Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Coenie was educated at University of the Free State in Bloemfontein majoring in media studies where he later on lectured in the Communications faculty. He has always viewed his musical career as his second vocation. He is also a classically trained pianist. Coenie is the anchor presenter in popular South African kykNET journal program "Kwela".
During the late 1980s, Coenie spent a few years in self-imposed exile in Cyprus. Coenie has also performed in New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
Coenie signed with Mountain Records in 1983, and recorded his debut album, Skoppensboer, working with producer, Patrick Lee-Thorp and engineer, Kevin Shirley, in the same year. He subsequently recorded 4 albums for the label many of which won industry awards. In addition he contributed to label compilations of his work. Since leaving Mountain Records he has recorded a number of one off projects for different labels.
Coenie lived on the island of Cyprus during the eighties and nineties. He wrote, recorded and produced the album Amper Alleen in Cyprus and in Athens, Greece. Amper Alleen was the second SA album to be released on CD. Coenie and his family returned to South Africa after the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC. He released Hartland, an album which included a vocal performance by Lesley Rae Dowling.
Fotograaf
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
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Om enkele ure later weer spoorloos te verdwyn
Deur die strate van die township word ‘n dooie kind gedra
En elders in Soweto word ‘n duisend vrae gevra
Deur die lense van sy legkaart sien hy alles soos dit is
Word die wêreld meer gefokus, word gebeure meer gewis
Kom kyk sê hy en gooi ‘n bier versigtig op sy duim
Die sluier van beskawing, dis hier maar mot gevreet
Wat reg en wat verkeerd is, dis moeilik om te weet
Jy sien ek hou slegs rekord van dit wat mense doen
Met die hoop dat iemand iewers my gewete kan versoen
‘n Vrou skenk swaar geboorte bo die waters van ‘n vloed
Aan die takke van ‘n boom kleef daar ‘n bietjie van haar bloed
In ‘n deel van Sarajevo word ‘n vrou op straat gevel
Daar's ‘n sak met brood en melk, lê stukke rook en dis skrapnel
Deur die lense van sy Leica sien hy alles soos dit is
Word die wêreld meer gefokus, word gebeure meer gewis
Kom kyk sê hy en gooi ‘n bier versigtig op sy duim
Kom kyk wat maak die mensdom, hoe versigtig aan die skuim
Die sluier van beskawing, dis hier maar mot gevreet
Wat reg en wat verkeerd is, dis moeilik om te weet
Jy sien ek hou slegs rekord van dit wat mense doen
Met die hoop dat iemand iewers my gewete kan versoen
The lyrics of Coenie De Villiers's song "Fotograaf" depict a photographer who encounters various unsettling scenes in different parts of the world. The first verse talks about a man who bravely stumbles upon a tank on Tiananmen Square, only to disappear hours later. In the streets of the township, a dead child is being carried, while in Soweto, countless questions are asked. Through the lens of his camera, the photographer sees the world as it truly is, bringing focus to events and making them more certain. He invites others to come and see, as he delicately pours a beer on his thumb, representing the careful observation required to understand the state of humanity.
The second verse continues to highlight the photographer's perspective. He notes that civilization's veil is being eaten away by moths, making it difficult to discern what is right or wrong. He explains that he keeps a record of human actions, hoping that somewhere someone can reconcile his conscience. The lyrics further describe a woman giving birth amidst floodwaters, with a trace of her blood sticking to the branches of a tree. In another part of Sarajevo, a woman lies on the street, and amidst the chaos, there is a bag with bread and milk, alongside smoke and shrapnel.
Overall, "Fotograaf" portrays the power of photography in capturing the raw reality of the world and shedding light on the often cruelties and injustices faced by humanity. It raises questions about the role of art, the struggle to understand right from wrong, and the hope for reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
‘n Man stuit onverskrokke ‘n tenk op Tiananmenplein
A man fearlessly encounters a tank at Tiananmen Square
Om enkele ure later weer spoorloos te verdwyn
Only to disappear without a trace a few hours later
Deur die strate van die township word ‘n dooie kind gedra
In the streets of the township, a dead child is being carried
En elders in Soweto word ‘n duisend vrae gevra
And elsewhere in Soweto, a thousand questions are being asked
Deur die lense van sy legkaart sien hy alles soos dit is
Through the lens of his camera, he sees everything as it is
Word die wêreld meer gefokus, word gebeure meer gewis
The world becomes more focused, events become more certain
Kom kyk sê hy en gooi ‘n bier versigtig op sy duim
Come look, he says, and carefully pours a beer on his thumb
Kom kyk wat maak die mensdom, hoe versigtig aan die skuim
Come look at what mankind is doing, how cautiously it foams
Die sluier van beskawing, dis hier maar mot gevreet
The veil of civilization, here it is merely consumed by moths
Wat reg en wat verkeerd is, dis moeilik om te weet
What is right and what is wrong, it's difficult to know
Jy sien ek hou slegs rekord van dit wat mense doen
You see, I only keep record of what people do
Met die hoop dat iemand iewers my gewete kan versoen
With the hope that somewhere someone can reconcile my conscience
‘n Vrou skenk swaar geboorte bo die waters van ‘n vloed
A woman gives birth heavily above the waters of a flood
Aan die takke van ‘n boom kleef daar ‘n bietjie van haar bloed
On the branches of a tree, a little of her blood sticks
In ‘n deel van Sarajevo word ‘n vrou op straat gevel
In a part of Sarajevo, a woman is beaten on the street
Daar's ‘n sak met brood en melk, lê stukke rook en dis skrapnel
There's a bag with bread and milk, lying fragments of smoke and shrapnel
Deur die lense van sy Leica sien hy alles soos dit is
Through the lens of his Leica camera, he sees everything as it is
Word die wêreld meer gefokus, word gebeure meer gewis
The world becomes more focused, events become more certain
Kom kyk sê hy en gooi ‘n bier versigtig op sy duim
Come look, he says, and carefully pours a beer on his thumb
Kom kyk wat maak die mensdom, hoe versigtig aan die skuim
Come look at what mankind is doing, how cautiously it foams
Die sluier van beskawing, dis hier maar mot gevreet
The veil of civilization, here it is merely consumed by moths
Wat reg en wat verkeerd is, dis moeilik om te weet
What is right and what is wrong, it's difficult to know
Jy sien ek hou slegs rekord van dit wat mense doen
You see, I only keep record of what people do
Met die hoop dat iemand iewers my gewete kan versoen
With the hope that somewhere someone can reconcile my conscience
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind