RIP Wannes van de Velde, one of Flanders' greatest folk artists.

[René_Julien]

Yesterday one of my personal heroes and one of our greatest national artists died of cancer.

I assume most of my friends here on TalkBass don't know who he is, because he only sang in dutch - Antwerp dialect.
But I felt the urge to post this thread to express my grief to all my friends here.
I'm sure the few Belgian and Dutch members here know Wannes very well through his songs.

Wannes van de Velde gave us many great and beautiful folk songs.

Originally Posted by www.deredactie.be

Mon 10/11/08 17:44 (UPDATE video) - The Flemish singer and artist Wannes Van de Velde has died at the age of 71. He had been suffering from a terminal illness for some time. As the son a singer, Wannes Van de Velde developed his love of music at an early age. He grew up in the colourful Schipperskwartier district of Antwerp. At home the family repertoire was made up of songs about real life, comic songs and battle songs.

Originally Posted by www.deredactie.be

At the age of sixteen Van de Velde enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp where he studied painting.

(Belga)
During his time as a student he also earned himself a name as a saxophonist in the many jazz cafés that existed in Antwerp during the 1950’s.

Anger was an important leitmotiv in his work.

He deplored the demolition of the historic heart of the city he loved.

His love for Antwerp earned him the nick-name of the city’s unofficial poet laureate.

Wannes Van de Velde released his first LP in 1966. It consisted of a selection of songs sung in the language he knew best, Antwerp dialect.

An all-round artist

During the 1970’s Van de Velde was also active in the World of theatre.

He teamed up with several young actors to stage Dario Fo’s "Mistero buffo".
(© CuttingEdge.be)
Meanwhile, Van de Velde enjoyed a big hit here in Flanders with "Ik wil deze nacht in de straten verdwalen" (I want to get lost in the streets tonight).

Wannes Van de Velde moved away from traditional Flemish folk to incorporate new more exotic elements into his work such as flamenco.

One of his biggest hits came when he teamed up with the Dutch singer Hans De Booij in a re-make of the Bobbejaan Schoepen classic, "Lichtjes van de Schelde" (the lights of the River Scheldt).

In 1999 Wannes Van de Velde made a unique album together with the blues singer Roland Van Campenhout.

A year later he was diagnosed with leukaemia. However, he beat the disease and promptly went on tour.

The publication of the third part of his dairies in 2007 was Wannes Van de Velde’s last contribution to Flemish culture.

A true all-rounder, Wannes Van de Velde will be sorely missed.

I will definately miss him.
I had the chance to see him three times live, although sadly I never met Wannes in person.


Picked up my classical guitar today and I tried to play some of his work.
Although I am mostly a metalhead, folk is a style of music I certainly appreciated.
Wannes van de Velde was in a way an influence to me.
His passion for music was, still is, inspiring.

This sad news reached me yesterday. He was 71, he had a long live in which he accomplished a lot, but still it is a big loss.


Here is a little video compilation of him.


Rest in peace Wannes.
You'll always be remembered.

[etoncrow]

Elequent tribute. Sounds like a man we all could have benefited from knowing.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by etoncrow

Elequent tribute. Sounds like a man we all could have benefited from knowing.

Thank you.

You can compare him to Bob Dylan and Billy Joel or other singer/songwriters from the 60s and 70s.
Or even like Johnny Cash although the genre is different.
That category of poetic people who make beautiful songs about life.
His music was in my native language.

It is just amazing what some guys can do with just an acoustic guitar and their voice.

[Vorago]

Sad isn't it?

The greats are all leaving us

He was a musician and bard in every fiber of his body. A real 'sinjoor' like they don't make them anymore...


't Is Vloms, t' trekt op gin kloête...

As ek e lieke zing ùp straat
Wanneer ik een liedje zing op straat
wel overdocht en in de maat
goed overdacht en in de maat
dan kan 't wel is gebeure
dan kan het wel eens gebeuren
da' der ne waendeler passeerd
dat er een wandelaar passeert
diê dor z'neigen in geneerd
die zich daar over geneert
en me dan af wild keure
en me dan af wil keuren

z'n argument is iêl bekend
z'n argument is heel bekend
'k oêr et van Zeppere tot Gent
'k hoor het van Zepperen tot Gent
van Everlee tot Schoête
van Heverlee tot Schoten
't is Vloms 't trekt op gin kloête
't is Vlaams 't trekt op geen kloten

Nadad ek tusse fiêstkrakiêl
Nadat ik tussen feestgekrakeel
in Brabants dörp Londerziêl
in Brabants dorp Londerzeel
een bitshen ad gezùnge
een beetje had gezongen
kwam er nen Brabander nor mij
kwam er een Brabander naar mij
diê zee "Meniêr oe daerfde gij
die zei "Meneer hoe durf jij
en wel uit volle lùnge
en wel uit volle longen

ier zinge veur een volle zaal
hier zingen voor een volle zaal
en dan nog in ùw eige taal
en dan nog in je eigen taal
da' vind ek straffe stoête
dat vind ik straffe stoten
want Vloms trekt ùp gin kloête"
want Vlaams trekt op geen kloten"

'k Kwam overlest in Denderliêw
Ik kwam onlangs in Denderleeuw
langs Vloms café de Vlomse Liêw
langs Vlaams café de Vlaamse Leeuw
en 'k oêrde ze dor zinge
en 'k hoorde ze daar zingen
ni over Vlomse gaai of spriêw
niet over Vlaamse gaai of spreeuw
ni' van den Blauvoet of de miêw
niet over de Blauwvoet of de meeuw
mor over Dötse dinge
maar over Duitse dingen

en zegd nah ni da'k er ùm lieg
en zeg nu niet dat ik er om lieg
ze zùnge liekes van de krieg
ze zongen liedjes van de krieg
et Vloms da wier verstoête
het Vlaams dat werd verstoten
want da trok ùp gin kloête
want dat trok op geen kloten

De lesten tijd sto-g-et wel fijn
De laatste tijd staat het wel fijn
zù e cultuurmodel te zijn
zo een cultuurmodel te zijn
deur ABN te spreke
door ABN te spreken
wie gere schijncultuur verwekt
wie graag schijncultuur verwekt
sprekt nae een Ollands dialect
spreekt nu een Hollands dialect
verkùpt oranjestreke
verkoopt oranjestreken

Zù krijd ons volk iên twiê drei
Zo krijgd ons volk één twee drie
e splinternief complexke bij
een splinternieuw complexje bij
want volges de groête
want volgens de groten
betiêkend Vloms gin kloête