Macrooy's music can best be described as modern soul. His audience is in the Netherlands, Suriname, and increasingly in Belgium, France and Germany. He was due to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 held in Rotterdam with the song "Grow", but the contest was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He will represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Birth of a New Age"
In April 2016 Jeangu’s debut EP ‘Brave Enough’ was released. The day of the release Jeangu was named ‘Serious Talent’ by 3FM radio, and the week after he played his first single ‘Gold’ at Dutch national TV talk show ‘De Wereld Draait Door’, where he has become a frequent guest ever since. ‘Gold’ was later used in a commercial for television network HBO. During the summer of 2016 Jeangu and his band played a multitude of festivals, after which he toured the Netherlands with Popronde in autumn. He also provided the support for Blaudzun, Remy van Kesteren, Bernhoft and Selah Sue, resulting in a total of 120 shows in just 12 months. The year 2016 was concluded with a performance at Noorderslag and a nomination for an Edison Award in the category ‘Best New Artist.’
Jeangu’s Perquisite produced debut album ‘High On You’ is more energetic and danceable than its predecessor. Melancholy still prevails in songs like ‘Circles’, but generally the focus has shifted to a more raw sound that drives songs like ‘Crazy Kids’ – a duet with twin brother Xillan – and ‘Head Over Heels’. ‘Antidote’ and ‘High On You’ show Jeangu’s affinity with soul music. It is on tracks like these that his powerful voice is intensified by the addition of brass arrangements that can be heard on the majority of the album. The common thread throughout the record, however, is still Jeangu’s unique vocal capacity, that hypnotises in the low range and moves the listener in the high range.
‘High On You’ was released on Unexpected Records on April 14th, 2017. The record entered the Dutch album charts, was nominated for the Edison Pop ‘Best Album’, and received critical acclaim from the press. Algemeen Dagblad gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and wrote: ‘He’s only 23, but has a soul veteran-like depth in his voice. ‘High On You’ might be the best Dutch debut album of 2017.’ De Telegraaf added: ‘Your mouth will drop with surprise and admiration. What a way to start your career!’. Oor Magazine called Jeangu ‘a newcomer that will really excite you’.
The release of the album was celebrated with two club tours throughout the Netherlands of fifteen shows in total of which thirteen were sold out. In the summer of 2017, Jeangu played an abundance of festivals with his band, including North Sea Jazz and Lowlands. In December Jeangu flew back to Suriname, where title song ‘High On You’ had been at the number one chart position for seven weeks straight, for the first time since he moved to The Netherlands. He played there with his full live band for a thrilled 1500-piece audience. Back in The Netherlands, the year 2018 kicked off with a show at the Eurosonic showcase festival.
ANTIDOTE
Jeangu Macrooy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gathering stones along the road
Weary is the soul that won't forgive
Have mercy on me
You know I'm just a fool
Ah ah ahh…
Love spread through my veins
Love spread through my veins like venom
There is no cure, no antidote
There is no cure, no antidote
Learning to accept my own demise
I hope God is kind in the afterlife
Funny how the one that I adore
Now has become my executioner
Ah ah ahh…
Love spread through my veins
I can feel a burning through my bones
Love spread through my veins like venom
There is no cure, no antidote
There is no cure, no antidote
Farewell, farewell
I've lived a true full live
Farewell, farewell
Goodbye sweet morning light
Farewell, farewell
Goodbye sweet morning sun
Farewell, farewell
I see you, see you on the other side
Love spread through my veins
I can feel a burning through my bones
Love spread through my veins like venom
There is no cure, no antidote
There is no cure, no antidote
The lyrics of Jeangu Macrooy's song Antidote should be seen as a plea for mercy from someone who has been wronged. The opening line "Heavy is the heart that can't forget" indicates that the person has been hurt deeply and is carrying the burden of that pain with them. They have been gathering stones along the road, which could be read as a metaphor for the obstacles that they have encountered in trying to overcome their hurt. Moreover, the soul is constantly weighed down by the pain, which doesn't allow them to forgive.
The chorus, "Love spread through my veins, I can feel a burning through my bones, love spread through my veins like venom, there is no cure, no antidote", is a powerful expression of how deep and consuming the pain of heartbreak can be. The metaphor of love spreading through veins like venom suggests that love has become toxic and that there is no cure or antidote, no way to fix what has been done. This line is particularly interesting as it signifies an acceptance from the person that the pain of the heartbreak is something they have to live with.
The closing lines of the song indicate that the person has come to terms with their situation, and while they are saying farewell, they are looking forward to the other side. This might be a metaphor for the journey of self-acceptance that the person has gone through, and that they are ready to move on from this pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Heavy is the heart that can't forget
My heart weighs me down with memories that I cannot erase.
Gathering stones along the road
The weight of these memories feels like stones collected from every difficult moment in my life.
Weary is the soul that won't forgive
My soul is tired and burdened because I am unable or unwilling to forgive those who have wronged me.
Have mercy on me
Please show me compassion and understanding for my struggles and pain.
You know I'm just a fool
I am aware that my actions and decisions may not always be wise or rational, but I am still human.
Love spread through my veins
This intense feeling of love permeates every fiber of my being.
I can feel a burning through my bones
It is a physical sensation, as though my love for this person is flowing in my veins and setting me alight with passion.
Love spread through my veins like venom
This love is so powerful that it has become like a poison, overwhelming me at every turn.
There is no cure, no antidote
I cannot find a way to escape or overcome this destructive love.
Learning to accept my own demise
I am coming to terms with the fact that this love may be my downfall, but I am still learning how to navigate this reality.
I hope God is kind in the afterlife
For some solace, I can only pray for mercy in the hereafter, where hopefully my pain will be lessened.
Funny how the one that I adore
It is ironic that the person I love so deeply has also become the source of my suffering and anguish.
Now has become my executioner
Their actions, words or behaviour, perhaps unintended, are now draining me of life and vitality.
Farewell, farewell
I am saying goodbye or farewell to everything and everyone that means something to me.
I've lived a true full life
I can die knowing that I have lived with honesty and bravery, even though it is painful.
Goodbye sweet morning light
I am bidding goodbye to the innocence and optimism I once had.
Goodbye sweet morning sun
I am letting go of the light that once illuminated my life.
I see you, see you on the other side
I am comforting myself by believing that there is another world where I can find peace and happiness.
Contributed by Isaiah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.