Wende Snijders, "Au Suivant"

A minha cantora holandesa favorita interpretando Jacques Brel pelos 40 anos da sua morte.

Muitos Parabéns, APS!!!

Muitos Parabéns, APS!

Continuação de um dia de aniversário muito feliz!

Um poema do Eugénio de Andrade, um gosto imenso que ambos partilhamos.

Achei que este poema se adequava muito a si, pois o APS  é um artífice da Palavra.

Gosto muito de lê-lo, já sabe. :-)

As Palavras 

São como um cristal, 

as palavras. 

Algumas, um punhal, 

um incêndio. 

Outras, 

orvalho apenas. 

Secretas vêm, cheias de memória. 

Inseguras navegam: 

barcos ou beijos, 

as águas estremecem. 

Desamparadas, inocentes, 

leves. 

Tecidas são de luz 

e são a noite. 

E mesmo pálidas 

verdes paraísos lembram ainda. 

Quem as escuta? 

Quem as recolhe, assim, 

cruéis, desfeitas, 

nas suas conchas puras?

in Coração do Dia, (1958)

E porque um aniversário pede flores, envio-lhe estas Rosas de Junho da Wende Snijders.

FELIZ ANIVERSÁRIO!!

Da sazonalidade

Os deliciosos morangos holandeses. O tempo dos espargos. A música da carrinha dos gelados no final da tarde pelas ruas do bairro. O canto dos pássaros pela manhã. Os ninhos dos cisnes ao longo dos canais. O giz nos passeios. A limpeza dos quintais. Os anúncios de plantas e mobiliário de jardim nos folhetos que chegam pelo correio. Os narcisos nos campos verdes que ladeiam as estradas e as rotundas. É a Primavera a despontar. 

Gosto desta sazonalidade que os Países Baixos voltaram a trazer à minha vida. Um marcar de tempos e de ritmos, um folhear de página, mais devagar...

A minha cantora neerlandesa favorita...
Wende Snijders

Bom fim-de-semana a todos!

Thijs Borsten Daagt Uit, Corrosia, Almere

Thijs Borsten é um pianista, compositor e produtor holandês, tendo já actuado no Concertgebouw de Amsterdam, no North Sea Jazz Festival em Roterdão, e em vários países como a India, a África do Sul ou a Alemanha. Já produziu trabalhos para a Wende Snijders, tem trabalhado com a cantora de ópera Tania Kross, interessa-se por World Music e tem colaborado com artistas de diversas origens, incluíndo a nossa Sara Tavares (num disco da cabo-verdiana Dina Medina).

Esta semana, por sugestão amiga, fomos ver o

Thijs Borsten Daagt Uit (Thijs Borsten desafia...) no Centro Cultural Corrosia.

Este espectáculo consiste num desafio lançado por Thijs Borsten a dois cantores de registos diferentes para, numa actuação conjunta, cruzarem fronteiras entre os respectivos estilos musicais. Neste mês de Março, o desafio deu-se entre o Gospel e o Fado, pelas vozes de Michelle David (1966) e Maria de Fátima (1961).

Thijs Borsten é acompanhado pelo baixista Xander Buvelot e pelo baterista Arno van Nieuwenhuize.

Nós gostámos imenso do espectáculo: a elevada qualidade dos músicos e das intérpretes, os solos e os duetos (o da Canção do Mar foi surpreendente), a apresentação das intérpretes através de entrevistas (soltas, divertidas) e fotografias dos momentos mais significativos de cada uma e histórias associadas, a interacção com o público (com jogos de perguntas incluídos), o auditório em si, muito acolhedor...Gostámos de tudo e víamos mais uma vez.


 


As senhoras do desafio

Maria de Fátima (Fado)

Maria de Fátima ganhou  "A Grande Noite do Fado" em 1974, tendo já cantado com Amália Rodrigues e Camané. Em 1981, veio para Amsterdam, onde, durante vários anos, se dedicou à vida familiar e foi cantando ocasionalmente, até que, em 2001, volta em grande força, tendo já gravado 6 álbuns, desde então, e dado concertos nos Países Baixos, na Alemanha e na Bélgica.

