In 1987, Johannes Kerkorrel was fired by Rapport newspaper for using quotes from PW Botha's speeches in his music; he then became a full-time musician and performer under the name Johannes Kerkorrel en die Gereformeerde Blues Band (Johannes Kerkorrel and the Reformed Blues Band), a deliberate reference to the Reformed Church. The band also included the Afrikaans singer-songwriter Koos Kombuis. Their brand of new Afrikaans music was dubbed 'Alternatiewe Afrikaans' (alternative Afrikaans) and exposed divergent political views to a new generation of Afrikaners.
Kerkorrel was the only white singer who performed at the inauguration of South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela.
He pased away on 11 December 2002. The South African singer songwriter Valiant Swart wrote the song "Sonvanger" dedicated to the artist with Kerkorrel's mother Anne in mind, longing for her lost son.
Kerkorrel was popular in his own country as well as in Belgium.
--Discography--
Eet Kreef! (1989)
Bloudruk (1992)
Cyanide in the Beefcake (1994)
Ge-trans-for-meer (1996)
Tien Jaar Later (1998)
Sing Koos du Plessis (1999)
Die Ander Kant (2000)
Voëlvry Die Toer (2002)
Kerkorrel – Best Of: Pêrels Voor Die Swyne (2003)
Hoe Ek Voel (2012) – issued to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of Rabie's death
After Rabie's death, several artists recorded tribute songs to his life and work. An incomplete list follows:
Stef Bos – Pelgrimsrus
Riku Lätti – Ysbeer
Amanda Strydom – Ek Het Gedroom
Karen Zoid – Foto Teen Die Muur
Jak De Priester – Kerkorrel
Kristoe Strauss – Sit Dit Self Af
Jan Blohm – Johnny K
Valiant Swart - Sonvanger
Valiant Swart en Koos Kombuis – Kleinmond Koebaai
Koos Kombuis - Johnny is nie dood nie
Die Ander Kant
Johannes Kerkorrel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Genadelose strate gaan ons agter los
Want die stad se hart het ys geword
En niks wat hy gee
Kan ons meer fasineer
Dis die ander kant,
Dis die ander kant
Die ander kant van die stad
Die ander kant van my hart
Die ander kant vannaand
Die stad is nie vir dromers nie
En al sy geheime is uit gelap
En dis verkoop, gekoop en dis uit verkoop
En al wat dit vat is om van voor te begin
Aan die ander kant,
Dis die ander kant
Die ander kant vannaand
Die ander kant van die stad
Die ander kant van my hart
Die ander kant vannaand
Weet jy wat ek bedoel?
Weet jy wat ek bedoel?
As ek sê dat ons nooit weer terug draai nie
Dis die ander kant van die stad
Die ander kant van my hart
Die ander kant vannaand
In Johannes Kerkorrel's song "Die Ander Kant," the artist metaphorically reflects on the cold and heartless state of a city that has lost its charm, causing people to seek out the other side of the city and their hearts. The opening two lines state that they want to escape this unforgiving city and leave the heartless streets behind. The city's heart has turned to ice, and nothing it offers is fascinating them anymore. It reflects the people's desire to move beyond the superficial and monotonous everyday life and find something that bares meaning and depth.
The chorus repeats the phrase "dis die ander kant" (It's the other side) emphasizing the concept that there's another side to everything, and they're seeking something new and refreshing. They're looking for another perspective, another state of mind. The repetition of this phrase in the chorus provides the listener with the theme of the song - the desire to escape from the mundane and seek a new world view.
The city is no longer for dreamers, and all its secrets are revealed. Everything has been sold and bought already, and their only option is to start over again. There is no going back to how things were before. The song ends with the repetition of the same phrase, emphasizing the other side of the city, the other side of their hearts."
Line by Line Meaning
Ons gaan uit hierdie stad ontsnap
We are going to escape from this city
Genadelose strate gaan ons agter los
We will leave behind the merciless streets
Want die stad se hart het ys geword
Because the heart of the city has turned to ice
En niks wat hy gee
And nothing it gives
Kan ons meer fasineer
Can fascinate us anymore
Dis die ander kant,
It's the other side,
Dis die ander kant
It's the other side
Die ander kant vannaand
The other side tonight
Die ander kant van die stad
The other side of the city
Die ander kant van my hart
The other side of my heart
Die ander kant vannaand
The other side tonight
Die stad is nie vir dromers nie
The city is not for dreamers
En al sy geheime is uit gelap
And all its secrets have been exposed
En dis verkoop, gekoop en dis uit verkoop
And it's buying, selling, and selling out
En al wat dit vat is om van voor te begin
And all it takes is to start over
Aan die ander kant,
On the other side,
Dis die ander kant
It's the other side
Die ander kant vannaand
The other side tonight
Die ander kant van die stad
The other side of the city
Die ander kant van my hart
The other side of my heart
Die ander kant vannaand
The other side tonight
Weet jy wat ek bedoel?
Do you know what I mean?
Weet jy wat ek bedoel?
Do you know what I mean?
As ek sê dat ons nooit weer terug draai nie
When I say we will never turn back
Dis die ander kant van die stad
It's the other side of the city
Die ander kant van my hart
The other side of my heart
Die ander kant vannaand
The other side tonight
Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ceciliasaayman6244
Dankie vir die plasing hiervan.
@user-ke2bu6oh2r
Die ander kant van my hart...
@antonvanschalkwyk3533
RIP Johannes Kerkorrel
@vb9043
At last. Was looking for this song for so long. Best of the best
@nachmanedes9460
eK WEET WAT JY BEDOEL MY BROER...
@ffracersa
Can't believe he's been gone for 20 years already.
@nanakatana1
This is my favourite Kerkorrel song... Followed by Halala afrika and tronk :) ons is altyd lief vir jou Johannes <3
@foujac
Taken to soon...
@johannamakopole4920
😅😮