Gosh, our "1970s camp Disco icons" are dropping like flies this year. We've lost both Patrick Juvet and Raffaella Carra, and now comes that sad news that Maria Mendiola [the one in white in all the photos and videos], founder-member of the world-conquering Spanish duo Baccara, has died, at just 69 years old.
We at Dolores Delargo Towers are bereft again - but on a Tacky Music Monday, for a "wake-up call" as we return to the joys of work, I never need an excuse to pay due tribute to Spain's original "tacky music Queens"!
First up, of course, is their debut hit - which has sold an estimated 18 million copies so far [the best-selling Disco record according to the Guinness Book of Records, no less), and shows no sign of abating since it was adopted by (of all things) Scotland football fans as an "anthem":
Even more camp was their second hit [despite their cult status, they only ever had two hits in the UK]:
The duo produced a few more singles that were hits in Europe, and even entered the Eurovision Song Contest - before they finally called it a day in 1979 and split into two rival camps, both using the name Baccara, neither of which had much success. Let's revel in a few more from their back catalogue, opening with this eye-opener:
RIP Maria Mendiola (4th April 1952 – 11th September 2021)
Have a good week, dear reader.
I recorded Yes Sir from the radio along with Black is Black by Belle Epoque - I played them over an over and over.... until my older sister got a bit snappy.
ReplyDeleteSx
1977 was quite a good year for music - as well as a smattering of Punk, there was also Donna Summer, Abba, David Soul, Boney M, Gladys Knight & The Pips, 10CC, Hot Chocolate, Queen, Alessi "Oh Lori", Rose Royce "Car Wash", Patsy Gallant "From New York to LA", Meri Wilson "Telephone Man", Carole Bayer Sager "You're Moving Out Today" and Manhattan Transfer "Chanson D'Amour"... Unfortunately it was also the year of bloody "Mull of Kintyre". Jx
DeletePedro Almodóvar needs to do a movie based on their career. It would be such a hoot. Sadly, the third video is not available in this country. BAH. These disco princesses... amazing stuff. Thanks for unearthing.
ReplyDeleteSeñor Almodovar would probably want to play both of 'em! J
DeletePS The video is on Apple Music, if that's any help:
https://music.apple.com/br/music-video/by-1999-jetzt-geht-die-party-richtig-los-31-12-1979/894972093
Jx
I was just a babe in arms when Yes Sir I Can Boogie came out, the b-side Cara Mia was good as well.
ReplyDeleteMother's record collection, she had some howlers.
DeleteI was fourteen. I wanted those hair-flicks. Jx
DeleteI first heard Yes Sir while watching The House of Flowers on Netflix. A real hoot telenovella from Mexico.
ReplyDeleteI can think of few more appropriate places to first encounter the joys of Baccara. Jx
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