Some contain top, top players
Well, much to discuss about Joy In Leeuwarden (We Are Ready). Firstly, those sleeve notes: “Written by Henny Wassenaar and Corien Steenstra. The original version of this song was entered into a competition to celebrate the arrival of the 2010 European Korfball Championships in Leeuwarden, Netherlands (it came second but in the words of town mayor Ferd Crone – “it should have won and as a consequence of it not doing so I have much spite towards the victor”). All sounds plausible, but then again, NB57 can’t complain about any skepticism, being very much a boy who cried wolf. I’m sure the truth will come out, some way down in the comments below. Henny, Corien and Ferd all exist, that’s for sure. Not sure about Alice van der Meer, or Uncle Rudy/Rudi/Ruudi. You’ll have your own opinions. Thanks to Gregg Z and Third Rate Les.
See lyrics to Joy In Leeuwarden (We Are Ready)
93 Letters Sent:Jump to latest »
Charles Exford
‘Joy In Leeuwarden (We Are Ready)’ would seem to refer very specifically not just to the European Korfball championships, but because of the nationalities mentioned to Group A which took place from In Leeuwarden from 22-24 October last year.
I’m probably barking after the wrong squirrel but do I smell an Olympics pisstake?
Aug 18th, 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Dobrodosli, isten hozott, willkommen, mein herr.
Welcome (Serbian), Welcome (Hungarian), Welcome (German), Sir
Removes Babel fish from ear.
Aug 18th, 2011
Norbert D
Is anyone actually familiar with korfball? I’ve just been looking at the Wikipedia page, and the “Rules” and “History” sections could almost have been penned by NB himself. I might have to watch a bit on YouTube and see if it looks as bizarre as it sounds.
Sep 16th, 2011
Simon
So, the sleeve notes would have us believe that Joy In Leeuwarden is a version of somebody else’s song. True or an elaborate NB hoax?
Sep 16th, 2011
gordo
I had the misfortune to see a demonstration of korfball during the half time interval at Tranmere away game at the MK Dons (double misfortune). It looked a truly attrocious sport. As far as I could see it was just like netball except the net doesn’t have a hole in it.
Sep 16th, 2011
Mac
LoveNJoy, in Leeuwarden, is a brothel.
I add that I have no personal knowledge just used Google.
Sep 17th, 2011
Charles Exford
I suspect Mac’s info, though in away a delightful coincidence, is of doubtful relevance when we consider the ethos of the Dutch folk duo who (according to the CD cover) allegedly wrote the song. Corien and Henny perform as “Novelle”. Although their website is in Dutch, the music and videos are in English. I note they had gigs in England last year. Nothing on there is about korfball, but (@Simon) it rings true that yes they did write it.
By the way, Mrs. E and I decided that since there are only 5 songs on the record that haven’t been on the radio, the delights of the others we’d ration to one every two days, overcoming the urge to do otherwise by leaving the CD in the car for now. The ones that have been on the radio we can enjoy as often as we desire of course.
I’ve had this brilliant album now exactly 48 hours so the rules are unclear as to whether I can now go out down the street (it’s that kind of street where nobody has a parking place) to the car and listen to JiL.
Sep 17th, 2011
Hedley Verity
Have to agree that Joy In Leeuwarden is a highlight.
As to whether the sleeve notes are an elaborate hoax, all of those named do exist – Ferd Crone is the “Burgemeester” of Leeuwarden and Henny Wassenaar and Corien Steenstra seem to be folk singers so if it is a hoax then it is a bloody good one.
Sep 17th, 2011
Toerag
Could it be that Novelle are, in fact, a Biscuit “side project”?
Interesting to speculate the new on line “handles” generated by the new album.. My guess is that “Gok Wan Acolyte” will be the first to post!
Sep 18th, 2011
Charles Exford
@ Toerag – looking at all the different social fretworking sites the dulcet duo are on, all in Dutch, with posts dating back to many years ago, I doubt it.
I must say I think posting before actually listening to a song, as I did last night, above, adds a whole new level of possibilities to the picky pedantry in which we all revel.
