Normaal
Encyclopedia
Normaal is a rock band from the Netherlands
, more specifically from the Achterhoek
region, and sing in the local dialect. The band started in 1975 as a reaction to disco
and glamrock. They have since gained national fame, and have had more top 40 hits in the Dutch chart than any other band, despite never reaching number one. The music could be typified as "heavy country rock", and possibly as a rowdier version of ZZ Top
.
The band have a very loyal following of 'Achterhøkers' who follow their tours. The concerts are usually performed in tents and are more focused on booze, girls and partying (which they call 'høken') than sound quality.
Their first and biggest hit was "Oerend Hard" ('Bloody Fast'), a song about two motor riders who "never heard of slow driving". Predictably, the song ends with them crashing, where after it is implied that both drivers have died in said crash. Several members of the band have been involved in serious motor accidents.
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.
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...
, more specifically from the Achterhoek
Achterhoek
The Achterhoek is a region in the eastern part of the Netherlands, Europe.Its name is geographically appropriate because the area lies in the Eastern-most part of Gelderland, and therefore of the Netherlands, protruding into Germany...
region, and sing in the local dialect. The band started in 1975 as a reaction to disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
and glamrock. They have since gained national fame, and have had more top 40 hits in the Dutch chart than any other band, despite never reaching number one. The music could be typified as "heavy country rock", and possibly as a rowdier version of ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
.
The band have a very loyal following of 'Achterhøkers' who follow their tours. The concerts are usually performed in tents and are more focused on booze, girls and partying (which they call 'høken') than sound quality.
Their first and biggest hit was "Oerend Hard" ('Bloody Fast'), a song about two motor riders who "never heard of slow driving". Predictably, the song ends with them crashing, where after it is implied that both drivers have died in said crash. Several members of the band have been involved in serious motor accidents.
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 energyRenewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
projects in India. Normaal is the first 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...
band to have taken a stance against global climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
.
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
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
. Haastert's wife Ankie and local friends assisted in planning. One concert was held in nearby London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
(a neighbouring city with a larger population), and the other was held in Woodstock.