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The Different Shades of Be My Lover

Released in March 1995, ‘Be My Lover’ was the follow-up to La Bouche’s ‘Sweet Dreams.’ It was the second single for the group. Regarded as a classic, it was one of the giant hits of the time that defined eurodance. Topping the charts in Italy, Sweden and Germany, it also managed to break the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten. In addition, it was a No.1 dance hit there.

La Bouche – Be My Lover

As with many eurodance acts, La Bouche had Germany as its home base (despite its French-sounding name where ‘la bouche’ means the mouth). Lane McCray came from North Carolina, while singer Melanie Thornton came from South Carolina. They both met in Saarbrücken, which borders France. Just like Haddaway, Captain Hollywood and Sydney Youngblood, McCray did military service in Germany. Thornton was an entertainer and vocalist on various dance-pop recordings.

Frank Farian, the producer most famous for Milli Vanilli, discovered the couple as part of the band Groovin’ Affairs. Collaborating on ‘Be My Lover,’ the duo founded La Bouche.

The track has been a pop cultural favorite appearing in movies such as Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997), A Night at the Roxbury (1998) as well as the Brazilian soap opera A Próxima Vitima.

In 2000, Melanie Thornton left for a solo career thus being replaced by the singer Natascha Wright. Numerous covers have been made. In 2003, Hysterie covered it while Inna sampled the track for her album Party Never Ends in 2013. Most recently, Sam Feldt incorporate the track on a new version with Alex Schulz.

Sam Feldt x Alex Schulz – Be My Lover

How Bananarama Revived the Dutch Venus in the ‘80s

Wow! They really got it! ‘Venus’ was the track that became the start of the collaboration with Stock Aitken Waterman. Original members Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward rocked the charts with the successful Shocking Blue cover back in May 1986.

Bananarama – Venus

Formed in The Hague back in 1967, Shocking Blue was a Dutch rock act. While they did have numerous hits such as ‘Love Buzz’ and ‘Inkpot,’ the Billboard Hot 100 ‘Venus’ was the biggest achievement. The group went on to sell more than 13.5 million records by 1973, when it decided to disband in 1974.

The group was founded in 1967 by Robbie van Leeuwen. it’s interesting to note that ‘Venus’ “only” peaked at No.3 in the Netherlands upon its release in 1969.

Shocking Blue – Venus

Yet, there were other covers of Shocking Blue songs. Nirvana released ‘Love Buzz’ as a debut single in 1988. And the same track was covered by The Prodigy in 2004 for the album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned under the name ‘Phoenix.’

The Bananarama Road to Success

Bananarama achieved a giant success in 1986 with its cover.

Read == > Do You Remember Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer”?

‘Venus’ was actually part of Bananarama’s repertoire for several years before they finally decided to record it. While originally planning to record a disco version with producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, they resisted the idea. Instead the idea came Stock Aitken Waterman’s way, becoming the first collaboration with the group.

Following the single ‘Do Not Disturb,’ ‘Venus’ was the second single off the album True Confessions. Two additional singles – ‘More Than Physical’ and ‘A Trick of the Night’ – was also released as singles. The album peaked at No.15 on the Billboard 200, while reaching No.46 on the UK albums chart.

Finally released, the success was immediate. ‘Venus’ reached No.1 in the US, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Switzerland, Mexico and South Africa. It peaked at No.8 in their home country UK.

This was the start of a fruititious collaboration, as Bananarama continued to work on the Wow! album with Stock Aitken Waterman. in 1989, a limited release of ‘Megarama ‘89’ was released, where a remix of the track appeared. A re-recorded version appeared on the 2001 set Exotica and it was also remixed by Marc Almond on Drama (2005).

Bananarama – Venus (Marc Almond Hi NRG Showgirl Mix)

The Dark Story Behind Eurovision’s Måns Zelmerlöw’s Song Heroes

Måns Zelmerlöw’s ‘Heroes’ won the Swedish leg of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday. 3.7 million Swedes watched the final, when Måns beat out all competition. He’s sure of one thing, “I will win Eurovision,” according to an interview with Swedish news daily Expressen.

In addition to a great song, the show was also really spectacular. As you can see in the clip, there’s a cartoon guy appearing on stage. According to arena rules, the light projection show might not be allowed at the Austrian arena.

Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes

He might, however, have to leave [the cartoon guy] at home. “I believe and hope that we can bring it,” he says to the TV breakfast show Gomorron Sverige. Despite the voting chaos, Måns was the superior winner. And he is confident that ‘Heroes’ may go all the way in Vienna.

Bullied As a Child

The cartoon guy portrays the singer as a bullied child at home. It’s obvious that the show means a lot to Måns Zelmerlöw as he has been very opened about the meaning of ‘Heroes,’ and the rough child upbringing.

ALSO READ: DID MÅNS ZELMERLÖW BORROW FROM DAVID GUETTA?

The cartoon guy is called Måns Petter. “It was me, in school when I was bullied buy this guy in my group of friends. From being part of something, I was being left outside. I was ashamed of being alone. And that still lives within me. That’s why I have a need to be seen and scared of being alone. David (Nordström) and Benke (Fredrik Rydman), who are the creative duo behind the show, has done a fantastic job in producing the show and draw the story,” says Måns Zelmerlöw.

This is not the first challenge Måns has faced. He has been accused of borrowing a bit too much of David Guetta’s ‘Lovers on the Sun,’ and even the light show has been accused of plagiarisim.

It has obviously not stopped the song’s popularity. It’s among the favorites at the European betting odds. The songs is currently climbing the Swedish official singles chart.

Spain’s Edurne Takes Amanecer to the ESC

Give it up it for Edurne, who will represent Spain in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Amanecer.’ According to Eurovision TV (The Official Eurovision Site), rumours said that artists such as Marta Sánchez and Pablo Alborán were considered.

‘Amanecer’ is the Spanish word for “dawn,” and is pure pop. Edurne made her breakthrough as a finalist of the Spanish talent show Operación Triunfo back in 2005. That led to her eponymous debut set in 2006, which was followed by the albums Ilusión (2007) and Première in 2008.

Edurne – Amanecer (Lyric Video)

Edurne has also performed in the stage musical Grease, which rendered Spanish versions of hits such as ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You,’ and ‘You’re the One that I Want.’ In 2010, her fourth set Neva Piel was released. The very same year, Edurne also competed in ¡Más Que Baile! (Strictly Come Dancing). She came second. Edurne’s latest single ‘Painkiller’ is included on the fifth album Climax, which was released in September 2013. The track had her compared with international artists such as Madonna, Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

Edurne Impersonates Christina Aguilera

As a Swede, it’s impressive to research Edurne’s extensive career. She has also impersonated Christina Aguilera, singing ‘Hurt’ in the charity show Tu Cara Me Suena. She earned 60% of the televotes in the final (!).

Née Edurne García Almagro, the singer was born in December 1985 in Madrid. You can find more info about her via her official home page.

In 2013, Edurne joined the cast of the third season of Tu Cara Me Suena (Your Face Sounds Familiar), a Spanish show where celebrities impersonate singers for charity, where she also was proclaimed winner with the 60% of popular votes with her Christina Aguilera impersonation and her song ‘Hurt’ in the show’s finale.