I’d only heard the Amazon sample before, but having now heard the whole song, I think we can perhaps assume that the key is in the sleeve notes’ mention of “the original version of the song”. I imagine this to be a substantially different version lyrically and musically, with some deliberately literal translation and some deliberately very loose translation, both with extremely humorous and yes, at one particular point tea-spitting-out-through-nose, results.
Sep 18th, 2011
Charles Exford
It may also be noted that ‘We are Ready’ was an Official Olympics 2008 song. A song which at first appears to contain a chorus that goes “We are ready, my washing machine can do Tai Chi, we are ready, happy we’ll be to see Chelsea”, but then you remember it’s in Mandarin and there’s no need to do a Lyrics Project on it.
Sep 18th, 2011
stevie lucas
I’ve sent Henny Wassenaar and Corien Steenstra a message through YouTube to ask about the Korfball song. No reply as yet! I think it probably is a NB hoax but you never know.
Sep 26th, 2011
Charles Exford
Yeah, I sent them a message about 10 days ago too, no reply yet
Sep 26th, 2011
Gregg Z
[Ed's note - this was Gregg's posting of the complete lyrics, now snipped, but I've left this comment here because people are now going to discuss it...]
Oct 5th, 2011
John Anderson
Could it not be sixteen CAMPS of hope, as in the perennielly misguided “hopes are high in the England camp.”
Oct 5th, 2011
Gregg Z
Now we’re getting somewhere! I’m glad I started things rolling, so that we can bang this into shape.
I agree– it must be “16 camps of hope”.
Not knowing what Korfball was until hearing the song, I probably suspected fans wore brightly-colored caps, corresponding to the team they supported.
I told you things would get funny, once we got the Yank transcribing the lyrics!
Oct 5th, 2011
Peter Gandy
Nice one Gregg. As well as camps I would change Vandermeer to Van der Meer, although Alice’s of both spellings turn up in a google search. Uncle Rudy could also possibly be Uncle Ruudi – take your pick as to the spellings.
Oct 5th, 2011
BrumBiscuit
Yep, seems almost spot on to me with the above edits. Even a good pronunciation of “Isten Hozta”, though, to be very picky, there should be an exclamation mark after “Hozta”.
Oct 5th, 2011
gordo
Joy in Leeuwarden is so much in my head, that I dreamt about Korfball last night as well as much singing of the aformentioned song
Oct 5th, 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
‘Break off from grouting, Willy’ must surely be a nod in the direction of Wally Grout, who would most probably have represented Australia at Korfball as well as kept wicket for them, if he hadn’t done gone and died 10 years before they joined the International Korfball Federation.
Oct 5th, 2011
Nick Walters
“Dobrodosli, Isten Hozta, Willkommen, Mein Herr”
I can’t help hearing that as:
“Dobrodosli, Isten Hozta, will cum in my hair.”
What there is of it…
Help already sought.
Oct 5th, 2011
Charles Exford
@Gordo …and I didn’t realise that the song was so stuck in my head that just now, before 5-a-side when we having a brief planning discussion for a football event, I found myself trying and failing to stop myself singing, under-my-breath-but-nonetheless-out-loud: “Some contain top top players, Some are just a crock of shit” …and continuing to do so on several occasions during the game itself.
The last tournament we organised did indeed have 16 camps of hope, and Mrs. Exford was tournament DJ, so it’s a pity the song wasn’t out last year.
Oct 5th, 2011
Third Rate Les
That’s a top spot there Vendor. Good sporting knowledge.
Oct 5th, 2011
John Burscough
I suppose it’s appropriate to start the JiL discussion now that October’s rolled on. In which case, some intriguing pool games here…
Oct 6th, 2011
Charles Exford
What seems especially intriguing there is that there are two separate pool stages, and that in the tussle for the coveted ‘Crock of Shit’ trophy, Scotland first lost to Turkey in the second group stage and then beat them in the final play off to avoid the ignominious 16th place. The Tartan Army must have been dancing in the streets of Rotterdam that night.
