Bettie Serveert

Bettie Serveert
Carol van Dijk, lead singer of Bettie Serveert, performing in Vondelpark in 2006
Background information
Origin Amsterdam, Netherlands
Genres Indie rock
Alternative rock
Years active 1990–present
Labels Matador
Beggars Banquet
Hidden Agenda
Minty Fresh
Second Motion Records
Associated acts Bauer, Chitlin' Fooks
Website http://www.bettieserveert.com/
Members Carol van Dijk
Peter Visser
Herman Bunskoeke
Martijn Blankestijn
Gino Geudens
Past members Berend Dubbe
Reinier Veldman
Stoffel Verlackt
Jeroen Blankert

Bettie Serveert are a Dutch indie rock band. Their name translates to "Bettie Serves", or "Service to Bettie", which is the title of a book written by Dutch tennis player Betty Stöve, who made it to the Wimbledon ladies singles final in 1977.[1]

Genesis

Composed of Carol van Dijk (or van Dyk, born 22 April 1962 in Vancouver, BC) (vocals and guitar), Peter Visser (guitar), Herman Bunskoeke (born c. 1961 in Amsterdam) (bass) and Berend Dubbe (born c. 1961 in Amsterdam) (drums), they originally formed in 1986 but split up after only one gig. They reformed in 1990 and released their debut album, Palomine, in 1992.[2] This was met with critical acclaim in the Indie music press.

Subsequent releases

In 1995, the group released their second album, Lamprey, which also was well received, and this aided them in obtaining tour slots alongside the likes of Belly, Dinosaur Jr, Buffalo Tom, Superchunk, Come and Jeff Buckley.[3]

On July 2, 1997, Counting Crows kicked off a co-headlining tour with The Wallflowers that continued through September. This tour included opening acts by Bettie Serveert, Engine 88, Gigolo Aunts, and That Dog), with each opening band touring for a three-week stretch.[4] While touring with Counting Crows, The Wallflowers were also playing their own headlining dates when the Counting Crows tour was on break (Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz experienced swollen vocal cords and had to back out of several shows in July).[5]

After releasing the full-length album Dust Bunnies in 1997 and the 1998 [6] Velvet Underground cover album Bettie Serveert Plays Venus in Furs and Other Velvet Underground Songs, Dubbe decided to leave due to artistic differences. He went on to form his own band, Bauer.

In July 2001, van Dijk and Pascal Deweze of Sukilove released their self-titled album as Chitlin' Fooks. They followed it with Did it Again in January 2003.[7]

Various drummers (such as Reinier Veldman, who played drums in the Bettie Serveert proto-band De Artsen) replaced Dubbe on their next album, Private Suit, later followed by Stoffel Verlackt, Jeroen Blankert and Gino Geudens who played drums on Log 22 and Attagirl. Bettie Serveert continues to tour extensively through Western Europe, Canada and the United States.

Their cover of the Bright Eyes track "Lover I Don't Have to Love" was featured in episode 18 of season 3 of the FOX show The OC. Palomine's title track can be heard playing in the background during episode 4 of My So-Called Life.

The band also covered Bob Dylan's "I'll Keep It with Mine" for the soundtrack of the 1996 indie film I Shot Andy Warhol.[8]

Bettie Serveert released an EP, Deny All, on Second Motion Records digital only, on 26 January 2010 in the United States. Their ninth full-length album, Pharmacy of Love, was also given a US release by Second Motion on 23 March of that year.[9]

2017 saw the release of Damaged Good again to positive acclaim. A pink vinyl version with gatefold cover limited to 1000 copies was released as part of Record Store Day of that year.

Lead vocal

Carol van Dijk was born in Canada to Dutch parents, so her native tongue was English. Her family moved to Holland in 1969 and the formerly outgoing child became reserved when confronted with the language barrier, and she never completely mastered the Amsterdam variation of the Dutch language. Her voice is praised for its beauty and clarity, as well as its unusual pronunciations.[10]

Discography

Albums

Singles/EPs

  • 1992: "Tom Boy" (also on the soundtrack to Amateur)
  • 1993: "Palomine"
  • 1993: "Kids Alright"
  • 1993: "Palomine (new single edition)"
  • 1995: "Crutches"
  • 1995: "Something So Wild"
  • 1995: "Ray Ray Rain"
  • 1997: "Co-coward"
  • 1997: "Rudder"
  • 1997: "What Friends?"
  • 1999: Our New Demo
  • 2000: "White Tales"
  • 2000: "Private Suit"
  • 2003: "Smack"
  • 2003: "Wide Eyed Fools"
  • 2010: "Deny All"
  • 2016: "Never Be Over"

Live

  • 1998: Plays Venus in Furs and Other Velvet Underground Songs

Other

References

  1. ↑ "Bettie Serveert Biography". Musicianguide.com. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  2. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Bettie Serveert Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Dinosaur Jr. O2 Academy Leeds, Leeds, UK (map)". Songkick. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  4. ↑ Billboard. Books.google.co.uk. 1997-05-24. p. 16. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  5. ↑ "Counting Crows Counted In Again". Mtv.com. 1997-07-25. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  6. ↑ "Plays Venus in Furs and Other Velvet Underground Songs by Bettie Serveert". Mtv.com. 1998-08-18. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  7. ↑ Mason, Stewart. "Chitlin' Fooks Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Frey, Michael. "I Shot Andy Warhol". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2010-03-23). "Pharmacy of Love - Bettie Serveert | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  10. ↑ "Jammerzine Exclusive: An Interview with Bettie Serveert". jammerzine.com. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
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