Colorado (song)
Encyclopedia
"Colorado" was the Dutch
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979
, performed in Dutch
by the six-piece group Xandra, fronted by Sandra Reemer
.
This was Reemer's third Eurovision entry; in 1972 she had finished 4th with "Als het om de liefde gaat", as part of the duo Sandra & Andres, and in 1976 9th with "The Party's Over", then as a solo artist.
"Colorado" was written by brothers Rob & Ferdi Bolland and Gerard Cox
. Internationally Bolland & Bolland
are arguably best known for writing and recording the original version of Status Quo's 1986 hit "In the Army Now
" (#1 Austria & Switzerland, #2 UK, France & Norway, #6 Sweden, #15 The Netherlands).
"Colorado" suggests that the singer and her lover travel to Colorado
in the United States of America, as "the dollar is not so expensive anymore" and the place is a good destination for a holiday. Xandra goes on to explain that they could "buy a second-hand horse" in order to save on petrol. Xandra recorded the song in three languages, the original Dutch, English and German - all with the same title.
The song was performed fourteenth on the night (following Luxembourg
's Jeane Manson with "J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux
" and preceding Sweden
's Ted Gärdestad
with "Satellit
". At the close of voting, it had received 51 points, placing 12th in a field of 19.
Despite its moderate success in the Contest, "Colorado" was one of four entries to become a Top 10 hit in Sweden in 1979, the three others being the Swedish "Satellit", the Israeli winner "Hallelujah" and Germany's "Dschinghis Khan
". The English version of "Colorado" peaked at #9 and spent a total of 10 weeks on the Swedish singles chart. Furthermore, "Colorado" was covered in Swedish by singer Barbro 'Lill-Babs' Svensson
, who previously had represented Sweden at the 1961 contest
with "April, april
", and Svensson's recording of the song was also a minor hit on the Svensktoppen
radio chart in June 1979.
"Colorado" was succeeded as Dutch representative
at the 1980 Contest
by Maggie MacNeal
with "Amsterdam".
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979
Eurovision Song Contest 1979
The Eurovision Song Contest 1979 was the 24th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 31 March 1979 in Jerusalem, Israel. The presenters were Daniel Pe'er and Yardena Arazi, and the event was staged at the International Convention Center. Representing Israel, Gali Atari and Milk and Honey were the...
, performed in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
by the six-piece group Xandra, fronted by Sandra Reemer
Sandra Reemer
Barbara Alexandra "Sandra" Reemer is a Dutch Indo singer of Dutch, Chinese and Javanese extraction...
.
This was Reemer's third Eurovision entry; in 1972 she had finished 4th with "Als het om de liefde gaat", as part of the duo Sandra & Andres, and in 1976 9th with "The Party's Over", then as a solo artist.
"Colorado" was written by brothers Rob & Ferdi Bolland and Gerard Cox
Gerard Cox
Gerard Cox is a Dutch singer, cabaret artist and actor.-Albums:*1966: Gerard Cox*1971: Wie Wijst Gerard Cox De Weg...?*1972: Vrijblijvend...*1973: De Beste Van Gerard Cox...
. Internationally Bolland & Bolland
Bolland & Bolland
Bolland & Bolland are two Dutch music producers – the brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland ....
are arguably best known for writing and recording the original version of Status Quo's 1986 hit "In the Army Now
In The Army Now (song)
"In the Army Now" is a song by the South African-born Dutch duo Rob and Ferdi Bolland, recorded in 1981. The song was also later recorded by the British rock band Status Quo on their 1986 album, In the Army Now, and their version peaked at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart.Lead singer of English...
" (#1 Austria & Switzerland, #2 UK, France & Norway, #6 Sweden, #15 The Netherlands).
"Colorado" suggests that the singer and her lover travel to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in the United States of America, as "the dollar is not so expensive anymore" and the place is a good destination for a holiday. Xandra goes on to explain that they could "buy a second-hand horse" in order to save on petrol. Xandra recorded the song in three languages, the original Dutch, English and German - all with the same title.
The song was performed fourteenth on the night (following 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...
's Jeane Manson with "J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux
J'Ai Déjà Vu Ça Dans Tes Yeux
"'" was the Luxembourgish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in French by American-French singer, actress and former Playboy model Jeane Manson. Manson was born in the United States but relocated to Paris in 1974...
" and preceding Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Ted Gärdestad
Ted Gärdestad
Ted Gärdestad , internationally known as Ted Gardestad, Ted Gaerdestad or just Ted was a Swedish singer, songwriter and musician.-Early career:...
with "Satellit
Satellit
"Satellit" was the Swedish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in Swedish by Ted Gärdestad.Gärdestad's first four albums were produced by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA, featured backing vocals by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and were released on the Polar...
". At the close of voting, it had received 51 points, placing 12th in a field of 19.
Despite its moderate success in the Contest, "Colorado" was one of four entries to become a Top 10 hit in Sweden in 1979, the three others being the Swedish "Satellit", the Israeli winner "Hallelujah" and Germany's "Dschinghis Khan
Dschinghis Khan (song)
Dschinghis Khan was the West German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in German by Dschinghis Khan...
". The English version of "Colorado" peaked at #9 and spent a total of 10 weeks on the Swedish singles chart. Furthermore, "Colorado" was covered in Swedish by singer Barbro 'Lill-Babs' Svensson
Lill-Babs
Lill-Babs is a Swedish singer and actress.-Biography:Lill-Babs was born in Järvsö, Gävleborg County, as the first daughter of Britta and Ragnar Svensson...
, who previously had represented Sweden at the 1961 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1961
The Eurovision Song Contest 1961 was the sixth Eurovision Song Contest. A total of sixteen countries took part in the Contest, including the three debuting countries: Finland, Spain, and Yugoslavia. It was held on 18 March 1961 and was the first to take place on a Saturday night, a tradition that...
with "April, april
April, april
"April, april" is a song by Swedish singer Lill-Babs, that represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, performed in Swedish.The song was the winner of Melodifestivalen 1961, where it was performed by both Siw Malmkvist and Gunnar Wiklund...
", and Svensson's recording of the song was also a minor hit on the Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen is a record chart at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. Svensktoppen airs once a week...
radio chart in June 1979.
"Colorado" was succeeded as Dutch representative
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
The Netherlands was one of the seven countries competing in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. It has missed only four contests so far...
at the 1980 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
by Maggie MacNeal
Mouth & MacNeal
Mouth & MacNeal was a pop duo from the Netherlands. They are best known for their million selling recording of "How Do You Do".-Career:They were formed in 1971 when record producer Hans van Hemert brought together the solo talent of Mouth and Maggie MacNeal...
with "Amsterdam".