Oct 6th, 2011
Mr Larrington
Surely the singer is Dutch and thus would be painting his face orange rather than red, white and blue?
Oct 6th, 2011
Third Rate Les
The Dutch flag is red white and blue. No doubt they’d be wearing some Orange too, perhaps one of those charming Wehrmacht orange helmets which caused a bit of a stir in the 2006 Weltmeisterschaft (the football one).
So the usual moral victory for Scotland eh, Exxo? I wonder who Korfball’s equivalent of Archie Gemmill is?
Oct 6th, 2011
Dave Wiggins
All I know is that it’s rumoured to be going off big-time, on the ‘ordinary’ to Leeuwarden’, according to one of Korfball’s Serbian ‘top-boys’ I ‘talk’ to online……
Oct 6th, 2011
John Anderson
Not much joy in Waregem or Gent though. Further research reveals that Belgium have played in eight Korfball World Championship finals and lost seven of them.
Oct 6th, 2011
John Anderson
These should be worn at the next gig.
Oct 6th, 2011
John Burscough
Here’s the Dutch team after their triumphant match to win EK 2010 – definitely orange (not sure what colour their away kit is though).
Oct 6th, 2011
Charles Exford
It’s about the facepaint, not the team colours though isn’t it?
Oct 6th, 2011
Paddy
If we assume that the narrator in JiL is Dutch shouldn’t Willy be pronounced Villy?
Oct 6th, 2011
Dave Wiggins
That’s how Steve McLaren pronounced it when he managed Twente (ordinary to) Enschede.
Oct 6th, 2011
John Burscough
@Paddy: These are deep waters, Watson. Willy (or Willi) would be pronounced with a ‘ v ‘ in the south of Holland, but Friesland (of which Leeuwarden is the capital) has lost its voiced fricatives, so it’s ‘ w ‘, as in the town itself (click on ‘listen’ here). NB57 is pronouncing it correctly (though they tend to roll their ‘ r ‘s more in Leeuwarden than they do on the Wirral).
Oct 7th, 2011
John Burscough
Famous natives of Leeuwarden include M C Escher, Rembrandt’s wife and Mata Hari. (Just thought you’d like to know.)
Oct 7th, 2011
Paddy
John thanks a million for clarifying excellent info. And a dunces hat for me for ever doubting Nigel’s pronunciation. The first two minutes of R+Rifobw is my highlight of the album (closely followed by many others) JiL in my top ten songs ever. Joint third favourite album with Actung Bono and after VTTBOTR and the, in some quarters, maligned TOB.
Oct 7th, 2011
Sanchez
By whom is TOB maligned? Show me and I will fight them
Oct 8th, 2011
Neil G
In Improv Workshop Mimeshow Gobshite, we are informed that:
How many of yous lot know
That song by Blackfoot Sue
“I’m Standing In The Road”
Was penned by the burly physio
Of non-league Farnborough Town
This is untrue, as the song was written by members of the band, who have never been involved with Farnborough Town. I suspect that this song was not written by those who we are told it was written by either. I think the ‘crock of shit’ gives it away as well.
Oct 8th, 2011
Paul Rodgers medodgers
Surely we know by now that the sleevenote always contains some form of lie or hoax? Producers and engineers often have more infamous namesakes.
For me the best bit of the “16 camps of hope” refrain is the twee innocence with which it is sung, making it sound exactly like an amateur song entered in a competition to become the official song of a championship. One minute you’re hearing the Dutch St Winifred’s School Choir, the next they’ve been invaded by John Davidson.
Oct 9th, 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
172?
Oct 9th, 2011
Third Rate Les
“Rudi”. Won’t fail.
Oct 9th, 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
“Rudie”. Can’t Fail.
Oct 9th, 2011
John Burscough
Another famous ex-resident of Leeuwarden here.
Oct 9th, 2011
BrumBiscuit
“isten” should have a capital letter, as it means “God”. I also think there should be a comma after “Willkommen, mein Herr” as VendoroQN stated in post 2. “Herr” is a noun, so needs a capital first letter.
