Wish you were still here: what happened to the one-hit wonders of 80s package holiday pop?
Briefly

In 1982, Thomson Holidays launched the first computerized booking system, revolutionizing travel and facilitating an increase in package trips to Spanish resorts. This transformation coincided with the rise of Europop in the UK, featuring artists like Spagna and Gipsy Kings. DJ Gary Davies became instrumental in introducing these sounds to British audiences, after experiencing them firsthand in places like Ibiza. Many artists enjoyed transient fame in the UK, often returning to obscurity after their brief hits resonated with holidaymakers.
Thomson Holidays introduced the first computerized booking system in 1982, ushering in the golden age of package trips to Spanish resorts like Benidorm and Torremolinos.
Europop hits surged in the UK during the 1980s, with artists like Spagna, Sabrina, and Gipsy Kings experiencing brief yet impactful fame among British holidaymakers.
Radio DJ Gary Davies played a crucial role in promoting Europop to UK audiences, championing hits like 'Bamboleo' by Gipsy Kings after discovering it in Ibiza.
The European music scene in the 1980s saw diverse artists reach UK listeners through unique channels, despite their careers often drifting back into obscurity after initial hits.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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