Artikel in De Telegraaf 24-9-2006

[xeniar]

Hallo, vandaag in de zondagse editie van De Telegraaf een artikel over Venice en de nieuwe CD. Bijgaand een afdruk (zonder foto).

De Telegraaf


’AMSTERDAM’ NIEUWE CD VAN VENICE

Wereldberoemd in Nederland

door JEAN-PAUL HECK
AMSTERDAM — Je mag van een stad gaan houden, maar je kunt het ook overdrijven. De Amerikaanse jongens van Venice zijn er erg goed in. Hun nieuwe album ‘Amsterdam’ is niets minder dan een open liefdesbrief aan deze stad. ,,Het is duidelijk aan hun gezichten te zien dat ze erg genieten van het feit dat ze in Nederland wereldberoemd zijn”, meent hun ontdekker Jan Douwe Kroeske. Daar is natuurlijk niets mis mee. De komende twee maanden toert de groep uit Los Angeles onafgebroken door Nederland om ruim 45 duizend fans te trakteren op een theaterconcert.
Op het eerste gezicht lijkt ‘Amsterdam’ een beetje een doorzichtige verkooptruc. Je vernoemt je cd naar de bekendste stad van het land waar je de meeste fans hebt zitten. De vier neven Lennon die Venice vormen, stralen van top tot teen een soort strandwelvaart uit. De huid is gebruind, de haartjes geverfd en de tongval zangerig. Echte showbizzkinderen die bijna geen andere keuze hadden om met hun engelenstemmetjes de muziek in te gaan. Jan Douwe Kroeske was de man die de band rond 2000 introduceerde. Met de in zijn eigen huis opgenomen 2 Meter Sessies-plaat was Venice het perfecte alternatief voor al de mensen die ‘Hotel California’ van The Eagles, ‘Pet Sounds’ van The Beach Boys en ‘Aja’ van Steely Dan grijs hadden gedraaid.
Zes jaar later is Venice nog steeds vooral heel erg beroemd in Nederland. Maar ja, andere acts zoals Toto en Live kennen hetzelfde ‘voorrecht’ en varen er niet minder bij. De brildragende Michael Lennon en diens jongensachtige neef Kipp Lennon zijn de belangrijkste mannen binnen het zalvende collectief. Aan hen de vraag waarom een band uit Los Angeles zich een week in een Amsterdamse kerk vrijwillig laat opsluiten om een plaat op te nemen terwijl ze aan de kust van de Grote Oceaan een prachtig familiehuis hebben met alle studiofaciliteiten?
,,Als je naar oude platen van mensen zoals Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens of Neil Young luistert, hoor je hoe authentiek die zijn opgenomen. Gewoon simpel met een paar microfoons, een goede geluidsman en vreselijke mooie akoestiek. Toen vanuit onze Nederlands platenmaatschappij het voorstel kwam om in de kerk Doopgezinde Gemeente de nieuwe songs op te nemen, hebben wij dat meteen ter harte genomen. Toen we die kerk voor de eerste keer binnenkwamen, vielen onze monden open van verbazing. Zoiets zie je niet in Amerika of je leest het in de verhalen van de grote bands die een heel kasteel afhuren voor de opname van een cd.”
Dat de heren uiteindelijk de plaat simpel de titel ‘Amsterdam’ hebben meegegeven is overigens geen noviteit. Brian Wilson en zijn onvolprezen Beach Boys maakte in 1973 al goede sier met ‘Holland’ dat de band opnam in een boerderij in Baambrugge. Koopmanshuizen, afgebeeld in de weerspiegeling van het grachtenwater, vormden toen de referentie op de hoes. Venice heeft maar meteen het wapen van Amsterdam op de cover gezet. Daar zullen ze bijvoorbeeld in Rotterdam blij mee zijn. Kipp is zich echter van geen kwaad bewust. ,,Ik vind die stadswapens fantastisch. Het zijn de dingen die je in Amerika niet ziet of ze zien er zo belachelijk nep uit. En wat betreft de titel, we hadden er echt geen idee van dat The Beach Boys ooit een plaat in Nederland hadden opgenomen. We zijn gewoon zo trots op deze plaat.”





Vreemd
Ondanks de charmante praatjes van de vier Lennons die naast Michael en Kipp uit Mark en Pat bestaan, blijft het vreemd dat juist de zoetsappige liedjes van Venice zo aanslaan in Nederland. Het verschil met het succes in eigen land is dan ook navenant. ,,Soms zitten we uren in een bus om naar een optreden te gaan waar uiteindelijk nog geen tien man op afkomen. Dat is het lot van veel bands die in Europa in de grote zalen spelen maar in hun thuisland over het hoofd worden gezien. Frustrerend? Ach, door dat soort ervaringen kun je veel meer genieten van het succes hier. Daarnaast is onze familieband zo sterk dat we de meest ellendige moment gezamenlijk kunnen overleven. De familie Lennon is een soort clan die bestaat uit 26 neven en nichten. Respect stond bovenaan in onze opvoeding.”
Dat klinkt bijna ideaal, zeker als je beseft dat de Lennon-familie behoorlijk welgesteld is. Zo doken er in de media in het verleden talloze verhalen op over het prachtige familiehuis Hideaway Hill dat iets ten noorden van San Diego tegen de bergen is aangeplakt. Michael is apetrots op het huis van hun grootvader. Het is ook de plek waar Jan Douwe Kroeske in 2000 samen met de band de tweede Twee Meter-sessie opnam. Het was een heilig momenten menen de twee neven. ,,We hadden eerst al opnames gemaakt met Jackson Browne in diens Groove Masters Studio waarbij ook David Crosby meedeed. Daarna zijn we naar Hi- deaway Hill vertrokken om er de rest op te nemen. Je moet weten dat we op dat moment al zeker 20 jaar bezig waren om met onze muziek ergens een voet tussen de deur te krijgen. Opeens was daar die lange slungel uit Nederland die precies begreep waar onze muziek over ging.”
Tot die tijd hadden de verschillende bandleden zich bezig gehouden met goede betaalde studioklussen voor topsterren zoals Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson en Don Henley van de Eagles. Kipp: ,,Het grappige is dat de naam Lennon in Amerika geen onbekende is. Mijn oom Jimmy was vroeger een van de bekendste aankondigers van bokswedstrijden en onze vaders hadden in de jaren vijftig al een vrij populaire zanggroep. Het was ook de gewoonste zaak van de wereld dat Michael en ik in 1977 begonnen met Venice. Dat we bijna 30 jaar later slechts beroemd zijn in Nederland geeft helemaal niets. We genieten met volle teugen van ons succes. Wereldsterren zijn we nog lang niet en zullen we misschien ook nooit worden. Na deze interviews pakken we in de toeristenklasse het vliegtuig terug naar Los Angeles. Met z’n allen boven op elkaar, maar met een grijns op onze gezichten. Dat is onbetaalbaar.”

Venice – ‘Amsterdam’ (Universal) is nu uit. Van 12 oktober tot en met 6 december geeft Venice maar liefst 35 optredens in de Nederlandse theaters. Voor info: www.venicecentral.com

________________________________________

p.s. Erna, als je nog vertaalzin en -tijd hebt????

groetjes, Xenia

[Erna]

Hihihi, ik ga er mee aan de slag... heb er nog 1 in de wachtrij staan! Maar misschien is er iemand anders? Het gaat er per slot van rekening niet om wie er vertaald, maar dát het vertaald wordt!

Xenia asked me if I wanted to translate this for the english side of things here, and I told her I would get to it, but I have another article waiting to be translated. So maybe some one else is up for it. It is not important who does the translating, as long as things get translated!

[Veniciangirl]

Hierbij het artikel. Zeer lage resolutie maar zo zie je hoe het er uit zag en de tekst staat hier toch wel boven.

This is the article. The text will hopefully be put on here by Erna but this way you can see what it looks like although its in a very low resolution.

[Matt Levitz]

:pompoms:

[Veniciangirl]

Ok thats WAY better! haha.

[Erna]

And here it is..... my comments will follow in another post, okay?

