(, ) is a
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
children's
choir
A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...
maintained by
public broadcaster
Public broadcasting involves radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing ...
BNNVARA
BNNVARA () is a broadcasting association and network within the Dutch public broadcasting system.
History
BNNVARA was founded on 1 January 2014 through a merger of the BNN (founded 1997) and VARA (founded 1925) associations. These continued to ...
.
Since 1980 the choir has released one
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
of new children's songs each year, and is probably the only act from the 1980s with consecutive albums in the
top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
chart (apart from two releases). The ideas for the songs generally come from children who write in. Well-known Dutch
lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment.
Royalties
A lyricist's income ...
s then turn submitted ideas into finished songs.
The songs on each year's album are presented in a special TV broadcast, staged and recorded in advance (in the group's early years, these shows were broadcast live). Various
Dutch celebrities often appear as cast members in these shows. In 2006, staged its first live
pop concert
A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or band. Concerts are held in a wide variety a ...
as the basis of its annual broadcast.
also holds an annual "Song Contest" known as the that sees the winners of the regional pre-selection rounds (one each province) compete against each other as finalists.
History
Concept
In 1980 program director
Flory Anstadt decided to start a children's choir as part of a VARA fund-raising campaign to provide toys to children in
developing countries
A developing country is a sovereign state with a lesser developed industrial base and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. There is also no clear agreem ...
. The choir released an album of songs sung by children ranging in age from 8 to 12 years old. VARA subsequently broadcast performances of the songs on television. The choir was a success and a decision was made to release an album each year from then on. The toy donation campaign ended in 1991. The name of the choir is now the sole reminder of its original function.
Staying true to their main purpose, is still releasing charity-singles such as:
*" ("Tomorrow is a dream") (2001)
*" ("For Asia"), released early 2005 in a re-written version to benefit
tsunami
A tsunami ( ; from ja, 津波, lit=harbour wave, ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explo ...
victims in Asia.
*" ("The beginning of the end"), released in the summer of 2005 to benefit the Dutch
development NGO Novib.
The ensemble has been conducted by
Babette Labeij Babette may refer to:
* Babette (given name), a feminine name
* Babette (card game), a type of solitaire
* Babette (clothing line)
* ''Babette'' (film), a 1917 silent film
* , a US Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919
* 8344 Babett ...
since 2005. She succeeded
Majel Lustenhouwer Majel may refer to:
People
* Majel Barrett (1932–2008), American actress and producer
* Majel Coleman (1903–1980), American film actress of the silent and early sound eras
* Majel Davidson (1885–1969), Scottish artist
Other uses
* Marshall ...
, who led the group during its first 25 years. In recognition of 's contribution to Dutch culture under his guidance, Lustenhouwer received a
knighthood
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
of the
Order of Orange Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau ( nl, Orde van Oranje-Nassau, links=no) is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands.
The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has ...
in 2006.
For the first 21 releases, the first song on each album was always the
anthem
An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short ...
. Only albums 5 and 15 were notable exceptions as on those album the anthem was the closing track. Starting with album 22 the custom was changed to make it the closing track instead. The melody has remained the same since 1980, though the lyrics were changed after album 3 to remove a verse about children starving and sleeping in the street. The chorus has stayed the same, while verses have changed over the years to be more celebratory and inclusive, suggesting that children are more open-minded and understanding. Some of the recent albums omit the anthem entirely.
At present
The choir currently consists of around 30 children between 8 and 12 years of age (originally the age limit was 14 instead of 12). Originally the goal was to have participants from throughout the Netherlands. Over time, however, practical considerations intervened and the children recruited as singers are now required to live within close distance of the TV recording studios in
Hilversum
Hilversum () is a city and municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. Located in the heart of the Gooi, it is the largest urban centre in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller towns. Hilvers ...
, southeast of
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
. As a consequence the songs are sung with the characteristic accent of that area, the most noticeable feature of which is the so-called ''Gooise R'': the retroflex pronunciation of the letter R at the end of words and after vowels before consonants in a manner similar to that of
American English
American English, sometimes called United States English or U.S. English, is the set of variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to the United States. English is the Languages of the United States, most widely spoken lan ...
, although other Rs are realized as trills, either alveolar or uvular .
The ensemble operates on a yearly production cycle starting with auditions for new members in January. Songs are composed based on ideas from children's letters and go through a judging process, ultimately leaving 12 song choices for the year's CD. The first singing rehearsals begin in March, and dance rehearsals start in September after summer recess. The year's TV program is usually recorded during the autumn school recess. A viewing is held for the children and their families one week before the program is broadcast in November.
A 27-CD box set, released at the end of September 2007, gave the choir their first album top 10 entry in almost a decade.
TV broadcasts
1980–1984
*The first broadcast was on 5 December 1980 (
St Nicholas Day
Saint Nicholas Day, also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, observed on 5 December or on 6 December in Western Christian countries, and on 19 December in Eastern Christian countries using the old church Calendar, is the feast day of Saint Nic ...
