40th anniversary of Trojan Horse: Luv' came, saw and conquered!!!

After the huge success of "You're the Greatest Lover" (see article posted on July 29th, 2018), Luv's challenge was to choose the right follow-up and to avoid being a "one-hit wonder". Fortunately, the ladies hit once again the number one spot with "Trojan Horse". The single entered the Dutch charts on November 18th, 1978 and later did the same abroad. It eventually sold one million copies worldwide.

History

After the Spanish touch of "U.O.Me" and "You're the Greatest Lover", the group's songwriters and producers, Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, tried another kind of arrangement. That's how they came up with "Trojan Horse". This catchy pop song used a bagpipe theme. The intro was inspired by the famous "20th-Century Fox Fanfare" by Alfred Newman. The lyrics dealt with a man who acted as a "Trojan Horse" (someone who is secretive). One sentence is a shining example of "double entendre": "The gate is not yet open so the horse cannot come in". No need to explain what these words mean!

Luv' on TopPop

Thanks to this popular record, Luv's success story continued in a large part of Continental Europe. "Trojan Horse" was even a Top 10 single in New Zealand and Argentina, a Top 20 song in South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as a minor hit in Canada and Australia. 

The USA and UK seemed immune to the trio's charm. "It would have been great if we had been picked up in America or England," José Hoebee told American author James Arena in his book "Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop Vol. 2" (2018). "But I think the lyrics to our songs may have been too simple for these markets. We never made it there, but it was never a problem for us, and we never felt like we missed out something," she added.

Around the same time that Trojan Horse came out, Luv' went to London to take part in the taping of the BBC 2 TV show "Sacha Distel and Guests". But this performance on a popular British TV program didn't make them famous in the land of pop music, punk and new wave. 

Article about Luv' in London published in "Het Parool" on November 15th, 1978

Trojan Horse was included on some German pressings of their debut album "With Luv'". It later appeared on CD compilations (such as "Luv' Gold" and "25 Jaar Na Waldolala"). A 2006 Dance remix of the song by Hans van Hemert's production team was added as a bonus track on the Box set "Completely In Luv'". Moreover, the forbidden photo book "The Story of Luv" included a CD (The Music of Luv) which featured a 2015 remix of Trojan Horse by the highly acclaimed remixer-producer Matt Pop. 

Trojan Horse (Matt Pop 2015 remix)

Luv' played a cameo role in the German movie "Cola, Candy, Chocolate" (aka "Drei Kesse Bienen auf den Philippinen") in which they performed "Trojan Horse". The film opened in German theaters on May 17th, 1979. 

Luv' in "Drei Kesse Bienen auf den Philippinen" (1979)

In 1980, Trojan Horse was used for the soundtrack of the movie "Spetters" directed by Paul Verhoeven. 

Chart performance & certification


"Trojan Horse" was a #1 hit song in the Netherlands and Belgium. It peaked at #2 in Austria, Switzerland and Denmark, #3 in Germany, #6 in Norway, #9 in Argentina, #16 in Finland, #17 in South Africa, #14 in Zimbabwe, #38 in France, #6 in New Zealand, #50 in Australia and #95 in Canada. 

The single sold 1 million copies worldwide (including 480.000 copies in Germany, 200.000 copies in the Netherlands (platinum certification), 100.000 copies in Belgium (gold certification), 50.000 copies in Austria (gold certification) and 85 526 copies in France - see article posted on September 6th, 2018). 

Dutch article about Trojan Horse in France (1979)

Article published in the French magazine "SUPER Disco" (1979)

Release

The release party of "Trojan Horse" took place in Laren, Netherlands on November 13th, 1978. Among the celebrities who attended this event were Dolf Brouwers, Saskia & Serge, Lee Towers, Ciska Peters and Ronnie Tober. In addition to the presentation of their Scottish-styled track, the girls received gold records for the single "You're the Greatest Lover" (100.000 copies sold in the Netherlands) and the album "With Luv'" (50.000 copies sold in Holland). 

Press clippings about the release party of Trojan Horse:

Het Vrije Volk - November 14th, 1978

Front page of De Telegraaf - November 14th, 1978

De Telegraaf - November 14th, 1978 (detail)

Tracklisting & release

Trojan Horse

7" vinyl single (45 rpm) - original release by Philips/Phonogram Records in November 1978

A side: "Trojan Horse" - 3:24

B side: "Life Is On My Side" - 2:38

Original Dutch cover

The single came out in various editions - all depending in which countries the release took place. Philips/Phonogram licensed the rights for the record to various labels around the world.

Click here and here to be informed about the several editions of Trojan Horse. 

