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Joan Miró

by Son of Han

/

about

The song Joan Miró was first recorded as "Composition avec des Cordes" in 1986, as part of the project La Grande Parade. Last year, with the original audio file presumed lost, I decided to rerecord the song, renamed it "Joan Miró" and added new instruments, like drums, guitars and xylophone. I asked some of the original musicians, i.e. Esther Apituley and Petra Lugtenburg, to join me in separate recording sessions. For Petra, this was one of her last recordings, because just a few weeks after the session she received news of her illness. It was so sad to hear she had passed away months later. It is with all my heart that I dedicate this song to Petra, a dear friend and wonderful singer.

La Grande Parade was inspired by 20th century art masterpieces in the Stedelijk Museum at the farewell exhibition of the then director Edy de Wilde. NITS singer Henk Hofstede asked me, and a dozen or so fellow musicians, to contribute a song to the project. At the time I was very impressed by Catalan painters (and still am) so I picked "Composition avec des Cordes" by Joan Miró. I knew the song would have to reflect the childlike imagination and naïvety of the painting, and should sound like an evocation of happiness and wonder. Immediately, the sound of brass came to mind, with a rhythm like a walking pass and Esther's viola playing the counter melody. I remember the song took me less than an hour to write. We recorded it at the Werf Studio in Amsterdam and shortly after that we were filmed on location in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

This new version, 33 years after La Grande Parade, was recorded in my home studio, with the exception of the viola in Esther's home and the drums in Klaas Jonkmans's. Alfons Houweling and his son Dennis played the trumpets. Lastly I affixed the new audio file to the old footage. Which of course is a history falsification, but a very nice one, for which I think I may be excused.

Somehow I feel this happy song counterbalances the dark era we live in right now, with the pandemic, the political turmoil, the climate change and so many other bad things threatening the world, and may be exactly what we need to cheer up and sing along for a change. I hope you'll join me in this celebration of fun, color and naivety.

All the best from Hans - Son of Han

© Son of Han 2020

lyrics

Oh Joan Miró
Is there anybody here who saw Miró
Oh Joan Miró
Is there anybody here who saw Miró

In the center of the playground
Lies a rope of unknown source
It seems to say Hey baby
Who's not looking for his final trap

And the gatekeeper ties you down
When all you want is just to
Take a ride in his beak
And the days that we dreamt along
Were always filled with the smell and taste 
Of ginger bread

Oh Joan Miró
Is there anybody here who saw Miró
Oh Joan Miró
Is there anybody here who saw Miró

Right beside the scene stands nanny
Shoulders to the wheel
Delirious garden, when will I grow up
To be a king

And the gatekeeper ties you down
When all you want is just to
Take a ride in his beak
And the days that we dreamt along
Were always filled with the smell and taste 
Of ginger bread

Fairytales in bed
Sound of trumpet calls
Mistletoes and dolls
Taste of ginger bread
Fairytales in bed

credits

released October 30, 2020
Backing vocals: Petra Lugtenburg
Viola: Esther Apituley
Trumpet: Alfons Houweling, Dennis Houweling
Drums: Klaas Jonkmans
Produced by Son of Han and Jan de Kruijf

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The Dutch / Son of Han Netherlands

The Dutch is an Amsterdam based pop group. Son of Han is the lead singer/guitarist.

Get all the information you need at thedutchband.com.

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