Joost Klein
''I think about all the orphans in the world, I think about the people that other people tend to forget...If we combine all those thoughts then we`re getting somewhere. I`m all about progression.''
Joost Klein (Born in 1997 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands) is a Dutch musician known for his unique blend of hip-hop, pop, and electronic music. In 2016 he released his EP "Dakloos" and a year later, he released his album Scandinavian Boy. In 2018, Joost Klein collaborated with fellow artist Donnie on the album M Van Marketing and made his debut performance at Lowlands. The following year saw the release of two albums, Albino and 1983, further solidifying his place in the Dutch music scene. In 2020, Joost Klein dropped the EP "Joost Klein 7" and collaborated with De Kreuners on a cover of 'I Want You'. He continued his success in 2021 with the compilation Albino Sports, Vol. 1 and the single 'Fok De Blok' with StuBru. As he continues to evolve as an artist, Joost Klein released his album Fryslân in 2022, alongside major performances at festivals such as Pinkpop and Rock Werchter.
However now, he has become one of the most talked about musicians due to his entrance in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. As of today, his song ‘‘Europapa’’ has 59`376`539 streams on Spotify, surpassing Eurovision’s winner Nemo who`s song ‘‘The Code’’ reached 15`974`634 streams today. Joost is one of the most interesting and unique musicians out there, particularly for his use of humour. For an interview for Dutch music platform 3voor12 (2018), Joost explained where his humour comes from:
‘‘I can be really happy when I have made a stupid rhyme scheme. When I look at what I used to find funny: The Crying Rappers, Jiskefet, things like that. I really miss that in the Netherlands now, the fun shit and retarded jokes. I grew up with bad and crude Dutch humour. Better own that shit.’’ (Pisart,2018).
Joost's music may be characterized by its upbeat and uplifting sound, as well as his use of humour in his performances and music of course, but behind all of this lies a strong and unafraid personality. Despite his cheerful demeanour, Joost is not afraid to speak out. In the Eurovision press conference, when asked if he thinks about his family who watched his performance, he answered:
‘‘I think about all the orphans in the world, I think about the people that other people tend to forget, I think about the teachers who get bullied in the classroom but I also think about the people with no house. I like to think all day, every day about some people that missed their flight, some people with no money and I just like to think a lot. And I think if we combine all those thoughts then we`re getting somewhere. I`m all about progression.’’
With a unique blend of introspective lyrics and catchy melodies which won`t leave no one indifferent, let's dive into some spotlight tracks from his album Fryslân (2022) that exemplify the depth and sincerity of Joost's music. :)
Joost talks about his life on Fryslân (2022). There are high-energy tracks that immediately grab the listener's attention, a blend of catchy beats with introspective lyrics. There is ska-track ‘‘Pinkpop 1983’’, folk/banjo infused ‘‘Rookpauze’’, Post-punk-indie sounding ‘‘Papa en Mama’’. Likewise, there are more contemplative and emotional songs, showcasing his ability to connect with listeners on a deeper level. Like in ‘‘Europapa’’, ‘‘Life Story’’, ‘‘2002/2001’’, ‘‘Papa en Mama’’ and ‘‘Florida 2009’’ discusses his parents. At the age of 12, Klein lost his father and year later, his mother.
My father was gone (M'n vader die was weg)
Saw my mom in a psychosis (Zag m'n ma in een psychose
Was offered help (Kreeg hulp aangeboden)
But I didn't think that was necessary (Maar dat vond ik niet nodig)
I have and had a way with words (Ik heb en had een way met woorden)
But unfortunately, I also have eating disorder (Maar helaas, ik heb ook eating disorder)
Father drove the tram, my mother came from it (Vader reed de tram mijn ma kwam uit het)
Madhouse a year later (Gekkenhuis een jaartje later)
She was never home (Zij was never ik thuis)
I came to get a cake (Ik kwam een taartje halen)
I saw her lying on the (Ik zag haar liggen op de)
Couch in cardiac arrest (Bank met een hartstilstand)
Yes, always big mouthed, but here (Yes, altijd grote mond maar hier)
It made me silent (Werd ik stil van)
There you are, at your dad's cremation (Daar sta je dan, bij de crematie van je pa)
After all this time of running away (Na al die tijd van vluchten)
Stop and think (Sta je stil en denk je na)
This will never be custard again (Dit is nooit meer vla)
Never again custard in front of the TV, never together again (Nooit meer vla voor de tv nooit meer samen)
There you are, at your mother's cremation (Daar sta je dan, bij de crematie van je ma)
All crying faces (Allemaal huilende gezichten)
But I thought that was quite normal (Maar dat vond ik best normaal)
And she was such a sweet woman (En ze was zo'n lieve vrouw)
Still so much I wanted to say (Nog zoveel dat ik zeggen wou)
From I'm sorry, and sorry (Van het spijt me, en sorry)
But my heart is cold now (Maar mijn hart die is nu koud)
For you I keep my patience (Voor jou bewaar ik mijn geduld)
In a box, under my bed (In een kistje, onder me bed)
Was in a crazy psychosis (Zat in een gekke psychose)
I was tired of life (Ik was het leven zat)
I looked for myself because that's all I need (Ik zocht mezelf want meer heb ik niet nodig)
Maybe it was god giving me a sign? (Misschien was het god die mij een teken gaf?)
