A note from Hans Croon—singer of the band The Dutch, also known as Son of Han—accompanying the release of his new single, Oh Boy It’s A Girl:
“‘Our music is largely about how shitty the world is and how beautiful life is,’ I recently read in an interview with Joris van de Waterbeemd (24), frontman of the band Politie Warnsveld. As someone who has been composing songs about the general shittiness of the world for some 45 years, I saw a bridge spanning three generations there. After all, every now and then, a song about the beauty of life slips into my own repertoire, too.
Yet for a long time, I used to shrug off songs about simple domestic happiness. Personal misery, doubts, heartbreak, right-wing populism, social injustice—all excellent fodder for lyrics. But owning a home, having a place in the sun, and always having someone nearby who could love me? No thanks. John Lennon’s Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)? Same reaction. I had no trouble believing his son Sean was a sweet kid, but all that coziness made me feel a bit queasy.
However.
As the years go by, I’m becoming more sentimental—is that the right word? My eyes well up more often, I can get angrier than I used to, and I experience euphoria more frequently. And yes, nothing has made me more euphoric than the birth of my grandchildren. So why should I care if rock ’n’ roll isn’t supposed to dabble in cheerful happiness? ‘Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans,’ sings John Lennon in that very same Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy). And that is how songs like There’s My Firstborn Talking, Cian’s Song, and All Smiles & Joy have found their way into The Dutch’s repertoire in recent years.
After my daughter Djuna (my firstborn… …my son Tijn has just welcomed a baby. And it’s a girl! Her name is Pippa. I wrote a song for her. Oh Boy It’s A Girl captures how I feel about the arrival of this new little human. Half-blessed with Tijn and Lisa’s DNA, the other half a blank slate—ready to be filled with love, kindness, curiosity. I’m so happy, and the world needs to know it!
Oh Boy It’s A Girl is also a universal song for anyone lucky enough to welcome a daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece, neighbor’s daughter, or anyone else into their lives.
It’s a girl, what can I say
A girl, hurray
It’s a girl, what can I say
A girl, no way
It even features a proper stadium-style singalong at the end (ahem).
My love Darja de Wever provided backing vocals, as did Megan de Kruijf and Paula Conaghan, while Jan de Kruijf played bass guitar. Jan also handled the flawless mix and production. All without any AI involvement, of course.
Best regards, Hans
PS: Tomorrow I’ll write another song about how shitty the world is.”
Oh Boy It’s A Girl is released on the Run the Story label and is available on all streaming platforms.