"Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" (the seventh single by Luv') entered the Tipparade (the Dutch Bubbling Under Top 40 chart) precisely forty-five years ago, on August 11th, 1979. This pop song, which appeared on the group's second album, "Lots Of Luv'", later entered the Dutch Top 40 and charted abroad (Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark). It was the group's last single release by Phonogram/Philips Records before their transfer to CNR/Carrere. Let's celebrate the 45th anniversary of this iconic pop track.
History
After the success of "Casanova" on the Continental European charts, the trio's label released "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" as a follow-up single in early August 1979. The song's title and chorus lyrics dealt with a famous children's counting rhyme in English-speaking countries. Boney M's Rasputin highly inspired its Bouzouki and Balalejka-theme. The track did not have the hit potential of the #1 singles "You're the Greatest Lover" and "Trojan Horse".
Luv' vs Boney M. - Eeny Meeny Rasputin (Klyk mashup)
Video posted on Casper Janssen's YouTube channel
The release of "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" happened in a particular context.
A few days before the single came out, Patty Brard married TV quizmaster Ron Brandsteder on July 31st, 1979, at the Vinkeveen town hall. This wedding was front-page news in the Low Countries and Germany. Patty wore a white wedding dress designed by Chinese-Dutch fashion designer Fong Leng. The renowned hairdresser Frank Vink did her bridal hairstyle.
De Telegraaf - July 21st, 1979: Patty & Ron's wedding announcement
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De Telegraaf - July 23rd, 1979: Patty & Ron, the Luv' couple of the year
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Het Parool - August 1st, 1979: Patty & Ron's wedding
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De Telegraaf - August 1st, 1979: Patty & Ron married
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De Telegraaf - August 2nd, 1979: Patty weeping at her wedding
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Hitkrant - August 16th, 1979: Patty & Ron's intimate wedding party
Luv' colleagues José and Patty, along with their respective partners Will Hoebee and Peter, as well as their producers Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, and their manager Pim ter Linde, attended the ceremony.
Article about Patty & Ron's wedding in the German "Freizeit-Magazin" in August 1979
The media also paid attention to José van de Wijdeven, who separated from her husband Maarten Andreoli and started dating Dutch record producer Will Hoebee in the Spring of 1979.
Hitkrant, August 30th, 1979: Will & José on holidays in the South of France
Meanwhile, the Luv' girls were experiencing difficulties with Phonogram. The singers and their mentor, Hans van Hemert, felt that the record company was not doing enough to promote them internationally. The Dutch press reported that Van Hemert left Phonogram and took his Luv' protégées with him. Prior to this, Luv' and their team had established a limited company called "InterLUV" to manage all aspects of their career, including the distribution of their records.
Hitkrant - September 20th, 1979: Hans van van Hemert leaving Phonogram
During this tumultuous period, Holland's sweethearts faced competition with other girl groups (including Babe) in their homeland. None of these rivals sold as many records as Luv', especially in the international marketplace.
Algemeen Dagblad - July 28th, 1979: Luv's competitors (Snoopy, Mekka, Tutti Frutti, Benelux and King Size)
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De Telegraaf - July 30th, 1979: Dutch girl group Mekka
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Nieuwe Winterswijksche courant - August 1st, 1979: Babe, ready to conquer America
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De Telegraaf - September 10th, 1979: The opening party of the Dutch record company "Utopia", including Hans van Hemert, who replied to the rival record producer Frits van Swoll, who asked him to write a song for his girl group "Benelux": "I want to write you a track, but it will cost you 100.000 Dutch guilders".
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In early August 1979, Phonogram put out "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" without Hans van Hemert and Luv's consent. The ladies reluctantly promoted the track on Dutch and German TV.
The trio and their entourage were preparing new material behind the scenes and were looking for another label to release their next records.
Luv's visual aspect was a key factor in their success. The renowned fashion designer Carla V created Luv's outfits for "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe".
