Today’s playlist, the 24th installment, features Gerard Jan Joling.
I bought this record at Flash Disc Ranch, my regular record store in Shimokitazawa.
I’ve been frequenting this record store ever since I started living in Setagaya. As long as the store exists, their point card is valid, and it’s popular for its incredible system: once you collect 50 stamps, you get half off any records under 15,000 yen.
The Illustrious Career of a Dutch Singer and Television Presenter
Gerard Jan Joling (born April 29, 1960) is a Dutch singer and television presenter. He rose to fame in the late 1980s, known for his high tenor voice. His signature singles include "Ticket to the Tropics" and "Love Is in Your Eyes," and he also achieved success in Asia, earning over 20 gold and platinum discs.
In 1988, he represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Shangri-La."
His biggest hit, "No More Boleros," ranked in the top 10 in several European countries. The song has been covered by many artists, including Clemente in Portugal, Sula Mazurenga and As Marcianas in Brazil, Karel Gott in Germany and the Czech Republic, Demis Roussos in Greece, Semino Rossi in Argentina, and Oliver Thomas and George Meiring in South Africa.
In 2005, Joling and singer Gordon starred in the television program "Joling & Gordon Over de Vloer," which aired for three seasons, showcasing their work and humorous personalities.
In 2007, he hosted "Sterren dansen op het ijs" and "So You Wanna Be a Popstar" on SBS 6. This year was another successful one for Joling, earning two number-one singles, one number-one album, and 11 gold and platinum discs.
In 2008, he appeared as a team captain on the Dutch television program "Wie ben ik?" (Who am I?). In this show, captains and guests guess who they are based on hints and questions. The other captain was Patty Brard.
Joling was scheduled to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow in 2009 as a member of "De Toppers," but temporarily left the group due to a conflict with Gordon. Jeroen van der Boom then joined in his place. However, in December 2009, manager Benno de Leeuw announced in "De Telegraaf" that Joling and Gordon would rejoin the group, making it a quartet again.
Joling frequently appears as a judge on various Dutch television programs. He was seen on "The Voice Senior" in 2018 and has been on the Dutch version of "The Masked Singer" since 2019.
Gerard Jan Joling's illustrious career has left numerous achievements in both music and television, and his charm and talent are loved by many.
At WAITER-U, we not only select camping gear but also music, books, and movies.
I've also created a playlist on Spotify, so feel free to listen to it in your car on your way to camping.
