tais-toi donc grand Jacques Que connais-tu de l'amour ? Des yeux bleus, des cheveux fous Tu n'en connais rien du tout Et dis-toi donc grand Jacques Dis-le-toi bien souvent C'est trop facile, C'est trop facile, De faire semblant.

BIG JACQUES It's too easy to enter churches To pour out all of our filth, Facing the priest who, in the dim light, Closes his eyes to pardon us better So keep quiet, big Jacques, What do you know of the Good Lord? A hymn, a picture You know nothing better. It's too easy when wars are over To go around shouting that it was the last. My middle class friends, I envy you You never see your cemetries at all So keep quiet, big Jacques, Let them cry out, Let them weep with joy, You who were never a soldier yourself. It's too easy, when a love affair dies, That cracks in two because we've bent it too far, To go about weeping like all men weep, As if love lasted for eternity So keep quiet, big Jacques, What do you know about love? Some blue eyes, some crazy hair You know nothing about it at all And so tell yourself, big Jacques, Tell yourself quite often: It's too easy, It's too easy, To pretend.

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