Normaal
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| Normaal | |
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 Normaal in concert at Parkpop in 2006 |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Achterhoek, Netherlands |
| Genres | Rock, Hard rock, Country rock |
| Years active | 1975 - |
| Website | http://www.normaal.nl/ |
Normaal is a rock band from the Netherlands, more specifically from the Achterhoek region, who sing in a local variety of the Low Saxon language group. Bennie Jolink, who was an Arts education student stationed in Amsterdam in the Seventies, started the band in 1975 as a reaction to disco and glamrock, in addition to the overall "Dutch snobbery" towards people from the Low Saxon-speaking regions, and use of the English language by many other Dutch artists. The band has since gained national fame, and have had more top 40 hits in the Dutch chart than any other Dutch band. Despite this fact, the band never reaching number one.[1] The music could be typified as "heavy country rock", and possibly as a rowdier version of ZZ Top.[citation needed]
The band has a very loyal following of 'anhangers' (fans) or 'høkers', some of whom follow the band's tours anywhere they go. The concerts are usually performed in large party tents in the countryside. In the early days, the concerts were mainly focused on consuming large quantities of alcohol, girls and partying (for which they have come up with the umbrella term 'høken') rather than sound quality, although this has changed over the last decades. The term 'høken' is an example of words that the band invented or popularized, and fit their local dialect. Høken is used as word in several of the band's lyrics, song titles and album/DVD titles. It has become an established term especially in the Achterhoek region, and can even be found in the Van Dale Dutch dictionary with attribution to the band.[2]
Their first and biggest hit was "Oerend Hard" ('Bloody Fast'), a song about two motor cyclists who "never heard of slow driving". Predictably, the song ends with them crashing, whereafter it is implied that both drivers have died in the crash, after which the band (an its fans) sings that despite this fact, they will continue to drive "oerend hard". Several members of the band have been involved in serious motor accidents.[1]
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[edit] Donation Projects
In September 2006, Normaal released Hier is Normaal ("Here is Normaal"), followed by two concert tours. Not only their album, but both concert tours of that year were carbon neutral. The energy needed for all 44 concerts was compensated via investments in renewable energy projects in India. Normaal is the first Dutch band to have taken a stance against global climate change.
October 2007, organizers of two hugely successful concerts by Normaal enabled the band to donate $11,000 to Woodstock General Hospital Foundation. The idea came from a dairy farmer; Ben Van Haastert from Woodstock, Ontario. Haastert's wife Ankie and local friends assisted in planning. One concert was held in nearby London, Ontario (a neighbouring city with a larger population), and the other was held in Woodstock.
[edit] Discography
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- (Dutch) http://www.normaal.nl/