German edition

Portuguese edition

Canadian pressing

Argentinian pressing

Australian pressing

South African pressing

US promo copy

UK edition

TV performances

* November 16th, 1978: AVRO's TopPop, Netherlands

* November 19th, 1978: All You Need Is Luv' (TV special) on TROS, Netherlands

* December 1st, 1978: Showbizzquiz on TROS, Netherlands

Luv' on Showbizzquiz

* December 7th, 1978: TROS Top 50/Rockplanet on TROS/Nederland 2, Netherlands

* December 14th, 1978: Musikladen on Radio Bremen, West Germany

* December 31st, 1978: AVRO's TopPop special: Vrouwenpop, Netherlands

* December 31st, 1978: Countdown '78 on Veronica, Netherlands 

* December 31st, 1978: Jetzt Geht Die Party Richtig Los! on ZDF, West Germany

* January 9th, 1979: Dolle Dinsdag on BRT, Belgium

* Unknown broadcast date in 1979: Musik und Gäste on Schweizer Fernsehen, Switzerland

* February 19th, 1979: Disco on ZDF, West Germany

* March 4th, 1979: Fantástico on TVE, Spain

* March 22nd, 1979: All You Need Is Luv' medley (My Man, U.O.Me, You're the Greatest Lover, Trojan Horse) on Musikladen (Radio Bremen), West Germany

 * Unknown broadcast date in 1978: Plattenküche on WDR, West Germany

* May 13th, 1979: Top Club on Antenne 2, France

* May 20th, 1979: Tritsch Tratsch on ORF, Austria

* July 13th, 1979: Lots of Luv' (TV Special) on TROS, Netherlands including a medley (U.O.Me, Eres Mi Mejor Amante, Trojan Horse)

* Unknown broadcast date in 1993: "OPA – Die Oldie-Parade" on N3, Germany

Cover versions

• Super Hit Power: Trojan Horse (Germany, 1978)
• De Bumpers: M'n Doedelzak (Netherlands, 1979)

• Siw Inger: Komm und spiel mit mir (Germany, 1979)

• Orchester Tony Anderson: Trojan Horse (Germany 1979)

• Disco Light Orchestra: Trojan Horse (Germany, 1979)
• Glenys Lynne: Tsitsikamawoud (South Africa, 1979)

 

• Golden Akkordeon Harmonists: Trojan Horse  (Germany, 1979)
• Die Molly Sisters: Im grünen Wald (East Germany, 1979)
• King's Group And Singers: Trojan Horse (UK, 1979)
• The Hiltonaires: Trojan Horse (Germany, 1979)
• 5T: Calul Troian (Romania, 1979)
• Bezinky: Trojský Kůň (Czechoslovakia, 1980)

• Juraj Lehotský: Trojan Horse (Czechoslovakia, 1981)
• Roman Butina: Trojan Horse (Croatia, 1983)
• Trobikond: Üks päev (Estonia, 2001)

• Luv' Connection: Trojan Horse (Germany, 2003)
• Kamelie: Trojský kůň (Czech Republic, 2004)

 

• Sheffield Jumpers: "Jump With Me" (featuring a re-sung chorus from "Trojan Horse (Netherlands/Germany, 2008). #69 on the German Media Control Charts.

Jump with me by Sheffield Jumpers (2008)

• Marco de Hollander: "Hij speelde elke avond op zijn doedelzak" (Netherlands, 2009)

• Kiek Now Us: Hemel Zonder Bier (Netherlands, 2010, re-issue in 2014)

• Engel & Engel: "So ist die Liebe, mi Amor" (Germany, 2011)

• Gáspár Enikő: Trojan horse (Hungary, 2018)

Bibliography

• Nederpop met hart en ziel (History of Dutch Pop Music) by J. van der Plas, publisher: Kosmos Z&K (2003)
• Hit-Lexikon des Rock und Pop Vol. 1 by Frank Laufenberg, publisher: Verlag Ullstein 
• 50 jaar nummer-1-hits 1956-2006 by Johan van Slooten, publisher: Gottmer Uitgevers Groep 
• De 500 Nummer 1-Hits uit de Top 40 (1997) by Johan van Slooten, publisher: Gottmer Becht 
• Top 40 Hitdossier 1956-2005 (9e editie) by Johan van Slooten, publisher: Gottmer Bech
• The Story of Luv' by Peter Boonstra (2015)
• Stars of 80s Dance Pop, The European Edition by James Arena (2015), publisher: AuthorHouse
• Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop Vol. 2: 33 International Hitmakers Discuss Their Careers by James Arena (2018), publisher: BookBaby

Source: Wikipedia, Discogs.com, Dutchcharts.nl, YouTube, Blog Archives, ANP Archief...