Marieke (song)
"Marieke" is a 1961[1] song by the Belgian singer Jacques Brel.
The song[]
In "Marieke" Brel sings about a Flemish girl, Marieke, whom he once loved and who lived "between the towers of Bruges and Ghent". He wants her to love him again in the "flat country of Flanders" (a reference to another song by him, "Le Plat Pays").
It is the only song where he sings both in his native French language and in Flemish, the other major language of his bilingual home country Belgium. Brel recorded a version of the song entirely in Flemish, as well, with lyrics by Eric Franssen.
Covers[]
"Marieke" has been covered numerous times, among others by , , , Judy Collins, Shawn Elliott, Jure Ivanušič, Elly Stone, Mort Shuman, , Amanda McBroom, Des de Moor, Barb Jungr, Liza Minnelli, , Laurika Rauch, Laïs, , Klaus Hoffman, Herman van Veen, Evabritt Strandberg, Michael Heltau, , etc.
Brel told singers who covered "Marieke" that he didn't mind that they changed the French lyrics, but preferred the Dutch lyrics to remain intact.[2]
Statue[]
In 1988 a statue was created by depicting Marieke.[3]
References[]
- ^ "Jacques Brel – Marieke / Laat Me Niet Alleen (Ne Me Quitte Pas)". Retrieved 2013-04-29.
- ^ Johan Anthierens, "De Passie en de Pijn", Olympus/Contact, 1998, page 68-69.
- ^ "Standbeeld van Marieke aan de Predikherenrei".
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- Jacques Brel songs
- 1962 songs
- Macaronic songs
- French-language Belgian songs
- Dutch-language Belgian songs
- Songs written by Jacques Brel
- Songs about Belgium
- Songs about cities
- Ghent in fiction
- Bruges in fiction