He sang in the Westflemish dialect, and was notably popular with student in West Flanders and Ghent. He often performed in student clubs, and usually the concert was cut short because he was too drunk to sing on. He died due to long cancer.
Bangkok
Johny Turbo Lyrics
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Poedelnaakt, juuste nen elastiek
Ip de konte een ferme tatoeage
Een heel kljin doekske bedekt uldre muziek
Moar pas maar ip, van al 't gjin da ze zeggen
ik è gewist, en't loopt doar niemand bloot
'k a veel beter m'n geld hier doen belegg'n,
dan doar te liggen an da strand lik suukerbrood
't is doa nul, flauwe kul, 't is al zjèver en gelul
En de madams, zi'n madams da nog vinten èn gewist,
't is woar, want 'k è woak nog gemist
In Brazil, 't zit vul met halve zott'n
Een spelend kind, ze skiet'n dat doar dood
Heel den boel is doar ferm an't verkrotten
En zelfs de flikken zoe'n nog moorden voor hun brood
In Bangkok, doar zien'ter kljinne stretjes
En wisky-cola ze zuup'n dat doar geliek bier
Moar pas maar ip, van al 't gjin da ze zeggen
ik è gewist, en't is doar niet te zien
'k a veel beter m'n geld hier doen belegg'n,
Moar 'k è t verbuust mè doar in Touk-Touk rond te rie'n
Want 't è doar niet, 't is doa niet, 't is doa mjir of twee kjirs niet
't is doa nul, flauwe kul, 't is al zjèver en gelul
En de madams, zi'n madams da nog vinten èn gewist,
't is woar, want 'k è woak nog gemist
In Bangkok, 't zit vul met gele muggen
't is veel verkeer, en't stinkt noar vorte vis
Ik ga veel liever naar Gent of naar Brugge
Ge kunt nie peiz'n oe da'k Belgie è gemis
Ge kunt nie peiz'n oe da'k Vlaander'n è gemis
Ge kunt nie peiz'n oe da'k West-Vlaandren è gemis
(c) Johny Turbo
The lyrics to Johny Turbo's song Bangkok describe the singer's experiences in Brazil and Bangkok. In Brazil, the singer is unimpressed with the beach culture, where people are almost naked except for a small piece of fabric covering their private parts. He also describes the poverty and violence in Brazil, where even the police murder for their bread. In contrast, in Bangkok, the singer finds the streets small, crowded and full of yellow mosquitoes. He also finds the whiskey-cola drinkers to be unappealing. Ultimately, the singer expresses nostalgia for Belgium, specifically Gent, Brugge, and West-Vlaandren.
The song is a critique of the western perception of exotic cultures, highlighting the poverty and struggles in these countries instead of focusing solely on the exoticism. Johny Turbo makes a statement about how exotic places are not always as great as Westerners perceive them to be. Ultimately, the song is a commentary on the complexities of travel, globalization, and modernity.
Line by Line Meaning
In Brazil, doar lwoop'n z'ip de plage
In Brazil, people walk on the beach.
Poedelnaakt, juuste nen elastiek
They are almost naked, only wearing a small piece of clothing.
Ip de konte een ferme tatoeage
They have a big tattoo on their butt.
Een heel kljin doekske bedekt uldre muziek
They cover their genitals with a small piece of fabric.
Moar pas maar ip, van al 't gjin da ze zeggen
But don't believe everything you hear.
ik è gewist, en't loopt doar niemand bloot
I've been there before, and no one was actually naked.
'k a veel beter m'n geld hier doen belegg'n,
I invested my money better here.
dan doar te liggen an da strand lik suukerbrood
Instead of lying on the beach like a piece of candy.
Want 't è doar niet, 't is doa niet, 't is doa mjir of twee kjirs niet
Because it's not like that there, it hasn't been like that for a year or two.
't is doa nul, flauwe kul, 't is al zjèver en gelul
It's nothing, nonsense, just talk and gossip.
En de madams, zi'n madams da nog vinten èn gewist,
And the women there are not as beautiful as people say.
't is woar, want 'k è woak nog gemist
It's true, I've been disappointed before.
In Brazil, 't zit vul met halve zott'n
In Brazil, there are a lot of crazy people.
Een spelend kind, ze skiet'n dat doar dood
A child playing there could get shot.
Heel den boel is doar ferm an't verkrotten
The whole place is falling apart.
En zelfs de flikken zoe'n nog moorden voor hun brood
Even the police there are killing for money.
In Bangkok, doar zien'ter kljinne stretjes
In Bangkok, there are narrow streets.
En wisky-cola ze zuup'n dat doar geliek bier
And they drink whiskey and cola as if it's beer.
Moar pas maar ip, van al 't gjin da ze zeggen
But don't believe everything you hear.
ik è gewist, en't is doar niet te zien
I've been there before, and it's not what people say it is.
'k a veel beter m'n geld hier doen belegg'n,
I invested my money better here.
Moar 'k è t verbuust mè doar in Touk-Touk rond te rie'n
But I regret taking a ride in a Tuk-Tuk there.
Want 't è doar niet, 't is doa niet, 't is doa mjir of twee kjirs niet
Because it's not like that there, it hasn't been like that for a year or two.
't is doa nul, flauwe kul, 't is al zjèver en gelul
It's nothing, nonsense, just talk and gossip.
En de madams, zi'n madams da nog vinten èn gewist,
And the women there are not as beautiful as people say.
't is woar, want 'k è woak nog gemist
It's true, I've been disappointed before.
In Bangkok, 't zit vul met gele muggen
In Bangkok, there are a lot of yellow mosquitos.
't is veel verkeer, en't stinkt noar vorte vis
There's a lot of traffic, and it smells like rotten fish.
Ik ga veel liever naar Gent of naar Brugge
I would much rather go to Gent or Brugge.
Ge kunt nie peiz'n oe da'k Belgie è gemis
You can't imagine how much I miss Belgium.
Ge kunt nie peiz'n oe da'k Vlaander'n è gemis
You can't imagine how much I miss Flanders.
Ge kunt nie peiz'n oe da'k West-Vlaandren è gemis
You can't imagine how much I miss West-Flanders.
Contributed by Alice F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.