Michelle David (Gospel)

Michelle David cresceu em Nova York, onde cantava na igreja. Mais tarde, frequentou a High School of Performing Arts (do filme Fame), tendo, posteriormente, trabalhado em diversos espectáculos e digressões e colaborado com Michael Bolton e Diana Ross. Neste momento, vive e trabalha nos Países Baixos.

NB: Especialmente para os leitores/seguidores do Blogue a residir nos Países Baixos:

Dias e locais dos espectáculos deste mês com Maria de Fátima e Michelle David:

20 Theater Bouwkunde - Deventer
22 De Kom - Nieuwegein
24 Rabotheater - Hengelo
28 Verkadefabriek - Den Bosch

Mens durf te leven/ Gente, atrevam-se a viver!

Estou chocada e horrorizada com o que aconteceu em Paris, ontem à noite...

E aqui tão perto...Tudo isto assusta e parece cada vez mais próximo. Confesso, sinto medo (já não podemos estar tranquilamente em lado nenhum). 

E por isso, porque é preciso teimar pelo Respeito mútuo e pela Esperança num amanhã mais pacífico... 

Almere, 8 de Novembro

Um amanhecer...Pela Paz, pela Luz, pela Vida, pelo Amor...

Versão de Wende Snijders, numa canção original de 1967, de Ramses Shaffy

(tradução minha)


Je leeft maar heel kort, maar een enkele keer/ Vives por pouco tempo e só uma vez
En als je straks anders wilt, kun je niet meer / E quando quiseres novamente, já não podes
Mens durf te leven / Gente, atrevam-se a Viver! 


Vraag niet elke dag van je korte bestaan: / Não te perguntes todos os dias
Hoe hebben m'n pa en m'n grootpa gedaan? / Como teriam feito os avôs?
Hoe doet er m'n neef en hoe doet er m'n vriend? / Como teria feito o meu sobrinho e o meu amigo?
En wie weet, hoe of dat nou m'n buurman weer vindt? / E o que pensa o meu vizinho?
En - wat heeft 'Het Fatsoen' voorgeschreven? / E o que ditam os costumes?
Mens, durf te leven! Gente, atrevam-se a Viver!


En - van je leven / E da tua vida
Ze wijzen de paadjes, waarlangs je mag gaan/ Eles indicam os caminhos pelos quais podes ir
En roepen 'o foei!' als je even blijft staan / E clamam " Vergonha!" se te recusas 
Ze kiezen je toekomst en kiezen je werk / Escolhem o teu futuro e o teu trabalho
Ze zoeken een kroeg voor je uit en een kerk / Colocam-te fora do café e da igreja
En wat j'aan de armen moet geven / Ditam ao que os pobres deves dar
Mens, is dat leven? / Gente, é isso Vida?


De mensen - ze schrijven je leefregels voor / Os outros ditam as regras da tua vida
Ze geven je raad en ze roepen in koor:  / Dão-te conselhos e gritam em coro:
Zo moet je leven! / É assim que deves viver!
Met die mag je omgaan, maar die is te min / Dizem-te como deves conviver com isto e com aquilo, e isso é o mínimo
Met die moet je trouwen - al heb je geen zin / Com quem deves casar, mesmo sem vontade
En daar moet je wonen, dat eist je fatsoen / Como deves viver porque assim é que é
En je wordt genegeerd als je 't anders zou doen / Serás renegado se diferente fizeres
Alsof je iets ergs had misdreven /  Porque erraste...
Mens, is dat leven? / Gente, é isso Vida? 


Het leven is heerlijk, het leven is mooi / A Vida é maravilhosa, A Vida é bela
Maar - vlieg uit in de lucht en kruip niet in een kooi / Mas voando e não rastejando numa gaiola
Mens, durf te leven / Gente, atrevam-se a Viver! 


