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.
Meisjes
Raymond van het Groenewoud Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ze maken ons kapot, mijnheer
Ze maken ons zo zot, mijnheer
Mmmm meisjes
Meisjes
Ze zijn toch zo bizar, mijnheer
Ze komen zelden klaar, mijnheer
Olalala meisjes
Ze komen goed van pas
Olalala meisjes
Doen zij nog steeds de was
Mamijmoemie meisjes
Soms stort ik in hun kas
Olalala meisjes
Maskes!
Meisjes
Ze zijn zo welgebouwd, mijnheer
Toch die waar ik van hou, mijnheer
Amelinckx-meisjes
Meisjes Ze zijn het and're soort, mijnheer
De passionele moord, mijnheer
Meisjes
Olalala meisjes
Ze komen goed van pas
Olalala meisjes
Ik wou dat ik er een was
Mamijmoemie meisjes
Ze komen goed van pas
Olalala meisjes
Neem me mee, neem me mee!
Meisjes zijn 't allermooist op aard
Niets dat hun schoonheid evenaart
Zeg dat Van het Groenewoud het gezegd heeft
Meisjes zijn 't allermooist op aard
Niets dat hun schoonheid evenaart
Zeg dat Van het Groenewoud het gezegd heeft
The song "Meisjes" by Raymond van het Groenewoud is an ode to girls. The lyrics of the song refer to girls in different ways, mostly from the perspective of the male songwriter. In the beginning of the song, the singer expresses how girls can drive men crazy ("Ze maken ons zo zot, mijnheer"). However, despite their craziness, the singer finds them fascinating and beautiful. He goes on to talk about how useful girls are in different ways ("ze komen goed van pas"), such as for doing the laundry or supporting him financially ("soms stort ik in hun kas"). The final verses of the song reiterate the idea that girls are the most beautiful beings on earth.
The lyrics of the song have been interpreted in different ways, and some have criticized it for its objectification of women. However, the song can also be seen as a celebration of femininity and a tribute to the impact women have on men's lives. Additionally, the song's upbeat melody and catchy chorus have made it a popular singalong tune in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Line by Line Meaning
Meisjes
Referring to girls in general
Ze maken ons kapot, mijnheer
Girls drive us crazy, making us lose our minds
Ze maken ons zo zot, mijnheer
Girls make us so crazy
Mmmm meisjes
Expressing appreciation for the allure of girls
Ze zijn toch zo bizar, mijnheer
Girls are so strange
Ze komen zelden klaar, mijnheer
Girls rarely orgasm
Statitistieke meisjes
Statistical girls, referring to the idea that sexual preferences can be broadly characterized for populations
Olalala meisjes
Exclamation of appreciation for girls
Ze komen goed van pas
Girls come in handy or serve a useful purpose
Doen zij nog steeds de was
Mocking a traditional view of girls being domesticated, responsible for laundry
Mamijmoemie meisjes
Expressing attraction to motherly girls
Soms stort ik in hun kas
Sometimes I give money to the girls I'm attracted to, as a form of tipping at a nightclub or other similar venue
Maskes!
Exclamation to call out girls, similar to 'ladies' or 'gals' in English
Ze zijn zo welgebouwd, mijnheer
Girls have an attractive physical appearance
Toch die waar ik van hou, mijnheer
Girls that I love or am attracted to
Amelinckx-meisjes
Referring to a specific girl, namely Betty Amelinckx, who was a former Miss Belgium and a television presenter
Ze zijn het and're soort, mijnheer
Girls are a different type of being or entity
De passionele moord, mijnheer
Passionate and intense relationships with girls can sometimes lead to destruction or violence
Meisjes
Referring to girls in general
Ze komen goed van pas
Girls come in handy or serve a useful purpose
Ik wou dat ik er een was
Expressing desire or longing to be with a girl
Neem me mee, neem me mee!
Take me with you, take me with you! Expressing strong desire to be with a girl
Meisjes zijn 't allermooist op aard
Girls are the most beautiful beings on earth
Niets dat hun schoonheid evenaart
Nothing can compare to the beauty of girls
Zeg dat Van het Groenewoud het gezegd heeft
Asserting that Raymond van het Groenewoud himself has made this statement and believes it to be true
Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Chantulina
Toen ik een jaar of 14 was draaide mijn vader dit nummer plat in de auto. Ik irriteerde mij er enorm aan toendertijd ! Op dit moment geniet ik er serieus van!
@josbuysman5342
haha ja verstand komt met de jaren!!
@josbuysman5342
wat een ziener, deze Raymond! meisjes zijn een noodzakelijk kwaad!
@henkietak2186
Haha mijn vader precies hetzelfde, altijd in de auto op vakantie naar Frankrijk. Zoveel van dit soort oud Nederlandse nummers geven enorm veel herinneringen.
@frederiknys2181
Pure cultuur maat
@raffalopez
Wtf. Zo'n lekkere nummer. Heerlijk
@brunosipavicius7867
meen eerste liedere van Het Groenewoud, dat ik uit nederlandsche kurs 1999 in Brazilien "teilnehmen". Ik hou van het.
@lienandries6703
Zoooo leuk🙂🙂🙂
@bocox3825
Das een kei goed liedje !!
@koenberckmoes7945
Prachtig werk