Cocktail Chic
Encyclopedia
Cocktail Chic were a French
female singing group, best known for their participation in the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest
.
Although the Cocktail Chic name was a one-off for Eurovision, the group, consisting of sisters Dominique Poulain and Catherine Bonnevay and their cousins Francine Chanterau and Martine Latorre, had formed in the late 1960s, originally under the name of Les OP'4. They were spotted by singing star Claude François
, who renamed them Les Fléchettes (after Fléche, his newly formed record label). They released several singles under their own name (including French-language versions of such as The Turtles
' "Elenore
" and The Supremes
' "Come See About Me
"), but spent most of the 1970s working as backing singers, both on stage and in the studio, for François and other big names. Chanterau and Latorre had Eurovision experience, having been among the backing singers for the victorious Marie Myriam
in 1977, and provided backing vocals for four countries at the 1978 contest held in Paris
.
Following François' premature death in 1978, their career went on hiatus. In 1986, they returned, now under the name of Cocktail, to take part in the selection for that year's French Eurovision entry, which they duly won with the song "Européennes
" ("European Girls"). Having expanded their name to Cocktail Chic, they went forward to the 31st Eurovision Song Contest
, held on 3 May in Bergen
, Norway
. Critics who had branded "Européennes" as musically dreary and lyrically feeble appeared to have their fears confirmed as the song ended the evening in a dismal 17th place of 20 entries, France's worst result in 30 years of Eurovision to that date. Particularly galling to many in France was the fact that the other three French-language songs in that year's contest (from Belgium
, Switzerland
and Luxembourg
), had finished the evening occupying the top three places.
They largely vanished from sight again after their Eurovision appearance. Recent years have however seen a renewed interest in Les Fléchettes recordings in the retro
French pop market, and they have reunited to give several interviews in which they discuss their career.
Les Fléchettes page at Encyclopedisque.fr
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
female singing group, best known for their participation in the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
.
Although the Cocktail Chic name was a one-off for Eurovision, the group, consisting of sisters Dominique Poulain and Catherine Bonnevay and their cousins Francine Chanterau and Martine Latorre, had formed in the late 1960s, originally under the name of Les OP'4. They were spotted by singing star Claude François
Claude François
Claude François was a French pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He wrote "Comme d'habitude," the original version of "My Way."-Early life:...
, who renamed them Les Fléchettes (after Fléche, his newly formed record label). They released several singles under their own name (including French-language versions of such as The Turtles
The Turtles
The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
' "Elenore
Elenore
"Elenore" is a 1968 song by American pop-rock group The Turtles, originally included on the album The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands. Its writing was co-credited to the five members of the band, Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman, Al Nichol, Jim Pons and John Barbata...
" and The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
' "Come See About Me
Come See About Me
"Come See About Me" is a 1964 song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label.The song became third of five consecutively released Supremes songs to top the Billboard pop singles chart in the United States...
"), but spent most of the 1970s working as backing singers, both on stage and in the studio, for François and other big names. Chanterau and Latorre had Eurovision experience, having been among the backing singers for the victorious Marie Myriam
Marie Myriam
Marie Myriam is a French singer of Portuguese origins...
in 1977, and provided backing vocals for four countries at the 1978 contest held in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Following François' premature death in 1978, their career went on hiatus. In 1986, they returned, now under the name of Cocktail, to take part in the selection for that year's French Eurovision entry, which they duly won with the song "Européennes
Européennes
"Européennes" was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1986, performed in French by Cocktail Chic....
" ("European Girls"). Having expanded their name to Cocktail Chic, they went forward to the 31st Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1986
The Eurovision Song Contest 1986 was the 31st Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 3 May 1986 in the Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway. It was the first occasion on which Norway played host to the contest...
, held on 3 May in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Critics who had branded "Européennes" as musically dreary and lyrically feeble appeared to have their fears confirmed as the song ended the evening in a dismal 17th place of 20 entries, France's worst result in 30 years of Eurovision to that date. Particularly galling to many in France was the fact that the other three French-language songs in that year's contest (from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
), had finished the evening occupying the top three places.
They largely vanished from sight again after their Eurovision appearance. Recent years have however seen a renewed interest in Les Fléchettes recordings in the retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
French pop market, and they have reunited to give several interviews in which they discuss their career.
External links
Les Fléchettes Myspace fan pageLes Fléchettes page at Encyclopedisque.fr