Formed in 1961, the band was active for 60 years, almost non-stop. They had 56 years of studio output, starting in 1965, which made them the world's longest surviving rock band, formed a year before The Rolling Stones, until their tragic end on 5 February 2021, when guitarist founding member George Kooymans revealed that he had been diagnosed with the neuro-muscular disease, ALS.
The band's core line-up of four was unchanged from 1970 to 2021, although extra musicians had short stints in the band in the 1970s. Golden Earring was always touring, except in 2000 (their only sabbatical year) and the final year of their existence, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 1961 George Kooymans (age 13) and his neighbour Rinus Gerritsen (age 15) formed The Tornado's in the Zuiderpark district of their home town of The Hague, The Netherlands. The band's first line-up mainly played The Shadows and The Ventures covers, as well as other instrumental tunes, and played its first gigs at school parties.
In 1963, as the band found out that there already was a British band called The Tornados, they decided to change their name into The Golden Ear-rings (after a Peggy Lee song). The band now performed around The Hague, soon had a devoted local following and landed a record deal with Polydor. Their début single, 1965's Please Go, immediately landed in the Dutch Top 10.
Under the Golden Earrings moniker the band eventually recorded four albums and had twelve hit singles in the Netherlands between 1965 and 1969, ten of which reached the Dutch Top 10. Several of their records were released internationally in Europe and even North America, although they failed to make an impact there.
One of the band's sixties singles became their first Dutch #1 hit: 1968's somewhat carnavalesque Dong-Dong-Diki-Digi-Dong, although that tune is now frowned upon by the band and generally regarded as inferior to other sixties Earrings gems, such as That Day (1966, the first Dutch pop single to have been recorded in the U.K., at London's Pye Studios), Sound Of The Screaming Day (1966) and the epic Just A Little Bit Of Peace In My Heart (1969).
The band's lead singer during the early Golden Earrings years was Frans Krassenburg. He was replaced by Barry Hay (ex-The Haigs) in 1967. The band's drummer for much of the 1960s was Jaap Eggermont. His successors were Sieb Warner (1969) and, in 1970, Cesar Zuiderwijk (ex-Livin' Blues), Golden Earring's definitive drummer.
The band's international career modestly started to take off in 1969, the year of their psychedelic Eight Miles High album, their first haphazard tour of the United States and also the year in which the band name was slightly changed into The Golden Earring and finally (dropping the article within a year), Golden Earring. On their early U.S. tours, their long, wild cover version of The Byrds' classic Eight Miles High impressed audiences and press alike. Golden Earring's 19-minute album version, as well as the stand-alone 1969 single, Another 45 Miles, were the first Golden Earring recordings to get some North American airplay.
The arrival of drummer, Cesar Zuiderwijk, in 1970, completed what would turn out to be the group's definitive line-up: Barry Hay (lead vocals/guitar/flute), George Kooymans (guitar/vocals), Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums) and Rinus Gerritsen (bass/harmonica/keyboards).
1970 saw a dramatic shift in Golden Earring's musical style. After the melodic, often Beatle-esque sixties beat of The Golden Earrings and a brief phase of psychedelia and hippie rock in 1968 and 1969, the single Back Home marked the birth of Golden Earring's trademark heavy, riff-based brand of hard rock with catchy hooks. Back Home hit #1 in the Dutch charts and 'broke' Golden Earring in most of Europe, notably countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France.
This marked the start of a decade of domestic and international glory. Between 1966 and 1976 seventeen consecutive Earring singles rocketed into the Dutch Top 10, while their international popularity increased, especially after their lengthy 1972 tour of Europe, supporting The Who. Buddy Joe (1972) achieved considerable chart success in the German-speaking countries of Europe, but 1973's Radar Love was their breakthrough smash hit worldwide: #13 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 in the U.S. Cashbox chart, #5 in Britain, #8 in Australia, #10 in Canada, #5 in Germany, #6 in Belgium, #1 in Spain and also #1 in (last but not least) Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), to name but a few.
