(; ) is a Dutch children's choir maintained by public broadcaster BNNVARA. Since 1980 the choir has released one album of new children's songs each year, and is probably the only act from the 1980s with consecutive albums in the top 40 chart (apart from two releases). The ideas for the songs generally come from children who write in. Well-known Dutch lyricists 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 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. 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.
In keeping with 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 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 since 2005. She succeeded Majel Lustenhouwer, who led the group during its first 25 years. In recognition of 's contribution to Dutch culture under his guidance, Lustenhouwer received a knighthood of the Order of Orange Nassau in 2006.
For the first 21 releases, the first song on each album was always the anthem. 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, southeast of Amsterdam. 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, 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), hosted by actor Willem Nijholt. The choir-members wore dungarees. Viewers could vote for their favourite song and "" (sung by Annemiek Stuurman) became a top 10 hit 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 for his I Love The 1980s-style series Typisch Tachtig. The second show too was hosted by Willem Nijholt (sporting a full moustache 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 Frizzle Sizzle. 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-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-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 group Doe Maar who were at the height of their popularity. "" is a request to Doe Maar's keyboard-player to stop singing the atom 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-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 (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 vegetarianism; the idea was actually submitted by a butcher's daughter. Robert Long (1943–2006) wrote "" ("If I Ruled The News") which missed the top 40, unlike "" ("Forever Christmas"). This non-album track was recorded with former BZN-vocalist Annie Schilder and Het Goede Doel. It became the most successful Christmas-hit in Dutch. 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's TV-show. Album 7 aired on 15 November 1986 and was a continuation of its predecessor. "", written by Het Goede Doel frontmen Henk Westbroek & Henk Temming and performed with Edwin Rutten telling he's not Saint Nicholas, became a hit. TV-commercials are parodied in two songs; one of them, ("", which opens the show) namechecked addictive but fictional candy bars and chocolates. Album 7 made the top 5. Album 8 started off with its fair share of controversy; Freek de Jonge 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 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 it still became a classic. The TV-show won a Silver Rose at the Montreux Festival and the album hit the number 2 slot. The ninth show was made with the legendary talk show host Sonja Barend 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). 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 was this year's guest-celebrity. It was broadcast with English 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 & 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 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 contest for schools whose pupils performed their versions of classics. The show for the 11th album was filmed in Belgium with multi-talented artist and UNICEF-ambassador 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 as the celebrity guest. He played a travelling salesman and sang along on "" ("Everything is for sale"). Ernst Jansz, enduring a break from performing with Doe Maar, usually chronicled an impossible relationship in ""; in this case a schoolgirl-crush on the teacher. Toon Hermans (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 (1956–2001) as a teacher who dreams of a school trip. Other celebrities involved were Erik van Muiswinkel and Henk Westbroek. "" questions the phrase "maturity". Album 13 made it to number 6, but single "" ("Burning passion") missed the top 40. In 1993 actor Coen Flink (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 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 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.