Cramer made his television debut in 1966 with his backing group the Spaklings, and was spotted by singer Annie de Reuver, who helped him obtain a record deal. In 1967, his first single, "Zai zai zai", became a hit, reaching #7 on the Dutch chart. The follow-up "Dans met mij" also peaked at #7, and he would have a string of successful records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His most fondly-remembered record is "De Clown" from 1971.
In 1970, Cramer took part in the Dutch Eurovision selection with the song "Julia", which came fourth. He returned in 1973, this time singing all four songs, from which "De oude muzikant" ("The Old Musician") was chosen as the Dutch entry for the 18th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 7 April in Luxembourg City. "De oude muzikant" was seen as a rather old-fashioned song, and finished the evening in 14th place of 17 entries.
Cramer returned to Eurovision in 1981 with two songs, "Marianne" and "Retour", in the Dutch selection, but both finished well down the field.
Cramer continued to enjoy periodic chart success through the 1970s; his last charting single was "Alles is anders" in 1980. The 1980s were relatively quiet , then in 1989 he starred as Juan Perón in the musical Evita, and went on to appear in many stage productions such as Chicago and The Phantom of the Opera. He has since appeared in TV programmes such as the drama series Westenwind and the Dutch Celebrity Big Brother, and continues his stage career.
In 2009, along with a number of other Dutch Eurovision veterans, Cramer was a special guest at that year's televised Eurovision selection.
Mona Lisa
Ben Cramer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ik zag je glimlach en jij keek mij aan
Mona Lisa
Ik heb die blikken verstaan
Sinds ik jou zag
Voel ik mij heerlijk en blij
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
Lach je alleen voor mij?
't Was in Parijs in de lentezon
'k Weet nog precies waar 't geluk begon
Toen ik je diep in je ogen zag
Kwam op je lippen een lach
Mona Lisa
Ik zag je glimlach en jij keek mij aan
Mona Lisa
Ik heb die blikken verstaan
Sinds ik jou zag
Voel ik mij heerlijk en blij
Mona Lisa
Lach je alleen voor mij?
Mona Lisa
Lach je alleen voor mij?
Maar al 't geluk ging zo snel voorbij
't Was toch zo mooi tussen jou en mij
Zoals 't kwam zo verdween 't weer
Plotseling zag ik jou niet meer
Mona Lisa
Ik zag je glimlach en jij keek mij aan
Mona Lisa
Ik heb die blikken verstaan
Sinds ik jou zag
Voel ik mij heerlijk en blij
Mona Lisa
Lach je alleen voor mij?
Mona Lisa
Lach je alleen voor mij?
Lach je alleen voor mij?
Lach je alleen voor mij?
The song "Mona Lisa" by Ben Cramer tells the story of the singer's encounter with a woman named Mona Lisa, whom he met while in Paris. The opening line "Ik zag je glimlach en jij keek mij aan" (I saw your smile and you looked at me) introduces Mona Lisa's smile as the central point of attraction for the singer. He goes on to ask if Mona Lisa only smiles for him, emphasizing his infatuation with her.
The song is a tale of a fleeting romance that occurred in Paris in the springtime. Despite its brevity, the singer cherishes the memory of his time with Mona Lisa. He recalls the exact moment when they met, the way she smiled at him, and how happy she made him feel. However, the relationship eventually ended, leaving the singer longing for Mona Lisa's smile once again.
The theme of the song is the beauty of a smile and how it can affect someone deeply. The lyrics encourage listeners to appreciate the power of a smile in brightening up one's day and creating unforgettable memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Mona Lisa
The subject of the singer's affection is Mona Lisa.
Ik zag je glimlach en jij keek mij aan
The singer saw Mona Lisa's smile and she looked back at him.
Ik heb die blikken verstaan
The singer understood Mona Lisa's glances.
Sinds ik jou zag
Voel ik mij heerlijk en blij
The singer has felt happy and joyful since he first saw Mona Lisa.
Lach je alleen voor mij?
The singer wonders if Mona Lisa's smile is only for him.
't Was in Parijs in de lentezon
'k Weet nog precies waar 't geluk begon
Toen ik je diep in je ogen zag
Kwam op je lippen een lach
The singer remembers the moment in Paris when he saw Mona Lisa's eyes and she smiled.
Maar al 't geluk ging zo snel voorbij
't Was toch zo mooi tussen jou en mij
Zoals 't kwam zo verdween 't weer
Plotseling zag ik jou niet meer
The singer laments the fact that their happiness was short-lived and he suddenly lost sight of Mona Lisa.
Lach je alleen voor mij?
The singer repeats his question, wondering again if Mona Lisa's smile is only for him.
Lach je alleen voor mij?
The singer repeats his question one more time, still wondering if Mona Lisa's smile is only for him.
Contributed by Christopher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.