Radar Love remains an enduring 'car classic' and radio anthem of global fame to this day. Between 1969 and 1985 Golden Earring completed ten major tours of North America, building a considerable North American fanbase, as well as five headlining tours of Great Britain in 1973 and 1974 alone. Golden Earring toured as 'special guests' of The Who, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, .38 Special, Rush and many more, whereas bands like Aerosmith, KISS, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd opened for Golden Earring. The album that spawned Radar Love, 1973's Moontan, was certified 'Gold' by North America's RIAA in 1974 and sold millions of copies worldwide.
The band failed to achieve similar chart success in the years after Radar Love: the progressive Switch (1975) and To The Hilt (1976) charted in Billboard's album charts, but yielded no major U.S. hits. The singles were clearly not what North American audiences wanted from the 'Radar Love guys'.
Golden Earring was forgotten by many outside of The Netherland and by 1980 even Dutch audiences started to lose interest: albums such as No Promises, No Debts (1979) and Prisoner Of The Night (1980) were commercial flops, leading to the band's decision (in 1981) to record a 'final LP and then call it quits.
The lead single from 1982's 'farewell album', Cut, a Kooymans-penned tune called Twilight Zone, surprisingly became an even bigger hit in the U.S. than Radar Love: #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks, thanks to heavy MTV rotation of the Dick Maas-directed video. The song (#1 in The Netherlands) revived Golden Earring's stateside career overnight. The Cut LP was certified 'gold' in Canada, with Twilight Zone hitting #3 in the Canadian charts.
In their native Netherlands the band did manage to extend their creative and commercial peak this time: the single When The Lady Smiles and the album N.E.W.S. ('NorthEastWestSouth'), both released in 1984, repeated the success of Twilight Zone and Cut. 'Lady' peaked at #3 in Canada, but fared disappointingly in the U.S. as MTV and even radio stations banned the track because of its controversial video, once again directed by Dick Maas, in which the rape of a nun was suggested.
After 1985 things rapidly went downhill for Golden Earring internationally (they would not tour the U.S. again), but - after a creative and financial crisis that lasted throughout the second half of the 1980s - the band wrote one of their most enduring Dutch hits in 1991 (the power-ballad, Going To The Run, which fared partially well in Russia) and discovered a new gold mine in their home country a year later: acoustic concerts in theatres, the concept of MTV Unplugged.
To everybody's surprise, the band's acoustic live album, The Naked Truth, slowly became their all-time biggest selling album in The Netherlands. Its sequels, Naked II (1997) and Naked III (2005) also went platinum at least once in The Netherlands.
Golden Earring's by far most succesful album internationally remains 1973's Moontan, which sold well over 3.5 million copies outside of The Netherlands and was certified 'gold' in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom (and platinum in the U.S. in later years).
Golden Earring released 25 studio albums, 9 live albums and countless succesful compilations. Almost all of these records were certified gold, often platinum, in The Netherlands. More than anything else, though, the band remained a live force of legendary status in their home country and beyond. They toured throughout each year until the very end, almost exclusively in the Netherlands, although there are still occasional live appearances in Belgium and Germany. 2009 saw Golden Earring's long overdue return to the United Kingdom: their sold out shows in Ipswich and London's Shepherd's Bush Empire were their first live appearances in England since 1978.
In 2011 the band recorded their first album of new material since 2003's Millbrook U.S.A.: Tits 'n Ass - studio album #25 for the Dutch legends - was released on 11 May 2012 on Universal Music and hit #1 in the Dutch album charts one week after its release to become Golden Earring's 8th #1 album in their home country. Certified 'gold' in The Netherlands, the album was generally believed to be Golden Earring's final studio outing, but December 2015 saw the release of a five-track mini album entitled The Hague, released more than fifty years after their début single and just before the band's sold out 'Five Zero' anniversary concert at Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome in front of a 17,000-strong crowd. 2019 saw the release of a stand-alone single, Say When: Golden Earring's final studio recording.
