Several Belgian musicians have entered the European annals with tunes that will last through the ages.
For the first time, some of Europe’s finest songs have been assembled in a European songbook. The songs per country were voted for by the Member States’ respective citizens and cover six categories.
The handsome bilingual crooner Jacques Brel makes three appearances in the Belgian selection: first of all, his classic Ne me quitte pas is to be referred to from now on as our national love song. When it comes to the category of nature and the seasons, his Mijn vlakke land (‘my flat country’) was chosen. Finally, his ode to the capital – Bruxelles, we’re sure you’re familiar – was chosen for the folk and traditional category.
But Belgium is not just Brel, of course. Many a Belgian child is well versed in the three-chord tune by Bob Davidse, Vrolijke Vrienden, an easy decision to represent Belgian children’s songs.
Europe wouldn’t be Europe if it weren’t for freedom and peace, a fourth category filled in by Noordkaap, a Dutch-singing band fronted by Stijn Meuris, with their song Ik Hou Van U (those magical words that pass from lovers’ lips, you know the ones).
And finally, as George Michael said, you’ve got to have ‘faith’. A category filled by none other than Soeur Sourire, the Singing Nun, with her classic, Dominique.
Do you agree with these choices? Which Belgian songs would you have put in the songbook?
