Grönlo, Anneke

Birth and early years

Grenloo was born in the Dutch East Indies , which was under Japanese occupation. Her father, a Dutch officer, was interned before her birth. After being released, the family sailed on a ship to the Netherlands . Grenloo grew up in Eindhoven , North Brabant .

Early career

Soon, she meets at the Municipal Lyceum and performs with him with the "Rocket" at parties. She also performs in the Netherlands and Belgium, including with the Jos de Mol and The Skyliners, where they mostly sing American hits, jazz and rock and roll. Under the name Yokotjang, she also performed as a singer and dancer with oriental songs. Yokotjang in Japanese means "younger sister." So called Grenlo in the Japanese camp.

December 19, 1959 Grenlo wins a talent show. The final was broadcast on television, and the main prize was a recording contract. Her winning song “Ma, he's making eyes at me wordt later” becomes a hit abroad. She also recorded a Dutch version of this song called “Ma, hij wil zo graag een zoen”. The record becomes a hit in the Netherlands. On this album she was accompanied by Peter and his Rockets, with whom she performed in the country between 1960/1962.

Success in Asia

Grönlo contracts with Phonogram Records , created by Philips Phonographic Industry (PPI), which was part of Philips . Her first single is the Malay song Asmara . In the Netherlands, the song is not so well known, but in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, it becomes a hit. At the end of 1960, she went on her first concert tour to Singapore and Malaysia. Her teenage songs, such as Maar Charly et al., Became very popular. The song Trui, jersey, slobber sweater is the first real hit in the Netherlands in 1961.

The Indonesian songs Boeroeng kaka and Nina Bobo recorded in 1961 became hits in the Far East in 1962. Both songs rank first for many months in Singapore and Malaysia. During a tour in January 1962, Grenlo performs at stadiums, large concert halls in Singapore and in the cities of Malaysia - Ipoh , Malacca and Penning. She conducts this tour along with the duo The Blue Diamonds , which are also very popular in those regions thanks to their hit Ramona . Nina Bobo also becomes a hit in Japan and Grönlo's biggest international hit.

At the same time, she also recorded several records in the jazz genre - her favorite musical style.

Popularity

In July 1962, she took part in the Knokke song festival along with Mike Telkamp and Millie Scott. There she performed her new single, Brandend Zand . The song appeared on the monthly hit list Music Parade at number 1 and remains there for 2 months. Her new album Paradiso, took fourth position for 4 months in the same hit list. In the weekly hit list, Platennieuws Brandend Zand took first place for 2 weeks. Since November 24, 1962 Paradiso takes 16 consecutive weeks in first position ^[2] . And this was a record that was equal in the weekly charts only after 54 years in 2017 by Ed Sheeran with the song Shape of You and Luis Fonsi and Deaddy Yankee with the song Despacito . Brandend Zand and Paradiso had more and more success and won gold. When Grönlo again goes on tour to the Far East, at the end of November she becomes the first and largest idol among young stars and pop stars in the Netherlands. Upon arrival in Singapore, she receives a Nina Bobo gold plate. This album, with sales of nearly seven million copies worldwide, is Anneke Grönlo's biggest international success. This is also her “melody of recognition” in the Far Eastern countries.

Success is only getting bigger. In 1963, Soerabaja and Cimeroni again became No. 1 hits and hit the gold record in the Netherlands. Wladimir and Da doe ron also give gold. In 1963, Grenloo received five gold records for various titles over ten months. This was a record recorded in the Guinness Book of Records . Wim Kang lit her serenade at the conference.

Grenloe's popularity is also growing in Germany, thanks to the success of the German versions of Cimeroni , Wenn wir beide and Hochzeit machen . Grenloe often appeared on German television and she was a regular guest in the main shows of Vico Torriani , Peter Vek , Peter Alexander and Annelise Rotenberger . In Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan, Boeroeng Kaka , Buka Pintu and the Malaysian version of Paradiso are hits. Anneke Grönlo is recording an English version of Brandend Zand called Oh, Malaysia , specifically for the proclamation of the new Republic of Malaysia . The song becomes so popular that people are even considering making it the new national anthem. This again gives Grenloo a gold record. In Singapore, she was offered to star in a leading role in a musical film. Due to lack of time, the singer cannot participate. During this period, she performs on average three, and often even four or five times a day, per week in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the end, the doctor intervenes and prescribes one day of rest per week in the record company. The reason for this was that Grenloo lost consciousness several times after speaking due to fatigue, and she had to undergo a one-week sleep treatment to recover. In addition to many performances, there were also radio, television, interviews and photo shoots. During her performances, such a large crowd often came to the forefront that police escorts regularly deployed to deliver the singer to a safe place and away from them. During a tour for soldiers that she did with Willek Alberti, the military more often removed the wheels under her car in order to keep her in place for signatures and photographs longer.

