17 February – Now, life is grubby and grey

The contest in the Netherlands is rapidly approaching, with songs aplenty being picked, a city getting ready, and all the fun, games and bafflement that will follow.

With that in in mind, it’s time for another Dutch birthday. Maybe not one you immediately think of when you think of Dutch performers. Today’s birthday boy Bernardus ‘Ben’ Cramer didn’t have a barrel organ, or a native American headdress, or a massive dress containing dancers. But he did have a guy on an accordion and trendy long hair. He probably felt he was unlucky, making the short trip from his native Amsterdam to Luxembourg. That home jury liked him best even though his song was about Paris/Parijs. So what does this tell us? Never perform a song about another country.

Ben is 73 today.

Gefeliciteerd, Ben!