Van Gogh song

Since this blog is brimming with Americans, I thought y'all might appreciate a bit of Dutch 'gangsta rap' ;-). This is a song by Lange Frans & Baas B (Long Frans & Boss B.) called 'Zinloos' (Meaningless). It's currently high up in the Dutch charts. After Van Gogh was killed, a special version was made, which can be listened to here (streaming WMA).
My apologies to anyone who expects talk about glorious gun fights, beautiful biatches and fast cars. It can't be found in this song. Instead, it's about a number of people who have died as a result of what is colloquially known in the Netherlands as 'zinloos geweld' or 'meaningless violence': people who were murdered for no reason whatsoever, or because they stood up to wrongs in Dutch society and public life. From Joes Kloppenburg, who tried to end a brawl in Amsterdam and paid for it with his life, to René Steegmans, who got clubbed to death in Venlo with a helmet after he corrected two fellow young men who nearly ran over a senior citizen with their scooter, this is their song.
Please buy the record if you can, as all proceeds will go to the Stichting Kappen Nou! (Foundation 'Cut it Out!'), which tries to combat 'meaningless violence'. 'Kappen nou!' were the final words of Joes Kloppenburg.

For a partial translation, click 'Lees verder'.

I have translated the introductory text, containing pieces from news broadcasts and a statement by the Dutch prime minister, as well as the first verse, a part of the chorus and the closing statements, which are by Theo van Gogh and the same news anchor from the beginning.

News anchor at the beginning of the song
In Amsterdam a shooting took place on the Mauritskade. According to eye witnesses director Theo van Gogh was killed in the incident...
...It was just announced that Theo van Gogh was shot. He was fired upon in the Linnaeusstraat in Amsterdam. An eye witness says that the murderer of Van Gogh stood bent over the body for several minutes to ascertain whether he was really dead.

Prime minister Jan-Peter Balkenende
Ladies and gentlemen, it am disgusted to hear about the murder of Van Gogh.
The constitutional freedom of expression is crucial for everyone, and at every time.
Let it be clear that violence will never have the final word in the Netherlands.

First verse
Theo van Gogh never minced his words
Which was the reason he didn't get on his feet again this morning
A number of shots, a knife and a letter
I wonder: will this get positive ever?
Who says no
Contributes to the nonsense
Who says yes
Will respect our thing
And don't forget, the man has fought
And Theo, homey, rest in peace

Chorus
How many will have to come, how many will have to go
Who were these heroes?
We stand here in their name

Theo van Gogh quote near the end
This is the best protection I could have because if something would happen to me, all fingers would point in the same direction, and I just don't believe that. No.

Final line of the song by news anchor
Theo van Gogh died at the age of 47.

12:36

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