In 1964, Rozen hebben and Schemering are still quite popular. But with the advent of the British invasion, the musical taste of youth is changing. Since Anneke Grönlo is also very popular with parents, grandparents, her popularity and record sales remain high and are currently maintained.

Eurovision

In 1964, the only three songs performed at the national selection by her, Jij bent mijn leven won him ^[3] . The 1964 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Copenhagen , thanks to the victory of the Danish duo Greta and Jörgen Ingmann last year. At the contest, the singer took 10th place (among 13/16) with 2 points ^[4] . In addition, Grenlo became the first member of non-European descent. After Eurovision, Jij bent mijn leven and Weer zingt de wind in the Netherlands become hits.

In 1969, Grönlo again participated in the national selection for Eurovision 1969 . Her song Heartbeat took fifth (penultimate) position ^[5] . And the selection was won by guitarist Lenny Cur .

Collaboration

Together with Rob de Nage, Grönlo toured with Rudy Carrell in a large theater show, which was held for three weeks at Carré and the Circus Theater. There are also several concerts with Cliff Richard in Kurhaus, Scheveningen and in auction houses in Blocker . On August 31, 1964, she married the radio jockey radio Veronica Wim Jaap van der Laan . The marriage was concluded under mass public interest in Amsterdam . Grönlo signs a contract with KRO for a series of successful television shows that can be seen for four seasons under the name De Anneke Grönloh Show . In the show, the singer sings an international repertoire and hosts guests such as Marianne Faithful and The Seekers . In Germany, she is very successful with the song Das Wird Ein Wochenend , written specially for her by the composer of the song Brandend Zand Werner Scharfenberger. The intention is that Grenloh would sing it in a musical film with Peter Kraus. Even now, this is not possible due to an overcrowded agenda. Vivi Bach ultimately takes on the role.

At the end of 1964, Anneke Grenlo left with The Blue Diamonds for a concert tour to Indonesia. Therefore, they are the first Dutch artists to be greeted again after independence. The premiere will take place at the Indonesia Hotel in Jakarta. President Sukarno organizes a reception for her, and his court artist makes a picture for her.

New Repertoire

In 1965, Grönlo became the lead woman in Sleeswijk Revue, also known as Snip en Snap revue . At the same time, she makes the transition from a teenage singer to an adult star. It is also noticeable in her repertoire, which is becoming more mature and less commercial. The time of big hits for her in the Netherlands was over, but several gold records followed abroad, including two hits under No. 1 in Yugoslavia with Serbian versions of Wladimir and Cimeroni in 1966.

In addition, she makes many foreign tours, including to Suriname , she participates in international song festivals in Athens (1968) and she was invited to the Golden Rose festival in Montreux (1969). In addition to her own television shows for KRO, which will last until 1967, she, along with Rob de Nage, is a regular star guest on Studio Anno, which broadcasts NCRV monthly from 1968 to 1970. Anneke Grönlo gave birth to two sons.

In the 70s, Grönlo was mainly engaged in listening to Dutch songs. She is also invited to annual tours to Indonesia and the West. She won the Menorca song contest in 1972 with the song Shala-lee, shala-loo . In 1977, she recorded several songs with her friend and colleague Ronnie Tober, of which Speel is another song for the organ man that is most successful. Together with her husband, she managed the Het Koetshuis restaurant in Eindhoven for several years, but it turns out that this cannot be combined with her stage work.

Late Career

In 1986, Grönlo returned to Telstar. At the same time, at the request of Henny Husman, she imitated Tina Turner in the Star Playback Show, which caused a lot of sensations and publicity.

In 1993, she is an honored guest of Miz Bowman in the television show "Leader". In 1994, she celebrates the 35th anniversary of artists with concerts at the Amsterdam City Theater and at the stadium in Singapore. She releases an album in which all the texts are written by Ian Roth.

