OTTAWAN Hands UP / DISCO / Yamaha Genos Roland G70 by Rico

OTTAWAN Hands UP / DISCO / Yamaha Genos Roland G70 by Rico Ottawan was a French pop music duo, who had the hit singles “.“ and “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)“ in the early 1980s. Fronted by Patrick Jean-Baptiste and Annette Eltice, they were masterminded through a cooperation between French producer Daniel Vangarde and Belgian producer Jean Kluger. In 1979, Ottawan was founded by record producers Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger and fronted by male singer Patrick Jean-Baptiste, who was originally from Guadeloupe, and female singer Annette Eltice. Kluger and Vangarde had also scored hits with The Gibson Brothers and Sheila B. Devotion. In the United Kingdom, they had two Top 10 hits. “.“ (the act’s debut single) reached number 2 in September 1980, while “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)“ peaked at number 3 a year later. “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)“ reached number 1 in New Zealand during 1982, staying there for eight weeks. In France, their single “You’re OK“ (French title “T’es OK“) is one of the Top 50 best-selling singles of all time. The duo recorded in French as well as English. Patrick Jean-Baptiste left the group soon afterwards and attempted a comeback under the new name Pam ’n Pat, to little success. Esther de Bijl formed a new Ottawan line up together, with the New York-based C. Robert Walker. The duo’s hits have been covered a number of times. Canadian band Sway had a #7 hit in Canada in 1988 with their cover of “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)“. Norwegian band Hype [no] had a #10 hit in Norway and #7 hit in Finland in 1995 with their cover of “Hands Up“. Swedish band Army of Lovers had a #44 hit in Sweden in 2001 with their cover of “Hands Up“. Israeli band The Young Professionals had a #53 hit in France in 2012 with their version of “.“.