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.
Liedjie Vir n Vrou
Coenie De Villiers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hy leen hom tot 'n lied
Sy musiek is swaar en somber
Soos net 'n dodemars gebied
Die liefde, wel, wat kan ek sê
Musiek maak tog meer sin
Akkoorde vorm maklik
Maar om oor jou te sing is anders
Die melodie workd skielik stil
Die warmte van woorde
Word onverklaarbaar kil
Want daar bestaan geen modulasie
Wat jou asem kan omskryf nie
Geen ritme of skandering
Vir die kurwes van jou lyf nie
Ja, retoriek word stom, my lief
En klank moet hom weerhou
Soos ek ook woordeloos gelaat
Voor die deernis
Van 'n vrou
In "Liedjie Vir n Vrou" by Coenie de Villiers, the lyrics explore the contrast between singing about death and singing about love. The first stanza suggests that it is easy to sing about death, as it lends itself to somber and heavy music, evoking a funeral march. However, the songwriter implies that to sing about love is more meaningful, as music finds a deeper sense when inspired by the heart's affection.
The second stanza delves into the complexity of singing about a specific person, perhaps a romantic interest. The melody suddenly becomes silent as the songwriter expresses the difficulty in capturing the essence of this person through music. The warmth of words, which typically convey emotion, becomes inexplicably cold. It appears that the songwriter is grappling with the challenge of finding the right words to convey the deep connection he feels for this person.
The third stanza emphasizes the unique nature of this person. There is no modulation that can describe her breath, no rhythm or scanning for the curves of her body. This suggests that there are no suitable musical techniques or methods to fully capture her essence. The songwriter realizes that no matter how skilled he is with words and music, he cannot fully express the depth and complexity of this woman.
In the final stanza, the songwriter acknowledges the limitations of rhetoric and sound in capturing the essence of his love. The music must hold back, just as he remains wordless in the presence of her compassion. There is a sense of awe and vulnerability in the face of this woman's kindness and understanding. The lyrics convey the songwriter's admiration for this woman and his realization that some emotions cannot be adequately expressed through music alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Om oor die dood te sing is maklik, lief
It is easy, my love, to sing about death
Hy leen hom tot 'n lied
It lends itself to a song
Sy musiek is swaar en somber
Its music is heavy and somber
Soos net 'n dodemars gebied
Like only a funeral march commands
Die liefde, wel, wat kan ek sê
Love, well, what can I say
Musiek maak tog meer sin
Music makes more sense
Akkoorde vorm maklik
Chords form easily
Wanneer die hart bemin
When the heart loves
Maar om oor jou te sing is anders
But to sing about you is different
Die melodie workd skielik stil
The melody suddenly becomes silent
Die warmte van woorde
The warmth of words
Word onverklaarbaar kil
Becomes inexplicably cold
Want daar bestaan geen modulasie
Because there is no modulation
Wat jou asem kan omskryf nie
That can describe your breath
Geen ritme of skandering
No rhythm or cadence
Vir die kurwes van jou lyf nie
For the curves of your body
Ja, retoriek word stom, my lief
Yes, rhetoric becomes dumb, my love
En klank moet hom weerhou
And sound must restrain itself
Soos ek ook woordeloos gelaat
As I too am left speechless
Voor die deernis
In the face of the compassion
Van 'n vrou
Of a woman
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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