Bok van Blerk’s latest and third album “My Kreet” has finally been released! This new album by Bok was considered as the album of the year even before it was officially released.
This young and talented Afrikaans musician became famous in 2006 for his rendition of ‘Delarey’, a tribute to the Boer general, Koos de la Rey, who was regarded as one of the strongest military leaders during the British-Boer conflict during the Second Boer War (1899 – 1902).The ultra-paranoid ANC Government initially interpreted the ‘de la Rey’ lyrics as a call to armed battle by the Boers. Despite the fact that this was a mistaken perception, Bok was still labelled as a right-winger. (Anybody who scares the ANC government, no matter how slight, is called a right-winger or a racist, - or both!)
"We wanted to sing a song about history and the general, to be proud. De la Rey did not want to go to war. He stood up for the right things, for freedom.... The song wasn't written for [a political] reason.... I wanted to create something for people to be proud of. It's like 'Flower of Scotland.' There's a warm feeling inside and it's got that feel to it. My generation of Afrikaners wants to be proud of who we are and where we come from, and our language". -- Bok van BlerkWhen Bok van Blerk’s second CD “Afrikanerhart” was released he had, due to political pressure and also for the sake of his own survival, no choice but to print a disclaimer on the CD cover in bold capital letters, which reads as follows:
"Afrikanerhart is nie ‘n lied wat roep na enige vorm van revolusie of opstand nie. Die lied kom uit die musiekspel ‘Ons Vir Jou’ en al wat ons probeer sê is dat die Afrikaner ook gebloei het om Suid-Afrika te bou. Met respek vir alle kulture en hulle geskiedenis kan ons die land saam selfs nog sterker maak."
English translation:
“Afrikanerhart is not a song that calls for any form of revolution or uprising. The song comes from the musical ‘Ons vir Jou’, and all that we want to say is that the Afrikaner also shed blood while building South Africa. If we respect all cultures and their history, we can together all make this country stronger.”
The album “Afrikanerhart” won the 2010 Sama-award for being a top-seller. Incidentally my one-and-only previous posting on this blog about Bok van Blerk entitled From the heart of an Afrikaner, is also the posting with the most pageviews on this blog.
Bok van Blerk’s latest music CD can be ordered now from Kalahari.net
Music Tracks:
My Kreet- Die ou klipkerk gebou
- ‘n Goeie man
- BMX en bende
- Tannie Tina van Wyk
- Konyne
- Anderkant die treinspoor
- Bloubul shebeen
- Die bokke skiet terug
- Diknek en klein tandjies
- Honnelos
- Platteland
My Kreet (Lirieke) - Afrikaans
(vers)
Is jy gebore?
Donker Afrika se kind
Voel jy verlore?
Voel dit is nie eers jou skuld?
(voor-koor)
Maar jy moet aanhou glo
Nooit ooit vergeet
So staan ons saam
(koor)
As jy voel jy staan alleen
En almal se jy kan nie wen
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed, deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
Jy moet weet jy’s nooit alleen
Die Afrikaner het `n stem
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed, deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
(vers 2)
Soek jy na rede?
Om in Afrika te bly
Soek jy na vrede?
Soek net die lewe in die stry
(voor-koor)
Maar jy moet aanhou glo
Nooit ooit vergeet
So staan ons saam
(koor)
As jy voel jy staan alleen
En almal se jy kan nie wen
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
Jy moet weet jy’s nooit alleen
Die Afrikaner het ‘n stem
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed, deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
(brug)
As jy jou alles gee, dan gee ek meer en meer
(koor)
As jy voel jy staan alleen
En almal se jy kan nie wen
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
Jy moet weet jy’s nooit alleen
Die Afrikaner het ‘n stem
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed, deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
My Kreet - The Video
My Kreet (Lyrics) – English Translation
(Take note: the English words simply don’t carry the message with the same passion, and obviously neither with any poetic rhyme.)
Are you born?
Dark Africa’s child
Do you feel lost?
Do you feel it’s not even your fault?
But you must keep on believing
Never ever forget
This is how we stand together
If you feel you stand alone
And everyone says you cannot win
If you ask me I will carry you
Through blood, sweat, you hear my cry
You must know you’re never alone
The Afrikaner has a voice
If you ask me I will carry you
Through blood, sweat, you hear my cry
Are you looking for reason?