Je kop in de hoogte, je neus in de wind / Com a cabeça nas alturas e de nariz ao vento
En lap aan je laars hoe een ander het vindt / Ao encontro do Outro
Hou een hart vol van warmte en van liefde in je borst / Mantém um coração pleno de Amor
Maar wees op je vierkante meter een Vorst! / Sê o Príncipe da tua casa
Wat je zoekt, kan geen ander je geven / O que procuras, ninguém te pode dar
Mens, durf te leven! Gente, atrevam-se a Viver!


Versão original de Ramses Shaffy (1967)

Outra flor, uma canção

Laat me, uma versão cover da canção francesa Ma dernière volonté (Vivre), interpretada por Serge Reggiani em 1977, fala-nos de alguém que, olhando para a história da sua vida e apesar do seu percurso errante, não se arrependeu do que viveu, tendo seguido sempre o seu caminho e pedindo que assim o deixem continuar ( "Ik heb het altijd zo gedaan"/ Eu sempre fiz assim).

Neste video, Wende Snijders canta as duas primeiras e a sétima estrofes em francês, de acordo com a letra de Vivre, de Sylvain Lebel e interpretada por Serge Reggiani em 1977, e as restantes, em neerlandês, de acordo com a letra de Laat me, escrita por Herman Pieter de Boer e cantada por Ramses Shaffy, no ano seguinte, em 1978, mas saltando a quinta e sexta estrofes da mesma letra e substituíndo a sétima pela letra francesa, como referi.

Para quem queira conhecer a letra integral de Vivre, basta clicar aqui.

Para aqueles que nos acompanham e querem aprender um pouco mais de neerlandês: a letra integral de Laat me, de H. P. de Boer. Um poema muito bonito, que vale a pena conhecer.

Ramses Shaffy, Laat me (Versão Original, 1978)

Ik ben misschien te laat geboren, 
Of in een land met ander licht.
Ik voel me altijd wat verloren, 
Al toont de spiegel mijn gezicht.

Ik ken de kroegen en kathedralen, 
Van Amsterdam tot aan Maastricht.
Toch zal ik elke dag verdwalen, 
Dat houdt de zaak in evenwicht. 

LAAT ME, LAAT ME, LAAT MIJ GEWOON MIJN GANG MAAR GAAN.
LAAT ME, LAAT ME, IK HEB HET ALTIJD ZO GEDAAN. 

Ik zal m'n vrienden niet vergeten, 
Want wie mij lief is blijf me lief.
En waar ze wonen moest ik weten, 
Maar ik verloor hun laatste brief. 

Ik zal ze heus wel weer ontmoeten, 
Misschien vandaag of volgend jaar. 
Ik zal ze kussen en begroeten, 
Het komt vanzelf weer voor elkaar.
(refrein) 

Ik ben gelukkig niet veranderd,
Soms woon ik hier, soms woon ik daar.
Ik heb mijn leven niet verkankerd,
 'k heb geen bezit en geen bezwaar.

Ik hou van water en van aarde, 
Ik hou van schamel en van duur. 
D'r is geen stuiver die ik spaarde,
Ik leef gewoon van uur tot uur.
(refrein) 

Ik zal ook wel een keertje sterven, 
Daar kom ik echt niet onderuit. 
Ik laat mijn liedjes dan maar zwerven, 
En verder zoek je het maar uit. 

Voorlopig blijf ik nog je zanger,
Je zwarte schaap, je trouwe fan. 
Ik blijf nog lang, en liefst nog langer,
En laat me blijven wie ik ben. 

LAAT ME, LAAT ME, LAAT MIJ GEWOON M'N GANG MAAR GAAN.
LAAT ME, LAAT ME, IK HEB HET ALTIJD ZO GEDAAN.
LAAT ME, LAAT ME, LAAT ME

Uma flor, uma voz

Desta Primavera...

A mais linda camélia do jardim.

