Kinderen voor Kinderen

Kinderen voor Kinderen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌkɪnd(ə)rə(ɱ) voːr ˈkɪnd(ə)rə(n)]; lit. 'Children for Children') is a Dutch children's choir maintained by public broadcaster BNNVARA. Since 1980 the choir has released one album of new children's songs each year, and is probably the only act from the 1980s with consecutive albums in the top 40 chart (apart from two releases). The ideas for the songs generally come from children who write in. Well-known Dutch lyricists then turn submitted ideas into finished songs. The songs on each year's album are presented in a special TV broadcast, staged and recorded in advance (in the group's early years, these shows were broadcast live). Various Dutch celebrities often appear as cast members in these shows. In 2006, Kinderen voor Kinderen staged its first live pop concert as the basis of its annual broadcast. Kinderen voor Kinderen also holds an annual "Song Contest" known as the Kinderen voor Kinderen Songfestival that sees the winners of the regional pre-selection rounds (one each province) compete against each other as finalists. In 1980 program director Flory Anstadt decided to start a children's choir as part of a VARA fund-raising campaign to provide toys to children in developing countries. The choir released an album of songs sung by children ranging in age from 8 to 12 years old. VARA subsequently broadcast performances of the songs on television. The choir was a success and a decision was made to release an album each year from then on. The toy donation campaign ended in 1991. The name of the choir is now the sole reminder of its original function. Staying true to their main purpose, Kinderen voor Kinderen is still releasing charity-singles such as: "Morgen is een droom ("Tomorrow is a dream") (2001) "Voor Azië ("For Asia"), released early 2005 in a re-written version to benefit tsunami victims in Asia. "Het begin van het einde ("The beginning of the end"), released in the summer of 2005 to benefit the Dutch development NGO Novib. The ensemble has been conducted by Babette Labeij since 2005. She succeeded Majel Lustenhouwer, who led the group during its first 25 years. In recognition of Kinderen voor Kinderen's contribution to Dutch culture under his guidance, Lustenhouwer received a knighthood of the Order of Orange Nassau in 2006. For the first 21 releases, the first song on each album was always the Kinderen voor Kinderen anthem. Only albums 5 and 15 were notable exceptions as on those album the anthem was the closing track. Starting with album 22 the custom was changed to make it the closing track instead. The melody has remained the same since 1980, though the lyrics were changed after album 3 to remove a verse about children starving and sleeping in the street. The chorus has stayed the same, while verses have changed over the years to be more celebratory and inclusive, suggesting that children are more open-minded and understanding. Some of the recent albums omit the anthem entirely. The choir currently consists of around 30 children between 8 and 12 years of age (originally the age limit was 14 instead of 12). Originally the goal was to have participants from throughout the Netherlands. Over time, however, practical considerations intervened and the children recruited as singers are now required to live within close distance of the TV recording studios in Hilversum, southeast of Amsterdam. As a consequence the songs are sung with the characteristic accent of that area, the most noticeable feature of which is the so-called Gooise R: the retroflex pronunciation of the letter R at the end of words and after vowels before consonants in a manner similar to that of American English, although other Rs are realized as trills, either alveolar [r] or uvular [ʀ]. The ensemble operates on a yearly production cycle starting with auditions for new members in January. Songs are composed based on ideas from children's letters and go through a judging process, ultimately leaving 12 song choices for the year's CD. The first singing rehearsals begin in March, and dance rehearsals start in September after summer recess. The year's TV program is usually recorded during the autumn school recess. A viewing is held for the children and their families one week before the program is broadcast in November. A 27-CD box set, released at the end of September 2007, gave the choir their first album top 10 entry in almost a decade. The first broadcast was on 5 December 1980 (St Nicholas Day), hosted by actor Willem Nijholt. The choir-members wore dungarees. Viewers could vote for their favourite song and "Ik heb zo waanzinnig gedroomd" (sung by Annemiek Stuurman) became a top 10 hit early 1981. The album reached number 2 in the charts. In 2001 some of the original choir members reunited for an interview conducted by Reinout Oerlemans for his I Love The 1980s-style series Typisch Tachtig. The second show too was hosted by Willem Nijholt (sporting a full moustache at the time). The choir was now expanded; among the new faces were Marjon Keller, Mandy Huydts and sisters Laura and Karin Vlasblom, who later went on to form the girl group Frizzle Sizzle. Martijntje van Neerven expressed her concern with the stupidity of fur-hunters in "Tweedehands Jas" ("Second hand coat"). Of the three stand-out songs "Op een onbewoond eiland" ("On a deserted island") was voted the number 1 favourite and became a top 40-hit. The album peaked at number 3. The third show hit the screens on 11 November 1982; this time Leonie Jansen, singer/presenter of children's news programme Jeugdjournaal introduced the songs. "Ha-ha je vader" (about children judged by their dad's profession) opened the show and was that year's single. Other memorable moments include Drummer, "Kerstmis" and "Dokter ik ben zo oliedom" ("Doctor, I'm tired of stupid"). Martijntje sang the Down's syndrome-themed ballad "M'n broertje" ("My baby brother") and the show ended with "Ik heb het allemaal niet bij me" ("I think I lost it all") before reprising the theme tune. Album 3 became the first one to top the charts. The fourth album and TV show included show host Willem Ruis (1945–1986). The songs had a more polished sound than previous efforts and made some references to Dutch group Doe Maar who were at the height of their popularity. "Brief aan Ernst" is a request to Doe Maar's keyboard-player to stop singing the atom bomb-themed number one-hit "De Bom". In "Vader zonder werk" ("Unemployed father", Martijntje's last contribution to the choir), the subject matter was angered by hearing the band on record. "Meidengroep" ("Girl group") became a top 20-entry, and "Wat zingen wij" ("The songs we sing") is a definite reminder that Dutch traditional children's songs are worthless to a generation that prefers to listen to top 40-hits. Like its predecessor, album 4 topped the charts. 16 November 1984 saw the fifth Kinderen voor Kinderen show; time to look back. Previous members were invited and some of them were interviewed by Willem Ruis. As a bridge to the new songs Frizzle Sizzle (before the name existed) sang a tribute to their days with the choir. Marjon Keller, who left after the fourth album, was still available for backing vocals. The first of the new songs is "Sluit je aan" ("Join the club"), a call for vegetarianism; the idea was actually submitted by a butcher's daughter. Robert Long (1943–2006) wrote "Als ik de baas zou zijn van het journaal" ("If I Ruled The News") which missed the top 40, unlike "Eeuwig Kerst" ("Forever Christmas"). This non-album track was recorded with former BZN-vocalist Annie Schilder and Het Goede Doel. It became the most successful Christmas-hit in Dutch. Album 5 reached second place in the charts. The show for the sixth album brought a change, as it was the first to be shot on location. The running order of the songs was changed precisely to chronicle the adventures of four siblings, Mark and Sasha, and teenagers Arjen and Krista. The parents were played