De Telegraaf


’AMSTERDAM’ NEW ALBUM BY VENICE

World famous in the Nederlands

by JEAN-PAUL HECK

AMSTERDAM — It’s okay to love a city, but you can overdo it. The American Venice boys are extremely good at the later. Their new album “Amsterdam” is nothing less than an open love letter to this city. “You can clearly tell by looking at their faces that they are world famous in the Netherlands” according to the man who discovered them, Jan Douwe Kroeske. Nothing wrong with that, of course. The next two months the Los Angeles band will tour trought the Netherlands at a stretch, so they can treat their 45.000 fans to a theater concert.
At first sight it sounds like a cheap marketing tool to name your album “Amsterdam”, after the best-known city of the country where most of your fans reside.
The four cousins Lennon that form Venice just radiate a kind of beach bum kind of well being. Their skin is tanned, the hairs are coloured and the talk is smooth. Real showbiz-kids with angel voices that had no other real choice but to go into music. Jan Douwe Kroeske was the man who introduced this band around 2000. Recorded in his own home, Venice with it’s 2 Meter Sessies-album was the perfect alternative for all those people who had played ‘Hotel California’ by The Eagles, ‘Pet Sounds’ by The Beach Boys and ‘Aja’ by Steely Dan over and over again.
Six years later Venice is still mostly known only in Nederland. Then again, other acts such as Toto and Live have had the same privilige, and are doing very well. Michael Lennon, the man with the glasses and his boy-ish cousin Kipp Lennon are the two main members of this smooth sounding collective. We ask them why a Los Angeles band voluntarily would want to be locked up for over a week in an Amsterdam Church, to record an album when they own a beautiful family home with all the studio essentials at the pacific coast?

”If you listen to the old records of people like Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens or Neil Young, you can hear the autenticity of it. Just a couple of mikes, a good sound engineer and great acoustics. When our Dutch label suggested recording the songs at the Mennonite community, we accepted immediatly. When we first entered that church, our jaws dropped to the ground. You can’t find buildings like this in America. You only read of big bands renting complete castles to record an album.”
That the gentlemen simply named the record ‘Amsterdam’, is nothing new. Brian Wilson and his Beach Boys had that premiere with the album ‘Holland’ they recorded in a farmhouse in Baambrugge. Merchanthouses, reflected in the water of the canals were their reference on the cover. Venice went ahead and printed the symbol of Amsterdam on the cover. People in Rotterdam for instance will just love that…. Kipp sees no harm in it. “I love city symbols. You can’t find things like that in America, or if you do, they look so fake and ridiculous. And as far as the title is concerned, we had no idea The Beach Boys ever recorded an album in The Nederlands. We are just so proud of this album”

Strange
Despite the charms of the four Lennons, Michael, Kipp, Mark and Pat, it still is strange that, of all things, the supersweet songs of Venice are such a huge succes in Holland. Most of all the discrepancy with the succes in their own country. ”Sometimes we travel for hours on a bus to do a show, and at the end of it there are less than 10 people in the audience. A lot of bands that are succesfull in Europe but are forgotten in their home country have that experience. Frustrating? Ah well, this kind of experiences makes us enjoy the succes over here just that much more. Besides that, we have such a stronge family bond; we can survive the most miserable moment together. The Lennon Family is like a kind of clan made up out of 26 cousins. Respect was the most important element of our upbringing.”
That almost sounds ideal, especially if you know that the Lennon-family is rather well of. There have been stories survacing in the media about the fabulous Family Mansion Hide away Hill, located in the hills just a little north of San Diego. Michael is very proud of the house of their grandfather. It’s also the place where Jan Douwe Kroeske recorded the second Twee Meter-sessie in 2000 with the band. It was a sacret moment according to the two gentlemen. “We recorded with Jackson Brown in his Groove Masters Studio where David Crosby joined in. After that we left for Hide Away Hill to record the rest. You must realise we had been working for twenty years to get our foot in the door, somewhere. And then suddenly there was that long fellow from the Netherlands who understood perfectly what our music is about. Untill then the different band members had been keeping busy with well payed studio jobs for top stars such as Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson and Don Henley of the Eagles. Kipp: “Funny thing is, the Lennon name is well known in America. My uncle Jimmy was one of the best know boxing-match announcers, and our fathers had a rather popular singing group in the fifties. It was nothing special that Michael and I started Venice back in 1977. 30 years later, the only place we are famous is Holland. But that doesn’t matter. We thoroughly enjoy our successes. We are a long way from being worldstars, and maybe we will never get there. When these interviews are done we will travel back to Los Angeles, economy class. One on top of the other, but with a smile on our faces. And thát is priceless.”

