Norwegian #1s of 1978

Smurfesangen all the way. Smurfene can suck my balls anytime.

I believe you know most of these. The exception may be the Norwegian Eurovision entry from that year, "Mil etter mil", which however got quite a reputation for being the first entry ever to score zero, and for a hilarious stage act. The arrangement in this clip sounds nothing like what it did on record, but it shows his hilarious and infamous Eurovision performance at least:

The only other Norwegian one here is "Smurfesangen", and you guys know that one. It is a Norwegian version of "The Smurf Song".

"Mil Etter Mil" was actually the best of this year's Norwegian chart toppers of that year. The studio version (nowhere on Youtube) is quite good.

Why is everything Norwegian so awful?

Boney M. But this is actually a really good list (the songs I know, anyway -- I've never heard John Tiegen or Geir Børresen og Smurfene, though I did hear the "Smurf Song" here earlier this year):

I Have Never Heard Entire Albums By These Bands Who Have Excellent Songs On Late '70s/Early '80s European K-Tel-Style Compilations

(Well, "really good" in that I like most of the list's songs. I have a feeling the US and UK lists from that year would be even better, if possibly less consistent. Why were there only 8 #1s in 52 weeks, anyway? Does that happen often in Norway?)

8 months of winter. summer months don't count.

Why were there only 8 #1s in 52 weeks, anyway? Does that happen often in Norway?)

Not now, but it did in the 70s. And the main reason in 1978 was probably that "Yes Sir I Can Boogie" (although its chart run started in 1977) topped the charts for 26 (!) weeks.

1978 was not a bad hit year, but I'd definitely prefer the UK list. The UK chart toppers of 1978 contained such gems as "Wuthering Height", "Take a Chance On Me" and "Three Times a Lady". All way better than anything in this list.

Geir I sincerely hope to one day see you dance to "Take a Chance on Me"

Like at a wedding or something -- this is important

Yes Sir I Can Boogie

I've never heard it, but it's gotta be brilliant.

it is, its ace

I still find that the only valuable thing about Baccara was the novelty of their English pronounciation. Sounded like somebody had just given them a lyrical sheet, without the girls actually knowing any English at all. The rest was rather standard-fare disco, by no means as good as Chic, Donna Summer, ABBA or Earth Wind & Fire at their best.

I've posted this before, but at the beginning of the Baccara song, "Darling" I used to think they were singing, "Those guys from Amsterdam... four girls from Birmingham..." Which when sung in their breathy tones made me think they were recounting a holiday orgy. Turns out the actual lyrics are "Postcards from Amsterdam... phone calls from Birmingham..."

But the best & funniest Baccara pronunciation is the spoken intro to "Parlez-vous français?" when María asks about the other one's summer vacation.

I give them props for trying to speak English, though.

I've gotta hear some of these.

"Sorry I'm a Lady"?!

I wonder if "Don't Leave Me This Way" was a hit in Norway. That's what "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" sounds like to me, although it's a great record in its own right.

Neither Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes nor Thelma Houston have ever registered in the Norwegian charts at all, according to the statistics. But I agree there's an obvious influence on Baccara there.

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Surprised at this. I think "Darling" is the better Baccara song.

LOL Hurray for "Smurfesangen" ;)