Bells make me think of church bells and stuff like that and although wanting to go in a totally different direction the chuirch bells reminded me of an Andre Van Duin song which, when I was a little boy, I found very very very funny.
Andre is a Dutch entertainer, actor, singer, whatever. He does about anything but he's most famous for his sketches, his revueshows and his funny songs. This is one of 'em. In his shows he used to be accompagnied by the late Frans van Dusschoten and Corrie Van Gorp. Their succes in The Netherlands and Belgium was huge. Later he'd become the host of many different tv shows. In between he released over 30 full albums throughout his career and as many singles. He'd score 3 number 1 hits: Willempie is the first (and probably most known), Bim Bam his second and in the 1990's he scored a third top hit with his Pizzalied.
In 2004 he celebrated his 40 year old career and he dis so with a complete new theater show. At the moment he's working on another show to be premiered ... yesterday !!!! Andre was celebrated many times with a huge number of awards.
The song above by the way is based on Edith Piaf and Jean Villards, Les trois cloches.
Pat Krimson was part of Leopold 3 but also produced a lot of the Belgian dance scene in the nineties and nillies. After 2 Fabiola he started his 2 Fabiola project. First with Zohra, later with Medusa (Evi Goffin - Fiocco, Lasgo) and after a break and a restart with singers Loredana and Viola.
Patje also started up different eurodance and underground projects such as Nunca and he produced zome of Zohra's personal projects. He actually started of under his own name as you can hear on the record below.
Pat Crimson is also a huge fan of the football cvlub KRC Genk and he and his different projects used to entertain the fans once in a while during half time.
At the moment he's working back with the old Leopold 3 crew to produce a new record which is supposed to be on the shelves later this year.
Leopold 3 is a Belgian band named after the fourth king of Belgium and it was founded in 1989 by Patrick Claesen aka Pat Krimson, Marc Bijnens and Stefan Wuyts. Patrick is in charge of keyboards and/or guitar. Marc is lead singer and Stefan on drums. Marc is quickly being replaced by Erik Goossens who is still the lead singer of the band. Leopold 3 scores a few minor hits early 1990’s but their big breakthrough would come in 1993 with a Dutch cover of the OMD single Maid of Orleans. This cover was called Volle Maan. Volle Maan was followed by a few more top flights as Zomernacht, Koning Van De Lach and Vergeet-Mij-Nietje. This last single would be their try to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest but, although winning the jury votes, the public chose otherwise and they didn’t go. Non the wise the single became a huge summer hit. The band would split in 1996 never to be reunited again. Erik would continue his acting career, Patrick was occupied with his side project 2 Fabiola and I haven’t got the slightest clue what happened to Stefan actually.
Early 2010 a radio station decided to let their listeners vote if they want a one time Leopold 3 reunion in their showx Nineties and Nillies and Patrick and Stefan are willing to go for it. Erik reconsiders his ‘never we shall reunite’ and joins them in the show. This show brings the mto the big live show Back to the Nineties and this concert is followed by a few more limited gigs throughout the country.
It is said a new Leopold 3 album is in the making to be released end this year.
Allright I've missed out on another appointment last Wednesday. It was my best friends birthday and my favourite football team was playing. Sorry for that.
John Terra is a Belgian singer who's known for a few Schlager classics such as this one. The title means: The day the sunlight don't shine anymore. Or something like that. His first steps he set in an orchestra lead by one of his relatives when he got noticed by some Belgian producers. Early seventies John scored a few hits and this is where he tasted his first fame in the Flemish part of Belgium. As his succes has risen it taned as quickly late 1970's. In this period he released 4 albums of which the last in 1976.
Although never having left the showbizz scene John Terra made a comeback in 1981 in a national song contest called De Baccarabeker. This attention led to his biggest hit ever which is the one below. De dag dat het zonlicht niet meer scheen would take him to the top flight of the charts. His 1981 album was named after the song and some other songs would also make the charts. A year later he released the album Ik Weet Niet waaromp which would also be his final album.