To live in Africa
Are you looking for peace?
Look for life in the struggle
But you must keep on believing
Never ever forget
This is how we stand together
If you feel you stand alone
And everyone says you cannot win
If you ask me I will carry you
Through blood, sweat, you hear my cry
You must know you’re never alone
The Afrikaner has a voice
If you ask me I will carry you
Through blood, sweat, you hear my cry
If you give everything, then I’ll give more and more
OTHER PRODUCTS BY BOK VAN BLERK:
(vers)
Is jy gebore?
Donker Afrika se kind
Voel jy verlore?
Voel dit is nie eers jou skuld?
(voor-koor)
Maar jy moet aanhou glo
Nooit ooit vergeet
So staan ons saam
(koor)
As jy voel jy staan alleen
En almal se jy kan nie wen
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed, deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
Jy moet weet jy’s nooit alleen
Die Afrikaner het `n stem
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed, deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
(vers 2)
Soek jy na rede?
Om in Afrika te bly
Soek jy na vrede?
Soek net die lewe in die stry
(voor-koor)
Maar jy moet aanhou glo
Nooit ooit vergeet
So staan ons saam
(koor)
As jy voel jy staan alleen
En almal se jy kan nie wen
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
Jy moet weet jy’s nooit alleen
Die Afrikaner het ‘n stem
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed, deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
(brug)
As jy jou alles gee, dan gee ek meer en meer
(koor)
As jy voel jy staan alleen
En almal se jy kan nie wen
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
Jy moet weet jy’s nooit alleen
Die Afrikaner het ‘n stem
As jy my vra sal ek jou dra
Deur bloed, deur sweet, hoor jy my kreet
My Kreet - The Video
My Kreet (Lyrics) – English Translation
(Take note: the English words simply don’t carry the message with the same passion, and obviously neither with any poetic rhyme.)
Are you born?
Dark Africa’s child
Do you feel lost?
Do you feel it’s not even your fault?
But you must keep on believing
Never ever forget
This is how we stand together
If you feel you stand alone
And everyone says you cannot win
If you ask me I will carry you
Through blood, sweat, you hear my cry
You must know you’re never alone
The Afrikaner has a voice
If you ask me I will carry you
Through blood, sweat, you hear my cry
Are you looking for reason?
To live in Africa
Are you looking for peace?
Look for life in the struggle
But you must keep on believing
Never ever forget
This is how we stand together
If you feel you stand alone
And everyone says you cannot win
If you ask me I will carry you
Through blood, sweat, you hear my cry
You must know you’re never alone
The Afrikaner has a voice
If you ask me I will carry you
Through blood, sweat, you hear my cry
If you give everything, then I’ll give more and more
OTHER PRODUCTS BY BOK VAN BLERK:
6 comments:
I just found out about Bok Van Blerk after watching the South African film "White Wedding," featuring his song "Delarey" on the soundtrack. The movie deals with some of the post-apartheid racial relations, but mainly it focuses on the romantic comedy aspect. You might find it interesting: http://whiteweddingmovie.com/
@ mollusquemorn,
Thanks for visiting and for the link to the white wedding movie. I have not viewed the movie yet, but have heard from several sources that it’s an enjoyable sit-in comedy.
Bok is die beste!
Die Afrikaner het `n stem!
Regards from Germany
Rudolf
I also found about De La Rey through "White Wedding", in the USA. Then I sought more of his music, and I also learned about the history of the Boers, and the British war crimes.
It turns out that my ancestors in Poland were friends the Boer struggle (themselves oppressed by the Russians), on the one hand, and my 4-generation family's involvement in the Scouting movement gave me great admiration of Gen Baden-Powell, a "khaki" commander, probably one of the less criminal ones.
My Dad passed away in February, before I learned of this music. He would have enjoyed it enormously, and we would have sung it together. As a former Rugby coach, I especially feel the power of the "Staan vas..." line. I made it a point to have Bok as "theme music" in my MP3 player during my recent visit to Amsterdam!
Die Boere rule!
Hans uit Holland
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