Bok van Blerk
{{short description|Afrikaans singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use South African English|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bok van Blerk
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Louis Andreas Pepler
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|3|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pretoria, South Africa
| origin = Pretoria, South Africa
| years_active = 2005–present
| genre = Pop rock
| label = {{flatlist|
- Mozi Records
- Coleske Artists
}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.bokvanblerk.co.za/}}
}}
Bok van Blerk (born Louis Andreas Pepler; 30 March 1978) is a South African singer-songwriter who sings in Afrikaans. He became famous in 2006 for his rendition of "De la Rey" by Sean Else and Johan Vorster.Tanya de Vente (Vrouekeur) [http://www.bokvanblerk.co.za/Bok%20van%20Blerk%20Vrouekeur.doc "Bok van Blerk, 'n bok vir sports] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929014228/http://www.bokvanblerk.co.za/Bok%20van%20Blerk%20Vrouekeur.doc |date=29 September 2007 }}, accessed 23 February 2007
Though controversy attended the release of "De la Rey", South Africa's Department of Arts and Culture examined the debate and then wished van Blerk well with the song, writing officially that the Department saw "no problem".{{Cite web | url=http://www.dac.gov.za/content/ministry-arts-culture-bok-van-blerks%E2%80%99s-supposed-afrikaans-%E2%80%9Cstruggle-song%E2%80%9D-de-la-rey-and-its| title=Ministry of Arts & Culture on Bok Van Blerks’s Supposed Afrikaans “Struggle Song,” De La Rey and Its Coded Message to Fermenting Revolutionary Sentiments | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905204859/http://www.dac.gov.za/content/ministry-arts-culture-bok-van-blerks%E2%80%99s-supposed-afrikaans-%E2%80%9Cstruggle-song%E2%80%9D-de-la-rey-and-its | archive-date=2022-09-05}}
Early life and career
Van Blerk went to school at Hoërskool die Wilgers in Pretoria.Rapport, [http://www.news24.com/Rapport/Rubrieke/0,7718,752-801_2060658,00.html Hanlie Retief gesels met Bok van Blerk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519050049/http://www.news24.com/Rapport/Rubrieke/0%2C7718%2C752-801_2060658%2C00.html |date=19 May 2007 }}, accessed 23 February 2005 After his study, he spent time working abroad.
In March 2006, Bok van Blerk and the Mossies released the album Jy praat nog steeds my taal (You still speak my language). The same album was rereleased in October 2006 under the name De La Rey and solely credited to Bok van Blerk. According to Van Blerk "and the Mossies" was removed because his fellow singer, Tanya van Graan, was too busy modeling. Van Blerk is accompanied by Jaco Mans (and occasionally Manie van Niekerk) on lead guitar, Francois Coetzee on bass guitar, and Nathan Smit on the drums.
"De la Rey" controversy
On 6 February 2007, the South African Department of Arts and Culture issued a statement regarding "De la Rey" (ostensibly a tribute to 19th Century military leader Koos de la Rey) and its then popularity with some Afrikaners, some of whom were claimed to interpret the song as a call to armed conflict.[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/world/africa/27safrica.html?ex=1330232400&en=3cc87f8b6123ee58&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss Song Wakens Injured Pride of Afrikaners], Michael Wines, The New York Times, 27 February 2007[https://www.theguardian.com/southafrica/story/0,,2021336,00.html Afrikaans singer stirs up controversy with war song] by Chris McGreal in Johannesburg, The Guardian, 26 February 2007 (See "Bring Me My Machine Gun" for additional historical context.)
At some of van Blerk's concerts, audience members were seen flying the Apartheid-era South African flag and the Transvaal flag, the Vierkleur, also associated with the Apartheid era. The Orange Free State flag (a historical Afrikaner state) is shown in a period scene in the music video. Huisgenoot, a widely read woman's magazine, asked Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan to comment. In its statement, the Department lamented that the song could be hijacked by right-wingers, but wished the singer good luck. The Department also stated that it had no problem with protests or mobilisation from the opposition, as long as they occur within the framework of democratic law.DKK, [http://www.dac.gov.za/media_releases/06Feb07.html Ministry of Arts & Culture on Bok van Blerks’s Supposed Afrikaans “Struggle Song,” De La Rey and Its Coded Message to Fermenting Revolutionary Sentiments.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220055442/http://www.dac.gov.za/media_releases/06Feb07.html |date=2012-02-20 }}, accessed 23 February 2007
Van Blerk says that he himself does not identify with the old South African flag, nor does he want to be associated with the old South Africa. He is, however, proudly Afrikaans, and has refused to participate in concerts organised by 94.7 Highveld Stereo, a radio station that declines to play Afrikaans music.Die Burger[http://www.dieburger.com/Stories/Multimedia/Video/13.0.1977831937.aspx Bok sê aikôna vir ou landsvlag én 94.7], accessed 23 February 2007
Van Blerk is also clear that he does not align with the Boeremag: he does not believe violence to be a solution, and believes that General de la Rey was pro-peace. Famed Afrikaans musician Koos Kombuis points out that van Blerk's rugby song "Habana!" is about a heroic Coloured athlete, Bryan Habana, thus differentiating van Blerk himself from the subjects of his music.Litnet [http://www.litnet.co.za/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_news_item&cause_id=1270news_id=6473&cat_id=163 Bok van Blerk en die bagasie van veertig jaar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927162225/http://www.litnet.co.za/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_news_item&cause_id=1270news_id%3D6473&cat_id=163|date=27 September 2011}}, accessed 23 February 2007