Although still performing he's disappear slowly from the Belgian stages to take up the position of manager of many Belgian artists such as Lisa Del Bo (eurovision song contestor in 1996), Kim Kay, Dana Winner, Erik Goossens and Vanessa Chinitor (eurovision song contestor in 1999).
Why is John Terra linked to arbeid Adelt? Well the posted song lead to a huge fight between him and Arbeid Adelt since this is Johns biggest hit, released in 1981 but also the title of Arbeid Adelts first single release also in 1981. Arbeids version was some sort of parody on the number one hit but Mister Terra didn't find it funny. I won't take pick a side since I'm no big fan of both but as long as they tie in it's all fine.
Sean d'Hondt is a VJ for TMF who also is the face of a Belgian band. Marcel Vanthilt used to be a VJ for MTV in London who used to be the face of a Belgian band called Arbeid Adelt!. I think the link is clear. First I must say that I hate the Arbeit Adelt! music but this blog isn't about what I like. It's abaout what ties into the link and I'm sure there must be someone out there who's fond of the 1980 pop electronic crazy shit Marcel and his buddy's created.
The band was formed early 1980's by Marcel Vanthilt and his buddy Jan Van Roelen using pseudonyms. Marcel used to be called Max Alexander and Jan was David Salamon. They lasted a decade and broke up in 1994 with a little reunion in 2007 for Marcel's 50th birthday. After that they perform ine in a while whenever they feel like it but no new records were composed or released.
Arbeid Adelt! created 5 albums which were called (in consecutive order): Jonge Helden (1983), Le Chagrin en Quatre-Vingts (1983), Des Duivels Oorkussen (1991), a compilation album (also in 1993) called Bijna Heeft Nooit een Haas Geschoten and a final album Methode Champenoise (1994). Some known Belgian musicians have contributed to some of the songs. I'll name two of them: Willy Willy (The Scabs) and Dani Klein (Vaya Con Dios)
Their very first song will probably be the link into the next blog. I'll be in Dutch again, that's for sure.
Don't know if anyone likes Arbeid so here goes nothing:
"Pin" is the link into the next song which is from a Belgian punk rock band called Nailpin. The band is formed around lead singer Sean d'Hondt who is also known as a TMF VJ on Belgian television.
Nailpin released their first album in 2004 and it was called '12 to go" referencing to the 12 tracks on the album. This album scored some smaal hits in Belgium but due to his VJ career Sean d'Hondt created some extra opportunities for the band. Eg: Nailpin participated in the tv show MTV's Road Rally in which they travelled through the USA from the Eastcoast to the Westcoast. They had to earn their spending and traveling money with performances and giggs along the way.
After that Avril Lavigne asked them to go on tour with her as her opening act. A great opportunity for this small Belgian band. They did the same with Panic At The Disco.
For the second album Sean left his drums behind and became full time front member after their first lead singer left the band to join Mid Air Collision. That second album scored a real hit with They Don't Know which you can find on White Lies And Butterflies. With this album they can tour a second time in Japan where they're very popular.
A new album will follow and is called III since it's their third and so far last album. After a year of touring around Europe the band decides in late 2009 to take a break from their activities. So far no new songs or albums have been planned.
Apparantly I thought my previous link was number 50 but I made a mistake in adding up the numbers along the way so here's number 50 again. It's Pinback, a Californian band from the indie scene. A bit soft at times but I seem to think it's pretty ok music. And while watching the video I loved the pictues used in this video post actually. I hope you can enjoy them too. Anyway
Since they're from California it ties up perfectly into the previous song but what's more to know? They're from San Diego and originally formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV (what's in a name) and Rob Crow. The band had a huge number of band members passing through this mostly since they're know as a multi instrumentalists band meaning they use a huge amount of different instruments in their music.
