Trojan Horse (song) explained

Trojan Horse
Cover:Trojan Horse cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Luv'
Album:With Luv' (some editions)
B-Side:Life Is on My Side
Released:November 1978
Recorded:1978
Genre:Pop
Length:3:24
Label:Philips/Phonogram Records(Benelux, France, Spain, Scandinavia, UK, Israel, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand)
Carrere Records(Germany)
Polydor Records(USA)
Mercury Records (Canada)
Producer:Hans van Hemert
Prev Title:You're the Greatest Lover
Prev Year:1978
Next Title:Casanova
Next Year:1979

"Trojan Horse" is the fifth single by the Dutch girl group Luv', released in autumn 1978 by Philips/Phonogram Records. This million-seller appears on some editions of the group's debut album, With Luv' (1978), and was a successful hit record in a large part of continental Europe, Israel, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Argentina and New Zealand. It was a minor hit in Australia and Canada.

The single was remixed in 2006, 2015 and 2022.

Background

This song is the follow-up single to "You're the Greatest Lover" and uses a bagpipe theme. The intro of this track was inspired by the famous "20th-Century Fox Fanfare" by Alfred Newman that accompanies the 20th Century Fox studio logo at the beginning of its productions. Thanks to this hit record, Luv' established itself as one of the most popular Dutch pop acts of the late 1970s.

"Trojan Horse" was included in some editions of the With Luv' album and on CD compilations such as Luv' Gold and 25 Jaar Na Waldolala.

It was used for the soundtrack of the movie Spetters, directed by Paul Verhoeven. In 1979, Luv' played a cameo role in the German movie Cola, Candy, Chocolate in which they performed "Trojan Horse".

Commercial performance

Trojan Horse was a No. 1 hit single in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium). It reached the top 5 in Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, the top 10 in New Zealand and Argentina (where Luv' became a one-hit wonder), the top 20 in Israel, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Finland, the top 50 in France and Australia as well as the top 100 in Canada.

According to a special issue of Billboard magazine about the German recording industry published on December 8, 1979, the single sold 480.000 copies in the Federal Republic of Germany.[1] It also sold 80.000 copies in France,[2] 50.000 copies in Austria (where it turned gold), 100.000 copies in Belgium (gold certification) and 200.000 copies in the Netherlands (platinum certification). In total, more than one million units of the record were sold worldwide.

Track listing and release

Philips/Phonogram licensed the rights for Luv's records to various labels around the world.

7" Vinyl[3]

CountriesYearLabelCatalog
NL/BEL/AUS/NOR/ARG/AUT/UK/SWE1978Philips/Phonogram Records6012858
France1978Philips/Phonogram Records6173628
Germany1978Carrere Records2044132
USA1978Polydor2095062
Canada1978Mercury RecordsM-74040
South Africa1978Philips/Phonogram RecordsTOS 1201
New Zealand1978Philips/Phonogram RecordsLUVU2

Cover versions

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1978–1979)Peak
position
Certification
Argentina (Centro Cultural Del Disco)[15] 9
Australia (Kent Music Report)50
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)2Gold[16]
Belgium/Flanders (BRT Top 30)[17] 1Gold [18]
Belgium/Flanders (Ultratop)[19] 1Gold
Canada (RPM 100 Singles)95
Denmark (BT Hitlisten)2
Europarade (currently Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)3
Finland (The Official Finnish Charts)[20] 16
France (SNEP)[21] 22
Germany (Media Control Charts/Musikmarkt)[22] 3
Israel (Reshet Gimel-foreign singles chart)[23] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 1Platinum [25]
Netherlands (Nationale Hitparade (currently Single Top 100)[26] 1Platinum
New Zealand (NZ Top 40 Singles Chart)6
South Africa (Springbok Radio)17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)2
Zimbabwe[27] 14

Year-end charts

Chart (1978–1979)Position
Netherlands (Nationale Hitparade) 1978[28] 65
Netherlands (Nationale Hitparade) 1979[29] 34
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 1978[30] 68
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 1979[31] 124
Belgium/Flanders (Ultratop) 1978[32] 68
Belgium/Flanders (Ultratop) 1979[33] 64
Germany (Media Control Charts/Musikmarkt) 1978[34] 195
Germany (Media Control Charts/Musikmarkt) 1979[35] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 1979[36] 19
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 1979[37] 10
Denmark (BT Hitliste) 1979[38] 24
New Zealand (Official Top 40 Singles) 1979[39] 42

2006 remix

In 2006, Universal Music put out the Completely In Luv' box set including the remastered version of four studio albums: With Luv' (1978), Lots of Luv' (1979), True Luv' (1979) and Forever Yours (1980) on CD. It featured a 2006 remix of Trojan Horse by J.R Beltman and F.M Endenburg.

In 2012, Cloud 9 Music released the compilation entitled "The Best of LUV" which was only available on digital platforms. It included an Extended Mix of Trojan Horse 2006 that was previously unreleased.

