Search for Alternative King’s Song

After composer John Ewbank withdrew the previously selected official King’s Song, other artists are working hard on songs in honor of the abdication of Beatrix and the inauguration of Willem-Alexander. Among others Henny Huisman, Wim de Bie and Dries Roelvink are busy making an alternative song. On the website of De Telegraaf website, Henny Huisman suggests the song that he made together with Hans van Eik to the tune of 'Met z'n allen'. “It has become a great success through the Mini-Playback show and everyone can sing it. In 10 minutes I wrote a new text. Maybe it's an idea for the National Committee Inauguration.” Paul van Vliet, who studied with Queen Beatrix in Leiden, immediately started composing after Ewbank quit. “It must unite the people, not divide.” Wim de Bie also has a proposal. “I have an old song lying here, which seems very suitable. It is a version of the national anthem. The big advantage is that everyone can sing his or her own text, so that we can avoid difficulties,” said De Bie. Dries Roelvink, who immediately made a song after the farewell speech of Queen Beatrix in January, is trying to get in touch with the National Committee Inauguration. He wants to propose his song instead of the original King’s Song, he told RTV Noord-Holland. The King’s Song of Ewbank raised much negative comments. After receiving too many unfriendly emails, Ewbank withdrew the song on Saturday, saying he did not want to be treated like that. A decision for an alternative to the withdrawn King’s Song is expected on Monday evening, a spokesman for the Government Information Department (RVD) reported on Sunday. “The key is, and remains, that it is the idea to jointly sing a song for the king on April 30,” the spokesman said. The controversial King’s Song also reached foreign media. The BBC reported this weekend that a large protest has erupted over the 'King's Song and that tens of thousands of people have rejected the song for the inauguration of Willem-Alexander. German media also talked about a posse on the Internet for rejecting the song. The French news agency, AFP, also reported extensively on the official chanson for the inauguration. The AFP cited complaints but also cited positive comments from people who liked the original King's Song very much.