In 1997, the Queen of the Netherlands, Beatrix, appointed Anneke Grönlo an officer of the Orange-Nassau Order . She also receives five entries from the Guinness Book of Records that same year - the singer who was No. 1 with the most hits and the longest time in the charts (37 months).

In 2000, Grönlo settled in France. In the new millennium, Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague will have several anniversary gala concerts, new CDs and DVDs, as well as foreign tours. In 2002, Paul de Leuw depicts her for several weeks in her television program Herberg De Leeuw as rotting cocaine. When he refuses to stop, Anneke Grenlo hires a lawyer. The NCRV that broadcasts the program finally intervenes and refuses to broadcast the program. This leads to the departure of De Leu from the television company, which pays Grenlo compensation for damage to her image and reputation ^{[6] [7]} .

In 2004, her husband, Wim Yaap van der Laan, dies. In 2006, Anneke Grenloe will replace Corrie Brocken as a guest star in the Purper cabaret group and together with Jos Brink she will become a star in the Purper 100 program. The tour ends at the Carre Theater.

Like an actress

At the age of 65, Grönlo made her debut in 2007 as an actress starring in the movie Ver van familie, directed by Marion Bloom. Radio 5 proclaims the film "an icon of the 60s." Collaboration with rapper Ali B in his series Ali B is in full swing. In 2009, Omroep MAX makes a television recording of the artist’s 50th birthday, which is celebrated at the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague. Guests include Willek Alberti, Ria Valk and Ronnie Tober. The DVD of this concert arrives on publication week at number 20 on the DVD sales list. At the invitation of the President of Singapore, Grenlo also gives a concert in Singapore the same year.

In 2012, Grenloe received the Triple Diamond Award from Ali B. She was presented with an award for selling more than 3.5 million copies of her Brandend Zand song since 1962. She also plays the role of Oma Towty in the drama series NTR Zusjes. In 2014, she celebrates her 55th birthday with a gala evening at SS Rotterdam. The show is called "Swinging" and is accompanied by the Dutch Swing College band, Louis van Dyck and Candy Dulfer. Special guests are singer Do (Dominic van Hulst) and soprano Marjon Lambrix.

In 2015, during the 70th anniversary after Indonesia was proclaimed, Grönlo recorded a version of the military classic, with the support of Mastreechter Staar. She visits her old friend Vera Lynn from England to offer her first single. During a performance on National Veterans Day in Maliveld in The Hague, Army Commander General Tom Middendorp offers her 10,000 downloads of this single.

Recent years

In 2016, Anneke Grönlo fell ill with severe pulmonary thromboembolism . As a result, Grönlo becomes dependent on the oxygen device. She continued to perform normally, but in early June 2017 she decides to end her career the day before her 75th birthday. The performances were too heavy for her, and she regularly had breathing problems. She gave her last major public appearance at Johnny Hawes Night on August 26, 2017 in Wirth.

In 2018, she could be seen in the documentary film “Klanken van Oorsprong” dedicated to Indorok, which also talks about her life in the Dutch East Indies and her music career ^[8] .

On September 14, 2018, she died at the age of 76 from leukemia , which she suffered for some time.

Songs

• Asmara (1960) - the first single Grenlo. In the Netherlands, he is little known, but in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia - this is a successful hit.
• Flamenco Rock (1960)
• Ma, hij wil zo graag een zoen (1961)
• Brandend zand (1962) - received a gold plate
• Paradiso (1962) - this song takes on a plate and was the cover of the original 1961 Connie Francis
• Soerabaja (1963)
• Cimeroni (1963)

Grönlo won four consecutive hits in the Netherlands in 1962 and 1963, namely: Brandend zand , Paradiso , Soerabaja and Cimeroni . Paradiso has been in the first position for sixteen consecutive weeks. She has sold over thirty million singles worldwide, and this makes her the most successful Dutch singer in history. Grenloh has been successful in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia, the former Yugoslavia, Spain, Japan and the entire Far East, in particular in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. She recorded repertoires in Dutch, English, Malay, German, Spanish, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, Norwegian and Swedish.

Singer of the Century

In 2000, Grenloe was named "Singer of the Century" because of the record number of copies sold of her single, Brandend zand . In the same year, she also participated in the Big Brother VIPS television program.

Dvd's