Ernst Jansz
Encyclopedia
Ernst Gideon Jansz is one of the founding members and frontmen of Doe Maar
. Doe Maar is a Dutch
1980s ska
/reggae
band, and is considered one of the most successful bands in Dutch pop history.
His father, born in Semarang
on Java
, is an Indo (Dutch-Indonesian
), who went to the Netherlands in 1932 after finishing his study at the Batavia HBS to continue his higher education there. Once Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands his father was involved in the Dutch resistance movement, until he was captured and interned in a German concentration camp. After the war he became one of the few Indo advocates for an independent Indonesia. In his view the principle of liberty and independence applied to both situations: Dutch independence from Nazi Germany and Indonesian independence from the colonial Netherlands.
Much of the literary work of the author Jansz is based on his Indo identity and his fathers' heritage.
In 1997 Jansz married actress Jaloe Maat, the mother of his two youngest children. He has a (step)daughter from a previous marriage. He currently lives with his family in Neerkant, the Netherlands.
, Jansz wrote the majority of the Doe Maar-songs. Usually they were sung by the one who wrote it (in other words Jansz and Vrienten split the lead vocals). He was originally asked to be the band's keyboardist, and played synthesizer
on many songs. His Indo background has influenced much of his work. This is especially true of the Doe Maar song "Rumah Saya" (My House or My Home), where he describes fitting in with neither Dutch nor Indonesian culture fully. This song is featured on one of the best sold albums in Dutch pop history.
After Doe Maar broke up, Ernst Jansz did various solo projects, and played in bands such as Dutch folk band CCC inc (where he began his career). Since the mid-Nineties he's a member of singer-/songwriter Boudewijn de Groot
's backing band; as with CCC Inc. and Doe Maar he's given the opportunity to express his musical versatility.
Doe Maar
Doe Maar was a Dutch ska band with punk and reggae influences. Their career ran from 1978 to 1984 and they were one of the most successful pop bands in Dutch history. Doe Maar translates as Go Ahead or Just do it, a phrase mostly used in a deprecatory, sulky manner.-Early years:Doe Maar was formed...
. Doe Maar is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
1980s ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
/reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band, and is considered one of the most successful bands in Dutch pop history.
His father, born in Semarang
Semarang
- Economy :The western part of the city is home to many industrial parks and factories. The port of Semarang is located on the north coast and it is the main shipping port for the province of Central Java. Many small manufacturers are located in Semarang, producing goods such as textiles,...
on Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, is an Indo (Dutch-Indonesian
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
), who went to the Netherlands in 1932 after finishing his study at the Batavia HBS to continue his higher education there. Once Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands his father was involved in the Dutch resistance movement, until he was captured and interned in a German concentration camp. After the war he became one of the few Indo advocates for an independent Indonesia. In his view the principle of liberty and independence applied to both situations: Dutch independence from Nazi Germany and Indonesian independence from the colonial Netherlands.
Much of the literary work of the author Jansz is based on his Indo identity and his fathers' heritage.
In 1997 Jansz married actress Jaloe Maat, the mother of his two youngest children. He has a (step)daughter from a previous marriage. He currently lives with his family in Neerkant, the Netherlands.
Music
Together with Henny VrientenHenny Vrienten
Henny Vrienten is a Dutch composer of TV- and film-scores. He used to be the singer, songwriter and bass guitar player of the popular eighties ska pop band Doe Maar.-Early days:...
, Jansz wrote the majority of the Doe Maar-songs. Usually they were sung by the one who wrote it (in other words Jansz and Vrienten split the lead vocals). He was originally asked to be the band's keyboardist, and played synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
on many songs. His Indo background has influenced much of his work. This is especially true of the Doe Maar song "Rumah Saya" (My House or My Home), where he describes fitting in with neither Dutch nor Indonesian culture fully. This song is featured on one of the best sold albums in Dutch pop history.
No mountains at the horizon, in this land of my birth. [...] And then I long for the land of my father. But also there I will be a stranger. [...] Rumah saya dimana? (Wheres my home?) Song lyrics by Ernst Jansz, 1981.
After Doe Maar broke up, Ernst Jansz did various solo projects, and played in bands such as Dutch folk band CCC inc (where he began his career). Since the mid-Nineties he's a member of singer-/songwriter Boudewijn de Groot
Boudewijn de Groot
Boudewijn de Groot is a famous Dutch singer/songwriter. He is known for the songs "Welterusten Meneer de President" , "Land van Maas en Waal" , "Jimmy" and "Avond" among others...
's backing band; as with CCC Inc. and Doe Maar he's given the opportunity to express his musical versatility.
Books & albums
Ernst Jansz has written three semi-autobiographical books: Gideons droom (Gideon's Dream, 1983) De Overkant (The Other Side, 1985), and Molenbeekstraat (Een liefdeslied 1948 - 1970) (Molenbeekstraat: a lovesong 1948-1970), 2006). The latter two share their titles with Jansz' solo-albums. Gideons droom is about a second-generation Indo (Indo-European) Dutchman like himself; De Overkant is a three-part book dealing with letters between Jansz and his family (especially his father), the life of his mother, and an account of his trip to Indonesia. Molenbeekstraat covers his early life and mixes in songtext from the Molenbeekstraat album.CCC inc.
- 1970 - To Our Grandchildren
- 1971 - Watching The Evening Sun
- 1973 - Castle In Spain
- 1975 - CCC Forever
- 1984 - Van Beusekom
- 1990 - Speed & Intensity
- 2000 - Jan
- 2007 - 1967-2007 (Box)
Studioalbums
- 1979 - Doe Maar
- 1981 - Skunk
- 1982 - Doris Day & Andere Stukken
- 1983 - 4us
- 2000 - Klaar
Live-albums
- 1983 - Lijf aan Lijf
- 1995 - Het Afscheidsconcert (incl. video)
- 2000 - Hees van Ahoy (incl. dvd)
De Gevestigde Orde
One off project by the Dutch Pop music foundation: Ernst Jansz, Joost Belinfante, Doe Maar members (without Henny Vrienten) and Bram Vermeulen & his band.- 1983 - De Gevestigde Orde (live-lp)
Rienne Va Plus
Trio: Ernst Jansz, Jan Hendriks and singer Rieany (Rienne) Janssen.- 1990 - Rienne Va Plus
- 1992 - Money Makes Millionaires
Producer
- 1984 - Drie Heren - Ik Zag Drie Heren...
- 1985 - Blue Murder - La La Love
- 1985 - Claw Boys Claw - Indian Wallpaper
- 1986 - Blue Murder - Talk Talk Talk
- 1986 - Blue Murder - Stalking The Deerpark
- 1991 - Bram Vermeulen - Vriend En Vijand
- 1994 - Bram Vermeulen - Achter Mijn Ogen
- 1995 - Bram Vermeulen - Tijd/Vrije Tijd
- 1997 - Bram Vermeulen - Polonaise
- 1997 - Boudewijn de Groot - Een hele tour: Gent
- 1998 - Bram Vermeulen - Allemaal
- 2004 - Boudewijn de Groot - Eiland In De Verte
- 2005 - Boudewijn de Groot - Een Avond in Brussel, cd/dvd
- 2007 - Boudewijn de Groot - Lage Landen Tour, cd/dvd
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(1952- )