He recorded his debut album, Vreemde Stad in Stellenbosch and it was first released at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in 2000, and later on by EMI. 'Vreemde Stad' has sold in excess of 150,000 copies to date. Subsequent releases 'Tjailatyd' and 'Seisoen', proved equally popular and established him as a star in Afrikaans music. The South African guitar player, Anton L'Amour, performed with Theuns and was responsible for all the guitar tracks in Vreemde Stad and Tjailatyd.
Theuns Jordaan's singing is characterized by his deeply emotive bass voice. His music has been said to be "faintly bluesly, radio-friendly", with his lyrics "infused with a mournful love of South Africa." His true interpretation of old Afrikaans songs and some of his original tracks, has made him a big hit with fans.
Jordaan died on 17 November 2021, after being diagnosed with leukemia in September 2020.
Discography
Vreemde stad (1999)
Tjailatyd (2002)
Seisoen (2005)
Kouevuur: Die musiek van Koos du Plessis (2009)
Roeper (2012)
Tribute to the poets (2014)
Agter Slot & Grendel (2020)
Straattroebadoere
Theuns Jordaan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speel die Straat Troebadoere
Konka konsertos
vir die Suiderkruis Melkweg en Maan
Hartseer konsertinas
vir die gloeikool ballerinas
van die Straat Troebadoere
en die Prinse van die boendoe
En die vure in hul oë wys waar die
Dixieland paradys hang
Stap saam deur Diagonaalstraat
Stap saam na waar die nagwagte sit en praat
Stap saam waar die Straat Troebadoere
oor verlange in hul harte sit en praat
(instrumente)
Tussen die donker geheime van die nag
speel die Straat Troebadoere
konka konsertos vir die
Suiderkruis Melkweg en Maan
Hartseer konsertinas vir die gloeikool ballerinas van die Straat Troebadoere
En die Prinse van die boendoe
die grammadoela boendoe
verlang
En die vure in hul oë wys waar die
Dixieland paradys hang
Stap saam deur Diagonaalstraat
Stap saam na waar die nagwagte sit en praat
Stap saam waar die Straat Troebadoere
oor verlange in hul hart sit en praat
Stap saam deur Diagonaalstraat
Stap saam na waar die nagwagte sit en praat
Stap saam waar die Straat Troebadoere
die twintigste eeu agterlaat.
The lyrics to Theuns Jordaan's song "Straat Troebadoere" describe the secret lives of street performers who come out at night to play music and entertain passersby on the streets of South Africa. They are the street troubadours, who play their konka concerts for the Southern Cross, Milky Way, and Moon while singing songs of longing to the glowing coal ballerinas and the princes of the boendoe who long for the sound of the grammadoela boendoe. The street performers' eyes are alive with the fire of Dixieland paradise, and listeners are invited to join them on a journey through Diagonal Street, where one can sit with the night watchmen and listen to the Straat Troebadoere talk about their longings and desires.
The lyrics evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia for a bygone era of street performances, where music and art could emerge spontaneously from the creative underground of a city. They capture the spirit of the street and the passion of the performers who inhabit it, creating a vivid portrait of a world where music is a life force that flows through the streets like a living organism.
Line by Line Meaning
Tussen die donker geheime van die nag
Amidst the dark secrets of the night
Speel die Straat Troebadoere
Play the Street Troubadours
Konka konsertos
With shell concerts
vir die Suiderkruis Melkweg en Maan
for the Southern Cross, Milky Way, and Moon
Hartseer konsertinas
Mournful concertinas
vir die gloeikool ballerinas
for the glowing coal ballerinas
van die Straat Troebadoere
of the Street Troubadours
en die Prinse van die boendoe
and the Princes of the bundu
die grammadoela boendoe verlang
long for the musical instrument, grammadoela of the bundu
En die vure in hul oë wys waar die Dixieland paradys hang
And the fire in their eyes shows where the Dixieland paradise hangs
Stap saam deur Diagonaalstraat
Walk together through Diagonal Street
Stap saam na waar die nagwagte sit en praat
Walk together to where the night guards sit and chat
Stap saam waar die Straat Troebadoere oor verlange in hul harte sit en praat
Walk together where the Street Troubadours talk about their longings in their hearts
(instrumente)
Instruments
Stap saam deur Diagonaalstraat
Walk together through Diagonal Street
Stap saam na waar die nagwagte sit en praat
Walk together to where the night guards sit and chat
Stap saam waar die Straat Troebadoere oor verlange in hul hart sit en praat
Walk together where the Street Troubadours talk about their longings in their hearts
Stap saam deur Diagonaalstraat
Walk together through Diagonal Street
Stap saam na waar die nagwagte sit en praat
Walk together to where the night guards sit and chat
Stap saam waar die Straat Troebadoere die twintigste eeu agterlaat.
Walk together where the Street Troubadours leave the twentieth century behind.
Contributed by Claire C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Leon Fourie
teuns jy bly maar die koning van diep hartgevoelde afrikaans
@mandieoscar9859
Theuns😢😢😭😭 RIP
@rikaniemand9013
Ai my babe weet jy hoe mis ek jou n nuwe jaar en n nuwe begin sonder jou💔
@berniegeldenhuys61
😪
@DolisHouston
Aai Theunis,my hart is so seer 💔