Biddinghuizer Schande: Schlager-Pop Gold from the Netherlands You Didn’t Know You Needed
Let’s get one thing straight—when you hear "Piratenkoor 'De Blauwbaarden'" (say that five times fast), your brain doesn’t immediately scream pop sensation. But here we are, diving headfirst into their 2010 album, Biddinghuizer Schande, and holy mackerel, it's a wild ride. This Dutch schlager gem is like stumbling upon an eccentric uncle at a family reunion who insists on playing accordion covers of ABBA songs while wearing a tricorn hat. Weird? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely.
First off, kudos to this motley crew for roping in talents like Anita Boerma on accordion and Julia Bobeldijk blowing her lungs out on both flute AND bagpipes. That combo alone screams “we’re not messing around.” And let’s not forget Arie Seeuws waving his conductor baton like he’s orchestrating some kind of maritime symphony. It all feels delightfully unhinged, but in the best way possible.
Now, onto the tracks. With twenty tunes packed into this sucker, there’s bound to be something that sticks. Two songs stood out for me, though—not because they’re perfect, but because they’re impossible to unhear.
Take “Mingulay Boatsong”, for instance. If ever there was a song that made me want to grab an oar and row aimlessly into the North Sea, this is it. The harmonies are hauntingly beautiful, with Roel Van Hoof’s baritone vocals adding just enough gravitas to make you feel like you’re starring in your own nautical drama. There’s also a moment where the bagpipes kick in, and suddenly you’re transported to a windswept Scottish cliffside. Or maybe that’s just me? Either way, it’s weirdly cinematic and oddly soothing—if soothing means feeling slightly seasick.
Then there’s “Over De Stoute Zee” (“Across the Naughty Sea,” if my Google Translate hasn’t failed me). This track is basically what happens when pirates decide to form a boy band. Harm Tolsma’s tenor soars above the mix like he’s auditioning for a Disney cruise line commercial, while Vincent Olde’s drums give it a rollicking energy that makes you wanna grab a flagon of grog and dance barefoot on deck. Sure, the lyrics might as well have been written by someone throwing darts at a rhyming dictionary, but dang if it doesn’t work.
The rest of the album bounces between heartfelt ballads (“Wanneer De Rozen…”) and toe-tapping anthems (“Piratenlied”), keeping things fresh despite its whopping runtime. Honestly, it’s impressive how much variety they squeezed out of a genre that could easily veer into snooze-fest territory.
So, what’s the verdict? Is Biddinghuizer Schande going to replace your carefully curated Spotify playlists? Probably not. But will it worm its way into your subconscious until you find yourself humming sea shanties during grocery runs? Oh, absolutely.
In a world obsessed with algorithmic playlists and cookie-cutter pop hits, this album reminds us that music can still be gloriously messy, unapologetically quirky, and utterly human. Plus, any record featuring bagpipes AND pirates deserves a spot in the pantheon of oddball greatness.
Final thought: If these guys ever go on tour, I’m buying tickets—even if only to see how many accordions can fit on stage without causing structural collapse.