A minha cantora holandesa favorita, Wende Snijders, numa interpretação que gostei muito (especialmente a parte final, a partir do minuto 2:58), do clássico de Edith Piaf, "La vie en rose".

Bom fim-de-semana! :-)

My A-Z of the Netherlands:"E" is for Expatriation/Emigration

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” 

Carl Jung

From Keukenhof 2013

"Did I dislike living in the Netherlands? No. And yes. I liked the Netherlands. The Netherlands did nothing wrong to me. As a matter of fact, let me explain this a bit because it's certainly not a simple experience that I had. My experience there overall [both good & bad times] really opened my eyes. The world could totally be something else than what I had thought or was used to. It taught me a lot about myself too because I constantly found myself looking at how I felt, feeling and looking at it from within more often, which is something I guess I normally did but never consciously realized." (the bold is mine)

( http://atouchofdutch.blogspot.nl/, June, 4 )

How I see a lot of myself in this last sentence...

I never been so in touch with my own feelings as during these last five years.

Moving to the Netherlands was quite a challenge for me since it never crossed my mind to live here. Suddenly the opportunity happened and we decided to come. We didn't think too much about the cold Winter ahead,  the language difficulties or about the lack of friends and family here. We just came. In fact, we felt that we needed to gain some distance from the world that we always knew and to find new ones, broaden horizons, take some challenges. Looking at our life then, there were too many signs telling us to move, to change, to dare...

In our first months here, I felt like the "legal alien" sung by Sting in "An Englishman in New York". I felt, deep under my skin, the cultural shock.

I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side 
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York

I felt stretched, challenged. Even by Nature...

I never experienced in my entire life such cold temperatures, strong winds, short days and such lack of sunlight. I missed too the natural and cultural Portuguese landscape diversity. Every time I took the train, I found the landscape monotonous and the towns similar to each other.

I was not used to have only a sandwich, a salad or a soup with butter for lunch. I felt hungry many times specially during the first month when we lived in a hotel in Amsterdam  I missed the Portuguese easy way  to find a hot delicious homemade lunch in every street corner for a very affordable price and I also cried for a decent coffee.

I disliked the houses too, specially due to the concrete walls and ceilings.

Many times, I  felt confused and lost because I didn't know the language.Or in the train station when listening to the announcements or when receiving formal letters.

The shops opening time is also different from Portugal. Once I left home on a Monday morning to go shopping and all the stores were closed. So I returned home empty handed...
.
I began to feel fragile...




On and on the rain will fall 
Like tears from a star like tears from a star 
On and on the rain will say 
How fragile we are how fragile we are 
How fragile we are how fragile we are

Suddenly I noticed I had no Dutch references (except some knowledge about the Dutch Golden Age and some painters). I never heard about their newspapers or magazines, I didn't know anything about their music, poets and writers, cinema, bookstores or gastronomy. I was living in an unknown world. I had no links, no references. "Where do I start? What do they listen to here? What do they read?". My cultural references were English and French, not Dutch.
Along with this sense of being lost, I realized I didn't know anybody here to go out and to enjoy a coffee with. In my first weeks here, I wondered many times about whom to call in case of need... You must remember we were in December, a very cold month, the days were shorter and people chose to stay at home enjoying the evening with their usual friends and family. In these circumstances, it's more difficult to make new acquaintances than in the Spring when everybody is outside in their balconies or backyards and it's easier to start a conversation (about gardening, pets, children, you name it).
This period was quite hard on me: I found myself experiencing  the darkness of the days, the lack of references and a great loneliness, everything at the same time...
In the following Spring, I started the Dutch classes in Utrecht. Most of my classmates knew a bit of the language - or they were living here for 4 or 5 years or their partners were Dutch - and the teachers usually spoke to us in Dutch. I had no clue about the language and the sound of the words sounded very harsh to me. I felt like a child again, learning the first words. In the meantime, I discovered I had several serious health issues to take care of and I had no luck with the doctors. So...

I needed to find a way to feel better, happier...



