Inside Amstedam - Appivlog

Inside Amstedam - Appivlog

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Appi is a happy, self confessed, ripe hippy of the Amsterdam flavour who takes life day by day and sings the songs life in the Dutch language. He has developed a show with his own music and lyrics called Gekkenwerk (Mad mans work) and hopes to get it on the road by autumn of this year. In his first number …Een Goed Pensioen (A Good Pension) his sings of what life could have been like had he behaved himself and pursued a respectable career. Here the punch line is ”…..now it’s too late”!

In his second number he sings of a Casanova who wants to escape the unsophisticated rural provinciality of Veendam, a sleepy small town in the north of Holland which excels only in being exactly that. Via internet-dating he seeks his self realisation amongst wealthy, freethinking ladies of the big city. This song obviously has a large autobiographical component.

This is a selection from “Gekkenwerk en andere Rosse Liedjes”

More from Appi in the autumn and if you don’t speak Dutch……learn it!!

INSIDE HIPHOP AMSTERDAM

INSIDE HIPHOP AMSTERDAM

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When urban culture hooks up with the digital era anyone can contribute to the exploding Hip Hop scene. Anyone can put a PC and a beat box in their bedroom and pretend they are rappers and use this art form to communicate what’s on their mind. Even the Dutch Minister Donner of the Justice Department and Mayor Leers of Maastricht use this channel of communication and think they are rappers. But are they?

Like everything else an infinite number of hip hop variations and flavours has emerged:- good rap, crap rap, the ubiquitous commercial big boob and bum rap – which is more akin to porno than music – and of course the real rap. The real thing. Whatever, the rap seems to be here to stay, just like the computer. The real rap comes from the streets. It is about the streets and is intended for the streets. In Amsterdam there is an enormous body of positive creative energy producing good and real hip hop music. Dutchvlog went Inside Amsterdam and spent some time with Black Mosart and Just da Rhymes from Greenfield Productions.

Greenfield Productions is firmly anchored at the creative apex of the scene and demonstrates great musical and creative potential. After a busy and intense year of working with a host of different artists the have just released their new album 4 da Streets Vol II completely independently. They even service the distribution themselves just as many of their fellow artist do. It is also amazing to see how they form alliances, working relationships and friendships during the creation of an album with 23 differing, and authentic hip hop numbers. Compare this to what Leers and Donner attempted and you will feel and hear what real hip hopis and what is not.

This stuff is good. Even my mother who is now 77 thinks its great so you should definitely check it out.

Sales points in Amsterdam are Boudisque, Britain, Patta, Fat Beats, Pico, Café Five Star and music stands on the Amsterdam markets.

Information about Greenfield Productions can be found at www.blackmosart.com

For contact or booking send a mail to fordastreetspart2@hotmail.com. You can also leave a comment on this vlog and we wiill pass on your request.

INSIDE AMSTERDAM - PIANVLOG

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I’ve often wondered what impression the Damrak provides to visitors of Amsterdam? As far as first impressions go, the stretch of Amsterdam between the Central Station and the Dam Square is probably one of the most important. It is however crammed full by stinking snack bars and tourist boutiques selling expensive but useless crap of unimaginable ugliness, and manned by employees who rarely speak decent Dutch and obviously do not come from this neck of the woods. If that were my first impression I would run away frothing, screaming and deluded – as I often do. Whenever I visit a strange city, I like to look beyond the repulsive tourist boutiques and see if I can sense what makes this particular place unique. Finding out what the real natives do usually provides an interesting trail to a city’s hidden, living potential.

If a tourist were to wander beyond the inanimate city exterior in the right place at the right time, for example at Mascha Rutten’s Décor Studio at Sloterdijk they may see Justice Smits exercising his passion; playing the blues on a grand. At the distinguished Artists Club Arti et Amicitiae on the Rokin they may find him at the big black grand beneath a famous Breitner rolling out Softly as in the Morning Sunrise in the spacious classical hall. If they are especially lucky they might see him together with singer Marion Bentoera at Café ‘t Bruine Paard on the Prinsengracht whilst an audience is riveted to their blues. This is what brings Amsterdam to life! This is what goes on beyond the facades - on the inside of Amsterdam.

