NewFootball
Hans van Hemert, composer of, among other things, the football song ‘We love Oranje’, has passed away. André Hazes had such a big hit, but Willeke Alberti should have actually sung it.
The Dutch national team with Andre Hazes. Photo Rob C. Kroes via the National Archives
Hans van Hemert wrote the text of ‘We love Orange’ in 1988. Not of his own volition, like him admittedbut under pressure from a friend. “You have to write a football song.”
Someone still had to be found who wanted to sing it. Willeke van Alberti lived in Belgium with Søren Lerby in 1988 and was asked to do this. She was very interested and that is why the song was written in her key. “And by definition it is unsuitable for a man,” Van Hemert explained.
Yet she suddenly withdrew because she didn’t like the song. Like the Telegraph summarized on March 21, 1988: ‘Initially the blonde singer was going to record the song ‘We love Oranje’, but in the end Willeke didn’t think the song really suited her.’
Van Hemert previously suspected that things had not gone down so well at Willeke’s home, because Lerby himself took part in the European Championships, but on behalf of Denmark. She later admitted this: “He played for the Danish national team. So I was in favor of Denmark. Yes, you still go for your husband.”
That’s how André Hazes was asked, even though he was with another record company. The recording was in Arnold Mühren’s studio in Volendam.
Hans van Hemert, image via Europeana / Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision
Klapperrrrrrrrrr
In the run-up to the European Championships, Hazes’ song was not yet a resounding success. It even disappeared from the National Hit Parade. The breakthrough only came after the semi-final win against West Germany, which caused an unprecedented explosion of joy in the country.
“After the match against West Germany, the demand for Hazes records with the Dutch national team can hardly be kept up,” stated the record company Phonogram. “Rarely have we sold so many football records in such record time.
Of course, that couldn’t have been predicted in advance. That is why we took measures over the weekend. By the way, we’re keeping our fingers crossed. We will not have more than 11,000 records pressed for the time being, otherwise we may end up with a surplus later when there is less demand and interest.”
In the National Hit Parade of June 29, it immediately rose from number 71 to 28. The following week it was in first place. On July 5 later, it was the hit of the week in the competing Top 40, as the highest entry at 15. For some reason it did not reach number 1 there.
Football psalm
The absolute highlight was yet to come, because on July 18, even wrote it Dutch Dagblad as a reformed family magazine about André Hazes. It quoted Rev. JM Goedhart, who wrote in the Reformed Church Secretary of Groningen-Fryslân-Drenthe expressed his joy about Orange.
“Yes, I don’t want to hide it: I’m crazy about playing football! It is a wonderful sport.” He quoted the complete chorus of Hazes to express his joy. ‘Netherlands, oh Netherlands, you are a champion, we love Orange for his actions and his actions!’
It Dutch Dagblad found it remarkable: ‘Would André Hazes ever have thought he would be quoted in full in the column Church life of this church messenger?’
It did not stop there, because the football psalm inspired Rev. Goedhart to his soul: ‘If in church life it is like a football team that is really playing well, then things go well in and with the congregation in question. Then one is not concerned with one’s own honor and interests, but with the honor and interests of the entire congregation and with that of the Lord of the congregation! Then they don’t curse at each other, but they work together harmoniously.
And then people don’t talk about it, but with each other. Not about others, but about that which animates and inspires all: the gathering and building up of the church, the coming of the Kingdom of the Lord, the glorification of the name of the LORD, and about the purpose of the church, that which its charge: perfect fellowship with and perfect service of the LORD.”
Fame
Alberti said in retrospect that she did not regret that Hazes received all the fame. “I don’t believe anyone in the world could have sung it better than André.”
Two years ago she announced a new version, provided the Dutch team won the world title at that terrible tournament in Qatar. It just didn’t happen, perhaps to the disappointment of the Reformed Church.
