Kinderen voor Kinderen explained

Kinderen voor Kinderen
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Hilversum, Netherlands
Instrument: voices
Genre:Pop, rock, hiphop, Broadway
Years Active:1980–present
Label:VARAgram
Website:kvk.vara.nl

Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen|i=unset (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˌkɪnd(ə)rə(n) voːr ˈkɪnd(ə)rə(n)/,) is a Dutch children's choir maintained by public broadcaster BNNVARA.

Since 1980 the choir has released one album of new children's songs each year, and is probably the only act from the 1980s with consecutive albums in the top 40 chart (apart from two releases). The ideas for the songs generally come from children who write in. Well-known Dutch lyricists then turn submitted ideas into finished songs.

The songs on each year's album are presented in a special TV broadcast, staged and recorded in advance (in the group's early years, these shows were broadcast live). Various Dutch celebrities often appear as cast members in these shows. In 2006, Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen|i=unset staged its first live pop concert as the basis of its annual broadcast.

Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen|i=unset also holds an annual "Song Contest" known as the Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen Songfestival that sees the winners of the regional pre-selection rounds (one each province) compete against each other as finalists.

History

Concept

In 1980 program director Flory Anstadt decided to start a children's choir as part of a VARA fund-raising campaign to provide toys to children in developing countries. The choir released an album of songs sung by children ranging in age from 8 to 12 years old. VARA subsequently broadcast performances of the songs on television. The choir was a success and a decision was made to release an album each year from then on. The toy donation campaign ended in 1991. The name of the choir is now the sole reminder of its original function.

Staying true to their main purpose, Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen|i=unset is still releasing charity-singles such as:

The ensemble has been conducted by Babette Labeij since 2005. She succeeded Majel Lustenhouwer, who led the group during its first 25 years. In recognition of Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen|i=unset's contribution to Dutch culture under his guidance, Lustenhouwer received a knighthood of the Order of Orange Nassau in 2006.

For the first 21 releases, the first song on each album was always the Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen|i=unset anthem. Only albums 5 and 15 were notable exceptions as on those album the anthem was the closing track. Starting with album 22 the custom was changed to make it the closing track instead. The melody has remained the same since 1980, though the lyrics were changed after album 3 to remove a verse about children starving and sleeping in the street. The chorus has stayed the same, while verses have changed over the years to be more celebratory and inclusive, suggesting that children are more open-minded and understanding. Some of the recent albums omit the anthem entirely.

At present

The choir currently consists of around 30 children between 8 and 12 years of age (originally the age limit was 14 instead of 12). Originally the goal was to have participants from throughout the Netherlands. Over time, however, practical considerations intervened and the children recruited as singers are now required to live within close distance of the TV recording studios in Hilversum, southeast of Amsterdam. As a consequence the songs are sung with the characteristic accent of that area, the most noticeable feature of which is the so-called Gooise R: the retroflex pronunciation of the letter R at the end of words and after vowels before consonants in a manner similar to that of American English, although other Rs are realized as trills, either alveolar pronounced as /link/ or uvular pronounced as /link/.

The ensemble operates on a yearly production cycle starting with auditions for new members in January. Songs are composed based on ideas from children's letters and go through a judging process, ultimately leaving 12 song choices for the year's CD. The first singing rehearsals begin in March, and dance rehearsals start in September after summer recess. The year's TV program is usually recorded during the autumn school recess. A viewing is held for the children and their families one week before the program is broadcast in November.

A 27-CD box set, released at the end of September 2007, gave the choir their first album top 10 entry in almost a decade.

TV broadcasts

1980–1984

1985–1989

1990–1994

1995–1999

2000–2004

2005–2009

2010–present

Topics addressed in songs

Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen|i=unset's songs deal with many different subjects. Some frequently recurring themes are:

Former members with notable solo careers

MemberKvK
season(s)
Career
Iason Chronis8–12Part of music producer duo Mason
Sarah ChronisActress, appeared in the Dutch soap-opera ONM (Onderweg naar Morgen) from 2006 to 2009
30–32Singer-songwriter known as MEAU
Elise van der Horst12–17Singer known as EliZe
Mandy Huydts2–3Part of Dutch girl group Frizzle Sizzle
2–4Part of Dutch girl group Frizzle Sizzle
Iris van Kempen17–19Part of the British-Dutch pop group XYP
20Actor appearing in Dutch soap ONM (Dutch; Flemish: Onderweg naar Morgen) from 2005 to 2010
Stefania LiberakakisRepresented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
1Actress, appeared in the Dutch soap opera Dutch; Flemish: [[Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden]] from 2006 to 2007
8–12Singer-songwriter
12–15Transgender singer and television personality
2Part of Dutch girl group Frizzle Sizzle

