Armand (singer)

Armand

Photo Armand in 2009

Armand in 2009
Born Herman George van Loenhout
(1946-04-10)April 10, 1946
Died November 19, 2015(2015-11-19) (aged 69)
Nationality Dutch
Occupation Protest singer

Herman George van Loenhout (10 April 1946 – 19 November 2015), better known as Armand, was a Dutch protest singer.[1] His greatest hit song was "Ben ik te min" ("Am I not good enough?"). Armand came to the fore during the hippie generation and was well known as an advocate of cannabis.[2]

Biography

Armand was a member of a few bands before releasing a solo single, "En nou ik", in 1965. The single was a flop, and he had a bit more success with his next single, "Een van hen ben ik". Three months after that single's release, Radio Veronica played the single's B-side, "Ben ik te min", which was an instant success.[1] The song spent 14 weeks in the Dutch top 40 chart in 1967. A song in which the speaker lashes out against the bourgeois father of his girlfriend, it is hailed as the best-known protest song in Dutch popular music.[1] Another single, "Blommenkinders", also charted that year.[1]

Because of his support for the legalization of cannabis, lyrics about which his record company (Fontana Records, an imprint of Philips Records) refused to release, he left for Johnny Hoes's Telstar. Telstar's imprint Killroy released six Armand albums between 1971 and 1981.[1]

Armand revived his music career in 2011, performing in rapper Ali B's TV show Ali B op volle toeren. An adaptation of "Ben ik te min" was released with rapper Nina having updated the lyrics: in this version (with Ali B and Brownie Dutch), the song talks of the disrespect for women Nina finds in hip hop culture. In 2012, Armand began a collaboration with singer-songwriter Lucky Fonz III and Dave von Raven (singer for The Kik), both fans of his, and in June 2015 Armand & The Kik released an album with adaptations of lesser-known Armand songs, followed by a Dutch tour.[1]

Armand died in Eindhoven on November 19, 2015 of pneumonia at the age of 69.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Protestzanger Armand (69) overleden". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Protestzanger Armand overleden". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Armand, Our Legendary Dutch Singer Friend has Died, Savingiceland.org
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