This article is based on this Dutch article of Martijn Benders

The Jungle King of Lyric Writing

13-01-2025

Why should one, as one of the greatest Dutch lyricists, venture into the realm of German Schlager?

The answer to this question is quite simple: Schlager is the jungle king of lyric writing. It is a genre where the art of words and melody converge in a manner that is often absurd yet highly effective.

In my poetry collection Het zijn maar Bergen, I was already incorporating German – a fitting contemporary touch. The German version of Titanic played a central role, a ship that sank not only physically but also symbolically. Yesterday, I stumbled upon a conspiracy theory suggesting that this ship was deliberately sunk because a billionaire on board vehemently opposed the founding of the Federal Reserve.

It’s the same billionaire whose obscure science fiction book I poetically summarized in Het zijn maar Bergen. These strange interconnections between history, literature, and pop culture never fail to fascinate me.

And so, I wrote the Schlager Bubbumsenmüde.

One must steep oneself in all things German,
with lederhosen, beer, and benches.

You see, this is poetry that truly makes an impact. Poetry that can go the distance. Not a noncommittal exercise in “beautiful writing,” but lines that hit the dance floor and stick in the collective memory.

Because Schlager, no matter how you look at it, is a genre for the people. And what else is poetry but an attempt to bring people – even if just for a moment – closer to themselves?