Marking 40 Years of ‘Waarom’ by Bonnie & José (with Ron)

In loving memory of Will Hoebee, Harry van Hoof, and Ron Brandsteder

Promotional photo of Bonnie & José

Courtesy of José Hoebee's Fan Page

Exactly forty years ago, on December 7, 1985, "Waarom," a single by Bonnie St. Claire & José Hoebee and a Dutch-language cover version of ABBA's Move On, made its debut on the Tipparade, Holland's 'bubbling under' chart just below the Top 40. Just one week later, the track entered the Dutch singles chart known as "Nationale Hitparade".

The song was released by RCA Records and featured on Bonnie & José’s album "Herinnering", a collection of Dutch-language ABBA covers. The Dutch lyrics were written by television icon Ron Brandsteder, a close friend of both singers, who also lent his voice to the recording as the narrator.

Let’s come together in joyful celebration of this milestone: the 40th anniversary of "Waarom"!

History

In 1984, Bonnie and José decided to form a duo to cover ABBA songs in Dutch, well before the revival of interest in the Swedish Fab Four's music.

José Hoebee & Bonnie St Claire

Photo edited by Marco Rens

Bonnie and José's first duet single, "Cassandra," peaked at #24 on the Top 40 and #19 on the Nationale Hitparade in the Netherlands during the summer of 1984.

In late 1984 and early 1985, the two singers participated in the ABBAcadra project. Later that year, they released the single "Zoals Vrienden Doen," a cover of ABBA's "The Way Old Friends Do." This track became the duo's signature song, reaching #36 on the Top 40 and #18 on the Nationale Hitparade in the summer of 1985.

After their respectable success on the charts, Bonnie and José decided to continue their professional collaboration. They were offered the opportunity to release a full-length album titled "Herinnering." José Hoebee's husband, Will Hoebee, a sought-after producer at the time, oversaw the recording sessions at the prestigious Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands. Eurovision Song Contest conductor Harry van Hoof served as the arranger.

Front cover of "Herinnering" by Bonnié & José

Photo by Govert de Roos

In addition to the earlier hits "Cassandra" and "Zoals Vrienden Doen," the LP featured a third single, released in October 1985: "Waarom," a cover of ABBA’s "Move On". TV personality Ron Brandsteder, and Patty Brard's first husband, wrote the Dutch lyrics for "Waarom", which explored the theme of hatred among humans. He also contributed to the recording as a narrator. This track reflected on humanity’s enduring cycles of violence, hatred, and indifference. It questioned why, after thousands of years, people continued to fight, build walls between each other, and failed to respect or understand one another. The lyrics lamented the persistence of conflict, the absence of empathy, and the fading of love and warmth in human relations, expressing frustration and a desire for answers that seemed lost to history.

Flemish author Stany Van Wymeersch interviewed Bonnie & José for the booklet accompanying the 2020 reissue of "Herinnering", and Ron shared his thoughts on collaborating with the duo: "In 1985, I was already friends with Bonnie and José. In those years, I was already a fan of ABBA's music. In the meantime, I had fathered my son, Rick, and then you look at life differently. You become more open to the important things around you, and your responsibilities make you more serious. Perhaps that is why my lyrical contribution to the song ‘Waarom’ was a bit more ideological. I am still very proud of my contribution. By adding beautiful Dutch lyrics to ABBA’s music, it resulted in a wonderful album, sung by perhaps the best pop singers in the Netherlands."

Article published in Story magazine - December 6, 1985

TV performances

• November 16, 1985: Op Volle Toeren on TROS, the Netherlands

• December 9, 1985: Showbizzquiz on TROS, the Netherlands

• December 19, 1985: Op Volle Toeren on TROS, the Netherlands

• January 25, 1986: Op Volle Toeren on TROS, the Netherlands

Commercial performance

"Waarom" entered the Dutch Tipparade on December 7, 1985, at #49 and reached its peak at #2 on January 18, 1986. One week later, it dropped out of this "bubbling under" chart that tracked songs just outside the Dutch Top 40. The song stayed on the Tipparade for a total of six weeks.

The track also debuted on the Dutch singles chart, the "Nationale Hitparade," on December 14, 1985, reaching #35 on December 21, 1985. It remained on this hit parade for six weeks.

Tracklisting - Credits

Waarom

7" vinyl single (45 rpm) - original release by RCA Records in October 1985

Front cover of "Waarom" by Bonnie & José

A side:

• Bonnie & José with Ron Brandsteder: "Waarom (Move On)" - 4:34

Written by B. Andersson, B. Ulvaeus, R. Brandsteder, S. Andersson

B side:

• Bonnie & José: "Ligt Dat Aan Jou Of Aan Mij (Why Did It Have To Be Me)" - 3:24

Written by B. Andersson, B. Ulvaeus, J. Timp

Credits:

Vocals: Bonnie St. Claire, José Hoebee & Ron Brandsteder

Produced by Albert Hol and Will Hoebee

Arranged by Harry van Hoof

Management: Double Entertainment

Photography: Govert de Roos

Back cover of "Waarom"

Source: Luv' & José weblogs archives, Marco Rens, Stany Van Wymeersch, Discogs.com, DutchCharts.nl, Facebook, YouTube