Disc-Cover!

fri 13 jun 2025 19:00 hrs

Interesting albums from the folk and roots music history, by Marius Roeting. Today’s episode is about singer-songwriter Wim de Craen.

Tim, Sara, Rozane, Marcelino – these are just some names from unknown, fictitious characters which are based on real people. Wim de Craene writes about them and their daily struggles, thoughts, wishes and desires. About the past and what the future will bring. About hope, fear, love and grief. About loss and gain, battle and surrender. Wim de Craen celebrates life, poetically and usually with some philosophical edge, never judgmental but always challenging. A songwriter and performer to keep an eye on.

The musician and composer Wim de Craene flourished in the heydays of Flemish cabaret during the seventies, with colleagues like Kris de Bruijne, Zjef Vanuytsel, Raymond van het Groenewoud, Johan Verminnen. They were a colourful bunch that put the Flemish chanson on the map. They all started out acoustically and folky, but developed their own characteristic sound, as did De Craene. His early period features many funny songs, along with more socially engaged ones. The songs became more poetic later on, like a modern levenslied (‘songs about real life’, a Dutch subgenre of sentimental ballads).

De Craene was successful in a modest way, but still…he never felt truly appreciated. He was considered a decent guy, but others, like Urbanus, Verminnen, Van het Groenewoud were the ones that stood at the top. He adapted his style, integrated (at the time) musical novelties like disco and new wave in his music. His earliest fans drifted away and there weren’t many new ones. He sang more for a niche audience than becoming the star he always aspired to be.

It had a severe impact on his private life; he died after an overdose of medicine in September 1990, which was labelled as a suicide. A misunderstood talent, much like his colleague Nick Drake? The musician / singer-songwriter / performer wasn’t appreciated until after his death – old songs are released again, arranged by the new generation and so ‘the guy from Gent’ finally, though too late, receives the recognition he missed so much in his life.

In this special edition of DiscCover we look back at his entire oeuvre with the box set Integraal. A master piece in itself…