Dalida, the beautiful, tragic French chateuse born in Egypt to Italian parents and was active in the film and music world beginning in 195?.  She first worked as a double for Joan Collins in The Egyptian, after which she travelled to France, where she was quickly signed to Barclay records.  Her output during her Barclay years (1956 through 1970) consisted largely of French versions of American, British, Italian, and occasionally German pop hits.  Speedy Gonzalez and Itsy-Bitsy-Teeny-Weeny-Yellow-Polka-Dot-Bikini (Itsy-Bitsy-Teeny-Weeny-Tout-Petit- Petit-Bikini) are particularly amusing in French.  After changing labels in 1970, she began to record more originals, having even greater chart success in France and other countries.  Unfortunately Carrerre has not seen fit to grace us with a compilation as extensive as the 10-CD Barclay set.

Dalida's life was never a happy one, and on 3 May 1987 she chose to leave us.  In the words of French historian Claude Manceron, speaking for then President François Mitterand (in fact, the entire French republic), "Yolanda au revoir.  Dalida merci."

If your local record shop is unable to obtain any Dalida recordings for you, I reccomend that you try World Party Music-- they're a great bunch of guys, their prices are good, and I've had great luck with them!