Venice – ‘Amsterdam’ (Universal) has been released now. From October the 12th untill December the second Venice will perform no less than 35 shows in Dutch theaters. For info check: www.venicecentral.com (http://www.venicecentral.com%20/%20_blank)

[Erna]

Okay, I had my doubts posting the translation of this interview. First of all, there is not a single word in the entire article about musical content or quality the album. All the guy had to comment on was the title, and it not being original..... Well duh! Saying that the title is not original because the Beach Boys called theirs "Holland", that's like saying you can't call an album "Sun" because some one else called their album "Yellow".
Oh, and the little mention about the people in Rotterdam not liking it if you call album Amsterdam, well that is so to the point and important... NOT!
I read a certain message between the lines of this article, that I did not like at all. I translated it as it was printed, but do not agree.
You guys are no fake beach bums, or rich kids with nothing else to do besides following the family tradition. You are more of a musician then he will ever be a journalist.

So there!

[Matt Levitz]

I've never been there, but I understand that Hideaway Hill is a nice large house in a beautiful location with lots of rooms, but is hardly a mansion. It's owned by the entire Lennon family, which numbers into the hundreds, so it doesn't represent that any one of them is "well off."

"Stories surfacing in the media?" Like it's some big secret that this reporter has uncovered? Maybe he ought to listen to Venice's first album, where they wrote a song about the place called, mysteriously enough, "Hideaway Hill." Some secret.

45,000 fans? Where did he get that number? There are 35,000 fans on the MySpace page alone, and that's mostly Americans, who according to Venice Central's attendence reports represent only 25% of the fanbase. So 45,000 as a grand total feels like a very low guess.

Oh, and did anyone else notice this? "At first sight, it sounds like a cheap marketing tool." But then the writer never says "But it isn't." He just leaves it hanging there, for the reader to conclude "And it is!"

He even goes so far as to call their success in Holland "strange," and then quickly changes the subject. There's definitely anger in this article. You can always tell when the writer is not a fan and feels put upon to be forced to write about someone he feels is unworthy. A good reporter has the ability to hide that. This guy clearly doesn't fall into that category.

But thanks for the translation, Penguin Girl!

[Erna]

I am glad you agree with me. I was translating this, and read it over and over again. The more I got into it, the more it ticked me of. I mean, what does he really say about Venice? Nothing of any value, good nor bad. I don't mind if people don't like the music Venice makes. That's a question of taste, and thank goodness all of us have different tastes. Life would be so boring if we all like the same things! But have something real to say, and keep to the truth. Don't paint a picture like he did in this article. This is so low and meaningless....

If you want to read a good article about Venice, written by some one who knows what he is talking about, just read the article I just posted, here: http://www.venicetalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3768
The writer of this article touches the same subjects, but with a lot more knowledge of music. And love for it!

[nuevocasa]

The Telegraaf is a gossip newspaper. They write most of their articles based on gossip and rumour, and I realy don't understand that this is one of the biggest newspapers in Holland. Maybe it's because of the gossip, rumor style, people like to buy these kind of newspapers...I realy wouldn't spent a peny for this crap....The only thing I like about this article is the picture;)

Erna, thanks for the translations, great job! But now back to your husband and kids, because this is realy a waist of time!

[Erna]

Ah well, both hubby and kids are asleep.... And by translating this article I was able to give Matt the opportunity to react to it. Some one who knows what he is talking about, so it wasn't realy a waste of time.

[nuevocasa]

Are you assuming I don't know what I'm talking about.....rotfl rotfl rotfl
It's just my vision and my meaning about this newspaper, and I'm sure it wouldn't harm the Telegraaf...they stay as big as they are...a pitty, but that's the way it is.

[Erna]

Are you assuming I don't know what I'm talking about.....

No, I was talking about Jean-Paul Heck, the one who wrote the article.

