The song Brabant by Guus Meeuwis has been streamed so often that he received a multi-platinum award for it on Thursday. Olympic swimming champion Pieter van den Hoogenband was the inspiration for the song years ago and presented the award to Guus and pianist Jan-Willem Rozenboom. “I am as proud as a peacock,” says Guus.
During the rehearsals for his new theater tour, the artists were ambushed by Pieter. “You know that when I come again, something special is going on,” the former swimmer begins his story with a laugh. “You have managed to come up with a song that has brought so much beauty to so many people. ‘Brabant’ has gone multi, multi, multi, multi platinum. I can’t even count how many times this song has been streamed.”
“We could be a little more proud.”
The two musicians proudly accepted the award. “I’m even prouder that you’re giving it to me,” Guus says to Pieter. The Olympic champion appears to be one of the reasons for the song.
During the world championships in Fukuoka in 2001, Van den Hoogenband won several silver medals. The news only said that he ‘had no gold again’. Guus: “That was so unfair. Then I thought: ‘We could be a little prouder’.”
“I like it every time it’s there.”
Together with his pianist Jan-Willem Rozenboom, he subsequently wrote the hit that has topped the Top 900 of Omroep Brabant for years. In addition to the award, it was also announced that Guus is again number 1 this year. And that brought a big smile to the musicians. Guus about it: “That’s still fun. It’s slowly becoming a long series, just like Max Verstappen in Formula 1. I don’t have to, but I like it every time it’s there. “
Omroep Brabant’s Top 900 is now in full swing. The list can be listened to until next Friday. More information can be found here.
READ ALSO: The Top 900 on Omroep Brabant has started, listen live here