Nobody was aware of it at the time, but the band's 16 November 2019 performance at the Rotterdam Ahoy would turn out to be their final concert. After a year of Covid-19 lockdowns, guitarist George Kooymans announced his ALS diagnosis on 5 February 2021, the disease rendering him unfit to perform. Within hours, the band admitted that carrying on without Kooymans was unthinkable. In the words of lead singer, Barry Hay: "This is the end of the line for the band. It's a death blow. We always said: we'll keep going until the first one of us goes down. I never expected it to be George."
The band's final performance was released as a live CD and DVD in April 2022, named after Barry Hay's final words at the end of countless Golden Earring shows: You Know We Love You!.
Studio albums (released as Golden Earring, unless noted otherwise)
Just Ear-rings (1965, as The Golden Earrings or The Golden Ear-rings)
Winter-Harvest (1967, as Golden Earrings, sometimes spelled as Winter Harvest)
Miracle Mirror (1968, as Golden Earrings)
On The Double (1969, as Golden Earrings)
Eight Miles High (1969, as The Golden Earring)
Golden Earring (1970, colloquially known as 'Wall Of Dolls')
Seven Tears (1971)
Together (1972)
Moontan (1973)
Switch (1975)
To The Hilt (1976)
Contraband (1976, U.S. title: Mad Love)
Grab It For A Second (1978)
No Promises... No Debts (1979, spelled as No Promises, No Debts on most online platforms)
Prisoner Of The Night (1980)
Cut (1982)
N.E.W.S. (1984)
The Hole (1986)
Keeper Of The Flame (1989)
Bloody Buccaneers (1991)
Face It (1994)
Love Sweat (1995, covers album)
Paradise In Distress (1999)
Millbrook U.S.A. (2003)
Tits 'n Ass (2012)
The Hague (EP, 2015)
Live albums
Live (1977)
2nd Live (1981)
Something Heavy Going Down (1984, includes one new studio track)
The Naked Truth (1992, acoustic)
Naked II (1997, acoustic)
Last Blast Of The Century (2000)
Naked III (2005, acoustic, incorrectly listed as Naked Truth III on some streaming platforms)
Live In Ahoy 2006 (2006, live DVD + CD set)
You Know We Love You! (2022, live DVD + CD set)
Additional information:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Earring
Official website: https://www.golden-earring.nl
I'll Make It All Up To You
Golden Earring Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw a street covered with black snow
The people move in a nervous stripe
Of blues, red and yellow
Read your letter for the seventh time
The ink is getting close to fade away
But it still brings the ocean back to mind
In this here desert without oases
I'll make it up to you, make it all up to you
The rhythm and the dance of the loon
I'll make it all up to you, make it all up to you
And the night is a horoscopic sight
While the sun sets fire to the dune
I'll make it all up to you
I remember your face and your Picasso
Pale as sugar, sweet and low
Your hair in a ponytail and dyed
Eyes looking up from down below
Looking for an excuse to make it real
'Cause I can't see the help the way that I feel
Looking for an excuse to make it real
'Cause I cannot help the way that I feel
I've been shouting at the man in the moon
I'll make it all up to you, I'll make it up to you
The rhythm and the dance of the loon
I'll make it up to you, I'll make it up to you
And the night is a horoscopic sight
While the sun sets fire to the dune
I'll make it all up to you
I've made it all up to you
The lyrics to Golden Earring's "I'll Make It Up to You" paint a vivid picture in the mind of the listener. It starts with the reference to a painting by Van Gogh, where the singer describes a street covered in black snow, and people moving nervously in blues, reds, and yellows. Reading a letter for the seventh time, the singer reminisces about the ocean while in a desert devoid of oases.
The chorus "Shouting at the man in the moon, I'll make it up to you, make it all up to you, the rhythm and the dance of the loon," suggests a sense of desperation and guilt, and highlights the singer's desire to make amends. In the second verse, the singer remembers the person they are addressing the song to, and describes their physical features, such as pale skin like sugar and a dyed ponytail. The singer is then looking for an excuse to make their feelings for this person real, despite not being able to control them.
