Corona 'Baby Baby'

Chart Peak: 5
YouTube

Corona are Italian writer/arranger/producer Francesco Bontempi and vocalist Olga De Souza.. They had a huge hit with 'Rhythm Of The Night' in 1994 and 'Baby Baby' - due for release on 27th March '95 - is hotly tipped.

It's notable that quite a few of these dance tracks are appearing somewhat upfront; the tracks were included even though they had yet to prove themselves as hits at time of going to press. Of course, this was easier to do with dance tracks that were already successful in clubs than with other types of music.

This is the second track in a row that I don't recall, and in this case it's not even a cover of a song I knew (although it's not actually an original either - Bontempi recycled the song from a 1991 flop by another of his acts, Joy & Joyce). I even seem to have lost all memory of the cover version by Sunblock that went Top 20 in 2007. The reason is that this song is profoundly unmemorable. I sometimes feel a bit mean saying this because I realise that there are people who love this sort of track and I don't begrudge them their pleasure in it - it just seems too context-dependent. It's not even as interesting to me as other Corona tracks. At least De Souza looks like she's having fun in the video.

Also appearing on: Now 29, 32
Available on: The Rhythm of the Night

Corona 'Try Me Out'

Chart Peak: 6

YouTube

It doesn't seem to be entirely clear whether model and frontwoman Olga Souza is actually singing on this record, thought it seems well established that she's not on all their hits. She seems to be performing as Corona now though.

Anyway, 'Try Me Out' was the third Top 10 hit from the Italian-based Eurodisco act, and it's fairly typical of the era, even to the extent that diminishing returns have set in and this is nowhere near as good as the previous tracks. In fact, the only reason I even remember it is because I found the way that whoever it was sang the word "yours" in the chorus irritating. Apart from that, this only attracts attention towards the end when the arrangement breaks down a bit in a version of that hands in the air section I recall from later dance records.

Also appearing on: Now 29, 30
Available on: 100 Hits - 90S Dance