In the series Inside Amsterdam, DutchVlog is going to reveal just some of the uniqueness that distinguishes Amsterdam from everywhere else. In the next episode DutchVlog will go inside the bustling Hip Hop Amsterdam – so check your life insurance and brace yourselves!

BOOKING

If you would like more information about Justus Smits or to book him you can send a mail to jcasmits@xs4all.nl or call (int.) 00 31 (0)20 6814773 (local) 020 6814773. You can also leave a comment on this Vlog and we will pass on your request.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)

Tags: music-video, amsterdam, blues, dutchvlog, netherlands, dutch, culture

IRIS Music Video

IRIS Music Video

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Utrecht is a provincial city in the geographic centre of the Netherlands. Although it is smaller than Amsterdam, the historic centre is just as impressive with its canals, waterside bars and restaurants, and a fun place to be in the summer when the many terraces are bustling with pretty girls. Check it out some time.

The music scene however is bustling and buzzing all the year round and produces a rising star now and again such as Iris, a 19 year old R & B singer dancer. She already provides lively shows with her dance group and her first CD will be released within a couple of weeks. Go for it Iris!!

Godfried van Utrecht is a painter, photographer from Utrecht who is moving more and more into the realm of video production. With simple means and creativity he has been able to capture Iris and produce this promotional clip to help her on her way. DutchVlog applauds anyone who takes charge of their media and its distribution and is always prepared to provide a platform for emerging artists.

Links / Info

Mangagement : irismusiq@hotmail.com tel. 00 31 (0) 6 - 42 09 83 11

Bookings : Twilight Productions info@twilightproductions.nl

tel 00 31 (0) 348 - 44 40 35 / 00 31 (0) 6 - 55 16 19 90

Music Production and Lyrics : 2 Bounce Productions - Utrecht

60 second Vlog Promo

60 second Vlog Promo

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This is a 60 second promo for vlogging presented in the Dutch language by 11 year old Zowie de Mol: Media Tycoon / Media Guru!

CoffinVlog

CoffinVlog

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The Death of Reality TV may have been caused by the Euthanasia Show!!

Vlogging is slowly getting talked about - and thought about.
It was amusing to see how the network that broadcast the vlog item on Dutch TV last week immediately ran away with the idea that vlogging will be the ultimate reality TV. It was as though a gasp of relief bellowed through the creatively barren mainstream medialand - “At last; a new angle to revitalise the perishing reality tv concept”.
The penny has obviously not dropped yet; how can you compare an apple with a pear?
The DNA of the mainstream network reality TV and the reality of the vlog are fundamentally different both in the driving force that creates them, their production methods and the motives that effect their inception.
It’s obviously going to take a while for mainstream media to adjust their frame of reference – by which time it will be too late!
Being humane, unlike the sensationalist networks, I hope to soften the distress caused by the passing of a lucrative media era by pointing them to a location where they can obtain a magnificent, made to order coffin (in the form of a tv studio) for their redundant ideas – or should we apply euthanasia?

I am presently trying to set up a first vlogger in Ghana.
Coffins - by Papa Willy - Teshi Road (near Labadi) - Accra Ghana (no e-mail!!!)

LINKS
More coffins from the BBC picture archive
Travel Guide Ghana Lonely Planet
Africa Guide Ghana
Ghana Web Ghana homepage

Vlogging Holland - TV crew film vloggers in Amsterdam

Vlogging Holland - TV crew film vloggers in Amsterdam

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Today I was filmed vlogging in Amsterdam and later interviewed by a crew from Dutch RTL 4 television. Later Gabe and Gabe from Xolo were interviewed by the same crew about of vlogging and it’s progress in Holland. (unfortunately all in Dutch) They are going to run an item on Dutch national television coming Friday (if not then Monday). This is great exposure for vlogging and I am chuffed to have taken part. But it is above all a massive mothervlogging tribute to the toil of Freevlog, FireAnt, Steve Garfield, Gabe McIntyre (get ya bandwidth ready) and all the other inspirational front liners who have put so much effort into getting this great vlogging message across to so many people. Good on ya guys. Events like this confirm that we are getting somewhere – and makes it even more worthwhile.