One interpretation of this song could be that the singer is reflecting on missed opportunities in a relationship, and expressing their deep regret for not acting on their feelings in the past. They are now hoping to make it right, and are shouting at the man in the moon as a symbol of their desperation to change the past. The reference to Van Gogh's painting could also suggest a theme of lost opportunities and the impermanence of life.
Line by Line Meaning
In a painting by Van Gogh
I saw a street covered with black snow like in a Van Gogh painting.
Saw a street covered with black snow
I saw a street covered with black snow, like in a post-apocalyptic world.
The people move in a nervous stripe
The people moved in a nervous line, displaying a range of emotions from blues, reds, and yellows.
Of blues, red and yellow
The people moved in a nervous line, displaying a range of emotions from blues, reds, and yellows.
Read your letter for the seventh time
I read your letter for the seventh time, hoping something new would come to mind.
The ink is getting close to fade away
The ink on the letter is starting to fade away, a reminder that time never stops ticking away.
But it still brings the ocean back to mind
Despite the ink fading away, the letter still reminds me of the vastness of the ocean.
In this here desert without oases
I find myself in a desert without any oasis, a metaphor for feeling lost and alone.
Shouting at the man in the moon
I am shouting at the man in the moon, perhaps as a way of venting my frustrations and sadness to the universe.
I'll make it up to you, make it all up to you
I want to make things right with you, to fix the mistakes I've made and earn your forgiveness.
The rhythm and the dance of the loon
The rhythm and the dance of the loon represents the beauty and grace of nature, which can serve as a source of inspiration and solace.
And the night is a horoscopic sight
The night is a horoscopic sight, filled with stars and constellations that represent the mysteries and possibilities of the universe.
While the sun sets fire to the dune
As the sun sets, it transforms the dune into a fiery landscape, a reminder that endings can also bring new beginnings.
I remember your face and your Picasso
I remember your face and the artistic beauty of Picasso's work, both of which bring back happy memories.
Pale as sugar, sweet and low
You were pale as sugar, but sweet and gentle like the low notes of music that resonate in the heart.
Your hair in a ponytail and dyed
Your hair was in a ponytail and dyed, a reminder of the vibrant and unique person you are.
Eyes looking up from down below
Your eyes were looking up from down below, perhaps trying to capture a sense of wonder and awe at the world around us.
Looking for an excuse to make it real
I am looking for an excuse to make things work between us, a way to turn our dreams into reality.
'Cause I can't see the help the way that I feel
I am struggling to find a way to express how I feel, as my emotions are too complex and overwhelming to put into words.
'Cause I cannot help the way that I feel
I cannot help the way I feel, as my emotions are too powerful and consuming to ignore or overcome.
I've made it all up to you
I have done everything I can to make things right between us, to earn your forgiveness and trust once again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAY, KOOYMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marcho730
Timeless -underrated - song. The live version with flute is awesome.
@DNez-mg8eh
My absolute favorite Golden Earring tune! Very underrated band, they were.
@iancockayne7235
I got it... On vinyl... Tape... CD... I had to order it for release date all those years ago... but never without it... I love this Album... Even got 12 inch of When the lady smiles...
@redrheino
What a track......great from a great album........Got a new vinyl last year....
@iancockayne7235
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE WAS ONLY ME THAT LIKE THIS BAND... BUT LOVE THIS ALBUM...
@scottsargent3614
Hey Ian, me too. I could never find any friends....thank you brother, lol, you're 100
@scottsargent3614
GeeWiz, Ian, I just got my comment cut off by the tube here for saying bad words
about anyone not thinking GoldenEarring
is the best ever...what was I to theorechtical people as an example how basic ignorant GoldenEarring refractory folk should be veiwed, of course after an attempt at basic schooling, be glad to expose myself to them, as simply a G.E monster fan, willing to help them out of near terminal IGNORANCE, just kidding..
but if they don't get it GO AWAY!
@scottsargent3614
I'm back again, every time I listen to GoldenEarring, always after taking a 6 mon. hiatus, it's just like hearing it again for the first time...HEY EVERYBODY,
TRY IT !
@carljung8953
Extraordinary album
@yvonnegroen-ridder299
Heel mooi nummer. Super.