Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Keep it in the family (and Motown did that a lot!), Jimmy was the elder brother of David of The Temptations fame. What becomes of the brokenhearted wasn't written for him, but when he heard it he insisted to have it and was right; it became his biggest hit reaching #7 in the US and #4 in the UK.  This is one of my all time Motown favorites.    Countless covers have been made of this over the years and it has charted a few times: Alphonso Williams , The Supremes , Boyzone , Westlife , Chris Farlowe , Baby Washington ,  Colin Blunstone & Dave Stewart (UK #13), Boy George , Paul Young (#22 US), Robson & Jerome (UK #1), Air Supply  etc But I think Jimmy's rough and heartfelt version is the best :-)

  The Isley Brothers have one of the longest and most diverse musical careers ever in the music business globally. They started as a trio (O'Kelly Jr, Rudolp and Ronald) in the late 1950's and they continue still as a duo with Rudolph and Ernie while past members include also Marvin and Vernon plus Chris Jesper. They have had two US #1 albums (in 1975 and 2003) and eight Top-20 singles.  They recorded two albums with Motown and This old heart of mine (is weak for you), another Holland-Dozie-Holland creation with Sylvia Moy was a #12 hit in the US and #3 in the UK for them.    The most well known cover version is by Rod Stewart who has done it twice ( in 1975 solo ) and in 1989 with Ronald Isley himself.  Other cover version include The Supremes , Luv,   Randy Crawford,  Boyzone The Impressions Can't satisfy was sued by Motown for plagiation and won. 

Marvin Gaye's second album That Stubborn kinda fellow (1963) failed to chart but he released several singles off it and scored his first Top-40 hits and Pride and Joy went to #10, his first one. The album became very popular in the UK Northern soul and the Mod scenes. Likes of The Rolling Stones and The Who covered his songs Motown boss Gordy had some trouble with Gaye's style as it didn't wuite fit the succesful Motown sound but believed in him. The Vandellas got their shot into later stadom by singing backing vocals on the album and the Funk Brothers worked their magic. Wherever I lay my hat (that's my home) was not released as a single but became a popular song. Marvin would go experimenting with music and become one of the most important artists ever until his father shot him dead in 1984.  Paul Young took the song to UK #1 off his #1 album in 1983 and became his signature song so that not many people remember this is actually Motown and Marvin Gaye...

The signature song of the legendary Four Tops, witten by equally legendary songwriting team Holland-Dozie-Holland and played by The Funk Brothers. It went to #1 in October 1966 in the USA being their second #1 there, and also hit #1 in the UK, becoming Motown's second one there following The Supremes' Baby love.  Four Tops recorded for Motown from 1964 to 1973, and returned back hom in the 1980's and 1990's releases. They are still around..... The song has been covered by Gloria Gaynor , Human Nature , Michael Bolton , Boyzone , Alessandra Amoroso , Diana Ross , The Jackson 5,   Irene Cara , and recently by 5 After Midnight in their amazing Motown medley, Just to name a few :-)

RTÉ is supposed to reveal the five finalist in the Irish final tomorrow, a month before the final where we will find out who's going to sing for Ireland in Oslo 2010. Some names have leaked already who are in the running. Boyzone guys Ronan Keating (who has also a song in the Danish final again) and Mikey Graham have both submitted a song. Ronan's would be sung by British Justin Lee-Collins while Mikey will sing his own song if selected. Last year's winners Niall Mooney and Swedish Jonas Gladnikoff are back, this time their song would be sung by the 1993 Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh. Other previous winners have also submitted songs: Brendan Graham (Eurovision 1993 and 1996 winner), Karl Broderick (Irish winner 2005), John Waters (Irish winner 2007). Swedish Alexander Bard (Army of Lovers, BWO etc) has also sent a song, so has LaGaylia Frazer (after not winning in Sweden and Romania previously). And yes, good old Ralph Siegel is back at it, too. He's aiming to gp for...

One of the members of Boyzone, Stephen Gately (33) was found dead yesterday in Majorca. The cause of death is yet not known. Ronan Keating. ex-Eurovision host, is devastated by the news. Stephen's coming out as gay ten year's ago was a sensation in the pop world. He leaves a married partner Andrew Cowles behind. Here he sings solo or with Boyzone Better (that features their real life partners)  No matter what   Chiquitita ,  I believe