Two musicians from The Netherlands are known as Frank Boeijen:

1. Fr… Read Full Bio ↴Two musicians from The Netherlands are known as Frank Boeijen:

1. Frank Boeijen is a Dutch singer/songwriter, who was the front man of popular (and eponymous) pop group De Frank Boeijen Groep from 1980 until 1991, the year he went solo. As leader of De Frank Boeijen Groep, Boeijen was one of the pioneers of Nederpop; along with the likes of Doe Maar en Het Goede Doel. After the peak of Nederpop passed, Boeijen broke new ground by touring theatres with his band and bringing pop music to new auditoriums and audiences. As a solo artist, he has kept to this theatre based approach of his music and maintained a productive pace.

Frank Boeijen was born in Nijmegen, The Netherlands on November 27, 1957, as the last in a family of ten children. His father was a typesetter in a factory. His older brothers were into American pop music; in the Boeijen household, Bob Dylan and Neil Young were often to be found on the record player (years later, Boeijen would write a song about this, appropriately titled Robbert Zimmerman). Young Frank learned to play the guitar. After finishing high school, Boeijen started a musical collaboration with guitarist Wout Pennings. Boeijen en Pennings released an album together in 1977. The songs of the album were re-recorded and the album was re-released a year later, with Rob de Nijs acting as producer. It was appropriately titled Boeijen en Pennings. To fulfil live engagements, drummer Henk Wanders en bass player Nels Busch joined the duo.

Pennings left the band in 1979 and was replaced with guitar player Wil Theunissen. The name was changed into the Frank Boeijen Groep. The b-side of their fist single, a song entitled Verjaardagsfeest was picked on up by radio disc jockey Frits Spits, who played the record a lot during his evening show. The group released their debut album, simply entitled Frank Boeijen Groep, album later that year. On the base of the airplay of Verjaardagsfeest, the album reached the Tipparade.

Nederpop, pop music with Dutch vocals, was becoming a mainstream success in the early eighties, and the Frank Boeijen Groep hitched a wagon to that train, when their single Linda, reached the Top Forty. Zwart Wit, another single, written after a racial murder had taken place in Amsterdam, became a number one hit. 1982's Twee and 1983's 1001 Hotel became big sellers.

In 1984, the Frank Boeijen Groep was awarded the Zilveren Harp by Conamus. In that same year, album Kontakt was released. Lead guitarist Wil Theunissen quit the group later that year and replaced with Maarten Peters, who himself was replaced two years later by Ger Hoeijmakers. In 1985, the group released Foto Van Een Mooie Dag. Single Kronenburg Park -- named after Kronenburger Park a park in Nijmegen, Boeijen's place of birth and residence -- became a huge success. Follow up, In Nature, released in 1986, didn't do as well, but still sold respectively.

Towards the end of the eighties, Boeijen's music fell somewhere in between het levenslied of André Hazes, the chansons of Ramses Shaffy and the pop of Doe Maar. According to Frank Boeijen and his manager Paul Schouwenaars the group had outgrown clubs and tents. With the release of album Welkom In Utopia in 1987, the group decided to tour Dutch theatres. The Welkom In Utopia tour started in the Stadsschouwburg in Amsterdam in September of the same year. Two more albums were released: studio album Een Zomer Aan Het Eind Van De Twintigste Eeuw (1989) and live album Hier Komt De Storm. During these years, Frank Boeijen dated Sky Channel presenter Amanda Redington. The two would marry in 1990. The album Dans In Slow Motion, released in 1988, was written for her. In juni 1994 scheidden ze weer van elkaar.

In the spring of 1991, Boeijen announced the ending of his group. In November of that year, he released his first solo album Wilde Bloemen. The musicians on the album were drummer Norman Bonink, guitar player Peter van Benthem and bass player Michel van Schie. Van Schie was replaced by touring bass player René te Voortwis, and pianist Ton Snijders was also recorded. Wilde Bloemen featured several duets with other well known Dutch musicians, among them were: Twee Gezichten, a song written and recorded with Henk Hofstede of The Nits); and Het IJs, written and recorded with Henny Vrienten of Doe Maar).