My Hungarian missus is questioning the use of Isten hozta! as the correct translation of “welcome”, but her suggestion has so many Hungarian characters that I can’t (be bothered to) type that I’ll let it stand. It’s not as if it’s relevant in the context anyway.
Oct 9th, 2011
John Burscough
And another famous resident (taken from Taylor Parkes’ excellent Quietus review)…
Oct 10th, 2011
stevie lucas
Got a message back from Henny Wassenaar and Corien Steenstra. Here it is…
Hi Steve,
Sorry I didn’t write a song about Korfball, but I did perform with a friend during the breaks of the European Korfball Champions in Leeuwarden…
You can find our music on http://www.novellemusic.com.
Why would you like to know?
Greets,
Corien
Oct 10th, 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Oh well done Stevie. She sounds as bemused as Jemma Guntrip. Now that you’ve established a line of communication, I hope you’ll point her in the direction of our discussions on this page and get some feedback …although you may need to do a bit more explaining from first principles! I’ve had a Dutch friend doing some homework on the story, and she’s found nothing about it online at all. The hoax-ometer has well and truly swung into the red.
Oct 10th, 2011
stevie lucas
I’ll point her in this direction. Hope she has a sense of humour!
Oct 10th, 2011
Chigley Skin
Should it not be “bells a-ringing” in the first line?
Oct 10th, 2011
Norbert D
This plot is thickening fast, eh?
Oct 11th, 2011
Third Rate Les
Interesting. So they are indeed musically linked with the Korfball tournament, so while the song credit may be a hoax, it’s an extremely well researched one.
Suspect Chigley might be right with “bells-a-ringing”. Seconded.
Oct 11th, 2011
Charles Exford
Pointless, I know, since we now now know it’s a hoax, but somewhat piqued that I have waited in vain for my own reply from Corien and Henny these past three and a half weeks, I have taken matters to a higher authority by e-mithering Burgemeester Ferd Crone himself.
Meanwhile, having no kids of secondary (or any other) age myself, I’m wondering if I can persuade a nephew or a niece or two to start entering Olympics song competitions such as _this_ one with lyrics that feature the line “Some are just a crock of shit.”
http://www.arsenaldoubleclub.co.uk/fun-zone/competition/
Oct 11th, 2011
Floreat Ultonia
To Neil G:
Nowt to do with JiL, but 60s Euroballad ‘Days of Pearly Spencer’ was written and sung (and a hit in the Netherlands on three separate occasions) by Linfield’s reserve goalkeeper.
Oct 11th, 2011
John Burscough
I understand *Wikipedia face* he had a trial with them between the posts. (Pearly’s wits weren’t 100%, by all accounts.)
Oct 11th, 2011
Dave Wiggins
Exxo; I understand that the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (‘The Ombudsman’) may accept your complaint – about delays on the part of messrs Corien and Henny – for investigation, if you are unable to elicit a satisfactory response from Crone.
Oct 11th, 2011
Peter Gandy
Surely Misses Corien and Henny.
Oct 11th, 2011
Dave Wiggins
Eek! Thanks Peter. Bit of casual misogyny from me there. I need an awareness week for awareness weeks, methinks.
Oct 12th, 2011
Charles Exford
Yes, I know we know by now it’s a total hoax, and I know I could just ask the songwriters or something (and I know that in any sentence with so many ‘nows’ and ‘knows’ I am at severe risk of typoes – sorry about the one in the previous post).
But it’s so much more in the spirit of the thing I think to e-mail off to the alleged songwriters as Stevie did, or to the mayor of a Dutch city and get a mystified response from his spokesman, although he isn’t really answering the question I asked, which was mainly whether there actually was a song competition for the EKK 2010.
Anyway, thanks to Erik Krikke who has replied promptly on behalf of the mayor, breaking all known records for number of Ks in a relatively short name, even if we discount his association with the EKK.