Big BooomVlog - Dutch DIY Fire Crackers

Big BooomVlog - Dutch DIY Fire Crackers

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In the sparsely populated rural province of Drenthe in northern Holland, the young farmers gather on the village green of Dwingeloo and set off their do it yourself fire crackers in the week preceding new year. As always, the bigger the bang the better the cracker. Commercially available fire works obviously no longer suffice so these guys make their own. In this old custom they usually use old milk cans as a combustion chamber. They add carbite and water, which forms a highly explosive mixture when ignited. The resulting explosion produces a loud big bang and a pretty decent shock wave which shakes you to your marrow. The sound can carry more than 20km across the fields and if you want to hear anything the next day it’s best to wear ear protection. The continuous improvement of the crackers has culminated in the cannon seen in the clip. Naturally this practice is strictly forbidden by law - although the police traditionally make no effort to spoil the fun. If fireworks are supposed to drive the evil spirits away – you can be sure that their ain’t none around here no more!

Happy New Year - DutchVlog - Both shaken and stirred.

JogVlog Interuptus

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At this time of year the Netherlands suffers from acute blue-sky deficiency. Today was a rare exception. The sky was deep blue so I went for a jog and decided to vlog it. Not one hundred meters from my house, I was stopped by a motor policeman who had obviously found my activities intolerably suspicious. Being totally taken aback I was unfortunately unable to shoot the first part of the questioning procedure but unobtrusively turned my camera on as the exchange progressed.
I’m glad I got something otherwise I would not have believed it myself. After extensive communication with police base camp the officer was compelled to concluded I was not an extremist terrorist and bid me on my way.
I did finish the JogVlog although by now I was no longer in the mood to do what I had in mind. I wasn’t anywhere close to a controlled area. The Amsterdam Police are extremely jumpy and they are not shy about it .I think GabeMac would agree.
Considered on a local level however, although I dislike getting stopped and questioned by the Dutch Police who are notoriously cerebrally deprived and impolite, two minutes walk from my house in the other direction, young men parade around provocatively in jalaba’s doing their best to mimic Bin Laden. The neighbourhood is a notorious feeding ground for the fundamentalist Hofstad group who are presently being tried for conspiracy to commit terrorist acts. One minute further on from there marks the spot where Theo van Gogh the film director was brutally murdered by an affiliate of the group. The existence of this active terrorist cell came to light when one of it’s key members was discovered filming potential targets such as the parliament buildings, the national airport, electricity generating plants and the national security agency’s head office….with a dvcam!

HampiVlog

The Queens bath tub at Hampi

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Hampi - Once the capital of the Vijayangara Empire
Now a World Heritage site.

In 1522 a Portuguese traveller, Domingo Paes wrote “Hampi is as large as Rome and very beautiful to the sight, the best provided city in the world”. It is now a World Heritage Site.
By the measure of the middle ages Hampi was an immense, powerful, wealthy and thriving metropolis, strategically well protected by mountains and rivers from unwelcome intruders . Its environment was permeated with rich, fertile vegetation providing all that was needed to sustain the city comfortably, and more. It was also a religious centre and a seat of learning in a intensely beautiful décor of palaces and temples sculpted out of the mysterious volcanic, moonlike, landscape of hard granite.
This place is truly the genus loci tangibly personified. It’s reputation became known far and wide but especially, and more importantly with the Moguls to the north who found the existence of place so close to paradise intolerable and made it their prime mission to see that it was destroyed.
In one blow, the city of Hampi was violated and every single sculpture and palace defaced. To destroy something made of massive granite requires extreme conviction.
The Virupaksha Temple seen in the video was the only building spared and therefore still standing to this day.
Yet another example of senseless destruction driven by ignorance, hatred, greed and intolerance.

This video is a short compilation of many hours of footage shot in 2000 on a Cannon X65 Hi8 so the quality leaves much to be desired but it's good enough to give a good impression of this amazing place.

LINKS
Hampi in the (vlog)map
World Heritage
Karnataka Toutist Bureau
More pictures and foto's