Van Blerk printed a disclaimer on the sleeve of his second album, Afrikanerhart: "Afrikanerhart does not call for any kind of revolution or uprising. It comes from the musical 'Ons vir Jou', and we simply wish to say that Afrikaners also shed blood while building South Africa. If we respect all our cultures and history, we together will make this country stronger". (Translated from the original Afrikaans)
Discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:22em;" |Title and details
! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" |Notes ! colspan="1" | Peak chart |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:110%;"| SA |
scope="row"| De La Rey[https://musicbrainz.org/release/55a1fb3d-7327-46c6-83ba-290f2686b95a]
| {{Track listing | title1 = De la Rey | length1 = | title2 = Praat nog steeds my taal | length2 = | title3 = Vodka en OJ | length3 = | title4 = Hatfield Jol | length4 = | title5 = Die Bok kan blêr | length5 = | title6 = Lenteblomme | length6 = | title7 = So waai die wind | length7 = | title8 = Stuk van jou | length8 = | title9 = Op Walvisbaai | length9 = | title10 = {{-'}}68 Chevy | length10 = | title11 = Katie | length11 = | title12 = Girls in bikinis | length12 = | title13 = Habana! | length13 = }} | - |
scope="row"| Afrikanerhart
| {{Track listing | title1 = Tyd Om Te Trek | length1 = | title2 = Afrikanerhart | length2 = | title3 = Super Schalk | length3 = | title4 = Brandewyn Het Nie Brieke Nie | length4 = | title5 = Jou Pa Is Hier | length5 = | title6 = Klaar Met My | length6 = | title7 = Die Kaplyn | length7 = | title8 = My Angel | length8 = | title9 = Die Kleur Van My Vel | length9 = | title10 = Seilvisskoffel | length10 = | title11 = Boeregirl | length11 = | title12 = Miss U.S.A | length12 = | title13 = Nooit Weer Gesien Nie | length13 = | title14 = Sink of Swem | length14 = | title15 = Pa en Seun | length15 = }} |
scope="row"| My Kreet
| {{Track listing | title1 = My Kreet | length1 = | title2 = Die ou klipkerk gebou | length2 = | title3 = {{-'}}n Goeie man | length3 = | title4 = BMX en bende | length4 = | title5 = Tannie Tina van Wyk | length5 = | title6 = Konyne | length6 = | title7 = Anderkant die treinspoor | length7 = | title8 = Bloubul shebeen | length8 = | title9 = Die bokke skiet terug | length9 = | title10 = Diknek en klein tandjies | length10 = | title11 = Honnelos | length11 = | title12 = Platteland | length12 = }} | - |
scope="row"| Steek Die Vure Aan
| {{Track listing | title1 = Land Van Melk En Heuning | length1 = | title2 = Koue Voete En Warm Liefde | length2 = | title3 = Die Groot Trek Weer Kaap Toe | length3 = | title4 = Steek Die Vure Aan | length4 = | title5 = Ons Kyk Na Ons Mense | length5 = | title6 = {{-'}}Van Hings{{'-}} | length6 = | title7 = Daai Klein-Dorpie Gevoel | length7 = | title8 = Tref En Trap | length8 = | title9 = Gebore Om Vry Te Wees | length9 = | title10 = Ek En My Vlerk | length10 = | title11 = Vroumens | length11 = | title12 = Huil Soos 'n Man | length12 = | title13 = Bakbeen Anties | length13 = | title14 = Bloubul Snor | length14 = }} |7{{cite web |title=SA Top 20|url=http://www.rsg.co.za/3 |publisher=Recording Industry of South Africa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116155011/http://www.rsg.co.za/|archive-date=2014-01-16|access-date=25 October 2019|language=Afrikaans |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} |
scope="row"| Sing Afrikaner Sing
| {{Track listing | title1 = Sing Afrikaner Sing | length1 = | title2 = Bosveld Afrika | length2 = | title3 = Hou Jou Voete Op Die Grond | length3 = | title4 = Aan Jou Lippe | length4 = | title5 = Spooloos | length5 = | title6 = Al Die Dubbles | length6 = | title7 = Bok Vir Sports | length7 = | title8 = Die Beste Dag Van My Lewe | length8 = | title9 = Soos In Die Ou Dae | length9 = | title10 = Voor Ek My Kop Neerlê | length10 = | title11 = Skoenmaker | length11 = | title12 = Ek Het - Duet Met Laurika Rauch | length12 = | title13 = Soutwater | length13 = }} |4{{cite web |title=SA Top 20 |url=http://www.rsg.co.za/3 |publisher=Recording Industry of South Africa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818074459/http://www.rsg.co.za/|archive-date=2015-08-18 |access-date=25 October 2019 |language=Afrikaans |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} |
scope="row"| Van De La Rey Tot Nou
| |
scope="row"| Hoor Ons!
| |
Filmography
- Platteland (2011)
- As jy sing (2013)
- Vrou Soek Boer (2014)
- Leading Lady (2014)
- Blood & Glory (Modder en Bloed, 2018)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |url=http://www.bokvanblerk.co.za/ |title=Bok van Blerk |last= |first= |date=2023 |website=bokvanblerk.co.za |publisher=Bok van Blerk |access-date=1 June 2023 |quote=}} Bok van Blerk's homepage.
- {{cite web |url=http://quincyhouse.blogspot.com/2007/07/between-pride-and-prejudice-problem-of.html |title=Between Pride and Prejudice: The Problem of History |last=Linderman |first=Aaron |date=July 21, 2007 |website=quincyhouse.blogspot.com |publisher= |access-date=1 June 2023 |quote=}} About van Blerk's song De la Rey.
- {{YouTube|id=vtKKJSfYraU|title=De la Rey Song - with English subtitles}}. Video duration 5 min 6 sec. Uploader MasakhaneSA 2008.
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Blerk, Bok}}
Category:South African pop singers
Category:South African singer-songwriters
Category:Afrikaans-language singers of South Africa