Doris Day - Doe Maar

Contrary to what people from abroad may think, Doe Maar's song 'Doris Day' was not a tribute to the American actress, but rather a complaint about the fact that there was never anything good on TV, just a film with Doris Day or a boring opera. The song suggests that it's better to turn off the one eyed monster and go out and have fun.

The single was released in the first half of 1982 and was the first big hit for the band, who would subsequently become 'as big as the Beatles' in the Netherlands for two consecutive years. 'Doris Day' reached number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4980
Found: Kringloop, Lisse, December 18, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Doris Day' / 'Winnetoe'

Is dit alles - Doe Maar

The Dutch band Doe Maar had their first top 10 hit 'Doris Day' in early 1982. The follow-up was the laid back 'Is dit alles' ('Is this all'), released in June 1982. It shot to number 9 in the Dutch Top 40, just months before the band would have their first number 1 hit, cementing their position as the country's favourite pop act.

The song is about a relationship that seems to drag out in routine, and the singer wonders if this is all there is.

My collection: 7" single no. 4944
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Is dit alles' / 'Tijd genoeg'

Belle Hélène - Doe Maar

A song like 'Belle Hélène' would be totally unacceptable these days. Back in 1984, the record company had no qualms about releasing a song that contained lyrics describing a love affair with an underage girl. The fact that Doe Maar was the Netherlands' most popular band at the time also helped, of course: they could do no wrong.

It is interesting, however, to note that this single did not become a hit. I have no idea when this single was actually released: it might have been after their breakup that year, when disillusioned fans didn't bother buying their records anymore.

My collection: 7" single no. 4941
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Belle Hélène' / 'Bella Donna'

Macho - Doe Maar

The lyric of 'Macho' by Doe Maar seemed to be a declaration of love to their main audience: girls. The singer declares that he never had many male friends, but played with girls instead. Basically, the members of Doe Maar declared that they were anything but macho.

In reality, the relationship with their audience was becoming strained. Although they didn't talk much about it at the time, it was becoming obvious that the audiences of screaming girls were becoming a trap for the men who just wanted to develop themselves musically. 'Macho' reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40 and was in fact their last single before the band broke up - breaking many young girls' hearts.

My collection: 7" single no. 4744
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Macho' / 'Grote broer'

32 jaar - Doe Maar

Nobody in 1981 could foresee the enormous popularity the Dutch band Doe Maar would have later on in their career, when they had their first hit single with this, '32 jaar' ('32 years'). The unassuming song about a man who is in love at the age of 32 reached number 29 in the Dutch Top 40 when it was first released in May 1981.

The band would later have six hit singles, four of which reached the top 10, sold out concerts and girls screaming from the first moment they took to the stage until the very last one.

My collection: 7" single no. 89
Found: Disco Market, Den haag, 1983
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: '32 jaar' / 'Mis'

Pa - Doe Maar

In February 1983, Doe Maar released the single 'Pa' from their new album '4us', the first album in Dutch language that was recorded entirely digitally.

It became the groups' second consecutive number one hit in the Netherlands. By this time, they had become so popular that anything they released could count on mass attention. This was, by the way, also the reason why they called it quits one year later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1363
Found: Disco Market, Den haag, December 28, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Pa' / 'Lajeninaja'

De bom - Doe Maar

During the first half of the Eighties, the Dutch band Doe Maar achieved the status of superband within the boundaries of the Netherlands with their Dutch language songs. They were going in against the trend of bands singing in English, during a period when Dutch language music was anything but cool. With a mixture of ska and funk (simply named 'Skunk' by the band) they created music that had an inexplicable appeal to young girls.

The single 'De bom' ('The bomb') was all about the threat of nuclear weapons that ran rampant during this cold war period. The lyric underlined the meaninglessness of life when a bomb was hanging over our heads. It gave the band their first number 1 hit in November 1982 - and in the two years that followed, Doe Maar's fanbase was often compared to the one of the Beatles during their heydays.

My collection: 7" single no. 2250
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 4, 1995
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'De bom' / 'Skunk', 'Man o man'