), hosted by actor
Willem Nijholt
Willem () is a Dutch and West FrisianRienk de Haan, ''Fryske Foarnammen'', Leeuwarden, 2002 (Friese Pers Boekerij), , p. 158. masculine given name. The name is Germanic, and can be seen as the Dutch equivalent of the name William in English, Gu ...
. The choir-members wore
dungarees. Viewers could vote for their favourite song and "" (sung by Annemiek Stuurman) became a
top 10 hit
Hit means to strike someone or something.
Hit or HIT may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super''
* Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...
early 1981. The album reached number 2 in the charts. In 2001 some of the original choir members reunited for an interview conducted by
Reinout Oerlemans
Reinout Oerlemans (; born 10 June 1971) is a Dutch soap opera actor, film director, television presenter and television producer. He is the founder of the TV production company Eyeworks.
In 1989, while studying law at the University of Amsterda ...
for his
I Love The 1980s-style series ''
Typisch Tachtig''.
*The second show too was hosted by
Willem Nijholt
Willem () is a Dutch and West FrisianRienk de Haan, ''Fryske Foarnammen'', Leeuwarden, 2002 (Friese Pers Boekerij), , p. 158. masculine given name. The name is Germanic, and can be seen as the Dutch equivalent of the name William in English, Gu ...
(sporting a full
moustache
A moustache (; en-US, mustache, ) is a strip of facial hair grown above the upper lip. Moustaches have been worn in various styles throughout history.
Etymology
The word "moustache" is French, and is derived from the Italian ''mustaccio'' ...
at the time). The choir was now expanded; among the new faces were Marjon Keller, Mandy Huydts and sisters Laura and Karin Vlasblom, who later went on to form the
girl group
A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female pop music singing groups, many of who ...
Frizzle Sizzle
Frizzle Sizzle were a Dutch teenage girl group of the 1980s. The four members of the group were Karin Vlasblom (born 10 August 1967), Laura Vlasblom (born 8 October 1968), Mandy Huydts (born 9 April 1969) and Marjon Keller (born 1 June 1970).
Hi ...
. Martijntje van Neerven expressed her concern with the stupidity of fur-hunters in "" ("Second hand coat"). Of the three stand-out songs "" ("On a deserted island") was voted the number 1 favourite and became a
top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
-hit. The album peaked at number 3.
*The third show hit the screens on 11 November 1982; this time
Leonie Jansen, singer/presenter of children's news programme introduced the songs. "" (about children judged by their dad's profession) opened the show and was that year's single. Other memorable moments include ''Drummer'', "" and "" ("Doctor, I'm tired of stupid"). Martijntje sang the
Down's syndrome
Down syndrome or Down's syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is usually associated with physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual disa ...
-themed ballad "" ("My baby brother") and the show ended with "" ("I think I lost it all") before reprising the theme tune. Album 3 became the first one to top the charts.
*The fourth album and TV show included show host
Willem Ruis (1945–1986). The songs had a more polished sound than previous efforts and made some references to
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
group
Doe Maar
Doe Maar was a Dutch ska band with punk and reggae influences whose career peaked from 1978 to 1984. They are one of the most successful pop bands in Dutch history. 'Doe maar' translates as ''go ahead'' or ''just do it''.
History Early years a ...
who were at the height of their popularity. "" is a request to
Doe Maar
Doe Maar was a Dutch ska band with punk and reggae influences whose career peaked from 1978 to 1984. They are one of the most successful pop bands in Dutch history. 'Doe maar' translates as ''go ahead'' or ''just do it''.
History Early years a ...
's keyboard-player to stop singing the
atom bomb
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb ...
-themed
number one-hit "". In "" ("Unemployed father", Martijntje's last contribution to the choir), the subject matter was angered by hearing the band on record. "" ("Girl group") became a
top 20
A record chart, in the music industry, also called a music chart, is a ranking of recorded music according to certain criteria during a given period. Many different criteria are used in worldwide charts, often in combination. These include rec ...
-entry, and "" ("The songs we sing") is a definite reminder that Dutch traditional children's songs are worthless to a generation that prefers to listen to top 40-hits. Like its predecessor, album 4 topped the charts.
*16 November 1984 saw the fifth show; time to look back. Previous members were invited and some of them were interviewed by Willem Ruis. As a bridge to the new songs
Frizzle Sizzle
Frizzle Sizzle were a Dutch teenage girl group of the 1980s. The four members of the group were Karin Vlasblom (born 10 August 1967), Laura Vlasblom (born 8 October 1968), Mandy Huydts (born 9 April 1969) and Marjon Keller (born 1 June 1970).
Hi ...
(before the name existed) sang a tribute to their days with the choir. Marjon Keller, who left after the fourth album, was still available for backing vocals. The first of the new songs is "" ("Join the club"), a call for
vegetarian
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter.
Vegetarianism m ...
ism; the idea was actually submitted by a
butcher
A butcher is a person who may Animal slaughter, slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat, or participate within any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat and poultry for sale in retail or wholesal ...
's daughter.
Robert Long (1943–2006) wrote "" ("If I Ruled The News") which missed the
top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
, unlike "" ("Forever Christmas"). This non-album track was recorded with former
BZN
BZN (''Band Zonder Naam''; Dutch for "Band Without Name") was a Dutch pop group that had a string of hits from 1966 to 2007 on. BZN recorded mostly in English and French, but also had success with material in Dutch and German.
History
BZN star ...
-vocalist
Annie Schilder and
Het Goede Doel
Het Goede Doel (English: ''The Charity'' or ''The Good Cause'') is a Dutch pop-group fronted by Henk Westbroek and Henk Temming as founding members.
The original line-up, formed in 1979, was completed by Sander van Herk (guitar), Roland Jongeneel ...
. It became the most successful
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
-
hit
Hit means to strike someone or something.
Hit or HIT may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super''
* Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...
in
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
. Album 5 reached second place in the charts.
1985–1989
*The show for the sixth album brought a change, as it was the first to be shot on location. The running order of the songs was changed precisely to chronicle the adventures of four siblings, Mark and Sasha, and teenagers Arjen and Krista. The parents were played by
Ati Dijckmeester and jazz-musician
Edwin Rutten. Album 6 reached number 2 and was notable for the song "" ("Morning Glory"). Two decades later Mark appeared in a ''
To Tell the Truth''-style item on
Paul de Leeuw
Paul Henri de Leeuw (born 26 March 1962) is a Dutch television comedian, singer and actor.
De Leeuw gained national fame in the late eighties and early nineties with television shows for broadcasting company VARA. Though satire was only a part ...
's TV-show.
*Album 7 aired on 15 November 1986 and was a continuation of its predecessor. "", written by
Het Goede Doel
Het Goede Doel (English: ''The Charity'' or ''The Good Cause'') is a Dutch pop-group fronted by Henk Westbroek and Henk Temming as founding members.
The original line-up, formed in 1979, was completed by Sander van Herk (guitar), Roland Jongeneel ...
frontmen
Henk Westbroek
Hendrik Otto "Henk" Westbroek (born 27 February 1952) is a Dutch radiohost, singer, songwriter and former owner of a café named 'Stairway to Heaven' in the city of Utrecht. He was also a political activist for Leefbaar Utrecht and Leefbaar Nede ...
&
Henk Temming and performed with
Edwin Rutten telling he's not
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas of Myra, ; la, Sanctus Nicolaus (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greeks, Greek descent from the maritime city of Myra in Asia Minor (; modern-da ...
, became a hit.
TV-
commercial
Commercial may refer to:
* a dose of advertising conveyed through media (such as - for example - radio or television)
** Radio advertisement
** Television advertisement
* (adjective for:) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and s ...
s are parodied in two songs; one of them, ("", which opens the show) namechecked addictive but fictional
candy bar
A candy bar is a type of candy that is in the shape of a bar. The most common type of candy bar is the chocolate bar, including both bars made of solid chocolate and combination candy bars, which are candy bars that combine chocolate with other ...
s and
chocolates
Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as a liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. Cacao has been consumed in some form since at least the Olmec civil ...
. Album 7 made the
top 5
''Top Five'' is a 2014 American comedy film written and directed by Chris Rock. Produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush, the film stars Rock, Rosario Dawson, and Gabrielle Union, and follows New York City comedian and film star Andre Allen (Rock), ...
.
*Album 8 started off with its fair share of controversy;
Freek de Jonge
Frederik "Freek" Jan Georg de Jonge (born 30 August 1944) is a Dutch cabaret performer and writer.
Biography
Early life and career
De Jonge was born in Westernieland as son of a pastor. His family moved to Workum, and later to Zaandam and G ...
was scheduled to host, but pulled out after it was feared that his contribution would badly affect album sales. He was replaced with actress
Simone Kleinsma
Simone Kleinsma (born 8 May 1958) is a musical theatre actress in the Netherlands.
Personal life
On 5 June 1990, Simone married Guus Verstraete, a Dutch television director.
Career
Simone provided voice over work to numerous major animated fi ...
and show-host
Ron Brandsteder. The latter appeared on the extracted single "" as the father dishing up overexperimental meals in mother's absence. Despite being the first single to miss the
top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
it still became a classic. The TV-show won a
Silver Rose
The Rose d'Or ('Golden Rose') is an international awards festival in entertainment broadcasting and programming. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) first acquired the Rose d’Or in 1961, when it was created by Swiss Television in the lakes ...
at the
Montreux Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival (formerly Festival de Jazz Montreux and Festival International de Jazz Montreux) is a music festival in Switzerland, held annually in early July in Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline. It is the second-largest annual ...
and the album hit the number 2 slot.
*The ninth show was made with the legendary talk show host
Sonja Barend
Sonja Maria Barend (born 29 February 1940) is a Dutch television personality and former talk show host. Her talk show ''Sonja'', which she presented since the 1970s, was noted for breaking taboos and allowing ordinary people a voice in public dia ...
who dressed up as a demented grandmother for one of the songs (""). Highlights include the mixed messages in "" ("Absolutely wrong"), "" ("George and John"), who are assumed to be gay, the anti-kissing song "" "" being a contemporary Dutch slang for
freshman
A freshman, fresher, first year, or frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational institutions.
Ara ...
). For the first time omissions had to be made; "" ("Anti-car song") and "" ("It's fun to be a liar") were not performed on the show. Album 9 reached number 5.
*From album 10 onwards, the TV-shows were shot on location again. Singer and presenter
Hanneke Kappen
Hanneke Kappen (born 1954) is a Dutch singer and radio and TV presenter. Kappen started a musical career by singing in a rock band in the late 1970s during the zenith of the Groningen music scene, but became a radio presenter and from 1981 to 19 ...
was this year's guest-
celebrity
Celebrity is a condition of fame and broad public recognition of a person or group as a result of the attention given to them by mass media. An individual may attain a celebrity status from having great wealth, their participation in sports ...
. It was broadcast with
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
subtitles. The orchestrations, with its jazzy and funky undertones, are reminiscent of the first three albums, but the modern influences are present as well; the
hip-hop-flavoured "" ("Fumbling champion") for example, or the
Westbroek
Westbroek is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of De Bilt, and lies about 6 km northwest of Bilthoven
Bilthoven is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of ...
&
Temming-written "" ("French fries, chicken, and apple-sauce"; a popular children's dish). Album 10 fittingly made it to number 10 .
1990–1994
*"New decade, new sound" was a general trend in 1990. was no exception, although the previous two albums had begun the change in direction.
Henk Westbroek
Hendrik Otto "Henk" Westbroek (born 27 February 1952) is a Dutch radiohost, singer, songwriter and former owner of a café named 'Stairway to Heaven' in the city of Utrecht. He was also a political activist for Leefbaar Utrecht and Leefbaar Nede ...
was now the supervisor and asked new composers to write rock-oriented songs. Tracks such as "" ("All a lot of noise") were previewed in a ''Derby of the
Low Countries
The term Low Countries, also known as the Low Lands ( nl, de Lage Landen, french: les Pays-Bas, lb, déi Niddereg Lännereien) and historically called the Netherlands ( nl, de Nederlanden), Flanders, or Belgica, is a coastal lowland region in N ...
'' contest for schools whose pupils performed their versions of classics. The show for the 11th album was filmed in
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
with multi-talented artist and
Unicef
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...
-
ambassador
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
Herman van Veen. The album made it to number 5, 34 places higher than the ''Best Of'' that was released at the same time.
*The 12th show was made with
Youp van 't Hek
Joseph Jacobus Maria "Youp" van 't Hek (born 28 February 1954) is a Dutch comedian, author, columnist, singer-songwriter, playwright, and critic.
Biography
Van 't Hek was born and raised in the Gooi, an upper-class region to the southeast o ...
as the celebrity guest. He played a travelling salesman and sang along on "" ("Everything is for sale").
Ernst Jansz
Ernst Gideon Jansz (born May 24, 1948 in Amsterdam) is one of the founding members and frontmen of Doe Maar. Doe Maar is a Dutch 1980s ska/reggae band, and is considered one of the most successful bands in Dutch pop history.
His father, born in ...
, enduring a break from performing with
Doe Maar
Doe Maar was a Dutch ska band with punk and reggae influences whose career peaked from 1978 to 1984. They are one of the most successful pop bands in Dutch history. 'Doe maar' translates as ''go ahead'' or ''just do it''.
History Early years a ...
, usually chronicled an impossible relationship in ""; in this case a schoolgirl-crush on the teacher.
Toon Hermans
Antoine Gerard Theodore "Toon" Hermans (17 December 1916 – 22 April 2000) was a noted Dutch comedian, singer and writer.
Toon Hermans was born in Sittard. He began performing in the 1930s, achieving local, regional and, eventually, nation ...
(1917–2000) made a cameo-appearance in "" ("My father's a clown"). "" ("Waking up with a melody") reached classic-status in years to come. Album 12 reached number 4 in the charts.
*The 13th show was made with
Sylvia Millecam
Sylvia Maria Millecam (23 February 1956 – 19 August 2001) was a Dutch actress and comedian. She was featured regularly on Dutch television where she hosted several shows. Millecam also appeared in several Dutch movies and released two albums. ...
(1956–2001) as a teacher who dreams of a school trip. Other celebrities involved were
Erik van Muiswinkel and
Henk Westbroek
Hendrik Otto "Henk" Westbroek (born 27 February 1952) is a Dutch radiohost, singer, songwriter and former owner of a café named 'Stairway to Heaven' in the city of Utrecht. He was also a political activist for Leefbaar Utrecht and Leefbaar Nede ...
. "" questions the phrase "
maturity". Album 13 made it to number 6, but single "" ("Burning passion") missed the
top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
.
*In 1993 actor
Coen Flink
Coen may refer to:
* Coen (name), a given name and surname
* Enrico Coen (1957), a British botanist
* Coen brothers, a U.S. filmmaker sibling duo
* Coen River, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia; named after ''Jan Pieterszoon Coen'' in 162 ...
(1932–2000) played a motorbiking grandfather. In a series of prequels he took his so-called granddaughter on a trip down memory lane with former choir members playing adolescent versions of their song-characters. Album 14 reached number 7 in the charts.
*In 1994, album 15 was released; singer-songwriter
Frank Boeijen
Franciscus Johannes Maria (Frank) Boeijen (born 27 November 1957 in Nijmegen) is a Dutch singer and guitarist. His best known songs are ''Kronenburg Park (Ga die Wereld Uit)'' about a prostitute, ''Zwart Wit'' about the racial murder of Kerwin ...
wrote the lead-off single "" ("Grounded"). It reached number 9. A second ''Best Of'' was also released with a house-medley of classic tunes. It reached number 22.
1995–1999
*With album 16 it was back to basics; singalong songs performed for a live audience which included former choir-members, and (as a first) a live-band.
Paul de Leeuw
Paul Henri de Leeuw (born 26 March 1962) is a Dutch television comedian, singer and actor.
De Leeuw gained national fame in the late eighties and early nineties with television shows for broadcasting company VARA. Though satire was only a part ...
presented and was the celebrity guest-vocalist in ''100 Hobby's''. Lead-off single was the bluesy "" ("Tomorrow mummy belongs to me"). Album 16 became the choir's first regular release to miss the
top 10.
*
Paul de Leeuw
Paul Henri de Leeuw (born 26 March 1962) is a Dutch television comedian, singer and actor.
De Leeuw gained national fame in the late eighties and early nineties with television shows for broadcasting company VARA. Though satire was only a part ...
also hosted the 17th show, which was dedicated to the parents of the children who supplied the subject matter.
Bennie Jolink from
dialect
The term dialect (from Latin , , from the Ancient Greek word , 'discourse', from , 'through' and , 'I speak') can refer to either of two distinctly different types of Linguistics, linguistic phenomena:
One usage refers to a variety (linguisti ...
rock-band
Normaal
Normaal is a rock band from the Netherlands, more specifically from the Achterhoek region, who sing in Achterhooks, a local variety of the Low Saxon language group. , who was an arts student at an arts academy, stationed in Amsterdam in the 19 ...
wrote "" ("Dirtmouth") which was released as a single with "" ("The Tits Song") on the B-side; the latter was sung by
dance-pop
Dance-pop is a popular music subgenre that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit radio. Developing from a ...
artist to be
Elize van der Horst to classic-status. Album 17 made it to number 17.
*The 18th show was hosted by
Menno Bentveld, one of the faces of
science
Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
program ''
Jules Unlimited
Jules is the French form of the Latin "Julius" (e.g. Jules César, the French name for Julius Caesar). It is the given name of:
People with the name
*Jules Aarons (1921–2008), American space physicist and photographer
* Jules Abadie (1876–19 ...
''. One of the songs featured is "" ("
Bullying
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception (by the bully or by others) of an imba ...
is not a game") which shared its title with an anti-
bullying
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception (by the bully or by others) of an imba ...
campaign. Album 18 became a top 10 entry.
*The 19th show took the form of a
school drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been co ...
with actors
Marcel Faber and
Joep Onderdelinden in the roles of
headmaster
A head master, head instructor, bureaucrat, headmistress, head, chancellor, principal or school director (sometimes another title is used) is the teacher, staff member of a school with the greatest responsibility for the management of the school ...
and
janitor
A janitor (American English, Scottish English), also known as a custodian, porter, cleanser, cleaner or caretaker, is a person who cleans and maintains buildings. In some cases, they will also carry out maintenance and security duties. A simil ...
. "" ("Dream") was released on single. Album 19 made it to number 13.
*
Aldith Hunkar,-presenter at the time, hosted this 20th show full of catchy singalongs and razor-sharp messages. Majel Lustenhouwer played an audience member awarded a Most Boring Father before miming the trombone in the song of the same name. Hunkar introduced the finale by expressing her rapping skills. Album 20 reached number 7.
2000–2004
*The 21st show was hosted by "monkey-duo" Zap & Surf. Album 21 only reached number 23.
*The 22nd show was hosted by
Maud Hawinkels who guested on a track about the upcoming replacement of Dutch
guilder
Guilder is the English translation of the Dutch and German ''gulden'', originally shortened from Middle High German ''guldin pfenninc'' "gold penny". This was the term that became current in the southern and western parts of the Holy Roman Empir ...
s by
Euro
The euro ( symbol: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of 19 out of the member states of the European Union (EU). This group of states is known as the eurozone or, officially, the euro area, and includes about 340 million citizens . ...
s. Other songs are "" ("In love with a horse") and
fundraiser
Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gathe ...
"" which opens the album. Album 22 peaked at 16 in the charts.
*The 23rd show was made with
Klaas van der Eerden
Klaas is a Dutch male given and surname. It is the Dutch short form of Nicholas, a Greek name ultimately meaning ''victory of the people''. A traditionally common name in the Netherlands, its popularity declined some 20-fold since 1950. who insisted on singing a medley of classics. By the time he did so everyone already left. Album 23 became the choir's least-selling album ever, missing the charts altogether.
*After
Willem Nijholt
Willem () is a Dutch and West FrisianRienk de Haan, ''Fryske Foarnammen'', Leeuwarden, 2002 (Friese Pers Boekerij), , p. 158. masculine given name. The name is Germanic, and can be seen as the Dutch equivalent of the name William in English, Gu ...
,
Willem Ruis,
Paul de Leeuw
Paul Henri de Leeuw (born 26 March 1962) is a Dutch television comedian, singer and actor.
De Leeuw gained national fame in the late eighties and early nineties with television shows for broadcasting company VARA. Though satire was only a part ...
, Klaas van der Eerden became the fourth host to do a second show. Unlike its predecessor, album 24 made it to the charts reaching number 21.
*A historic moment; the same celebrity hosting three shows in a row. But this time Klaas van der Eerden was joined by
Claudia de Breij
Claudia de Breij (born 13 March 1975) is a Dutch comedian, singer, show host and radio disk jockey.
In 2010, she won the Dutch Poelifinario prize for best cabaret
Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, rec ...
. Album 25 reached number 15.
2005–2009
*In 2005
Claudia de Breij
Claudia de Breij (born 13 March 1975) is a Dutch comedian, singer, show host and radio disk jockey.
In 2010, she won the Dutch Poelifinario prize for best cabaret
Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, rec ...
hosted the show on her own. Album 26 made it to number 14. As the choir was now officially in its 25th year, a new ''Best Of'' was released but didn't chart.
*Album 27 was the first one with a proper title: , named after the track sung by
Holly Mae Brood
Holly Mae Brood (born 25 November 1994) is a Dutch actress and presenter. She is best known for her role as Amy Kortenaer in the soap opera ''Goede tijden, slechte tijden'' and the spin-off series ''Nieuwe Tijden''. She is also known as co-host o ...
, actress-to-be and daughter of the late rock star/painter
Herman Brood
Hermanus "Herman" Brood (; 5 November 1946 – 11 July 2001) was a Dutch musician, painter, actor and poet. As a musician he achieved artistic and commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, and was called "the greatest and only Dutch rock 'n' r ...
. made it to number 28.
*The new tradition continued with which was chiefly written by a new generation of musicians. Claudia de Breij and comedian/marathon-runner
Dolf Jansen
Dolf Jansen (born 25 June 1963 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch comedian, host of the Radio 2 programme '' Spijkers met Koppen'' and an active Marathon runner. On television Jansen hosted '' Loods 6'' (1991), '' Kunstbende'' (1992), ''Jansen slaat do ...
each delivered one song. The pop concert premiered on 26 October 2007 while the TV-special was hosted by actress
Isolde Hallensleben.
*A new standard was set with the release of the 29th album (''Come Out And Play''). The pop concert was taken to a new level and was renamed the . It was held in the
Amsterdam Arena
The Johan Cruyff Arena ( nl, Johan Cruijff Arena ; officially stylised as Johan Cruijff ArenA) is the main stadium of the Dutch capital city of Amsterdam and the home stadium of football club AFC Ajax since its opening. Built from 1993 to 1996 ...
on 11 October 2008 and was hosted by sports reporter/television host
Jack van Gelder
Jack van Gelder (; born 27 December 1950) is a Dutch sport commentator and television presenter. He presented many sports television programs of the broadcasting organization NOS, including '' NOS Studio Sportzomer'', '' NOS Studio Voetbal'' a ...
and Dutch rapper
Ali B
Ali Bouali, known professionally as Ali B (born 16 October 1981), is a Dutch-Moroccan rapper. He is one of the most well known rappers in the Netherlands and he has performed together with Akon and Dutch artist Marco Borsato. In 2007 he made an ...
.
*In 2009, the group released their 30th album, (''Laughter is Healthy'') which was accompanied by a lower profile performance for a much smaller audience than previous shows. 2009 was a milestone for the group because it marked their 30th anniversary.
2010–present
* In 2015, album 36 (''Weird But True'') was released. Among the album's most popular songs was "" ("Why do I have to go?"), written in response to the
European migrant crisis
The 2015 European migrant crisis, also known internationally as the Syrian refugee crisis, was a period of significantly increased movement of refugees and migrants into Europe in 2015, when 1.3 million people came to the continent to reques ...
.
* In 2017, album 38 was released; (''Super Scary''). The song "" was specifically written to line up with the 2017 ; to fit the royal theme, the music video was filmed in
Soestdijk Palace
Soestdijk Palace ( nl, Paleis Soestdijk ) is a palace formerly belonging to the House of Orange-Nassau, Dutch Royal Family. It consists of a central block and two wings.
Although named after the village of Soestdijk, which is largely in the munic ...
, a former residence of the Dutch royal family.
* 2019 marked the release of album 40, (''Travel Along'').
* In 2020, album 41 was accompanied by a television-special taped during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
.
* In 2021, album 42, (''Be what you want to be'') was released. As part of Dutch TV's 70th anniversary, the choir-members appeared on satire-show ; they sang the theme-tune which opened and closed a classics-medley performed by the original soloists as adults.
Notable songs
Songs well known in the Netherlands or otherwise notable include:
*"" (1980)
"I dreamt so wonderfully"
*"" (1981)
"on an uninhabited island"
*"" (1983)
"girl group"
*"" (1984)
"when the lights go out"
*"" (1984)
"if I were the boss of the news "
*"" (1985)
"Morning temper "
*"" (1986)
"I am not Sinterklaas, am I?"
*"" (1987)
"Mum must be obeyed"
*"" (1987)
"One leg on the sidewalk"
*"" (1988)
"I want a crocodile for a pet"
*"" (1988) (sung by Daniël Samkalden)
"[my cat] Miepie"
*"" (1989)
"fumbling champion"
*"" (1989)
"chicken, fries and apple sauce"
*"" (sung by Jannes Drop) (1990)
"the Christmas donkey"
*"" (1991)
"waking up with a melody"
*"" (1992)
"burning passion"
*"" (1993)
"rough and primitive"
*"" (1996)
"the tits song"
*"" (1997)
"life lasts a lifetime"
*"" (1998)
"sandwich [= middle] child"
*"" (2000)
"we [two girls] are friends"
*"" (2001)
"tomorrow is a dream"
*"" (2003)
"I want a pet"
*"" (2003)
"a golden coach"
*"" (2004)
"Ordinary boy (with ADHD)"
*"" (2004)
"my mobile phone"
*"" (2005)
"two fathers"
*"" (2008)
"Playing outside"
*"" (2009)
"Sinterklaas wants to dance"
Most of the songs named as examples above are from the ensemble's early years. There are many who say they like the songs from the early years better than the songs from the more recent past. However, as the group's website declares:
:"… children today are different from their counterparts 25 years ago and the times they live in are completely different. For example, in those days there was no Internet and there were very few children's programs on TV and no music channels at all specifically for young people.
:"The themes the songs used in those days are in any case timeless. For example, today too it happens that at school children may be victims of mobbing, and a theme like disappointment in love will always be relevant. Yet there are also some new themes involving situations that earlier did not happen very often or were subject to taboos so that people preferred not to talk about them. One example of this is the song "" ('two fathers') on the 2005 CD.
:" will be staying in step with the times."
Topics addressed in songs
's songs deal with many different subjects. Some frequently recurring themes are:
*
Advertising
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...
("", "", "")
*
Animal
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Kingdom (biology), biological kingdom Animalia. With few exceptions, animals Heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, are Motilit ...
s ("", "", "", "", "" (about
vegetarianism
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter.
Vegetarianism may ...
), "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Antisocial behaviour
Antisocial behavior is a behavior that is defined as the violation of the rights of others by committing crime, such as stealing and physical attack in addition to other behaviors such as lying and manipulation. It is considered to be disrupti ...
("", "", "")
*
Being in love ("", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Body dysmorphic disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), occasionally still called dysmorphophobia, is a mental disorder characterized by the obsessive idea that some aspect of one's own body part or appearance is severely flawed and therefore warrants exceptional meas ...
("", "")
*
Boredom
In conventional usage, boredom, ennui, or tedium is an emotional and occasionally psychological state experienced when an individual is left without anything in particular to do, is listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occu ...
("", "", "", "" (sung by
Paul de Leeuw
Paul Henri de Leeuw (born 26 March 1962) is a Dutch television comedian, singer and actor.
De Leeuw gained national fame in the late eighties and early nineties with television shows for broadcasting company VARA. Though satire was only a part ...
