De Leeuw gained national fame in the late eighties and early nineties with television shows for the public broadcasting company VARA. Though satire was only a part of these shows and much of its humour was essentially harmless he came into publicity with satire about Dutch show business personalities who were often ridiculed.
Besides, many obscure musical acts were featured in his shows, many of which managed to gain national fame after they had been in De Leeuw's programme (e.g. Twarres and AIDS suffering singer Rene Klijn). VARA has since continued his shows apart from a few interruptions, often with considerable success.
In the early nineties, Paul de Leeuw also had some shows celebrating the new year. In the 1993-1994 show he ridiculed the new commercial television channel RTL 5 by announcing another new channel, "RTL 6" (RTL six, beter dan niks (at least better than nothing)). This led to a trial by the RTL company, who demanded that De Leeuw withdraw his joke.
He and his partner, Stephan Nuger, have adopted two children: son Kas (adopted in October 2001) and son Tobey (adopted in December 2002).
Paul de Leeuw has had many hit singles in The Netherlands. He is most famous for: Vlieg met me mee (#2), Ik wil niet dat je liegt / Waarheen, waarvoor (#1), and 'k Heb je lief (#3). Since the beginning of his television and singing career he released albums and singles, always becoming a big success.
In 2006, he recorded the song "Mijn Houten Hart" (My Wooden Heart) with Raffaela, which was later released as a single and peaked at #18 in the Dutch Singles Top 100, becoming one of his smallest hits.
Eurovision Song Contest 2006 incident
De Leeuw is, despite being famous for a long time in the Netherlands, best-known internationally for presenting the results of the Dutch televote in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. De Leeuw was supposed to present the televote by simply thanking the presenters, performers and fans, before giving the result but instead the openly gay De Leeuw gave his mobile number to the male presenter Sakis Rouvas live on-air, and made other comments which somewhat lengthened the Dutch results.
De Leeuw also made a reference to gay culture when he remarked that Rouvas and his female co-presenter Maria Menounos reminded him of Will & Grace. As the results were live and required for the contest to continue, De Leeuw could not be cut off until he finished giving the voting results.
De Leeuw's actions resulted in negative comments from the commentators, with the BBC's Terry Wogan calling the act "pathetic" and asking "Who selected this eejit?" during the United Kingdom coverage of the contest. Other commentators, like the Portuguese Eladio Climaco, didn't translate properly the gay remarks and said he was saying that they really look like Greeks. Parts of the dialogue were also shown on the German comedy show TV total.
The dialogue between De Leeuw and Rouvas
Rouvas: Hello Netherlands! Paul...
De Leeuw: Hello Greece, kalisperma everybody! [note that sperma means sperm in many languages, at least both in Dutch and Greek]
Rouvas: Kalispera Paul. [kalispera means 'Good evening', which was supposed to be said]
De Leeuw: You look like Will... [stops, likely due to the cheering of the crowd behind him] You look like Will & Grace, you two. So here are the votes, the Dutch votes. Let's come. [In an extremely high tempo] One, Ukreene (sic), two, Russia, Germany, three, Ireland, four, Greece, five, Lithuania, six, Finland, seven points! [resumes normal tempo]] Now the eight points. Are you ready Chaci, tzatziki, cichaci?
Rouvas: Yes, haha.
De Leeuw: Are you ready? Eight points... I like your blouse... The eight points are for Bosnia-Hoshegovina (sic). Yeah.
Rouvas: Bosnie-Herzegovine, huit points.
De Leeuw: Yes, I say. And the ten points, Zhacki, Zhicka, Chucka, are from (sic) Armenia!
Rouvas: Armenie, dix points.
De Leeuw: Ok, and Chacki, do you have my mobile number now or after twelve points?
Rouvas: Give it to me now. I bet it's 69 69 69. [In Greece, mobile numbers always begin with 69, but the rest of the 69's are a sexual innuendo, since Rouvas did not seem to like Paul's lines.]
De Leeuw: Ok, 00... [interrupted by Rouvas' remark] no no no no no... I'm not the French guy! [Probably refers that Rouvas was once interviewed for a French magazine, in which the interviewer assumed that Rouvas was gay and directed his questions accordingly.] Its 00 31 6 24 74 44 32 10 dial 1. Twelve points goes to, I'm very proud to say, Turkey! Twelve points.
Rouvas: Turquie, douze points.
