The third episode of the R S G (radio sonder grense) series was broadcast  after 6 pm on Sunday 15 July. Elsje van Jaarsveld presented it while Ilse Schurmann wrote the text and produced the show.

This episode again ended after 20 minutes at 6.30 pm. During that time, 5 songs were played.

SONG 1 was MAKING YOUR MIND UP by BUCKS FIZZ. They represented the United Kingdom at the 1981 Eurovision song contest. They were also crowned winners. Only two countries gave them 12 points, namely Israel and the Netherlands, but they did get points from all the other participating countries. In contrast the entry from Switzerland got 12 points from 5 countries but two countries did not give them any points at all. Bucks Fizz consisted of 4 members, 2 males and 2 females. The song reached number 1 on the UK charts. The group had several other hits among them the land of make believe and My camera never lies which also went to number 1 on the charts.

SONG 2 was TU TE RECONNAITRAS by ANNE-MARIE DAVID, the 1973 winner from Luxembourg. Luxembourg often “employed” singers from other countries and Anne-Marie is from France. Ge Korsten from South Africa covered the song in Afrikaans a year later as Lieflike droom and it became a classic. Several other South African artists recorded the song as well, among them Fanie de Jager, Dirk & Mar-Louise, Rian Swanepoel and Jannie Moolman. Many years later I was able to give Anne-Marie David copies of two CDs of artists who covered her song.

SONG 3 was MERCIE CHERIE by UDO JURGENS. He represented Austria at the 1966 Eurovision song contest and won. It was his third participation, having participated also in 1964 and 1965. Although the song has a French title, it was sung in German. Udo recorded versions of his song also in French. Spanish, Italian, English, and Japanese. A song Udo wrote was covered in Afrikaans by Groep twee as Daar is niks soos ware liefde, which became a big hit. Udo himself then also recorded this song in Afrikaans on a vinyl single and this single is one of the most sought-after items by Udo fans.

SONG 4 was an English cover of the 1964 entry by UDO JURGENS WARM, NUR WARUM. Udo came 6th with this song. The English cover WALK AWAY was a huge hit by MATT MONRO and reached number 4 on the charts. Elsje played the cover by MICHAEL BALL, who in 1992 represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision song contest and came second. I was a little surprised that the Ge Korsten cover was not played.

SONG 5 was another winner, the last time the United Kingdom won. The song is LOVE SHINE A LIGHT and was performed by KATRINA & THE WAVES. I was at the Eurovision in Dublin that year. Interesting thing is that there is a South African connection. Myriam Stockley, one of the two Stockley sisters, was one of Katrina’s backing singers. And a further South African connection followed when Katrina visited South Africa a couple of years ago and we got her to do an African version of her song together with COLE VAN DAIS of South Africa and a choir from Soweto. The cover is in English.

Once again, the show was very entertaining and we are looking forward to the remaining 10 episodes.