I look after the white clouds
I look after the white clouds , is the title of a foxtrot that was written by Manos Hadjidakis and Hans Bradtke . Sung by Nana Mouskouri , it became a number one hit in Germany in 1962.
Nana Mouskouri version
prehistory
In 1962 the Greek Manos Hadjidakis, who composed the music for I look at the white clouds , was no longer a stranger. As early as 1960 he had written the music for the number one hit A ship will come . The duo Hadjidakis and copywriter Hans Bradtke had already created the title White Roses from Athens for Nana Mouskouri in 1961 , which also became the top seller in the German charts. It had been released by the Dutch-German record company Fontana on the first German-language Nana Mouskouri record. The title I am looking for the white clouds was intended for the second single in Germany. The text by Hans Bradtke can be classified in the category of longing song, it is about dreams, distance, love and return (“Even if you are far away, my love is with you”). However, Fontana had decided to take him to the B-side, the song once again blows the south wind was designated as the A-side title . The single was launched by Fontana in March 1962, immediately after White Rosen from Athens left the hit parades, with catalog number 261 289.
successes
Nana Mouskouri's version of the title I look at the white clouds appeared shortly after the single was on the market on April 7, 1962 in the Top 50 hit list of the German music magazine Musikmarkt . Three weeks later, the song had reached the top 10 and on July 14th ousted Mina with Hot Sand from first place. Nana Mouskouri held the top position for seven weeks, and her song was in the top 50 for a total of 29 weeks. The youth magazine BRAVO rated I look after the white clouds in its music box for 22 weeks and gave it second place as the best rank. It was less successful in the popular hit parade of the then only German-language music broadcaster Radio Luxemburg . I look at the white clouds , first placed eleven on May 13, 1962, then moved up to eighth place, but on June 3 had already disappeared from the charts.
Cover versions
The best known cover version on a single was released by the record company Electrola with Lale Andersen . It appeared only a little later as Nana Mouskouri's version, but could not place in the hit ratings. How often did the cheap label Tempo cling to the success and publish its version with Charlotte Marian . The young label Weltmelodie produced another cover version with the equally young 13-year-old Mary Roos .
The success in Germany encouraged copywriters in other countries to write a version in their language. In Sweden Ann-Louise Hanson sang a text by Stieg Anderson ( Vita sommarmoln ), in Denmark the song was called Hvide aftensky'r and was interpreted by the singer Lise-Lotte. The successful Finnish singer Vieno Kekkonen published the title Kun poutapilvet nahdä saan , written by her compatriot Sauvo Puhtila. Nana Mouskouri sings a version in English on the CD The Girl from Greece , which was released in 2008 .
Discography
| Performers | title | Label | released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nana Mouskouri | I look after the white clouds | Fontana 261289 | 3/1962 |
| Lale Andersen | I look after the white clouds | Electrola 22140 | 4/1962 |
| Mary Roos | I look after the white clouds | World melody 3023 | 5/1962 |
| Charlotte Marian | I look after the white clouds | Tempo 863 | 1962 |
| Ann-Louise Hanson | Vita sommarmoln | Metronome MEP 9087 | Sweden 1962 |
| Vieno Kekkonen | Kun poutapilvet sewdä saan | Scandia | Finland 1963 |
| Lise Lotte | Hvide aftensky'r | Philips 355265 | Denmark 1962 |
literature
- Günter Ehnert (Ed.): Hit balance sheet German chart singles 1956–1980. Taurus Press 1987, ISBN 3-922542-24-7 .