Anneke Grönloh
Encyclopedia
Louise Johanna Grönloh, (Tondano, Dutch East Indies
, 7 June 1942) is a female Dutch
singer.
and spent her early years in the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies in a Japanese concentration camp. Her father, a soldier, had been interned before her birth.
After the war the family moved to the Netherlands, and Anneke grew up in Eindhoven. At the Gemeentelijk Lyceum (Municipal College) she met and played with Peter Koelewijn
and his band Peter en zijn Rockets (Peter and his Rockets) at parties.
In 1959 Anneke's career took off after she won a talent show.
On 31 August 1964 she married Wim-Jaap van der Laan, a DJ for dutch radio station Veronica
. He died in 2004.
Anneke also performed the kroncong
genre, with popular songs as Bengawan Solo
, Boeroeng Kakatua and Nina bobo. Besides this Anneke is also known as a performer of jazz, her favorite genre.
, Rob de Nijs
and Trea Dobbs. At the height of her fame, in 1964, Anneke Grönloh took part in the Eurovision Song Contest
with the song "Jij bent mijn leven
" ("You are my life") , which was well received by the audience. She ended with a joint tenth place with Belgium. At the end of the 60's she also began an international singing career.
made a sketch in which Anneke Grönloh was made to look like an alcoholic. Anneke was so shocked she could not perform for some time. She retreated to her home in France. In the summer of 2005 she ran a small cafe in Arleuf
, Burgundy, France
. In 2005 a DVD of her career and music was published, followed by a DVD of her theatertours, in 2006, Anneke and Friends. Later that year she was part of the theatertour Purple 100, replacing Corry Brokken
who could not perform due to illness.
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, 7 June 1942) is a female Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
singer.
Life
Anneke was born in Tondano, North Celebes, Dutch East IndiesDutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
and spent her early years in the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies in a Japanese concentration camp. Her father, a soldier, had been interned before her birth.
After the war the family moved to the Netherlands, and Anneke grew up in Eindhoven. At the Gemeentelijk Lyceum (Municipal College) she met and played with Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn is a founding father of Dutch language rock and roll. Koelewijn is also a successful producer and songwriter for other Dutch artists. His most famous song is Kom van dat dak af .Peter Koelewijn was born on the 29 December, the son of a fishmonger in the southern Dutch city of...
and his band Peter en zijn Rockets (Peter and his Rockets) at parties.
In 1959 Anneke's career took off after she won a talent show.
On 31 August 1964 she married Wim-Jaap van der Laan, a DJ for dutch radio station Veronica
Radio Veronica
Radio Veronica was an offshore radio station that began broadcasting in 1960, and broadcast from offshore for over fourteen years. It was set up by independent radio, TV and household electrical retailers in the Netherlands to stimulate the sales of radio receivers by providing an alternative to...
. He died in 2004.
Songs
- Asmara (1960) - Anneke's first song, in Indonesian, is relatively unknown in the Netherlands.
- Flamenco Rock
- Brandend Zand (Burning Sands) (1961) - Very popular and earned Anneke a Golden record.
- Paradiso (1962) - This song earned Anneke a Platinum record.
- Soerabaja (1963)
- Cimeroni (1963)
- Oh Malaysia (1963)
Anneke also performed the kroncong
Kroncong
Kroncong is the name of a ukulele-type instrument and an Indonesian musical style that typically makes use of the kroncong , the band or combo or ensemble consist of a flute, a violin, a melody guitar, a cello in pizzicato style, string bass also in...
genre, with popular songs as Bengawan Solo
Bengawan Solo (song)
Bengawan Solo is a famous Indonesian song about the Solo River, which flows through central and eastern Java, Indonesia and is that island's longest river....
, Boeroeng Kakatua and Nina bobo. Besides this Anneke is also known as a performer of jazz, her favorite genre.
International Fame
Anneke was a national celebrity in the early sixties and the first real Dutch teen idol. In this period she topped the Dutch charts with record-breaking hits like Burning Sands, Paradiso, Surabaya and Cimeroni. In her wake followed teen stars like Willeke AlbertiWilleke Alberti
Willeke Alberti is a Dutch singer and actress, the daughter of entertainer and singer Willy Alberti.-Biography:...
, Rob de Nijs
Rob de Nijs
Rob de Nijs is a Dutch singer and actor, active since the 1960s.-1962-68:De Nijs, backed by The Lords, released his first single in 1962, Ritme van de Regen. In 1966 he embarked on a joint circus-tour with Johnny Lion...
and Trea Dobbs. At the height of her fame, in 1964, Anneke Grönloh took part in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1964
The Eurovision Song Contest 1964 was the ninth Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark after the Danish victory the previous year. Sweden did not participate because of a boycott by singers. They did however broadcast it...
with the song "Jij bent mijn leven
Jij Bent Mijn Leven
"Jij bent mijn leven" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964, performed in Dutch by Anneke Grönloh.The song is sung from the perspective of a woman whose lover has been unfaithful. She tells him that she is fully aware of his infidelity, but she chooses to ignore it "because you...
" ("You are my life") , which was well received by the audience. She ended with a joint tenth place with Belgium. At the end of the 60's she also began an international singing career.
Singer Of The Century
In 2000 Anneke was named "Singer of the Century" because of the record-breaking sales of her single "Burning Sands". In the same year she was also a participant on the television program Big Brother VIPS. In 2002 Paul de LeeuwPaul de Leeuw
Paul Henri de Leeuw is a Dutch television comedian, singer and actor.De Leeuw gained national fame in the late eighties and early nineties with television shows for broadcasting company VARA...
made a sketch in which Anneke Grönloh was made to look like an alcoholic. Anneke was so shocked she could not perform for some time. She retreated to her home in France. In the summer of 2005 she ran a small cafe in Arleuf
Arleuf
Arleuf is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.-Demographics:At the 1999 census, the population was 800. On 1 January 2005, the estimate was 791.-References:*...
, Burgundy, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 2005 a DVD of her career and music was published, followed by a DVD of her theatertours, in 2006, Anneke and Friends. Later that year she was part of the theatertour Purple 100, replacing Corry Brokken
Corry Brokken
Corry Brokken is a former Dutch singer.Brokken won the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest, representing the Netherlands singing "Net als toen"...
who could not perform due to illness.