After playing piano in Cuby + Blizzards and several other bands since 1964, Brood started his own group, Herman Brood & His Wild Romance, in 1977. The band had their first hit single, Saturday Night, in 1978. It was taken from their best known and most succesful studio album, 1978's Shpritsz. A a live band, the leather-clad Wild Romance took The Netherlands (and Germany) by storm.
But even more than his music, it was his outspoken statements in the press about sex and drug use that brought Herman Brood into the public arena in The Netherlands. In the early 1980s he was romantically involved with the German artist, Nina Hagen, with whom he appeared in the film Cha Cha. Brood relished the media attention and became the most famous hard drug user in the Netherlands. In the 1990s he took up painting and soon became more successful as a painter athan he was as a musician (for a rock musician as legendary as Herman Brood, his studio LPs after 1980 sold remarkably poorly).
Brood swore off most drugs, reducing his drug use to alcohol and a daily shot of speed. Sadly (and ironically), this healthier lifestyle turned him into a vulnerable man almost overnight. He decided to take matters into his own hands and committed suicide: on 11 July 2001 he jumped off the roof of the Amsterdam Hilton hotel, at aged of 54.
Close friend, Bart Chabot, wrote about Brood's life in a string of biographies: "Broodje gezond", "Broodje halfom", "Brood en spelen" and "Broodje springlevend". Admirer, Black Francis, recorded a studio album (Bluefinger) as a tribute to Herman Brood.
Fake
Herman Brood & His Wild Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
such a fine thing
all the women gettin' faceless
to be a blind man
such a fine thing
when all the music's gettin' spaceless
& when she comes
don't let ambition lead her away
& when she comes
her touch don't miss
the blood comes down the dropper
like a big red kiss
You can fake anything
you can't fake the real thing
you can fake you can sing
you can't fake the real thing
She's the one
she took the walk
The body speaks the mind don't talk
She's the one
who's darkness doubles
She sees the brilliance of all
my troubles
You can fake anything
you can't fake the real thing
you can fake you can sing
you can't fake the real thing
The lyrics to Herman Brood & His Wild Romance's song "Fake" seem to discuss the idea of authenticity and how it is impossible to mimic the genuine article. The opening lines about being blind evoke a sense of being unaffected by external appearances or judgments, allowing one to truly see and appreciate things as they are. The line "all the women gettin' faceless" suggests a dehumanizing effect that can come from focusing too much on surface level traits.
The lyrics then shift to a woman who seems to bring a sense of clarity and purpose to the singer's life. The lines "when she comes, she comes to stay/don't let ambition lead her away" suggest a desire to hold onto something real and meaningful. The mention of blood and a big red kiss may symbolize passion and intensity.
The chorus reiterates the theme of authenticity, stating that while one can fake almost anything, the real thing cannot be replicated. The final stanza emphasizes the importance of honesty, with the line "the body speaks the mind don't talk" suggesting that actions often speak louder than words.
Overall, "Fake" seems to be a celebration of authenticity and a warning against shallow or inauthentic relationships and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
To be a blind boy
It's a good thing to be ignorant about the flaws of the world
such a fine thing
it's a quality worth having
all the women gettin' faceless
All women seem to look the same, like they've lost their identity
to be a blind man
ignorance is bliss
such a fine thing
it's a quality worth having
when all the music's gettin' spaceless
when music is losing its authenticity and uniqueness
and when she comes
when the real deal comes along
she comes to stay
when she is genuine, she commits
don't let ambition lead her away
Don't let other things take away the real deal
and when she comes
when the real deal comes along
her touch don't miss
her touch is truly genuine
the blood comes down the dropper
The emotions and passion run deep
like a big red kiss
Like a passionate, genuine kiss
You can fake anything
It's easy to pretend to be something you're not
you can't fake the real thing
The genuine article cannot be mimicked
you can fake you can sing
you can pretend to be a good singer
you can't fake the real thing
The genuine talent cannot be mimicked
She's the one
The genuine article has arrived
she took the walk
She's not afraid to be herself and show it
The body speaks the mind don't talk
She shows her true self through her actions, not just her words
She's the one who's darkness doubles
She understands and accepts the darker parts of people
She sees the brilliance of all my troubles
She appreciates the complexity of each individual
Contributed by Lillian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.