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"Forever and Ever" is a popular song, from a German song, "Fliege mit mir in die Heimat" written by the Austrian songwriter Franz Winkler. It was adopted by the German Luftwaffe as their song during World War II. The English lyrics were written by Malia Rosa in 1948. It was originally recorded by Gracie Fields with Robert Farnon's Orchestra on 23 October 1948 and released on Decca F9031.[1] Her version was subsequently released in the USA on London 362 and it charted briefly in 1949.[2]

1949 recordings

There were a number of popular recordings in 1949:

Simon et les Modanais version

"Ėtoile des neiges"
Single by Simon et les Modanais
from the album Il était une fois en Savoie...
B-side"Au bar de l'edelweiss"
Released1988
Recorded1987
GenreRock, musette
Length3:50
LabelBMG-Ariola
Songwriter(s)Jacques Plante,
Franz Winkler
Producer(s)Jean Soullier
Simon et les Modanais singles chronology
"Ėtoile des neiges"
(1988) 		"Il pleut sur la route"
(1988)

In 1987, "Forever and Ever" was covered in French-language by Simon et les Modanais, under the title "Ėtoile des neiges". It was released in January 1988 as the first single from their debut album Il était une fois en Savoie. It achieved a great success in Belgium (Wallonia) and France where it was respectively a top one and two hit.

Background and release

Bernard Simon, railway worker in Modane and amateur singer in a small group covering Johnny Hallyday's songs and rehearsing in a disused chapel, performed one evening in a ball a cover of "Étoile des neiges" in a rock-musette style, which quickly became popular. Friend Jacques Vise went to Paris to propose the song and, in six months, they managed to get an old studio to record a model; presented to the BMG label, the song was accepted by the producers, but they asked the band to convey an image of a "terroir" group, with Louis Testardi as drummer, Jacques Vise as keyboards player and Véronique Vise as bassist. The often deemed kitsch music video, which begins with bells sounds, displays Simon dressed with a perfecto and a bow tie trying to seduce shepherdess Véronique. As the song was successful, the Modane town hall elected the members of the group honorary citizens of the town.[11][12]

Chart performance

In France, "Étoile des neiges" debuted at number 46 on the chart edition of 30 January 1988, entered the top ten four weeks later where it stayed for 12 weeks, peaked at number two for a sole week in its eighth week, being blocked from the number one slot by Glenn Medeiros' hit "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You", and fell off the top 50 after 22 weeks of presence.[13] It earned a gold disc awarded by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.[14] In the Walloon region of Belgium, it was a number one hit for consecutive three weeks from 9 to 23 April 1988,[15] and cumulated six weeks in the top three. On the Music & Media's European Hot 100 Singles chart, it debuted at number 78 on 27 February 1988 and reached a peak of number 6 for six weeks,[16] and left the chart after 19 weeks.

Track listings

  1. "Étoile des neiges" – 3:50
  2. "Au bar de l'edelweiss" – 3:00
  1. "Étoile des neiges" (Modane mix) – 5:11
  2. "Au bar de l'edelweiss" – 3:00
  3. "Étoile des neiges" (instrumental) – 3:50

Charts and certifications

Other recordings

References

  1. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 156. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  3. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 323. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  5. ^ RCA Victor Records in the 20-3000 to 20-3499 series
  6. ^ a b "Perry Como Discography". kokomo.ca. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1973): Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 500. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  9. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  11. ^ Chandellier, Antoine (19 February 2012). "Simon ne chante plus le même air que les Modanais". Le Dauphiné libéré (in French) (3062): 36. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  12. ^ Sevenier, L. (February 2011). "Simon et les Modanais, 25 ans après..." (PDF). Terra Modana (in French). No. 94. p. 4. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Simon et Les Modanais – Étoile des neiges" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  14. ^ a b "InfoDisc : Les Certifications Officielles d'un Artiste (Depuis 1973)". infodisc.fr (in French). Retrieved 18 October 2021. Select "Simon & les Modanais" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
  15. ^ a b "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 15. 9 April 1988. p. 28. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 18 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 12. 19 March 1988. p. 22-23. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 18 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ "Forever and Ever (Franz Winkler and Malia Rosa song)" at Discogs, 7" single France (Simon et les Modanais – "Étoile des neiges") (accessdate: 18 October 2021).
  18. ^ "Forever and Ever (Franz Winkler and Malia Rosa song)" at Discogs, 12" maxi France (Simon et les Modanais – "Étoile des neiges") (accessdate: 18 October 2021).
  19. ^ "1988 Year-End Eurocharts - Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 30. Retrieved 18 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
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