Baccara ‘Boogie’ star dies aged 69

THE singer behind disco hit Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – the anthem adopted by Scotland’s national football team at the 2020 Euros tournament – has died.

Maria Mendiola, 69, of the 1970s duo Baccara, was described by close friends and fans as a ‘wonderful artist’ and ‘beautiful soul’.

Jubilant Scotland players adopted the tune after beating Serbia on penalties to qualify for the Euros finals. A video of squad members jumping around after the match in Belgrade and singing the 1977 No1 hit went viral. At the time, speaking from her home in the Spanish capital Madrid, Ms Mendiola, pictured, told The MoS that seeing the video was ‘like winning the lottery’.

Tributes poured in last night from fans and colleagues. In an emotional Instagram post on Baccara’s official page, her grieving loved ones said it was difficult to have to publish such a painful goodbye.

Ms Mendiola previously said that the Scottish team had ‘brought such happiness into my life’ and added: ‘If it wasn’t for my age, I would jump with joy too.’

The singer – who performed in Glasgow in 1978 – said: ‘When you hear a younger generation singing your song, it makes you feel proud. I have good memories of Scotland and its beautiful, green landscape. I forget a lot of places, but not Glasgow.’ Although she and her fellow Baccara singer Mayte Mateos went their separate ways in 1981, the song is still in the top ten bestselling singles of all time.