Jeangu Macrooy (pronounced as shàngú makrói) was born November 6, 1993 and … Read Full Bio ↴Jeangu Macrooy (pronounced as shàngú makrói) was born November 6, 1993 and raised in Paramaribo, Suriname. At the age of thirteen his parents bought him his first guitar and two years later Jeangu and his twin brother Xillan started writing and performing their own music. In 2014 Jeangu decided to continue his musical career at the other side of the ocean, in the Netherlands. A musical collaboration with producer/composer Perquisite took off and he was signed to his label Unexpected Records.
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.

To Love Is To Hurt
Jeangu Macrooy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everybode knows it
'cause everyone can see it
your messing up you
fucked it up
real bad

but you were born in dark days
you've been through some wild times

you've fallen down you
earned your scars

So shine bright little star
love with a broken heart
it doesn't matter what they say about you
to love is to hurt
to hurt is to live

anyone could judge you
not everyone can hurt you
be careful who you trust and who you love
but don't you be afraid to
learn some things the hard way
it's all a part of it
live is a game

so shine bright little star
love with a broken heart
it doesn't matter what they say about you
to love is to hurt
to hurt is to live

when you fall
when you fall
down
you just learn to get
learn to get back up
when you fall
when you fall
down
you just learn to get
learn to get back up

so shine bright little star
love with a broken heart
it doesn't matter what they say about you
to love is to hurt
to hurt is to live

you just learn to get
learn to get back up
when you fall
you just learn to get
learn to get back up
when you fall down
you just learn to get
learn to get back up
when you fall

you just learn to get
learn to get back up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jeangu Macrooy's "To Love Is To Hurt" portray an honest and non-judgmental perspective towards the experience of love and its emotional impact on individuals. The song acknowledges that love can be a painful experience, but it is also a necessary part of life's journey. The opening line, "Everybody knows it 'cause everyone can see it," conveys the idea that love is a universal experience that is visible in everyone's life.

The lyrics go on to describe the struggle and pain that people experience when they love, but also emphasizes the importance of resilience and persistence. The lines "when you fall down, you just learn to get, learn to get back up" reinforces the idea that even though love can be a source of hurt, it also has the power to teach and help us grow.

The overall message of the song is one of hope, resilience, and self-acceptance. It encourages the listener to embrace their own struggles and to celebrate their scars as a symbol of growth and strength. It's a reminder that even though love can be painful, it's a beautiful part of life that's worth experiencing.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybode knows it
It is a commonly known fact

'cause everyone can see it
It is evident to everyone

your messing up you
You have made a mistake

fucked it up
You have made a serious mistake

real bad
The mistake was significant

but you were born in dark days
You have faced difficulties from the beginning

you've been through some wild times
You have experienced some challenging situations

you've fallen down you
You have failed at times

earned your scars
You have learned from your experiences

So shine bright little star
You should stand out and excel

love with a broken heart
You should love despite past emotional pain

it doesn't matter what they say about you
Do not let the opinions of others affect you

to love is to hurt
Love can be painful

to hurt is to live
Pain is a part of life

anyone could judge you
People may have opinions about you

not everyone can hurt you
Not everyone can cause emotional pain

be careful who you trust and who you love
Choose wisely who you give your heart to

but don't you be afraid to
Do not let fear hold you back

learn some things the hard way
You will learn from difficult experiences

it's all a part of it
It is a part of life

live is a game
Life is like a game

when you fall
When you make mistakes

down
Fail