2015 remix

In 2015, Peter Boonstra published the biography The Story Of Luv' (including exclusive pictures of the girl group). DJ/remixer/producer Matt Pop remixed two tracks: "Trojan Horse" and "Life Is On My Side" for the CD compilation included in the book. The Story Of Luv was eventually banned due to copyright issues on some photographs.[40]

2022 remix

Trojan Horse (Kav Verhouzer Remix)
Cover:TrojanHorse2022Remix.webp
Type:single
Artist:Luv' & Kav Verhouzer
Released:11 February 2022
Label:Cloud 9 Music
Prev Title:With Him Tonight
Prev Year:2019

On February 11, 2022, Cloud 9 Music released Trojan Horse (Kav Verhouzer Remix) as a digital single.[41] Two days later, this remix entered the Dutch iTunes Top 100 at #10. One week later, it dropped out of this chart.

Track listing

Digital download/streaming[42]

  1. "Trojan Horse (Kav Verhouzer Remix)" – 2:27
  2. "Trojan Horse (Club Mix by Jaz von D) - 2:50

Notes and References

  1. Web site: West Germany: The Year In Review. Billboard Magazine. 2021-04-11.
  2. Web site: TOP 45 Tours – 1979. SNEP. 2021-04-11.
  3. http://www.discogs.com/Luv-Trojan-Horse-Life-Is-On-My-Side/master/65921 Release details on Discogs.com
  4. http://www.radiovisie.eu/nl/nieuws.rvsp?art=00047579 List of popular songs played on Dutch radio including "M'n Doeldelzak" by De Bumpers
  5. http://www.hitparade.ch/showitem.asp%3Fkey%3D251587%26cat%3Ds Information about German cover version of "Trojan Horse"
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CP9zwvDVPo Glenys Lynne – Tsitsikamawoud – YouTube
  7. http://www.discogs.com/Various-Super-Hits-79/release/1368966 Details about Super Hits '79 compilation
  8. http://www.discogs.com/Disco-Light-Orchestra-Disco-Sensation/release/1660898 Disco Sensation/Disco Light Orchestra
  9. http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Golden-Akkordeon-Harmonists-Schlager-Hits-Akkordeon/release/1811346 The Golden Akkordeon Harmonists – Schlager Hits Akkordeon
  10. http://www.discogs.com/Molly-Sisters-Im-gr%C3%BCnen-Wald/release/2110994 Infos about the single by Die Molly Sisters
  11. http://www.discogs.com/Bezinky-Trojský-Kůň-Hvězda-8-B/release/2182119 Czech version of Trojan Horse
  12. http://luv-connection.com/ Luv' Connection official site
  13. http://www.marcodehollander.nl/ Website of Marco de Hollander
  14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BRNpZ23eTA&feature=player_embedded Music video of Engel & Engel
  15. Web site: Argentina > Luv'. 2 August 2016. El Centro Cultural Del Disco. 2021-04-10.
  16. Gold certifications given by the Austrian recording industry association (IFPI Austria)
  17. Web site: BRT Top 30 > Luv'. BRT Top 30. 2021-04-09.
  18. Gold and platinum certifications given by the Belgian recording industry association (IFPI Belgium)
  19. Web site: Ultratop > Luv'. Ultratop. 2021-04-10.
  20. Web site: Finnish chart > Luv'. Finnish singles chart. 2021-04-10.
  21. Web site: SNEP chart > Luv'. 19 August 2018. SNEP. 2021-04-10.
  22. Web site: Media Control Charts/Musikmarkt > Luv'. Offizielle Charts. 2021-04-10.
  23. Web site: Reshet Gimel-foreign singles chart > Luv'. Maariv (newspaper). 2022-08-14.
  24. Web site: Dutch Top 40 > Luv'. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. 2021-04-10.
  25. Gold and platinum certifications given by the Dutch recording industry association
  26. Web site: Nationale Hitparade > Luv'. Dutchcharts.nl. 2021-04-10.
  27. Web site: Zimbabwe > Luv'. 2 August 2016. Zimbabwean charts. 2021-04-10.
  28. Web site: Jaaroverzicht 1978. Dutchcharts.nl. April 10, 2021. nl.
  29. Web site: Jaaroverzicht 1979. Dutchcharts.nl. April 10, 2021. nl.
  30. Web site: Jaaroverzicht 1978. Top40.nl. April 10, 2021. nl.
  31. Web site: Jaaroverzicht 1979. Top40.nl. April 10, 2021. nl.
  32. Web site: Jaaroverzicht 1978. Ultratop.nl. April 9, 2021. nl.
  33. Web site: Jaaroverzicht 1979. Ultratop.nl. April 11, 2021. nl.
  34. Web site: Jahrecharts 1978. Chartsurfer.de. April 10, 2021. de.
  35. Web site: Jahrecharts 1979. Offizielle Charts. April 10, 2021. de.
  36. Web site: Jahreshitparade 1978. Hitparade.ch. April 10, 2021. de.
  37. Web site: Jahreshitparade 1979. Ö3 Austria Top 40. April 10, 2021. de.
  38. Web site: BT's Hitliste fra 1979. BT Hitliste. April 10, 2021. Danish.
  39. Web site: END OF YEAR CHARTS 1979. nztop40.co.nz. April 11, 2021.
  40. Web site: Patty Brard wil boek over Luv' tegenhouden. 20 April 2015 . 14 August 2022.
  41. Web site: Trojan Horse 2022 Kav Verhouzer Remix. 13 February 2022 . 17 June 2022.
  42. Web site: Trojan Horse (Remixes) > Luv'. Apple Music. 2022-08-14.