Comments on: Jaques Brel – Amsterdam

By: Dan Uneken

Dan Uneken — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:05:16 +0000

Antwerp is more than 4 times further from the North Sea than Amsterdam. Antwerp is connected by the Scheldt river, 88 kilometers to the sea. Amsterdam is connected by the "Noordzee Kanaal" (opened in 1876), 21 kilometers to the sea.

Nevertheless it's quite probable that his inspiration for the song came from Antwerp.

By: Strangely

Strangely — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:59:04 +0000

Good points @Freddy.
I never knew that about the title. I'm now racking my brains for the appropriate rhymes to Antwerp and have so far got nowt apart from the stupidly obvious.

However, you're wrong about Amsterdam as Amsterdam was a major port until recent times – it's how it got it's wealth, after all. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam In my mind, that's the sort of period that I think the song is being sung around, i.e. when Amsterdam was a major port. In those times, Amsterdam was lot closer to the sea as well because of the Dutch skills in pushing the sea back. In fact, in my mind I see this period as being before the creation of Belgium in the mid 1800s and the fact that Holland, Belgium & N.E. France cover several different nationalistic language groups even now makes me think that Brel wasn't particularly set in where he "lived".
I'll have to read up more on him I think so thanks for getting the mind juices going!.

By: Freddy Speg

Freddy Speg — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:19:56 +0000

Bowie's version is pretty accurate. What everybody seems to overlook is the fact that Amsterdam is not anywhere near the sea. Brel was really singing about the port of Antwerp. Belgian as he was, but found it very difficult to find anything to rhyme with it, so he changed the song title to Amsterdam

By: paul

paul — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:18:17 +0000

No Walker yet, apart from what I have. A couple that really stand out are Mrs Murphy and, oh crap, my mind is shot. Something about a street or terace or something. I never really have the passion to remember song names just their contents. If I remember, I’ll come back and edit

By: Strangely

Strangely — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:43:50 +0000

LOL.
I think you’re in lerv Paul.

Did you get any vinyl for Mr Walker? Have you tried the stinky piss record shop in Bridgwater (a.k.a West Quay Records)? His stuff’s so old he’s probably got some mint ones in there.
Rees

By: paul

paul — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:47:59 +0000

If you were up to speed with Brel, you would know that Scott Walker covered a considerable amount of his songs. FYI
me

By: Jaques Brel - Amsterdam, a new translation

Jaques Brel - Amsterdam, a new translation — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:09:03 +0000

[...] is much better than the Bowie lyrics I provided in an earlier post. I guess I’ll have to do it then… It’s still pure art and emotion. Watch out [...]

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By: Port of Amsterdam - post updated at Strangely Perfect

Port of Amsterdam - post updated at Strangely Perfect — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:12:05 +0000

[...] This original post on Jaques Brel has been updated and I’ve stuck the Bowie version up. I’ve improved the layout as it’s getting quite a few hits. It may help French students like Rocket Mole. Tags: Amsterdam, Astounding, Bowie, french students, jaques brel, Lingering Tune, port of amsterdam, Rock, version, Website [...]

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By: Strangely

Strangely — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:21:39 +0000

I give a shit Paul. Cheer up and soak up the power….

This refers to Pauls first posting here http://paulrichards7.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/who-gives-a-sht/trackback/ which sounds a bit glum if you ask me

By: Doug Graves

Doug Graves — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:10:25 +0000

Thanks so much for putting this info together in one place. It saves me so much time as I can use it as a sign post to other places. Brel was such a wonderful artist and you truly are a wonderful person. Thank you. :)