The Common Linnets Explained

The Common Linnets
Landscape:yes
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Netherlands
Years Active:–present
Label:Firefly / Universal Music
Current Members:Ilse DeLange
JB Meijers
Jake Etheridge
Matthew Crosby
Past Members:Waylon
Rob Crosby

The Common Linnets are a Dutch band that was formed in 2013. The band originally consisted of Ilse DeLange and Waylon.[1] DeLange has stated that the group is a platform for Dutch artists to make country, Americana, and bluegrass music, and that the members will be changing. In May 2014, Waylon left the group and was replaced by American country singer Jake Etheridge.

Their song "Calm After the Storm", which is on their self-titled debut album, reached second place in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 and gave the Netherlands its best result since its last winning entry in 1975.

Name

Ilse de Lange and Waylon are both from the eastern part of the Netherlands. In Dutch, people from this region are sometimes called heikneuters, referring to the songbird kneu[2] or common linnet. The name for the band is an idea from Dutch designer Rens Dekker,[3] who is also responsible for the artwork design of their single and self-titled album.

Members

The band was originally composed of individual country artists Ilse DeLange and Waylon. However, Waylon stated that the band was created by Ilse and that she is, at the moment, the main leader. Ilse said that she created the band as a project or a "platform" for Dutch artists to make country, Americana or bluegrass music. Both artists stated that both artists can "be replaced" by other musicians.[4] Since May 2014 the band consists of Ilse DeLange, JB Meijers, Jake Etheridge and Matthew Crosby (also the writers of the hit song "Calm After The Storm").

Ilse DeLange was born on 13 May 1977 in Almelo, Netherlands. She started her career at the age of 8, and was later featured in regional and national talent shows in Hilversum. She formed a duo with guitarist Joop Liefland.

Waylon was born on 20 April 1980 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. His stage name came from the name of his idol Waylon Jennings. After the Eurovision contest, the band went on a promotional tour in the Netherlands and some European countries. Fans however noted the absence of Waylon raising suspicion that he has left the group or even had been permanently replaced. Waylon wrote an article on his official Facebook website that "both members did not foresee the success of the band" and that he is currently occupied with his album that is going to be released in September 2014.[5] [6]

JB Meijers was born on 10 June 1972 in Delft, Netherlands. Before joining the Common Linnets, Meijers played guitar in Dutch indie bands Charmin' Children, Shine and Supersub. He also played with De Dijk, Eboman and Acda & De Munnik and worked as a producer. Meijers replaced Waylon as the frontman of the band alongside DeLange. Meijers wrote the song Calm After the Storm.

Jake Etheridge was born on 25 April 1988 in Columbia, South Carolina. Before joining the band, he uploaded several songs online. Dividing his time between Nashville and the Netherlands, he joined the band in 2014, following Waylon's departure.[7]

History

2013–14: Eurovision Song Contest and debut album

See main article: Eurovision Song Contest 2014 and The Common Linnets (album). On 25 November 2013, the Dutch Eurovision Song Contest broadcasters, AVRO and TROS, announced in a press conference, that the band would represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen with the song "Calm After the Storm".[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Ilse De Lange and Waylon presented their song for Eurovision 2014 for the first time in the Dutch TV Show 'De Wereld Draait Door' on 12 March[13] and released the final version the next day.[14] On 9 May 2014, they released their debut studio album The Common Linnets and the following day reached second place in the Eurovision final behind Conchita Wurst of Austria. On 17 May 2014 the album entered the Dutch Albums Chart at number 1. On 14 May 2014 the album was at number 27 on The Official Chart Update in the UK.[15] On 15 May 2014 the album entered the Irish Albums Chart at number 45. On 11 September 2014 they released "Give Me a Reason" as the second single from the album, the song peaked at number 92 on the Dutch Singles Chart. The Common Linnets won the 2014 Buma Cultuur Pop Award.[16]

2015–present: II

See main article: II (The Common Linnets album). The Common Linnets won the 2015 Echo Awards for Best International Newcomer Act.[17] On 1 May 2015 they released the single "We Don't Make the Wind Blow", the song peaked at number 74 on the Dutch Singles Chart. On 25 September 2015, they released their second studio album II. The album peaked at number 1 on the Dutch Albums Chart. The album has also charted in Austria, Belgium and Germany.