[nuevocasa]

I know..that's why I used the smilies.

This man isn't a real reporter, most of the reporters of the Telegraaf are freelance ( just writting for the money, and no heart for writing) or cheap students...

[Tjergina]

The impression this article gives me is that Kipp, Mark, Pat and Michael are acting the way they perform, as if they are playing a role and are not themselves. :nono:
Well, in my opinion, you can say that about a lot of people, but not about Venice. :thwack:

[Matt Levitz]

Well, as the expression goes, there's no such thing as bad publicity. This article was a little insulting, sure, but if it's a prominent story in one of the biggest newspapers in Holland, then that's a good thing, right? And hey, they got the URL right at the end, so I'm happy.

[nuevocasa]

Well, as the expression goes, there's no such thing as bad publicity. This article was a little insulting, sure, but if it's a prominent story in one of the biggest newspapers in Holland, then that's a good thing, right? And hey, they got the URL right at the end, so I'm happy.

Okay..the URL thing is great...but the rest I'm not sure about. The fact that people read the "bands name Venice" that's a good thing...so yes, hope they read between the lines.......

[hi-mar]

To me it feels a little ignorant and prejudiced. I wonder if he heard the new album. The headline is 'Amsterdam' New Album By Venice but I haven't read one word about the new songs.

Anyway, there is indeed a link and attention. People might get interested if they see Venice's playing so many concerts! I just calm down, sold out shows are on its way :biggrin:

[Rob Grauwmeijer]

I like to read articles about my band, but now I am forced to write a little piece about politics.
This is the first (and last) article I ever did read from this newspaper. I hope that our American fans don't bother about this article, because they can't understand what kind of newspaper this is ! It is unfortunately the biggest paper in the Netherlands, but people with an (critical) opinion, who are open minded and can think for themselves will never read this paper. I am proud to tell that, besides myself, my family and friends never did read this piece of crap ever.
Because I am a little bit older than most of you (I am 53), I know the stories from my parents how this paper was acting during the 2nd World War, they took side of the Germans at once ! :uzi:
I know, this is a very old story, but generally speaking, nothing changed till today, it is a right-wing paper with only gossip, the only thing we don't have, like in the U.K. , is the naked lady on page 3..........

[Erna]

I personally would have rather seen a naked lady on page three then this crap!

You know, I wonder.... I suppose he never listened to the album, or else he would have had something to say about it, but now I wonder, are we sure even he met Kipp and Michael? I mean, I don't recognize them at all in the description he gives! Beach bums? Kípp and Míchael? Nah... never!

[nuevocasa]

Wha,ha,ha....Just keep on smiling. It's realy not wurth to upset about this, Rob! And yes Erna, I realy wonder if this men got the chance to look Michael and or Kipp in the eyes....BBBBrrrrrrrr...horrible newspaper....but the biggest in this country.....Tells alot about the people in this very kind, lovely, and honest Holland.....Do I have to worry now!!!!!!!!!!:whaa?: ??????????????????

[hi-mar]

Do I have to worry now!!!!!!!!!!:whaa?: ??????????????????

Not yet! For now, just sit back, relax, put the CD in the player. Then visit a few concert of a great band called Venice.

After that you can emigrate!

[nuevocasa]

I just told you!!!...I don't need a DVD to remember or to relax...I just need music....like so many other people...

About emigration....I realy honestly think about that!...I already searched on the internet for places and who knows in the future, i'll be living in Australia, Ireland or Sweden...with my CD's of Venice!

[Rob Grauwmeijer]

I already searched on the internet for places and who knows in the future, i'll be living in Australia, Ireland or Sweden...with my CD's of Venice!

Venice : "Live in The Opera House in Sydney", will be a hell of a concert !
Or "Venice in The Smörebrod-Inn in Uppsala", sounds good ! :coool!:

[nuevocasa]

I'll always keep the faith....although....sometimes I realy loose that feeling....but these conversations brings back some faith, and the hope for the future. Sometimes it's strange when you have to fight for different things than this crap, in your own life, but on the otherhand it tells so much about so many people in this country...What a crazy world...but interesting! Money makes the world go round........

And yes...I'll bet, I life a different live in a different country in the future...It's once in a lifetime, you know!

