It seems the lyrics plus the composers mixing of rap with more traditional styles had offended the ears of huge numbers of listeners. Critics used a wide range of words to define their loathing for the song; describing it as imbecilic, dreadful, overproduced, and burdened with trite lyrics.
On examination you can see their point. Lines like "I build a dyke with my hands and keep the water away" could make some listeners feel unwell. Followed by the incredibly twee bit about how "through wind and rain I'll stand beside you", it is possible to see why many Dutch people are embarrassed. (It could be that it loses something - I'm not sure what - in translation.)
Throwing in a bit of rap was probably a misguided attempt to make the King look hip when getting to be a King in this day and age is already a very cool move.
Part of the problem may lie in the fact that the song was written by a committee.
Apparently the lyrics were put together from words provided by the citizens then shaped into a song by four writers. A committee attempting a creative writing project is bound to end in disaster. It may have been better to put the words in a hat, draw them at random and simply string them together. (Maybe that is what they did and then took their commission and went out for a long lunch.) The composer has now, in response to the ensuing torrent of criticism, withdrawn the song from the ceremony.
Perhaps many Dutch people remember rather too well another occasion when music was used to orchestrate nationalistic impulses. In 1930 the Nazi Party in Germany adopted a song called Die Fahne Hoch (The Flag on High) as their political theme song. Better known as the Horst-Wessel Song, it became a default national anthem with a requirement that the infamous Hitler salute be enacted when singing the first and fourth verses. (Note: Hitler's army invaded and occupied Holland.) The lyrics extol the Nazi vision: "Clear the streets for the brown battalions / Clear the streets for the stormtrooper / Millions are looking upon the swastika full of hope."
History tells a different story about hope and with the end of the war in 1945, the song was banned and now can only be heard when used for education purposes. The song remains illegal in Germany and Austria. With a resurgence of right-wing movements in both countries, police have investigated online music services to ensure it is not available for download.
I am writing this piece on Anzac Day. In marking the loss of lives in war as a significant milestone in the development of two nations, it is critical to watch for any hint of jingoism. Harnessing nationalistic pride is an old political trick and it pays to be wary about who is paying the piper.
Terry Sarten is a writer, musician and social worker. Feedback email: tgs@inspire.net.nz