“Dear Mr. Shaw,
Leeuwarden and the organisation of the EK Korfball has no connection with the band Half Man Half Biscuit. We have never heard about them.
Erik Krikke
Gemeente Leeuwarden”
Oct 12th, 2011
Charles Exford
Erik is efficiency personified, and has replied to my reply within an instant.
“Dear Mr. Shaw,
No, there was no song competition for EK Korfbal 2010.
Best wishes,
Erik Krikke.”
I shall waste no more of his valuable time …. well not until there’s a decent YouTube link to send him for ‘Joy in Leeuwarden’, that is.
Oct 12th, 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
I think Geoff should put him out of his misery and post off the whole CD.
Oct 12th, 2011
John Burscough
Nothing much on YouTube for JiL yet, but there is this Promotiefilm for EKK 2010, with what might have been the winning theme tune (if they’d had a competition).
Oct 12th, 2011
Dave Wiggins
Can I just say that Erik Krikke’s responses are quite magnificient. Speedy, to the point, and eminently proportionate to the issue in question. The Ombudsman would doubtless approve.
Oct 12th, 2011
John Burscough
Since we’re on the subject, two recent posts have referred to ‘the Ombudsman’ (capital O). Should this not be the case for “When The Evening Sun Goes Down” verse 1? And while I’m on that subject, isn’t there a Van Morrison reference in the title? And while I’m on that subject…
Oct 12th, 2011
Paul Rodgers (Crimond)
A pedant writes. I dispute Mr Krikke’s claim:
“Dear Mr. Shaw,
Leeuwarden and the organisation of the EK Korfball has no connection with the band Half Man Half Biscuit. We have never heard about them.
Erik Krikke
Gemeente Leeuwarden”
Now if he had written “We HAD never heard about them until receiving your email.” that would be closer to the truth.
More investigation is needed. He must have something to hide. When it comes to publicity the only people who try to distance themselves from Half Man Half Biscuit when the halogen lamp is shining their way are Half Man Half Biscuit themselves.
Is there an Ombudsman for Ombudsmen?
Oct 12th, 2011
Dave Wiggins
Any remedy, following the Ombudsman, Paul, would possibly have to come via the Courts. BIOA (British and Irish Ombudsman’s Association) could no doubt confirm this for us. Very good point you make though. John Burscough – capital ‘O’ for the Ombudsman is an excellent spot.
Oct 12th, 2011
BrumBiscuit
Can I just say that I stayed on a campsite in Wassenaar in 1980? Rather bizarrely, we ended up in a country & western club getting hammered at a Dutchman’s expense until I got freaked out and thought he was going to get us pissed (he succeeded) & bum us (he didn’t try!).
Sorry, we don’t have time…
Oct 14th, 2011
Mark Boyle
“Some contain top, top players”
Shouldn’t that read “Some contain top Korf players”?
Just wondered
Oct 14th, 2011
Third Rate Les in his Burberry fez
There’s a definite “t” on that second “top” there.
“top Korf players” is good but it’s not right.
Oct 14th, 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
And Chris would REALLY hate you if you were right, Mark.
Oct 14th, 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Oooh, Spencer, you’ve been around this site long enough to know that the pickier the correction, the more I love it!
Oct 14th, 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
Yes but I remember the Frasier Chorus angst …
Oct 14th, 2011
micky (the hoss)
Just posted on our Bentleys Roof message board
Oct 16th, 2011
Hagerty F.
I wanted to back up Chigley Skin and Third Rate Les – I’ve been hearing ‘bells a-ringing’ too.
Oct 16th, 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Three of you. That’s certainly good enough for me.
Oct 16th, 2011
Daryl
This is my ‘Ode to Joyce’ song of the new album as it never fails to make me smile, although I can’t help thinking that the middle eight cost them ultimate victory in the song contest.
Oct 20th, 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
Listening on headphones, I’m sure I detect Nigel permitting himself a smile as he finishes singing ‘crock of shit’.
Oct 20th, 2011
2 Chevrons
Surely England would be the ‘crock of shit’. Going to a tournament with high hopes and as usual, we are a crock of shit.
