Biography
Willeke Alberti started her career at the early age of eleven in the musical Duel om Barbara and she recorded her first single in 1958 together with her father. During the 1960s, she was a well-known singer in the Netherlands and had at least one #1 hit with "De Winter Was Lang" ("The Winter Was Long"), however there was no official Dutch chart at the time. Willeke and her father had a television show between 1965 and 1969. Her singing career from 1970 onwards is less active, however Alberti still releases singles and albums at an irregular interval and plays minor roles in television programs and movies.
Alberti married John de Mol on July 24, 1976. Together they have one son Johnny de Mol, who is currently an actor and television personality. The couple divorced in 1980. She had a second marriage with Danish football player Søren Lerby and a second son was born from that marriage. Søren Lerby and Willeke Alberti separated in 1990.
In 1994, she represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Waar is de Zon" ("Where is the Sun"), which claimed a meagre four points from the international juries, all coming from Austria. The Netherlands beat only Estonia and Lithuania that evening.
Al was ik koningin
Willeke Alberti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Van ′t mooiste sprookjesland
Dat had geen waarde zonder jou
Al schonk het hele land
Mij goud en diamant
Toch was mijn leven arm en grauw
Als ik jou niet bezat
Dan was mijn hart alleen
Jou alleen, weet je dat
Al was ik koningin
Dat had voor mij geen zin
Wanneer ik jou niet had
In "Al was ik koningin," Willeke Alberti expresses the idea that material wealth and power are meaningless without love and companionship. She imagines herself as a queen in the most beautiful fairytale land, but recognizes that without her loved one, this fantasy holds no value. Even if the whole kingdom were to offer her gold and diamonds, her life would still feel empty and dull. Her heart would be lonely without her beloved. Being a queen would have no purpose if she couldn't have her loved one by her side.
The song emphasizes the importance of love and human connection over material possessions and status. It suggests that true happiness and fulfillment come from shared experiences and companionship rather than external achievements or riches. The lyrics communicate a longing for a deep emotional connection, expressing that being a queen is insignificant without the presence of her loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Al was ik koningin
Even if I were a queen
Van ′t mooiste sprookjesland
In the most beautiful fairytale land
Dat had geen waarde zonder jou
It would have no value without you
Al schonk het hele land
Even if the entire land bestowed
Mij goud en diamant
Gold and diamonds upon me
Toch was mijn leven arm en grauw
Still, my life would be poor and dull
Als ik jou niet bezat
If I didn't have you
Dan was mijn hart alleen
Then my heart would be alone
Want ik wil om me heen
Because I want around me
Jou alleen, weet je dat
Only you, do you know that
Al was ik koningin
Even if I were a queen
Dat had voor mij geen zin
It would have no meaning for me
Wanneer ik jou niet had
If I didn't have you
Writer(s): Christian Bruhn, Georg Buschor
Contributed by Sophia E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.