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Corry Brokken

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Corry Brokken was born in Breda in 1932 and died in 2016. She was a singer, television presenter and lawyer. In 1956 she won the Nationaal Songfestival, the Dutch national selection, with Voorgoed voorbij, with which she represented the Netherlands in the first Eurovision Song Contest. A year later she won the national song contest again and went once more to the international stage. Her song Net als toen, written by Willy van Hemert and composed by Guus Jansen, received the most points from the international juries. It was the first Dutch victory in the contest.

Music and breakthrough

In 1958 she took part again, this time with Heel de wereld. That song finished in last place in the final in Hilversum, with one point. She is thus the only singer ever to have come both first and last in this song contest. In the 1950s and 1960s she sang in the Sleeswijk Revue with Snip and Snap and scored hits, including translated chansons by Charles Aznavour. Albums from her career include Corry's Bed-Time Story in 1960 and Wereldsuccessen in 1968.

Influence

In 1973 she stopped singing to study law. She became a lawyer and later a judge in Den Bosch. In 1976 she presented the Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague. In the 1990s she returned to the stage and recorded a new album, Nooit gedacht. Corry Brokken is a milestone in Dutch pop history because she was the first Dutch person to win the Eurovision Song Contest.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Net als toen and notice the singing style: a clear voice with a carefully shaped song. Can you hear how that sound fits the 1950s?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists