Normaal is a rock band from the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
, more specifically from the
Achterhoek
The Achterhoek (; Dutch Low Saxon: ''Achterhook'') is a cultural region in the Eastern Netherlands.
Its name (meaning "rear-corner") is geographically appropriate because the area lies in the easternmost part of the province of Gelderland and ther ...
region, who sing in
Achterhooks
Achterhooks ( Dutch Low Saxon: ; nl, Achterhoeks ) is a Westphalian dialect spoken in Gelderland.
Geographic distribution
The Achterhooks language is spoken in the Netherlands in western Europe, Northeast, with speakers concentrated in Gelder ...
, a local variety of the
Low Saxon language group. , who was an arts student at an arts academy, stationed in Amsterdam in the 1970s, started the band in 1975 as a reaction to
disco
Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
and
glamrock
Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter. Glam artists drew on divers ...
, in addition to the overall "Dutch snobbery" towards people from the Low Saxon-speaking regions, and use of the
English language
English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the is ...
by many other Dutch artists. "Normaal" meaning "normal", suggesting the same: "act normally". The band has since gained national fame, and have had more top 40 hits in the Dutch chart than any other Dutch band. Despite this fact, the band never reached number one.
[ Dutch Wikipedia site for Normaal] The music could be typified as "heavy country rock", and possibly as a rowdier version of
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. For 51 years, they comprised vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and vocalist-bassist Dusty Hill, until Hill's death in 2021. ZZ Top developed a signature sound ...
or
Status Quo
is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, political, religious or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the current state of social structure and/or values. W ...
.
History
The band was founded in 1974 by guitarist and lead vocalist Bennie Jolink and drummer Jan Manschot.
The band had a very loyal following of 'anhangers' (fans) or 'høkers', some of whom followed the band's tours anywhere they went. Normaal's concerts were usually performed in large party tents in the countryside. In the early days, the concerts were mainly focused on consuming large quantities of alcohol, and partying (for which they have come up with the umbrella term 'høken') rather than sound quality, although this has changed over the decades. The term 'høken' is an example of words that the band invented or popularized, and fit their local dialect. Høken is used as word in several of the band's lyrics, song titles and album/DVD titles. It has become an established term especially in the
Achterhoek
The Achterhoek (; Dutch Low Saxon: ''Achterhook'') is a cultural region in the Eastern Netherlands.
Its name (meaning "rear-corner") is geographically appropriate because the area lies in the easternmost part of the province of Gelderland and ther ...
region, and can even be found in the
Van Dale
''Van Dale's Great Dictionary of the Dutch Language'' ( nl, Van Dale Groot woordenboek van de Nederlandse taal ), called ' for short, is the leading dictionary of the Dutch language. The latest edition was published in April 2022.
History
Van ...
Dutch dictionary with attribution to the band.
[ Høken Dutch wikipedia page]
Their first and biggest hit was "
Oerend Hard" ('Bloody Fast'), a song about two motor cyclists who "never heard of slow driving". The song ends with them crashing, whereafter it is implied that both drivers have died in the crash, after which the band (and its fans) sings that despite this fact, they will continue to drive "oerend hard". Several members of the band have been involved in serious motor accidents.
In September 2006, Normaal released ''
Hier is Normaal'' ("Here is Normaal"), followed by two concert tours. Not only their album, but both concert tours of that year were
carbon neutral
Carbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the "p ...
. The energy needed for all 44 concerts was compensated via investments in
renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy ...
projects in India. Normaal is the first Dutch band to have taken a stance against global
climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
.
In October 2007, organizers of two hugely successful concerts by Normaal enabled the band to donate $11,000 to Woodstock General Hospital Foundation. The idea came from a dairy farmer; Ben Van Haastert from
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The city has a population of 40,902 according to the 2016 Canadian census. Woodstock is the seat of Oxford County, at the head of the non-navigable Thames River, approximately 128 km from ...
. Haastert's wife Ankie and local friends assisted in planning. One concert was held in nearby
London, Ontario
London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...
(a neighbouring city with a larger population), and the other was held in Woodstock.
Founding member Jan Manschot died in January 2014.
Medeoprichter Jan Manschot van Normaal overleden
/ref>
Normaal played their last shows in 2015. Bennie Jolink continued as a member of De Pensionado's with whom he recorded a studio-album. He retired from performing in 2016, although he did some incidental performances afterwards.
In 2018, the surviving original bandmembers and Manschot's widow unveiled a statue in Hummelo
Hummelo is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Bronckhorst, about 6 km northwest of Doetinchem.
Hummelo was a separate municipality until 1818, when the area was divided between Ambt Doetinchem ...
, based on one of their early pictures.
In 2019, Normaal played two reunion-concerts.
Members
;Definite members
* Bennie Jolink - guitars, percussion, lead vocals (1973-2015)
* Ferdi Joly - vocals, guitars, saxophone, clarinet, harmonica (1975-1980) (2000-2014)
* Willem Terhorst - bass, vocals (1975-2015)
* Roel Spanjers - keyboards, accordion, piano, vocals (2003-2015)
* Jan de Ligt - saxophone (2003-2015)
* Jan Wilm Tolkamp - guitars, vocals (2006-2015)
* Timo Kelder - drums, vocals (2013-2015)
;Former members
* Jan Manschot - drums, percussion, vocals (1973-2013; died 2014)
* Jan Kolkman - guitar, vocals, accordion, saxophone (1975) (1994-2002)
* Alan Gascoigne - guitar (1980-1982) (2000-2002)
* Paul Kemper - guitar, backing vocals (1983-1999)
* Nico Groen - drums (1985)
* Fokke de Jong - drums, vocals (1989-2003) (2005-2013)
* Willem Duyn - lead vocals, due to motorcycle-accident Bennie Jolink (1992)
* Robert Colenbrander - guitar, backing vocals, accordion (1992-1993)
* Arend Bouwmeester - saxophone (2003)
* Tessa Boomkamp - drums, vocals (2003-2005)
* Joost Hagen - trumpet (2007-2009)
Discography
Studio albums
*''Oerend hard'' (1977)
*''Ojadasawa'' (1978)
*''D'n Achterhoek tsjoek'' (1979)
*''Høken is normaal'' (1980)
*''Deurdonderen'' (1982)
*''De boer is troef'' (1983)
*''De klok op rock'' (1984)
*''Steen stoal en sentiment'' (1985)
*''Zo kommen wi-j de winter deur'' (1985)
*''Kiek uut'' (1986)
*''Noar 't café'' (1987)
*''Da's normaal'' (1988)
*''Rechttoe rechtan'' (1989)
*''H.A.L.V.U.'' (1991)
*''Buugen of barsten'' (1992)
*''Gas d'r bi-j'' (1994)
*''Top of the bult'' (1996)
*''Krachttoer'' (1997)
*''Høken, kreng'' (1998)
*''Effe zitten'' (2000)
*''Van tied tut tied'' (2000)
*''Ik kom altied weer terug'' (2001)
*''Høk & swing'' (2003)
*''Fonkel'' (2004)
*''Hier is Normaal'' (2006)
*''Ni-je NRS'' (2008)
*''De Blues eLPee'' (2009)
*''Halve Soul, Helemoal Høken'' (2012)
Live albums
*''Springleavend'' (1981)
*''Normalis jubilaris'' (1990)
*''Bi-j Normaal thuus'' (1993)
*''Kriebel in de konte'' (1998)
*''Vernemstig te passe'' (2003)
Compilation albums
*''Stark wark 1980-1983'' (1983)
*''12½ jaar'' (1988)
*''Het beste van Normaal'' (1992)
*''Hits van Normaal'' (1994)
*''Deur de joaren hen'' (1997)
*''Onwijs høken 20 jaar hits'' (1997)
*''100 x Normaal'' (2007)
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Dutch rock music groups
Dutch comedy musicians
Musical groups established in 1975
1975 establishments in the Netherlands
Musical groups disestablished in 2015