From 1972 on Raymond mixes candid observations on human behavior with his own, unique sense of humor. His songs are alternatively full of emotion and boisterous, dark and joyful, but are always powered by a sound base of rock'n roll and references to all four musical corners of the globe". They rightfully awarded him the title "His excellence of Belgian Pop".
Early Years
Born in a musical family (his father is Nico Gomez), Raymond starts performing with Johan Verminnen. In 1975 he says : "Like Lennon shouted "Twist and Shout", no one had ever made music before. We felt that as being extremely non-comformistic. So we also had long hair and jeans. It was Johan Verminnen who showed me the life in bars. He led me into the nightlife. That was necessary, 'cause my parents where Dutch people who lived an isolated life in Antwerp."
After somewhile as a musician backing up other people (e.g. with Della Bosiers), he forms his own band with Erik Van Neygen called Louisette. Already he gives Flanders some of its musical evergreens like 'Maria, Maria ik hou van jou" and "Zij houdt van Vrijen".
In an era of "Osmonds and Mud" Louisette fails to make it big. He reforms the group, this time as RvhG and Bien Servi, for which the lineup includes Jean-Marie Aerts (see TC Matic etc ..) and Jean Blaute (see Kate's Kennel, K's Choice ...).
Humo, more than 25 years later acknowledged the fact that "Je moest eens weten hoe gelukkig ik was" (you should know how happy I was) by Bien Servi was a masterpiece : "When Raymond was hungry and 22 and stayed in bed to keep himself warm he wrote a song called "you should know how happy I was". Classy! Only Randy Newman could have done better. When there was electricity in his apartment he would constantly put Newman's first record on the turntable. Maybe it wasn't that clear at the time, but nowadays it's crystal clear that this record is the best Dutch-speaking debut album of all times."
First Succes
"Nooit meer drinken" of 1977 is the first album on which he operates with his backing group, then called "The Millionaires", but later on renamed to e.a. "The Centimeters" and "de Vlaamse Mustafa's". He records "Meisjes" (girls) which becomes a huge hit and gains fame through his steamy live-reputation.
After the ironic hit "Vlaanderen boven" (Flanders on top) he also travels abroad to Holland with "Je veux de l'amour" (I want love) and makes appearances at the major Pinkpop & Torhout-Werchter festivals. He quits playing live after the successful single "cha cha cha".
"It was becoming too easy, and most of all : too much. Never time to take a break, never time to do something fresh. I had toured Belgium twice before my appearance at Pinkpop. After that I toured the country twice again, and then I had enough of it".
Van het Groenewoud takes a step back and starts writing music for films (e.g. "Brussels by night" from Marc Didden or "Sailor's don't cry" with Elsje Helewaut). He also produces some music for others (Employees, Kamagurka).
New Breaktrough
After a few "sabbatical years" he refocuses on his musical career again, but it's a different Raymond who has come back : deeper, more emotional and intimate, sometimes more painful and more romantic is his music. His comeback doesn't bring his popularity to the heights of the late seventies. For another minute of fame in the general public eye, he has to wait 'till 1990 with a compilation of his early work and a surprise hit "Liefde voor muziek" (the love for music), a gospel-ish song which makes it as a carnival-hit. Raymond is back just in time to make it as the godfather for a whole new generation of Dutch-singing artist who emerged in the 90's (Noordkaap, de Mens, Gorki)
More recently, he did a very successful -almost acoustic - concert tour through the theater halls of Belgium and Holland. A wonderful and intimistic report of this tour has been released as "De minister van Ruimtelijke Ordening".
Now that he has seen Abraham (has become 50), Raymond van het Groenewoud has been honoured with a book. This luxurious hardback (with a cover in pluch) entitled "Je veux de l'amour" contains an intro written by Boudewijn de Groot, a story of his career, a complete discography and more than 139 lyrics to the songs that have made him such a unique figure. Moreover, the book comes with a cd, that contains 10 songs recorded acoustically at home. (Btw : it sure are busy times for Raymond-collectors, as there was also a cd with live-songs on only 2,000 copies that was handed out to those present at the Valentine's Day-gig in February 2000 at the Ancienne Belgique).