Luv' in their "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" outfits with Carla V. - Photo edited by Marco Rens
In an interview published in the September 27th, 1979 issue of Dutch teen magazine "Hitkrant", Marga Scheide expressed her dissatisfaction with the release of "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" as a single just before their departure from Phonogram. "I don't understand why they want to release a single from an LP which already turned gold," the blonde Luv' singer said. "It's better if you release new material. We cannot change the situation now that we are about to move to another record company. Fortunately, we are working very hard on a new single. The public will decide which one is the best," she added.
Marga Scheide in Hitkrant - September 27th, 1979
Luv's record buyers were mostly youngsters. That's why the youth press appreciated the princesses of Dutch pop.
Freizeit-Magazin (Germany, late August 1979): German fan Andrea meets Luv'
Hitkrant - September 20th, 1979: 13-year-old fan Hans Bannink flies with Luv' in their private jet.
Bravo Magazine (Germany) - September 1979: The Luv' singers open the doors of their homes
Chart performance
"Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" entered the Tipparade (the Dutch Bubbling Under Top 40 chart) on August 11th, 1979. Despite a limited promotion in the media and Luv's lack of interest in the single, the song reached the Top 10 in the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, the Top 20 in Switzerland and the Top 40 in Germany.
Charts Positions:
🇳🇱 #11 on the Dutch Top 40 (Netherlands)
Debut date: August 25th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 7
🇳🇱 #6 on the Nationale Hitparade - Top 50 (Netherlands)
Debut date: August 25th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 9
🇧🇪 #9 on the BRT Top 30 (Belgium)
Debut date: August 25th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 8
🇧🇪 #10 on the Ultratop Flanders - Top 30 (Belgium)
Debut date: August 25th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 6
🇩🇪 #36 on the Musikmarkt/Media Control chart - Top 50 (Germany)
Debut date: September 10th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 7
🇩🇰 #8 on the BT Hitlisten - Top 10 (Denmark)
Debut date: September 14th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 4
🇨🇭 #17 on the Schweizer Hitparade - Top 25 (Switzerland)
Debut date: September 15th, 1979 - Weeks on chart: 6
TV performances
Luv' took advantage of significant exposure on television as they performed "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" live at the IFA (the world's largest consumer electronics trade fair in Berlin) on "Musikladen" (a high-rated German TV show) on August 30th, 1979. They also promoted the song on another legendary TV program: AVRO's TopPop.
July 13th, 1979: Lots of Luv' (TV Special) on TROS, Netherlands
August 2nd, 1979: rerun of Lots of Luv' on TROS, Netherlands
August 30th, 1979: Musikladen (Radio Bremen), West Germany.
September 1st, 1979: TROS Top 50/Rockplanet on TROS, Netherlands
September 6th, 1979: AVRO's TopPop, Netherlands
January 11th, 2020: Rerun of Musikladen (RBB, Germany)
December 25th, 2021: TOP 2500 (192TV, Netherlands)
October 1st, 2022: De Top 40 van 29 september 1979 (192TV, Netherlands)
December 25th 2022: TOP 2500 (192TV, Netherlands)
September 30th, 2023: Musikladen (RBB, Germany)
Tracklisting and release
7" Vinyl - original release by Philips/Phonogram Records in August 1979
A Side: "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" (Janschen & Janschens) - 2:54
B Side: "I.M.U.R" (Janschen & Janschens) - 3:35
Click here to see different versions of the single.
Original Dutch front cover
German cover
Turkish cover
The French subsidiary of Philips/Phonogram released "I.M.U.R" as the A-side and "Eeny Meeny Miny Moe" as the B-side.
I.M.UR/Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (French edtion)
On October 21st, 2014, Eeny Meeny Miny Moe became available on major digital platforms (including YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify & Deezer).
Cover version
Pop/Disco artist Mona Carita covered the track in Finnish entitled "Kuti Kuti Kultasein", which was included on her 1979 eponymous album.
Bibliography:
Top 40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie) by Johan van Slooten, publ: Gottmer
Bech
Source: Luv' blog archives, Wikipedia, Discogs.com, Dutchcharts.nl...
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