The Top 40 has been the leading hit list in the Netherlands since 1965. In the Today section we look back at events in pop music that took place exactly X years ago. In this episode of Today: Normal surprises the audience of the Lochem Pop Festival with Achterhoek blues.
The group Normal was founded in 1974. This follows after a performance at the AKI Academy for Art & Design in December of that year May 8, 1975 Normal’s first major performance. This takes place in the morning in the open-air theater of Lochem (De Zandkuil or ‘De Koele’) during Popmeeting Lochem. This is a pop festival on Ascension Day organized by Joost Carlier, the then brother-in-law of singer Bennie Jolink.
The band opens with English repertoire, but also plays songs in the Achterhoek dialect. At the time, hardly any pop music was made in the regional language and the audience was pleasantly surprised. When Bennie Jolink starts the Drieterije Blues (‘I was having a drink on the toilet the other day’), he realizes that he is doing something unique. From then on, they normally only play in the Achterhoek. In the Drieterije Blues Jolink vividly describes his bowel movements. Driet’n is the Achterhoek word for ‘shit’.
In 1976 the group recorded the first single Hels As ‘n Jagdhond with Peter Koelewijn, but the song did not catch on. Peter wants to continue with the group if they switch to Dutch, but Normal stands firm. A year later, Normal records the song Oerend Hard in Johnny Hoes’ studio in Weert. That song became a national success and reached second place in the top 40 in May 1977. Although Normal never scored a number 1 hit, Oerend Hard was followed by 45 other hits, almost all of which were sung in Achterhoek. Normal is by far the most successful dialect act in Top 40 history. The group single-handedly added the word ‘høken’ – which, according to Normaal itself, stands for ‘everything that is fun, but which has nothing to do with sex and/or violence’ – to the Dutch language.
Here’s what else happened on May 8:
Alf plays up May 8, 1987 the leading role in Ben Liebrand’s minimix.
‘At two records past nine’, Ben Liebrand’s mini mix is broadcast in the Radio 3 program Curry En Van Inkel. In his minimix today you can hear statements from Alf, the main character from the comedy series of the same name about an alien who ends up in an American family. All samples come from different episodes of the first season. Alf’s rap (Well my name is Alf and I’m stuck on earth / I can’t get back to my place of birth) is from the episode Help Me, Rhonda. This episode was first broadcast on Dutch television on February 13, 1987 by TROS.
There is an enthusiastic response to the minimix and demand arises for a single. That will take a while, because Liebrand first has to arrange the rights. The eight American names listed as authors of the song are the writers of the episodes from which the samples are taken.
Partly due to this preparation, it takes eight months for the single Stuck On Earth to reach the charts. In February 1988, Alf reached sixth place in the Dutch Top 40. The song also reached the hit parade in Flanders and Germany, where Alf is extremely popular. In the BRT Top 30, Stuck On Earth reaches number 7 and in the German charts Alf reaches 28th place.
Also on this day:
1965: The Beatles rise to first place with Ticket To Ride. With this song, the iconic band was at number 1 for nine weeks, which was ultimately a record number The Fab Four. The Beatles dethroned their own single Rock And Roll Music/No Reply.
1976: Sammy Davis, Jr. scores a number 1 hit with Baretta’s Theme. The American artist has been at the top of the Top 40 for three weeks. It is the only big hit for Sammy Davis, Jr.
1982: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts reach first place with I Love Rock ‘n Roll. The rock record’s stay at the top lasts no longer than a week. Later in 1982 the formation reached the Top 40 with Crimson And Clover, while in 1988 they reappeared in the List of Lists with I Hate Myself For Loving You. Both singles do not become big hits.
1998: Toy manufacturer Mattel has been unsuccessful in the lawsuit it filed against Aqua’s number 1 hit Barbie Girl. The judge rejects the accusation that Aqua has violated the copyright surrounding its Barbie product.
1999: Between 1996 and 2000, the Backstreet Boys reached the top five with their first eleven Top 40 hits, but only one of them managed to maintain the coveted top position. That one hit is I Want It That Way, which debuts today at number one. I Want It That Way stays at the top for four weeks.
2009: Jerry Sanders, the mayor of San Diego, declares May 8, 2009 as Adam Lambert Day. The date was chosen because on that day Lambert returns to his home base as one of the three finalists of American Idol. Glamberts (fanatical fans of Adam Lamberts) have been celebrating the life of their idol every year on this day since 2009.
Born today:
1940 – Gary Glitter,
1940 – Rick Nelsonat death 45 years,
1941 – John Freddeath aged 63, John Fred and His Playboy Band
1942 – Jack Blanchard,
1943 – Danny Whitten29 years old at death, Crazy Horse
1943 – Paul Samwell SmithThe Yardbirds
1943 – Toni TennilleCaptain & Tennille
1944 – Bill LegendT.Rex
1944 – Pete O’FlahertySimon Dupree and The Big Sound
[1945 – Steve KatzBlood, Sweat & Tears
1947 – Hans Cleuver70 years old at death, Focus
1951 – Phillip BaileyEarth, Wind & Fire
1951 – Chris Frantz, Talking Heads | Tom Tom Club
1953 – Billy BurnetteFleetwood Mac
1955 – Hanny,
1955 – Alex Van HalenVan Halen
1955 – Herman Grimme, The Jazz Police | Split
1957 – Marie Myriam,
1957 – Mieke,
1958 – Bruno Polius, Poppys | Belle et Sebastien
1958 – Simone Kleinsma,
1964 – Dave RowntreeBlur
1966 – Rollo ArmstrongFaithless
1972 – Darren HayesSavage Garden
1975 – Enrique Iglesias,
1980 – Steve Edwards,
1983 – Matt WillisBusted
1993 – Luke Christopher,
1996 – 6ix9ine,
Today at number 1:
1965 – 1 (4) Ticket To Ride– Beatles (Parlophone), 1 week at number 1
1971 – 1 (1) Funny, funny– The Sweet (RCA), 2 weeks at number 1
1976 – 1 (2) Baretta’s Theme– Sammy Davis, Jr (Philips), 1 week at #1
1982 – 1 (3) I Love Rock ‘n Roll– Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (Boardwalk), 1 week at number 1
1993 – 1 (1) Mr. Blue– René Klijn (Polydor), 5 weeks at number 1
1999 – 1 (–)I Want It That Way– Backstreet Boys (Jive), 1 week at number 1
2004 – 1 (1) F**k It (I Don’t Want You Back)– Eamon (Jive), 3 weeks at number 1
2010 – 1 (8) Alors On Danse– Stromae (Mercury), 1 week at number 1
2021 – 1 (1) Stay sleeping– Snelle x Maan (Roq ‘N Rolla / 8Ball), 7 weeks at number 1
(08/05/2024)