In 2000, Raymond was also the author of the soundtrack for the very succesful film "Iedereen Beroemd" by Dominique Deruddere and the theme song "Lucky Manuelo" (which received an Oscar nomination for Foreign Language movie, but was beaten by "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon)
In 2001, Raymond released a CD with the title "Een jongen uit Schaarbeek" (a boy from Schaerbeek). The CD was recorded with César Janssens on drums again, and the young Thomas Vanelslander (Overflow) on guitar. Strangely enough, the production was done by Christine Verschorren, who also happens to be the current Ms. Van Het Groenewoud. The CD-release itself is for October 4th 2001, but there is already a track that gets lots of airplay, the single "Keineig (verliefd op haar)" (I'm so like totally in love with her).
One track on the album, the titlesong "Een jongen uit Schaarbeek" is being sung by Sarah Bettens, about which track he tells Humo "it's a lullaby for adults. It had to be sung by a woman. I had it so bad (lovesickness) that I wished I had someone who would sing for me softly, make me feel as if I was in the warm bath of a womb again".
Raymond fans also were pleased to find a Cd with newspaper De Morgen, with seven track - some old songs and two tracks from the new album, called "Water en Brood" (water & bread).
Respected Belgian Artist
In 2005, Raymond releases two more CD's: "Ballades" (Ballads) and "Mr. Raymond", which includes the protest song "Weg met Amerika", in which he denounces the USA imperailism and the commercialisation/americanisation of society. Touring around the country performing a mix of intimate songs and his well known hits, he reaches a big audience. He gets admired not only because of his great music, but also for he has his very own style and humour in the way he performes. Many Belgian young artists are inspired by his person, resulting among other tribute's in the project "Raymond en zijn jonge helden" ("Raymond and his young hero's") organisated by Poppunt.
Jij En Ik
Raymond van het Groenewoud Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jij en ik de wereld staat versteld
Jij en ik niemand kan ons raken
Jij en ik en al het ijs dat smelt
Het smelt, kijk hoe het smelt
Jij en ik de noden van het lichaam
Jij en ik triomfen van de geest
Jij en ik alle dagen feest
Kijk uit, hoe broos is dit geluk
Een keer niet kijken en het allemaal stuk
Kijk uit
Jij en ik de sterren van de hemel
Jij en ik een foto uit Parijs
Jij en ik de mooiste wildverhalen
Jij en ik zo dichtbij
Dichtbij
Kan het dichterbij
Kijk uit, hoe broos is dit geluk
Een slecht moment en het is allemaal stuk
Kijk uit; de boze wolf, 't is zo voorbij
Jij en ik de zon begint te schijnen
Jij en ik een reden tot bestaan
Jij en ik langs de vlaamse wegen
Jij en ik, we komen eraan
Jij en ik, de rest is krantenknipsel
Jij en ik 't herkennen van je vel
Jij en ik, dat ik dit mag beleven
Jij en ik dank U wel
The lyrics of Raymond van het Groenewoud's song "Jij en Ik" express a feeling of invincibility and strong unity between two individuals. The chorus repeats the lines "Jij en ik gaan het helemaal maken" ("You and me, we will make it big") and "Jij en ik niemand kan ons raken" ("You and me, no one can touch us") emphasizing the determination and self-confidence of the pair. The song also talks about the body and the soul and the joys they bring. They can't take each other out of their minds, they create the most beautiful stories together, and every day is a celebration.
However, the song also warns about how fragile happiness can be. The lines "Kijk uit, hoe broos is dit geluk / Een keer niet kijken en het allemaal stuk" ("Be careful, how fragile is this happiness / One moment of distraction and it all falls apart") warn that their success is contingent upon their focus, and any deviation could ruin everything.
Overall, "Jij en Ik" is a song that embodies the strength and excitement that come with unity, trust, and celebration but also serves as a reminder that the bonds that we make with others can be delicate and require care and attention to maintain.
