(exciting mp3 and video links herein!)
For the past 3 weeks, I've been urging listeners to my radio program to watch a certain video on Youtube, so I figure it's High Time I posted a link to the thing: it's Vicky Leandros singing a very dramatic ballad called "Free Again". But more than that, it's Vicky Leandros as the figurehead on some Stygian seacraft, singing "Free Again", while the naked hippies and the damned writhe in some sort of ecstacy behind her! Yes it is!! Watch it right now.
I just heard about a score of you go "who's Vicky Leandros?" Well, <<-- that's her of course - and if you click on that link, you'll find 2 absolutely lovely photo galleries. Before we go any further, listen to this mindblower:
"Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz" (mp3) Translation: "Theo, I am bored on this farm - please, let's go to the big exciting city of Lodz, Poland! You rise old murmeltier, before I the patience lose."
This was Top 10 material on the German charts in 1973, instantly announcing itself with the most exciting a capella intro since, I dunno, "Black Dog"? Then you've got that dragging chain percussion a la "Giant Man", and an irresistable Bo Diddley piano thing (later used so nicely on Robert Wyatt's "Heaps of Sheeps" - a segue I cannot resist.)
Vicky Leandros (not her real name) is a Greek singer (born Vassiliki Papathanasiou) who's a megastar in Europe (especially Germany) and is almost completely unknown in the US. Even here at WFMU, she gets mostly short shrift - 9 plays since 2002, and 6 of those by me.
Vicky first came to prominence through the grey old Eurovision Song Contest, an institution best known for foisting ABBA and Canadian subject/Swiss entrant Celine Dion upon the world. This year's contest, coincidentally hosted by Greece, takes place next week (5/18 and 5/20) and is actually the battlefield of Finland's greatest national controversy -- their contestants LORDI. Click here to read Listener Jim's post on these rockers of a stripe I call "Buffycore".
Ah, but back to Vicky: she first entered the contest (representing Luxembourg) in 1967 when she was just 15 - she didn't win. Five years later, she entered again 
(also Luxembourg) - and won, with the song "Apres Toi". Click the link to hear Bob Weyersberg play it on WFMU. And click here to see Vicky give her prize-winning performance in 1972! And there's more Vickyness on youtube - here's her onstage rendition of "Free Again". OK, there's now no more Vickyness on youtube.
Since 1965, Vicky has released approximately 4 gazillion records, including a split LP with Pet Clark I'm dying to hear (Vicky sings the Bee Gees!) Visit her site for a finely detailed discography, with album and single covers. But more importantly, go here to tell me you've got some Vicky Leandros recordings you'd like to send us! Really, we don't come by this stuff so easily.
UPDATE! Sorry, I forgot to mention this link. Clicking it will take you to a site with 2 more very fine mp3 downloads! Here's Hameni Agapi, and here's Ei Kazanova!
dear scott,
nice video, you might want to check this out:
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/G/gericault/raft_of_the_medusa.jpg.html.
by the way, i just read in my mother's copy of "die neue post" (prime source of made up gossip about all kinds of celebrities) that vicky (53) is very lonely these days and that nobody loves her any more.
a vicky leandros revival in nyc might cheer her up mightily.
keep on rocking!
Posted by: horst | May 12, 2006 at 05:37 AM
The image in the clip is "The Raft of the Medusa" by Gericault
Posted by: Stephen | May 12, 2006 at 07:31 AM
You forgot to mention that her 1967 entry was "L'amour est bleu".
Baccara sang for Luxembourg in 1978!
Posted by: zoe | May 12, 2006 at 09:19 AM
Doggone it, thought I was special in recognizing the homage to "Raft of the Medusa." (And Prof. Birnholz gave me back-to-back C's in art history way back when!) It's unclear to me how Ms. Leandros figures into a story of murder, cannibalism, and Algerian immigrants--guess I wasn't paying enough attention to the video.
However, I did find 3 Brigitte Bardot mp3s linked to a page on that same site, http://user.tninet.se/~fuf828e/brigitte_bardot_songs.htm including the fmu mega-hit "Je t'aime... moi non plus". That's gotta count for something!
Posted by: Brian C | May 12, 2006 at 10:26 AM
> You forgot to mention that her 1967 entry was "L'amour est bleu".
Nope, didn't forget, just didn't mention it. What I did forget is to link to 2 more fab mp3 downloads! I've since atoned for that error and posted the link as an update to the post.
Posted by: Scott | May 12, 2006 at 11:21 AM
Found a Leandros version of WIndmills Of Your Mind - in FRENCH
illfolks.blogspot.com
Posted by: bs69 | May 14, 2006 at 01:38 PM
holy shit man , you people digg deep.
Posted by: Hemaworstje | May 16, 2006 at 12:10 AM
When I saw her name I instantly remembered her from my early teenage years, but didn't know what for, though I assumed it must have been for a song, or just being so pretty. I grew up here in London. I think she was quite popular on TV in late 60's, I recognised her as soon as I saw her picture anyway. Well thanks for these links, they are so wonderful, esp the vids, which I have downloaded. I must follow up on these, plus see if I can find some old recordings of her's. She has/had a lovely voice. Thank you so much for this post. My youth has returned and for a while I will be 15 again, instead of 50!
Posted by: Les | May 17, 2006 at 11:31 PM
Oooooh, thanks for the nostalgic songs of Vicky! I am from Germany, and my veryfirst 7"Single I ever bought in my life was by her, "Ich hab' die Liebe geseh'n" 1973!! You don't happen to have that file, do you?
Now living in the US I never met anyone who knew her.
Just some corrections to "Theo", if I may:
it was in 1974, not 73, and "Murmeltier" is german for Groundhog, it is a metapher for someone sleepy.
Thanks again, you made my day!
Posted by: Albgardis Ungvarsky | June 01, 2006 at 01:45 PM
Dear Scott, by coincedence I stumbled over this story about Vicky Leandros. Nice to know -even though little according to your own story- that Vicky does get some attention on your radio station.
Some extra information for you: In 1972 Vicky Leandros was the best selling artist world-wide. Her Eurovision-entry "l'Amour est bleu/Love is blue" is the most covered and best sold Eurovision-song ever.
Further: Vicky released a several singles and albums in the USA and worked there with the producers Brad Shapiro and Kim Fowley.
More information is available on her homepage! Kind regards, Paul Aijtink (Webmaster Vicky Leandros)
Posted by: Paul Aijtink | October 17, 2006 at 06:51 PM