))
*
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
("", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Death
Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
(of an animal) ("", "")
*Death (of a person) ("", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Disability
Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be Cognitive disability, cognitive, Developmental disability, dev ...
("", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Discrimination
Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, relig ...
("", "", "", "")
*
Divorce
Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the ...
("", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Eating
Eating (also known as consuming) is the ingestion of food, typically to provide a heterotrophic organism with energy and to allow for growth. Animals and other heterotrophs must eat in order to survive — carnivores eat other animals, herbi ...
("", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Environmental activism
The environmental movement (sometimes referred to as the ecology movement), also including conservation and green politics, is a diverse philosophical, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues. Environmentalists advo ...
("", "", "")
*
Escapism
Escapism is mental diversion from unpleasant or boring aspects of daily life, typically through activities involving imagination or entertainment. Escapism may be used to occupy one's self away from persistent feelings of depression or genera ...
("", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Forgetfulness
Forgetting or disremembering is the apparent loss or modification of information already encoded and stored in an individual's short or long-term memory. It is a spontaneous or gradual process in which old memories are unable to be recalled from ...
("", "", "")
*
Friendship
Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people. It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an "acquaintance" or an "association", such as a classmate, neighbor, coworker, or colleague.
In some cultures, the concept o ...
("", "" (George and John), "", "", "")
*
Generational conflict ("", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Growing up ("", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Holiday
A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...
s: ("", "", "", "" (
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
), "", "" (
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
), "", "", "")
*
Home
A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. H ...
("", "", "", "", "")
*
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to peop ...
/
LGBT adoption
Same-sex adoption is the adoption of children by Same-sex relationship, same-sex couples. It may take the form of a joint adoption by the couple, or of the adoption by one partner of the other's biological child (stepchild adoption).
Joint ad ...
("")
*
Injustice
Injustice is a quality relating to unfairness or undeserved outcomes. The term may be applied in reference to a particular event or situation, or to a larger status quo. In Western philosophy and jurisprudence, injustice is very commonly—but n ...
("", "")
*
International Adoption
International adoption (also referred to as intercountry adoption or transnational adoption) is a type of adoption in which an individual or couple residing in one country becomes the legal and permanent parent(s) of a child who is a national of ...
("")
*
Loneliness
Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social paina psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections. It is often associated with a perceived lack ...
("", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Money
Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are as ...
("", "", "", "" (KvK 11), "", "", "", "" (KvK 18), "")
*
Moods ("", "", "", "")
*
Music
Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...
("", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Nostalgia
Nostalgia is a sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. The word ''nostalgia'' is a learned formation of a Greek language, Greek compound, consisting of (''nóstos''), meaning "homecoming", ...
("", "", "")
*
Phobia
A phobia is an anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. Phobias typically result in a rapid onset of fear and are usually present for more than six months. Those affected go to great lengths to avo ...
s ("", "", "", "", "")
*
Shyness
Shyness (also called diffidence) is the feeling of apprehension, lack of comfort, or awkwardness especially when a person is around other people. This commonly occurs in new situations or with unfamiliar people; a shy person may simply opt t ...
("", "")
*
Superstition
A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs and ...
("", "")
*
Taunt
A taunt is a battle cry, sarcastic remark, gesture, or insult intended to demoralize the recipient, or to anger them and encourage reactionary behaviors without thinking. Taunting can exist as a form of social competition to gain control of the tar ...
ing and
mobbing
Mobbing, as a sociological term, means bullying of an individual by a group, in any context, such as a family, peer group, school, workplace, neighborhood, community, or online. When it occurs as physical and emotional abuse in the workplace, suc ...
("", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")
*
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice of burning tobacco and ingesting the resulting smoke. The smoke may be inhaled, as is done with cigarettes, or simply released from the mouth, as is generally done with pipes and cigars. The practice is believed ...
("", "", "")
*
War
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
("", "", "")
Contents of annual albums
Former members with notable solo careers
Discography
Albums
Singles
References
External links
official websiteUnofficial fansite and forum
*
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20081216110158/http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/kinderen_voor_kinderen.482.html Biography and chronology at the Netherlands' National Pop InstituteExpert says KvK sing-along CDs may be behind spread of Gooise r – article in ''
NRC Handelsblad
''NRC'', previously called ''NRC Handelsblad'' (), is a daily morning newspaper published in the Netherlands by NRC Media. It is generally accepted as a newspaper of record in the Netherlands.
History
''NRC Handelsblad'' was first published on 1 ...
'', July 15, 2000 citing Prof. Hans Van de Velde of the
Université Libre de Bruxelles
{{Authority control
1980 Dutch television series debuts
Children's charities based in the Netherlands
Children's musical groups
Choirs of children
Dutch-language songs
Dutch pop songs
Dutch children's songs
Dutch children's television series
Musical groups from North Holland
Musical groups established in 1980
Dutch-language television shows
1980s Dutch television series