April 2025 Theme Mix Tape (Side B)
The Prettige Koningsdag! April 2025 Theme Mix Tape (Side B) can be found on Spotify. Listen in-blog below for a more rich experience, or on Spotify for uninterrupted music. Please note below each song is a link to song lyrics for accessibility. Check out more details on how to best enjoy mix tapes.
Good day and prettige Koningsdag!
U luistert naar KMTJ-DB – Jouw Mix Tape Reis – Denver, Colorado.
You’re listening to KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I am your host, DJ Ponyboy welcoming you to Side B of April 2025’s theme mix tape celebrating Koningsdag, a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, presently celebrated on April 27th (or April 26th if the 27th falls on a Sunday).
Since this year, the 27th does fall on a Sunday, in honour of the holiday, this week’s mix tape is being released a full day early so you can celebrate on the 26th with everyone else!
Prettige Koningsdag! Prettige means pleasant, so to say prettige Koningsdag is to wish someone a pleasant King’s Day!
Make sure to check out Side A of this mix tape for more fun facts and history!
I hope you’re joining the celebration madness by wearing orange! I know I am!
As noted near the end of Side A, a lot of Dutch popular music has a surprising amount of US and British influence baked in.
Kicking off today’s mix tape is Jovink and the Voederbietels with “Brommers Kieken”, their Dutch-language variation on the Beatles song “I Saw Her Standing There”.
I’m DJ Ponyboy; Dutch is a beautiful language, and I apologize to my Dutch listeners for any inevitable mispronunciations. 🥺 Please be kind. 🥰
I have been listening to Dutch-language music for years and I’m grateful for Koningsdag, as it is the perfect excuse to share some of my favourites with you! ❤️
Like the second track of Side A, we hear again from the Dutch rock band Mooi Wark, a name that translates to “beautiful work”, this time with a track about partying naked (one of my favourite pastimes)!
Mooi Wark and “In De Blote Kont” on KMTJ-DB – Denver, Colorado.
I always appreciate when a song in a language I do not speak has simple, repeated lyrics I can sing along with – you can release a lot of dopamine by simply singing “IN DE BLOTE KONT” at the appropriate times!
Though I do tend to get carried away with the music and dance, I can assure you mijn vrienden, I have not forgotten about Koningsdag!
As noted in Side A, Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day) was celebrated on April 30th for more than sixty years from 1949 to 2013.
Queen Beatrix abdicated the throne on Koninginnedag 2013, and her son, Willem-Alexander, ascended the throne (the first king since the observance of the national holiday). As a result, the holiday has been known as Koningsdag since 2014, and the celebration was moved to April 27th, Willem-Alexander’s actual birthday.
Happy (early) birthday to King Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands!
Three cheers for the king!
Hip hip huzzah!
Hip hip huzzah!
Hip hip huzzah!
Speaking of simple, repeated lyrics you can sing along with, our next song features a name – that of actress Luigia “Gina” Lollobrigida.
Gina was an Italian actress, model, photojournalist, sculptor, and one of the highest-profile European actresses of the 1950s and 1960s, considered an international sex symbol.
Dubbed “the most beautiful woman in the world”, at the time of her death in 2023 she was one of the last surviving high-profile actors from the “Golden Age” of Hollywood cinema.
Listen closely the first time and after that, when you hear Gina, you can respond with Gina, Gina Lolo Brigitta!
Robert Pater next.
I’m DJ Ponyboy, coming to you on KMTJ-DB, Denver – having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have – and I am so excited you have decided to join me today for Side B of this month’s electrifying mix tape!
Vader Abraham is famous for writing the song “Father Abraham”, kicking off the Smurf music craze of the 1970’s, and composing several songs for entry in the annual Eurovision song contest. Our next track reminds us to think upon that which is beautiful and good; even when all is gloomy, and the world feels as though it is ending, in a garden, a rose is blooming in “Maar In Mijn Tuin Daar Bloeit’n Roos” on KMTJ-DB – Denver.
Maar In Mijn Tuin Daar Bloeit’n Roos Lyrics
Our next track is a cover of a song originally recorded by American singer-songwriter Gene Pitney in 1962: Corry Konings (hey, I bet you recognize that word!) with her cover/interpolation of “Jukebox”.
Longtime listeners may recognize our next song from DJ Ponyboy’s Guilty Pleasure Mix Tape (Side A), where we heard an instrumental cover performed by Dutch trumpeter brothers Gebroeders Brouwer.
Ben Cramer with another waltz – 1969’s “De Clown”.
I am your host, DJ Ponyboy, coming to you on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I hope you are joining me in oranjehegte (orange madness) today – I’m wearing my orange – are you?!
If you are enjoying this month’s sojourn, please consider supporting me and the mission of Mix Tape Journey by signing up for my email newsletter, purchasing a product, supporting me on Patreon, or simply sharing your favourite mix tape with someone special!
If you have been following along with the lyrics in the covers we have heard so far, you may have noticed a fair number of lyrics that don’t exactly match up to what we are used to – this is due in part to the difficulty in translating into another language while still maintaining the feel and cadence of the song.
I have a lot of respect for those who can manage this. One lyric I find especially admirable is the translation from “you sexy thing” to “jij Lekkerding” (“you nice thing”).
Covering/interpolating a 1975 hit from British soul band Hot Chocolate, here is John West and Lange Frans with “Lekkerding”!
I hope you have been enjoying the music! As always, I encourage you to explore and find more of what you like. If you are unsure how to do this, check out Chasing Sunshine: My Guide to Educating Yourself on Popular Music, which provides tips, tricks, and strategies for finding new music you love!
Prettige Koningsdag! I’m DJ Ponyboy, and guess what?! I got a koorts, and the only prescription is more Dutch music!
With one of the more unique songs we have heard this month, enjoy Henk Wijngaard and his trucker anthem, “Met de Vlam in de Pijp” (With the Flame in the Pipe), on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
Our next song is a cover, an interpolation, and a hoot! My favourite part is at the beginning, where one singer sings in English and his partner repeats the phrases in Dutch (well, almost, 😅).
Next, Drukwerk performs their version of a traditional American folk song from the turn of the 20th century, “Schijn ‘n Lichtje Op Mij”.
Schijn ‘n Lichtje Op Mij Lyrics
You’re listening to KMTJ-DB, Denver, Colorado.
Don’t forget we are celebrating one year of weekly mix tapes all month long! Have you listened to them all? 🤔 Which is your favourite? Share yours on the Mix Tape Journeyers Facebook Group!
Use the discount code ONEYEAR20 for 20% off MTJ product purchases (including Chasing Sunshine) through April 30th! If you were subscribed to my email newsletter at the beginning of April, you received a special discount code giving you 30% off. Sign up today to make sure you can take advantage of any future members-only deals!
Thank you for your support; I appreciate you!
Closing out today’s mix tape is a song that is just pure fun!
Dutch artist De Alpenzusjes (The Alpine Sisters) with one of my favourite non-English directed-dance tunes. A fun song for children and adults to dance to, the chorus is translated simply as, “move forward, move backward”.
De Alpenzusjes and “Naar Voren, Naar Achter”.
Naar Voren, Naar Achter Lyrics
Prettige Koningsdag!
I hope you have had half as much fun as I have this month. Don’t forget to return next week for my monthly New Music Mix Tape, celebrating all the best songs released in April 2025.
You have been listening to KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I’m your host, DJ Ponyboy.
Until next time, stay gold!