Scott had built up a career as a successful nightclub jazz singer, which led to her being given her own TV show, Scott in de Roos, in 1965. As a result, in 1966, she was given the chance to take part in the Dutch Eurovision selection, where her song "Fernando en Filippo" was a clear winner. Scott went forward to the 11th Eurovision Song Contest, held in Luxembourg City on 5 March, where "Fernando en Filippo" ended the evening in 15th place of 18 entries with votes only from the UK and Ireland, continuing a run of poor Dutch results dating back to 1960. Although "Fernando en Filippo" was something of a novelty song (and was performed as such) at a time when ballads dominated Eurovision, Scott would subsequently claim controversially that her disappointing result was attributable, at least in part, to racism on the part of the voting jurors.
Although she was never a maker of hit records, Scott's jazz-based singing career took her to England, Germany and Sweden in later years. She branched out into acting, and appeared in many stage and television shows, her best-known role being in the 1990s television prison drama Vrouwenvleugel in which she played Baby Miller, a woman trying to come to terms with her racial identity.
FERNANDO EN FILIPPO
Milly Scott Lyrics
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Ri tong tong tiki tong tong tong tiki tong tong tong ... Fernando, Fernando, Gitarist uit Santiago, Speelt de hele avond solo
En rijdt dan nog naar San Antonio. Filippo, Filippo
Is heel anders dan Fernando.
Heus die stapt niet in zijn auto
En rijdt dan nog naar San Antonio. Maar Fernando die verlangt zo naar haar, ook al is hij moe, hij pakt zijn gitaar, Geeft zijn liedjes en zijn liefde cadeauaan haar in San Antonio. Fernando, Fernando, Gitarist uit Santiago, Speelt de hele avond solo
En rijdt dan nog naar San Antonio. Toki to tiki tong tong tong riki tong tong tong tiki tong tong ...
Ri tong tong tiki tong tong rong tiki tong tong tong ... Fernando, Fernando, Gitarist uit Santiago, Speelt de hele avond solo
Zij ging ′s avonds naar Filippo, Verdween alleen uit San Antonio. Filippo, Filippo
Zegt nu 's avonds tot Fernando:"Wacht nog even want ze komt zo, Ze komt voor mij uit San Antonio." Toki to riki tong tong tong tiki tong tong tong tiki tong tong ...
Ri tong tong tiki tong tong tong tiki tong tong tong ...
The lyrics to Milly Scott's song "Fernando En Filippo" tell the story of two guitarists, Fernando and Filippo, both vying for the affection of a woman in San Antonio. The song begins by introducing Fernando, a guitarist from Santiago who plays solo all night before driving to San Antonio. Filippo is described as being very different from Fernando, as he doesn't drive to San Antonio after playing his guitar. Despite this, Fernando still longs for the woman in San Antonio and plays his songs and gives her his love as a gift.
The lyrics then take a tragic turn as the woman mysteriously disappears one night. Filippo tells Fernando that she will come to him from San Antonio, but the story ends without telling us who gets the girl. The repetitive refrain of "Toki to tiki tong tong tong riki tong tong tong tiki tong tong..." only seems to add to the sense of unease and tension in the story.
Overall, the lyrics to "Fernando En Filippo" tell a compelling tale of love and rivalry, with a haunting and somewhat ambiguous ending.
Line by Line Meaning
Toki to tiki tong tong tong riki tong tong tong tiki tong tong ...
This line serves as an instrumental introduction to the song.
Ri tong tong tiki tong tong tong tiki tong tong tong ...
This line is also instrumental in nature and serves as a continuation of the introduction.
Fernando, Fernando, Gitarist uit Santiago, Speelt de hele avond solo
En rijdt dan nog naar San Antonio.
This line introduces the main character Fernando, who is a guitarist from Santiago. It also mentions that he plays solo all night and still drives to San Antonio afterwards.
Filippo, Filippo
Is heel anders dan Fernando.
Heus die stapt niet in zijn auto
En rijdt dan nog naar San Antonio.
This line introduces another character named Filippo who is different from Fernando because he doesn't drive to San Antonio in his car.
Maar Fernando die verlangt zo naar haar, ook al is hij moe, hij pakt zijn gitaar,
Geeft zijn liedjes en zijn liefde cadeau
aan haar in San Antonio.
This line shows that Fernando is in love with someone in San Antonio and despite his tiredness, he plays his guitar for her and gives her his songs and love as a gift.
Fernando, Fernando, Gitarist uit Santiago, Speelt de hele avond solo
En rijdt dan nog naar San Antonio.
This line repeats the earlier line to emphasize Fernando's dedication to driving to San Antonio after his solo performance.
Toki to tiki tong tong tong riki tong tong tong tiki tong tong ...
Another instrumental interlude.
Ri tong tong tiki tong tong rong tiki tong tong tong ...
Continues the instrumental interlude.
Fernando, Fernando, Gitarist uit Santiago, Speelt de hele avond solo
En rijdt dan nog naar San Antonio.
Reiterates Fernando's nightly routine of performing and driving to San Antonio.
Ongelukkig valt het lot op een keer,
Op een nacht vindt hij zijn meisje niet meer.
Zij ging ′s avonds naar Filippo,
Verdween alleen uit San Antonio.
This line introduces the conflict in the story as Fernando's love interest goes to see Filippo one night and disappears from San Antonio.
Filippo, Filippo
Zegt nu 's avonds tot Fernando:"Wacht nog even want ze komt zo,
Ze komt voor mij uit San Antonio."
This line reveals that Filippo has Fernando's love interest and is telling him to wait because she is coming to him from San Antonio.
Toki to riki tong tong tong tiki tong tong tong tiki tong tong ...
Another instrumental interlude.
Ri tong tong tiki tong tong tong tiki tong tong tong ...
Continues the instrumental interlude.
Writer(s): Gerrit Den Braber, C.m. Bruyn
Contributed by Sydney M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.