Discography

Albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertifications
NED
[1]
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen19811
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 219811
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 319821
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 419831
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 519841
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 619853
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 719861
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 819871
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 919881
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 1019891
Dutch; Flemish: Het beste uit...
(compilation)
199029
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 1119903
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 1219914
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 1319921
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 1419931
Dutch; Flemish: De allerbeste!
(compilation)
199410
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 15199410
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 1619957
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 17199617
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 18199711
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 1919987
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 20199923
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 21200016
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 22200129
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 23200221
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 24200315
Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen 25200414
Dutch; Flemish: 2005 (Deel 26)200528
Dutch; Flemish: De Coolste DJ – 27200625
Dutch; Flemish: Alle Liedjes van 1980 t/m 2006<br />(Het complete overzicht deel 1-27)
(compilation)
20079
Dutch; Flemish: De Gamer – 28200727
Dutch; Flemish: Buiten spelen – 29200818
Dutch; Flemish: Lachen is gezond – 30200914
Dutch; Flemish: 30 jaar
(compilation)
200952
Dutch; Flemish: Hé jullie! – 31201023
Dutch; Flemish: Zo bijzonder! – 32201111
Dutch; Flemish: Hallo wereld – 3320121
Dutch; Flemish: Klaar voor de start – 3420131
Dutch; Flemish: De allergrootste hits van Kinderen voor Kinderen – Waanzinnig gedroomd20141
Dutch; Flemish: Feest – 3520142
Dutch; Flemish: Raar maar waar – 3620151
Dutch; Flemish: De allergrootste hits van Kinderen voor Kinderen – Waanzinnig gedroomd – Editie 2016201610
Dutch; Flemish: Voor altijd jong! – 3720161
Dutch; Flemish: Gruwelijk eng – 3820171
Dutch; Flemish: Kom erbij! – 3920182
Dutch; Flemish: Reis mee! – 4020192
Dutch; Flemish: En toen? – 4120203
Dutch; Flemish: Worden wat je wil – 4220212
Dutch; Flemish: Gi-ga-groen – 4320224
Dutch; Flemish: Bij mij thuis – 44202311

Singles

Title! scope="col"
YearPeak chart positions
NED
Album
"Dutch; Flemish: Ik heb zo wa-wa-wa-waanzinnig gedroomd|i=unset"19818Kinderen voor Kinderen
"Dutch; Flemish: Op een onbewoond eiland|i=unset"198116Kinderen voor Kinderen 2
"Dutch; Flemish: Ha, ha, ha, je vader|i=unset"198227Kinderen voor Kinderen 3
"Dutch; Flemish: Meidengroep|i=unset"19838Kinderen voor Kinderen 4
"Dutch; Flemish: Als ik de baas zou zijn van het journaal|i=unset"198420Kinderen voor Kinderen 5
"Dutch; Flemish: Eeuwige kerst|i=unset"
(Anny Schilder, Dutch; Flemish: Kinderen voor Kinderen|i=unset & Dutch; Flemish: Het Goede Doel|i=unset)
19845Single only
"Dutch; Flemish: Ik ben toch zeker Sinterklaas niet|i=unset"198622Kinderen voor Kinderen 7
"Dutch; Flemish: Moeders wil is wet|i=unset"198751Kinderen voor Kinderen 8
"Dutch; Flemish: Astronaut|i=unset"198870Kinderen voor Kinderen 9
"Dutch; Flemish: Zomaar...|i=unset"199084Kinderen voor Kinderen 11
"Dutch; Flemish: Vuur en vlam|i=unset"199249Kinderen voor Kinderen 13
"Dutch; Flemish: Voor Azië|i=unset"200541Single only
"Dutch; Flemish: Hallo wereld|i=unset"2012833 – Hallo wereld
"Dutch; Flemish: Bewegen is gezond|i=unset"20135Dutch; Flemish: 34 – Klaar voor de start
"Dutch; Flemish: Klaar voor de start|i=unset"201314
"Dutch; Flemish: Doe de Kanga|i=unset"201427Dutch; Flemish: 35 – Feest!
"Dutch; Flemish: Feest!|i=unset"201489
"Dutch; Flemish: Energie|i=unset"201552Dutch; Flemish: 36– Raar maar waar
"Dutch; Flemish: Raar maar waar|i=unset"201564
"Dutch; Flemish: Hupsakee!|i=unset"201650Dutch; Flemish: 37 – Voor altijd jong!
"Dutch; Flemish: Okido|i=unset"201783Dutch; Flemish: 38 – Gruwelijk eng
"Dutch; Flemish: Pasapas|i=unset"201982Dutch; Flemish: 40 – Reis mee!
"Dutch; Flemish: Worden wat je wil|i=unset"202145Dutch; Flemish: 42 – Worden wat je wil
"Dutch; Flemish: FitTop10|i=unset"202236Dutch; Flemish: 43 – Gi-ga-groen
"Dutch; Flemish: Gi-ga-groen|i=unset"36
"ZiggZagg"202327rowspan="2"
"Daba die daba daa"202419

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kinderen voor Kinderen discography page . Dutchcharts.com. 2024-05-04.
  2. Web site: Goud/Platina . NVPI . 16 November 2018.