Pinback created five albums so far and you coiuld find the first one on the shelves in 1999 and was called This Is Pinback. Not so very original but very clear obviously.Their second album Blue Screen Life bought them a huge local live reputation. Therefore a third album was recorded in 2004 and this time Pinback made it to the US charts for the very first time. Autumn Of The Seraphs from 2007 would even break their previous high score in the charts ending up at plce 69. No real big hits were scored in either of the albums. I think Penelope must be one of their most famous songs.
At the moment the band is working on a complete new album to be released early 2012. The album has the working title of Information Retrieved and already two songs have been released so far: Thee Srum Proggit and Sherman. I've chosen to post the first one and hope you'll like it.
Sorry you had to wait for number 50 but here it is and it's a classic. Eagles won with their 1976 album Hotel California the prize for best album at the 1978 Grammy Awards and thus they were an award winner the same year as Leo Sayer.
Although none of the current and past musicians are from California, Eagles are to be considered as a Californian band. The award winning album is also a theme album relating to the American state where they all reside after moving to California. The album contains many more classic songs such as Life In The Fast Lane and New Kid In Town.
Hotel California was their fifth album after being founded in 1971. Eagles would release an album each year starting with their firstborn in 1972. The names of the albums in consecutive order: Eagles, Desperado, On The Border, One Of These Nights and then finally Hotel California. In between a Greatest Hits album was released containing songs from their four first records.
Eagles were named after the ultimate american symbol off course and they started off as a backing band for performer Linda Rondstedt. Only a few months after they decided to make it on their own with their bluegrass, country music. Later they would evolve to a more bluegrass rock type of music with a little sniff of a typical Californian sound.
Late 70's, Eagles dived into the studio to record a double album called The Long Run. They'd record for almost two years and finally didn't come up with enough songs so a regular album was being produced. A lot of troubles entered the band during the tour after in 1980 and finally the band split up. Each member strived a solo career mostly a non succesfull one.
Ten years after the split a new album was released in honour of Eagles and producer Travis Tritt insisted that all existing Eagles members would perform in the video of the song Take It Easy. This little reunion led to a new joined venture four years later. Drummer Don Henley said when breaking up Eagles would be back together when hell freezes over. The reunion started of with a live album called: Hell Freezes Over. All seven ex member would play on this album. They have humour that's for sure. Acomplete new album followed in 2007 and was titled Long Road Out Of Eden reminding them to the big fights they once had and that they conquered their internal problems.
I've seen 'em perfom back in 2009 in Antwerp and although the ticket prizes were damn hell expensive I was glad to have seen these pioneers at least once in my life. Chicken skin all the way through and a smile when leaving the concert building. You've got to admit. Eagles are a huge band with some huge songs and Hotel California for sure is one of 'em. Enjoy.
Since no real link could be made I got stuck with Leo Sayer which isn't that bad at all. Leo certainly made a few good and well know songs such as this one. Not only When I Need You was a big hit int he UK and European charts but also You Make Me Feel Like Dancing or Thunder In My Heart were huge hits. This last one especially after the remix made by Meck which was an even greater (dance)hit in Europe. Leo Sayer is a seventies icon. That's for sure.
Sayer signed his first ever contract with my number 48 link Adam Faith in 1973 and Leo instantly scored with The Show Must Go On folowed by his 1974 ep called One Man Band. His You Make Me Feel Like Dancing won the 1978 grammy award for best R&B song. As you can read, music styles evolved heavily during the years beacause I wouldn't call that a typical R&B song nowadays. In act it wouldn't be nominated in that category I guess.
His career lasted untill 1984 but then the buzz silenced out quickly and even a nineties comeback failed completely. Only in 2006 Leo, who's name and haircut was linked with a lions manes, he made a little comeback due to Meck's remix of Thunder In My Heart.
Although UK born he nowadays is an Australian citizen since 2009 after moving to Sydney in 2005.
