No Sir, You Can't Boogie: Fratellis cover of disco hit 'not my cup of tea', says Baccara singer

Baccara singer Maria Mendiola has revealed she is not overly impressed with the Fratellis’ attempt to cover the song that brought her global success in the 1970s.

Baccara singer Maria Mendiola (right in main image) says she is not impressed by the Fratellis (inset) cover of the duo's disco classic Yes Sir, I Can Boogie.

The Madrid-based performer, one half of the original Baccara duo who released disco classic Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 44 years ago, says the Glasgow three-piece failed to capture the essence of the song.

The Fratellis went viral last week when they performed a cover of the track on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show for Virgin Radio, and have now unveiled plans to release it as a single ahead of Scotland’s long-awaited return to the Euros championships in June.

However, Maria Mendiola, 69, who fronted the original Baccara alongside singer Mayte Mateos, says she was not impressed by the reworked version of the tune, which is still the best-selling single of all time by a female group.

Likening the Chelsea Dagger trio’s cover to the work of 1970s big band legends the James Last Orchestra, she told The Scotsman: “I’m sorry, but my honest opinion is it is not my cup of tea. I do not like it.

“Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, it’s a song I have performed thousands of times. It has a very special feeling for me and it’s gone, it’s gone. It is not disco style at all. It sounds more like the James Last band.

“They [the Fratellis] are fantastic. The artist is very good, the band is very good, choir is very good, but what I didn’t like is the version.”

The Fratellis plan to record their cover version of Yes Sir, I Can Boogie next week, with an aim to release the single to coincide with Scotland's return to the Euros championships in June.

The Fratellis, whose new album, Half Drunk Under A Full Moon, was released on Friday, say the aim to record their version of Yes Sir, I Can Boogie next week.

While not a fan of the Glasgow band’s sound on the track, Maria Mendiola said she hopes it brings musicians Jon, Barry and Mince just as much as success as Baccara achieved.

“If they reach, let’s say, 18 million records, like we did in the 1970s, then I am very happy,” she said.

Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’s return to popularity last November after footage emerged of the Scotland squad belting the song out in the dressing room following their dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Serbia. The historic result marked Scotland’s return to the vaunted footballing competition for the first time since 1996.

Maria Mendiola has previously expressed her desire to join the Tartan Army fans with a view to possibly performing the song at Hampden for Scotland's first Euro 2021 group game against the Czech Republic.

Asked whether this was still on the cards, she admitted that everything is currently up in the air due to coronavirus restrictions, though she remains optimistic.

She added: "I love the UK, and I would love to go, but unfortunately it is not in my hands.

"Seeing the situation, my feelings are not so good. This is in June, you know? The time runs and the situation is not getting a lot better.

“But I would love to go there and play Yes Sir, I Can Boogie. For sure.”

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