I just want some happiness (Ik wil gewoon wat geluk)
But there's nothing I can do (Maar er is niks dat me lukt)
Yes, and one day I will go away, just like Kurt Cobain (Yes, en ooit dan ga ik heen, heen net Kurt Cobain)
Bitch, I feel like Prince, like purple rain (Bitch, ik voel me Prince, net purple rain)
My father is proud, I was at DWDD (Mijn vader die is trots, ik zat bij DWDD)
Wake me up at the end of the month, like Green Day (Maak me wakker aan het einde van de maand, net Green Day)
Joost calls Fryslân (2022) a completely independent and organic album in an interview for 3voor12 - ‘‘Joost Klein: ‘De eerste veertig luisterbeurten moest ik alleen maar huilen’’ (2022). The interview is of course in Dutch, but here is an English translation which provides deeper insights into the artist's introspective approach to music and the album Fryslân:
‘‘We had many wonderful personal conversations. With Teun [Producer Teun de Kruif known as Tantu Beats] I felt heard for the first time, I could share my ups and downs with him. And I came to the realization: maybe I shouldn't just use music as escapism. I no longer just write for fun, but also to get to the core of myself.
Every year I have the feeling that I am in a burnout, and have been for years. I wanted to take a break, but then I got another request and I thought: “Fuck, shit, yeah, who could say no to that? Oh, and the money is also a little more than last time?” I lived on an inheritance for a long time, but even as a child I was very afraid of running out of money. That I would become homeless, for example. At the same time my stage kept getting bigger.
When the world suddenly came to a standstill two years ago, Joost fell into a new deep, dark hole. 'I had incurred costs for a show in Tivoli, I had already invested quite a lot in it, but that was the first event that was cancelled. I received all kinds of angry emails, while I was looking for the feeling of belonging. I shouldn't look for this in others, but in myself. I thought I was my job and nothing more. I became very negative about myself. That was a very unpleasant period. I didn't sleep, I didn't eat. I was just making things on my laptop and on my iPad. I even made LEGO® stop motions. Hundreds of videos edited. I was simply alone too much.’’ (Pisart, 2022)
Shockingly, Joost was disqualified from Eurovision and rumours started to link that it was due to Israel's delegation, after Joost asked why Israel`s contestant refused to answer one of the questions at the press conference regarding Israel and Palestine. Also, Eurovision was hit by several pro-Palestine rallies which demanding to boycott Israel. EBU said that Klein's "behaviour" towards their staff member was a "breach of contest rules" with no more explanation. At the grand final, Estonia`s 5MIINUST x Puuluup said ‘‘Dankjewel!’’ at the end of their performance, which means ‘‘Thank You’’ in Dutch’' ;)
At the start of June, Joost released ‘‘Luchtballon’’. The song not only takes a dig at Eurovision organisers but the lyrics showcase his feelings about the situation and his sudden worldwide fame.
What was your favourite song at Eurovision ? What do you think about Fryslân (2022)?
Just like music, reading daily exercises the brain, improves sleep and reduces stress, so why not read some more?! Check this out:
‘’Loser’’ – The Hero Of The 1990s
‘’The inhumanity of art must triumph over the inhumanity of the world for the sake of the humane. Works of art attempt to solve the riddles designed by the world to devour man. The world is a sphynx, the artist is blinded Oedipus, and it is works of art of the type resembling his wise answer which plunged the sphynx into the abyss’’
Thank you for sharing this! 🎶