Nicole had a lot of hits in the years 1981 to 1985 and Papillon was one of them. Nicole originally recorded it in German but she also recorded versions in English, French and Dutch for example. The song was also a big hit in South Africa in Afrikaans by two of the biggest female singers – Carike Keuzenkamp and Rina Hugo.
The day started off with very sad news from Ralph Siegel informing us of the death of CHRIS ROBERTS. Although Chris has never been an entry at Eurovision for Germany, he was well known among many EURO fans who follow German schlager music and songs composed by Ralph Siegel. One of his biggest hits was DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH (of course sang in German and composed by Ralph Siegel). The song was also covered in Danish by one of their most known Eurovision composer KELD HEICK (with his group) and the title is also DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH. In South Africa the song was covered as well and the title DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH was speak although the lyrics are in Afrikaans, and sung in duet form by Carike Keuzenkamp and Johan Stemmet. Chris was at Eurovision as one of a group of 6 singers who represented Luxembourg in 1985 with the song CHILDREN, KINDER, ENFANTS which was also composed by Ralph Siegel
What has people like Carike Keuzenkamp, Rina Hugo, Janita Claassen, Anneli van Rooyen, Patricia Lewis, Bles Bridges, Ge Korsten, Manuel Escorcio, Fanie de Jager, Jannie Moolman, Andre Schwartz, Guillaume, Tobi Jooste, Cole van Dais, David Fourie, Min Shaw, Groep 2, Amanda Luyt, Andriette Norman, Barbara Ray, Alan Garrity, Romanz, Sonja Herholdt, Sunette Bridges, Jurie Els, Corlea Botha and many more in common? Yes they are all South African recording artists but each one of them has at least COVERED one song originally composed by German composer RALPH SIEGEL. Ralph is the most known Eurovision composer and will be in Kyiv, Ukraine in May 2017 with his 25th Eurovision entry. Ralph has won Eurovision once – in 1982 when Nicole sang his song EIN BISSCHIEN FRIEDEN. The previous 3 years he had been 4th, 2nd and 2nd with his songs. Over the years he has written Eurovision entries for Germany (his home country) but also Luxembourg, Switzerland, Montenegro and San Marino.
Ralph has asked Roy van der Merwe, the president of Eurovision South Africa and the owner of the website ESCCovers, to make him compilation CD’s with his songs by South African artists. Roy has identified 100 such covers he is aware of and it will be recorded on various compilations to be handed to Ralph in Kyiv to celebrate the fact that Ralph is there with his 25th entry and also it is the 25th Eurovision in a row Roy will be attending.
During next week the compilation CD’s will be recorded and at this stage it looks like there will be at least 4 different ones
1 – EIN BISSCHIEN FRIEDEN
As there are 14 covers of this song, they will all appear on one compilation
2 – DIE ANDERKANT VAN ROEM
This is the title of Patricia Lewis’s ralph cover and will feature lesser known covers
3 – ‘N DAG MET RALPH
This comes from the title ‘n Dag met Maria which is the title of a Jurie Els song of Ralph
4 – EK IS BAIE LIEF VIR JOU
This comes from the title of one of the very first Ralph songs covered in South Africa – in the middle 70’s and originally sung by Min Shaw
