Ralph Ruiz

24 sept. 20234 min de lecture

Patty Brard discussing music in 100% NL Magazine

The autumn edition of 100% NL Magazine features an interview with Patty Brard discussing music.

Music was Patty's first love before television, social media and entrepreneurship. She initially reached fame and fortune thanks to the brief and intense international success of the Dutch girl group Luv', which scored hit after hit between 1977 and 1980, including the chart-toppers "You're the Greatest Lover" and "Trojan Horse". She suddenly left Luv' in July 1980 and reunited with the group in 1988, 1993 and 2005.

José Hoebee, Patty Brard & Marga Scheide aka Luv' in 1980

Supported by her then-influential partner Carlo Nasi, who married her in 1983, Miss Brard was the first Luv' member to start a solo career. She recorded in the 1980s three albums ("All This Way", "You're in the Pocket", and "Red Light") in Los Angeles, a music city known for its "Yacht Rock" (aka the West Coast sound or adult-oriented rock). She collaborated with sought-after session musicians, including Billy Preston, Paulinho Da Costa, Paul Jackson, Jr. and Jai Winding, who also worked with mega pop and rock icons (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Michael Jackson...). Patty's American recordings were not as popular as those of Luv', except the single "Hold On To Love", a Top 20 hit in the Netherlands, a Top 10 hit in Belgium and which reached the 12th position in South Africa in early 1981.

Patty Brard during her "Hold On To Love" era in 1981

In recent years, the ex-Luv' singer became a Carnival Queen in the Low Countries by releasing Carnival singles sung in Dutch, which boosted her music career. Her most significant Carnival hits were her duet with Ome Henk, "Ik Wil Knallen" (a Dutch Top 5 hit in 2006), "Het Leven Is Een Feest" (#8 on the Dutch Single Top 100 in 2010) and "In M'n Panterpak" (#2 on the Dutch iTunes Top 100 in 2022).

Photo montage by Marco Rens

Here's a translation in English of Patty's interview in 100% NL Magazine:

People often forget that Patty Brard first became famous as a singer. She worked as a secretary at the public broadcasting organisation in 1977 when she was asked to join the girl group Luv' with whom she had several hits.

Which song did you first sing along to?

"Downtown". My mother had two singles in Sorong, New Guinea. One of them was "Downtown" by Petula Clark, after whom I am named. I listened a lot to this song.

Petula Clark

Did you ever participate in a lip-syncing or karaoke show on TV?

I once took part in a "Play Black Show" with a song by Gloria Estefan. It felt so good and gave me the impression I had appeared in a world-famous music video.

Gloria Estefan

Who's "The Voice of Holland" according to you?

Douwe Bob and I also love Jaap Reesema's voice.

Douwe Bob

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

I love Dutch-speaking music so much. I'm fond of Gerard Joling's repertoire. I can't get enough of his live performances.

Gerard Joling

Which song do you want to forget?

If you want to avoid hearing and watching something, you can always turn it off. So there's no song I'm fed up with.

What is the most irritating earworm?

"Heb je even voor mij...". It's very well written. If you listen to the intro, it stays in your head for the rest of the day.

Which song makes you laugh?

"You're the Greatest Lover" by Luv'. I keep asking myself: "How many times did I sing "Sha na na na na na na na"?

Which song makes you stay in the car for an extra ride?

"Strani Amori" by Laura Pausini. It's so beautiful.

Laura Pausini

What was your mother's favourite song?

My mother often played "You To Me Are Everything", my late brother Dennis' favourite track. The lyrics are also on his tombstone.

Are there songs which make you cry, and why?

"The Wind Beneath My Wings" and "The Winner Takes It All". I've been playing them since my bankruptcy, knowing I would bounce back.

What is your best live music memory?

One of the best was Gladys Knight's concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, the last concert I attended before returning to Europe. Harry Styles' show was the latest performance I attended here in the Netherlands, and it really impressed me.

Gladys Knight

Which singer would you like to be?

P!nk. She has an attitude. She is sensitive, nice, and in good shape. Her voice is always good. She always gives good shows.

P!ink

Which lyrics are the best?

"Imagine" by John Lennon. It says it all.

John Lennon

What's the best Dutch song?

"Als je zachtjes zegt ik hou van jou" by Saskia & Serge. Antoine and I played it on our wedding day.

Which song did you wish you had written, performed and released?

"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.

Gloria Gaynor

If you could describe your childhood in a song, which would it be?

It would be a raw house mix or something from M*A*S*H.

Have you got a special song with your daughter?

"I'm like a bird" by Nelly Furtado. I remember when Priscilla said: "This is a song I knew was a "Mama" song when I first listened to it". She was right.