Tonia

Tonia (1968)

Tonia Mertens (born July 25, 1947 in Anderlecht ; born as Arlette Antoine Dominicus ) is a Flemish singer.

Career

Tonia appeared on stage for the first time at the age of twelve and later worked as a singer and dancer at the Folies Bergère in Brussels . In 1962 she published her first record, Mon p'tit copain de vacances, in French. In 1965 she performed at the Knokke Song Festival . Flemish versions of German hits like Drie musketiers (Three Musketeers) or Met 16 kan je nog dromen (At 17 you still have dreams) followed. Her biggest hit of that time is Geef mij voor mijn verjaardag toch een Beatle / Pour mon anniversaire je voudrais un Beatle, in the original I wish a Beatle for my birthday. She was also successful in Germany with songs such as Texas-Cowboy-Horse-Saddle-Saleswoman ( German Schlager Competition 1969 ).

She became internationally known when she represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1966 with the title Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel and took fourth place. With the song Sebastian , which was composed by Heinz Kiessling and written by Carl J. Schäuble , she came second in the German qualifying for the 1973 competition in Luxembourg, just one point behind the contribution by Gitte interpreted Junge Tag . With I like this world , she also took seventh place in the same preliminary round.

Publications became increasingly rare in the following years. Your last singles Why don't you call me? and I want to go to Africa are from 1980 and 1982. A compilation of their greatest successes was released in 1990.

Private

Tonia is the daughter of professional cyclist Jef Dominicus . Her mother was a revue and operetta singer. Her first husband was the trumpeter Albert Mertens. She is married to the musician Paul Bourdiaudhy for the second time .

Discography

Chart positions Explanation of the data

Singles

Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel   BE W 13 05.03.1966 (12 weeks) When the nightingale sings   DE 38 January 15, 1970 (2 weeks)

Albums

• 1981: This Is My Day
• 1990: Les plus grands succès de Tonia

Singles

• 1963: Mon p'tit copain de vacances
• 1963: Avant de t'embrasser
• 1963: L'école est finie
• 1963: Trois mousquetaires
• 1964: La fin d'un amour n'est pas un drame
• 1964: Pour mon anniversaire je voudrais un beatle
• 1965: Wie heeft (Vlaams Schlager Festival)
• 1965: Ce n'est pas loin, domani
• 1965: Toujours les beaux jours
• 1965: Is it all over?
• 1966: Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel (Grand Prix Eurovision de la chanson)
• 1966: Un grand bateau
• 1966: The tears are over
• 1967: Un tout petit pantin
• 1967: Joli petit poisson
• 1967: The thought of you
• 1967: Bonsoir, Chéri
• 1968: carousel
• 1968: On, on and on (German hit competition, preliminary round)
• 1969: Texascowboy horse saddle seller (German Schlager competition, final)
• 1969: When the nightingale sings
• 1971: I only want to live with you
• 1972: a green shamrock
• 1973: Sebastian (German preliminary decision for the "Grand Prix Eurovision de la chanson")
• 1974: Every night is ...
• 1976: Vanity Fair
• 1977: Nice theater
• 1980: Why don't you call me?
• 1982: I want to go to Africa

Web links

• Tonia in the Internet Movie Database (English)

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1. ↑ Chart sources: DE BEW