Oct 20th, 2011
Brumbiscuit
It’s official: the “Isten” in “Isten Hozta” is not pronounced correctly according to the (Hungarain) missus. It should be “‘Ish-ten”/
Oct 31st, 2011
John Burscough
That’s not how I would spell Hungarian.
Nov 10th, 2011
Charles Exford
I noticed that a year on from Leeuwarden, it was the Korfball World Championship Final in China last weekend. No prizes and no surprises as to who beat who in the final, but it was perhaps mildly surprising that Ingerlund managed the heady heights of 5th place & even got a the honour of a player being chosen for the “Tounament Select VIII”. Wonder if this song got a play at the tournament … even on someone’s iPod ?
Nov 10th, 2011
Charles Exford
I only wrote that as a preeamble to say that Wales beat South Africa 14-13 in the tournament’s coveted Crock of Shit game.
Nov 10th, 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Can you hear the Bianzhong ringing, Zhang Chunqiao ?
Are you wondering what the hue and cry’s about Gweilo?
Hurry now and run along to the public square
Break off from searching Zheng He
Lay down your Tangram Li Peng
Korfball’s coming to town
In a dodgy email write it down
Roll on October, hip hip hooray!
Joy in Shaoxing for sure
Of course Korfball world championship 2011 will ultimately be remembered for the lack of Serbians and Hungarians everywhere.
Nov 10th, 2011
SPENCER THE HALFWIT
My minimal research into the subject reveals that England have consistently been among the losing quarter-finalists at World and European championships. Am currently trying to establish whether their manager is Swedish.
Nov 10th, 2011
Third rate Les in his Burberry fez
Chapeau, Vendor!
Spencer – I also heard that the Korfball authorities introduced new, lighter balls that fly unpredictably towards the, erm, Korf, which the German Korfballbund introduced as standard several years previously but which seemed to come as a surprise to the English K.A.
Nov 11th, 2011
Nigel
Dobrodosli, Isten hozta!, willkommen, mein Herr!
A bit picky this one, but….. if you have an exclamation mark after a word you don’t need a comma as well and the next word should start with a capital letter. Isn’t it??????
Nov 13th, 2011
Pete Langdale
“Lay down your puzzle Jan” – I’ve not seen it mentioned yet, but I assume this is a nod towards Jan van Haasteren?
Nov 20th, 2011
Chesneywold
Jan van Haasteren jigsaw puzzles – to save everyone time – some good stuff there
i blinking love this song, makes me grin just to think that such a thing can exist. i always assumed that the puzzle line was referring to the sort of thing that eurokids are always depicted as doing in certain types of tv show which always makes them seem a bit alien to us, slightly old-fashioned like. The whole song feels along those lines to me.
I really like the line ‘joy in leeuwarden for sure’. The chewy stiltednes of the ‘for sure’ smacks either of a slightly difficult translation into english, or a europop band’s use of non-native english.
I also came across a painting called Uncle Rudi the other day at a gerhard richter exhibition, and the one thing you could say about it, for sure, is that above his SS uniform he he did have a smile on his face. Don’t think it can be relevant though, just couldn’t get it out of my mind.
Nov 21st, 2011
John Burscough
“Break off from grouting, Willy” – a nod to Willie Grout, Civil War hero commemorated in the Thanksgiving song ‘The Vacant Chair’? (Probably not.)
Nov 28th, 2011
Paul F
If you’ve ever met any Dutchmen, you’ll know that “For sure” is more common than “yes” as an affirmative response to a question.
Nov 29th, 2011
Paddy
In at number 19.
http://www.dandelionradio.com/2011festive50.htm
Feb 1st, 2012
John Burscough
Strong again (better than last appearance with National Shite Day at 21 in 2008).
Feb 1st, 2012
John Burscough
Another possible identity for Willi the grouter here: a Wigan tiler who may be the same Willi Schmitz who had 8 games for Fortuna Köln in 1981/82. Or may not.
Feb 1st, 2012
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