In the summer of 1993, Boeijen recorded Jazz in Barcelona; an album concerned with the break up between him and Amanda Redington. The subsequent theatre tour was a big success, with sold out shows every evening. Traces of Boeijen's break up were also to be found on next album De Ontmoeting (1994 - an even more spare and intimate affair than Jazz In Barcelona. De Ontmoeting also featured a single, Twee Mannen Zo Stil, with music and lyrics by Boeijen and Stef Bos. Although the single failed to mount the charts, over the years it became a Nederpop classic, often played at funerals. In the same year, Boeijen produced an album for Liesbeth List, the female voice of Ramses Shaffy's recordings. In 1995, another live album, Stormvogels, hit the shelves.

Boeijen returned with two new albums in 1997: a greatest hits compilation, Het Beste En Het Mooiste and an album of new material, Vaderland. The year before, Boeijen had travelled extensively through Asia, and a lot of the songs, although concerning Boeijen and The Netherlands, were written from a distant perspective. In 1999, De Ballade van de Dromedaris, recorded in Peter Gabriel's Real World Studio's appeared, followed by live album Door De Jaren Heen, containing several duets with Ramses Shaffy, Liesbeth List and Stef Bos. Both albums were big sellers. In 2001, Heden, was released. Drummer Norman Bonink left the group to join BLØF. He seat was filled by Oscar Kraal. Helder contained a collaboration between Boeijen and BLØF front man Paskal Jakobsen, single Geen Gevaar. The song was released in the summer of 2002. In the same year, Boeijen won an Edison award as best singer.

2. Frank Boeijen is also the name of the keyboardist for the Dutch group The Gathering.

Occhiolino
Frank Boeijen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je bent één van de mooiste
Slachtoffers die ik ooit heb gezien
Ik denk aan jou toen hij jou
Met een knipoog verliet
Niet zeker van de zaak
Vertrouwde hij jou
Aan ons toe
Aan ons

Aan ons
Wij overlevenden
De dag is niet lang
De dag is zo voorbij
Wie is niet bang
Je hebt je lot
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Zonnestralen
Glinsteren in je tranen
Je bent hier nooit echt weggeweest
Er lopen alleen wat zielen mee
In een stoet
Achter ons
Aan
Aan ons
Wij overlevenden
De dag is niet lang
De dag is zo voorbij
Wie is niet bang
Je hebt je lot
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Aan
Aan
Aan
Aan
Je hebt je lot
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Je hebt je lot
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Je hebt je lot
Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand
Je hebt je lot

Zelf in de hand
Zelf in de hand

Overall Meaning

In the lyrics of Frank Boeijen's song "Occhiolino," the singer reflects on the beauty and resilience of a certain individual who has experienced hardships. The lyrics describe this person as one of the most beautiful victims the singer has ever seen, suggesting a deep admiration for their strength and grace in the face of adversity. The imagery of a person leaving with a wink, leaving the subject unsure of their future, creates a sense of uncertainty and vulnerability.

The lyrics touch upon themes of trust and betrayal, as the person who left the subject behind may not have been certain of their decision. Despite this, the individual entrusted their fate to the survivors, highlighting the bond between them and the responsibility they have to carry on. The repetition of "Aan ons" (to us) emphasizes the collective nature of the survivors' experience and the support they provide for each other in difficult times.

The singer acknowledges the fleeting nature of life, symbolized by the passing of the day. The mention of fear suggests that challenges and uncertainties are ever-present, but the lyrics also empower the listener by reminding them that they hold their fate in their own hands. The repetition of "Zelf in de hand" (in your own hands) reinforces the message of self-determination and agency in shaping one's destiny.

The reference to sunbeams sparkling in tears and the idea of never truly leaving underline the enduring presence of the individual in the memories and hearts of those around them. The procession of souls behind the survivors suggests a sense of shared experiences and collective mourning. The repetition of "Aan ons" once again underscores the solidarity and shared journey of those who have endured hardships. Overall, the lyrics of "Occhiolino" speak to themes of resilience, trust, self-empowerment, and the enduring impact of those we encounter on our life's journey.

Line by Line Meaning

Je bent één van de mooiste
You are one of the most beautiful

Slachtoffers die ik ooit heb gezien
Victims I have ever seen

Ik denk aan jou toen hij jou
I think of you when he

Met een knipoog verliet
Left with a wink

Niet zeker van de zaak
Uncertain of the matter

Vertrouwde hij jou
He trusted you

Aan ons toe
To us

Wij overlevenden
We survivors

De dag is niet lang
The day is not long

De dag is zo voorbij
The day goes by so quickly

Wie is niet bang
Who is not afraid