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Bernthøler was a pop/avant garde band formed in Brussels, Belgium, active between 1981 and 1985.[1]

Bernthøler
Origin	Belgium
Genres	Pop, new wave
Years active	1981–1985
Labels	Putovsky, Blue Feather, Blanco y Negro, LTM, Starman Records
Past members	Drita Kotaji Simon Rigot Manuel Poutte Pol Fourmois Pierre Sorvil

History

Originally just a "musical experiment" named after a line in a Virna Lindt song, the band found surprise success with their single "My Suitor"/"Emotions", recorded in August 1983. Championed in the UK by DJ John Peel and appearing in his Festive Fifty for 1984,[2] the group signed to the UK label Blanco y Negro. The band released one more record, a long version of "My Suitor" with additional parts by Wim Mertens and Drita Kotaji and, despite occasional gigs, disbanded in 1985.[3]

In 1999, radio station Studio Brussel chose "My Suitor" for its Bass-tard remix competition, won by Buscemi - who later released his version as a single and on the album Our Girl in Havana - and the song was nominated by DJ Chantal Pattyn as "one of the classics of Belgian new wave".[3] The song was also covered by Kahimi Karie on her 2001 album of the same name. In 1997, Simon Rigot put together a compilation of studio, live and other tracks covering the group's whole career, A History of Bernthøler 1981-1985, issued as a limited release. An official issue was published in 2004 by LTM.[4]

A 12" vinyl issue was published in 2015 by Starman Records including the UK EP, the first single, demos from 1984 and the never-before released song "Heartbeat" from 1983.

Several other artists have covered "My Suitor", including the following:

• 1998: Figurine on Moshi Moshi compilation
• 1999: Buscemi on Our Girl in Havana
• 1999: Das Pop on Electronica for Lovers EP
• 2001: Kahimi Karie on My Suitor EP
• 2002: De Flandriens on De popklassiekers live CD
• 2011: The Arch on Engine in Void CD (with Drita Kotaji on vocals)

Post-breakup

Keyboard player Manuel Poutte later became a film director, winning the Palme d'Or for a short film in 1992.[5]

Singer and writer Drita Kotaji is running a solo career and is also involved, amongst other projects, in the INK. duet.

Composer, guitarist and keyboard player Simon Rigot played and recorded with many bands (Les Cactus, Resurrection),[6] learned the sitar in the '90s and now plays synthesizer, Hammond organ and Wurlitzer electric piano with Belgian band the Narcotic Daffodils.[7]

Bass player Pol Fourmois is working as an electro-technician at the cinema.[8]

Discography

Albums

• Merry Lines in the Sky CD (2004), LTM - 15 songs including My Suitor EP
• My Suitor Vinyl (2015), Starman Records - 12 songs including My Suitor EP

Singles and EPs

• "Japanese Garden/The Others" (1982), Putovsky
• "My Suitor/Emotions" (1983), Blue Feather
• My Suitor EP ("My Suitor"/"Pardeon Up Here"/"Lunacies"/"Emotions") (1984), Blanco y Negro

Compilation appearances

• 1992: Witlof from Belgium, Volume 4: 80's, Part 2 - "My Suitor"
• 1998: Was Het Nu 70 of 80? Vol 7 - "My Suitor", EVA
• 2005: Various - Bel 80 (Het Beste Uit De Belpop Van 1980-1989) - "My Suitor", Universal
• 2007: Les Inrockuptibles présentent: 100 trésors cachés: chansons rares & indispensables - "My Suitor", Les Inrockuptibles
• 2008: Expo 58 - De soundtrack - "My Suitor", ARS Entertainment
• 2010: Underground Belgian Wave Volume 2 - "Toys", Walhalla Records
• 2011: Belpop. De eerste 50 jaar CD5 - "My Suitor", EMI
• 2013: 80s Compilation EP - "Images", EE Tapes
• 2014: Studio Brussel - Eigen Kweek - 30 jaar Studio Brussel - "My Suitor"
• 2014: Insane 80s [EV01>EV10] - "Images - Exterieur Nuit", EE Tapes
• 2015: 100 Op 1 - De Beste Belgen (Radio 1) - "My Suitor", Warner
• 2016: Nostalgie - Belpop Classics - "My Suitor", Sony Music

References

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