Turn the clock to zero, boss 
The river's wide, we'll swim across 
Started up a brand new day

I focused on my internal skills. "What do I know about myself at this moment that could help me in the present situation?" I knew I had a strong curiosity, I enjoyed to learn and I was a hard worker. Ok, then. Let's do it! Let's start learning. I began to design some travel itineraries. I wanted to find out my favorite places here as I had in Portugal. I decided to participate in the local festivities and traditions too. Step by step, my connection with the country became stronger. I also decided not to mix only with Portuguese or expats. I wanted to mingle with the locals too.Along this process, I felt I was in secondary school again: learning a new language, a new geography, a new history, a new landscape, a new society...Some moments were very hard for me, but during this process I became stronger, since I learnt a lot about myself and what I should do to become happier.

I learnt (only to give some examples.)....

abdication - of the regular sunlight, the delicious Portuguese food, the coffee, the landscape diversity, the  plaster of the Portuguese houses, the wide variety of medical private practice, the possibility to go directly to a specialist doctor, the Public Health Care co-payments ( I love you taxas moderadoras! If you only knew how much I pay here even not visiting the doctor all year long...)
acceptance - of the wind, of the inconveniences caused by snow, of the cold, of the lack of fish diversity, of the expensive compulsory health insurances, of the fact that I'm not sharing in person some important moments of my dear ones in Portugal,...
to slow down -  the Dutch have a more balanced life, there are more chances to work in part-time, there is respect for housewives work, it's expected that you enjoy some quality time, the word gezellig (pleasant, cozy) becomes part of your way of life...
to be more gentle and not so demanding with myself - many times, I was told by my Dutch friends that I was trying to do a lot of things at the same time and in the hardest way.And they were right.
to be more patient with myself - take my time and give me the time I really need.
to wait - for my Dutch language skills, to have strong friendship ties, to see the house ready, for the Summer holidays, for the Dutch waitresses in the restaurants and cafes, for the sun,...
to say "no" (and this one, for me, was very difficult to learn).
to live day-by-day and make the most of the present day.
to enjoy the sun to the fullest when it comes.

Currently, I like to live here as I liked to live in Portugal before. I enjoy both countries for different reasons. I have a more sensory relation with my homeland: the smells (specially of the fig trees), the taste of the food, the sun in my skin, the sound of the waves, the wines, the mountains. In the Netherlands, I like the way how they celebrate life and make the most of it, enjoying every moment to the fullest. The Dutch taught me to accept life as it is. Don't fight or argue with life. Live it! If it is snowing, no problem. They light candles in their living rooms and invite some friends and neighbors for a nice cup of coffee. If it's sun, oh! these are the glory days: let's lay down on the park or in the backyard, drink a glass of white wine, make a barbecue. The most important is to enjoy it while it last!

How did the Netherlands change my everyday life?

I live in a house with a front and backyard.

I learnt how to paint a house (the walls). Here most people paint their own houses. I painted our former house in Almere Centrum and now we are painting this one too.

I learnt only to keep the essential. This house is smaller than all the others where we had lived in before. So I needed to give away most of our things because they didn't fit in here. The bedrooms and the bathroom are smaller, the kitchen is open to the living /dining room, there is no hall, but a narrow corridor and the house has no attic.

I learnt a bit of gardening. I have already painted fences, cleaned brick pavers with a water pump machine, planted hydrangeas, camelias and daisies. I love gardening and garden centers.

I learnt the importance of a nice neighborhood specially when we are away from our family and friends.

I learnt to enjoy a light lunch.

I restarted cycling.

I restarted my strolls.

I started a blog and to photograph on regular basis.

I travel more due to the central location of the country.

I feel integrated,  I speak a bit of Dutch and...

