Sociologist Stef Bos (1961) gained his first stage experience during his student days with the cabaret duo Kaliber. In 1981, Kaliber won the audience award at the famous cabaret festival Camaretten in Delft.
After completing his studies, he moved to Antwerp to study cabaret at Studio Herman Teirlinck from 1984 to 1988. After his studies, Stef performed with the theatre company Oud Huis Stekelbees in Ghent and wrote lyrics and music. For example, in 1989, he wrote the lyrics and music for the Belgian Eurovision Song Contest entry 'Door De Wind'. After writing for the popular Belgian band Clouseau, the twenty-something began writing for himself. His first single 'Is Dit Nu Later' was released in 1990.
The debut album Is Dit Nu Later followed in the autumn of the same year. When the single 'Papa' was released in February 1991, his name quickly became known to a large audience. 'Papa' was a big hit in the Netherlands and Belgium. The success of the single boosted the sales of Is Dit Nu Later: it went double platinum. That same year, Stef Bos received a Silver Harp and an Edison award. For the theatre concert Tussen De Liefde En De Leegte (based on the album of the same name from 1992), Stef was awarded the Pall Mall Export Prize in 1993.
In 2000, Stef Bos received a Golden Harp for his work and his second Edison, this time for the album Zien. The following year, Mpumalanga Tot Die Kaap was released. This album is the result of his many musical journeys through South Africa. On each trip, Stef played with new musicians, ideas, songs, and melodies emerged. In collaboration with the many musicians involved in creating the songs, they were also recorded. In 2014, Stef released his thirteenth studio album Mooie Waanzinnige Wereld. The first single was the track 'Beter Mens'. According to him, he would never have written this track without his son.
In 2020, Stef took part in the programme “Beste Zangers”. Stef Bos has three records in the Top 2000, with “Papa” being the highest ranked at #31.
Sunday Morning Classics: Is Dit Nu Later
On 11 July 2021, Stef Bos was our Sunday Morning Classic with the album "Is Dit Nu Later".
Is Dit Nu Later is Stef Bos's debut and is considered the 'best known' in his discography, as well as one of his better works. Singles included Is Dit Nou Later and Gek Zijn Is Gezond. The later success of Papa would establish Stef Bos as a household name. Even now, many people (only) associate his entire musical career with that one song.
The album begins with a beautiful contradiction. Nothing is stronger than silence. The strength of this song lies in the melody. Wat Een Wonder, along with We Doen Het Zelf and Gek Zijn Is Gezond, are the more up-tempo songs on the album. The first two are decent; they are run-of-the-mill pop songs but do not disturb. Gek Zijn Is Gezond, on the other hand, is too playful, too childish, too unserious. Afscheid can be accepted. But again, it is not as moving as I would like. It occasionally makes me sing along and has at most a slightly melancholic feeling.
Is Dit Nu Later is of a higher level. That indignation and uncertainty in his voice, combined with a captivating melody, works well. Also, De Eenvoud is a highlight. A strong lyric, a calming but awakening voice. Then come Als Dat Genoeg Is and Papa, which are pure enjoyment. Vroeger Is Voorbij appeals to me less, and I find the theme somewhat banal. Wodka, on the other hand, is a top track. The build-up in this song is strong, the atmosphere is there. After that, the level drops again with Hier Vertrok De Trein. This song tries to sound dramatic but does not really succeed for me.
M'n Hart Gevolgd is a neutral closer. What strikes me is that the instrumentation is somewhat regarded as secondary. This album tries to summarise the small (un)happiness of humans and succeeds in doing so with top tracks like De Eenvoud and the title track.
(source: Jan Liebregts and NPO)
