Normaal plays blues rock, sometimes interrupted by cheesy ballads based on folk music (like "Ik mos pissen" and "Deurdonderen"). Their trademark however is their lyrics, in the dialect of the Achterhoek, about rural life and dislike of any music but true rock 'n' roll. When Normaal first performed, singing in Dutch was highly unusual for a rock band, and singing in dialect just flabbergasted the crowds. Many rural youths were struck by the attitude the band propagated: work like a man during the day, drink like a man at night, and do this all on the countryside.
Their music became known as 'boerenrock' ("farmers' rock"). Their concerts are famous for their wild 'traditions'. Traditions like throwing beer and wild mosh-pits at the front. This wild behavior has been referred to as 'brekken', 'høken', 'angaon' and 'daldeejen' by the band, words of the Achterhoek dialect used with a new meaning. Fans of Normaal are called 'høkers' or 'anhangers' - the latter just being Achterhoek dialect for 'fan'.
The song "Oerend hard" (1977) is considered a nederpop classic/anthem.
Over the last years, Bennie Jolink has been plagued by asthma, forcing the band to take on a more quiet way of touring. They frequently play in theatres now.
't Is Kloot'n Hier
Normaal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
as i-j es wisten hoe allenig ik mien vuul
as i-j es wisten sinds i-j rondloopt met d'n melkmuul
as i-j 't es wisten vonden i-j owzelf een trut
ik doe of ik niks in de gaten heb
ik lach nog wel moar dat is nep
't etten smekt mien gaar niet meer
en elken dag baal ik nog meer
'T is kloot'n hier en ik vuul mien rot
as ik nog langer zo most leaven was ik binnen 't joar kapot
't is kloot'n hier, 't is kloot'n hier
en ik vuul mien rot, en ik vuul mien rot
as ik nog langer zo most leaven was ik binnen 't joar kapot
Wet i-j nog toen wi-j in de Bijlmer mosten weazen
wet i-j nog den triesten troosteloze stad
wet i-j nog dat ik dacht wat loop ik rond te hangen
wet i-j nog hoe wi-j toen baalden van dat gat
Wi-j hadden mekaar dat was genog
moar de liefde kwam veur ons te vrog
want later kwam de klad der in
en nou heb ik altijd slechten zin
'T is kloot'n hier en ik vuul mien rot
as ik nog langer zo most leaven was ik binnen 't joar kapot
't is kloot'n hier, 't is kloot'n hier
en ik vuul mien rot, en ik vuul mien rot
as ik nog langer zo most leaven was ik binnen 't joar kapot
'T is kloot'n hier en ik vuul mien rot
as ik nog langer zo most leaven was ik binnen 't joar kapot
't is kloot'n hier, 't is kloot'n hier
en ik vuul mien rot, en ik vuul mien rot
as ik nog langer zo most leaven was ik binnen 't joar kapot
The lyrics to Normaal's song 't Is Kloot'n Hier express a feeling of pain, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with life. The first verse implies that the singer's heart hurts and they feel alone, and if people knew about it, they would consider them a jerk. The singer tries to hide their pain and pretends that everything is okay, but they cannot enjoy things like eating anymore, and they feel worse every day. The chorus repeats the phrase 't Is Kloot'n Hier, meaning "it sucks here," emphasizing the feeling of misery and desperation that the singer experiences. They feel so bad that they fear they will be broken in a year if they have to live like this much longer.
The second verse shows the singer reminiscing about their past, specifically a time when they were in the Bijlmer, a neighborhood in Amsterdam. The city was gray and empty, and they felt lost and purposeless. They had each other, but then they fell out of love, and everything started going downhill. The message of the song is that the singer's life is not fulfilling, and they feel stuck in unpleasant circumstances. They long for a change, but don't know where to start.
Overall, the song is a poignant commentary on the human condition. It conveys the sense of being lost and unhappy, a feeling that is all too familiar to many people. It is a reminder that even though we may feel alone in our struggles, we are not alone in our experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
As i-j es wisten hoe mien arme harte zeer dut
If you only knew how much my poor heart hurts
as i-j es wisten hoe allenig ik mien vuul
If you only knew how lonely I feel
as i-j es wisten sinds i-j rondloopt met d'n melkmuul
If you only knew since you started hanging out with that idiot
as i-j 't es wisten vonden i-j owzelf een trut
If you only knew that you think of yourself as a fool
ik doe of ik niks in de gaten heb
I pretend like I don't notice anything
ik lach nog wel moar dat is nep
I still laugh, but it's fake
't etten smekt mien gaar niet meer
I can't even enjoy my food anymore
en elken dag baal ik nog meer
And every day I become more frustrated
'T is kloot'n hier en ik vuul mien rot
It's terrible here and I feel awful
as ik nog langer zo most leaven was ik binnen 't joar kapot
If I had to keep living like this, I'd be dead within a year
't is kloot'n hier, 't is kloot'n hier
It's terrible here, it's terrible here
en ik vuul mien rot, en ik vuul mien rot
And I feel awful, and I feel awful
Wet i-j nog toen wi-j in de Bijlmer mosten weazen
Do you remember when we had to be in the Bijlmer?
wet i-j nog den triesten troosteloze stad
Do you remember that sad, desolate city?
wet i-j nog dat ik dacht wat loop ik rond te hangen
Do you remember when I thought, 'Why am I hanging around here?'
wet i-j nog hoe wi-j toen baalden van dat gat
Do you remember how we hated that place?
Wi-j hadden mekaar dat was genog
We had each other, and that was enough
moar de liefde kwam veur ons te vrog
But love came too early for us
want later kwam de klad der in
Because later on things started to fall apart
en nou heb ik altijd slechten zin
And now I'm always in a bad mood
Writer(s): ferdinand joly, bennie jolink, peter koelewijn
Contributed by Ryan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@levigoudswaard6775
eindelijk een liedje over hoe ik me voel
@shadowdudej
Ik zitn u al 4 maand in Schotland en wil echt dolgraag naar huis. Gelukkig over 2 maand zit het er op, en kan ik terug naar het mooie Twente.
@kwaziemodo3657
wat en mooi nummer. groetjes uut dinxperlo👊👊👊👊
@michaeldesselle6541
I grew up listening to them, Normaal was my favorite, so glad to have found it on her, i moved back to the U.S. back in 1992, sure do miss alot of my dutch side especially the music
@willemjanwithaar
Dus je verstaat dit wel? Inderdaad goeie muziek
@willemjanwithaar
Dus plat versta je nog wel😁
@Carnage20rv
Wor tied daj terug verhuus😜
@CST28543
Ik ben gelukkig verhuisd uit Amsterdam naar de Achterhoek. Hier is het leven waard om te leven. Wat een streek. Geweldig ik ben vele in Engeland geweest, maar hier heb ik mijn geluk terug gevonden.
@spikespiegel7641
Ahahahaha leipo
@raoelmoh
Wie boeit dat wat. Praat met een psychiater ofzo