Why this particular number?
“I just can’t get around that. Green Day has been with me all my childhood.This song was released as a b-side once, and that version is the best.Straightforward, guitar only. I was fifteen when I first I heard it and I wasimmediately taken in. I like tempo, I like punk, but this was the first time Iheard an artist accompanied only by guitar.
I remember exactly how I felt when I first heard this song, I was reallyenchanted and immediately played it fifty times in a row that day. By now I’veplayed it maybe 100 thousand times on guitar. Everyone knows this is my song.”
And what does it say about your life?
“My father passed away and he was not very outspoken about his taste. He hadcancer and was only ill for a short time. His head was affected quickly, so hecould no longer say what he wanted. I knew that he really wanted to go toScotland walking, so I shouted something about a bagpipes. That funeraldirector still knew someone and so a bagpiper came to the cemetery who_Amazing Grace_ played. Beautiful.
Because of that experience I know for sure that I want to have everythingspoken and recorded for myself. For example, upon entry I want the soundtrackof Schindler ‘s List, the first song has to be classic anyway. And besides,this song means a lot to me and my family. I have a fascination with World WarII and went to Auschwitz with my brother-in-law, my sister’s husband, a fewyears ago. That was so impressive. He is now deceased, it hits me again nowthat I tell about it. He was eventually cremated on their wedding day.
After that I want to play some rock songs, like No One Knows from Queens ofthe Stone Age and No surprises from Radiohead. The entire list is alreadywith the funeral director. I am now also thinking about hanging an envelopewith poems on the inside of my bedside table, so that my wife will also knowwhich self-written poems I would like to hear.”
Where do you prefer to listen to music?
“In the car, cliché perhaps, but in a household with four children, not everychild is waiting for daddy’s music. We have a composite family, with littleones between four and sixteen years old. When we go on holiday to Normandy, wemake a combined playlist and everyone adds 25 songs and we listen to themthroughout the holiday.
How many lists do you have on Spotify?
“Where I first made playlists with my top 100 and stuff, I now mainly go forone list of songs that you can add a heart to. That is my basic playlist.There is also a funeral list. Furthermore, I now consciously choose albumsagain , because I noticed that I listened so little to artists. I am taking ameditation course and I now try to do everything with attention. Listeningwith attention gives a different experience.”
What is your guilty pleasure?
” Guilty pleasures can go in many directions, of course, but in recent yearsa special one has arisen for me. A few years ago I jokingly participated in agiveaway by pop stage 013, especially for a colleague who loves the deathmetal band Cradle of Filth. We won tickets for the concert and that turned outto be great. It’s very wrong and over the top , but I also enjoyed it. Sincethen I have to go there whenever they are around. I’m not going to cross thecountry specifically for it, but if they come to Tilburg I’ll buy a ticket.”