With a large crowd puller, Meppeldag will close the summer today on Thursday. George Baker performed in the city for half an hour this afternoon. Nowadays he goes viral on social media.
“But I don’t notice much change,” he says. “As you can see here: both young and old come to the performance. From about 25 to 85 years old. And it is completely full. That is usually the case.”
And in terms of crowds, he also notices little difference. Yes, Plein De Wheem in Meppel is packed with people. There is therefore not much room to dance, although a few women in the front row are happy to participate in his hit Una Paloma Blanca.
It is also precisely this song that is totally hip on Tiktok. This hit from 1975 is now stuck a lot under performances by other artists. “What I have seen I really like. It’s hilarious,” says 80-year-old George Baker himself.
“I think it is especially with Tiktok so that they really like the entrance. But those kids just don’t know the rest of the song at all. And George Baker either. We also put something on Tiktok to make it clear, but I don’t think it helps a lot.”
The organization of Thursday Meppeldag is now a bit happy. Long before the number went viral, he was already booked. Every year the organization tries to tie a big name in order to get extra people. The fact that he can now also call himself TIKTOK sensation may cause some extra audiences.
“The entire square was full,” says Baker. “It was very nice to be here. This weather helps of course, the mood was great. People participated, sang along. An ideal performance.”
The party in the city continues all day, until 1 am. George Baker has been home for a long time. “People soon think that I will perform for half an hour and that it is then. That is why he will not go through in the city.
In the meantime, the Tiktok trend also continues. “I think it has been done a few million times now. I think it is ready once now.”