Sweden and Ireland are my favorites, because these countries feel like...home, away from home...And who knows, Venice will be perform aswell, in these countries in the future...That would be AWESOME!!!

[Rijna]

oooooooooooooh that lousy gossip newspaper that is better off in my guinnee pig cage....!!!!

love and respect

[Olivia]

:thwack: :flipoff: :crazy: :uzi: :whaa?:
Have I made my point?......

[Erna]

Yeah, kinda.....;)

[Jiska]

This article was really lousy!!! But as a matter of fact, it did have a positive article once about WTTROYL.. Obviously a different reporter.

It's a crap newspaper indeed, sadly it's the only newspaper we have at work. The only thing I always read is the movie and music section. Guess that's over now too.

[Erna]

This man isn't a real reporter, most of the reporters of the Telegraaf are freelance ( just writting for the money, and no heart for writing) or cheap students...

I did some investigating, and Jean-Paul Heck is no cheap student or freelancer. He seems to be some kind of big shot, has even won an award in the field of music-journalism in 2004. So I guess Matt is right, and he must have felt that Venice was beneath him. I read some of his other articles, and he is capable of doing a good job, as long as it is about some big shot.
What a shame he wasted his "talent" on such a bad piece of work. If he had only done his home-work, and had taken the time to know who he was going to write about, he might have realised that our guys worked with a lot of people he would love to get a change to talk to. That might have opened his eyes and ears a little bit more?

His loss I gues. I would love to have a change to talk to him though, I might have some things to tell him. So Jean-Paul, if you are up to it: give me a call!!!:biggrin:

[nuevocasa]

Wha,ha,ha,ha...he won an award!!!!!! Ha,ha,ha,ha...you made my day, Erna! There's some hope for all those students and free lancers...my god....I really should try to remember his name....

Congrats on your award Jean-Paul Heck:bow:

[Matt Levitz]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If he doesn't like Venice, that doesn't make him a hack, any more than if someone on this forum doesn't like "Amsterdam" or parts of "Amsterdam" that doesn't make them any less of a Venice fan. We're all allowed to like what we like.

My only objection is that this article is not supposed to be a review. He interviewed Kipp and Michael and presented that interview as a story about the release of the new album, but then he let his true feelings about his subject show, and you're not supposed to do that. Let the reviewers review, reporting is supposed to be objective.

[nuevocasa]

You couldn't say it better!
And that's why I think this men doesn't deserve an award...But okay, everybody can make a misake in his life, and he did it by writing this report for a nasty newspaper.

[Wendelien]

I did some investigating, and Jean-Paul Heck is no cheap student or freelancer. He seems to be some kind of big shot, has even won an award in the field of music-journalism in 2004. ......
If he had only done his home-work, and had taken the time to know who he was going to write about, he might have realised that our guys worked with a lot of people he would love to get a change to talk to. That might have opened his eyes and ears a little bit more?

His loss I gues. I would love to have a change to talk to him though, I might have some things to tell him. So Jean-Paul, if you are up to it: give me a call!!!:biggrin:


My thoughts exactly, Erna. Of course a journalist has every right to publish his opinion about musicians, or rather their music, however this award-winning journalist must have had an off-day or forgotten what the first principle of journalism is: research and check your info and not go on hear-say.

Yikes, poor man, to go from award-winning to the level of a highschool student attempting his first article!!! Pathetic that he lowered himself to gossip magazine standard in which people are apparently more interested in whether people dy their hair, or have happy families (wow!!!! there are actually happy, functional pop musicians; this is very suspicious to the dear man: they should have been stoned out of their heads at the time of the interview; that would have given them points!) I wonder if he even listened to the CD. If "sappy" is the only rating he could give it, he must not have.... besides he completely missed the true character, not only the integrity of the guys themselves (who are not extremely wealthy and an inherited house does not a mansion make......), but of their music.

To each his own, but the only thing this article made clear was not the quality of Venice, but the lack thereof of Mr. Heck himself.

[Eva]

Google this Jean-Paul and read his other articles rotfl
I think he needs a lot of positive energy .... so
JEAN-PAUL visite a concert of Venice !!!! party: