Singer Klaas Spekken from Vlagtwedde won the COC Song Festival in Leeuwarden this weekend with his song I see you. “I’m still stunned by it.”
Mr. Bakken, congratulations. You must be happy.
“Thank you and I am certainly happy. It was a beautiful evening in De Neushoorn, the music venue in Leeuwarden. It was the 27th edition of the COC Song Contest and I represented the Pink 50+ Netherlands Foundation. Nine other organizations that stand up for LGBTI people also submitted a candidate. So ten songs were sung.”
Were you nervous beforehand?
,,A little. In the afternoon we already had a sound check and then I heard the other songs. There were two more songs like mine, quiet songs. The others were hard rock, glitter and glamour, a completely different genre. Then I thought ‘what will the judges choose?’ I was a little tense, but that’s okay.”
And then came the festival itself.
,, Yes, it was my turn first and the singing went well. My self-written song about a boy who is afraid to come out of the closet, in which I recognize a lot of myself, came across well. I had that feeling. Afterwards, the chairman of the professional jury, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Vera Bergkamp, said: ‘The bar is being set high’. Of course that made me feel really good. Then I had to wait and listen to the other songs on a balcony. Then it was up to the juries.”
Juries? There were more juries?
,, Yes, first the professional judges gave their points, after that round I was at the top. But all the participating organizations also had a representative who gave points, a so-called regional jury. Of course, Roze 50+ was not allowed to give me any points. Mayor Buma van Leeuwarden read out the points of those juries and ultimately I turned out to be the winner. I was and am stunned by it. I have participated as a singer in several festivals but never won. Now, at 63, well, for the first time.”
Did you receive a nice prize?
“Yes, a trophy that I will hand in again next year at the next edition. Where that festival will take place is still unknown, Roze 50+ must organize it as the winner. As I said, I am very happy that my song did so well. But of course those nine other participants also had their message that was just as important. It is a shame that it is still necessary to stand up for the rights of LGBTI people, but that is how it is.”