Sunday, March 14, 2010

Ik hou van jou.

One of the things that never impressed me about the Dutch is their music. Make that pop music. Reason: I find the language too direct and very unmusical. You see, whenever I listen to a Dutch song, I have the feeling that there is absolutely no feeling in it. The song sounds like a cacophony of words. No heart. No soul. As I've said, no feeling. Sorry for my bluntness but that's how I really felt about it before.


Until one day, a friend asked me to listen to this song to me. And just like that ..... I turned 180 degrees on my stand about their music. I acquired understanding about the people. I realized that the Dutch are not as direct and unmusical as I thought they were. They are just as romantic and eloquent (when it comes to love) as their French and Italian neighbours.


So here goes the song.... (there's an English and German translation, so you can understand what the song is all about.) Ik hou van jou is Dutch for I love you.



6 comments:

Unknown said...

Like German always sounds militaristic? Dutch sounds amusing.
That made for some very funny songs in the Vaudeville days!

rwidiani said...

have you tried flemish songs? i cried everytime i hear "je hebt een vriend" from k3 or one of clouseau's. so far i'm not impressed with dutch singers singing in english. i find the songs plain and not special. anyway, smaken verschillen, toch;)

Droomvla said...

@Whitemist: Well, the first time I heard this song I thought,.... `hmm,... sounds like a drinking song.´ You know, when someone is heartbroken and is extremely drunk. HAHAHAHA But it grew on me. lol

Droomvla said...

@rwidiani: I listened to K3 Je hebt een vriend. It´s a nice song, very sentimental. :D

The first version of this song that I heard was a Flemish version by Dana Winner. But I prefer this one. As you´ve said, smaken verschillen. HAHAHAHA

Anita said...

I have to disagree with you. The lyric of this song is extremely silly to me. It sounds like something written by a 12 year old. Very flat melody also, no big impact, no elaborted rythym... And "I love you" is somehting that Dutch people do not say that much. They say: "Ik vind je leuk": I think you are nice... so plain... Well, I also think certain TV programmes are "leuk" and that the bus chauffeur is "leuk" and that the neighbour's dog is "leuk" as well... They put the admiration for something/someone being "nice" in the same level as loving that thing/person.
Well, I like videos and songs in blogs anyway so thanks for sharing this. LEUK...

Droomvla said...

@Anita: I like being silly, what can I say? LOL

Seriously, I like this song for its simplicity and childlike character.

True, the melodic structure is very basic and elementary. The rhythmic pattern is very regulated and steady. The text is very simple, even shallow. And yes, there´s nothing complex about it at all; nothing special ... nothing grand... no display of virtuosity... just PLAIN popular song.

But sometimes, simple could also be good.

As for the I LOVE YOU part, I think I know what you mean. But I also think that this behaviour does NOT ONLY apply to Dutch people.

Thanks for dropping by, and HAPPY EASTER! :D