Starparade = Star Parade

Starparade was a German TV show broadcast on Germany's second TV largest broadcaster ZDF for twelve consecutive years between 1968 and 1980. Its first broadcast was on Saturday 14 March 1968 from the Siegerlandhalle in Siegen, Germany, still in black & white. Later, the programme spot switched from Saturday to Thursday night where it stayed until the show's end on 5 June 1980. The show was broadcast annually six episodes and the regular orchestra on the show was the James Last Orchestra who had it's first ever TV appearance on this show.

Also known as James Last's Starparade, ABBA performed two songs to playback in this episode - Waterloo and Honey Honey. Between songs they were introduced to the audience one by one by the host Rainer Holbe - dressed as Napolean - and Agnetha got the loudest cheer. This must have been the first performance of Honey Honey.  This would also appear to the be the first outing for these particular costumes.

According to ABBA - The Book (p.92) , ABBA took part in a live transmission of Starparade in May 1974 - the show was transmitted live, but ABBA performed to playback.

This episode of James Last's Starparade reunited recent Eurovision artists Gigliola Cinquetti and Mouth & McNeal with ABBA. The Wombles were also guests on the programme and performed two songs. The artistes sat together on a large sofa together at the end of the show. James Last was the leader of the big band featured on the show. Click here for a picture of ABBA resting.

Running order:

1. Lena Valaitis - Bonjour Mon Amour
2. James Last's Orchestra - Tsop
3. Vicky Leandros - Wie Ein Marcen
4. The Wombles - Remember You're A Womble & The Wombling Song
5. Gigliola Cinquetti - Auf Der Strasse Der Sonne (German version of Alle Porte Del Sole)
6. I Love You And Don't You Forget It (dance routine)
7. Costa Cordalis - Wo Meine Traume Sinf
8. Mouth & McNeal - Ah, L'amore
9. James Last's Orchestra - Es Wierd Ein Wein Sein
10. Lena Valaitis - Wer Gibt Mir Den Himmel Zuruck
11. Dance With The Devil (dance routine)
12. Mouth & McNeal - Ein Goldner Stern
13. Gigliola Cinquetti - Ja (German version of Si)
14. ABBA - Waterloo
15. ABBA - Honey Honey
16. James Last's Orchestra - Summertime
17. Maple Leaf Rag (dance routine)
18. Costa Cordalis - Steig In Das Boot Heute Nacht
19. Vicky Leandros - Theo, Wir Fahr'n Nach Lodz
20. Vicky Leandros - Auf Wiedersehen Ihr Freunde Mein
21. James Last's Orchestra - Shady Lady

These performances were also broadcast on ABBA Kultnacht on 2 November 2002, ZDF, Germany.

The performance of Honey Honey has been officially released on the 30th Anniversary Edition of ABBA's Waterloo album

Click here for a TV listing from de Stern - 16 May 1974, p.21

Agnetha during Waterloo - she gets her cameras mixed up and has her back to the camera when everyone else is facing it - Björn finds this quite amusing.

Also ... keep your eye out for ORINOCO WOMBLE! He's behind Benny in Honey Honey! 

 Lyrics available on the Official ABBA site: Waterloo and Honey Honey

Starparade (Waterloo & Honey Honey), 1974; 
Starparade (Take a Chance On Me and Eagle/Thank You For The Music), 1978; 

Thanks to Guido, Lendy. Jozsef (huge thanks), Jun Seo, Pascale Ranson, Carl Magnus Palm and Sam Sherz. 
YouTube c/o instrumental  of  time and mozpiano2