The Shorts was a
pop group from the
Netherlands
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, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
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, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
consisting of Hans van Vondelen (vocals), Erik de Wildt (keyboard), Hans Stokkermans (bass guitar) and Peter Wezenbeek (drums). The group was formed in 1976, and scored a 1983 international
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 ...
with "
Comment ça va" produced by
Jack Jersey
Jack (Willem) de Nijs, artist name Jack Jersey (18 July 1941 — 26 May 1997), was a Dutch singer, composer, arranger, lyricist and record producer of light music (popular music) who worked for national and international artists. He had his own ...
. Last "recorded" appearance is from Sopot Festival 1984.
History
The Shorts were founded under the name De Bliksemafleiders in
Leiden
Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration wit ...
in 1977 by producer
Danny de Heer
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People
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. On a talent show he discovered
Hans van Vondelen
Hans may refer to:
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** Navraj Hans, Indian singer, actor, entrepreneur, cricket player and performer, son of Hans Raj Hans
** Yuvraj Hans, Punjabi ...
,
Erik de Wildt ,
Peter Wezenbeek
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,
Frank van der Ven
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Curr ...
and
Hans Stokkermans
Hans may refer to:
__NOTOC__ People
* Hans (name), a masculine given name
* Hans Raj Hans, Indian singer and politician
** Navraj Hans, Indian singer, actor, entrepreneur, cricket player and performer, son of Hans Raj Hans
** Yuvraj Hans, Punjabi ...
. The then eleven-year-old boys mainly played on a children's show by Eddy de Heer and Danny de Heer. After a few years, the boys made their own single. This single was not a success, but Eddy de Heer wrote the song Comment ça va (in English) as encouragement. After visiting all record companies for a year, record company EMI was willing to release the song (thanks to Ruud Wams of Paloma Music) but in a Dutch version, which was recorded in the Stone sound studio in Roosendaal and written and produced by
Jack de Nijs
Jack (Willem) de Nijs, artist name Jack Jersey (18 July 1941 — 26 May 1997), was a Dutch singer, composer, arranger, lyricist and record producer of light music (popular music) who worked for national and international artists. He had his own pr ...
.
De Bliksemafleiders were now called The Shorts. The Dutch song Comment ça va was initially played mainly on pirate radio, but quickly became a great commercial success. In 1983 it was the best-selling single in the Netherlands. The single was translated into English, Spanish, German and Chinese and released in several countries. In total, more than four million copies were sold. In 1983 The Shorts, Eddy de Heer and Jack de Nijs were awarded the Conamus Export Prize for their international success with Comment ça va.
The following singles from The Shorts could no longer match the success. After several changes in the group, the group split up in 1987.
Recent history
Hans van Vondelen owns Fendal Sound Studios.Peter Wezenbeek is an owner of J.P. Audio Visueel BV and Droomtent recording studio. Hans Stokkermans is a detective and continues intensively playing as a musician on
bass guitar
The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
. Erik de Wildt's owns a drug store.
Discography
The Shorts released two albums and 14 singles.
Albums
Comment ça va
Track list
#Comment Ça Va 3:30
#One Pair 3:24
#Een Beetje Vuur 3:41
#Ik Zing 3:55
#Springtime 2:37
#I'm A Musician 4:42
#Je Suis, Tu Es 3:35
#Subway Love 4:15
#I'm Saving 3:25
#Annabelle 3:46
#Goodbye, Don't Cry 4:21
M'n laaste concert
Second album from 1987.
;Track listing
#Splash Intro 2:16
#Het Monster Van Loch Ness 4:30
#Ze Was Zo Mooi 3:18
#Vrienden 3:35
#Margriet Uit Hazerswoude 3:36
#Goodbye Irene 3:47
#M'n Laatste Concert 3:26
#Annelies 3:52
#Maar Toen Kwam Jij 3:37
#Verboden Toegang 2:54
#In De Twintigste Eeuw 4:15
#Door De Bocht 4:09
Singles
;CNR
*Don't wanna do it (1981)
;EMI
*Annabelle (1983)
*Comment Ça Va (1983)
*Je Suis, Tu Es / Ik Zing (1983)
*Que Tal Te Va (Comment Ça VA) (promo) (1984)
*Je Hebt Het Maar Geleend (1984)
*Tschüss (1984)
*Helemaal Te Gek (1984)
;Sky
*Ze Was Zo Mooi / She Was So Nice (1985)
*Christmas-Eve (1985)
*Door De Bocht (1985)
*Maar Toen Kwam Jij (1986)
*M'n Laatste Concert (1987)
;Telstar
*Verboden Toegang (1986)
References
1976 establishments in the Netherlands
Musical groups established in 1976
Dutch pop music groups
{{Netherlands-band-stub