I have already my favorite things in the Netherlands...;-)

My favorite movie: "De Twelling"
My favorite singer: Wende Snijders
My favorite magazine: Daphne's Diary
My favorite restaurant: Pulcinella
My favorite pastry: Poffertjes
My favorite dish: Erwtensoep
My favorite town: Bredevoort 
My favorite natural reserve: Oostvaardersplassen
My favorite amusement park: Efteling
My favorite event: Dickens Festijn in Deventer
My favorite moment: a sunset in the Marken dam.
My favorite tradition: Sinterklaas
My favorite Dutch expression: "Dank je wel!"

I'm crossing now - in spite of the economical crisis in Holland and in Europe - a path of fields of gold: I feel more open to life, more self-confidant, more courageous. Let's see what future brings, here or elsewhere...
; - )

Stay well and warm!

Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, 

The courage to change the things I can, 

And wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.

Dodenherdenking and Bevrijdingsdag

In the Netherlands, we have been celebrating two special days.

May 4th, Nationale Dodenherdenking, Remembrance Day

On May 4th, the Netherlands celebrates the memory of those who died in war, especially during World War II. At 8:00 p.m., two minutes of silence are observed throughout the country. Public transport is stopped, as well as all other traffic. The main ceremonies are observed in Amsterdam at the National Monument in Dam Square. Members of the cabinet and the royal family, military leaders, representatives of the resistance movement and other social groups attend these ceremonies.

This year's video.




May 5th, Bevrijdingsdag, Liberation Day

This day marks the end of the country occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. Usually, a concert is held in the River Amstel in Amsterdam, with the presence of the Queen. The video below is from last year's concert. You will listen to Wende Snijders. She is especially known by singing French chansons. Please, click here, if you wish to listen to her singing some of them.


 

The end of the Concert in the Amstel is particulary beautiful, with the Queen leaving the ceremonies in a boat decorated with flowers at the sound of the pretty song We'll Meet Again.
If you wish to see how it is, please, take a look at the video below.



To celebrate these special days, I want to share with you three Dutch movies about World War II period. I like them very much, especially the first one, De Tweeling, based on the book of the Dutch writer, Tessa de Loo, who, by the way, is living in Portugal.

De Tweeling (Twin Sisters) (2002)

The film tells the story of twin German sisters Lotte and Anna, separated at a young age. After the death of their parents, Lotte will be raised in the Netherlands by a middle-class intellectual family in Amsterdam and Anna by a poor Catholic German peasant family.



During WWII, Lotte becomes involved in the Dutch resistance and falls in love with a Jew - who is eventually caught by the Nazis and dies. Anna falls in love and marries a young Wehrmacht soldier who is eventually assigned to the Waffen SS and is killed by an American shell in the last days of the war.
In the aftermath of the war the two sisters - both scarred by the war and grieving for their respective lovers - have an explosive meeting, ending with the Lotte vehemently disowning her "Nazi" sister Anna (who, in fact, had little sympathy with Nazi ideology).
Decades later, at their old age, they meet again accidentally at a spa and become reconciled.

(adapted from Wikipedia)

Zwartboek (Black Book) (2006)

The story of a young Jewish woman in the Netherlands who becomes a spy for the resistance during World War II after tragedy befalls her in an encounter with the Nazis.

Oorlogswinter (Winter in Wartime) (2008)

The film is about a young Dutch boy named Michiel van Beusekom who tries to help the Dutch resistance during World War II by helping a British pilot to stay out of German hands during the occupation of The Netherlands.

Have you ever watched any of these movies? What is your favourite one?

Wende Snijders singing Piaf and Gréco

 La Foule, interpretada por Edith Piaf, em 1957.



Je suis commme je suis, interpretada por Juliette Gréco, em 1951

A Dutch singer in French: Wende Snijders

Wende Snijders, cantora neerlandesa, nascida em Inglaterra, conhecida sobretudo como intérprete de canções em língua francesa.

Le Plat Pays




La Valse à Mille Temps




Wende Snijders canta também Ramses Shaffy, cantor neerlandês, nascido em França. Esta canção - "Vivre", em francês - data dos anos setenta, quando o cantor sofreu um grave problema de alcoolismo. Wende canta-o em neerlandês e em francês.

Laat me