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.
Vlieg met me mee
Paul de Leeuw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ook al komen die maar weinig voor
Seura mor ev'reu hulo, sjeura can te utor ora hiear
Sera ma vieux, ora cerra pasieux-to to rorra ma hiieux
Ashma ti sjoem de cha Jerusalem, ashma lich nichna et li la sjalom
Ich merch ner bjirchne et li de shoarma, ich echne a la chabba
Sje ne ceh PLO
Ik denk alleen aan jou
Vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow
Ik hou alleen van jou
Vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow
Ik denk alleen aan jou
Vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow
Ik hou alleen van jou,hou alleen van jou
L'amour sons les quandre quandre
Per pi sex ques t'une l'eau du urine
Qua les mours des chandre, ques che tour de qua la treme
(Pas qua lettre) Je pra le chnee
And my howe is over turning laugh, and my feeling ever swearing
And my tearing over tearing laugh laugh
Padde di lati, coddi di conti, coddi di rati, di filati, federati
Coddi getta e di fitee
Und was in der sunten kunten, kunten under war
Und was is in der salt-lieb kunten tunten kunt die sahr
Vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow
Ik denk alleen aan jou
Vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow
Ik hou alleen van jou
Vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow
Ik denk alleen aan jou
Vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow
Ik hou alleen van jou, hou alleen van jou
The lyrics to Paul de Leeuw's "Vlieg Met Me Mee" are a mixture of different languages, making it somewhat difficult to interpret their meaning. Nonetheless, the overall theme of the song seems to be about wanting to be with someone you love and sharing experiences together. The first verse refers to moments when the singer thinks about someone they care about, even though those moments are rare. The lines in different languages may be a reference to the multiculturalism and diversity of the various people in the world, and how love can transcend language barriers.
The chorus, which is the most repetitive part of the song, repeats the phrase "vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow," which translates to "fly with me to the rainbow." This could be interpreted as a call for the listener to join the singer in a world of love and happiness, represented by the rainbow. The phrase "ik denk alleen aan jou" (I only think of you) also reinforces the idea that the singer is devoted to the person they are singing to.
The second verse is even more cryptic, featuring lines in different languages that don't seem to make a cohesive message. It could be that these lines are just nonsense words meant to evoke a feeling or mood, rather than a specific message.
Overall, "Vlieg Met Me Mee" is a song that celebrates love and encourages listeners to join the singer on a journey of happiness and togetherness.
Line by Line Meaning
Soms zijn er momenten dat ik aan je denk
There are times when I think about you
Ook al komen die maar weinig voor
Even though they happen rarely
Seura mor ev'reu hulo, sjeura can te utor ora hiear
I am longing for you to join me in my dream world
Sera ma vieux, ora cerra pasieux-to to rorra ma hiieux
My love, come close to my heart and let's speak our love into existence
Ashma ti sjoem de cha Jerusalem, ashma lich nichna et li la sjalom
Together we will dream of Jerusalem and enter the peace it offers
Ich merch ner bjirchne et li de shoarma, ich echne a la chabba
I want to plant a tree and enjoy a Shwarma, I will stay in rest on the holy day of Shabbat
Sje ne ceh PLO
She doesn't want PLO
Vlieg met me mee naar de regenboog-rainbow
Fly with me to the rainbow
Ik denk alleen aan jou
I only think of you
Ik hou alleen van jou
I only love you
L'amour sons les quandre quandre
Love is like the rhythm of the drums
Per pi sex ques t'une l'eau du urine
For sex, it's like drinking urine
Qua les mours des chandre, ques che tour de qua la treme
When love's flames are ignited, they ignite everything around them
(Pas qua lettre) Je pra le chnee
(Not in words) I speak through snow
And my howe is over turning laugh, and my feeling ever swearing
My laughter is turning into a cry, and my emotions are overwhelming
And my tearing over tearing laugh laugh
I am crying uncontrollably and laughing at the same time
Padde di lati, coddi di conti, coddi di rati, di filati, federati
Paths are at the sides, codes are at the forefront, ruled by threads, federated into one
Coddi getta e di fitee
Codes fly and fight
Und was in der sunten kunten, kunten under war
And what was below became above, and what was above became below
Und was is in der salt-lieb kunten tunten kunt die sahr
And what is in the salty water will be heard in the future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL DE LEEUW, PAUL H. DE LEEUW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jetzewesterik7095
Geachte Paul de Leeuw.
Kunt u geen nieuw nummer bedenken als theater grapje en voor hen die het moeilijk vinden om voor hun Regenboog liefde uit te komen.
Egbert Douwe ( Rob Out )
Kom uit de bedstee m'n liefste.
Kom uit de kast m'n beste.
Kom uit de kast m'n beste.
Je naasten houden wel van jou.
En ook al zal iedereen je na gaan kijken.
Naar hoe je samen, hand in hand daar gaat.
De mensen kunnen tocb zoveel willen.
Maar het gaat allemaal om je eigen geluk.
Pas als je ook als gay of anders mag leven.
Nou dan kom je ook vrolijk bij het kerkje aan.
Oh.
De priester weet dan ook van liefde.
Want in de wet van Jezus staat.
Heb al je naasten lief.
Nou hoe meer kan je nou niet van je naasten houden.
Dan als je naast iemand staat met het zelfde geslacht.
@AnitaAkaija
Oh zo leuk.. Dit nummer draaide een leuke jongen op de camping in Frankrijk elke avond... En van hem kreeg ik mijn eerste zoen.. Zucht.. Heerlijk
@hansvanboven1667
Wat erotisch
@hansvanboven1667
Je bent er nog nat van zeker
@zmurv8983
@Hans van Boven Bro ik kan er niet over uit hoe geweldig ik vind dat jij dit 2 maanden later dan de eerste comment weer zegt, I can't.
@geertjantabak9990
Ik ben er geweest, geweldig toen, verliefd tot over mijn oren
@nancyrosez8541
Mn mama is onlangs gstorven ...ik vroeg een regenboog op haar uitvaart! En na hét plaatsen van haar urne ;versheen een PRACHTIGE regenboog.Ik denk alleen aan jou😥
@Barrrry1987
Nancy Rosez ik leef met je mee! Ik heb geen woorden voor jouw verdriet.
@Woopedeydoop
muchos sterkte
@sigridjoosten9735
Vandaag was de uitvaart van mijn opa en terwijl ik naar de kerk onderweg was haalde een rauwauto mij in. Ik zag een regenboog in mijn achteruitkijkpiegel en daarna kwam dit nummer op de radio. De hemel heeft een mooie slinger opgehangen, kan niet anders!
@Hallo-Hallo
Mooi! 🤗