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.
Zo Puur Kan Liefde Zijn
Paul de Leeuw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of iemand die je met een ring beknelt
Noch die de uren van ons samen telt
Zo puur kan liefde zijn
Ik ben de vogel die je vliegen leert
De trooster als het leven jou bezeert
Maar niemand, als je in je zelve keert
Jouw ogen zeggen mij vaak zoveel meer
Dan woorden ooit hebben gedaan
Als jij me aanraakt voel ik telkens weer
Vrijheid kan met liefde samen gaan
Mijn liefde is van levenslange duur
Soms als een waakvlam, soms een laaiend vuur
'k Zal je verwarmen tot het laatste uur
Zo puur kan liefde zijn
Is soms het pad door 't leven steil en zwaar
Als niets meer lijkt zoals het was
Pak dan mijn hand en droog je tranen maar
Dan ben ik heel even jouw kompas
Slaap nu maar zacht, ik doe het licht wel uit
Je bent zo mooi als jij je ogen sluit
Mijn handen strelen zacht je blote huid
Zo puur kan liefde zijn
Zo puur kan liefde zijn
The lyrics of "Zo Puur Kan Liefde Zijn" by Dutch singer Paul de Leeuw convey a message about the purity of love. The lyrics express how the singer has no high demands, does not want to control and count the hours spent with his beloved, but aims to be the one who teaches his partner to fly and soothes them when they are in pain. The love the singer expresses is selfless, and he wants to be a compass for his partner during difficult times.
The lyrics also emphasize the importance of non-verbal communication in a relationship. The singer believes that his partner's eyes speak more than words ever could, and the touch of his partner brings him feelings of freedom and love. Love is described here as a lifelong flame that can be a small flame or a raging fire but will always be present in his heart until the end of his life.
"Zo Puur Kan Liefde Zijn" is a powerful and emotional song that shows the beauty and purity of love. It reminds listeners that love is about selflessness, compassion, and being there for each other during life's ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
Ik ben geen mens die hoge eisen stelt
I am not someone who expects a lot from you
Of iemand die je met een ring beknelt
Or someone who will trap you with a ring
Noch die de uren van ons samen telt
Neither someone who cares about how much time we spend together
Zo puur kan liefde zijn
Love can be so pure
Ik ben de vogel die je vliegen leert
I am the bird that teaches you how to fly
De trooster als het leven jou bezeert
The comforter when life hurts you
Maar niemand, als je in je zelve keert
But no one, if you turn inward
Zo puur kan liefde zijn
Love can be so pure
Jouw ogen zeggen mij vaak zoveel meer
Your eyes often tell me so much more
Dan woorden ooit hebben gedaan
Than words have ever done
Als jij me aanraakt voel ik telkens weer
Every time you touch me, I feel
Vrijheid kan met liefde samen gaan
Freedom can coexist with love
Mijn liefde is van levenslange duur
My love is of lifelong duration
Soms als een waakvlam, soms een laaiend vuur
Sometimes like a flickering flame, sometimes like a raging fire
'k Zal je verwarmen tot het laatste uur
I will warm you until the very end
Zo puur kan liefde zijn
Love can be so pure
Is soms het pad door 't leven steil en zwaar
Sometimes the path of life is steep and heavy
Als niets meer lijkt zoals het was
When nothing seems like it used to be
Pak dan mijn hand en droog je tranen maar
Take my hand and wipe away your tears
Dan ben ik heel even jouw kompas
Then I will be your compass for a moment
Slaap nu maar zacht, ik doe het licht wel uit
Sleep softly now, I will turn off the light
Je bent zo mooi als jij je ogen sluit
You are so beautiful when you close your eyes
Mijn handen strelen zacht je blote huid
My hands softly stroke your bare skin
Zo puur kan liefde zijn
Love can be so pure
Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Love Maira
I always adore and appreciate such a great singer!
They work hard and dedicate their life to music and entertain the world.
I am huge fan of all the singers. Keep doing the great work and keep rising!
I am a musician and I am now started to put my first step into the music world!
I have no help. But I have strong heart and dream! with all the dedication I made my first album.
Check it out and shower your support !
Kelly W
So many memories! I remember Paul DeLeeuw from being an exchange student in The Netherland and the words in his part of the duet couldn't be any more perfect! This song melts my heart
bpalaganas
Wow.., Even in this rendition of the song, it is sweet. You can see the audience drawn to the power and unique soul in her voice as she sings.Her duet partner actually compliments her style. Well done.
WarianNL
Adele is geweldig! Wat een stem! LOVE HER
Tineke van netten
w hite ik hou
krystal blanton
God, no matter how many times i hear her sing i get chills. She is so amazing.
Gerrit H. de Bie
Ook nu nog, in mei 2010 vind ik het nog steeds een song om de rillingen van te krijgen. De combinatie van Adele en Paul past zo goed bij elkaar, dat het nummer je nooit meer los laat, en ieder keer wanneer ik het op de radio hoor, denk ik automatisch de stem van Paul erbij. Klasse !!!!!
Kaat Van den Bossche
Klopt!❤
Lyon1845
"Ware liefde is als geesten. Iedereen praat erover, maar weinigen hebben ze gezien." "Ik blijf erbij dat het karakter van een vrouw niet blijkt waar de liefde begint, maar waar ze ophoudt." "Alleen de liefde kan je hart breken."
Joy W.
Ze zingt zo goed ! Dit lied van haar raakt mij echt , en krijg tranen in mijn ogen, door die mooie, warme stem.. ♥
SinisterSkip
She's got a very 'musical' voice, playing the the melody and it all comes natural and effortless. Real talent right there baby!