De Mallemolen
Paul de Leeuw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee
de molen draait ook zonder jou
je paard blijft nooit lang leeg
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
bij die mallemolen van het leven
staat iedereen te wachten in de rij
het duurt misschien wel even
maar voor iedereen is er een plaatsje bij
in de mallemolen van het leven
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee
de molen draait ook zonder jou
je paard blijft nooit lang leeg
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
eenmaal in de molen van het leven
in het begin ben je misschien een beetje bang
dan zal iemand je weer vasthouden
totdat je het alleen kunt
want de mallenmolen-angst duurt nooit te lang
in de mollemolen van het leven
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee
de molen draait ook zonder jou
je paard blijft nooit lang leeg
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
en die mensenlevens-mallemolen
gaat door tot je er draaierig van bent
maar jij blijft je toch vasthouden
al vind je het niet leuk meer
want naast de molen is te onbekend
in de mollemolen van het leven
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee
de molen draait ook zonder jou
je paard blijft nooit lang leeg
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
in de mollemolen van het leven
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee
de molen draait ook zonder jou
je paard blijft nooit lang leeg
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
The lyrics of Paul de Leeuw's song De Mallemolen describe life as a never-ending cycle where we all have to take our turn riding the carousel. The "mallemolen" or "carousel" is used as a metaphor for life, symbolizing the dizzying and unpredictable journey we all experience. Everyone is waiting in line to take their turn on the ride, and once they are on, they are in control of their own journey. However, just as in life, the carousel keeps turning even if someone steps off, and there is always someone else waiting to take their place.
The song also touches on the idea of fear and the importance of having someone to depend on during difficult times. In the beginning, we may feel scared and unsure of ourselves, but someone will be there to hold us until we are ready to take control of our own journey. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that life can be overwhelming and exhausting, but we still hold on because anything else is too unfamiliar.
Overall, the message of the song is to embrace life's ups and downs and take control of our own journey, even when it feels overwhelming or scary.
Line by Line Meaning
in de mallemolen van het leven
Life is a merry-go-round
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee
Everyone has their own path to take
de molen draait ook zonder jou
Life goes on with or without you
je paard blijft nooit lang leeg
There will always be something to do
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
So join in the ride
bij die mallemolen van het leven
Everyone is waiting in line for the ride of life
staat iedereen te wachten in de rij
Waiting patiently for their turn to come
wachten tot je mee mag doen
Waiting for your chance to participate
het duurt misschien wel even
It may take some time
maar voor iedereen is er een plaatsje bij
But there's a place for everyone
eenmaal in de molen van het leven
Once you're on the ride of life
in het begin ben je misschien een beetje bang
It can be scary at first
dan zal iemand je weer vasthouden
Someone will be there to support you
totdat je het alleen kunt
Until you can do it on your own
want de mallemolen-angst duurt nooit te lang
The fear of the ride won't last forever
en die mensenlevens-mallemolen
The ride of life is full of ups and downs
gaat door tot je er draaierig van bent
It can make you dizzy
maar jij blijft je toch vasthouden
But you hold on tight
al vind je het niet leuk meer
Even if you don't enjoy it anymore
want naast de molen is te onbekend
Because the unknown is scarier than the ride
Contributed by Isabella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pierre Thissen
In de mallemolen van het leven,
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee.
De molen draait ook zonder jou je paard blijft nooit lang leeg,
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee.
Bij die mallemolen van het leven,
staat iedereen te wachten in de rij, wachten tot je mee mag doen het duurt misschien wel even maar voor iedereen is er een paardje vrij.
In de mallemolen van het leven,
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee.
De molen draait ook zonder jou je paard blijft nooit lang leeg.
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee.
Eenmaal in de molen van het leven,
in het begin ben je misschien een beetje bang.
dan zal iemand je weer vasthouden totdat je het alleen kunt,
want de mallemolen angst duurt nooit te lang.
In de mallemolen van het leven,
draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee.
De molen draait ook zonder jou je paard blijft nooit lang leeg,
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee.
En die mensen levens mallemolen ,draait door tot je er draaierig van bent.
Maar jij blijft je dan vasthouden al vind je het niet leuk meer,
want naast de molen is te onbekend
In de mallemolen van het leven,
draaien allemaal je eigen rondje mee.
De molen draait ook zonder jou je paard blijft nooit lang leeg,
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee,
In de mallemolen van het leven draai je allemaal je eigen rondje mee.
de molen draait ook zonder jou je paard blijft nooit lang leeg,
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee
dus kom draai met die mallemolen mee!
Mandy Giray
WOW
# NIET LULLEN MAAR GRAVEN
Ook het liedje van mijn moeder 🙏 jammer dat je er niet meer bij bent ma.❤
Mannenzio
❤️
Arian Kruyshaar
hij heeft een gouden strot helemaal te gek......
Frans Van Tolhuysen
Arian Kruyshaar korte bek, klein hartje
Ernst Olsen
Hvorfor i verden stoppede BZN?
Ernst olsen 3600 Danmark
Mandy Giray
@Ernst Olsen bruh
Ernst Olsen
❤️❤️❤️❤️