Guest
To celebrate De Melkweg’s 50th Anniversary we publish today, July 27, 2020, this video of Kevin Coyne about Amsterdam and De Melkweg. It was probably even recorded at De Melkweg, Amsterdam, the venue he describes in this song. The recording by Toppop was made in 1978. It was never broadcast. Kevin Coyne (27 January 1944 – 2 December 2004) was an English musician, singer, composer, film-maker, and a writer of lyrics, stories and poems. The “anti-star“ was born in Derby, Derbyshire, England, and died in his adopted home of Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany. Coyne is notable for his unorthodox style of blues-influenced guitar composition, the intense quality of his vocal delivery, and his bold treatment of injustice to the mentally ill in his lyrics. Many influential musicians have described themselves as Coyne fans, among them Sting and John Lydon. In the mid-1970s, prior to the formation of the Police, Coyne’s band included guitarist Andy Summers. Prominent BBC disc jockey and world music authority Andy Kershaw described Coyne as “a national treasure who keeps getting better“ and as one of the great British blues voices. Here are the lyrics to his song ’Amsterdam’ that was released as a single in 1978. Painted faces everywhere, I do not see a one Deas dogs are lying upside down, moulding in the sun I’m looking for a friendly face, something to remind me of home But the girl with the lipstick and the flashing eyes she doesn’t give me none Down in the Vondel Park, kids are gonna jump and shout Down in the Melkweg, the heat is on It’s smoking and knocking them out, that’s Amsterdam, Amsterdam. Somebody give me a ticket, I want to fly back home I want to see my best friend cause I know she’s all alone She’s the sweet and lightness I’ve been looking for Honey, honey, where are you? Just can’t take no more Down in the Vondel Park, kids are gonna jump and shout Down in the Melkweg, it is hot It’s smoking and knocking them out, that’s Amsterdam Well I’m looking, looking for somewhere, a hole to hide I’m riding on the cobble stones but I haven’t got a plane to ride Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day they’ll let me go away Oh baby, there’s so many many times and I hate to feel this way Amsterdam, well that’s Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam Watch our great music videos ❯ More TopPop? Subscribe here ❯ More info on Wikipedia ❯ Broadcast date: This song was recorded in 1978 by Toppop but never broadcast. This is to let you know that the video recording of the video clip was originally recorded by AVROTROS Broadcasting. AVROTROS Broadcasting hereby warrants and represents that it is the sole and exclusive owner of the physical film and/or videotape footage in this video clip. The performance of the artist(s) in the clip was filmed and recorded with the written consent of the artist(s) and their representatives. AVROTROS is a Dutch radio and television broadcaster, founded in 2014 from a merger of AVRO and TROS. From January 1st, 2014 the name of the merged broadcaster was used in joint programmes. AVRO was founded in 1923 as the Netherlands first public broadcaster. TROS started broadcasting in 1964. Toppop was a weekly AVRO pop program that was aired between 1970 and 1988. AVROTROS Broadcasting PO Box 2 1200 JA Hilversum The Netherlands TopPop was the first regular dedicated pop music TV show in the Dutch language area. Dutch broadcaster AVRO aired the programme weekly, from 1970 to 1988. Presenter Ad Visser hosted the show for its first fifteen years. World famous music artists performed on TopPop: ABBA, 10CC, Bee Gees, The Jacksons with Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Earth & Fire, Queen, Golden Earring, Boney M, KC & The Sunshine Band, Chic, Donna Summer and many many more.