Tours

Discography

Albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
NL
[18]
AUT
[19]
BEL (Vl)
[20]
DEN
[21]
GER
[22]
IRE
[23]
SCO
[24]
SPA
[25]
SWI
[26]
UK
[27]
The Common Linnets 1 3 12 12 11 45 39 42 16 40
II
  • Released: 25 September 2015
  • Label: Firefly/Universal Music Group
  • Format: Digital download
1 32 40 18
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
NL
AUS
[28]
AUT
BEL (Vl)
DEN
GER
IRE
SPA
[29]
SWE
[30]
SWI
UK
"Calm After the Storm"20141 66 2 1 2 3 4 5 36 3 9 The Common Linnets
"Give Me a Reason"92
"Christmas Around Me"The Common Linnets: Special Edition
"We Don't Make the Wind Blow"201532 56 II
"Hearts on Fire"
"In Your Eyes"2016
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Other charted songs

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
NL
"Still Loving After You"201416The Common Linnets
"Sun Song"66
"Lovers & Liars"75
"When Love Was King"84
"Where Do I Go with Me"52
"Time Has No Mercy"86
"Before Complete Surrender"64
"Arms of Salvation"61
"Hungry Hands"44
"Love Goes On"13
"Broken but Home"41

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About The Common Linnets. eurovision.tv. 8 May 2014.
  2. Web site: Name, logo and artwork design The Common Linnets. 9 May 2014. rensdekker.nl. 9 May 2014.
  3. http://www.rensdekker.nl Rens Dekker
  4. Web site: Telegraaf.nl 'Ilse gat over The Common Linnets'. telegraaf.nl. 28 May 2014.
  5. Web site: Telegraaf.nl 'Waylon is gevonden'. telegraaf.nl. 28 May 2014.
  6. Web site: Facebook: Waylon Music. facebook. 28 May 2014.
  7. Web site: Jake Etheridge Blog. jakeetheridge.com. 1 July 2018.
  8. Web site: Ilse & Waylon for the Netherlands: "It's an honour" News Eurovision Song Contest - Copenhagen 2014. Storvik-Green. Simon. 27 November 2013. EBU.
  9. Web site: The Netherlands: Get to know Ilse DeLange and Waylon .... escunited.com. 12 December 2013.
  10. Web site: The Netherlands: The Common Linnets selected internally. esc-plus.com. 12 December 2013.
  11. Web site: Netherlands : Ilse DeLange/Waylon Will Represent The Netherlands at Eurovision 2014. eurovisionireland.net. 12 December 2013.
  12. Web site: Ilse DeLange, Waylon To Represent Netherlands in Eurovision Song. nltimes.nl. 12 December 2013.
  13. News: The Netherlands: The Commen Linnets reveal acoustic version of 'Calm after the storm'.. 23 March 2014. wiwibloggs.com. 12 March 2014.
  14. News: The Common Linnets debut video for Calm After the Storm. 23 March 2014. wiwibloggs.com. 13 March 2014.
  15. http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/michael-jacksons-posthumous-album-xscape-set-to-debut-at-number-1-3011/ Michael Jackson’s posthumous album Xscape set to debut at Number 1
  16. Web site: The Common Linnets winnaar Popprijs 2014. Eurosonic Noorderslag. 2016-01-01.
  17. Web site: Die Helene-Fischer-Festspiele haben begonnen . The Helene Fischer festival has begun . de . . RBB online . Ula . Brunner . 27 March 2015 . 27 March 2015 . https://archive.today/20150330121504/http://www.rbb-online.de/kultur/beitrag/2015/03/musikpreis-echo-2015.html . dead . 30 March 2015 .
  18. Web site: Discografie The Common Linnets. Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  19. Web site: Discographie The Common Linnets. Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  20. Web site: Discografie The Common Linnets. Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  21. Web site: Discography The Common Linnets. Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  22. Web site: Discographie The Common Linnets. https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050217/http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=The+Common+Linnets&country=de. dead. August 8, 2014. German Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  23. Web site: Discography The Common Linnets. Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  24. Peak positions for Albums in Scotland:
  25. Web site: Discography The Common Linnets: Albums. Spanish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  26. Web site: Discografie The Common Linnets. Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  27. Web site: Common Linnets > UK Charts. Official Charts Company. Officialcharts.com/.
  28. Peak positions in Australia:
  29. Web site: Discography The Common Linnets: Singles. Spanish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  30. Web site: Discography The Common Linnets. Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Hung. Steffen.
  31. Germany. The Common Linnets. 3 March 2023.