Line by Line Meaning
Jij en ik gaan het helemaal maken
You and I will achieve great success
Jij en ik de wereld staat versteld
You and I have shocked the world
Jij en ik niemand kan ons raken
No one can touch us
Jij en ik en al het ijs dat smelt / Het smelt, kijk hoe het smelt
You and I are having an effect, making an impact
Jij en ik de noden van het lichaam
You and I understand each other's physical needs
Jij en ik triomfen van de geest
You and I are triumphs of the mind
Jij en ik je kan het niet verzinnen
You and I are beyond imagination
Jij en ik alle dagen feest
Every day with you and I is a celebration
Kijk uit, hoe broos is dit geluk / Een keer niet kijken en het allemaal stuk / Kijk uit
Watch out, this happiness is fragile and can break with a single misstep
Jij en ik de sterren van de hemel
You and I shine like the stars in the sky
Jij en ik een foto uit Parijs
You and I have captured the romance of Paris in a photo
Jij en ik de mooiste wildverhalen
You and I have the most beautiful stories to tell
Jij en ik zo dichtbij / Dichtbij / Kan het dichterbij
You and I are so close, it couldn't be any closer
Kijk uit, hoe broos is dit geluk / Een slecht moment en het is allemaal stuk / Kijk uit; de boze wolf, 't is zo voorbij
Watch out, this happiness can be shattered by a single bad moment or the slightest misfortune
Jij en ik de zon begint te schijnen
You and I bring sunshine into each other's lives
Jij en ik een reden tot bestaan
You and I give each other a reason to exist
Jij en ik langs de Vlaamse wegen
You and I journey together down the Flemish roads
Jij en ik, we komen eraan
You and I are making progress and achieving our goals
Jij en ik, de rest is krantenknipsel
You and I are the only thing that matters, the rest is just newspaper clippings
Jij en ik 't herkennen van je vel
You and I know each other so well, we could recognize the feel of each other's skin
Jij en ik, dat ik dit mag beleven / Jij en ik dank U wel
You and I feel grateful for the experience of being together, and thank a higher power for it
Writer(s): Cesar Janssens, Raymond Van Het Groenewoud, Vincent Pierins
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
michavandam
Twee meisjes
Twee meisjes op het strand
Ze lezen modebladen
Ze kijken in het rond
Ze dromen van een prins
Twee meisjes op het strand
Ze lezen modebladen
Ze kijken in het rond
Ze dromen van een prins
Ze zoeken in hun tas
Ze wijzen naar de fotos
Ze schudden met hun haar
Ze praten met een vriend
Twee meisjes op een plank
Gedragen door de golven
Het branden van de zon
De wijzers houden op
De dag brengt ouderdom
De nacht brengt vreemde uren
De deken is zo zwaar
Een bladzijde slaat om
Hoe interpreteren jullie die laatste vijf regels?
Herman M
Dos chicas en la playa
Leen revistas de moda
Miran a su alrededor
Sueñan con un príncipe
Dos chicas en la playa
Leen revistas de moda
Miran a su alrededor
Sueñan con un príncipe
Buscan en su bolsa
Señalan las fotos
Agitando su cabello
Hablan con un amigo
Dos chicas sobre una tabla
Llevado por las olas
El ardor del sol
Las manos se detienen
El día trae la vejez
La noche trae horas extrañas
La manta es tan pesada
Una página pasa
Machine translation
Gulcin Heybeli
I’ve been listening to it since morning. What a beautiful song. And the lyrics are describing me and my daughter sunbathing by the pool on holiday now.
Marty Naus
Heerlijk !! Beste Belgische liedje ooit ! Prachtige musical omlijsting WOW effect !
Johan Vandekeere
Ben ik helemaal me je eens
Julie De Frenne
@Johan Vandekeereik ook
Matthieu Jacobs
Ooit keek ik nog naar Expeditie Robinson. Toen was het nog met onbekende Nederlanders en Vlamingen. In 1 seizoen zaten 2 meisjes die de hele dag werkelijk niets deden en dat was geweldige televisie. Vooral omdat deze muziek onder de beelden werd gezet. Toepasselijker kon het niet. Mooi in al zijn eenvoud. Een piano, een ogenschijnlijk simpele tekst en een fantastische gitaarsolo. Voor wie het nog nooit gehoord heeft. Laat het even op je inwerken en geniet vooral :)
sergehendrickx10
wat een fantastisch nummer. dat ik het nu pas ontdek na 48 jaar..
Edo op den Dries
ja. RVHG heeft ze zelfs bezongen in de studio. Maar ik heb de beelden nooit meer weer gevonden.
Unas Darlinghurst
Zo mooi, zo ingetogen , perfect!
veronique avero avero
Très belle chanson et belle musique
Marc Wyseur
Mijn favoriete muziek. 👌